Northeast Heilongjiang, Manchuria.

The first shot of the war of resistance against Russia in time and space was fired at this important port on the Sino-Soviet border. April 1, 1927. That is, the day after the Soviet Union declared war on China, about a battalion of Soviet Red Army crossed the Sino-Soviet border and bloodlessly captured Zhalainoer, which is located more than 20 kilometers southeast of Manchuria, and cut off the railway communication between Manchuria and Harbin. On the same day, about a division of the Red Army appeared around the city of Manchuria and surrounded the small fortress, which had been carefully built into a fortress by the Feng Department.

12 p.m. The shells of the Soviet Red Army exploded in the frontline positions outside Manchuria, and the offensive and defensive battle in Manchuria officially began. Defending here was the 1st Brigade of the Northeast Frontier Army under the command of Major General Liang Zhongjia, and these frontier brigades were all mixed brigades, equipped with a battalion of artillery, a company of engineers, heavy soldiers and cavalry, two infantry regiments, and eight 75mm mountain guns imitating the 41st year of the Meiji era. The total strength is about 3,500 people, and there is also a security team of about 1,000 people who are now under the command of Liang Zhongjia.

By the time the first shell exploded, the officers and men of the 1st Northeast Frontier Brigade had already taken refuge in the carefully constructed shelters, or were huddled in the trenches close to the ground. The Red Army's shelling did not seem to be as fierce as expected, and Liang Zhongjia, who was hiding in the shelter, heard a roar instead of the dense explosions. And it sounds like the sound of these explosions is similar to the sound of 75mm shells fired by his eight treasure mountain guns, and it is obviously not a heavy artillery, but a Soviet 1902 76.2mm field gun, which cannot hurt his own carefully constructed fortress in Manchuria at all.

However, at this time, standing on the Soviet position outside the city of Manchuria, the city of Manchuria was shrouded in a black and blue smoke. There were constantly fires coming out of the positions of the squadron, and then columns of smoke were raised high, and you could faintly see the cover of civil fortifications and the human body lifting into the sky...... It seems that this tentative shelling still killed a few people, and finally did not waste Stalin's red ruble.

The shelling lasted only 20 minutes, and more than 1,000 shells were fired, which is already a lot for poor and backward China, but it is not a problem at all for an industrialized country like the Soviet Union. Although the first five-year plan of the Soviet Union has not yet begun, it was built on the basis of an imperialist country like Tsarist Russia. Before the collapse of Tsarist Russia, its steel production was already more than five million tons!

At 12:20 a.m., the shelling stopped abruptly, and the first wave of infantry charges of the Soviet Red Army began. From the telescope in Liang Zhongjia's hand, the yellow-green figures of the Soviet Red Army formed a stormtroop formation in front of their positions, and the number of people was about one battalion, the formation was very loose, and the distance between everyone was very large...... Maybe it's because I'm afraid of the cannons of the Feng army?

The offensive of the Soviet Red Army seemed to be fought unhurriedly and very methodically. They formed several yellow-green human lines, slowly moving forward, stopping after a few steps to shoot at the Fengjun position. On either side of them, several heavy machine guns also spewed out tongues of fire at the Feng army's position.

Eight 75mm mountain guns lined up in Manchuria also began to fire at this time, stirring up puffs of smoke and dust on the position. The shells also accurately hit the offensive formation of the Soviet Red Army, and the flames rose, and the huge shock wave rolled up dust and scattered along with the fragments of the shells, knocking down these invaders with red flags one by one. However, these Red Army soldiers, armed with Bolshevik ideology, did not seem to pay any attention to the fierce artillery fire of the Feng army, and still maintained the formation of a skirmish, and quickly pressed towards the position of the Feng army...... At this time, on the high ground behind the Soviet position, a tall senior officer wearing a straight military coat was holding a telescope to observe the battle situation on the front line. Although his soldiers were killed in rows, the Red Army general still had a gloomy smile on his face...... It seems that they don't care about the lives of the fighters at all.

