July 2, 1941...

The tug-of-war between China and the Soviet Union and the defense line of the Ishim River entered the 23rd day. The shells were getting denser and the charges became more and more urgent. The fierce battles of more than three weeks had exhausted the soldiers on both sides. The battle turned numb and blood frozen into ice. As the battle of Ryukyu in the southeast was approaching, the Japanese army on the Korean Peninsula was constantly annihilated, and Stalin's patience was exhausted to the extreme! He sent more than a dozen telegrams to the front line every day and made dozens of phone calls. The telegrams were densely filled with anxious words such as urging and strict orders. Even Soviet Chairman Kalinin secretly came to Chelyabinsk to supervise the troops on the spot to fight.

Huasilevsky and Lushiwen fought hard on the most difficult combat terrain in the world. Lujin and Rokosovsky were still balanced in offense and defense. Relying on the gap left by Xu Xiangqian's mistake, they sent the Ukrainian Third Army and the Siberian Army across the Ishim River. While trying to cut off the supply channel, they attacked Petropavlovsk from both sides of the northwest. But Sun Chuanfang and Fan Shisheng opposite them were equally skillful. While dragging the main force of the enemy under the city, they forced Xu Xiangqian's eight divisions to cross the two, making them unable to connect from the head to the tail and could only passively fall into a war of attrition. Irgiz on the south

The protruding unit could no longer be described as tragic. Zhukov's arrival made Malinovsky's troops stronger. While the "villain" Mehlis made the two hate each other, he also secretly warned and raised his spirits. The flood offensive, regardless of the cost, did not count the casualties, made Du Zishan breathless. Sometimes a unit would be put into the morning and lose more than 50% at night. Many times, he wanted to invest in the reserve team of the two armies at all costs, but in order to paralyze the enemy and not destroy the counterattack plan, he had to wipe his tears and gritted his teeth and stuffed the casualties reports into his pockets.

Kilponosky of Sarekopa in the central region is very calm and composed. He has been fighting with the Chinese Army several times in Afghanistan and East Kazakhstan. Any negligence in the face of the opponent's super armored power can cause unimaginable losses, so he relies on the lake to steadily fight, neither advancing nor taking risks. Like Huasilevsky, he drags down the opponent's vitality for flying with both wings.

For more than three weeks, millions of soldiers were in a stalemate, and even the people in the country had forgotten the "East and West Siberia Merger Act" that was about to be voted on by the Congress, and even the Peninsula and Ryukyu became unimportant. Many people began to worry about their soldiers thousands of miles away. How are their children? No matter how the Soviet soldiers fight, they can't finish them? Will they lose? One by one, they make this summer even hotter and uncomfortable.

The movement always comes quietly with the coldest cold. Even Kilponosky didn't know that deep in the east of the fierce battlefield in front of him, steel chariots had gathered in place. They were ambushed in the grass, hiding in the valley, hidden among the trees, wrapping their figures with thick camouflage disguise nets. "Are you all here?" Sun Liren held a pony whip in his hand, walked past a row of tanks wearing the disguise nets, and drilled into the command post where officers gathered. "Here, it's all here." Gong Chu handed him the roster with eager eyes.

3 armored divisions, 3 mechanic divisions and 4 motorized divisions, plus additional reinforced troops. In this area less than 15 kilometers wide, there are 12 armored regiments, 15 motorized regiments, 3 night battle tiger battalions, 10 armored engineering battalions, 8 mechanized boat bridge battalions, 6 'fury' self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery battalions, 4 semi-tracked anti-aircraft artillery battalions, 8 105mm self-propelled artillery battalions, 4 150mm self-propelled artillery battalions, 2 210 self-propelled heavy artillery battalions...... A total of 78 25 Type C 'Cat Cat' light reconnaissance tanks, 108 'Night Tiger' tanks, 122 Type 31

The 'Golden Leopard', 878 36-type 'Sioreast Tiger' main battle tanks, 516 fully tracked armored personnel carriers. Plus self-propelled cannons, semi-tracked personnel carriers, trucks, motorcycles and jeeps, etc., more than 4,000 vehicles were right under his nose. You should know that in the Central Asian Spring and Summer Offensive last year, all armored divisions and mechanized divisions in China had to be equipped with a certain proportion of mules and horses. Just a year later, a purely mechanized unit appeared with the support of national industrial universalization, standardization and almost unlimited military expenditure. Among the more than 300 divisions in the army, two-fifths have achieved motorization and mechanization.

