1890 King of Southeast Asia

"Division Commander, you are finally here." Guo Liang shook off the dust on his head, grinned, and warmly entertained Li Yunfei.

"Well done." Li Yunfei reached out and patted Guo Liang on the shoulder, and wiped the dust off his shoulder, revealing the bright red shoulder strap.

"How is your regiment?" Li Yunfei glanced at the 5th and 9th regiment positions that were still emitting gunpowder smoke.

The 5th and 9th regiments followed Guo Liang's tactics and made a sudden advance, successfully driving a nail behind the enemy's front line and cutting off its retreat.

This created an opportunity for the follow-up army to annihilate 7 Ottoman Empire division-level troops in one fell swoop.

The Ottomans would certainly not sit and wait for death, but in just two days, the Ottomans concentrated hundreds of cannons and fired more than 20,000 shells at the temporary positions built by the 5th and 9th regiments.

If it weren't for the Ottomans' lack of heavy artillery, the 5th and 9th regiments would definitely not be able to withstand so many shells.

"More than two-thirds of the troops were killed or wounded. The transport team, engineers, auto repair team, and communicators, except for the doctor who could pick up a gun, all went to the battlefield. Even so, there were not enough people on the front line to fight." Guo Liang took out a pack of wrinkled cigarettes, lit one, and said with a smile.

"Damn Ottomans, they fought too hard and were too reckless."

"The whole battalion and regiment of infantry launched a charge. They would never retreat until more than half of the casualties were killed or wounded. Those who wanted to run, the Ottomans set up machine guns behind the attacking team 5, and killed them all."

"Later, the Ottomans' infantry and artillery coordination could be achieved within 100 meters. It was not because the Ottomans' artillery was so accurate, but because they ignored the casualties of the infantry."

"Next, our regiment can't fight anymore. What about you, division commander?"

Guo Liang laughed and cried. He wiped his tears and continued to ask with a smile.

"Each regiment has casualties, but they are still fighting." Li Yunfei looked at the sides of the road, which were full of corpses.

"Okay, go to the rear to rest. Our division has not moved yet. Our base is still in Birejik. Your regiment's base is still yours."

"I will report to the higher-ups. The supplementary team 5 will be here soon. I will first supplement the 5th plus 9th regiment."

Li Yunfei patted Guo Liang on the shoulder.

Guo Liang nodded and turned to look at the field position of the 5th plus 9th regiment. Those who could still move were distinguishing corpses and looking for survivors.

Those who could not move were receiving treatment with the help of friendly doctors.

"Division commander, will we still make the main attack next?" Guo Liang suddenly asked when he saw the doctors in the division hospital busy.

"No, the next target is Ain Tab, which is an urban war. The damage of our division and your regiment has reached the point where we need to rest. The higher-ups will not let us go." Li Yunfei shook his head.

"However, no one can take away the credit of our division in this battle. You led the 509th Regiment to block the main point here and bought time for the main force."

"We destroyed four Ottoman Empire divisional headquarters at one time and captured many senior enemy officers. The remaining enemy troops are already surrounded by us."

All this is because the 509th Regiment blocked the Ottoman retreat route, which is the key to this battle. Everyone knows this, and this first credit cannot be escaped.

"Just buy it. I just thought that we should not work hard for a long time and end up making wedding clothes for others." Guo Liang exhaled, not knowing whether he was serious or joking.

"Don't worry, the commander is not the kind of person who can't distinguish right from wrong..."

…………

At the army headquarters, the wise and powerful Zheng Lei in Li Yunfei's mouth was sticking his butt out, lying on the map, watching the changes in troops.

When a thin line representing the Chinese Empire divided the seven Ottoman Empire divisions into two parts, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Then the development of things was just as he expected. Good news came one after another. The heavy troops of the Ottoman Empire on the front line were divided, surrounded, and then eaten by the five divisions of the Chinese Empire.

"After dealing with these seven divisions, the Ottomans have less than half of their available troops. Next, whether they hold on to Ain Tab or retreat, they have already lost the initiative."

"We have already won half of this battle." The chief of staff nodded beside him.

"Yes, with insufficient troops, everything is difficult. The Ottomans should also taste this." Zheng Lei nodded in agreement.

"How is the consumption of supplies? Have the casualties of each unit, especially the 16th Division, been reported?" Zheng Lei turned around and asked.

"The consumption of various combat materials is completely within the expected consumption, except for fuel. The fuel consumption output is about 20% of the initial estimate. The fuel we prepared for two months may not last that long."

"The latest casualties of the 16th Division, the entire division suffered 4,400 casualties, of which 59th Regiment suffered 2,600 casualties, almost everyone was injured."

"At the most intense moment of the battle, even the motor soldiers took up rifles and went to the front line to fight." The chief of staff sighed.

The 16th Division did not have time to replenish, and this time more than 4,000 casualties, the total loss of personnel exceeded 6,000, and it could not participate in the next battle. At least it needs to rest for 3 months.