"Comrade General, the enemy seems to be a little stronger than we thought. Seemingly...... The information sent by the Chinese comrades is still accurate. These so-called border guards were rigorously trained by the consultants. ”

It was a young Soviet Red Army officer who said this, and his tone was equally emotionless, and he did not care at all about the life or death of his comrades.

In fact, today's offensive is a test of the surname. In order to let this high-ranking general of the Red Army understand the reality of his opponent. And this tall, majestic-looking, and bearded man is none other than the famous General Gallen, who has now reverted to his real name, Vasily? Konstantinovich? Blyukhel. As in history, Stalin entrusted the glorious task of invading China to him, who had worked in China for many years and knew the situation and reality of China well.

Blyukhel put down the binoculars in his hand and smiled at the young officer beside him: "Vasily? Ivanovich, you have observed very carefully, and these Chinese White Army are indeed a little stronger than what we know in the past. But it was much weaker than the Kuomintang White Army I saw in Sichuan. ”

This Vasily? Ivanovich is also a tall and straight figure, uh, most of these Russians are like that...... Except for the guys in their Politburo, because those people can't grow much taller than Stalin. This Vasily is actually a historical celebrity, his surname is Chuikov, the later Marshal of the Soviet Union, and at this time he was still an ordinary colonel-level staff officer. Because he studied in the Chinese Department of the Oriental Department of the Frunze Military Academy for a year, he was also sent to the Far Eastern Army.

I heard the boss say that China actually has a white army that is stronger than the enemy in front of him! Comrade Chuikov frowned and said in a low voice: "Comrade General, will we fight with them this time?" ”

"Yes! They have already passed the Shanhaiguan Pass and are on their way here. And we are going to destroy them under the city of Manchuria! Blyukhel smiled coldly: "These white troops in front of them are simply vulnerable, as long as they launch a really fierce offensive, they will definitely collapse after a few days." It's just that then I won't be able to attract the Kuomintang White Army to come and fight, they are my real target! Only by defeating this army can the military confidence of the Kuomintang be destroyed and the road to the final victory of the Chinese revolution be paved! ”

…… Mukden, Beidaying.

This time, Zhang Xueliang seems to have shown a kind of cheering up that has not been seen in history. In just two days, he rushed from Yanjing with his headquarters to the base camp of the Fengjun army, inside the northern camp of Fengtian, where he would command the war.

In the past, this eldest young master said that the whole smoke beauty mahjong opera...... He looks like a gentleman. Let others think that he didn't have time to cheer up. But as the Sino-Soviet war really began, the burden of the rise and fall of the entire Feng system seemed to be on his shoulders alone. He also had to reluctantly brace himself and devote himself to this war that was entirely caused by his own incurrery.

In the conference room in the Peking University Camp, the stars were shining, and the generals of the three parties, including Wu Peifu and Luo Yaoguo, gathered together. A military meeting is now being chaired by Zhang Xueliang.

"First of all, I have good news for everyone! From 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. yesterday, the 1st Brigade of our valiant Northeast Frontier Army had repelled six attacks by the Russians, who had piled up corpses under our fortress in Manchuria, and were now powerless to fight again! ”

As soon as the meeting began, Zhang Xueliang stood up with a happy face and told everyone about the battle report he had just received from the front line in Manchuria.

On April 1, the Manchuria front seemed to have been won, and the Soviet Red Army attacked weakly for an afternoon, and did not take down any corner of the Manchurian fortress. As for the corpses piling up like a mountain or something...... It's just an adjective! There were only 10,000 Soviet Red Army troops outside the city of Manchuria, even if they were all dead and piled up in one place, and they might not be as high as a mountain.