But what puzzled him and the officers present were that in the face of the anxious and stalemate situation on the front line, the headquarters seemed to have forgotten them. "No! You can't wait anymore. I think this is the case, why not let's go to Commander Mei to ask clearly, it's better than waiting here stupidly!" Yang Yuchun, the surname Lie Ruhuo pinched the cigarette butt and stood up loudly. He is the commander of the 29th Mobu Division, and is also a famous desperate Saburo in the army. He is more popular than Zhao Dengyu when fighting. But he is also this bad temper. I don't know how many times he has caused trouble, otherwise he would not be the commander of the brigade general. Gong Chu knew his temper well and grabbed him: "Yuchun, don't be so impulsive."

"Impulsive? Why am I impulsive!" Yang Yuchun sucked his breath hard, and his chest was about to burn: "Teacher Sun, you can also judge. The brothers in front of him are not trying to fight with their heads! Who is not waiting for reinforcements to go up? At this critical moment, why don't we go? And you, you touch your chest and say, "Who is not sorry for seeing this kind of war report?! The people are frugal, the president has worked hard for decades, and finally made so many tanks for us. Could it be that we were foolish to see the bloodshed and sacrificed in the robes? Can you sit and eat?"

Everyone was also angry when he said this, and Sun Liren was also distressed. He was also a non-commissioned student. In order to avoid rigid thinking and promote competition within the army, he was sent to the Virginia Army Academy in the United States for three years after graduating from Baoding. After returning to China, he first worked in the National Guard and then went to the grassroots level for training. He only reached the position of commander of the 2nd Armored Division at the end of last year. Along the way, it was particularly difficult than Zhuo Fan and others. The large reason was that the military felt that the US Army's combat thoughts were outdated and the German Army was more advanced. For this reason, he also applied for the National Defense University further study class. However, his deep-rooted thinking made it easier for those non-commissioned officers studying in Germany and France to stand out, so he always felt very wronged. After all, it was arranged by the troops at that time. Now standing in the position of commander of the ace division, he naturally wanted to make achievements and prove himself.

Gong Chu, who was introverted and more calm in his surname, had to continue persuading him: "Yuchun, let's wait a little longer, the commander is not available now."

"What's wrong with not having time? If you don't have time, just leave us here and ignore us? If the commander doesn't work, I'll go find Chief of Staff Liu! Find Commander-in-Chief!" Yang Yuchun was determined to ask Chou Yinmao, rolled up his sleeves and walked out. As soon as he took two steps, a voice came from outside: "Haha, who is looking for me?"

"Chief of Staff? Stand at attention!"

Everyone turned their heads and saw that Liu Mingzhao and Song Ziqing were wearing ordinary combat uniforms and walked into the crowded command post together. The officers who were indignant just now suddenly became silent. Even with Yang Yuchun's hot temper, they would not dare to attack in front of them. The Rezikazgan counterattack and the Battle of Petropavlovsk alone had already established Liu Mingzhao's position in the army. Many people knew that if General Chu Nan had not had the older qualifications, he would have taken over Marshal Yue as the throne of the Chief of General Staff. Moreover, Song Ziqing, who was second only to Marshal Yue Peng, had been in charge of the Ministry of National Defense for more than 30 years.

But these two legendary figures in the eyes of soldiers did not have any airs. They patted their butts and found two black wooden stakes. After sitting down, Liu Mingzhao deliberately said in surprise: "Huh? They were all shouting and killing just now, why are they all depressed now? Haha, sit down, sit down, I am not Stalin, and I will not give others a chance to speak. Say, what should I see me?" Everyone was relieved. Yang Yuchun plucked up the courage to say something that he didn't want to wait for if he wanted to join the war.

"Haha, why did I do it?" Liu Mingzhao smiled, looked at Song Ziqing, picked up a dead branch and said, "A soldier should have a temper and dare to express different opinions. You did a good job in this! I remember that the president said this to Minister Song back then. Soldiers should fight!"

