Chapter 210: Choice! The will of the Empire! (a)

In the Ural Mountains, 140 kilometers west of Chelyabinsk, the South Ural Railway from Chelyabinsk to Samara passes through a small town called Berdyaush, which from the first day of June was home to the forward headquarters of the Russian Ural Front.

Visible from the bell tower of the town's chapel, rolling hills and dense coniferous forests fill the view.

A flock of birds chirped from the rooftops, unresponsive to the shrill whistle from a nearby station.

"It's another quiet morning...... It shouldn't be the last one, it's a must......"

The commander of the Ural Front on the bell tower, General Kontrachenko, faced the mountain alone, and finished his recitation, patted the railing, and went downstairs with his hands behind his back.

A quarter of an hour later, in a wooden house next to the church, the samovar on the stove filled with the smell of tea, and the generals gathered around the table, each with a cup of hot tea with sugar, and another peaceful morning began with the chirping of birds and the whistle of the train.

“…… Our operational policy is to hold the 'Suvorov' defensive line in the middle of the Ural Mountains with the main forces, gradually deplete the enemy's vital strength, dampen the enemy's morale, and gain time for the reorganization and recovery of the rear. ”

The Chief of Staff, Colonel Tukhanov, first began to confirm the operational deployment.

"To this end, we divide the entire strength of the Front into three parts, namely: the direct units of the Front, the main group and the Northern Ural group."

"The direct units of the Front include: the 12th and 15th Cavalry Divisions, the 12th Armored Vehicle Brigade, and 14 civilian regiments of the 2nd Western Siberian Militia Corps - these forces mainly serve as rear guards."

"The main groups are: Hovlin's 51st Army, Mikhalin's 52nd Army, and Balakovov's 54th Army - these three armies will be deployed on the 'Suvorov' line and will be responsible for defending the Ufa direction."

"Lebezov's Northern Ural group includes the 19th, 10th and 18th Cavalry Divisions, as well as 18 civilian regiments of the 1st Western Siberian Militia Regiment - this part of the forces will be responsible for the defense of the Yekaterinburg direction."

Kontrachenko said here: "The direct units of the Front are under my own control, and special instructions have been given from Lebezov's side of the North Ural Group, and we are mainly confirming the disposition of the Suvorov Line today. ”

Tukhanov was signaled and got up and gestured on the map.

"The foundations of the Suvorov Line, which can be summarized as two roads and six mountains."

"The two roads refer to the South Ural Railway from Chelyabinsk to Ufa, and a traditional post road south of the railway."

"Liudao Mountain is the six ridge lines that control the above two roads, four of which are on the first line and two on the second line."

"The four ridge lines of the first line, from north to south, are: Yurma Mountain, Kruglitsa Mountain, Zlatoua Mountain, and Krugraya Mountain."

"There are two lines of the second line: Mount Akash to the north and Mount Magnit to the south."

"The South Ural Railway, which first passes through Zlatoust between the Kruglitsa Mountains and the Zlała Mountains, then passes through Bertyaeush between the Akash Mountains and the Magnit Mountains, and then begins to enter the gentler hilly terrain through Ust-Katava, Kropachovo, Miniar, and into the plains in Asha, with a total depth of about 160 kilometers."

"The post road bypasses the north side of the Kruglaya Mountain, passes through the highlands of Satka, Bakar, Yuryuzan and Sim on the north side of the Magnit Mountain, and enters the plain at Maiski, which is also about 160 kilometers deep."

"The focus should be on the railway, right?" Lieutenant General Hoflin, who had the largest number of troops under his command, couldn't help but speak.

Kontrachenko smiled: "That's right, we are planning to deploy your 51st Army in the center of the defensive line, holding the Zlatoust Pass and the Berdya Ush Pass, do you have the confidence to withstand the enemy's frontal attack?" ”

"As long as the brethren are well fed and fed, I have the confidence that my enemies will be hit on the head and bleed." Lieutenant General Hovrin patted his chest and reassured.

Tukhanov immediately moved out of the plan: "The 21st Army is responsible for the defense of Mount Kruglitsa north of the Zlatoust Pass, with the village of Magnitka behind the mountain as a supply center. The 23rd Army was responsible for the defense of Mount Zlatoo south of the pass, with Zlatoust as a supply center. The 24th Army served as a reserve for the army group, with Berdyaush as a supply center. Is it okay to deploy like this? ”

Hovrin didn't think about it, and said loudly: "No problem, I will live and die with Zlatoust." ”

Ignoring Houfflin's inexplicable optimism, Lieutenant General Mikhalin worried: "Although the railroad is important, the post road cannot be relaxed, the enemy's best thing is to take advantage of loopholes, and we have suffered enough losses." ”

Kontrachenko nodded happily: "That's right, your 52nd Army will be responsible for the southern part of the defensive line, holding the Kruglaya Mountain and Magnit Mountain, preventing the enemy from using the post road to advance, and at the same time covering the right flank of the entire defensive line." ”

Mikhalin was clearly prepared: "If this is the case, I will use the 25th Army to defend the Kruglia Mountain, with the village of Veselov behind the mountain as a supply center." The 26th Army served as a reserve, with Satka behind Mount Magnit as a supply center. ”

"Very well, that's it." Kontrachenko replied succinctly, then turned to the commander of the 54th Army, Lieutenant General Balakovov.

