Age of Rebirth

As the senior chief of staff of the Second Cavalry Brigade, He Xigetu followed Tong Batu as the chief of staff from the time of the Puppet Mongolian Cavalry Division. Under the control of the Japanese, he became the Second Cavalry Brigade of the Independent Division. After more than ten years of getting along day and night, He Xigetu knew too well the stubborn temper of his big brother and boss.

In the face of the Soviet attack, retreating without firing a single shot, I must be very useless in my heart. Maybe I will ignore the order of the division commander and command the whole brigade to make a desperate cavalry charge against the old Maozi's mechanized troops. .

If Tongbatu really wants to do this, no one in the second brigade can stop him, and he will get positive responses from more than 5000 Mongolian men in the whole brigade. However, the result will definitely be bad, not only defying Following the command of the division commander, the entire army would still be in danger of being wiped out. Even if they could finally break out, the second cavalry brigade would suffer heavy casualties and their vitality would be severely damaged. As the chief of staff, He Xigetu could not let it go.

He Xigetu was about to urge him anxiously, but Tong Batu waved his hand and said, "Chief of Staff, I understand what you mean, I will immediately order the troops to assemble, and withdraw from Irkutsk immediately before the Soviet army is encircled. By the way, Contact Li Changjiang, the commander of the fifth brigade in Ulan-Ude, and ask if you have received the same order from the division commander, don't let us withdraw, and expose them to the old Maozi, then you and I have made a big mistake!"

The communication with the Fifth Cavalry Brigade was quickly established. Tong Batu picked up the walkie-talkie and shouted: "I said, old man, have you received the order to retreat from the division commander? How is the situation there?" [

Li Changjiang, the commander of the fifth cavalry brigade, was very calm. He laughed and replied: "Brother Tong, please worry about it. I have received the order and are on the way to retreat to Kulun. Pounce on our old Maozi troops, from the direction of Chita Come here, I haven't eaten my teeth yet, and before the encirclement situation has formed, I withdrew with my troops. Speaking of which, I'm really useless, brother, how is the situation there, have you withdrawn?"

Tong Batu sneered.Said: "The old man has a lot of appetite. He is moving around Irkutsk. He wants to make dumplings for me. They have covered two sides, and there is only one opening in the south. Don't worry, I will withdraw immediately. Let's See you in Cullen!"

After listening to Tong Batu's words.Li Changjiang was taken aback. Don't look at what Tongbatu said was easy. The terrain conditions of Irkutsk are similar to those of Ulan-Ude, with one side leaning on Lake Baikal and surrounded by two sides.That is almost the same as being surrounded, and the form is very dangerous.

Li Changjiang shouted: "Brigade Commander Tong, I command the troops to move towards you immediately to meet your retreat. Our two brigades together, with more than 1 guns, can break a few of the old Maozi's front teeth!"

Tongbatu is in a hurry. The situation around Irkutsk is already at stake. The encirclement of the Soviet army is about to form. in the Baikal region.

Tong Batu hurriedly said: "Yangtze River, you retreat according to the command of the division commander. Don't try to meet us. It's not a big deal. Isn't there still our aviation cover!"

Putting down the walkie-talkie, a stern look flashed in Tong Batu's eyes, and he ordered loudly: "All set out immediately and retreat as quickly as possible! Spread out the charge formation, and if you encounter enemy resistance, don't get entangled, get rid of it with all your strength!"

In the city of Irkutsk, it was boiling. In the autumn wind of September in Outer Mongolia, more than 5000 horses from the second cavalry brigade rushed out of the city like a gust of wind. Tong Batu was the last one to withdraw from the city. He looked back Irkutsk gritted his teeth secretly, "I'm retreating today. In a few days, the second brigade will come back!"

The retreat of more than 5000 horses, the rolled up dust covered the sky and the sun, on the outskirts of Irkutsk, on the open grassland, the target was definitely not small, the retreat of the second cavalry brigade of the Outer Mongolia Border Guard Army was soon attacked In Irkutsk, Major General Sergeyev, commander of the Third Army of the Soviet Transcaucasus Military Region, learned that it was already past four o'clock in the afternoon.

Major General Sergeyev and the members of the army command were on a high hill more than [-] kilometers away from Irkutsk, holding up a telescope to observe the movement in the city. The smoke and dust rolled up in the south caused the He paid attention, and ordered to the staff around him: "Immediately ask the frontline troops, what's going on?"

Soon, the staff put down the phone and reported: "Comrade Commander, the No. 30 Seventh Division has been connected. According to the report of their division's reconnaissance unit, it is the Chinese cavalry unit in the city of Irkutsk, which is retreating due south. !"

