frightfiction Chapter 246: The Battle of Mandalay (3): How can we prepare two tables of food but only one table of
Chapter 246: The Battle of Mandalay (3): How can we prepare two tables of food but only one table of
To the north of Mandalay, war clouds are gathering.
Zhang Chi stood in the command tent, hearing the rumbling sound of artillery outside the tent. He knew that the attack on Mandalay City had begun.
The headquarters was bustling with activity and the atmosphere was tense. He could even hear the shouts of his own soldiers.
Despite this, Zhang Chi's mind was not completely immersed in the siege.
His eyes sometimes shifted to the huge and complex map, and sometimes returned to the battle situation in front of him.
At this time, the two attack groups on the left and right gathered at the foot of Mandalay City. The two fists that were originally separated from the left and right gathered together, aiming directly at Mandalay.
However, Zhang Chi found that he was facing a city with only more than 3 devils and several puppet troops, and his attack power far exceeded that of the enemy. It seemed a bit of a waste of talent?
Zhang Chi looked at the map in the command center and saw countless small red flags representing his own side planted around the city of Mandalay.
“第 1 、2 、3 、5 、6 一共五个步兵师；第 101 、 103 两个炮兵旅；装甲第 7 师再加上两个说是摩托化旅、实际上的装甲掷弹兵师；海军陆战团与第一驱逐舰支队。”
While talking to himself, Zhang Chi took out a handful of fried peanuts, threw them into his mouth and started chewing them.
Then, he couldn't help but smile bitterly: "This is an army of nearly 20 people. I prepared two tables of food, but the guests didn't even fill one table. How can this be possible?"
After thinking for a while, Zhang Chi suddenly turned around and asked the staff officer beside him: "Where are the 405th Special Operations Battalion and Li Mingcheng's battle group now?"
"Report, according to the call 15 minutes ago, they have crossed Jinsongling and are only 40 kilometers away from Meiktila. So far, they have only engaged in some sporadic exchanges of fire and have not encountered a large number of Japanese troops."
As soon as Zhang Chi finished speaking, the young staff officer standing beside him immediately responded. It was obvious that the contents of the past telegrams and voice calls were firmly remembered in his mind.
"However, because the Japanese began to dig up the roads on a large scale and lay mines, Lieutenant Colonel Li Mingcheng reported that the troops' marching speed was slower than expected."
Zhang Chi nodded when he heard this.
As a time traveler, he knew that the rapid spread of information in war was as important as abundant firepower.
So thanks to his efforts, with the popularization of radio command vehicles and radio vehicles, the command center can communicate with subordinate regimental units by radio even while on the march.
This means that as long as he wants, he can grasp the position and status of his subordinate regimental-level troops every minute and every second, and then perform micro-management.
However, for the sake of the safety of the staff in the command center, Zhang Chi still ordered the positions of each unit to be updated every half hour.
This time interval can ensure that there will be no tragedy like Napoleon's failure to obtain the location of Grouchy's reinforcements, which led to the defeat of the Battle of Waterloo, and the staff of the command will not be exhausted too frequently.
(In fact, during the Korean War, due to weather and terrain, the Volunteer Army also encountered many problems with radio contact with a certain division, resulting in missed opportunities.)
Zhang Chi continued to point his fingers on the map, following the railway line on the ground southward from Mandalay City all the way to Meiktila. The road west of Meiktila connected to Yenangyaung.
The road south of Yenangyaung goes directly to the southernmost coastal area of Bago.
The railway at the southern end of Meiktila connects to Yangon, the capital of Bago. This important railway also passes through important cities in central and southern Bago such as Naypyidaw and Taungoo.
According to aerial reconnaissance, the Japanese front-line headquarters stationed in Yangon seemed to be continuously sending trains north along the railway.
According to the intelligence forwarded by Stevenson, these trains not only transported ammunition supplies to the front line, but also transported a lot of reinforcements.
With a large surplus of troops at his disposal, Zhang Chi naturally divided his troops into several groups, preparing to launch a "grab the bush and kill the rabbit" attack. He not only wanted to eat up the Japanese reinforcements heading north.
