Military career: Starting with a recruitment letter

Chapter 226 Encountering an Acquaintance Again, A Hellish Start
The air raid siren sounded.

The entire battalion began to assemble.

In the Huanglongwangou camp, the sound of soldiers running in the corridors of each detachment was deafening, like thunder.

"one two three four"

After gathering downstairs, the squad leader is responsible for assembling the team, taking attendance, and boarding the vehicle.

The transport convoy, forming a long line, sped towards the outer artillery and vehicle range with the soldiers.

There is no need to give specific instructions.

Guided by the transport platoon, the towing vehicles quickly and orderly parked in front of each squad.

Tank crews, in three-person inspection teams, took to the field, with two inside the tank and one outside, to quickly conduct routine comprehensive checks before the tank was moved.

The data includes more than a dozen items such as vehicle fire control, power, and fuel, recorded according to the table.

Heavy armored vehicles all need to be moved by rail, requiring tractors to pull the heavy equipment to the station.

Rumble!
During the inspection, dozens of Type 96 tanks started up almost simultaneously. Instantly, the ground trembled, and a heavy smell of diesel and engine oil filled the air, lingering and intense.

Chen Mo watched the squad's inspection for a while, then turned around and went to the logistics area to inquire about the distribution of individual rations.

He lacked experience and did not choose to work for the railway.

The General Staff also intended for him to go with Lu Lu.

It's over 800 kilometers away. Given the Blue Army's transportation capacity, it would take at least 16 hours for the rail transport to reach Qingtongxia. If it's slow, it would be good if it could reach the designated location by the morning of the 9th, which is 24 hours.

Last night, the military region's staff headquarters sent an urgent telegram, ordering the Blue Army battalion to be heavily armed and enter the exercise field at 10:00 AM the following morning.

After eight hours of driving on the highway, they switched to driving on the national highway and were required to enter the exercise area along the southwest route before 9 p.m. that evening.

Even before the battle began, the atmosphere of war had already enveloped all participating units.

While the Blue Army camp was operating.

The engineering battalion mobilized by the military region has arrived at Jinyang Railway Station, and more than a dozen large-scale engineering hoisting equipment are all in place.

Including Kyoto Air Force 7th Division Airport.

Eight sorties of J-8 fighter jets and four sorties of H-6K bombers slowly slid out of the hangar.

The swarm of aircraft resembled elephants taking a leisurely stroll.

The first escort fighter jets are preparing for takeoff.

The standard C+ concrete runway, with Air Force ground crew and control tower assisting in takeoffs.

Escort services are divided into railway and land routes.

Eleven o'clock in the morning.

Guided by the Blue Army battalion's tractor, the entire battalion's heavy equipment finally arrived at Jinyang Railway Station.

Chen Mo had never seen railway equipment before, and he came here specifically to broaden his horizons.

As they arrived, Jinyang Railway Station completely became the territory of the Blue Army Battalion. The logistics vehicles and engineering battalion vehicles arranged by the military region turned the station into a sea of ​​armored vehicles.

sudden! sudden! sudden!
The exhaust pipe of the 1200-horsepower special engineering machinery was belching out thick black smoke, filling the surrounding air with the smell of engine oil.

A 50-ton main battle tank might seem difficult to handle, but with these crane vehicles, it takes an average of three minutes per tank, making it extremely efficient. It only takes half an hour to load a military train, including the fixed equipment.

"Okay, turn 50 degrees to the left, slowly, let go!!"

"Attention, okay, a little more to the left."

"Down, next one."

During the tank assembly, officers from the 2nd Tank Battalion waved command flags, and three soldiers from the loading and unloading team communicated loudly, each standing in a corner of a flatbed military train carriage.

When they see a tank being slowly suspended in front of them by a crane, they immediately reach out to steady the angle at which the heavy equipment is placed on the flatbed trailer. The squad leader on the right rear side of the flatbed trailer is usually a senior non-commissioned officer.

He maintained a serious expression throughout, his eyes fixed on the command flag, and remained on high alert for nearly 50 seconds during the dismounting process.

boom!
As the tank is smoothly unloaded, the flatbed of the military train shakes slightly. Three soldiers will immediately untie the special steel cable attached to the tank and throw it back to the ground.

Meanwhile, the ground support team dragged six ropes and ran forward, allowing the engineering machinery to slowly move to the next tank.

The railway has been assembled.

All the battalion's artillery and tanks were fixed to the military train.

As they were about to depart, Deputy Battalion Commander Gao Jin and Political Instructor Liu Heli approached Chen Mo, and the three saluted each other in farewell.

"Battalion Commander Chen, the command vehicle has been connected to the satellite signal. Our location will be displayed at the directorate. All maneuvers must be reported every half hour. The higher-ups need to record the maneuver data and the position we move."

"Take care on your journey!" Liu Heli raised his hand and patted Chen Mo on the shoulder.

"I understand, and so do you. Take care on your journey!" Chen Mo straightened his back and saluted again.

After separation.

Chen Mo followed the land convoy and sat in the operations room of an ordinary carriage, accompanied by two trainee staff officers, Wang Jianyong, and Wang Jianbin, the captain of the Xiangjian team.

