Age of Rebirth

The north wind howled, rolled up the sand and gravel everywhere, and pounced on the barren land. The night was as dark as ink, and there were a few stars, as if it could not stand the cold. In the deep night sky, shivering, Ulan In Guben, there are only a few lights, making this small town even more dead silent.

Major General Xiao Jinshan, commander of the Ninth Brigade, put down the telegram with an ugly face, Major General Fang Yuanshan, commander of the Tenth Brigade, Major General Ren Zhaoquan, commander of the No.11 Brigade, and Major General Chen Han, commander of the No.12 Brigade, could not help but look nervously Xiao Jinshan and Fang Yuanshan asked: "Old Xiao, what did the teacher say?"

Xiao Jinshan's complexion was as dark as the bottom of a pot, and he said to the three old men angrily: "What else can we say, let's give up Ulan Guben and turn towards Kulun immediately. Block the plan of the Soviet army going north to Minusinsk, simply veto it, yes, prepare to run away!"

The other three brigade commanders all fell into silence. The division commander ordered the withdrawal of Ulan Guben. It was originally in the battle plan on the southern front, but they gave up Ulan Guben without a fight. What a pity, Ulan Guben Langu was originally a very good blocking location, not to mention the defensive facilities left over from past dynasties, after the four brigades directly under the corps withdrew here, they carried out large-scale reinforcements, and it was here that they were preparing to fight the Soviet army. Prepare.

It is not a problem to block the Soviet army for a day, and then withdraw safely. Moreover, with the command ability of these few, the combat effectiveness of the troops and the individual quality of the soldiers, they block the main force of the Soviet Outer Mongolian Front going north along the way. There will be no disadvantages if you deal with it. This way, it can also reduce the pressure on the teacher. Why did the teacher even veto this item? Several people can't figure it out.

Xiao Jinshan sat down on the canvas marching chair, and the chair made a "creak" sound.Lighting a cigarette, he exhaled heavily, "Tell me, old fellows, what is this? Our four field brigades are 9 people small, and there are quite a few artillery pieces of various calibers. Maozi doesn't even have the ability to fight?"

"I feel aggrieved, very aggrieved. The northern front is in full swing. We don't require such a large-scale battle. It's okay to beat the side drums and harass the Soviet army along the way? It's not like I haven't done this before. Are you familiar with the road? They obviously don’t believe our four brigades with lower numbers!” Xiao Jinshan grumbled.

Seeing Xiao Jinshan's speech, Fang Yuanshan reminded: "I'm talking about Lao Xiao. I don't want to complain, the commander did this. There must be a deeper intention. Our four brigades are gathered together, with a strength of nearly 100 troops. , seems to be a lot, but compared with the more than [-] million Soviet troops, it is still not enough. It is just going directly to the two original group armies in Ulangu. The strength is far more than ours. Well, don't worry about this matter, prepare to evacuate It's a pity, we spent a lot of effort here!"

Xiao Jinshan squinted his eyes, glanced at Fang Yuanshan, and let out a dissatisfied "hum" in his nose. Obviously, he didn't like to listen to the old man's words, but what he said was also true. The main forces of the Soviet army on the front line are all behemoths.

Major General Chen Han, commander of the No.12 Brigade, is considered a junior among the veteran brigade commanders directly under the corps. The No.11 Brigade and the Twelfth Brigade are both formations formed later. They are drawn from various brigades Based on the backbone troops, some second-line troops were upgraded and formed. Speaking of which, the bones and flesh of the No. 12 brigade were given by these brigade commanders. Usually, Chen Han respected them very much.

Hearing Xiao Jinshan's complaints and Fang Yuanshan's persuasion, Chen Han remained silent. Seeing that everyone was silent, Chen Han said with a smile: "Three brigade commanders, I have a suggestion. It can achieve the purpose of harassing and delaying the main force of the Soviet army going north!"

Xiao Jinshan jumped up from the chair, and said impatiently: "Hey, old twelve, don't be fooled, tell me quickly, I'm so anxious to see my brother!"

Chen Han was quite helpless about the title "Old Twelve". The brigades directly under the corps, according to the designation, from one to twelve, have become the conventional names. I don't know who called it first, anyway, it is within the directly under the corps. It has been spread that the brigade commanders at the bottom of the ranking are very reluctant and helpless about this. The first few brigade commanders are very happy to be called this. . . . . .

Among them, Liu Hongzhang, the commander of the first brigade, Chu Ziye, the commander of the fourth brigade, and Xiao Jinshan, the commander of the ninth brigade, shouted very smoothly. For those who raised objections, Liu Hongzhang spoke very well. It's straightforward, "Guys, if you don't like to hear it, you can go to the teacher and ask for an adjustment. If I am transferred to another brigade, I will accept it without any complaints!"

That is to say, who can ask to be a brigade commander in a certain brigade just because of a title, and go to the division commander specifically, isn't that waiting to be criticized?

