Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Changjin Lake, a Hundred Battles, a Hundred Victories

Chapter 260 Chief of Staff Debate!
"If the Japanese want to concentrate their forces to attack us after the spring and relieve the 3rd Tank Division."

"Currently, it seems they only have two routes of attack."

"Let's put aside the Japanese in North China for now and look at the two divisions that the Japanese Kwantung Army has moved to Rehe."

"If these two divisions are to be transferred, they will most likely go through the route from Beiping, Zhangjiakou to Datong."

"Relying on the Ping-Sui Railway for the allocation of materials and the transportation of troops."

"Trains are fast and have a large transport capacity, which can meet the logistical needs of two divisions. This is the Japanese's first choice."

"The northern detour route, namely the Rehe-Chahar Grassland route, is sparsely populated and easy to covertly during marches."

"Starting from Chifeng, passing through Duolun and Shangdu, we arrived at Jining, where we joined forces with the Japanese troops in North China to attack us from both the north and south."

"I don't think the Japanese will choose this route."

"The grasslands offer excellent concealment, making it ideal for a surprise attack."

"But the disadvantages are also significant. The grasslands lack railways and rely on automobiles and mules for transportation, making them susceptible to weather conditions. The Japanese mechanized troops have poor mobility on the grasslands."

"At the same time, this route is more than 200 kilometers longer than the railway, and it would take more than ten days to march there, which would give us enough reaction time."

"The Japanese might have deployed two divisions. With so many troops, the logistical pressure on them would be immense if they took this route."

"If the war goes badly, and our army cuts off the railway line, cutting off the Japanese from the possibility of resupplying from Datong, we will send cavalry detachments to harass the Japanese logistics line."

"Two Japanese divisions could be left without logistical support and be worn down by us."

"Therefore, the most likely route the Japanese would choose is to provide support via the Ping-Sui Railway."

said the chief of staff.

"Is it possible that the Japanese soldiers crossed the Manchurian-Mongolian border and reached Jining directly?"

At this moment, Chen Ming chimed in.

The Manchurian-Mongolian border he was referring to was naturally the line from Tongliao, through Linxi and Huade, and finally to Jining.

This route is a very bad military option, and the Japanese would only choose it under extreme circumstances.

After listening, Chief of Staff Liu looked at the map and thought for a while before speaking:
"Absolutely impossible."

His tone was very certain.

The advantage of the route Chen Ming mentioned is that it completely avoids the main force of our army and stays far away from the main force area of ​​the Chinese army.

It's a clever plan; once used, it can launch a surprise attack, just like the surprise attack Deko made when he crossed the Ardennes Forest.

However, the drawbacks are even more obvious.

"This road has harsh natural conditions, requiring it to traverse the Horqin Sandy Land and the desert at the northern foot of the Yinshan Mountains, where water and food are scarce."

"Without reliable supply points, heavy equipment cannot pass. If the Japanese choose this route, it means they will abandon their heavy weapons and travel light."

"At the same time, this route is over 600 kilometers long, and the time cost is very high, so it is not feasible except in emergencies."

"It's an extreme way to avoid suspicion; we only choose this option when there are no other choices."

"The Japanese have the Ping-Sui Railway line to take, or at the very least, they can take the Duolun or Shangdu line."

“It’s not that they have no choice, so they definitely won’t take this route.”

After listening, Chen Ming smiled.

"That's a good analysis. It seems my time studying abroad in Frunze wasn't wasted."

Chen Ming joked, but then added:
"But there are still some differences between what's taught on the battlefield and what's taught in the academy."

"On the battlefield, we must consider every possibility, focus on the main ones, and not pay attention to the secondary ones."

"There is a high probability that the Japanese will launch an attack through the Ping-Sui Railway."

“Going through the Manchurian-Mongolian border is the least likely possibility.”

"But when the German army launched its surprise attack on France, no one thought that the German army would use armored forces to bypass the Maginot Line and cross the Ardennes Forest."

"Ultimately, this led to France's surrender in just 42 days."

"The route along the Manchurian-Mongolian border is also an impossible route in our eyes, but what if the Japanese's real intention is not to attack us, but merely to rescue the Japanese 3rd Tank Division in Baotou?"

Chen Ming asked Chief of Staff Liu.

Chief of Staff Liu was very clever and understood from Chen Ming's hint.

"You mean that the two Japanese divisions in Rehe may not actually be planning to attack us, but are just trying to lull us into a false sense of security and distract us?"

"Then send out troops to advance lightly equipped, carrying supplies, across the Manchurian-Mongolian border directly to Baotou, and take advantage of the Japanese armored forces' superior strength in Baotou to break through the defenses?"

