svetikya Chapter 157 The Northern Expeditionary Army's Offensive: The 5th Division's General Offens
Chapter 157 The Northern Expeditionary Army's Offensive: The 5th Division's General Offens
January 10th, 9 AM.
The Northern Expeditionary Army Command Post was located 20 kilometers southwest of the front line in Quzhou, Zhejiang.
Nikolai stood in front of the huge battle map, his finger slowly moving around the area surrounding Quzhou.
On the map, the troop markings for the five divisions had been completed, forming a massive encirclement. Behind He Maofeng's independent motorized infantry division, numerous smaller combat units were also marked, resembling a giant spider web.
This pleased Chiang Kai-shek greatly; this was the tactic he wanted: encirclement and annihilation of the enemy. This was the kind of warfare he desired—it was clearly professional and exhilarating to watch.
The map is great!
"Commander-in-Chief," Nikolai turned to look at Chiang Kai-shek, "everything is ready. Five divisions are deployed. According to my 'three-step tactic,' we will launch the general offensive at dawn."
Chiang Kai-shek looked at the map, his eyes filled with anticipation.
"Mr. Nikolai, are you sure you can win this time?"
Nikolai nodded confidently: "Of course. Although Chen Zijun's German-equipped divisions are well-equipped, their weaknesses are obvious. We have already cut off their supply lines, and now all we need to do is surround them from multiple directions, and they will be in trouble."
Chiang Kai-shek patted Nikolai on the shoulder.
"Good! If we win this time, you'll be the chief advisor to the Northern Expeditionary Army!"
Nikolai smiled faintly: "Commander-in-Chief, you flatter me. I am merely doing what I can to contribute to the National Revolution."
He turned to look at the map, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes.
Chen Zijun's German-equipped division?
Humph.
In front of Nikolai, it was nothing but empty gestures and flashy tricks.
"Pass down the order," Nikolai said. "At dawn, all five divisions will launch a simultaneous general offensive. According to the plan, the 1st and 2nd Divisions will feign an attack from the front, the 3rd and 4th Divisions will flank them, and the 5th Division will cut off their retreat from the rear. Remember, don't engage in a direct confrontation; use guerrilla tactics. Try to maintain the pace of the battle. All your troops must be in motion to disrupt their plans, understand?"
The adjutant nodded: "Yes, sir!"
Chiang Kai-shek looked at the map, a slight smile appearing on his lips.
We've finally found the winning formula.
His 20,000-strong army had been routed in half a day, causing him to lose face.
Now, with Nikolai's plan, he finally has a chance to get revenge.
"Good!" Chiang Kai-shek said, "Let's proceed according to Mr. Nikolai's plan!"
Meanwhile, on the front lines in Quzhou.
He Maofeng stood in the command post, looking at the map.
On the map, the markers for the Northern Expeditionary Army's activities became increasingly dense.
"Commander," the adjutant entered, "The Northern Expeditionary Army is making a major move. Our scouts have discovered that five divisions of the Northern Expeditionary Army are assembling, seemingly preparing for a general offensive."
He Maofeng frowned.
Five divisions?
"Yes," the adjutant said. "And their deployment is quite interesting. Two divisions in the front, two on the flanks, and one in the rear, conducting a flanking maneuver. It's clearly an attempt to encircle us from multiple directions."
He Maofeng sneered.
"Surround?"
He walked up to the map and looked at it carefully.
"Did Chiang Kai-shek have people under his command who understood encirclement tactics?"
The adjutant said, "Commander, we suspect that the foreign advisor is indeed quite capable. His tactics are very targeted."
He Maofeng nodded.
"He has some skill. But it's not enough."
He turned to look at his adjutant.
"Issue the order: the entire army is to enter Level 1 combat readiness. The 105mm howitzer heavy artillery battalion, armored vehicle battalion, and motorized units are on standby, ready to maneuver and attack at any time."
Adjutant: "Yes, sir!"
He Maofeng said, "Also, have the frontline troops keep a close watch. The Northern Expeditionary Army might cut off our supply lines first, and then launch a general offensive."
Adjutant: "Yes, sir!"
He Maofeng looked at the map, a cold glint in his eyes.
Surrounded?
Humph.
What kind of situation hasn't He Maofeng seen?
The motorized infantry division that wanted to surround him?
Let them try.
He picked up the phone and dialed the number for the Chen residence.
The call was answered quickly.
"Young Marshal, I am He Maofeng."
Chen Zijun's voice came from the other end of the phone: "Uncle He, how's the situation?"
