While the soldiers were eating, Hu Hao was also in the command center, chewing on a steamed bun. The drones had already been deployed, transmitting a comprehensive view of the frontline situation to the large screen in the command center.
Hu Hao held his steamed bun in one hand, his eyes fixed intently on the large screen.
“There aren’t many people. We originally estimated they might have 40,000 troops, but I reckon it’s far fewer than that!” Hu Hao said to Xiao Quan, who was also eating nearby, while pointing at the screen.
“It does seem that way. But that’s not right. They had so many troops; how could they have less than 40,000?” Xiao Quan had also noticed that the Allied forces within the city were sparse. The troops were mostly bottlenecked at intersections, highly dispersed!
“Exactly. I’m confused too. Our artillery couldn’t possibly have killed 40,000 to 50,000 of them, right? That’s impossible!” Hu Hao found it equally strange. It was impossible for his forces to have killed that many Allied soldiers in such a short time.
“Then that is truly strange!” Xiao Quan nodded. Hu Hao sat there, pondering. Something felt wrong. Under normal circumstances, the Allied forces shouldn’t have been reduced to this.
“Get Lu Guangsheng on the line!” Hu Hao suddenly demanded. A staff officer immediately dialed Lu Guangsheng’s number.
“Hao-ge, what is it? Our soldiers are currently eating. Are we launching the attack?” Lu Guangsheng asked the moment he answered.
“No, let the soldiers rest for a bit. Let me ask you something, and think carefully before you answer. How many Allied troops do you estimate are currently inside the city?” Hu Hao asked.
“Not many at all! Definitely fewer than us. Ye Zifeng’s regiment basically suffered zero casualties; they have around 10,000 men. The reinforcing 89th Division also didn’t suffer many casualties; excluding their artillery, they have about 10,000. And the troops we just led across the river number roughly 10,000 as well. The Allied forces definitely have fewer than 30,000 men!” Lu Guangsheng replied without hesitation.
Hearing this, Hu Hao’s mind raced. He continued, “Are you sure? You have to understand, before the offensive, they had nearly 100,000 troops. How could they be reduced to this? We couldn’t possibly have wiped out that many of them!”
“Hao-ge, you wouldn’t know this! Hehe, we actually did wipe out that many! It’s all thanks to the artillery! Right after the bombardment swept through, our infantry immediately charged in. Those Allied soldiers were gunned down by our men before they even realized what was happening!
“You have no idea! Along the way here, practically every single soldier managed to kill one or two Allied soldiers! Plus, the artillery bombardment killed a massive number. The Allied forces inside the city definitely number less than 30,000!” Lu Guangsheng explained with a laugh.
“Oh, I see! That explains it! Alright, that’s all. Rest for now. Be ready once the bombardment begins. The Allied forces might attempt a breakout; be prepared to block them!” Upon hearing this, Hu Hao finally understood. The Allied forces had been completely stunned and failed to react in time.
“You got it, Hao-ge! Fighting under you is the best! You say counterattack, we counterattack. You say completely annihilate, we completely annihilate!” Lu Guangsheng laughed.
“Alright. It’s also thanks to our brothers putting their lives on the line. That’s all for now!” Hu Hao hung up the phone.
“Ha, so that’s how it is! We are definitely swallowing these three corps tonight!” Hu Hao said with a laugh as he put the phone down.
“Does that mean we can finish the battle tonight?” Xiao Quan asked, looking at him.
“Of course we’re finishing it! What kind of battle would it be if we didn’t finish it?! The Allied commanders completely failed to anticipate that our infantry would follow up so quickly!” Hu Hao chuckled, then walked over to the map.
“Hao-ge, a telegram from Headquarters! It contains intelligence regarding the Allied reinforcements!” A staff officer walked over with a telegram. Hu Hao took it and began reading.
“Kabuguo 32nd Corps. Full strength: 60,000 men. A newly landed unit that has yet to appear on the battlefield. Corps Commander: Fritsch, 47 years old! The troops are currently in Jingge City! Jingge City?” Hu Hao immediately began searching the map.
“300 kilometers away from here, to the southwest. Right here… this is bad. The Western Combat Zone must have suffered a massive defeat. This unit wasn’t prepared for us; it was prepared for the Western Combat Zone.” Upon seeing the unit’s location, Hu Hao instantly understood.
This unit’s original objective hadn’t been their sector, but the Western Combat Zone. The fact that they were no longer heading there meant the Western Combat Zone’s defensive line had been breached by the Allied forces.
“No way, the Western Combat Zone was breached too?!” Xiao Quan looked at Hu Hao in shock.
“Even if they haven’t been breached, they’re close. Motherfucker, when that happens, our Southwest Combat Zone will be an isolated force fighting alone! This is troublesome!” Hu Hao said, staring at the map.
“Impossible! An isolated force? Then our only option is to retreat! But if we retreat again, how much territory do we even have left to give up? Where will the civilians flee to?” Xiao Quan asked worryingly.
