readsfreenovel Chapter 154 Preparation
Chapter 154 Preparation
Inside the temporary command post of the First Division outside Qingyang County, Fang Guoxuan was looking at a map, frowning and falling into deep thought.
Fang Tianming asked from the side: "Commander, can't we just stay here this time?"
"We want to stay here, but unfortunately some people may not let us feel safe." Fang Guoxuan said with a smile.
Fang Tianming frowned, not knowing what Fang Guoxuan meant. After a long while, he asked tentatively, "Commander, do you mean that the enemy will take the initiative to attack?"
After asking this question, Fang Tianming himself felt like laughing. If the Ninth Army on the opposite side really wanted to go out, they would have gone to support Linjin City long ago.
"That's right." Fang Guoxuan smiled lightly and nodded to confirm.
"The Ninth Army's decision not to support Sanjiang Province should be the decision of the Northern Government, no, it should be said that it was the decision of Yuan Shiting's faction."
"If we really want to support Sanjiang Province, in addition to the Ninth Army, we can also transfer the Tenth Army stationed in Jiangbei Province to provide support. Moreover, it is not too late even to transfer troops from the capital of Beiyuan Province."
"The reinforcements were delayed, but the Ninth Army was blamed. I have to say that the Northern Government played this tactic very well."
After listening to Fang Guoxuan's introduction, Fang Tianming also reacted and said in surprise: "In other words, Yuan Yuhao deliberately did not go south to support Linjin City?"
Seeing Fang Guoxuan nod in confirmation, Fang Tianming couldn't help but sigh at the intrigue within the Northern government.
"Master, do you mean that Yuan Yuhao might want to eat us?"
Fang Guoxuan smiled and said, "Our army has come from afar and is not familiar with the terrain. Besides, Yuan Yuhao should also want to prove his strength."
“Otherwise, even if he is a member of the Yuan family, it will be difficult for him to be promoted to a higher position easily.”
The division commanders of the northern government were all major generals, and the army commanders were lieutenant generals. It was difficult to be promoted to general without military merit.
Fang Tianming looked at the map and asked in confusion: "Commander, how will the enemy attack us?"
"I think that if we cross the Qingyang River, their main force will fight with our army on this plain, and then retreat step by step to lure our army to the city of Qingyang." Fang Guoxuan introduced, pointing to the Qingyang River.
"Once our army is frustrated at the foot of Qingyang City, the enemy will launch a counterattack at the foot of Qingyang City."
"The enemy will probably send a troop to ambush in this forest. Once our army puts up a strong resistance under Qingyang City, this ambush will go straight to our rear."
"If our army is easily defeated at the foot of Qingyang City, this ambush force will take advantage of the situation and capture prisoners."
Nothing can be seen from the map of Sanjiang Province, so Fang Tianming immediately came to the Qingyang County sand table. This sand table was made based on the terrain of Qingyang County after the Intelligence Department collected intelligence about Qingyang County recently.
On the sand table, there was a plain outside the south city of Qingyang County, but the plain was cut into a fan shape by the Qingyang River.
On one side of the fan shape is a forest, and on the other side is Qingyang County. Qingyang County is located at a higher altitude, and is guarded by hills on both sides.
Once entering this plain area, the troops would become sitting ducks, but the Ninth Army located in Qingyang County had a strategic geographical advantage.
Seeing this terrain, Fang Tianming's face turned bad: "Division Commander, Yuan Yuhao chose to station the Ninth Army in Qingyang County, which must have taken a lot of hard work."
Fang Guoxuan understood Fang Tianming's feelings. It would be fine if the troops did not cross the river. Once they crossed the Qingyang River, the First Division would be in a very passive position.
"Commander, why don't we station our First Division here and just contain the Ninth Army?" Fang Tianming asked again.
Although staying stationed was the best solution, Fang Guoxuan didn't want to do that. He shook his head gently: "No, send orders to all units to build a pontoon bridge and prepare to cross the river."
"Commander, if we cross the river and enter this plain, won't we become sitting ducks?" Fang Tianming asked in confusion.
Fang Guoxuan didn't know that the terrain was very unfriendly after entering the plains, but Yuan Yuhao wanted military merit and wanted to eat up the First Division. Didn't Fang Guoxuan also want military merit and want to eat up the Ninth Army?
Although the First Division was composed of new soldiers, they had undergone more than three months of training and had experience in suppressing bandits. Moreover, their equipment was better than that of the Northern Army and they were equipped with powerful artillery.
The two armies have equal numbers of people, and Fang Guoxuan also wants to have a fight with them to see which army is stronger.
Fang Guoxuan pointed to a place on the south bank of the river and said, "Place the artillery position here."
"After the pontoon bridge is built, let the 101st and 102nd Regiments cross the river. Let them break through the enemy's left flank at the junction with the Qingyang River as quickly as possible and enter the east gate of Qingyang City."
"In this way, the enemy's geographical advantage will no longer exist, and its deployment will be disrupted in an instant."
What gave Fang Guoxuan such confidence was the artillery of the First Division. The military factory had already manufactured 203-caliber artillery and equipped it to the First Division before the expedition.
In addition to the 203-caliber artillery, there are also 155-caliber artillery, not only howitzers, but also cannons. And a lot of 82-caliber mortars, flat-fire guns and other weapons are prepared. In this terrain, they are just right for them to play.
Fortunately, trucks were available to transport these artillery pieces to the Qingyang battlefield.
After observing the terrain for a while, Fang Tianming was still a little worried: "Division Commander, although two regiments rushing over from the flank can interrupt the enemy's deployment."
“But we will also be split in two and risk being divided and surrounded.”
Fang Guoxuan was also aware of this risk, so he said: "The troops of the First Division that have not crossed the river are safe. After all, it is difficult for the Ninth Army to quickly cross the river and gain a foothold on the south bank in a short period of time because of the Qingyang River."
"And the troops crossing the river can hold this section of hills and hold their ground outside the east city, which can also effectively mobilize the enemy's troops."
After some deduction, Fang Tianming finally felt that this plan was feasible. If the two regiments that crossed the river failed to achieve their goal, they could still cross the curved Qingyang River back to the east bank and withdraw effectively.
After the plan was completed, the troops of the First Division began to build a pontoon bridge on the Qingyang River, preparing for the army to cross the river.
After Yuan Yuhao got the news that the First Division was building a floating bridge, he couldn't help but said happily: "Great."
"Order the 91st Division to send two regiments to sneak into the mountains on the right wing of Qingyang, ready to cut off the enemy's retreat or attack its flank at any time. At the same time, let the 92nd Division build a defense line outside Qingyang City."
Although they were puzzled as to why Yuan Yuhao, contrary to his usual passive attitude, asked the troops to take the initiative in deployment, the chief officers of various departments did not hesitate and went down to arrange the troops.
After the generals from various departments left, Yuan Yuhao couldn't help but get excited. He was thirty years old this year and had no decent military achievements. When he thought about being able to achieve military merits under the Qingyang City, Yuan Yuhao felt his heart filled with infinite fighting spirit.
It took a day to build the pontoon bridge, but after it was built, the First Division did not take any action. It only stood guard in front of the pontoon bridge and trained troops. Another day passed like this.
The First Division is working hard here, but the Ninth Army is suffering.
The Ninth Army had already set up its positions and had been waiting there for two days, but there was no sign of the First Division's troops, and many soldiers became a little lazy.
That night, the chief of staff came to Yuan Yuhao and frowned, saying, "Commander, the enemy built a pontoon bridge yesterday, but has not crossed the river tonight. I'm afraid they are planning something."