As soon as the good news came out, the somewhat depressed atmosphere in the conference room suddenly became active, and those generals of the Fengjun who were originally full of sorrow were now replaced by a smiling face that was suspicious. To tell the truth, the Feng army has a few catties and taels, and these generals also know it. Defeating the Soviet Union is simply wishful thinking, and no one believes what corpses are piling up, but Manchuria must have been held, and in the face of the powerful offensive of the Soviet Red Army, it held for half a day! Looks...... This battle is not completely hopeless.

Luo Yaoguo, who was sitting in the crowd, frowned slightly. The situation is really somewhat unexpected now, and the Soviets are preparing much faster than expected. Before they and Wu Peifu's army were in place, they took the lead...... Or maybe the Soviets got the intelligence in advance.

Zhang Xueliang's voice, which was almost about to laugh, sounded again: "Ladies and gentlemen, now Manchuria is surrounded by about a division of Russian invaders. Although our army relies on strong positions, it is enough to hold on for a long time. But after all, there is a huge disparity in numbers, and the weapons of the Russians are also very powerful, if they can't send reinforcements to relieve the siege, I'm afraid they will inevitably fail in the end. ”

Speaking of this, Zhang Xueliang looked at Luo Yaoguo, who was sitting still, from a distance, and said with a smile: "Brother Fuwen, you and Yushuai are in charge of the line from Manchuria to Heihe, I don't know if Brother Fuwen has any clever plans to solve the siege?" ”

Luo Yaoguo smiled slightly: "Where is the plan to break the siege?" When Yushuai's army and I arrive in Hailar, we will find a way to relieve General Liang. Until then...... Please rest assured, the Russians will not take Manchuria. ”

Zhang Xueliang glanced at Luo Yaoguo and said lightly: "Could it be that Brother Fuwen thinks that the Russian Kou will be able to take the Jiancheng of Manchuria at any time?" ”

Luo Yaoguo slowly stood up and looked at Zhang Xueliang seriously: "No matter how the Soviet Red Army fights the elite step by step in the cruel war, I don't believe that the Soviet Red Army has not encountered a stronger fortress than Manchuria along the way." It was no problem to hold the Soviets behind these fortresses, but to defeat them...... Even if you play a better draw, you still have to win in the wilderness and mountains and forests of the northeast. I believe that our opponents have the same idea, they are now surrounding Manchuria, just waiting for us to break the siege. ”

Zhang Xueliang was stunned, frowned and thought about it, and felt that this matter was indeed not so easy: "Brother Fuwen, do you mean that the Russian Kou has set a trap in Manchuria for us to drill into?" ”

“…… In that case, if I mobilize the main force of the Feng army to fight them in a decisive battle, is it possible to defeat the enemy in one fell swoop? Beat them with 100,000 of us, this should be assured, right? ”

Zhang Xueliang suddenly put forward such a decisive battle plan. It is necessary to concentrate the main forces of the Feng army to break through the Soviet Red Army...... It sounds like there are working surnames. I just don't know how the Soviets will react when they get the news? It is impossible to think that such a large transfer can completely conceal the pervasive intelligence network of the Soviets in the Northeast, right?

"Good!" "No!" Both voices rang out almost simultaneously. It was Matsui Shichio, the military adviser who sang well, but it was Wu Peifu who was opposed.

Wu Peifu stood up suddenly, his head shaking like a rattle: "Han Qing, you can't be so hasty. Our army does not have such strong combat effectiveness, if it is held in a strong position, it can support it for a while, and if it is pulled out to fight with others...... It's definitely going to collapse. Moreover, now that Manchuria has been surrounded, we will use 100,000 troops to relieve the siege, and then we will march west along the Middle East Road. So we were on the offensive and the Soviets were on the defensive. ”

“…… In my estimates, the Feng army is at most equivalent to two or three percent of the combat effectiveness of the Soviet army, that is to say, 100,000 Feng troops are equivalent to 20,000 or 30,000 Soviet troops. If you are on the defensive, you should be able to fight with a strong position, but if you use it to attack the strongly defended positions of the Soviets......"

