Spy Shadow: Command & Conquer

Chapter 1996, Tug-of-War

"report!"

"Your Excellency, the vanguard of the 18th Army has arrived."

"please."

Zhang Yong remained calm.

Radar maps had already indicated Hu Lian's arrival.

It must be admitted that Hu Lian was indeed very fast. He stayed close to the advance team the whole time.

I suspect this guy might personally go to the front lines to scout during a war, then quickly assess the situation. If he can win, he fights; if he can't, he runs.

To be honest, this guy has learned some of the instructor's fighting techniques.

No wonder the instructor noticed him.

"Tattoo..."

The sound of horses' hooves rang out. A company of cavalry had arrived.

They were all highly elite Nationalist cavalrymen. They were fully equipped, including complete Soviet-style raincoats and military boots.

For various reasons, later generations have never provided sufficient details about Soviet aid.

Actually, at this stage, there is still a lot of Soviet aid. And the types of aid are also quite diverse.

A large amount of supplies were transported to Lanzhou and then distributed to the Nationalist army. The Civil Engineering faction, of course, had the advantage of being in a good position.

A typical Nationalist Army cavalry company wouldn't have such uniform raincoats.

This included Inspector Zhang Yong's troops. They all relied on raincoats captured from the Japanese invaders.

Zhang Yong himself did not have a Suzhou-style raincoat.

Stop.

dismount.

Hu Lian quickly approached Zhang Yong.

stand at attention.

salute.

"Report! Your Excellency, the 11th Division has been ordered to report for duty!"

"Thanks for your hard work."

Zhang Yong raised his hand in return.

It is noteworthy that Hu Lian did not mention the 18th Army.

Whether intentional or unintentional, the 11th Division did not include the prefix "18th Army".

I had a brief conversation with Hu Lian to get an understanding of the situation.

As expected, Hu Lian consistently resisted mentioning the 18th Army, only referring to his own 11th Division.

It was clear that he didn't have much respect for Commander Peng Shan, and even seemed to resent him. This suggests that Peng Shan's authority was indeed insufficient.

It should be noted that Hu Lian was a graduate of the fourth class of the Whampoa Military Academy. He was a classmate of 101. His own military achievements were actually quite ordinary.

There were many soldiers in the National Revolutionary Army with greater military achievements than him.

This guy is a sly fox.

Or, to put it another way, refined egoism.

If there's a benefit, pounce on it immediately.

If there is danger, get out of the way immediately.

But I have to admit, this guy has a good eye for talent.

Being able to accurately assess the battlefield situation is a skill in itself.

"Commander Hu."

"To!"

"This time, the 11th Division is going to have to take on a tough challenge."

"clear."

Do you really understand?

"Your subordinate..."

Hu Lian remained silent, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

He suddenly realized that the person in front of him was not someone who could be easily fooled.

The other party's specific question clearly carries a special meaning. It's a difficult question to answer. If you do, you'll have to take responsibility.

"Is your 11th Division good at attacking fortified positions?"

"of course."

"Alright. Your next task is to tackle this challenge."

"Your subordinate..."

Hu Lian wanted to suggest, "How about we arrange for me to fight in mobile warfare?"
Actually, I'm good at mobile warfare. Really.

However, the words caught in my throat. I dared not say them for the time being.

"...This subordinate will make arrangements immediately."

"Your troops will depart from the major towns and attack Xishan Town and Shibu Town."

"Yes."

"Advance along the prescribed route. Forge ahead relentlessly. Whatever obstacles you encounter, you must overcome them."

"Yes."

"If your troops are all wiped out, the 18th Army will take over. If the 18th Army is all wiped out, I will take over."

"what……"

Hu Lian was immediately taken aback.

No, the commissioner's order had a murderous intent to it!

Has it come to that?

"I will deploy four armies around Nanchang. Each army will have one attack route."

"There were no feints. All attacks were main offensives."

"Each army must advance along the designated attack route. No matter what happens, the direction must remain unchanged."

"The Fourth Army comes from the south. The Fifth Army comes from the southwest. The Eighteenth Army comes from the west. The Hundredth Army comes from the northwest."

Zhang Yong's order was simple.

Attack! Attack! Attack! Keep attacking!
No ultimate move.

Only the flat A.

It's about pushing forward all the way.

They crushed all of the Japanese invaders' defensive positions.

"have you understood?"

"Understood. I will carry it out without hesitation."

