Soldiers Assault: Starting from the 7th Steel Company

Chapter 234 Taking a Risk
In fact, the Red Army command had already received news that an unidentified convoy had been spotted on their flank.

Cheng Guoqiang had a bad feeling. First, this location was very close to the command post. If it were the Blue Army troops, they might not have enough time to mobilize them. Second, even if they did mobilize troops, there seemed to be no troops available in the surrounding area.

This location is most likely occupied by the Blue Army troops, so the chief of staff's advice is to evacuate as soon as possible, lest they die and need to fight again.

Logically speaking, the chief of staff's opinion was sound; it was indeed a safe plan. However, Cheng Guoqiang did not want to do it that way. What would it look like if such a large command post fled in a panic? Moreover, there would definitely be a lot of things they couldn't take with them, which would be a great disgrace to the exercise!

But if we don't leave, and we get wiped out in one fell swoop, it won't just be a matter of shame.

Just as he was hesitating, the command headquarters received another message: the Blue Army's raiding force was ambushed by our army in Heifengyu and almost completely annihilated!

Upon hearing this news, Cheng Guoqiang and the others were stunned, because they really couldn't understand why there would be their troops in that direction.

After asking around, no one knew about the situation. Just as his subordinates asked if someone had moved troops without authorization, good news finally came from the front. It turned out to be troops from Brigade C.

"Shame breeds courage!" Cheng Guoqiang left this comment with a smile, which served as a fitting assessment of their brilliant ambush.

Because the Blue Army's surprise attack was annihilated by the Red Army's C Brigade, not only did the campaign objective fail to be achieved, but the initial advantage was also wiped out, a classic case of trying to steal a chicken but losing the rice instead.

After the Red Army command discovered this problem, it promptly redeployed troops to strengthen the defenses of Heifengyu, making the command post virtually impregnable.

Cheng Guoqiang specifically summoned Chen Jiang and Long Kaifeng to his command post, which made Long Kaifeng very uneasy, since his previous recklessness had led to the failure of the surprise attack.

But Cheng Guoqiang didn't mention this matter at all. He only praised their ambush in Heifengyu and asked them to talk about their next plans.

Cheng Guoqiang gestured for the two to come to the sand table, and pointed precisely to an open area south of Heifengyu.

“The Blues suffered a huge loss this time and will definitely not let it go. Their main force is intact, so what will they do next?” He looked intently at the two men.

Long Kaifeng's tense nerves relaxed slightly. Seeing that the commander really had no intention of pursuing the past, he also focused intently on analyzing the battle situation.

"Sir, the Blue Army's surprise attack failed, and the battlefield situation has returned to equilibrium. Our frontal defenses are very strong, and the southern front has been reinforced, so I think they will most likely turn their attention to the northern front. After all, the Blue Army's armored forces have a clear advantage in the north."

Long Kaifeng's overall analysis is quite fair, and from a conventional perspective, it is indeed the case.

After listening, Cheng Guoqiang asked Chen Jiang, who simply nodded in agreement without saying anything else.

Cheng Guoqiang couldn't glean anything new from this, so he could only wave them away.

"Chief of Staff, are we really limited to reinforcing the defenses in the north?"

He was still somewhat unwilling. If he was led by the nose by the Blue Army, what would be the point of this exercise?

“Actually, I think Chen Jiang has some things he wants to say but hasn’t said!” The chief of staff, being an ideological and political worker, immediately saw through Chen Jiang’s concerns.

Cheng Guoqiang also realized that his thoughts were definitely different from Long Kaifeng's, which was why he wouldn't say it in front of the brigade commander. Otherwise, where would Long Kaifeng's face be?

"Hmm, this Chen Jiang, sigh." He hesitated, then continued, "Call him over again later, quietly."

A dozen minutes later, Chen Jiang was called back to the command room.

This command center is located underground and has strong NBC (nuclear, biological, and chemical) protection capabilities.

"Tell me, what new opinions or suggestions do you have?" Cheng Guoqiang liked to get straight to the point, after all, he was quite familiar with Chen Jiang.

Chen Jiang pondered for a moment, then pointed to the sand table: "Commander, the Blue Army's surprise attack failed, and their frontal assault was thwarted by our defensive fortifications. At present, it seems that only the north and south flanks have a chance."

"I know that, give me the specific conclusion." Cheng Guoqiang was getting a little anxious.

"I think the Blue Army will still attack our southern front!"

Chen Jiang's words were truly shocking, immediately stunning all the high-ranking officers in the command room.
One of the leaders immediately retorted, "Impossible! They just suffered a great loss at Black Wind Valley, why would they come back?"

