Chapter 79: Battle between Sichuan and Yunnan (IV)

In the command center, Xiao Yimin stood up and asked everyone to sit down at the conference table. The guard commander, the cavalry commander and others immediately found their place and took their seats. Several confidential staff members who graduated from the Army Quick School brought tea to everyone, and then sat in the back row to open the record book.

The conference table is relatively close to everyone, and the map on the wall is large enough, so you can see clearly without getting close.

Xiao Yimin walked to the map, took the baton handed over by the staff, explained to everyone the reasons for inviting two German military officers to attend the meeting, explained a little about the previous confidentiality measures, and then sincerely apologized:

"Everyone, I need to apologize to you here. Although this trick of concealing the world requires me to do this, I still feel sorry for everyone. I would like to emphasize here: It is not that I don’t trust everyone, but that our army basically has no sense of confidentiality, and it is difficult to guarantee that it will not be leaked by many military reporters and secret spies of the Yunnan Army."

Everyone understood Xiao Yimin's original intention very well. The unexpected look on his face was wiped out, and the rest was full of excitement.

Xiao Yimin pointed to Jianwei County, the upper reaches of the Minjiang River to the west of Xu Prefecture:

"At 4:30 this afternoon, Commander Zhou of the First Division sent a liaison officer to send a message that Wang Jian Brigade, the right wing unit of our army, was riding in more than 450 wooden boats, hiding out at night, quietly descending the river, landing at Xiangjiaping Wharf, three kilometers north of Jianwei City. At 5 a.m. today, he successfully encircled a battalion of the Xie Ruyi division of the Yunnan Army stationed in Jianwei County, and completely wiped out!"

The generals in the hall couldn't help but applaud. They knew the significance of pulling out this nail on the western front of the Yunnan Army.

Xiao Yimin paused a little and continued to introduce to everyone: "Based on the news sent by Commander Zhou in the afternoon, I infer that at this time the vanguard of the First Division had occupied Lijiachang, 24 kilometers west of the Xu Prefecture. Even if Xie Ruyi's troops in the Yunnan Army entrenched in the Xu Prefecture city knew about it, they would not have time to make adjustments.

"In this battle, the Yunnan Army made a very serious mistake. They concentrated the seven main groups between the Xu Prefecture and Luzhou, and acted as a decisive battle across the river. Because the Yunnan Army underestimated the enemy, the two subsequent mixed brigades sent by them have not yet left the Zhaotong territory.

"Our command based on the terrain, hydrological and meteorological conditions of the Sichuan-Yunnan border, as well as the marching speed estimates of the Yunnan Army, it was determined that it would take at least five days for these two brigades to enter the battlefield. Even if their vanguard abandons all the supplies and travel day and night, it would take at least three and a half to four days to arrive at the front line from the Xu Prefecture to Luzhou. Moreover, the telegraph line in the junction of Sichuan-Yunnan has been successfully destroyed by the lurking team we sent in advance."

When Peng Guanglie heard this, he stood up excitedly: "Commander, then, we have no time to annihilate the various units of the Yunnan Army one by one?"

"That's right! Commander Peng, the enemy of Lu County is expected to retreat to the south bank of the Yangtze River soon. You have to hurry up. We analyze that within 24 hours, the 17th Regiment of the Yunnan Army stationed in Lu County will not have time to retreat. They are yours." Xiao Yimin smiled.

"What about the enemy in Qijiang?" Chen Jing, chief of staff of the Second Division, asked hurriedly.

Xiao Yimin pointed to the last beloved general Tang Wulin:

"Leave it to the cavalry regiment to solve it. The 230-kilometer raid is very difficult for infantry. It is difficult to reach without four days. The physical condition of the soldiers is also necessary to consider the cavalry. However, for the cavalry, it is only a day and a night. I need the Second Division to quickly capture Lu County with its superior forces, and form a huge oppression on the Li Hongxiang unit of the Yunnan Army in Luzhou Prefecture, and to restrain the three regiments of the unit on the front line of Luzhou to gain enough time for the First Division and the First Brigade of the Border Army to attack Xie Ruyi's unit of the Xu Prefecture."