They also had to take advantage of the opportunity when the Japanese reinforcements were gathering in Mandalay and the rear was empty to directly capture several node cities along the way south to Yangon.
"Give Zhang Guangjun the order to have his First Destroyer Squadron remain behind to provide artillery support. The remaining amphibious marines and boat units will immediately move south along the Irrawaddy River and attack Yenangyaung."
Zhang Chi pointed at Yenangyaung on the map. According to aerial reconnaissance, there were not many Japanese soldiers stationed there, probably only a few thousand, the size of a regiment.
"Also, give orders to Special Operations Command to have the Parachute Regiment ready for an airborne assault. They've been training for six months, which is quite a while. It's time to take them out for a walk."
Zhang Chi pointed to the words 'Yenangyaung Oilfield' on the map and said, "It's best to take control of the oilfield before the Japanese destroy it."
Although the Johns had blown up the Yenangyaung oil field before their retreat, the fire there had long been put out by the Japanese, and the destruction by the Johns was not complete. The Japanese had managed to extract some crude oil and natural gas with the remaining equipment.
Although the system allows the direct exchange of Silver Lion Coins for finished gasoline, diesel, aviation kerosene and other fuels, why not want the oil fields and wealth that you picked up for free?
Not to mention that the associated natural gas is also an excellent raw material for fertilizer.
Zhang Chi sent out the paratroopers for two reasons: one was to train the troops, and the other was because he was afraid that the Japanese would destroy everything together and directly ignite the oil and gas wells.
You know, even in the 21st century, it takes a lot of effort to extinguish a burning oil well. Zhang Chi doesn't want to waste a lot of time and manpower on fire-fighting operations.
As the rumbling of artillery fire outside the headquarters began, Zhang Chi looked at the staff officer with a good memory:
"What was your name? Did you write down everything I said?"
The staff officer knocked his heels together and saluted. "Report, Your Excellency, I have noted down all your orders! My name is Yu Wenbai, and I am a graduate of the Yunnan branch of the Whampoa Military Academy. I also attended the officer class you organized."
Zhang Chi Yile, the 17th class of Whampoa Military Academy started in 1940 and graduated in 1942. It was a genuine Whampoa Military Academy. Among them, the three headquarters of the school in Sichuan Province were considered to be the direct descendants of the White Party.
Graduating from the Yunnan branch meant that Yu Wenbai was not a direct descendant. Now that he had passed the layers of review by the Internal Affairs Department and became a staff officer at the Anmin Army Headquarters, it further proved that he had little connection with the White Party.
"Not bad, you are a good seedling. I will remember you." Zhang Chi smiled and patted Yu Wenbo's shoulder.
If Zhang Chi wants to control this huge force, the Internal Affairs Department and Security Department composed of synthetic people provided by the system are his biggest leverage.
The faction composed mainly of the three great Vajra officers Hao Yi, Qi Quan and Bai Minghui, who are the "Yuan Cong" officers, is the most powerful right leg.
The faction composed mainly of young talents from Southeast Asia, such as Chief Secretary Zhang Guangsong, Navy Minister Zhang Guangjun, and Three-Year Plan Director Bai Hongsheng, was able to check and balance the "Yuan Cong" faction and assist in the development of the left leg.
As for young people like Yu Wenbo who have graduated from professional schools, attended the officer training classes organized by him, and have a teacher-student relationship with him, they are considered the new generation faction and the cornerstone of future development.
Today, there are more than 300,000 troops under the An Min Army system, and the total population of immigrants and the original Pegu population under its rule is nearly 10 million. For such a huge system, Zhang Chi has no choice but to support multiple factions to check and balance each other and avoid one faction dominating.
And now he is quite adept at doing these things.
After sending Yu Wenbo away to issue orders, Zhang Chi continued to study the battle situation.
"Kimura Heitaro, which of the 2nd and 31st Divisions are you sending as reinforcements north?"
Of course, no matter which support troops Kimura Heitaro sent, Zhang Chi would eat them up in one gulp.
It would be even better if the other side sent out the last two divisions. Zhang Chi could just take them all down, and by then the Japanese would have no troops left in Pegu.