Chapter 119 Thunder

"You haven't observed carefully enough. You should have noticed a large number of trucks driving on this road. I counted casually. In just one hour's drive, I counted 580 trucks, including oil tankers.

Three hundred and sixty, and the other trucks should be loaded with ammunition. Judging from our speed, this section of the road is only 30 kilometers long. It took an hour to stop and go. It is not difficult to calculate every hour on this road.

How many cars are passing by?" Marshall was indeed not idle, and added some additional proof.

It's true, this is enough to make my scalp explode. Calculating a little less, there are 500 vehicles driving on a 30-kilometer road section in an hour. Calculated according to 12 hours during the day, this is 6,000 trucks. This is

Still a conservative estimate.

In fact, Marshall and the others arrived late. They came two days earlier. There were more cars on this road. Now they have entered the later stage of battle preparations, and the troops have basically completed their assembly.

Marshall immediately called everyone over, and after talking about his and Patton's observations, it turned out that these US military officers were not fuel-efficient lamps. One by one, they told what they had seen and recorded. There were dense crowds of people on both sides of the road.

The footprints, the one saying that the Chinese were on very tight alert, and the atmosphere was solemn, and others found a large number of transport planes at the airport. You said something to me, and the result of everyone's discussion together quickly sketched out a general idea: the Chinese are preparing for a large-scale

This battle will involve at least one mechanized corps and no less than thirty infantry divisions.

During dinner, Liu Mingzhao and Zhang Zhizhong finally arrived at the manor. After some polite greetings, Patton asked without waiting for a toast: "Your Majesty, General, according to our observation, we found that your army is engaged in a large-scale attack."

Preparations for a large-scale battle. I wonder if we can be allowed to follow the combat troops so that we can observe them at close range."

Both Liu Mingzhao and Zhang Zhizhong looked in surprise, thinking in their hearts, Americans are not simple. It seems that the heroes of the world should not be underestimated. During the First World War, the Yankees performed poorly, and Liu Mingzhao did not attach much importance to the capabilities of the US military at first.

Unexpectedly, the US military who came this time only saw a few clues and came to such an inference.

Both of them had fought in the European War. They had exchanged views on the US military before, but now they looked at each other and smiled, and Zhang Zhizhong said in a tacit understanding: "This is not impossible, but I want to remind everyone. What we are about to launch is

A large-scale battle. The target is powerful, with at least 1,500 large-caliber artillery pieces and 1,000 Soviet-made medium and light tanks. If you stay at the headquarters, you can observe the progress of the battlefield battle from an overall perspective.

.Dismount the troops, we can’t guarantee your safety.”

"Your Excellency General, soldiers are born to face danger directly. No need to think about it. I have decided to follow your mechanized troops." Patton was the first to stand up and express his position. Other US military officers also stood up and expressed their opinions according to their respective military services.

.To go to the infantry and air force. An observation group of thirty-five people. As many as 28 people were requested to be sent to the troops, and the others stayed at the headquarters.

"In this case, it is not difficult to meet your request." Liu Mingzhao had no choice but to agree. The reason is very simple. The president made it very clear in the telegram. Sino-US relations are very delicate. In a short period of time, China has become more dependent on the United States.

Among them are mainly a large number of transport aircraft, bombers and various types of engines imported from the United States. The United States wants to sell these things to China under the banner of neutrality, which will have a huge impact on the Sino-Soviet war.

It can be seen how helpless this is. You have to pay to buy things and you are afraid that people will not be happy to sell them to you. After the United States has survived the economic crisis, when the Second World War broke out, the entire mentality has undergone earth-shaking changes. What are allies? The British Concession Five

Ten destroyers would have to be exchanged for some naval bases in the Atlantic Ocean. As an ally, China will still get stuck in your neck when necessary for the sake of national interests. The political system of the United States is actually not simple at all.

Internal struggles are also fierce and bottomless.

The moon was waning in the sky, and it was a quiet early morning. What broke the silence was the roar of engines in the distance. The C-49 transport plane took off from the temporary field airport near Khujand, dragging the glider across the sky, all the way to the west.

.

Barton was woken up by Fang Xianjue. When he sat up and heard the roar, he suddenly became energetic and said, "Has it started? It's only three o'clock in the morning."

Fang Xianjue smiled and said: "This is a transport plane. We are almost there. Don't you want to disembark from the army? I will take you there."

