Age of Rebirth

Just when Ren Zhaoquan's unit of the No.11 Brigade directly under the Corps fell into a muddy pond, the whole brigade was forced to stop advancing, and when the brigade commander Ren Zhaoquan had nothing to do, the No.11 Brigade, which was less than 12 kilometers away from the No.[-] Brigade, Han's troops also fell into the same situation.

The reason is the same. The No.12 Brigade also has a very tight time limit due to the order of the Corps Headquarters. There are two roads to go. One is to go through this meadow with shallow water and green pastures, which is only a dozen kilometers wide. , the other way is to walk along a high hill that meanders to the northeast, but the distance is nearly 50 kilometers longer. The first battalion asked the brigade headquarters for the marching route. After looking at the map, it was decided that the troops would take a shortcut.

Chen Han has his own plan. Taking a shortcut will save at least an hour or more. If the troops arrive at the designated location earlier, they will have sufficient preparation time. Fortifications and other defense systems can also be improved as much as possible to fight a siege war. , fortifications are very important.

Soon, Chen Han regretted his decision, and the No.12 brigade fell into the same situation as the No.11 brigade. Chen Han's face was gloomy as if it was going to rain. However, he He didn't curse anyone, and he didn't intend to shoot anyone. He just said to Gong Xibin, chief of staff of the brigade, in a low tone: "Chief of staff, what do you say about the engineer battalion? Can you get half of the heavy equipment out of this place within an hour?" A damn swamp?"

Gong Xibin sighed, and replied: "Brigade Commander, I just came from the engineer battalion. According to the battalion commander's most optimistic estimate, there is no time for more than five hours, and heavy equipment will not be able to pass through this swamp at all!"

"What the hell! What does the engineer battalion do?" Chen Han, who was always gentle and refined.I couldn't help but swear.

Gong Xibin explained: "Brigade Commander, you can't blame the engineer battalion. Look at this place, there is not even a single tree. No matter how the road is paved, the equipment carried by the engineer battalion is not enough to pave the swamp more than ten kilometers wide. Let's find another way!"

Meanwhile, Zhao Yuhe, chief of staff of the division commander, who was temporarily at the headquarters of the Corps, stared intently at the watch on his wrist.In the tent, there are more than a dozen brigade commanders who are preparing to attack the troops head-on. Everyone looks anxious. The troops have completed all preparations before the attack. It has been more than two hours since they entered the starting point of the attack, but the chief of staff still does not give the order to attack. , what is he waiting for?Or are you worried about something?

Liu Hongzhang, commander of the First Brigade directly under the Corps.He is the oldest brigade commander. He couldn't bear it any longer. He stepped forward and said, "Chief of Staff, the troops have made all preparations before the attack. Why didn't they give the order to attack? Under such a high temperature, the soldiers Enduring the heat in the trenches. It affects stamina and morale!"

Zhao Yuhe turned around and said with a livid face: "Brigade Commander Liu, are you questioning me? Why don't you tell me, and everyone else, because Brigade No. 11 and No. 12 have not yet reached the designated location , our three-sided encirclement. There is a big gap on the left flank. The result of the battle requested by the division commander is to wipe out the border guards of the Kwantung Army on the spot. Under such circumstances, can I give an order to attack? Hmm!"

"Also, the Outer Mongolia Field Corps on the opposite side has more than 30 troops, which entered the position earlier than the directly subordinate regiment. Why didn't they have any complaints? They didn't question me face to face, but the brigade commanders of the directly subordinate regiment have? Wait We need to be patient, we have to wait, if we rashly launch an attack because the conditions for a joint attack are not ripe, causing some Kwantung Army troops to escape, I am sorry to the division commander, and even more remiss!"

Because of anxiety, Zhao Yuhe, who was always calm and peaceful, also rarely showed a fiery temper. Liu Hongzhang was taken aback for a moment, then he understood, stood at attention with a "snap", and after saluting, he said, "I'm sorry Chief of Staff, we misunderstood, I sincerely apologize to you!"

"Forget it, I also know that everything is ready, and the attack has not been launched for a long time, everyone is very anxious!" Zhao Yuhe waved his hands, and said in a gentle tone: "You all stay at the Corps headquarters, and we will also solve the problem." If there is no problem, go back to your respective troops and wait for the attack order from the Corps Headquarters!"

More than a dozen brigade commanders saluted one by one and left. Zhao Yuhe looked at the empty tent, then at his watch, sighed heavily, and walked outside the tent. Scorching the Gobi Desert made him quite irritable.

This problem arose when he led the troops for the first time in battle. Zhao Yuhe blamed himself, and more importantly, he could not give the order to attack. The left wing direction of the No. 11 Brigade and No. 12 Brigade's outflanking was related to the ability of the entire campaign. Whether it is successfully completed.

If the three-sided encirclement cannot be perfectly closed, under the combination of the absolute superiority of the Outer Mongolia Field Corps and the directly subordinate corps, the Kwantung Army troops along the northeast border will not be able to resist, and will inevitably flee in the direction of Xiarigoutu and Ulan Hada. Crossing the Pinggang of Xing'an Mountains is the starting point of the Bai-A Line Railway at the northern end of the Great Xing'an Mountains. Then, they will take the train and flee all the way south, appearing behind the Ximan blocking troops on the line from Siping to Shuangliao.