Cheng Guoqiang waved his hand, signaling the other party to calm down and let Chen Jiang continue.

Chen Jiang nodded, then continued to explain, "Warfare is based on deception! Because the enemy suffered a loss at Black Wind Valley, we all felt that they wouldn't attack from the south. Therefore, attacking from the south would have a surprise effect, which is in line with the principles of warfare!"

"Interesting, keep going!" Cheng Guoqiang's eyes lit up as he listened.

Encouraged, Chen Jiang continued, "The Blue Army that we wiped out at Heifengyu was just a rapid reaction force. In fact, for the Blue Army, which has a strong foundation, this loss is nothing. But please don't forget that although its southern line is not close to the Central Theater Command, there is a railway running through it. If we were to transfer the main force of armored units from the Central Theater Command southwards and take a detour through here instead of Heifengyu!"

Chen Jiang pointed to a section of terrain on the sand table.

This time, the chief of staff understood. "You mean they'll build a pontoon bridge here and then drive tanks behind us to launch an attack?"

“That’s right. If I were the commander of the Blue Army, I would do the same! The Blue Army has a very good engineering unit equipped with the latest bridge-building vehicles. Building a pontoon bridge in the narrowest part of this river would not be a problem for them.”

"Should we go there to set up defenses?" The commander who had spoken earlier was so frightened by Chen Jiang's words that his face turned pale. If the main force of the Blue Army's armored troops really attacked, they would all be doomed!
"No! My suggestion is to open the southern route and let them come over!"

A hint of appreciation flashed in Cheng Guoqiang's eyes, but his tone remained calm: "Open up the southern route? That's quite an ambition. Tell me your specific ideas."

"Yes!" Chen Jiang straightened his back, full of confidence. The southern front seemed very vulnerable, but the Red Army's advantage lay in its long-range fire guidance technology. What era are we living in? Why use ground troops when missiles can solve the problem?

“If we just keep at this stalemate, the most likely outcome will be a draw or a Pyrrhic victory. I know the Blue Army commander; he's very competitive! So he's very likely to detach his main force from the central region and move south, leaving his central forces undefended. Once his troops reach the crossing point and set up the pontoon bridge, we can use long-range artillery and missiles to bombard the area while they cross the river, and simultaneously launch a counterattack with Brigade C as the main force!” Chen Jiang added, “At that moment, taking advantage of the Blue Army's weakened central defenses, our main force can break through from the middle, cutting the Blue Army in half and preventing them from supporting both ends. Then we'll win this exercise!”

All the officers and soldiers were astonished by Chen Jiang's "luring the enemy deep into the territory" tactic. This kid's scheme was too vicious, but everyone was praising him in their hearts. It was vicious, but I liked it!
Cheng Guoqiang paced back and forth in the command post, his hands behind his back, the only sound in the room being the steady thud of his footsteps. Everyone held their breath, awaiting the commander's final decision.

Suddenly, he stopped and said decisively, "Alright! Let's go with this approach. Chen Jiang, the task of the ferry crossing is assigned to your C Brigade. I'm giving you a chance to make a name for yourselves!"

Long Kaifeng straightened his chest and saluted solemnly: "Please rest assured, Commander! I guarantee the mission will be completed! I will not let a single Blue Army soldier escape!"

Cheng Guoqiang nodded, and finally commanded, "I give the order."

All rise.

"To mislead the Blue Army, we will transfer some troops from the southern front to reinforce the northern front, making a bigger commotion. At the same time, we will also transfer some troops from the central front, and then secretly transfer them back at night. Once the fighting starts on the southern front, the main force of the army group will break through from the central front and destroy the Blue Army's defenses in one fell swoop! This operation will be codenamed 'Operation Thunder'!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

"Yes!"

Everyone's eyes shone with an unwavering determination to win.

After Cheng Guoqiang issued the order, the entire army group began to operate at high speed and covertly, like a sophisticated war machine.

In order to make the "luring the enemy" act more convincing, the Red Army began a series of strategic deceptions.

During the day, the massive convoy kicked up clouds of dust as it marched north. In reality, many of the vehicles were carrying fake tanks and equipment made of cardboard boxes.

Radio communications were filled with orders and signals for the northward movement of troops, deliberately allowing the Blue Army's electronic reconnaissance units to capture the "top-secret intelligence" that "the main force of the Red Army has moved north, leaving the southern front relatively undefended." Several regiments even ostentatiously constructed new defensive fortifications on the northern front, adopting a posture of strict defense.