“…… Now that the Soviets have set a trap in Manchuria, and when we take the bait, we will also take advantage of the opportunity for them to place their main forces around Manchuria to speed up their deployment and improve the defense of various places. Placed in the siege of Manchuria, it is up to me and Luo Fuwen's army to figure out a way. At most, we can't break the siege, but Hailar can still hold on, so we will be undefeated. ”

Before Wu Peifu's words were finished, Nanao Matsui, the advisor of this advisor, slapped the table hard, and also stood up: "Eight grids!" Your plan is to disperse the main forces of the Feng army in various places, so that you will have a good chance to defeat each of them! It is the most basic common sense to concentrate the use of military forces in the military, so how can you, China's number one general, not know about it? The young marshal's plan seemed to me to be completely feasible, with the main force of 100,000 Feng troops marching west to Hailar, and then advancing westward step by step to relieve the siege of Manchuria. Even if they don't win, it is impossible for the Russians to eat 100,000 troops in one bite, so they will be invincible! ”

Zhang Xueliang looked at the two senior masters who were blushing, and he was at a loss for a while. His plan to pat himself on the head is actually just that's what he says. I didn't take it too seriously, if Matsui Nanao didn't jump out and support it vigorously, let Wu Peifu oppose it. But now let Matsui say it...... Doesn't it seem like this plan is also quite feasible?

Zhang Xueliang hesitated for a while, and unconsciously looked at Luo Yaoguo who was sitting on the side. This is now working with Ishihara Waner as a translator for three German [***] affairs consultants who look very good. The three Germans seemed to be nodding frequently, and they didn't know if they agreed with their plan?

"Excuse me, Mr. Guderian, do you have any opinion on my plan?" Zhang Xueliang is fluent in English as soon as he speaks. With a smile, he looked at the big man sitting on Luo Yaoguo's right, Guderian, and asked.

These three Germans and Zhang Xueliang have known each other since the train to Mukden, and these three people seem to be headed by Guderian now, and he is also a professor at the Army University of the Kuomintang, so he should be very good at fighting, right?

When Guderian heard Zhang Xueliang's question, he also slowly stood up, revealing a stiff Prussian smile: "General Zhang, your plan is still just an idea, and this idea also has a certain feasible surname in my opinion, maybe it is the only way for you to win this war, right?" But just like General Wu said, you have to win! It depends on whether your army can do it or not. I don't know much about this, so I can't give you an exact answer. ”

"Young marshal! Guderian was right, this is our only chance to win the war! ”

The person who said this was the chief of staff of the Northeast Frontier Army, Xi Qia, who was Zhang Xueliang's teacher, and every time he scored him, he was given full marks, and it was said that he did not cheat...... I don't know if there is such a question as whether you should resist if you are attacked?

"If we follow Wu Yushuai's deployment, we just lose a little less, if we want to lose less...... Then we might as well give in to the Soviets now and return the Middle East Road to them, so that we can still preserve the strength of the Feng army. If you want to fight, of course you should win! If you want to win, you should concentrate your forces to fight. And now the Russians are under the fortified city, and they will not be able to conquer it for a long time. If we concentrate our forces on the back of the abdomen, even if we do not win, we will be able to relieve the siege of Manchuria. ”

Zhang Xueliang hesitated for a moment before he said slowly: "Teacher Xiqia, then in your opinion, how many troops should we use in this battle, and how to fight?" ”

There was a vague determination to fight in these words. It seems that in Zhang Xueliang's heart, he really wants to fight this battle.

Xi Qia nodded slightly at Zhang Xueliang, and said with a smile: "Our Feng army now has ten divisions of elite outside the pass. My idea is that in this battle, our eight divisions, plus three artillery regiments, will be dispatched to assemble in Hailar by train. Then form a heavy army group and approach Manchuria to the west."

(To be continued)