None of the leaders from the Army Academy came to see them off this time, probably because they felt the same way Chief of Staff Qin did when he inspected the camp yesterday afternoon.

They always talk about experiments, but when it comes to actually doing something serious, nobody brings it up.

I doubt most people are optimistic about it.

"Squad leader, give me the map of our encampment." Chen Mo sat quietly for a while, and since he had nothing else to do, he decided to take a look at the assembly area that the directing department had arranged for them.

Chen Mo had seen this map more than once.

The problem is that he had never been to Qinglong (Tong) Gorge, and the maps used for this kind of maneuver were not as detailed as the military maps used in normal times.

I flipped it over and over and looked at it for a long time, but I still couldn't figure it out.

Chen Mo simply looked up at Wang Jianbin and asked, "Captain Wang, your team goes to many places. Are you familiar with Qinglong Gorge?"

"Not very familiar with it."

Wang Jianbin shook his head: "If you're talking about the Linze Gobi Desert, the Xidatan in Golmud, and Feng Yuan in Shaanxi Province, I do have an impression of him. I've debugged equipment there."

"Besides knowing that the wind and sand are strong in Qinglong Gorge and that you can't eat without some sand in your food, I don't know anything else."

Upon hearing Captain Wang's response, Wang Jianyong shrugged before Chen Mo could even ask, saying, "I've never been there either. If it weren't for this exercise, I would never have even heard of Qinglong Gorge."

Got it!
Chen Mo casually placed the map he had just grabbed on the table beside him. The map was not detailed, the staff were all newcomers, and none of the accompanying officers were familiar with the exercise area.

In summary, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call this military exercise a hellish start.

None of them are professionals.

There's absolutely no way to do any preliminary work.

Watching the convoy of trucks ahead constantly moving and heading northwest, Chen Mo leaned back in his chair, lost in thought.

If we really want to discuss it...

This was his first time participating in a large-scale exercise, and it was a contest between two army groups. He had participated in many debriefing meetings before.

To serve as a meeting recorder or something.

If a man lives his life without witnessing the roar of cannons and the clashing of steel, it is truly a lifelong regret.

But this time, everything was there.

The Northwest.

Chen Mo rubbed his temples. With the shaking of the car, he felt drowsy and simply closed his eyes to sleep.

I was thinking about the exercise all night and didn't get much rest.

Suddenly sitting in the car, facing a bunch of clueless people, I didn't even have the ability to discuss the terrain.

What else can I do if I don't sleep? I was in a daze the whole way.

Chen Mo didn't know how much time had passed; he only felt the convoy stop moving and the sound of doors slamming shut kept coming.

Thinking it must be a rest stop along the way, Chen Mo opened his eyes, but before he could ask what was going on, he hadn't asked.

Feng Guoqing, who was serving as the combat intelligence staff officer, exclaimed with a beaming smile, "Battalion Commander, Battalion Commander?!"

"We have news. The data transmitted back by the escorting J-8 fighters via aerial photography has been reviewed by Deputy Battalion Commander Gao and Political Instructor. Please take a look."

"What information?"

When Chen Mo first heard the news, he was a little confused, but after he actually got his hands on the aerial photography data, the maps that Gao Jin and his team had provided, and his own analysis, he understood.

Chen Mo's expression froze for a moment.

Because this part of the information describes it very clearly.

Outside the area assigned to the Blue Army battalion, another unit was already active.

And a large number of units arrived at the battlefield before them.

Chen Mo was familiar with this unit; it was the 61st Division, which he had dealt with some time ago. Division Commander Wang Songhe had even led the 188th Division in a fight against the Blue Army battalion.

The Blue Team's advantage last time was due to multiple factors. Could it be that they've run into their old rival again this time?
wrong!

I noticed that my train of thought had gone a bit off track.

Chen Mo gathered his thoughts slightly; he knew the situation of the Blue Army camp best.

In terms of the combined combat strength of the entire battalion, they could probably put up a fight against any regiment, and they wouldn't back down from a head-on confrontation.

But if it were to fight the 21st Army, the 61st Division, which was known as the top-class motorized infantry division in the north, it wouldn't be a matter of mere enthusiasm.

The 61st Division was organized into six regiments, consisting of three infantry regiments: the 181st Diamond Regiment, the 182nd Iron Hammer Regiment, and the 183rd Steel Regiment.

Look how tough this name is; it's either iron or steel. Most organizations would probably be unable to handle just these three.

This is not over yet.

Qinglong Gorge also houses an artillery regiment, an armored regiment, and the Wuzhong Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment.

The entire 61st Division's subordinate units were stationed across two provinces, and Qinglong Gorge was originally their territory.

Now, they've entered the exercise area ahead of them.

Is the other side really playing the role of the enemy of the Blue Army this time?

Chen Mo had some doubts. Even if the director's department had a lot of confidence in the Blue Army, they couldn't be that confident, could they?

Using a division to attack a battalion is like using a cannon to kill a mosquito. Even if the Blue Army battalion is large, it's still just a slightly stronger mosquito.

Just as Chen Mo was lost in thought, Wang Jianbin, Wang Jianyong and others who had gone out to relieve themselves returned.