Chief of Staff Liu asked Chen Ming.

Chen Ming nodded: "That's possible."

"If I were a Japanese soldier, I would consider this route, choosing the least likely possibility to achieve a surprise victory."

"A feint to the east while attacking the west, by first rescuing the armored division in Baotou, will free up a powerful force."

"With the addition of the armored division, along with several other divisions, our strength will be even greater, and our chances of victory will be the highest."

"Even if the subsequent attack doesn't go smoothly, the armored division has already been saved. What we've lost is just Baotou, which is now worthless."

"The first route, although less risky, could lead to a stalemate if the attack goes poorly, or even result in a forced retreat."

"Then the armored division in Baotou has no hope at all."

“A large-scale campaign cannot be launched on a whim.”

"At that time, the Japanese troops in Baotou had been besieged by us for a whole winter. They were almost out of ammunition and food, and there was no possibility of them holding out for a few more months."

"An armored division that has lost its logistics for six months or even longer is easier to deal with than an ordinary Japanese Class C division."

Chen Ming shared his insights.

After listening, the chief of staff nodded in realization and sighed.

"Indeed, reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles are essential. Theory needs time to be tested, and practice also needs knowledge as its basis."

After expressing his feelings, he asked, "Then should we adjust our plans?"

Chen Ming shook his head:

"No need. The art of war guidance lies in resolving the principal contradiction and analyzing the enemy's offensive routes. It is neither necessary nor possible to exhaust all routes."

"We should follow the principle of focusing on the big picture and letting go of the small details, giving priority to the analysis of strategic lifelines such as major transportation routes and resource-rich areas."

"Adapt to the changing situation and dynamically adjust the focus according to the stage of the battlefield, such as defense, stalemate, and counter-offensive."

"We must also give full play to the role of people's war, rely on intelligence from the masses to narrow down the scope of analysis, and achieve precision strikes in key areas."

"For the Manchurian-Mongolian border, it would be sufficient to send some scout cavalry and mobilize the masses to monitor it."

"Our focus should still be on the Ping-Sui Railway route."

The chief of staff nodded: "I understand."

"Okay, let's continue the analysis," Chen Ming said.

"Yes."

The chief of staff continued his analysis: "If we analyze the Ping-Sui Railway as the route of the Japanese Kwantung Army's attack."

"I think we can adopt a strategy of blocking one and attacking one at a time."

"We will block the Japanese Kwantung Army and the Japanese troops in North China, and focus our attacks on the Japanese Kwantung Army." "As for the Japanese troops in North China, we can send a commander who is good at defense to defend the area, and with the cooperation of other base areas, we can prevent the Japanese troops in North China from effectively coordinating with the Japanese Kwantung Army."

"Our primary objective against the Japanese Kwantung Army is not to annihilate the besieged 3rd Tank Division, but to use it as bait to buy time and gradually wear down the Japanese reinforcements that have come from afar."

“Taking advantage of their eagerness to provide rescue, all tactics are designed around the idea of ​​making you arrive in a faster manner.”

"We can set up a three-layered ambush zone to gradually wear down the Japanese soldiers."

"The first layer is the outer guerrilla zone, where small elite units constantly harass the area."

"They would bite and run, targeting logistics and reconnaissance units, blowing up bridges, sabotaging roads, and burying rotting animal carcasses in water sources to pollute them."

"The aim was to slow down their march, exhaust their spirits, and keep them from having any peace from the very first day they entered the base area."

"The second layer is the main blocking zone, which utilizes favorable terrain such as the passes and valleys of the Yinshan Mountains to construct the main blocking positions."

"We need a tough defender here to fight a tough battle."

"To force the Japanese to launch a major offensive and inflict maximum casualties. To make the Japanese pay the price in blood for every step they take forward."

"After the battle, open up the defensive line and let the Japanese in, into the third layer of defense."

"The third layer is the decisive layer. The two divisions of the Japanese Kwantung Army were stripped bare layer by layer, suffering heavy casualties and losing all their morale."

"When they finally see the walls of Baotou, they will be facing a victorious army that is well-rested and in high spirits."

"After letting the Japanese in, the main force quickly closed in from both flanks, together with the blocking troops behind, and surrounded the Japanese reinforcements who had broken in within a narrow area."

"At this time, our troops were on the inner line, which actually created a pincer movement against the Japanese reinforcements."

"Utilizing the powerful artillery firepower of our artillery detachment, coupled with the immense destructive power of rocket artillery, we will annihilate this invading Japanese Kwantung Army and establish our advantage in one fell swoop!"

The chief of staff then shared his analysis.

By exploiting information asymmetry and intelligence superiority, they misled the Japanese into misjudging the strength of the Independent Detachment.