He Maofeng said, "Young Marshal, five divisions of the Northern Expeditionary Army are assembling, preparing for a general offensive. Their deployment is quite interesting; they intend to encircle us from multiple directions. I suspect that foreign advisor is indeed quite capable."
Chen Zijun remained silent for a few seconds.
Five divisions?
He Maofeng: "Yes. Moreover, their tactics are very flexible; they clearly intend to wage guerrilla warfare."
Chen Zijun sneered.
"Guerrilla warfare? Let them fight."
He Maofeng: "Young Marshal, what do you mean?"
Chen Zijun said, "Uncle He, you have to let them open the champagne properly...let the dust settle for a while..."
"Besides, five divisions probably represent all the resources of Chang Guangtou's Eastern Route Army. If those five divisions are gone, do you think the warlords of Jiangxi will still listen to him?"
He Maofeng smiled.
"Understood! Don't worry, young marshal, I will make sure they thoroughly enjoy the taste of 'victory'."
Chen Zijun said, "Also, remember, your motorized infantry division isn't just about infantry. Your armored vehicle battalion and motorized units are the real trump cards. When they think they've surrounded you, you'll use mobility to counter-encircle them."
He Maofeng: "Yes!"
After hanging up the phone, He Maofeng looked at the map.
Let the bullets fly for a while?
it is good.
Let them be smug for a while.
At dawn.
Five divisions of the Northern Expeditionary Army launched a general offensive simultaneously.
The First and Second Divisions launched a feigned attack from the front, accompanied by booming artillery fire and an infantry charge.
The Third and Fourth Divisions flanked the enemy and advanced rapidly.
The 5th Division cut off the retreat route from the rear, blocking all the retreat routes of the German-equipped divisions.
Nicholas, in his rear command post, looked at the map showing the advance of the Northern Expeditionary Army with a smug expression.
"Look," Nikolai pointed to the map, "Chen Zijun's German-equipped division is already surrounded by us. Their supply lines have been cut off, and their armored vehicles are being tied down by our guerrilla forces. Now, all we need to do is tighten the encirclement and we can starve them out."
Chiang Kai-shek looked at the map and was overjoyed.
"Great! That's wonderful!"
He patted Nikolai on the shoulder.
"Mr. Nikolai, you're a genius! We're sure to win this time!"
Nikolai smiled faintly: "Commander-in-Chief, you flatter me. This is merely a simple tactical maneuver; these are basic operations for an excellent commander!"
He turned to look at Chiang Kai-shek's adjutant.
"Pass down the order: all divisions, tighten the encirclement, and give the German-equipped divisions no chance to breathe."
The adjutant glanced at Chiang Kai-shek, then respectfully replied, "Yes, sir!"
Meanwhile, on the front lines in Quzhou.
He Maofeng stood in the command post, looking at the map.
On the map, the encirclement of the Northern Expeditionary Army has been formed.
"Commander," the adjutant entered, "the Northern Expeditionary Army has completed the encirclement. Our supply lines have been cut, and our armored vehicle battalion is being tied down by their guerrilla forces. We are now surrounded."
He Maofeng sneered.
"Surround?"
He walked up to the map and looked at it carefully.
"They thought they were surrounded?"
Adjutant: "If you only look at the military map, yes!"
He Maofeng smiled.
"Smug? Let them be smug for a while longer."
He turned to look at his adjutant.
"Pass down the order: armored vehicle battalion and motorized units, move out immediately. Counterattack the 5th Division in the rear. Then tell the heavy artillery battalion with 105mm howitzers, 'Once the battle begins, target the Northern Expeditionary Army's headquarters. Fire three rapid salvos!'"
Adjutant: "Yes, sir!"
He Maofeng said, "Furthermore, we will have the main force feign a retreat to lure the Northern Expeditionary Army deeper into our territory. Once they think they have succeeded, we will counter-encircle them."
Adjutant: "Yes, sir!"
He Maofeng looked at the map, a cold glint in his eyes.
Surrounded?
Humph.
His motorized infantry divisions' greatest advantage is their mobility.
Did the Northern Expeditionary Army want to surround him?
Then let them see what real mobile warfare is.
Armored vehicle battalions and motorized units quickly moved out and rapidly advanced along the trails.
The Fifth Division of the Northern Expeditionary Army was blocking the retreat of the German-equipped division from the rear, and never expected that the German-equipped division would launch a surprise attack from the flank.