"What's wrong, Battalion Commander?"

Wang Jianyong sensed that something was wrong and spoke first.

"It's nothing." Chen Mo waved his hand: "They said that some data was taken and transmitted back by the fighter jets escorting the aircraft ahead, but I think this is what they called an open-book exam."

"If I'm not mistaken, this document is most likely from the directing department, which deliberately showed it to us."

"What open-book exam?"

Wang Jianbin looked on with curiosity. He didn't know much about exercises, as special forces had no chance to make a direct appearance on such a large-scale battlefield.

"Come and see."

Chen Mo didn't hide anything. After inviting the group to sit down, he spread the documents he had on the table.

"The area where the directorate asked us to assemble was designated as Zone 7. The armored regiment of the 61st Division was stationed in Zone 2 of Qinglong Gorge. According to the data, the enemy's armored regiment has now moved along the eastern front and is stationed 40 kilometers south of Zone 7."

"The artillery regiment has also left its post, but there has been no indication yet of its specific location."

"The anti-aircraft artillery regiment came from Wuzhong and moved along the northwest. Judging from the route, they did not intend to meet the artillery regiment. However, their positions and those of the armored regiment were on the south side of Zone 7 and the northwest side, respectively, forming a pincer movement."

"Look at their 181st Regiment, which came from Tianshui and established tunnel and trench blocking positions 60 kilometers south of Zone 7."

"The 182nd and 183rd Regiments are in the east and north respectively, completely surrounding our Group 7."

"Currently, the information does not show where the artillery regiment will be stationed, but I guess it will definitely be to the northeast, to protect the two infantry regiments."

"This deployment method is somewhat like an ambush from all sides. In particular, the deployment of the entire division is like dividing the area into east, west, south, and north, with the No. 7 area as the center. The infantry regiments active in these directions are like being placed deep within our territory. Once they find an opportunity, they can easily infiltrate and divide us on the battlefield."

"As a motorized infantry unit, the 61st Division is a high-speed mobile force that can divide the enemy's deep deployment, break and disrupt the chain of operations in the shortest possible time, and then concentrate superior forces to encircle and annihilate small enemy units."

Chen Mo spoke with conviction and his analysis was reasonable.

Only the directing department could provide such clear and accurate information about the 61st Division's deployment. The so-called aerial photography of fighter jets is just a way of balancing the battlefield.

But the question is, is it really necessary to deploy such a large force just to deal with a single battalion?

If you really want the Blue Army battalion to lose, wouldn't it be easier to just launch a nuclear strike against the mobile forces?
After all, data from all mobile units had to be reported upwards every half hour, and the directing staff had a clear understanding of the mobile positions of each unit.

"That's unlikely, isn't it a bit too much?"

Wang Jianbin scratched his head, somewhat puzzled, and said, "The deployment of the 61st Division does seem to be aimed at Operation Zone 7, but Operation Zone 7 doesn't necessarily only have one unit like ours, does it?"

Chen Mo did not respond when asked.

This was just information provided by intelligence; the Blue Army battalion hadn't even participated in the war game simulation, and their unit wasn't even mentioned in the entire operational scenario.

He couldn't explain exactly what happened.

However, strategic planning is often not as simple as one-on-one or as direct as a battle between two sides.

Strategic planning is a quantitative game that transcends time units; it is always fraught with hidden dangers beneath its surface, and initially, it doesn't really involve topics like victory or defeat.

The reason Chen Mo exaggerated the issue earlier was because, based on the information available at the moment, that was all he could analyze.

Of course, we should plan for the worst.

The 61st Division was indeed very powerful, with a large organization, a large number of personnel, and its weaponry and equipment were top-notch.

The problem is that large-scale mobilization and encampment of main forces does not mean that they can immediately engage in combat upon arrival in the combat zone.

The enemy's main force has a greater need for logistics and fuel supply, and the requirements in this regard are extremely high.

Let's take this opportunity.

Is there any chance for the Blue Team to stir up trouble?

Chen Mo turned his gaze to the outside of the car window. Now that he knew where the other side was stationed and what their strategic objectives were, he understood.

He is now almost certain that the enemy of the 61st Division must be District 7, and there may be more than one Blue Army battalion stationed in this area.

But the 61st Division must be their enemy.

Otherwise, why would they besiege District 7? It can't be just for fun, right?
As darkness fell, the land convoy switched from the highway to the national road, getting closer and closer to the designated location.

A plan for a surprise attack and decapitation strike against the 61st Division began to take shape in Chen Mo's mind.

The saying goes, "Strike the snake at its vital spot." Chen Mo wasn't quite sure where the vital spot of the Motorized Infantry Division was, and the division headquarters wasn't so easy to attack.

Not to mention their six main regiments, even the division-level direct firepower alone would be enough to make them break through.

But war doesn't always have to be a head-on confrontation.

Surely you can handle a large number of decapitation strikes at the battalion or company level, right?

While the enemy is still establishing a foothold, make full use of drones and electromagnetic spectrum monitoring.

They should be able to complete this surprise attack and decapitation plan.

(End of this chapter)