Liu Chun, the commander of the cavalry, could not stop the troops of the Kwantung Army at all the stations and strongholds of the Bai-A Railway. The current battlefield situation may not be known?

Zhao Yuhe didn't dare to think about it. If such a situation really happened, he should have committed suicide. Therefore, even though he was extremely anxious, the army directly under the Corps and the Outer Mongolia Field Corps, with more than 11 troops, could not order an attack if they were about to explode. Even if the No.12 Brigade and No.70 Brigade did not arrive at the designated position today, they would rather postpone the time to launch the attack, "Ren Zhaoquan, Chen Han, what are you doing? I don't know more than [-] troops are waiting Looking at you two?" He looked up at the fireball-like sun and murmured to himself.

Lieutenant Colonel Wu Zhengmin, the deputy director of the division's staff department and the acting chief of staff of the directly subordinate corps, came behind Zhao Yuhe and said according to the old habit when he was in the division, "Chief of staff, No.11 Brigade and No.12 Brigade The brigade did not arrive at the designated location on time. It must have encountered irresistible difficulties. It should be due to the terrain conditions. Have you considered delaying the attack time by one day? To prevent the troops of the two brigades from being too tired!"

Zhao Yuhe did not answer Wu Zhengmin's words, but asked, "Chief of Staff Wu, what's the latest movement of the Kwantung Army?"

Wu Zhengmin replied succinctly: "We are on full alert and ready to face the battle. It is no secret that the directly subordinate corps appeared on the side of the Kwantung Army border guards. It is normal to be prepared, but I find it strange that according to the frontier troops According to the report, the key defensive direction of the Kwantung Army is placed on the Outer Mongolia Field Corps, while for the directly subordinate Corps, only a small number of troops are on guard!"

"Huh?" Zhao Yuhe raised his eyebrows vigilantly, instinctively feeling that something was wrong, "Is there any basis?" He asked.

Wu Zhengmin replied: "The density of troops deployed by the Kwantung Army, the depth of its defense, and the amount of heavy equipment all show that the corps directly under it is not the focus of defense!"

Zhao Yuhe frowned, thinking sharply, "Director Wu, what do you think?" He vaguely grasped something in his heart, but it was so vague and unreal, so he asked Wu Zhenmin.

After staying in the division for many years, Wu Zhengmin has become accustomed to the command style of the division commander and the chief of staff, that is, he is good at listening to various opinions, encouraging ordinary staff officers, and expressing his views and opinions on the battle plan. You dare not say that if you are prudent in your words and deeds because you are wise and wise, you will not be able to stay under the guidance of the teacher. Therefore, you said straight from your heart: "I also just thought of it. The problem arises in the main mission of the Outer Mongolia Field Corps!"

"Oh!" Zhao Yuhe's eyes sparkled, "Tell me more in detail!"

Wu Zhengmin went on to say: "The mission of the Outer Mongolian Field Corps is to attack the border guards of the Kwantung Army and leave without staying on the battlefield. Then, take the train from Aershan to the south quickly to participate in the Battle of Ximan. In this way, In the southeast of Outer Mongolia, our army has no troops, and the directly subordinate corps is surrounded on three sides. So, what about the north? Under the fierce attack of the directly subordinate corps, will the Kwantung Army troops along the northeast border flee into Outer Mongolia? "

"And our troops in Outer Mongolia are very weak. It can be said that they are extremely empty. Even the four cavalry brigades stationed in Saiyinshanda have been ordered to go south. With the current strength of the Outer Mongolia Garrison, it is impossible to stop 10,000 troops. + The Kwantung Army troops, wouldn't it make them feel like they have entered a land without people?"

"Thinking about it further, the 10,000+ Kwantung Army troops will pass through the direction of Chita and continue to escape to the northeast, and then they will reach the Far East. Don't forget, Deputy Commander Liu's Dongzhi troops are fighting with the Japanese Far East. The dispatched army is fighting fiercely, 10,000+ people, even if we chase all the way, it is impossible to wipe them all out, the remaining Kwantung Army troops appearing behind the Dongzhi troops, will it change the situation in the Far East battlefield?"

When Wu Zhengmin said this, Zhao Yuhe was shocked. He immediately grasped what had disappeared in his mind. There was a huge loophole in the campaign plan to wipe out the border guards of the Kwantung Army, and that was Outer Mongolia. After the field corps left with one blow, there was no strong independent division in Outer Mongolia. After being attacked fiercely by the corps directly under it, because it was surrounded on three sides, there was only one way to go into Outer Mongolia.

In order to avoid the fate of the entire army being annihilated, the Kwantung Army will definitely move closer to the Far East. The deployment of troops directly under the corps also just illustrates this point. Even, the Outer Mongolia Field Corps did not go south. The focus of the army's breakout will also be in the direction of Outer Mongolia!

Because, you can go to the Far East, where there is the Japanese Far East Expedition Army under the command of Prince Zairen. In comparison, it is much more dangerous to withdraw to the hinterland of Northeast China. After all, the other two heavy troops of the Kwantung Army have already fallen into encirclement among!

(To be continued)