The armored vehicle battalion suddenly appeared, and the MG34 machine guns swept the Fifth Division's positions.
"Who goes there!" the commander of the Fifth Division shouted in terror.
But it was too late.
The armored vehicles did not slow down and charged directly into the 5th Division's attacking formation. The sound of their tracks crushing human bodies was chilling, and the machine gun turrets kept spinning, sweeping away the enemy soldiers who tried to resist from all sides.
"Armored monsters! It's armored monsters again!" the soldiers of the Fifth Division shouted in terror and began to scatter and flee.
The commander of the 5th Division turned deathly pale as he watched his troops being scattered by armored vehicles.
"This...how is this possible..."
His chief of staff, his face covered in blood, ran over: "Commander! Retreat now! It'll be too late if we don't retreat now! The enemy's armored vehicles are already near our command post!"
The commander of the Fifth Division then came to his senses, turned his horse around, and fled.
"Retreat! All troops, retreat!"
However, it was too late. The armored vehicle battalion had completely cut off the 5th Division's retreat route, and the German-trained infantry, under the cover of MG34 fire, steadily advanced, dividing and encircling the scattered 5th Division, annihilating them one by one.
Meanwhile, the other four divisions of the Northern Expeditionary Army continued to tighten the encirclement, believing that the German-equipped division had been trapped.
Nikolai sat in the rear command post, looking at the map with a smug expression.
"Look," Nikolai pointed to the map, "Chen Zijun's German-equipped division is completely surrounded. Now, all we need to do is tighten the encirclement to starve them out."
Chiang Kai-shek looked at the map and was overjoyed.
"Great! Excellent! We're sure to win this time!"
He patted Nikolai on the shoulder.
"Mr. Nikolai, you're a genius! We're sure to win this time!"
Nikolai smiled faintly: "Commander-in-Chief, you flatter me. This is merely a tactical maneuver."
Just then, an adjutant rushed in, his face ashen.
"Commander-in-Chief! Something terrible has happened!"
Chiang Kai-shek frowned: "What's wrong?"
The adjutant said, "The 5th Division...the 5th Division has been encircled by the German-equipped divisions!"
Chiang Kai-shek was stunned.
"What?"
The adjutant said, "The German-trained division's armored vehicle battalion and motorized units suddenly attacked from the flank, catching the 5th Division completely off guard. They are now in complete disarray! The 5th Division commander has been captured, and the entire division has been essentially annihilated!"
Chiang Kai-shek's face turned deathly pale instantly.
"This...how is this possible..."
Nikolai was also stunned.
"A counter-encirclement?"
He walked up to the map and looked at it carefully.
"How can their mobility be so strong..."
Chiang Kai-shek slammed his hand on the table.
"Damn it! Where's your winning strategy?!"
Nikolai stammered, "This...this is impossible...their mobility is far greater than I imagined..."
Chiang Kai-shek pointed at Nikolai, trembling with rage: "You...you..."
He took a deep breath and suppressed his anger.
"Pass down the order: the other four divisions must retreat immediately! Stop fighting!"
Adjutant: "Yes, sir!"
Shanghai, Chen Mansion.
Chen Zijun stood by the window, looking at the Shanghai Bund outside, a cold smile appearing on his lips.
"Foreign consultant? Is that all they're capable of?"
He turned around and picked up the phone.
"Get me to the front lines in Quzhou."
The call was answered quickly.
"Young Marshal!" He Maofeng's voice came through the phone, filled with barely suppressed excitement. "The 5th Division of the Northern Expeditionary Army has been routed! Over 8,000 enemy soldiers were killed, and over 3,000 were captured! The commander of the 5th Division was captured alive! Our casualties... are less than 200!"
Chen Zijun smiled and said, "Uncle He, well done."
"Young Marshal, you're right," He Maofeng said with a smile. "Let them be smug for a while, then give them a good beating. That foreign advisor must be dumbfounded now."
Chen Zijun sneered: "Stunned? That's just the beginning."
"Young Marshal, what do you mean?"
Chen Zijun said, "Uncle He, keep fighting. The other four divisions of the Northern Expeditionary Army must be panicking now. Take advantage of their retreat and continue the pursuit. Kill as many as you can."
He Maofeng: "Understood! Don't worry, Young Marshal, I will definitely show them what a true German-equipped division is."
Chen Zijun hung up the phone and looked out the window at Shanghai.
Foreign consultant?
Humph.
With such limited skills, you think you can deal with his German-equipped divisions?
Then let him see what real modern warfare is all about.