Sergeyev's light blue eyes kept turning. He was hesitating. The Chinese army in Irkutsk retreated hastily without even resisting. This was unexpected. The deployment of the three divisions of the three armies is to encircle and wipe out the independent division cavalry in Irkutsk. However, now that the Chinese have run away, the purpose of the battle has failed. To pursue or not to pursue?

Comrade Commander of the Military Region, the order given to the Third Army was to encircle and annihilate the Chinese army in Irkutsk, and there was no order to pursue them. If you ask the Military Region for instructions now, the Chinese cavalry would have already run away by the time the order came. On the grassland, the movement speed of cavalry is not much slower than that of their mechanized troops.

However, the No.30 Seventh Division and No.30 Eighth Division, which were encircled in a roundabout way, have not yet reached the designated position, and the encirclement is completely closed. The gap of tens of kilometers wide is enough for the Chinese cavalry to escape. If the Chinese army is not surrounded and wiped out, then What is the point of carrying out the Battle of Irkutsk?

Commander Sergeyev thought for a while, and ordered: "Order the 37th Division to close the encirclement circle as quickly as possible, and the division's artillery shells the unblocked area to inflict maximum damage on the retreating Chinese cavalry units. The troops are ready to enter the city of Irkutsk, comrades, this is the first city that our troops of the Transcaucasus Military Region have recovered from the Chinese, tell the soldiers to show the heroism of the Soviet Red Army!"

"The residents of Irkutsk will warmly welcome their liberators. At the same time, report the situation to the comrade commander of the military region and ask for instructions on the next step!"

The meaning of Major General Sergeyev is obvious. There is no need to take the risk of chasing the retreating Chinese cavalry. The task of the Third Army is to recover Irkutsk. In case the troops suffer unnecessary losses during the pursuit, Who knows how the comrade commander of the military region who was airborne from Moscow and who is said to have a Cheka background will deal with himself?Now that the task has been completed, there is no need for extra complications.

Intercept it, it's best if you can stop it, if you can't stop it, you can count yourself as trying your best, and you can explain the past to the military region. After being suppressed on a large scale, Major General Sergeyev, who was as frightened as a bird, dared not do anything For something out of the ordinary, those colleagues with thoughts and personalities have all gone to see God, so why should they ask for trouble? What's more, who can predict the final result when they go deep into the interior of Outer Mongolia to fight?

No one objected to Commander Sergeyev's order. The senior officers of the Soviet army who had gone through the counter-revolutionary storm also had basically the same idea. They took the credit for occupying Irkutsk and completed the task. , Moreover, there have been no casualties and losses in the troops. It is a good thing to have the best of both worlds! [

However, there were always discordant voices. Colonel Nikolagsky, commander of the Armored Brigade of the Third Army and political commissar, took a step forward, stood at attention and saluted, and said in a quiet but firm voice: "Comrade Commander, This is a great opportunity to eliminate the Chinese cavalry, and on behalf of all the Red Army commanders and soldiers of the armored brigade, I request the commander's approval that our armored brigade will undertake the pursuit mission!"

In the Third Army, Commander Sergeyev, the only one he can't afford to offend is Colonel Nikolaigsky. His background, however, is very deep. He is one of the main members of the Anti-Rebellion Committee of the Military Area Command, and he served as the brigade commander and political commissar in the Armored Brigade of the Third Army for only two or three months.

The halo above his head is frightening. It is said that this Colonel Nikolaigsky is an officer with a background in political work. There are no fewer than 100 officers who personally executed and sent to concentration camps. As for commanding the troops to fight, use the officers of the armored brigade , secretly talking behind his back, said, "A layman is an absolute layman," the political colonel, I'm afraid he doesn't even know the caliber and range of the armored vehicle guns equipped by the armored brigade.

But this does not prevent Nikolagsky from mastering an armored assault force. Major General Sergeyev has always suspected that the purpose of this guy coming to the Third Army is not pure, just to monitor himself, or in other words, to gain Instead, he was just waiting for an opportunity.

If Nikolagsky's request is approved, in case the order of the military region is issued to pursue the retreating Chinese cavalry units, my negative attitude is all in the eyes of the big guys. However, if the armored brigade had an accident during the pursuit, it would be an unavoidable responsibility. That grumpy and well-connected military commander, comrade, can forgive own?

Commander Sergeyev was in a dilemma for a while, and promised to be risky, and the joint responsibility was his own command mistakes. Moreover, considering Nikolagsky's command ability and level, he was really worried about handing over an armored brigade to the In his hands, if he does not agree, his negative attitude towards the Chinese army will immediately go to the Military Region Anti-Revolutionary Committee. Next, what those Cheka agents will do to him, only God knows!

Commander Sergeyev wanted to kick this guy who didn't know his difficulties to death, while Colonel Nikolaigsky, his eyes were shining brightly, as if he had been shot with chicken blood, he stared at him persistently And looked at himself a little arrogantly.

(To be continued) (To be continued.)