The Japanese Kwantung Army was different from the Japanese forces inside China; their understanding of the Independent Detachment was not as good as that of the North China Expeditionary Army.

At the same time, since the Kwantung Army was promoted to General Army, which is one level higher than the North China Expeditionary Army, it naturally would not obey the orders of the North China Expeditionary Army.

Moreover, the Japanese were unaware that Chen Ming had acquired Soviet weapons.

In the minds of the Japanese, the artillery power of the Independent Detachment was still limited to infantry support artillery, such as mortars and infantry guns.

The heavy firepower consisted of only one mountain artillery battalion, plus four 150mm howitzers.

These four 150mm howitzers have been through so many battles that they are pretty much worn out and no longer pose a significant threat.

Therefore, the Japanese Kwantung Army had the advantage in artillery fire and air power, giving them a firepower advantage.

With superior firepower and the same numerical superiority of several divisions, it was practically a case of "the advantage is on my side!"

The chief of staff was responsible for assessing the Japanese forces psychologically and tactically, and for developing operational plans.

After listening, Chen Ming nodded in satisfaction:

“Excellent, excellent. I made the right choice in asking you for this from headquarters.”

"With your advice and suggestions, things will be much easier for me from now on."

Upon hearing Chen Ming's praise, the chief of staff humbly replied:

"I wouldn't dare say that. It's up to you to make the decisions for our big family."

"Haha, what's there to be ashamed of? Let's discuss it together."

"If I have to listen to everything you say, won't I become a stubborn old man who makes all the decisions?"

“Our big family values ​​collective wisdom and effort. Last time we discussed the winter cotton clothing supply, Lao Zhang suggested ‘making them in different areas and prioritizing delivery to the front lines.’ Wasn’t that three days less work than my idea of ​​‘centralized production and then redistribution’?”

"Besides, the soldiers have been fighting on the front lines, who knows better than them what the battlefield lacks and what the troops need?"

"If I take on all the ideas, wouldn't I be disappointing everyone?"

"Like I always say, if there's anything we need to discuss, let's sit down and talk it over. Listen to what's right and correct what's wrong. That's how we can live a good life and win battles!" Chen Ming said with a smile.

"However, we cannot ignore the Japanese tank division in Baotou when the battle begins. We must cripple them and trap them in the city of Baotou."

Chen Ming continued, then shouted outside:

"Dabiao!"

"To!"

When Wang Dabiao heard Chen Ming call him, he pushed the door open and came in.

"Go and bring Duan Peng to me," Chen Ming said.

"Yes."

Half an hour later, Duan Peng arrived at the command post.

Duan Peng is the captain of the special operations brigade, which is located less than ten miles from the command headquarters. When there are no missions, the brigade follows the command headquarters.

"Commander, you wanted to see me?" Duan Peng asked after entering the room and saluting.

"Okay." Chen Ming nodded. "I'm giving you a task."

"Guaranteed to complete the mission!"

Duan Peng immediately said.

"I haven't even mentioned the mission yet, and you're already making a guarantee," Chen Ming said with a smile.

"Reporting to the commander, the special operations brigade is ready to receive your instructions at any time."

"The tasks you assign must be completed if possible, and if not, we must find a way to complete them!"

Duan Peng said loudly.

Chen Ming didn't immediately applaud. Instead, he gave him a meaningful look, slowly walked to the map, and gently tapped a key location with his finger:

"Having determination is a good thing, but an excellent commander cannot just think about 'finding ways' to confront things head-on."

"The real skill is turning an 'impossible' task into a 'capable' battle."

He turned around, his eyes piercing:
"I ask you, where is the enemy's weakness? Who holds the advantage of timing and terrain?"

Have you prepared several 'ruthless' tactics? Think them through thoroughly before reporting back to me.

"What I need is your wise 'solution,' not a 'solution' for the lives of soldiers."

"Yes!"

Duan Peng stood ramrod straight in the face of Chen Ming's criticism.

"Order now: Special Operations Brigade, depart for Baotou, secretly infiltrate Baotou, locate the Japanese fuel depot, and blow it up!"

"In this battle, the priority is to ensure the safety of the team members. If force majeure occurs, retreat immediately and do not act recklessly!"

Chen Ming turned around and gave the order.

"Yes!"

After receiving the order, Duan Peng left the command post. On the way, he thought to himself, with their capabilities, what mission couldn't they accomplish?

Chen Ming remained silent for a long time before finally speaking to Zhang Zhengze, the political commissar who had been silent throughout the meeting.
"Old Zhang, the troops have acquired a large number of weapons and achieved great victories, so they've become a bit complacent."

(End of this chapter)