"Are you having any difficulties?"

"Commander, I need heavy firepower support."

"I will equip you with twelve 155mm French-made howitzers."

"that would be great!"

Hu Lian was overjoyed and brimming with confidence.

He saw those 155mm howitzers during the battles in Yichang and Jingzhou.

They were all super-large caliber weapons. They were incredibly destructive. I was extremely envious back then.

Unfortunately, he never had the chance to be paired with someone.

Now, it's finally here.

Even though there are only twelve gates, that's still a lot.

With one division and twelve heavy artillery pieces, he could definitely fight his way through.

"report!"

"Commissioner, the vanguard of the newly formed 22nd Division of the Fifth Army has arrived."

"please."

Zhang Yong nodded.

The radar map indicates that Qiu Qingquan has arrived.

This guy is pretty fast too. He took the southern route and still made it.

It seems he was driving. His speed was significantly faster than Hu Lian's horseback riding.

"report!"

Sure enough, Qiu Qingquan arrived a little while later.

It was indeed a mechanized unit. Although it was only one battalion, it had more than a dozen trucks.

Qiu Qingquan is now the deputy commander of the Fifth Army and concurrently the commander of the newly formed 22nd Division. He arrived as the vanguard this time, looking very confident.

He showed no signs of fatigue from the long journey. He was full of energy.

parking.

get off.

Hurry up.

stand at attention.

salute.

"Commissioner! Qiu Qingquan reporting for duty!"

"Thanks for your hard work."

Zhang Yong raised his hand in return.

Look at the soldiers Qiu Qingquan brought.

They were all Soviet-made weapons, specifically Mosin-Nagant rifles.

That's not surprising. The Fifth Army was originally equipped with Soviet weapons. They didn't have American weapons yet.

However, what's strange is that they even have braised chicken with potatoes.

That is, the Degtyarev light machine gun. The kind that uses a 47-round drum magazine.

In Zhang Yong's recollection, the Soviet Union's list of aid weapons should not have included this item.

Yes, it wasn't there before. It's probably newly added.

The performance of Dapanji (a type of braised chicken) is actually quite good.

If there's enough ammunition, it can actually go toe-to-toe with the MG42.

The battlefield is complex; simply having a high rate of fire like the MG42 doesn't guarantee victory. Many factors influence the outcome.

The PPSh-42 paired with a DP-28 (a type of firepower weapon) is more powerful than the MG42 paired with a Mauser 98K.

The Germans never produced enough MP40 submachine guns.

The limited production of German-made weapons has always been a fatal flaw.

"Deputy Commander Qiu."

"Commander Hu! How have you been?"

Hu Lian greeted Qiu Qingquan. It was clear that the former seemed somewhat reluctant.

In any other situation, Hu Lian would probably have quietly slipped away. But in front of Zhang Yong, he didn't dare.

Zhang Yong noticed that Qiu Qingquan's gaze towards Hu Lian seemed somewhat mocking.

The two sides do not have the same style.

Qiu Qingquan believes that firepower is king.

What he learned in Germany was to destroy the enemy with the most ferocious firepower.

In comparison, Hu Lian was a complete country bumpkin. He had never studied abroad. His path was entirely different from Qiu Qingquan's.

"Commander Hu, is the mission clearly defined?"

"It's clear."

What is the attack route?

"Start from Dacheng Town and attack along Xishan Town and Shibu Town."

"Okay. Let's get ready!"

"Yes."

"The attack will begin promptly at 7:00 AM tomorrow!"

"Yes!"

Hu Lian agreed and left.

Qiu Qingquan glanced sideways at the other person's retreating figure, a hint of disdain in his eyes.

Sure enough, even among elite teams, there are conflicts. Neither is willing to concede to the other, and both want to dominate.

The Fifth Army was the only offensive army in the National Revolutionary Army. It was the first to be designated.

Hu Zongnan's First Army was only listed as a substitute for the Fifth Army because Zhang Yong helped him secure it.

Compared to the Fifth Army, the First Army may not have been fully equipped with heavy weapons. Its overall combat strength is inferior to that of the Fifth Army.

Although the 18th Army was the main force of the Civil Engineering faction, it was certainly not as good as the 5th Army.

"Deputy Commander Qiu."

"Commissioner, please give your instructions."

How long will it take for your main force to arrive?

"Our newly formed 22nd Division's infantry will arrive the day after tomorrow. But the tanks and heavy artillery will have to wait a week."