"Okay, wait for me, I need three minutes to freshen up."

The lz army group, Zhang Zizhong, Li Zongren, Bai Chongxi, Tang Shengzhi and others gathered together. Li Zongren kept looking at his watch and said: "This American, why are you here to help me? If you don't come, I will be delayed from returning to the army."

Zhang Zizhong smiled and said: "Brother De Lin, why should you be anxious? Even if the armored group under your command starts fighting, it will not be the first to go into battle. I estimate that it will take at least six or seven hours of fierce fighting to break through the direction of the Soviet army. Then add new troops to expand the gap.

, and then the rapid advance of the mechanized army group."

As soon as he finished speaking, Barton followed Fang Xianjue in and said, "I'm not late, am I?"

Zhang Zizhong listened to the interpreter and laughed and said: "No, the battle will not start for another hour. There will be two hours of artillery preparations, and then there will be a full-scale infantry assault. It is estimated that the mechanized troops will have to wait ten hours before they can attack."

"That's good, what should I do now?" Patton asked with a smile, and then six more US military officers came in, including colonels and lieutenant colonels, but not a major. "This is General Li Zongren, you will follow him

The mechanized army group moves together."

"Okay, there's no time to waste here, just follow me." Li Zongren didn't bother to say hello and rushed out of the headquarters. Tang Shengzhi stepped forward and said with a smile: "General Patton, don't worry, he is just impatient.

." This is wrong. In fact, Li Zongren looked down on the US military. During the First World War, the US military fought so badly that I was deeply impressed.

Bai Chongxi smiled and stepped forward to shake hands and said: "If General Patton has no objection, just follow my Tenth Mechanized Army. My mechanized army is equipped with the latest tanks and is fully staffed. It has one more mechanized force than the average mechanized army."

Take the anti-tank artillery regiment."

"Okay, I have no objection. I will follow you. I haven't asked you yet, what do you call me?"

"Haha, Bai Chongxi. The courtesy name is Jiansheng." Chinese names were obviously not something that Barton could understand. After translating, he said directly: "Oh, it turns out to be Jiansheng, Bai Chongxi. I'm very happy to see you." Bai Chongxi rolled his eyes and smiled.

Went out too.

There were armored vehicles waiting outside the headquarters. When Patton walked out, he discovered that the lights outside the headquarters were brightly lit. There were officers walking quickly everywhere. Standing in the yard, he could hear the sound of dense ticking.

At five o'clock in the morning, the Chinese ** team's favorite time to launch an attack. Patton, who had arrived at Zafarabad, where the Tenth Mechanized Army headquarters is located, saw for the first time what the Chinese ** team's artillery preparations looked like. Three red rounds

The moment the flare took off, all sounds in the world disappeared. The only thing that could be heard was the sound of the cannon.

Pieces of the sky were illuminated, and the sky was full of flying ballistics. The feeling could not be described in words. Barton looked at the sky and thought it was a meteor shower.

The scene of more than 3,000 large-caliber artillery pieces, more than 5,000 other artillery pieces, and nine rocket launcher battalions shooting together was splendid on the canvas of the night sky. At the end of the horizon where the naked eye could see, seas of fire rose up one after another.

At five o'clock in the morning on November 25th, just after the Soviet army thought they saw the dawn of counterattack, the Central Asian Front Army suddenly launched a large-scale battle. The battle code name was Thunder!

For this purpose, the Central Asian Front assembled three mechanized corps, sixty-five infantry divisions, more than 10,000 artillery pieces of various calibers, the Air Force invested ten Mustang fighter wings, eight bomber wings, and more than 500 transport aircraft.

In Samarkand, Zhukov was awakened by the sound of artillery. He didn't bother to wipe his face and went into the headquarters. As a result of listening carefully, his face became extremely pale. There was no doubt that he had been deceived by the Chinese.

This battle was entirely aimed at the Soviet army group in Samarkand.

"Quick, figure out as quickly as possible where the Chinese's main attack direction is, notify the Third Mechanized Army, and be ready to attack. Notify..." Zhukov kept giving orders, and the headquarters was full of sleepy-eyed people.

officer trotting.

"No, I have to calm down. I have to calm down." After warning himself, Zhukov picked up a glass of water on the table, wetted his face with a towel and wiped his face vigorously. After calming down, he rushed to the map and tried to read it from the map.

