There are many ways to end the war, and Meretskov chose the most tragic way:
Fight to the end!
Even with only the last soldier left in his hand, Meretskov decided to continue the war. Not for his own personal honor, but for the sake of Commander Frunze who trusted him!
Of course, or Moscow?
Meretskov himself was no longer sure.
The living space has been compressed in the extremely small Qunnock area.
Meretskov suddenly discovered that his opponent, the Chinese named Liu Zhaocheng, had the greatest skill of turning your original advantages into disadvantages and amplifying your disadvantages infinitely.
Just like this showdown with Liu Zhaocheng.
Originally, Meretskov made a plan to disperse the large army into small units of battalions and companies, and then use guerrilla warfare to gradually attack the enemy, thereby delaying the enemy's advance. But what he did not expect was that
, Liu Zhaocheng also divided his troops into parts in a tit-for-tat manner, and used his firearms and logistical advantages to annihilate the Russian troops one by one.
Then he pressed the 9th Army bit by bit, and finally suppressed them to the Qinnock area.
The scattered troops reunited, but Meretskov sadly saw that this was exactly the result the Chinese wanted to see.
They controlled the entire 9th Army here, and then in Qionnock, they could attack unscrupulously without having to worry about what kind of attacks they would encounter.
And in the small area of Qionnock, the Chinese artillery fire can completely start a massacre...
The 9th Army's dispersed operations were an advantage, but Liu Zhaocheng turned this into a disadvantage for the Russians; then the Russians were driven to Qinnock, and it seemed that their forces were concentrated again, but unfortunately. This so-called "advantage" turned into a disadvantage again.
Disadvantages...
Meretskov and his 9th Army were completely led by Liu Zhaocheng at this time. They were disoriented by Liu Zhaocheng's control.
Similarly, Liu Zhaocheng also knew that victory belonged to him...
While Meretskov was exhausted, Liu Zhaocheng could leisurely peel peanuts in his headquarters, listen to the music on the gramophone, and play a few games of chess with Li Zongren.
After Zhang Xiaohuai conveyed the time of the general attack, he never received another telegram, and he did not want to take care of this place at all. The left wing commanded by Liu Zhaocheng was completely reassuring.
Frunzhi was not in as good a mood as Zhang Xiaohuai. He sent telegrams one after another inquiring about the situation of the 9th Army, but the responses he received were discouraging.
Meretskov's determination to fight to the end is still so strong. But between the lines of the call back, Frunze's confidence has been clearly conveyed:
The war is irreversible!
All Meretskov can do now is to fulfill the last duty of a commander.
Whether such an approach is stupid can only be left to future generations to evaluate...
March 2nd was a tragic day for the 9th Army. During this day, the Chinese Army achieved more than ten victories in succession. The 9th Army had been completely defeated under the fierce Chinese offensive.
was disabled.
How many more days can it last? Or how many hours?
The Russians were hiding sadly in their positions, while Chinese artillery shells exploded around them, and Chinese planes hovered above their heads.
The Russians are completely numb to bombs...
Qionok has become a huge tomb. Tens of thousands of Russians will be buried here.
Some people died. Some people were unable to receive timely treatment after being injured and closed their eyes in misery. Others chose to commit suicide in despair.
Of course some people surrendered!
The number of prisoners of war is increasing sharply, compared to the victory or defeat on the battlefield. This is what gives Liu Zhaocheng the most headache.
Liu Zhaocheng could calmly command a vast and majestic battle, and he could be calm and collected in the face of danger, but when facing more and more prisoners, he didn't know what to do.
Fortunately, it was not his turn to worry about these things, and he finally had a chief of staff, Li Zongren, whom he could rely on.
Sometimes Liu Zhaocheng would suddenly remember that after the Battle of Kedunsnoyarsk, there would be more prisoners of war. How would Commander Heng deal with these prisoners of war?
I'm afraid only Hengshuai knows that...
On the 2nd, the 9th Army lost more than half of its strength, but this was just the beginning. With the arrival of dawn, the final attack on the 9th Army began...
That was a day that the lucky Russians would never forget!
On this day, all the Chinese aircraft, artillery, tanks and soldiers were dispatched. The artillery shells destroyed all targets crazily, and the entire Qionnock was submerged in a sea of fire.
They bombed round after round, endlessly, without stopping.