"Then let me explain the attack plan to you first!"

"it is good."

Zhang Yong then began with his simple insights.

The attack route assigned to the Fifth Army was to advance along the west bank of the Gan River.

"Push straight ahead."

"Until we breach the city center."

There were no tactics involved.

It's the same as a regular attack.

Then the Fourth Army attacked and advanced from the east bank of the Gan River.

"Do you understand?" "Yes!"

"Alright. You can prepare for the attack yourselves. You can decide the timing of the attack."

"Yes."

"Come find me if you need to replenish your ammunition."

"Yes."

Qiu Qingquan happily agreed.

The biggest advantage of fighting alongside the Commissioner is that you can fight freely.

For a commander like him who champions firepower above all else, the more ammunition the better. Ideally, there should be no limit, allowing for unrestrained use of ammunition.

The newly formed 22nd Division already had heavy artillery and tanks, so it did not need to be supplemented.

So he sent Qiu Qingquan back to prepare.

"Report……"

Officers kept coming to see Zhang Yong.

They were all reporting random, nonsensical things. A single sentence would have been enough to resolve it.

time flies.

Another night has passed.

"boom……"

At seven o'clock in the morning, the sound of cannons boomed.

Hu Lian's 11th Division of the National Revolutionary Army launched an artillery barrage against the Japanese positions on time.

As the backbone of the Civil Engineering Department, or rather, the foundation upon which Chen Cheng built his career, the 11th Division had a considerable number of technical personnel.

They quickly learned how to use the newly delivered 155mm howitzers.

Clearly, the Fourth Army was far behind in terms of technological accumulation.

Even the 100th Army is far inferior to this 18th Army.

"boom……"

Starting at noon, the Fourth Army also began to engage in battle.

Wu Qiwu personally oversaw the operation, leading the Fourth Army and the 65th Army to deploy on the east bank of the Gan River.

They also used heavy artillery to pave the way and bombard the Japanese positions.

For a time, the Japanese front lines were filled with smoke and dust.

Even during the day, the front lines were shrouded in black smoke, as if it were the end of the world.

However, the Japanese invaders did not collapse.

The Japanese invaders continued their stubborn resistance, holding their ground fiercely.

Even when the entire squad was wiped out, they did not retreat. They were incredibly tenacious.

"boom……"

That evening, the Fifth Army launched an attack on the west bank of the Gan River.

They're using newly arrived 75mm mountain guns. Although the caliber is insufficient, the rate of fire is high! It can fire more than fifteen rounds per minute.

With the commissioner present and ample ammunition replenished, the Italian artillery fired fiercely.

At the same time, Qiu Qingquan dispatched infantry to begin attacking the Japanese positions.

By midnight, the Fifth Army had advanced more than 1,500 meters and penetrated the Japanese lines.

"This Fifth Army is indeed adept at attacking fortified positions."

"The National Revolutionary Army's First Attack Corps truly lives up to its name."

Zhang Yong received the battle report and seemed lost in thought.

The Fifth Army later dared to be so arrogant for a reason.

In terms of heavy weaponry alone, the Fifth Army was actually stronger than the reorganized 74th Division. The latter had a better reputation.

But the joy didn't last long.

At 2 a.m., the Japanese launched a counterattack.

Huge groups of Japanese invaders rushed forward desperately, showing no fear of death.

Under the cover of night, the two sides became completely entangled, leaving Qiu Qingquan helpless and anxious.

The artillery fire offers no cover. It could blow up our own people too.

At this moment, he wasn't as crazy as he would later become. He hadn't yet started yelling and smashing sand pots or anything like that.

The result is……

The position has been lost.

They were forced to retreat by the Japanese invaders.

The newly formed 22nd Division suffered one battalion casualties. More than 500 men.

"What a bastard!"

"I'll smash their sand pots!"

Finally, Qiu Qingquan began to utter his own signature curse.

Then continue to organize troops for the attack.

The Soviet T-26 tank unit that had just arrived was also deployed to the battlefield.

Another day of fierce fighting.

Zhang Yong watched the battle silently from behind, without interfering much.

His primary task now is as the Minister of Logistics, responsible for supplying the troops with sufficient ammunition, mainly artillery shells.

No matter what kind of cannon it is, if it needs shells, just send someone to move them.

If we don't have enough manpower, we also have cars.

However, Zhang Yong did not interfere with the specifics of how the battle was fought.

