Age of Rebirth

General Vasilevsky's roar was absolutely justified. Whether it was the enemy's report from the General Staff Headquarters or the Air Force's aerial reconnaissance before, they all told him clearly that all the troops of the Independent Division in Outer Mongolia were concentrated in Minu On the front line of Xinsk, they put on a stance to fight to the death with their own troops, but at the east foot of Tangnu Mountain Range, at the four passages, how could the main force of the independent division appear again?

How many troops does that scheming Chinese Tang Qiuli have in Outer Mongolia? The sound of "rumbling" artillery told me that all of this was true. The vanguard was being ambushed by the independent division!

Surrounding General Vasilevsky were a group of senior generals of the Front Army Command. At this time, they were all silent. No one could answer Comrade Commander's roar. They were even more puzzled than Comrade Commander. , the independent division is in the western part of Outer Mongolia, and there is only one main force. Why did it appear here again?

Lieutenant General Pozhnev, Chief of Staff of the Front Army, saw the black lines on Comrade Commander's face and the bulging veins on his forehead, and he was already on the verge of going berserk. What? Is the independent division ambushing our troops, is it the main force? What are the casualties in front of the leading troops? Also, it should be strictly ordered immediately, and the follow-up troops will press up all fronts!"

One word awakened the dreamer, Vasilevsky woke up from the state of extreme rage, yes, since he lost his temper here, what's the use.It can't solve any problems. Previously, it was estimated that they might be harassed by the independent division troops, but it happened too suddenly, or in other words, it exceeded my expectations.

Thinking of this, General Vasilevsky's mood completely stabilized.I have more than 100 million troops, even if I am ambushed, what should I do if I encounter Tang Qiuli's main force?

Still the same sentence, in front of an absolute superior force.Any conspiracies and tricks will be useless.ambush!OK.I was afraid that Tang Qiuli would leave after fighting. It is the main force of that cunning Chinese who is better, so let the decisive battle of the third Outer Mongolia War be called for!

Since Tang Qiuli's main force was concentrated at the eastern foot of the Tannu Mountains, in the direction of Minusinsk.The main force that appeared must be the Chinese's strategy, the empty city plan, in the mind of General Vasilevsky.Suddenly a Chinese noun appeared.

General Vasilevsky, with dim lights flashing in his eyes, said in a calm tone: "Chief of Staff, convey my order, after Chagannur, Bayanleg, Hujiertu, and Buridu Usu, The various troops going west to Outer Mongolia, at any cost, stormed the ambush circle of the Independent Division troops, concentrated all the artillery fire, and flattened the Chinese positions. After crossing the Tangnu Mountains, there is a flat grassland in the west of Outer Mongolia. All the troops marched together , to encircle Ulan Guben."

"Attack the attacking troops, speed up the advance, use the No.40 Third Army to occupy Minusinsk, where Tang Qiuli's troops are empty, and clear out the surrounding independent divisions and small units. The remaining four armies will immediately go south to coordinate The troops on the South Route will encircle the main force of the Independent Division in the Ulan Guben area!"

More than 100 million follow-up troops of the Soviet Army, with the idea of ​​fighting a large-scale battle, launched a fierce attack towards Chagannur, Bayanleg, Hujiertu, and Buridu Usu. At one time, four On the simple road, trucks are galloping, tanks are rolling up dust, and iron streams are rolling in.

However, three or ten minutes later, the telegram sent by the vanguard again made General Vasilevsky confused again, "Front Army Command, after our vanguard was ambushed by the main force of the Independent Division, although casualties However, it is very strange that the independent division troops suddenly withdrew from the battlefield. Now, my vanguard troops have all passed through Chagannur and Bayanleg , Hujiertu, Buridu Usu and other places.”

"Take a bite and run away?" This was General Vasilevsky's first reaction. He couldn't guess why Tang Qiuli ordered his troops to do this. It was under the fierce attack of my own army of more than 100 million people, who stayed for three or four days without any problems, and I hoped that the Chinese would do the same.

In this way, the superior force can be used to entangle and consume the main force of the independent division, and firmly attract it to the battlefield at the eastern foot of the Tannu Mountains. Wait for the troops attacking Minusinsk to go south and encircle it here. The triangular strategic encirclement can still play a role, but what is the situation now?

I mustered all my strength, but my opponent disappeared. For the first time, General Vasilevsky felt that it was not an easy task to face this cunning Chinese, even if he held the There are more than 160 million heavy troops, and if they are a little careless, they will suffer losses. The ambush warfare that the opponent has tasted is an example.

