Chapter Eighteen: The Best Way to Play the Lute for a Cow

  "Hahaha……" After hearing Chu Si Nan's words, He Luo Xiao Fu was stunned at first, and then he said to Chu Si Nan, "Comrade Chu Si Nan, I didn't expect you to be so concerned about the strategic situation. Thank you for your reminder. However, the Supreme Command has already received information on this matter, so we have built a solid defense line along the Western Dvina River and the Dnieper River to resist the German army's attack on Moscow. Now you see, all of us present here are representatives from various group armies that are currently building defensive lines. In the Smolensk direction alone, we have deployed three entire group armies, while in our area, there are the 22nd and 27th Group Armies. As for the left flank, it is the defense zone of the entire Central Front Army. Can such a strong military deployment really not stop the German army's advance?"

  "Comrade He Luo Xiao, the left wing of Smolensk is indeed not a problem, because it is not the main direction of the German army's attack. Their main attack direction is in the center and right wing of Smolensk." Chu Si Nan pressed down the fire that rose up in his belly due to being ridiculed, patiently explaining, "Although the five or more group armies stationed in these two places have strong defensive forces, we are facing the German 'Central' army's two tank groups plus two fully equipped group armies. This does not even include their large-scale air force. In this way, whether from a military standpoint or from the perspective of tank equipment, we are far inferior to them. Moreover, in our deployment, there is a major weakness: the defensive forces on the right wing are too weak. Once broken through by the German army, it will easily lead to the group armies in the central defense zone being surrounded..."

  "Comrade Chu Si-nan," He Luo Xiao laughed even more, "are you joking? The German Central Group should still be entangled in the area near Minsk. Even if they plan to advance to the West Dvina River and Dnieper River line, it will probably take them several days to prepare."

  "He Luo Xiao Fu and..." Chu Si Nan hurriedly explained, the speed of the German army's advance was so fast that it should have been revealed a while ago. However, this comrade in front of him was still saying something about needing several days' time. But before he could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Comrade Pī Pí.

  "Comrade Chu Si Nan, I know what you want to say. Are you referring to the German army's usual tactic of using speed as an advantage in their Blitzkrieg? Ha ha, indeed, I must admit that under the coordination of their mechanized troops, they can reach our defense line in a short period of time. However, don't forget that war requires not only speed and firepower but also sufficient supplies. The German army's initial attack was very smooth, with the front line advancing hundreds of kilometers, which indeed demonstrates their strong combat power, but it also undoubtedly creates weaknesses for them. Large-scale mechanized troops necessarily require sufficient logistical support; without food, medicine, soldiers cannot survive, and without enough fuel, mechanized troops cannot fight. However, the German army's long front line and vast advance territory make their logistical transportation extremely difficult. Now that summer is here and autumn and winter are approaching, if this problem cannot be solved well, Hitler will probably not rashly order his troops to continue advancing towards Moscow when logistics cannot be guaranteed."

  "Besides!" He Lüxiao said, not waiting for Chu Sina to interrupt, and continued, "Even if Hitler goes crazy this time and wants his troops to run to Moscow on an empty stomach, I ask you, how do you know he will take our right wing as the main direction of attack? Is it like what's being said outside, Comrade Chu Sina, are you also one of those stargazers that Hitler trusts? Can you tell the enemy's thoughts or deployment by looking at the stars?"

  "Hahaha……" He Luo Xiao's words caused the people around him to burst into laughter, which made Chu Si Nan feel both humiliated and furious. If it weren't for the identity of the guy in front of him, he would have rushed up and pinched him to death a long time ago.

  "Comrade He Luoxiao, since you think so, I have nothing more to say." Chu Sinao shrugged and said to the people around him in a very relaxed tone, "However, I sincerely hope that we can repel the German attack with the least cost and the shortest time. After this separation, who knows when we will meet again? Oh, I really hope there is another chance for us to meet again. Take care of yourselves."

  Chu Si Nan finished speaking and didn't bother to pay attention to He Lu Xiao Fu's expression, slamming the door shut as he left.

  As he walked out of the meeting room and back to his quarters, Chu Si Nan felt a deep sense of frustration. He thought to himself that he was probably the best person in the world at playing the zither to a cow. When dealing with someone who makes military decisions based on their own subjective assumptions, he should have known better than to say anything, but he still said so much, only to be met with ridicule from others. This was truly unreasonable.

  Thinking so, Chu Si Nan's footsteps quickened, and in a short while, he could see the barracks where he was temporarily staying from afar. Now he just wanted to hurry back and have a good sleep, waiting for someone to come and notify him to board the plane and transfer...

  "Comrade Chusonan, Comrade Chusonan... Don't walk so fast, I won't be able to catch up with you." A familiar voice came from behind, it was Akhromeyev. Chusonan could tell without turning his head.

  "Oh, Comrade Akhromeyev, what's the matter?" Chu Si Nan turned his head and asked. When Chu Si Nan turned his head, he found that Akhromeyev did not come alone, but was accompanied by two young-looking military officers, who were both lieutenant colonels judging from their epaulets.

  "Ah, something's up," Akhromeyev said, walking over to Chusinan with the two men. "What you just said, we're all very interested and think it's highly likely, so now we want to have a more in-depth conversation with you... Ah, right, let me introduce these two colonels first."

  "Ah, this is Sergei Leonidovich Sokolov, Colonel and Chief of Staff of the 327th Tank Regiment of the First Mechanized Army."

  He pointed to the short, sturdy young man on his right and continued: "This is Colonel Nikolai Vasilievich Ogarkov, now head of the engineering corps of the Seventeenth Infantry Division."

  Wow!

  Chu Si Nan almost shouted out, and there were two future marshal-level figures. In this war-torn Soviet era, it was indeed a hidden dragon and crouching tiger. In the Western Front Army, at least three future marshals were hiding. People say that the times create heroes, and it seems that this saying is not false at all.

  "Comrade Chu Si Nan, are you still angry about what happened earlier?" Seeing Chu Si Nan's changed expression, Sokolov smiled first and said, "Actually, this is not necessary at all. If our guesses are correct, they will be recognized by everyone in the future. But I don't understand, Comrade Chu Si Nan, you didn't come from a military background, how could you make such a judgment?"