They turned the artillery fire into the victory song of the Chinese people, but it became the funeral song of the Russians.
Their soldiers stayed quietly and patiently in their positions, watching the Russians on the opposite side wailing, running, and dying under artillery fire. They waited patiently, waiting...
Meretskov sat motionless in his command post, knowing that the last moment was coming...
There is nothing to regret, I have done my best... If I have to take responsibility, then I am willing to take the responsibility for all failures...
The artillery fire began to extend, and the infantry prepared to attack!
The first thing to appear on the battlefield was the tank troops, followed by densely packed infantry, which looked spectacular and terrifying at first glance.
Those tanks roared, and the Chinese soldiers wearing helmets had calm but determined expressions!
Qiu Nuoke will bring Liu Zhaocheng's reputation to a new height again!
At eight o'clock in the morning, Qionnock's annihilation operation began!
The tank roared and rushed towards the Russian position at full speed. The infantrymen with bayonets followed the tanks and pressed forward calmly.
The Russian machine guns fired in vain, and the weapons in their hands could not stop the tide of attack.
Countless Russians died in the war, and their blood dyed the entire Qinnock red, and the air was filled with the smell of death.
The Russians, abandoned by their God...
Position after position was overwhelmed, and entire regiments and battalions of Russians were killed or surrendered. A few hours after the battle began, the Russian defense line at Qinnock suffered a complete collapse.
The Chinese patiently swept the battlefield, annihilating all targets under their guns.
As for the Russians who were surrendering in droves, the Chinese soldiers no longer even had the energy to pay attention to them. They just pointed to the back, meaning that the prisoner of war shelter was behind them.
In Meretskov's command post, all staff officers and non-combatants have entered the battle with weapons. Their performance at this time is still commendable.
Meretskov had a pistol in his hand. He once thought about committing suicide, but then gave up the idea.
Yes, he and the 9th Army failed, but suicide is a cowardly act. He must force himself to survive. He must sum up all the gains and losses in the battle.
Failure cannot be in vain, absolutely not!
"Comrade Commander, the enemy has appeared near the headquarters."
"I understand." Meretskov said calmly: "Pick up your weapons and continue fighting, and fulfill the responsibilities of a true Bolshevik!"
"Yes, Comrade Commander."
Meretskov was the only one left in the headquarters. He picked up the pistol and wiped it carefully, very, very carefully. When the gun was polished, he put it away.
I looked at myself and saw that my appearance was very neat.
Meretskov smiled with satisfaction, but there was too much bitterness in his smile...
...
Liu Zhaocheng stood up and stretched.
I was very dissatisfied, not with the performance of the soldiers on the battlefield, but with my own chess skills. I actually lost to Li Zongren three games in a row.
It will be great when my own chess playing can be as good as directing a war.
Li Zongren stood up with a smile: "Go out and take a look?"
"Look, look." The staff officers in the headquarters were snickering because they had lost several games in a row. They all fell into Liu Zhaocheng's eyes. This made the commander-in-chief a little embarrassed. The chief of staff's suggestion was just right.
Save yourself from such embarrassment.
The sounds of mountains and tsunamis were everywhere outside, and the sound of artillery and machine guns were intertwined, playing the most majestic and heroic music on the battlefield.
Liu Zhaocheng didn't know why he didn't always feel particularly excited. Maybe he felt that the advantages of the Chinese Army on the Russian battlefield with the full assistance of the intervening countries were too obvious, and he couldn't truly experience his command ability?
Or, his stage should be on a larger battlefield...
News of victory continued to come, and the Russians had completely collapsed. The Russian prisoners of war who appeared in large groups were telling their commander and chief of staff:
Qionuoke's attack battle will be over soon!
The biggest gap in Kdusnoyarsk is about to be opened.
It is already a bit cold, which indicates that the terrible winter in Russia is coming soon. It is an unshakable determination to end the Battle of Kedunsnoyarsk before winter comes.
Then, the Chinese team can enter a rest period.
Russia will enter a delicate balance.
Rao Guohua came over and saluted the commander and chief of staff: "Report, our frontline soldiers defeated the headquarters of the 9th Army and captured the commander of the Russian 9th Army Meretskov!"
Liu Zhaocheng nodded without showing much surprise:
"Report to Commander-in-Chief Zhang Xiaohuai that the attack on Qiunock ended on March 1st!" (To be continued.)..ge