"In this way, the 54th Army will be responsible for the northern part of the defensive line, holding Mount Yurma and Mount Akash, covering the left flank of the entire defensive line, is it no problem?"

"I'm glad to take it." Balakovov didn't talk much nonsense.

"I will put the 27th Army on Mount Yurma and use the village of Aleksandrovka behind the mountain as a supply center; The 29th Army was in reserve, with the village of Petropavlovka in the Akash Mountains as a supply center. ”

While recording, Tukhanov exclaimed: "Well, there is no more decisive decision than this, fourteen divisions have been launched at once, and we have to fight with the Chinese." ”

Kontrachenko struck with an expressionless face: "Don't applaud yet, the enemy's vanguard has already arrived in Chelyabinsk, we don't know when they will attack, and the troops must enter the position as soon as possible." Hovlin, where are all your troops now? ”

Hovrin got up and poked at the map.

"As of last night, the main force of the 24th Army has taken the lead in retreating to the Zlatoust Pass, the 23rd Army is still assembling in Throstan, 20 kilometers southeast of the pass, and the 21st Army is deployed in the area of Mias, 15 kilometers east of Therostan. If nothing else, the redeployment should be completed within 3 days. ”

Kantrachenko didn't look at the map either, and ordered in passing: "Retreat for me today, you must hurry up, but don't completely abandon the forward position, Mias and Thorostan must each leave a certain amount of blocking forces, and the enemy must not rush to the front of the mountain pass at once." ”

Hovrin was given the order to go, and Kontrachenko asked Mikhalin and Balakovov in turn, and after each other, rushed to the front to gather the troops.

The cabin calmed down again, and Tukhanov, who was busy drafting documents, looked up coldly and said, "Commander, everyone is very confident." ”

Kontrachenko in front of the window shook his head with his hands behind his back: "Who knows?" Maybe the enemy is more confident than we ......"

……

In Chelyabinsk, in the gray and muddy ruins, Wang Zhishen walked into the inconspicuous tent with one foot in the shallow foot, the kerosene lamp drowning and the officers at the map table hanging their heads.

"The Commander has arrived!"

I don't know who shouted, and the officers at the table immediately stood up in unison like spring toys, and the light reflected their originally pale faces in a sallow and sallow color, as if they had been stored for too long and gradually distorted.

"I finally climbed to this car city, and the morale is high."

In the face of the commander's ridicule, intentional or unintentional, everyone bowed their heads and remained silent.

Wang Zhi looked around, not angry: "Xu Soul is not there?" What about Zhao Minhe? Where is Zhao Minhe? ”

A young staff officer wearing glasses plucked up the courage to reply: "Commander Xu personally led his team to reconnoiter the west of the city before dawn, and he should be back in the evening." Commander Zhao fell from his horse last night and should still be in the Third Army field hospital north of the city. ”

"I'm here." A weak and calm voice came from outside the tent, and as soon as the curtain was lifted, a general on crutches and with a bandage on his face jumped in, and it was none other than General Zhao Minhe, the commander of the Third Army.

"Does it matter if you want it?" Wang Zhi's greeting was emotionless.

"I'm fine." Zhao Minhe was on crutches with one hand and reluctantly saluted.

Wang Zhi glanced at him up and down: "Do you have a way to find Xu Soul?" ”

Zhao Minhe nodded: "I know how to find him." ”

"Call him back before lunch. Zhao Feixue and Chu Qing arrived later, the military situation is urgent, we don't wait for him, whether he arrives or not, you have to come back before noon. ”

Zhao Minhe obeyed the order, Wang Zhi glanced back at the officers in the tent, shook his head, and left with his sleeves.

Before lunch, Wang Zhi, whose boots were covered with more mud, returned to the tent, and when he lifted the curtain, he saw that the table where the map had been placed was already full of large and small tin cans and pickled cabbage and porcelain jars, plus a large pot of hot rice.

"The Commander has arrived!"

It was Zhao Minhe's voice.

Wang Zhi fixed his eyes and saw that the four generals on both sides of the dinner table were standing solemnly like pillars, on the left were Zhao Minhe and General Xu Soul, commander of the First Armored Group Army, and on the right were General Zhao Feixue, commander of the First Group Army, and General Chu Qing, commander of the Fourth Group Army.

"Let's all sit down, eat first, and then have a meeting after eating."

Wang Zhihu announced with a face, then sat in the middle, picked up the chopsticks and started to move.

The generals did not dare to slack off, and sat down to eat, and the wind and clouds were whirlwind, and they were eaten and wiped clean in a short time.

Before the orderlies finished cleaning up the table, Wang Zhi ordered the map to be laid out and prepared for the meeting.

…… A！ ~！