Cicada Moving

Chapter 979 From Minsk to Nomenkan

 One day in May 1939.

The Red Russian and Belarusian Military District organized a military exercise in the Minsk area. The content is that the armored corps, with the cooperation of other units, quickly switches from defense to offense.

 Smoke was everywhere at the exercise site. Tanks formed an offensive formation and quickly attacked the "enemy" position. Sometimes they fired while moving and sometimes they stopped for short periods of time.

The artillery shell accurately hit the target. Amidst the sound of explosions and flames, the large-caliber howitzer group began to set up positions to cover the target point with fire.

Immediately, the engineers blasted the barbed wire fence, and when the forward passage was opened, countless Red Russian soldiers shouted "Ula" and began to charge. The cooperation between the various arms was smooth and smooth.

On a hill one kilometer away from the exercise site, the commander of the Belarusian Military Region put down his telescope with satisfaction and turned to look at a short middle-aged man next to him.

“Comrade Zhukov, tell me what you think of this exercise.”

 “Yes, Comrade Commander.”

Zhukov, who was less than 1.7 meters tall, had a serious expression and commented slowly: "The cooperation between armored units and infantry units still needs to be strengthened, and the actions are not decisive enough.

 Our enemy has a large number of fighter planes and tanks, and the speed of advancement will be beyond imagination. The speed of reaction is the key to our victory over the imperialist conspirators. "

After listening to his words, the commander of the White Russian Military District looked at the vast training ground and fell into thinking. Both of them knew very well who the enemy of Red Russia and the conspirator were.

With the fall of Austria and the Czech Republic, the German ambitions have become clear, the atmosphere of war has become stronger and stronger, and the situation is about to break out.

However, in order to target the Red Russia, the Western world blindly condoned Germany's aggression. Appeasement spread across Europe, and Peace was slowly moving away.

“I heard that the German foreign minister who was a beer machine businessman went to Moscow.”

Suddenly, the commander of the Belarusian Military District said something and mentioned the German Foreign Minister. His face was full of ridicule and disdain, and at the same time he was helpless.

As a rising star in the Red Russian Marshal Budyonni line, Zhukov was well-informed and naturally knew about this matter and also understood the reason and purpose of the other party's trip to Mosk.

 European and American countries, specifically Britain and France, were betting on both sides. On the one hand, they were ignoring Germany's expansion, and on the other hand, they were preparing to conclude a so-called alliance with Red Russia.

Since April, British and French diplomats have been frequently in Mosk, trying to get the Red Russians to keep an eye on the Germans, and then reap the benefits.

 After the Germans found out about this incident, they also sent diplomats to Red Russia, proposing to sign a Russian-German non-aggression treaty and jointly deal with the United States, Britain and France.

Zhukov wrinkled his forehead slightly, and there was some worry in his eyebrows: "I heard that, I think the sincerity of Britain and France is questionable, and the alliance is meaningless.

 The Germans cannot be trusted either. Their intelligence agents are very active in the border areas. This is not a good sign and we need to be more vigilant. "

The commander of the Belarusian Military District nodded in agreement. The purpose of the alliance between Britain and France is not to maintain peace in Europe, but from the perspective of maintaining their own hegemony.

This is naturally contradictory to the political attitude and ideology of Red Russia. The negotiations will not yield any results. On the contrary, the timing chosen by the Germans is very clever.

Just this month, the Japanese Kwantung Army provoked conflicts in the Far East and launched a shameless sneak attack on the great Soviet Union. We risked being attacked from both sides.

In this case, Red Russia’s choice to sign a non-aggression treaty with Germany seems to be the best choice. Doing so is in the best interest of Red Russia’s national interests.

Although the treaty was signed with the intention of violating it, as long as the Germans can be stabilized and the war at Nomenkan is ended as soon as possible, it will be a good thing for Red Russia.

Just as the two were about to end the conversation and order the troops to go back to the camp, a motorcycle came quickly from a distance and finally stopped at the foot of the hill.

An orderly soldier wearing goggles jumped off his motorcycle and ran to the commander of the Belarusian Military Region and Zhukov. He raised his hand and saluted and reported loudly.

“Comrade Deputy Commander, Mosk sent an urgent message, asking you to set off immediately and report to Comrade Minister of National Defense.”

 Back to Mosk?

Zhukov's heart tightened. In the past two years, similar orders have basically represented the end of a person's political life. Could it be that it has finally come to him?

But soldiers must obey orders. He said goodbye to the commander of the Belarusian Military District with a heavy face, got into a car and headed to the airport under the protection of guards.

Two hours later, an ANT-6 heavy transport plane converted from a bomber took off from the airport, quickly climbed high, and flew towards Mosk in the northeast.

The plane roared over a residential area, and a figure flashed behind one of the windows. After more than ten minutes, a mysterious radio wave flew into the sky.

 That evening, Zhukov came to the Red Russian Ministry of Defense in the Kolymazny neighborhood of Moscow and met his old superior, Marshal Voroshilov.

 “Hello, Comrade Marshal.”

The guard with his head held high pushed open the red wooden door. The future Red Russian God of War saw the Red Russian Marshal who was working at his desk, and immediately saluted respectfully and said hello.

Voroshilov raised his head when he heard the sound, put down his pen with a smile, stood up and led Zhukov to a wall, on which hung a huge map of the Far East.

“The Japanese suddenly invaded the borders of our allies. According to the Russian-Mongolian mutual assistance treaty, the Soviets have the duty to defend each other from any foreign enemies.”

