Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 489 I want it all
After the Battle of Yudong, several important mobile corps of the Guo army suffered heavy casualties, and the main force was concentrated in the Pengcheng and Shangdu areas, making it unable to provide effective support to other battlefields.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Central Plains Field Army and the Shandong Corps of the East China Field Army launched an attack on the important strongholds of the Kuomintang army.

Yanzhou and Xiangfan were liberated one after another.

The liberation of Yanzhou severed the transportation between Quancheng and the Kuomintang army, turning Quancheng, a key town of the Kuomintang army, into an isolated city.

At this time, the main force of the East China Field Army also returned to the Lincheng area.

While the various columns were taking the time to rest and recuperate, the Central Committee and the East China Field Army Headquarters also began their next phase of planning.

At the headquarters, Luo Ping walked in from outside, covered in sweat.

"Come on, Lao Luo, here's a watermelon that was just pulled out of the well. Have a couple of slices to cool off."

Luo Ping didn't say a word, just grabbed a watermelon and started eating it.

After eating several pieces, Luo Ping finally stopped and breathed a sigh of relief: "The weather is too hot today."

"I just visited all the branches, and the troop replenishment is basically complete."

"The newly formed twelve infantry battalions and three artillery battalions are all at full strength, but their equipment is still a little lacking."

"The soldiers are all clamoring to fight the Fifth Army and avenge their defeat."

"When I came back, Xu Wu and the others asked me to ask you when you were going to turn around and give the Fifth Army a good beating."

Qiu Feng claimed to be ill and returned to his hometown, but he didn't stay long. Upon learning that he might be promoted to the position of Siling Officer of the Second Army Corps, he hurriedly rushed back to flatter Chang Ruiyuan.

After taking office as the commander of the Second Army Corps, Qiu Feng ordered the Fifth Army to keep causing trouble for the Second Army Corps, which made all the branches extremely angry.

"Hehe. If someone kicks you, and you keep staring at their foot, you're probably going to get punched in the face."

Luo Ping understood the implication: "What, are you letting this old nemesis go?"

"We received orders from the field headquarters. The troops should be setting off back to Shandong in a few days." Chen Chengxing pointed to the folder that the field headquarters had sent him on the table.

The field commander has finalized the battle plan for Quancheng with the central government.

Simply put, I want them all.

To put it a little more complicatedly, the East China Field Army was divided into two: one side launched a strong attack on Quancheng, while the other side encircled and attacked the reinforcements.

Moreover, both sides were really fighting.

"Attack on Quancheng? It seems they're preparing for a major battle."

Hearing Luo Ping's words, Chen Chengxing looked at him with some surprise: "Wow, Lao Luo, you can even tell that?"

"Is there even a need to look? After taking Jinan, Central and North China will be connected, and the remaining enemies will only be Beijing and Pengcheng."

"No matter where we fight next, we'll be facing hundreds of thousands of troops. What is this if not a major war?"

"So, do you think we should attack Beiping first or Pengcheng first?" Chen Chengxing asked.

"I don't know, anything is possible." Luo Ping indicated that his skill level was only so-so: "Old Chen, which team do you think they'll play?"

"I don't know either." Chen Chengxing shook his head.

The person in charge in Beiping has changed, and nobody knows what will happen.

However, once Jinan is captured, Beijing and Tianjin will be isolated on land, and the central government will most likely attack Jinan.

But Chen Chengxing never talks about things he's not sure about.

"Then we don't need to guess anymore, we just need to follow orders," Luo Ping said.
"The most important thing now is to strengthen troop training in order to prepare for any possible battles."

In this Battle of Yudong, the Second General Staff suffered considerable casualties, but also captured a significant amount of spoils.

Not only were the howitzer battalions replenished with twelve cannons, but the previously planned additions of three infantry and one artillery corps were also fully staffed.

However, the newly expanded artillery battalions were not fully organized and were equipped with a number of miscellaneous cannons.

The newly formed infantry battalions are all understaffed, and they are short of heavy weapons. "Hmm." Chen Chengxing nodded: "Old Luo, have you checked on the armored battalion? What's their situation? Are the tanks that were brought back useful?"

Previously, the Third Column abandoned six tanks that couldn't be started at Chengang Village. These tanks hadn't been moved when the other columns attacked, finding them troublesome.

When Chen Chengxing found out, he arranged for Zhou Weiguo to pick up the scraps before the main force retreated.

"It's basically still usable, but we don't have the damaged parts on hand."

"Zhang Chu sent a telegram to Yimeng Mountain, and the repair team left there will salvage parts from the previously damaged tanks and send them over."

Zhang Chu said it should be able to be fixed, but he didn't know how many could be fixed.

"Something is better than nothing." Chen Chengxing was very satisfied to hear that it could be repaired.

Chen Chengxing didn't plan to build any armored formations himself; he just wanted them to be effective in critical moments.

"Now that the troops are fully replenished, the next step is to intensify training," Chen Chengxing said solemnly.

It was already the end of July, and the decisive battle was just around the corner.

The two leaders must reach their peak combat power again before the final battle.

Luo Ping nodded: "You'll have to take charge of military training. The political department and I will strengthen ideological education."

Chen Chengxing nodded: "Training during the day and ideological education at night, not a minute can be wasted."

In mid-August, the two armies of Huaye, one inside and one outside, converged in the Yanzhou area.

Chen Chengxing and Luo Ping had just finished a meeting at the field headquarters and hadn't even sat down when the commanders of each branch gathered around them.

"Has the decision been made, Captain and Political Commissar?" Everyone chimed in with their questions.

"Stop making so much noise! ​​Can't a person even have a sip of water?"

"Go wait in the operations room," Chen Chengxing waved his hand.

"Old Chu, notify all branches to have all officers at the level of deputy branch commander and above attend the meeting."

"it is good."

Half an hour later, in the operations room.

"As for the next task of Huaye, I think you can guess it pretty accurately without me having to say it."

"Spring City." Chen Chengxing pointed to the map with his command stick.

"Under the instructions of the Central Committee, the operational plan for the Quancheng Campaign has been basically completed, and we have formed the Eastern Route Group together with the Bohai local forces."

"The commander's order is that the eastern front is to provide support and assist the western front in the siege."

Upon hearing Chen Chengxing's words, the crowd immediately erupted in chaos.

"Shut up!" Chen Chengxing shouted.

“Assisting in an attack is still an attack. If you can be the first to enter Jinan, do you think the forward command would let you leave the city?”

"Yes, yes, the captain is right." Xu Wu nodded repeatedly: "Whether to assist or attack, it all depends on strength."

"If we play well, the assists become the main attack, and the main attack also needs to cooperate with us."

“Xu Wu is right. If your progress is slow, then you deserve to be an accomplice,” Chen Chengxing said. “If you’re not happy about it, then show us your true skills.”

Chen Chengxing understood Ye Si's meaning; this was to leave room for maneuver in the next major battle.

However, Chen Chengxing's "Number One in the World" trait has not been fully upgraded yet, so he cannot just watch other columns take the lead in the attack.

Seeing the morale that had been boosted, Luo Ping quietly gave Chen Chengxing a thumbs up.

(End of this chapter)