"Yes, the President said that these four words are still on my desk." Song Ziqing nodded and signaled to Liu Mingzhao to continue.

Liu Mingzhao said: "Since we are soldiers, we must never do anything that we see the robe bleed and sacrificed in front of us but are indifferent. But I want to ask you one thing, let you go up now, how are you going to fight?"

"This is not simple. According to the plan, defeat the Second Ukrainian Army in the front, and then turn around and attack towards Costanai to encircle the enemy's flanks." Yang Yuchun had a hot temper, but his mind was very flexible, and quickly pointed out the direction and target of the attack. After hearing this, Song Ziqing interrupted and asked, "Then I asked you, what should I do with the Irgiz protrusion?"

"Let General Du Zishan continue to defend the enemy's four armies as much as possible to buy time for us."

"Haha, you are so sure that the enemy can listen to your obedience and be dragged down? What if they see that the situation is not good, or find our movements, retreat and catch up immediately?" Liu Mingzhao picked up the dead branches and drew on the ground. In less than a moment, he roughly outlined the terrain and battle situation between Irgiz and Sarekopa. "I ask you, how far from Irgiz to us?"

"207 kilometers, there is a canyon in the middle." Sun Liren vaguely understood and answered immediately.

"So what about from us to Corkshetao?"

"310 kilometers, we must first defeat the Second Ukrainian Army, and about 3 armored brigades and five to six cavalry divisions. Even if we are fast, it will take at least two days and two nights to rush to Kokshetao. With this time, the Soviet army can completely set up a certain defense here. Because there is more than 100 kilometers of canyon blocking, if the Soviet army in the protruding unit takes the initiative to retreat and support Kokshetao, we cannot cut it off quickly. In this way, they can move towards Kokshetao and form a front and back attack with Lu Jin's troops." Sun Liren's eyes became brighter and brighter, and he saw through the whole situation at once.

Liu Mingzhao nodded with satisfaction, but did not give the answer, but recalled the European War: "When I hid in the trench on the Western Front of Europe, I always wondered, how could it be like this? Why did the stalemate form?"

"Because there was a lack of assault power such as tanks and aircraft at that time." A thin officer stood up and squeezed his colleagues away to the front. It was obvious that he was also anxious.

"What's your name?" Liu Mingzhao looked at him, which made the officer a little nervous, and quickly saluted: "Report to the Chief of Staff, my name is Wang Wenshan, the commander of the 66th Mechanical Bus Division." "Wang Wenshan, right, he got to the point. At that time, technical forces could not guarantee the rapid movement of the troops, so that the enemy's supply and logistics could not be cut off, so that the front line could only be arranged in parallel, thus falling into a cruel trench stalemate! And our troubles now, Commander Sun had already said just now. The existence of the Grand Canyon made it impossible for us to cut off the marching routes of the four Soviet army in the south from the middle. Once they retreated voluntarily, we could just watch. So, I asked you to wait."

"But, when will we have to wait?" Yang Yuchun said anxiously.

"Wait until...wait until they break through the defense line!" Liu Mingzhao broke the dead branches with a sharp voice.

Song Ziqing was afraid that everyone would not understand, so he said again: "Stalin could no longer hold back, so as long as the Soviet army broke through the Ilgiz protrusion, he would definitely ask the four armies to penetrate deeper at full speed! When they went east, they found that we suddenly set out from here to assault on Kokshetao. What would happen if you think?"

They are all division-level officers, so they naturally know how happy and excited they will be when an exhausted and almost reaches its limit suddenly opens the defense line. No matter who it is, they will probably penetrate deeper in order to gain greater strategic advantages before rest. Therefore, the formation, mind, playing style and equipment of the troops will be in a complete offensive state. If they suddenly find that the rear is lost at this time, they will definitely fall into the chaos of turning from attack to retreat! Putting aside the price, the heavy equipment alone will have to be thrown away! In case the opponent's quick counterattack becomes a burden. Thinking of this, everyone's eyes at Liu Mingzhao can no longer be described as admiration, but a kind of awe, deep awe! He not only wants Irgiz to become a big pit that forced the Soviet army to fall into, but also drag the other foot into it after they complete the breakthrough!