Comrade Marshal did not talk nonsense. He simply explained the reasons for the conflict in Cameno. He picked up a wooden stick and pointed at the map to introduce the situation on the front line.

“A few days ago, the 57th Army and the 6th Cavalry Division of the Mongolian Army fought a beautiful battle and gave the arrogant Japanese a lesson.

However, due to the long supply line and heavy losses, the comrades of the 57th Army gave up the pursuit and retreated to the west bank of the Halaha River to rest and recuperate.

I think there is still a serious risk of war there. This incident is far from over. Can you take off to the Far East immediately? And, if necessary, can you shoulder the heavy responsibility of commanding the army, take over the command of the troops, and control the war within a reasonable range.

 You have to understand that our current biggest enemies are Germany, Britain and the United States, not those Japanese dwarves. Of course, we must also teach the Japanese a profound lesson. "

Zhukov breathed a sigh of relief and suddenly realized that Mosk wanted to place himself on the chessboard in the Far East instead of being sent to a labor camp.

He glanced at the map of the Far East on the wall and saw a blue Japanese invasion route that was extremely conspicuous from the east of the Halaha River to Nomenkan.

Although he did not yet know what kind of army he would command or the details of Japan's forces in the Far East, he had no choice.

But as a soldier, war is the best stage. He was willing to take this opportunity to test his skills and meet the Japanese challenge, so he immediately gave an answer.

“Comrade Marshal, I can take off now!”

"very good!"

Voroshilov was very satisfied, looked at his watch and said: "Your plane can be ready before 12 o'clock in the morning, at the Central Airport.

 You first go to see Comrade Chief of General Staff, where you can get the necessary materials and determine the connection between the front line and the General Staff.

 In addition, I have sent several professional officers to go to the Far East together. They will wait for you on the plane on time. Goodbye Comrade Zhukov, I wish you success! "

After assigning the task, Voroshilov asked his secretary to send Zhukov away. Zhukov then came to the General Staff Headquarters and met with the Chief of the Red Russian General Staff.

The other party did not have any questions to add. He just hoped that Zhukov would find out the local situation as soon as possible and accurately report what he saw and heard to Mosk.

 Zhukov seemed to understand something. This summons was a bit strange. He neither sat down to study the map nor the Japanese army's strategies and tactics.

Moreover, for such a big matter, the Kremlin official did not receive him in person. It seems that Mosk no longer trusts the Far East military.

Combined with the results of the first two Nomenkan battles, it is obvious that Mosk wants to make relevant deployments after accurately grasping the situation on the front line.

Early morning that day.

ANT-6 took off again and flew towards Mengdi.

 Before leaving the territory of Red Russia, the plane landed in Chita to replenish fuel. The commander of the Chita Military Region and the military commissar briefed Zhukov on the new situation.

After being defeated last time, Japanese fighter jets penetrated deeply into Mongolia many times, chasing and strafing Russian and Mongolian cars, and disrupting logistics supply lines.

This was a very obvious signal to start war. Zhukov sat in the cabin thoughtfully, holding up a flashlight to study the terrain around Nomenkan.

At sunrise, the plane landed in Tamtsag Prague, and the 57th Army Commander Feiklenko, political commissar Nikishev, and chief of staff Kusev came to greet him.

Zhukov was not interested in making official articles and immediately asked about the current intelligence. When he learned that the frontline command headquarters was located in the rear area, he became furious.

 He ​​snapped and asked Feklenko: "Comrade Feklenko, do you think it is possible to command troops from a place 120 kilometers away from the battlefield?"

Feiklenko's face turned red and he explained: "We must be a little far away here, but Nomenkan has limited conditions and cannot command operations.

There is not even one kilometer of telephone and telegraph lines laid there, and there is no ready-made command post or landing site. Drinking water is the biggest difficulty. "

"What are you going to do in the face of this situation?" Zhukov suppressed his anger and asked.

“I have sent people to find wood and wires to start building a command post.”

Feiklenko replied matter-of-factly that he felt there was nothing wrong with this arrangement. A dignified military commander couldn't sleep in the wild like a wild beast.

Zhukov opened his mouth and said nothing, deeply understanding why Mosk sent him to the Far East, but what happened next made him even more speechless.

On the way back to the headquarters from the airport, Zhukov learned that no one except political commissar Nikishev had been to the conflict site.

  The 57th Army's poor combat initiative and ideological paralysis were really shocking. After thinking about it, he suggested that everyone go to the front line to take a look.

Unexpectedly, Feiklenko ordered the political commissar to accompany Zhukov to Nomenkan on the pretext that Mosk might call him at any time and that he could not leave.

If the generals of the Guo Army hear this, they will definitely have a fight with this guy. When it comes to blaming each other, they are definitely on the same page.

Zhukov almost laughed angrily, but thinking that the other party was a senior member of the Red Russian Army, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and drive to the front line with Nikishev.

 Nikishev was a competent political commissar who was familiar with the entire army. Accompanied by him, Zhukov had an in-depth understanding of the fighting area.

  He also talked with the soldiers, gained a new understanding of the Japanese army's combat effectiveness and his own shortcomings, and then began to formulate a counterattack plan.

The next day, after returning to the army headquarters to discuss with the officers of the 57th Army, Zhukov sent his first report to Mosk and the Ministry of Defense.

 In the report, he proposed to increase the number of troops to establish a landing site on the east bank of the Halaha River to prepare for counterattacks from depth, and suggested that Feiklenko be dismissed from his post.

On the same day, the Red Russian Ministry of Defense and the Chief of General Staff responded immediately. Mosk fully agreed with Zhukov's judgment of the situation and the next action plan.