Age of Rebirth

A boundary marker stands on a mountain ridge. To the north is Canada, and to the south a few steps ahead is the western United States. To the east, Major General Zhao Yi, the commander of the First Brigade, stands on the base of the boundary marker and looks down at the map. On the road, the convoy of the first brigade roared past and poured into the United States.

"Chief of staff, is there any news from the reconnaissance battalion?" Zhao Yi asked Duan Yihong, chief of staff of the brigade.

Duan Yihong shook his head and replied: "Brigade Commander, the reconnaissance battalion has penetrated into the United States two days ago, but so far, no information has come in!"

"Oh?" Zhao Yi frowned slightly, and said, "By the way, how far is our brigade from Everett?"

"There are still about [-] kilometers left. According to the current marching speed of the troops, the first regiment of the avant-garde will reach the periphery of Everett in more than two hours!" Duan Yihong replied.

Zhao Yi pondered for a while, and said: "Order the troops to stop advancing, camp on the spot, and not leave today!"

"Why?" Duan Yihong was puzzled, "According to the previous information, the front is just a brigade of the 130th Division of the Little Devils. There are [-] Japanese soldiers. Our whole brigade will press it up. If we can't wipe out all of them, we can surround them Come on, is the speed of soldiers precious!"

Zhao Yi was unhappy, and said impatiently, "Why, didn't you read the enemy situation report from the headquarters yesterday? The Italian Third Army has reached the line from Everett to Spokane, and that is a force of more than 5 people. In addition to the little devils, how many people are there, and the enemy's defense situation is not clear, our first brigade ran to the front of the entire army, and it is a lone army, and you still have to fight Everett. Are you afraid of dying?"

Duan Yihong was overjoyed, and laughed at himself: "Just think about advancing. Forget about this!"

On a mountain peak not far from the road passed by the first brigade, several scouts of the Italian Third Army put down their binoculars.After muttering for a while, he used the radio to report what he saw to the military headquarters. Of course, the Italian scouts did not have the courage to follow the squadron to monitor them all the way. After the scouting mission was completed, several Italian scouts hurriedly withdrew There it was, not long after they left.The first brigade began to camp in situ.

Lieutenant General Magsilotti, the commander of the Italian Third Army who received the reconnaissance information, shook his head dissatisfied, and said to the chief of staff, Major General Salbert: "Why does the squadron only come with a brigade of [-] soldiers?" Yuren, I have prepared such a big trap, if it is just to annihilate so few Chinese soldiers, the loss outweighs the gain!"

"Mr. Commander, don't worry, maybe the reconnaissance troops in other directions will have information soon. However, in my personal opinion, the result of annihilating a brigade of the Chinese army is quite good. Is it the first record? !” Chief of Staff Salbert comforted.

Lieutenant General Magsilotti was speechless.Obviously, he didn't take the chief of staff's comfort seriously.

At night, Zhao Yi, the commander of the first brigade who was anxiously waiting for information from the reconnaissance battalion, held a candle in his tent.Looking carefully at the large military map, Colonel Duan Yihong, chief of staff of the brigade, hurriedly opened the curtain of the tent and came in.Excitedly said: "Brigade Commander, Liu Guangxin, the commander of the reconnaissance battalion, sent back the latest reconnaissance information!"

Zhao Yi frowned.He hurriedly received the telegram, "The brigade headquarters, the reconnaissance battalion reported that our battalion went deep into the line from Everett to Spokane, and the Japanese army positions were reconnaissance. We learned that all the Japanese troops defending there have withdrawn to Salem!"

"The defense of the original position of the Japanese army was taken over by the Third Army of the Italian Asia Expeditionary Force. The Italian Army's defense situation is roughly as follows. No.20 Ninth Infantry Division defends the front line from Everett to the east of Yakima, and No.30 Infantry The division defends the first-line position from Spokane west to Yakima, and its No.30 Fifth Infantry Division, as well as a tank brigade and an artillery brigade are the second-line troops, with a total strength of more than [-] people!"

"The junction of the two divisions of the Italian Army on the front line is Yakima. I personally went deep into Yakima for close reconnaissance and found that Yakima is the weakest part of the Italian Army's defense line. The breakthrough! The commander of the Italian Third Army is Lieutenant General Magcilotti."

After reading the information, Zhao Yi did not speak, held up a candle and found the location of Yakima on the map, then drew a big question mark, turned his face and asked: "Chief of Staff, what do you think of this information? Especially Yakima What is the defense situation of the Chima Italian Army?"

Duan Yihong touched his chin, and replied with a smile: "Brigade Commander, there is something strange inside. It is said that the Italian army has enough troops. There is no reason why the defense forces in the Yakima area are so empty that there is only one infantry regiment, especially two infantry regiments. The junction of the division's position has always been a key defensive position, no matter how you look at it, it seems to be left out on purpose!"

"Smart!" Zhao Yi said with a smile: "Immediately report this information to the deputy division commander. At the same time, attach our opinions and report the current location of our brigade to the headquarters!"