Some clues were found on the map. After nearly half an hour passed, intelligence feedback continued to come back. Zhukov, who kept sketching on the map, finally saw some clues. He threw away the pen in his hand and said: "Order the Third Mechanized Army,

...." As soon as the words came out, a staff officer rushed in and shouted: "A large number of Chinese transport planes flew over Vonany and Bukhara. They were found here and here."

Zhukov quickly grabbed the pencil in his hand and quickly drew two circles on the map. His expression suddenly changed drastically. This was going to cut off his own escape route. This move was too cruel. At the same time, Zhukov was secretly glad.

I have been very cautious in deploying the Third Mechanized Army near Bukhara.

"The notice continues, all defense lines must be guarded by me. The Third Mechanized Army is on standby. Troops are stationed along the railways in various places to find the landing place of the Chinese paratroopers and report them in time. An infantry corps is transferred from Bukhara and goes west along the railway line.

Reinforcements must be given to me as quickly as possible to cleanly and thoroughly eliminate these airborne troops."

It was already dark when the artillery fire extended. Millions of artillery shells severely damaged the Soviet defense line. There were bombed-out barbed wires everywhere and dilapidated trenches left behind by bomb craters.

Kill! A loud shout of kill rang out from the horizon, covering up the sound of the extending artillery. On the long horizon, countless helmets lined up in skirmishers flashed in the morning sun. No matter which unit, the one who jumped out of the trench first

It must be an officer. Countless red flags are flying on the battlefield, guiding the heroic soldiers of the National Defense Force to move forward bravely.

In Samarkand, Zhukov's headquarters was in a panic. The officers and soldiers walking were paying attention to their steps and did not dare to disturb General Zhukov who was setting up in front of the huge map. On the sand table behind him, the battlefield situation gradually became clear. The Chinese Army was attacking the east and west fronts.

, the defensive line in the center does not have a lot of pressure.

Combined with the previous intelligence, this was an obvious two-wing breakthrough and armored assault in depth tactics. Zhukov sighed, knowing the Chinese tactics, but he had no choice but to order the troops to defend. The key now is,

It's still the same airborne troops. As long as the Chinese airborne troops are eliminated and the Soviet army's retreat is guaranteed, they are not afraid of the Chinese breakthrough on the eastern front. At worst, they can just retreat westward. With the current strength of the troops, Zhukov can't hold on to Wo.

Nayi and Bukhara are still very confident. The key now is that they were not aware of the Chinese Army's move to attack Samarkand first. When the battle started, the result was basically determined. But Zhukov did not dare

Withdraw first, he wanted to wait for Moscow's answer.

At this time, the Kremlin was still in a meeting. According to the news that was constantly coming back, the Chinese tactics were very clear. They concentrated attacks on the east and west sides, and the paratroopers landed behind the western front. This was to encircle the two wings and eat Samarkand.

The posture of the army group.

Whether to let Zhukov defend or to retreat, no one dared to ask this question. Over and over again, the battle situation changed, but no one said a word about what to do. Stalin, who had always been silent, could not hold back, and spoke in a low voice.

The voice said: "According to the prior plan, the Central Asian Front Army delayed until winter, and then gathered strength to counterattack. Although winter has come now, the winter in Central Asia cannot be compared with that in Siberia. The Chinese Army is still fighting hard in Novosibirsk

Street fighting, we have enough strategic depth in Central Asia, can we consider letting Zhukov move westward, defend step by step, and consume the enemy. At the same time, urgently mobilize troops from various places to reinforce the Central Asia Military Region. What do you think of this suggestion?

?”

To be honest, Stalin was scared of being beaten by the Central Asian Army. He was afraid that there would be another Central Asian counterattack and nearly a hundred divisions would be involved. Even if he had great abilities, it would be difficult for him to form enough troops in a short time.

The troops were put into the battlefield. Among other things, equipment was the biggest problem. The Soviet Union in this time and space did not receive assistance from the powerful American emperor.

Voroshilov, who understood the bearded man's thoughts best, was the first to stand up and said: "I think the Chinese are eager for a decisive battle. It is precisely because Tashkent is a fortress-style defense system that the Chinese turned their heads and fought farther away.

Samarkand. In this case, we should not go along with China's attack, let Zhukov take the initiative to withdraw westward, mobilize the Third Mechanized Army to advance westward quickly, and after eating the Chinese airborne troops, the main force will resist step by step. If we can
Chapter completed!