Chapter Fifty-Nine

  August 5, the Chairman's Office of the Central Military Commission. The Chairman said to the old general: "Old General, where do you think the enemy will focus its attack this time? Is it in Korea, Afghanistan or Xinjiang?"

  The old general said solemnly: "From the current situation, it is very likely that the enemy will put the focus of their attack on Xizhou Province. The Green Empire has selected more than 70 warships from the 3rd and 7th fleets to form a massive fleet, including an aircraft carrier, which shows that the enemy attaches great importance to Xizhou Province!"

  The chairman nodded and looked at Ye Shuai and said: "Ye Ying, what do you think? Say something."

  "I agree with the old general's view. Currently, Green's army has 100,000 troops in Korea, but their progress is extremely slow. Of course, this is related to our army joining the battle, but the enemy has not increased its attack intensity. Looking at Afghanistan, Green's army has gone from a fierce initial attack to a layered advance and a step-by-step approach. From these two battlefields, it can be seen that the enemy wants to drag down our main force, and if we are careless, they will seize the opportunity to launch a fierce attack, which is very troublesome. In the Western Zhutian battlefield, the enemy has launched an attack on our Western Zhutian from the south and west directions. On the southern front, the enemy has assembled approximately 3 divisions of troops, and they are now relying on warships and aircraft to defend and regroup in Jili Port. I estimate that the enemy is waiting for reinforcements. In the western direction, the Western Zhutian National Defense Army has assembled its elite mountain troops, the 32nd Army, and the reorganized 5th Division, plus two echelons of the British Third Mixed Brigade, to launch an attack. According to reliable intelligence from New Delhi, the British will have another 2 divisions of troops arriving in 2 days to join the battle. This means that on the western front, the enemy will have nearly 100,000 troops, and the situation is not optimistic. I think the enemy's continuous deployment of heavy troops in Western Zhutian Province indicates that their main attack focus is indeed on Western Zhutian Province."

  The chairman took a puff of smoke and asked: "How is Tang Ning's troops?"

  "Comrade Tang Ning's provincial military region has four armies, with the 25th Army holding out in Xili Guli, the 40th Army defending Kumila and Aizao after losing Jidagang, and the 107th Army also reinforcing. The 7th Army is on standby, waiting for an opportunity to strike. From the losses, the 45th Division of the 25th Army has just withdrawn from combat and lost half its fighting strength. The 115th Division of the 40th Army was almost wiped out in the battle at Jidagang, but they bravely held off the enemy for 24 hours, buying time for our rear troops and inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy's three divisions, losing nearly a third of their forces. Only about 1,000 comrades from the division survived, with all regimental-level cadres sacrificing themselves. If the Green Empire's follow-up troops arrive, I fear that the southern front will not be able to withstand the enemy's attack. I suggest deploying the 11th Army, 35th Army, and 63rd Division from the Shu State Military Region to reinforce Xizheng Province, first resolving the western enemy before turning back to deal with the southern enemy."

  "What is the specific plan?"

  "My plan is to have General Yao's troops from the Northwest Military Region depart from Tila Tepe and launch a fierce attack on Ambala. After capturing Ambala, we will immediately launch a fierce attack on New Delhi, the capital of West Punjab. Considering that this may leave our rear forces empty, I suggest that the 35th Army in Sichuan be sent to reinforce immediately. This will force the West Punjabi army to withdraw from the west. If they do not withdraw, we will counterattack with the 11th Army and 63rd Division in Sichuan after they arrive, striving to resolve the enemy on the western front as much as possible. At the same time, let General Tang Ning's 7th Army also be deployed to the south to block the enemy with all its might, holding out until our army resolves the enemy on the western front and then rushing over to solve the problem of the Green Empire's military."

  The chairman listened and said: "The Green Army in the south is currently a battered 3 divisions, so how many of their follow-up troops can come over?"

  "I estimate at least 5 divisions, because they just suffered a loss in Jidagang and may have overestimated our military strength. Looking at the 40th Army's two divisions and the 107th Army, plus the 7th Army with nearly 100,000 troops, but the 107th Army is based on the original Western Army and expanded, mostly new recruits, combat effectiveness has not been tested on the battlefield, so the 4 million people of the 107th Army can only exert 2 million people's combat effectiveness. Calculating this way, there are only 800,000 people, but don't forget that even in Kumila and Aimoer, they are within the enemy's aircraft carrier's combat radius, the enemy has absolute air superiority. If we add the enemy's 5 divisions of troops, the enemy's land forces will have 1.3 million troops, and their equipment is more advanced than ours, basically every squad has a machine gun and a rocket launcher. I think the southern enemy is the most important one, and we must defend against them with all our might."

  The chairman puffed on his cigarette, silent for a long time before speaking: "Let's follow Comrade Lin Gang's approach. I'll add one more thing..." He stood up, his eyes filled with killing intent, saying: "Since Green loves to fight so much, fine! I'll make him remember it for the rest of his life. I order the 18th Army from East China, the 29th Army from South China, and the 3rd Army from Central China to enter Korea; the 42nd Army and 61st Army to enter Afghanistan. I want to thoroughly resolve the issues in both places, so that Green won't dare to wield his sword again for the next 50 years."

  The Premier said: "Then our domestic economy is probably going to...?"

  The chairman sneered and said: "Wait until the war is over, let Green compensate us, anyway they are very rich!"

  The chairman said sternly: "We are no longer the incompetent Qing government, neither now nor in the future. I want to let them know that we are not to be bullied, and I want to let them know the cost of bullying us."

  The chairman also said: "Immediately fully supplement the medicines and anti-aircraft guns that are currently in short supply in Xizang Province, who can't keep up with logistics? Discover one, shoot one."

  "Yes."

  "Alright, comrades, let's take action, dismiss!"

  On the evening of August 5, I received an order to defend the southern line with all my might. Now, looking at the map, I thought: The meaning is to solve the west first and let me hold on to the enemy in the south. Looking at Kumira and Aizawl on the map, a bold idea emerged in my mind. I ordered: "Order the 7th Army to rush to Aizawl immediately and merge with the 107th Army after receiving my order to prepare for a full-scale counterattack. Let the 40th Army launch an all-out attack after the battle between the 7th and 107th Armies, striving to capture Jidagang for me. Then let the internal troops fully take over the defense of the 7th Army."

  "Yes." The aide hastily relayed the order and left.

  Zhang Zhengwei and others were stunned after hearing this, and they all came over. Zhang Zhengwei asked: "Tang Ning, what's your plan?"

  "This is the order I just received, take a look!"