From the map, the Chief of Staff of the Front Army, Lieutenant General Pozhnev, raised his head and said: "Comrade Commander, if Tang Qiuli's main force suddenly withdraws from the battlefield, then there is only one direction, and that is Ulan Guben."

General Vasilevsky narrowed his eyes and asked calmly, "Oh, Comrade Chief of Staff, tell me your reason?"

Chief of Staff Pozhnev replied: "It's very simple. To the south, near the border area of ​​Xinjiang, China, is a swampy area formed by the flooding of the Kobdo River, which is not conducive to the actions of the mechanized corps. According to the situation of the vanguard being ambushed Looking at it, the ambush force of the Independent Division should be at least around 20 people. If there is a large-scale force, that Chinese Tang Qiuli will not send himself to a dangerous place."

"In the Ulan Guben area, there is a good terrain that can be used to block our army. Moreover, Ulan Guben is the first important target that our army must capture on the route of attacking Kulun. The Chinese did not The reason for not blocking our army here is that I suggest that the vanguard troops move forward immediately without waiting for the follow-up troops, and bite the tail of the independent division troops, and entangle them before they reach Ulan Guben, and wait for my main force to arrive, yes It's encircling!"

General Vasilevsky shook his head and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, your analysis is very correct. The independent division troops that just took advantage of it can only be withdrawn in the direction of Ulan Guben, but I will not do it again." Give that cunning Chinese Tang Qiuli another chance to ambush our army, or according to the original plan, after all the troops leave the Tangnu Mountains, they will go hand in hand and crush the Chinese!"

"Give Tang Qiuli time to build fortifications in Ulan Guben, that is his must-guard place, do you understand what I mean?" There was a hint of conspiracy in his eyes.

Chief of Staff Pozhnev understood that it was Comrade Commander's real intention to drag Tang Qiuli's main force to Ulan Guben, and the face-to-face positional battle and superior force would play a decisive role.

General Vasilevsky looked over the Tannu Mountains. The rolling hills and the sound of the guns in front had subsided, but he smelled blood from the air. It was the blood of his soldiers, permeating the air. In the night sky, he asked: "Chief of Staff, has the report of the casualties of the leading troops come up?"

Chief of Staff Pozhnev's tone was very low, and he replied: "Comrade Commander, the report has come up. The vanguard troops of the four armies, each with two divisions, were violently shelled by the independent division troops, and the casualties reached three." According to what they said, the artillery fire of the Chinese was unprecedentedly violent, and most of them were heavy artillery, and the casualties of the troops were basically caused by the enemy's artillery fire."

"Heavy artillery?" General Vasilevsky's eyelids couldn't help twitching a few times. During the one-hour battle, the average casualties reached 1 Ten thousand and two thousand people, it can be seen that the intensity of the enemy's artillery fire at that time must have been Tang Qiuli's main force, otherwise, there would not have been so many heavy artillery, and there would not have been such a violent shelling.

Of course, the casualties were less than 5. For the Outer Mongolian Front Army with more than 160 million troops, it can only be regarded as a slight injury. An army of one million marched hand in hand in a crushing situation.

"Understood, order the troops to cross the Tannu Mountains overnight, and launch an attack on Ulan Guben in the evening of the day after tomorrow!" After listening to the report of Lieutenant General Pozhnev, Chief of Staff, General Vasilevsky said without changing his face .

After a pause, General Vasilevsky seemed to inadvertently ask: "Comrade Chief of Staff, is there any report on the number of our troops annihilating the enemy? Or, have you captured any prisoners?" He asked casually, but his gaze Among them, the expectant eyes revealed his true inner thoughts. The four armies with nearly 20 troops fought for an hour, how could there be some gains?

Chief of Staff Pozhnev's eyes seemed to be avoiding something, he hesitated, and replied: "Comrade Commander, I am very sorry, no, not even a single prisoner of the independent division was captured, the vanguard passed through the enemy's ambush position After that, all I saw were bullet casings everywhere and temporary fortifications, and the enemy didn’t even leave a wounded person or a soldier’s body behind!”

"Hiss—!" General Vasilevsky couldn't help but gasp, fifty thousand to zero, what kind of battle is this called?What kind of opponent are you facing?

Suddenly, General Vasilevsky seemed to understand Comrade Stalin's warning words at the Politburo meeting better.

(to be continued) (to be continued..)