At night, these troops would quietly return in batches to their pre-arranged attack positions in the central area, taking advantage of the darkness and terrain.

Meanwhile, the troops of Brigade C, led by Chen Jiang and Long Kaifeng, took advantage of the bad weather and complex terrain, operating under cover of darkness and hiding during the day, to secretly maneuver towards the designated southern crossing area, and completed the construction of concealed camouflage and anti-armor ambush positions.

Long-range rocket artillery and missile units also quietly adjusted their firing parameters, their silent muzzles pointing directly at the seemingly calm river.

At Chen Jiang's request, Tang Xinyi's information brigade also began to prepare for electronic jamming. When the Blue Army troops arrived at the ferry, the powerful electronic jamming capabilities would temporarily disable the enemy's "eyes" and "mouth".

In the midst of anxious waiting, the Blue Army commander ultimately couldn't resist the "food temptation" offered by the Red Army.
Based on reconnaissance intelligence, they judged that the Red Army had been drawn away by the feints on the northern front, and that the defense on the southern front would inevitably be weakened.

The Blue Army commander ordered the transfer of its most elite armored assault group from the Central Theater Command to be transported by rail at night and quickly moved south, intending to cross the river from the Red Army's "undefended" southern flank and strike directly behind the Red Army's command post.

In the early morning of the third day of the exercise, as dawn broke and mist shrouded the river, the Blue Army's engineering corps, equipped with advanced technology, began rapidly constructing a pontoon bridge at the narrowest point of the river. Main battle tanks and armored vehicles painted with Blue Army insignia gathered on the bank, their engines humming softly, awaiting the order to cross.

The Red Army's forward observation post transmitted intelligence back to the command post in real time about the arrival of the Blue Army troops and their commencement of bridge construction.

Cheng Guoqiang stood before the enormous electronic screen, where the enemy and friendly forces' positions were clearly displayed. He saw that almost the entire main force of the Blue Army had already entered the pre-designated river-crossing area.

When news arrived that the Blue Army had completed half of its river crossing, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. He took a deep breath and decisively issued the order: "'Operation Thunder,' begin!"

In an instant, the Red Army's long-range rocket artillery and tactical missile units deployed in the rear spoke first. Dense shells and missiles, as if they had eyes, pierced the silence of dawn and accurately covered the Blue Army's bridge-building area and assembly points along the river.

The explosion sent flames and water jets soaring into the sky, and the newly erected pontoon bridge section was precisely "destroyed," leaving several Blue Army armored vehicles crossing the river completely bewildered.

Almost simultaneously with the artillery barrage, Chen Jiang gave the order, and the C Brigade's ambush troops, positioned behind the gentle slopes on both sides of the crossing, suddenly opened fire. Anti-tank missiles, rocket launchers, and various direct-fire weapons poured down like a torrential rain on the chaotic Blue Army ranks.

Long Kaifeng personally led an assault detachment, using artillery cover and smoke grenades to advance swiftly, seize advantageous terrain, and further divide and suppress the Blue Army forces attempting to organize resistance.

A helicopter squadron from the C Brigade also flew in from the sky, unleashing exceptionally fierce firepower.

Caught off guard in the narrow riverbank area, the Blue Army armored forces were caught off guard, unable to defend themselves from both ends, and their organization was disrupted, putting them in a very passive position for a time.

Upon receiving a phone call from the exercise referee team, the commander of the Blue Army assault force angrily ordered his troops to abandon resistance.

"Report! The Blue Army's southward crossing force suffered heavy losses due to our heavy firepower and ambush, and has been successfully halted in the riverbank area!" the chief of staff reported excitedly.

Cheng Guoqiang showed no sign of relaxation; he knew the moment of decisive battle had arrived.

He spoke into the communicator to the main Red Army attack force, which was already poised for a general offensive on the central front: "Central assault operation begins!"

In an instant, the Red Army's main armored force, which had been accumulating strength on the central front, tore through the Blue Army's seemingly solid but actually weakened defenses due to troop withdrawals.

The Blue Army command realized they had fallen into a trap, but it was too late.

Under the Red Army's air strikes and ground armored assaults, a huge gap was quickly torn in the central defense line, and the Red Army's iron torrent was surging into their depths with unstoppable force.

The situation in the battle took a sharp turn for the worse.

The Blues were unable to coordinate their efforts between the north and south, and were completely thrown into chaos.
Ultimately, the exercise judges ruled that the Red Army had won, and when the news came, enthusiastic cheers erupted in the Red Army command post.

(End of this chapter)