"Chief of Staff, Minister. I still have a question. Since I have been preparing to use the protruding troops to drag the four armies to complete the flanks of Kokshetao, why not fight and then let go?" The question was Gong Chu, who was obviously more steady than Sun Liren and others. Liu Mingzhao raised his head and looked serious: "The four armies, more than 550,000 troops, if they are allowed to come in intact, who can guarantee that nothing will happen? And if the enemy is not exhausted here, how can they have the ecstasy after the breakthrough? How can they feel assured and boldly going deeper?"

"Will General Du Zishan be very dangerous? Once the Soviet army goes deeper, how should we stop it?" Sun Liren said heartbrokenly.

"It's very simple..." Liu Mingzhao stood up slowly, sorted out his military uniform and walked out. He walked to the door before stopping to solve the answer: "Because I ordered him that the reserve teams of the two armies, one soldier, are not allowed to be sent up!" This sentence made the officers widen their eyes. The two armies of the reserve team did not move, which means that General Du Zishan has relied on two armies to block the 23-day attack of the Soviet army's four armies! Of course, they knew even more that the soldiers of the 16th Army and the 33rd Army would probably be lost to the protruding part.

"Make the final preparation." Song Ziqing also sighed: "We have received the news just now... the most critical Highland of the 412nd Highland, the Prominent Department, has been interrupted for 3 hours. So the Chief of Staff has just ordered General Du to retreat from the front line!"

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"Commander! Let the reserve team go up!" In the command post of Irgiz, the deputy commander of the 16th Army, who was over fifty, was holding the door frame, his face covered in blood, and begging for the reserve team to go up. "Please! Leave some seeds for our 16th Army! If you continue to fight, the brothers will die... Commander!" The sad voice made all the officers unable to help lower their heads. Several commanders of the reserve team rolled up their sleeves, their eyes were red and they were waiting for the order.

Standing opposite him, Du Zishan, whose black hair was no longer seen on his temples, also had red eyes and his heart was trembling. He also wanted to transfer the reserve team to the 16th Army and the 33rd Army. Many of them were soldiers he brought out! But he couldn't open this mouth, and the military orders were like mountains! Military orders were like mountains! "No! Let me tell you the commander, I ordered not to send the reserve team. Because this is the command, the General Staff, and the president's order! As long as the order is not delivered, who dares to propose the reserve team again, and the military law will deal with it!"

"Commander!" Seeing that he could not convince Du Zishan, the deputy commander had to pick up his helmet. But after taking a few steps, he suddenly turned around and knelt down on the ground and kowtowed hard: "Commander, if there are still people in our 16th Army, who can survive, please take more care! Be sure to save the 16th Army! Brothers, let's take one step first! Those who come, all those under the 16th Army, follow me!" The deputy commander gritted his teeth and stood up, shouted, and brought more than 100 gathered soldiers to face the artillery fire again.

Looking at their backs, Du Zishan seemed to have been aged by dozens of years, and slowly sat down, with tears in his eyes. "Commander! It's connected, it's connected! The 412 Highland is connected!" But he couldn't help but feel relieved, and had been contacting the communications consultant of the 412 Highland and jumped up again.

"Hurry, take it!" Du Zishan forced himself to hold the edge of the table tightly, and did not even notice that the Chief of Staff Xu Zuyi, who was hurriedly holding the telegram, entered the door.

There was a rustling sound in the trumpet. After a long time, a familiar and loud voice suddenly surged out. "Report to the commander! The national flag is still there! The military flag is still there! The position is still there...! National Defense Force, bayonet!" As the loud shouts, Xu Zuyi loosened his hand and the telegram fell to the ground.

On the paper, it was the order that Liu Mingzhao could mobilize the reserve team just now and take the initiative to retreat and lure the enemy to continue to go deeper.

After the excitement, the radio station was always silent. Zhao Siyuan, the 412 Highland, and the soldiers of the entire Irgiz protrusion, left a period of eternity. In their backs, they were all stepping into the mud, and they were dying without knowing that they were ecstatic and 400,000 people rushing towards death, and were frantically heading eastward.
Chapter completed!