Peng Guanglie, Chen Jing and others were very satisfied.

The Second Division has only 5,000 officers and soldiers, so it is indeed not appropriate to divide the troops to attack. Now Xiao Yimin has calculated everything clearly and arranged it properly, so why don’t they feel comfortable? Fighting with such a commander is comfortable.

"Report! The right-road army urgently asked!"

The staff officer on duty ran outside the door to report loudly. Adjutant Zheng Changze hurried out, took the letter and asked in a low voice, and immediately delivered the letter to Xiao Yimin.

After Xiao Yimin opened it and saw a bright smile on his face, he raised his baton and knocked on Muchuan County, south of Jianwei County:

"Everyone, the right-wing military news, the first and third regiments of the First Mixed Brigade have successfully captured Muchuan County and annihilated two enemy companies. Now, as planned, the brigade commander Wang Jian himself led by the brigade commander Wang Jian and quickly marched eastward. It is expected that tomorrow evening, the second regiment and two direct battalions, led by our chief of staff, General Bao Jiqing, who sneaked along the south bank of the Minjiang River, launched a sudden attack on Yibin County, where the Yunnan Army's large baggage camp is located, cut off the retreat route of the enemy Xie Ruyi's unit of the Xuzhou Prefecture. Then the three regiments turned around and headed north to launch a fierce attack on the Xuzhou Prefecture with the First Division led by Commander Zhou, striving to wipe out the enemy of the unit within two days!"

The generals and schoolmen were ecstatic and finally saw the strong combat power of the border soldiers. Under the stimulation of the good news, the schoolmen were ready to go and were very excited.

Xiao Yimin signaled everyone to be quiet, pointing to the Xu Mansion on the map and raised his voice: "The task of the Second Brigade responsible for the middle road is arduous. Brother Fang Ark, your brigade must march 105 kilometers before tomorrow evening, go straight to Shaping Town north of the Xu Mansion, and launch a forced ferry with the First Division led by General Zhou, and attack the Xu Mansion at all costs. It is necessary to prevent Xie Ruyi from dividing his troops south to support Yibin County.

"I believe in the combat effectiveness of the First Brigade, and the command ability of General Bao Jiqing, they will definitely be able to eliminate the Yibin defending enemy before midnight tomorrow, occupy the Yibin county town, and then head north to attack the enemy of the Xuzhou Mansion! After taking down the Xuzhou Mansion, except for the First Brigade, the other units will lead their troops east along the south bank of the Yangtze River and jointly attack Luzhou with the Second Division. As long as the three regiments of Li Hanxiang's troops in Luzhou are defeated, the battle will probably end."

Xiao Yimin put down his baton, went back and sat down, and signaled to the staff to issue a combat plan, lit a cigarette, and waited patiently for everyone to watch and discuss.

Half an hour later, Xiao Yimin asked the departments what questions there were or whether there were any difficulties? All the generals and schools stood up together and saluted excitedly and hurriedly left. Soon outside the camp, a sharp whistle and a neighing sound came from the neighing of the horse.

Because he was not very familiar with the place names, Brian and Sharp did not fully understand the combat plan written in Chinese. The two ran to the map again and discussed it nervously based on the map.

Within a few minutes, Sharp Le unceremoniously pulled Xiao Yimin to the map. The two raised the unknown things in their hearts one by one. Xiao Yimin patiently explained them one by one until they had no problems before returning to their seats to have a tea.

Brian pondered for a long time, but couldn't help asking: "Xiao, how can you ensure that your first brigade arrives at Yibin County as scheduled? As far as we know and the signs on the map, the first brigade takes almost two-thirds of the mountain roads. How do you ensure their marching speed?"