However, if at this time, the four brigade commanders, especially Xiao Jinshan, learned that Liu Hongzhang, who had always regarded himself as the boss, was now aggrieved as the deputy battalion commander, wouldn't he laugh so hard?

Chen Han touched the stubble on his chin and said, "The commander's purpose is not to let us suffer in front of the superior Soviet army, but we can work around it so that it will not affect the withdrawal of the troops, but also bite the Soviet army a little bit." mouth."

Seeing that the other three people listened attentively, Chen Han went on to say: "We can do this. The main force of the brigade will evacuate Ulan Guben normally according to the order of the division commander, but leave a small number of elite troops to carry out the task of harassing the Soviet army. "

"Several, each of our brigades and regiments doesn't have a reconnaissance company. The brigade headquarters also has a reconnaissance battalion directly under it. What is that for? If you talk about methods such as raiding camps, assassinations, and going deep into the enemy's rear, they are certainly not as good as special warfare." Detachment, but not much difference, this is our special warfare detachment, all spread out, destroying roads, bridges, laying mines, and sneak attacking the Soviet army's logistics forces along the way of the Soviet army going north, the role played is no better than ours The troops are all going up and down!"

Xiao Jinshan was overwhelmed, looked at Fang Yuanshan and said: "This plan is very good! See, the old twelve is young, with a flexible mind, unlike the tenth and eleventh you two, who only know how to frown, you think this plan How, anyway, I am in favor with both hands!"

Fang Yuanshan retorted, "I said Lao Jiu, don't put a high hat on yourself, didn't you just have a sad face, a face like an eggplant, I also agree with Brigadier Chen's suggestion, Lao Ren, how about you?"

No.11 Brigade Commander Ren Zhaoquan nodded cautiously, and said: "I also agree with Brigadier Chen's opinion, but let me add one more point, let's throw out all the reconnaissance troops, that is sixteen companies plus four A battalion, more than 5000 people, is almost catching up with a reinforced regiment. With so many troops, there should be a unified command organization. Don't do their own things, and the effect of mutual cooperation will be better. If that company is bitten by the Soviet army Well, there is a rescue!"

Fang Yuanshan stretched out his thumb and said, "Okay, sure enough, I think it's scheming. I see, what's the designation? It's called the Guerrilla Detachment of the Independent Division in Western Mongolia. It's a temporary combat command organization. My chief of staff, Colonel Xu Guodong, is the leader of the detachment. The temporary combat command organization does not need to be reported to the division headquarters for approval, it is better if the division commander does not know!"

Xiao Jinshan laughed loudly and said: "Okay! This can be done! You guys, we have left so many nails for the Lao Maozi's troops. We should organize the troops to evacuate. The troops of the two Soviet armies are less than a day away from us." It's a long way, don't get your ass bitten!"

Just when Xiao Jinshan and the others were plotting to cause more trouble for the main force of the Soviet Outer Mongolian Front, which was heading northward at full speed, the outer battlefield of Minusinsk had entered the final stage. Eight mechanized infantry brigades and four Under the siege of the tank brigade, the No.40 Third Army Headquarters and its subordinate First Army could no longer retreat completely.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" A burst of shells exploded in a small village near Balekcha, and the dust and smoke aroused immediately shrouded the small village with only a dozen dilapidated stone houses in mist. middle.

Lieutenant General Bamyanov, the commander of the army group, looked at the flames from the shell explosion outside, his face was livid, and he shouted at the chief of staff, Major General Khabarovsky: "Comrade chief of staff, send a telegram to the front army headquarters for help, Has it been sent out? Why haven’t you received a specific order from the Front Army Command until now?”

Chief of Staff Khabarovsky replied with a bitter face: "Comrade Commander, when we were attacked by the main force of the Independent Division, the telegram for help was sent out, and it was resent every hour. , to illustrate the dangerous situation we are facing, so far, the several orders of the front army headquarters are still the same, ordering our group army to quickly move towards the direction of the four group armies going south to Ulan Guben."

Lieutenant General Bamiyanov roared: "Nonsense, I know, but the point is, we have been bitten by the main force of the independent division now, and we cannot leave the battlefield quickly. What I need are reinforcements, not these nonsense! "

Chief of Staff Khabarovsky's throat was dry, and he replied: "Comrade Commander, the Front Army has ordered that the four armies that went south to Ulan Guben immediately turn around and return north to rescue our troops. Moreover, Vasilevsky Commander, has already commanded the main force of the front army on the southern front, and hastened to the Minusinsk battlefield day and night!"

Looking at Lieutenant General Bamyanov's face as gloomy as the night sky outside, Chief of Staff Khabarovsky said cautiously: "The commander is still in the telegram, ordering our army to entangle the independent army at any cost. The main force of the division will create favorable conditions for the main force of the front army to encircle and annihilate the main force of the independent division around Minusinsk!"

"What?" Lieutenant General Bamiyanov, the veins on his forehead bulged one after another, obviously on the verge of going berserk.

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