"Although the victory is glorious, it was exchanged for the blood of the soldiers."

"It can't be wasted. In addition to the 16th Division, which unit is the most forward?" Zheng Lei looked at the map, which was complicated.

The distance can actually be seen, but there is always a certain gap between the map and the reality. For example, their headquarters may be there, but the 5th division is scattered to capture prisoners.

"The 3rd Division is advancing and should be about to reach the position of the 16th Division. They did not participate in the further encirclement and suppression operation. According to the plan, they will fight northward to cut off the Ottoman retreat."

The chief of staff thought for a while and said roughly.

"Didn't the 16th Division capture some prisoners? Hand them over to the 3rd Division, and let the 3rd Division drive these people to attack the outer positions of Ain Tab and try to seize some of the outer positions."

"We fought very quickly. The Ottomans should not have thought that the front line had been completely defeated. Even if they were prepared, they would not bet everything on it."

"In addition, another unit will be dispatched to follow the 3rd Division and act according to the situation."

"As for the rear guard... this time there is no need to be the rear guard. The combat goal has been changed to drive the Ottomans out of Ain Tab." Zheng Lei had a brand new idea.

"Report this news to the General Staff, that's it..."

"By the way, we need to apply for a few tanker trains. It's not very far now, and fuel supply will become more and more difficult in the future."

…………

"Brigade Commander, the division commander ordered us to stop resting and move forward to Ain Tab." Huang Zhengfang was holding his lunch box and eating slurpingly. The messenger came running with the lunch box and the telegram in his hand.

Huang Zhengfang put down the lunch box, took the telegram from the messenger, and read it carefully.

"Pass the order down, everyone eat quickly, pack up after eating, and set off in 20 minutes, no, 15 minutes." Huang Zhengfang put the telegram aside, picked up the lunch box again, and ate slurpingly.

Now they are in the process of marching to save time. The kitchen team provides a big stew that is easy to make and eat. It is stewed with canned food and dried vegetables into a pot with oil, salt and soup. After stewing, it is mixed with rice. Although the taste is not very good, it is hot after all.

There is no steamed buns. They have to be made on the spot and the dough needs to be left to rise. There is not enough time during the march. Only when we are stationed can we have them.

After finishing the meal, Huang Zhengfang returned to the car and read the telegram again.

"Brigade commander, where are we going?" Zheng Shangqing, the newly transferred chief of staff, ran over. The original chief of staff was transferred to the new unit to serve as the chief officer.

"Ain Tabu, but we have to go to the 16th Division on the way to receive prisoners." Huang Zhengfang handed him the telegram.

"Receive prisoners? Do we still have no war to fight?" Zheng Shangqing took the telegram and asked casually before reading the content.

"Oh, who came up with this idea? What a vicious heart, but can the Ottomans be fooled? After all, they are not Chinese. Will they not care about these things?" Zheng Shangqing saw the role of the prisoners and called it vicious, but he agreed very much.

"Whether they are fooled or not, our goal has been achieved."

"If they are fooled, we can take advantage of their confusion and charge forward with a round of artillery fire and a charge."

"If they are not fooled, they will keep their own people out or even shoot their own people. Their morale will inevitably decrease, which will also help the subsequent siege."

"Moreover, if they slaughter their own people with their own hands, as long as they are human, they will think and be afraid, and there may be confusion afterwards."

Huang Zhengfang took the telegram back and put it in a folder.

This method is somewhat despicable, but it must be said that it is very effective.

He is a pragmatist, as long as it works.

"Yes, looking at the world, we are the only ones who will conduct prisoner training, so we can shoot without hesitation, but others may not be able to do so." Zheng Shangqing nodded.

In the infantry training subjects of the Chinese 6th Army, there is training for the enemy to release prisoners and threaten prisoners to attack positions.

There is actually no good solution to this kind of thing. The training subjects of the Chinese 6th Army are just to train the ability to rush to the front and crawl quickly and find cover. Then the wounds of the defending soldiers will be slightly raised, and try not to attack the nearby ground.

In fact, many veterans know this trick, but they may not be able to execute it in a panic. After training, the performance of the soldiers of the Chinese Empire may be better.

Of course, the most important thing is that in this way, the combat effectiveness of the defending soldiers will not be greatly restricted.

At the same time, there will be no large-scale morale collapse due to guilt.

For people, that little bit of hope and bond is the most important thing.

"Is the army organized?" Huang Zhengfang asked.

"It will take a while, but it will be ready soon. The troops are already gathering." Zheng Shangqing said.

"You take the troops to the 16th Division to take over the prisoners first, and I will go to the division headquarters." Huang Zhengfang signaled the driver to drive.

"What are you going to the division headquarters for?" Zheng Shangqing asked curiously.

"Go get some cannons..." Before he could finish his words, the driver stepped on the accelerator and drove away...

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