Xiao Yimin didn't know how to answer for a while, and thought about it for a long time, and talked about training:

"In the past two years, our First Brigade has revised its custom infantry exercises more than 50 times, including the emergency marching one, and it has been revised seventeen times. After dozens of strict tests and statistics close to actual combat, the distance between the infantry regiments of the First Brigade can reach the excellent standard of 120 kilometers in full load and emergency marching within two days, and they are all marching on the mountain road. If the baggage is abandoned and the equipment is lightly advanced, their speed can be increased by more than a quarter."

Brian and Sharp were stunned, and both of them looked at each other and saw the shock in each other's eyes.

Xiao Yimin smiled and said, "My friend, I am very proud of one thing. My soldiers are the most difficult soldiers in the world, and my officers are the most ambitious and exploratory officers. Usually, just saying a word of praise can make the officers and soldiers excited for several days.

"So, I believe they can overcome all difficulties and successfully complete the tasks I assigned them. They are equipped with advanced weapons from Germany and Europe and the United States, as well as the latest grenades and grenades we have made. Facing the Yunnan Army, which has only one battalion of sixteen old artillery and is unprepared, if they cannot complete the task, no one will have the shame to come to see me."

Sharp Le vented: "I believe this. I have seen with my own eyes how much your ignorant soldiers admire you... Xiao, sometimes I think you are a madman, a madman born for war and a madman living for war! After this battle, I am afraid that your name will spread all over the world, and you can also easily gain the support of all the troops in Sichuan, because you have brought them honor and their lack of self-esteem and pride."

Xiao Yimin showed a proud look and laughed: "Dear Sharp, thank you very much for your praise! I remember that I told you more than once that I am a genius, a genius standing on the shoulders of countless great men... Do you still think I am talking big now?"

Sharple had no use for this arrogant good friend, but he still admired more. He believed that Brian would definitely record the entire battle faithfully and then take it to the German General Staff for analysis. It would be difficult for Xiao Yimin to be famous. Moreover, he could rely on his fame and strength, with the most powerful and influential capital in southwest China, to ask his motherland for more things. This sinister and cunning guy would definitely do this.

"Xiao, will you be detained tonight?" Brian suddenly asked.

Xiao Yimin nodded: "One hour left, my staff members have already prepared. Before dawn tomorrow, my flag must appear in Ziliujing, forty kilometers south of the south. The land bears more than two-fifths of the taxes in the entire Sichuan Province every year. I need to visit the suffering people and merchants there, and I guess there will be several important speeches. If you have nothing else, stand by me tomorrow and accept the cheers of thousands of people, it will definitely be wonderful!"

"Sorry, Xiao, we need to go back to pack our luggage. Unfortunately, we plan to go to the front line to see with our own eyes. There is no chance to enjoy the cheers of the people. You can enjoy it yourself!"

Brian and Sharp Le left as soon as they were left, as if they would take their lives for another moment. Xiao Yimin couldn't help laughing. The group of guards and staff officers next to him laughed so hard that they didn't dare to be arrogant in front of Xiao Yimin, so they could only hold back their own things.

Xiao Yimin returned to the map again and signaled that the two staff members would tear down the map later. Based on the newly marked front line and the progress of each department, he thought about the entire battle situation several times, repeatedly weighed the possible uncertainties, and quickly formed solutions in his mind one by one. It was not until the commander of the guard Wu San came to urge him that he turned around and strode out of the command center, and his heart had already flown to the battlefield in the south.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ps: This chapter is an additional update for the monthly tickets with a total of 850 tickets. Thank you brothers for your monthly tickets and subscriptions! Continue to ask for "automatic subscription" and monthly tickets to support it!

I am solemnly recommending the new history book of Master Sanjie, "Yi Pin Jiangshan" (1896499): A butterfly, who has traveled through thousands of years of time and space, came to the colorful Northern Song Dynasty, and will take you to see the prosperity of the market, peerless and charming, and famous scholars...

Connection: http:1896499.

...
Chapter completed!