You are all frontline commanders with firepower advantages, yet you still don't know how to fight?
result……

The situation is not good.

More than a dozen T-26 tanks were quickly destroyed.

The armor was still too thin. It was easily destroyed by Japanese landmines or explosive charges.

"What a bastard!"

"I'll smash their sand pots!"

Qiu Qingquan's insults grew louder and louder.

I'm getting anxious.

The red is warm.

The start was unfavorable.

The Japanese invaders were indeed difficult to defeat.

However, Zhang Yong still did not personally intervene.

They are all elite troops.

Let them explore freely first.

result……

Hu Lian's attack was also not very successful.

Faced with the very sophisticated Japanese defensive fortifications, Hu Lian could only advance 500 meters per day.

Even after using heavy artillery to completely destroy the Japanese positions.

Moreover, after occupying Japanese positions, they were often counterattacked by the Japanese. The battles were repeatedly fought, and the positions changed hands repeatedly.

The main force of the 18th Army arrived...

Launch an attack.

The 200th Division of the Fifth Army arrived...

Launch an attack.

"boom……"

The Japanese positions were repeatedly bombarded by heavy artillery.

We captured it today, but it was taken back.

Continue the attack.

It was snatched back again.

The two sides engaged in a protracted tug-of-war.

A small village changed hands more than twenty times.

Zhang Yong observed through binoculars.

His face was solemn.

The Japanese invaders were truly tenacious!

They still couldn't take it down.

According to radar maps, the Japanese casualties must have been very high.

The Japanese suffered at least two, perhaps even three times, the casualties of the Nationalist army. However, the Japanese never surrendered and continued to fight repeatedly.

Du Yuming personally took charge...

Peng Shan personally took charge...

Wu Qiwei personally took to the stage...

Li Xianzhou personally took to the field...

Apart from Zhang Yong, everyone else went up against him.

However, the Japanese positions never collapsed.

The counterattack remains fierce.

In terms of artillery firepower, the National Revolutionary Army had the advantage.

However, in terms of individual combat effectiveness, the Japanese invaders had the advantage.

The battle was fierce.

It has garnered nationwide attention.

Both the General Staff and the Civil Engineering Department were keeping a close eye on it.

There was no other way; the Fifth Army and the Eighteenth Army were the most elite units of the National Revolutionary Army. Their performance was a matter of great concern to many.

Only Zhang Yong continued to live a leisurely life, and did not immediately step down from the battlefield.

They're all elite troops. Keep fighting.

Ammunition is plentiful.

Food supplies are plentiful.

If you still can't win, who can you blame?

The entire main force of the Fifth Army arrived. All heavy weapons were deployed into the battle.

Finally, they successfully breached the Japanese defensive positions.

A surprise attack. A deep dive.

They successfully cut into a distance of approximately three kilometers.

However, before they could even rejoice, the Japanese invaders reclaimed their territory that very night.

The Japanese invaders had gone mad. A brigade commander personally led his troops, a dark mass charging forward. They launched a pig-like charge and successfully counterattacked.

Of course, the Japanese brigade commander also completely disappeared in the Nationalist army's artillery fire.

The Japanese troops who charged forward were quickly engulfed by intense artillery fire. Almost none survived.

However, the position was indeed recaptured by the Japanese invaders.

Continue the attack.

It was snatched back again.

Zhang Yong: ...

See it.

The Japanese invaders were completely indifferent to casualties!

They'd spare no effort, even if it meant sacrificing the lives of an entire independent mixed brigade. They just wouldn't let you get close.

"report!"

Meanwhile, intelligence continued to arrive.

It is said that lightly armed Japanese troops appeared on the flanks or behind the National Revolutionary Army.

They were few in number, perhaps just a company or a squad. They specialized in attacking the Nationalist army's weak points, such as logistical supply lines.

Clearly, the Nationalist army in the rear was far less effective than the Japanese troops who launched the surprise attack.

A very small number of Japanese troops even infiltrated the vicinity of Yichun and Xinyu, bombing highways and causing chaos.

Zhang Yong: ...

Alright. I understand the Japanese invaders' intentions now.

It's just dragging things out.

They want to turn Nanchang into a quagmire.

They've tied themselves and the Nationalist army up here. It's been a long time. They're unable to move.

but!

It's ok.

You may have a thousand methods. I will defeat them all with a single force.

We arrived at the position of the 18th Army.

He personally took the stage.