On the outskirts of Kamloops in Canada, Liu Tiehan’s temporary headquarters is located here, only more than [-] kilometers away from the city of Kamloops. Originally, this city on the southern border of Canada was the intended target, but since After the cooperation of the Canadian government, the Canadian local garrison will not stop wherever the Dongzhi troops go, and Liu Tiehan is embarrassed to attack the city again.

After the East Pointers entered the area south of British Columbia, the attitude of the Canadians changed. They no longer regarded the East Pointers as invaders, but instead regarded them as friendly troops passing by. Welcome, but no matter where you go, the local dignitaries will come to condolences to the troops. No, they have just sent away the condolences team from the Kamloops Municipal Council.

Liu Tiehan looked at a large pile of presents piled up in the tent, smiled and said to Chief of Staff Yang Ketian: "Ketian, I have no luck with these foreign goods, especially this foreign wine, I really can't get used to it, it's cheaper than you guys Young man!"

Yang Ketian was happy, and replied: "Master, these foreign goods are good things. Look at this bottle of wine, which has been preserved for at least 30 years..."

"Report!" A report voice interrupted Yang Ketian, "Come in!" He shouted towards the outside.

A communications staff officer came in, "Reporting to the division commander and the chief of staff, I just received an urgent call from the first brigade commander Zhao!"

Liu Tiehan took the telegram, read it carefully, and passed it to Yang Ketian silently, "Deputy teacher, it's interesting!" He said thoughtfully.

"Tell me!" Liu Tiehan asked.

Yang Ketian was not impolite, and said: "The deployment of the three infantry divisions, one tank brigade and one artillery brigade of the Italian army is arranged in a reverse shape, and it happens to be in Yakima, the junction of the two divisions' defense lines at the forefront. Rarely, Lieutenant General Magsilotti is trying to set a trap for us, Brigadier Zhao's judgment is correct, it is obvious that the Italian commander wants to encircle us in Yakima!"

"Can the more than 2 Japanese troops who retreated to Salem stay out of it?" Liu Tiehan then asked.

There was a cunning light in Yang Ketian's eyes, and he asked back: "Deputy Commander, if you are that Lieutenant General Magsilotti, you know that the enemy has more than 2 troops coming to kill you, but you have only [-] troops Under the circumstances, is there no need for more than [-] people?"

"You are smart!" Liu Tiehan scolded with a smile, "It is certain that the Italians set up a trap in Yakima. They just wanted to put a few brigades of our leading troops in and surround them. The one attached to the second line The No.30 Fifth Infantry Division of the Italian Army, one tank brigade, and one artillery brigade are the main assault forces, and I can be sure that the Japanese 130th Division, which retreated to Salem, will take the lead!

"Deputy teacher, how are you going to fight?" Yang Ketian asked.

"If you know the trap, then break the Italian's conspiracy and drop ten meetings at once!" Liu Tiehan sneered and said: "Ketian, record the following combat orders, the first brigade, the second brigade and the first brigade The 48rd Brigade, and the [-]st and [-]nd Tank Brigades, moved immediately in the direction of Everett, and the [-]th, [-]th, and [-]th Brigades, and the [-]rd and [-]th Tank Brigades moved immediately in the direction of Spokane. , Be sure to complete the offensive preparations for Everett and Spokane after [-] hours!"

"The seventh to No.12 brigades in the center, and the fifth to eighth tank brigades, speed up their advance, quickly approach Yakima, and complete the offensive preparations for Yakima, and attack the Everett to Spokane The full-line offensive of the front-line Italian positions is scheduled for 48 hours later, and the headquarters will follow the central troops to move!"

"The troops that broke through Yakima and the rest of the troops, after the battle started, quickly pass through the Yakima breakthrough and attack the follow-up troops of the Italian army on the front line of Salem!"

Yang Ketian quickly conveyed the order, and then said with a grin: "Deputy division commander, you are ruthless enough to attack. You have invested six mechanized infantry brigades with more than 1000 troops in the direction of Yakima, and four tank brigades with [-] troops. Many tanks, but enough for an Italian to drink a jug!"

"Since Magsilotti, the commander of the 10,000rd Army of the Italian Army, set up a trap for us and wanted to make dumplings for our vanguard, then let him fill him up!" Liu Tiehan said with cold eyes. : "A 5-strong attack in the direction of Yakima, plus the follow-up 2+ troops, is not just for more than [-] Italian soldiers, and more than [-] little devils!"

"After the Yakima breakthrough, the troops did not stop and quickly attacked the front line of Salem. Where can they capture the Italian Fifth Army? After this battle, there are not many Italian troops left in the western United States. Then , Concentrate on annihilating the Japanese troops in the area, maybe you and I can catch up with the battle to attack the little devil's lair!"

Yang Ketian stroked his forehead and sighed: "Deputy commander, I found that you are more ruthless in using troops than the division commander. The commander of the Italian Third Army named Magsilotti is unlucky to meet you! What kind of tactics are you playing in front of you?" !"

"Stop talking nonsense, immediately inform the headquarters to set off!" Liu Tiehan said with a smile.

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