“I don’t know right now. Let’s just focus on fighting. A distance of 300 kilometers… they probably won’t arrive until tomorrow afternoon. That explains it! No wonder the Allied forces didn’t want to break out; they want to wait for the 32nd Corps to arrive. By the way, the main force that attacked us today was also from Kabuguo, right?” Hu Hao asked.
“Yes. The Kabuguo 21st Corps, commanded by Hakes!” Xiao Quan nodded.
“Then it all makes sense. They probably won’t attempt a breakout anymore. If they had more troops earlier, they might have. But now that their numbers are dwindled, they won’t break out.
“Motherfucker! Xiao Quan, I still want to go with the second plan. Although the second plan might not completely annihilate the 32nd Corps, we can definitely cripple them!” Hu Hao stood there and declared.
“What? Didn’t you say we wouldn’t use it? Besides, we’ve already surrounded their troops now. Wiping them out is a massive merit in itself!” Xiao Quan was taken aback.
“After we wipe out the Allied forces in Santong County, what do we do next? Don’t we just return to our defensive line and wait for the next Allied attack? Are we just going to passively defend forever?” Hu Hao reasoned.
“But the soldiers are exhausted right now! If we force an ambush on the Allied reinforcements and fail, what happens then? You have to consider this! We haven’t even finished off the troops here yet!
“If we go ambush another Allied force, and the troops inside Santong County attempt a breakout at the same time, our forces will be caught in a pincer attack! If that happens, what are our troops supposed to do?” Xiao Quan argued.
He had to remind Hu Hao of these risks. He was Hu Hao’s deputy. With Chief of Staff Li Jingsong currently away, the responsibilities of the staff fell entirely on Xiao Quan’s shoulders. Therefore, it was his duty to present differing opinions and lay out the choices for Hu Hao.
“Mm, come here. The rest of you keep working, I have something to discuss with him!” After speaking to Xiao Quan, Hu Hao addressed the other staff officers.
He deliberately phrased it this way because he didn’t want Li Jinghe to overhear his conversation with Xiao Quan.
“Yes, sir!” the staff officers replied immediately.
Li Jinghe didn’t mind. He assumed Hu Hao and Xiao Quan were discussing combat operations. As an outsider to Hu Hao’s unit, he naturally didn’t have the clearance to know. Hu Hao quickly led Xiao Quan into an adjacent meeting room.
“Hao-ge, what’s wrong? But seriously, if you intend to ambush the Kabuguo 32nd Corps, I strongly advise against it. The risks are too high! If the ambush fails, our troops will be plunged into extreme danger!” As soon as they entered the meeting room and closed the door, Xiao Quan reiterated his stance.
“I know everything you just said. But let me lay my cards on the table for you: the Commander has authorized me to expand our forces to 60,000 men!” Hu Hao told him.
“Ah? Really?!” Xiao Quan’s eyes widened in shock and excitement.
“Really. The Commander told me himself. He hopes I can help him win battles, after all. But between you and me… Jiang Kai has indeed helped me a lot, and he values me. However, I also need to make plans for our own future, as well as his!” Hu Hao explained.
“Making plans for ourselves, I understand. But what plans can you possibly make for Jiang Kai? He’s already a Commander. If he has the ability, he’ll be promoted to the High Command. What else can you plan for him?” Xiao Quan asked, thoroughly confused.
“You don’t understand. His Majesty has authorized Jiang Kai to expand his forces to 600,000 men. I dare say that among all the Combat Zone Commanders, Jiang Kai now commands the largest force, and his merits are the greatest.
“Tell me, if Jiang Kai is promoted to the High Command, who will take control of the Southwest Combat Zone’s troops? Our Chief of Staff, Sun Qinxue?” Hu Hao asked.
“It should be him!” Xiao Quan thought for a moment and nodded.
“Sun Qinxue is fine as a staff officer, but as a commander? No. He lacks the capability! Furthermore, let me tell you this: if the Commander is promoted to the High Command, the next Commander of the Southwest Combat Zone definitely won’t be chosen from the military aristocratic families within our Combat Zone! They will undoubtedly be chosen from another Combat Zone, or perhaps even from the Royal Family itself!” Hu Hao revealed.
“The Royal Family? Impossible, right? Does His Majesty want to reclaim direct control of military power?” Xiao Quan was stunned.
“What do you think? Look at the situation so far: I’ve only heard of our Combat Zone expanding its forces. The other Combat Zones are merely replenishing their losses. Furthermore, the descendants of the aristocratic families have been forced onto the front lines and aren’t allowed to be discharged. Think about it: what kind of grand scheme is this?
“His Majesty’s goal is none other than to weaken the power of the military aristocratic families. Tell me, Jiang Kai currently controls 600,000 troops in the Southwest Combat Zone. If he’s transferred to the High Command, would His Majesty feel comfortable leaving those 600,000 troops in the hands of Jiang Kai’s men? If he did, wouldn’t Jiang Kai just become the next Grand Marshal?” Hu Hao explained.
Hearing this, Xiao Quan thought carefully for a moment before nodding. It was true. If Jiang Kai went to the High Command and the Southwest Combat Zone remained under the control of his loyalists, then Jiang Kai would essentially become the next Grand Marshal, Tang Long.
(End of Chapter)