Sword of Light: Humanoid Self-Propelled Artillery

Chapter 340 First Assault Team

However, this was only the battle history that Wang Gensheng knew; things on the battlefield were constantly changing.

Both battlefield commanders will adjust their strategies based on the enemy's deployment.

Wang Gensheng was fortunate enough to join the command of the relief operation in Chaozhou and participate in the planning and discussion of the third campaign.

At this time, the front-line command had received orders from the headquarters to immediately cease rest and advance across the 38th parallel and the Imjin River.

The reason for this is that the peace talks demanded by the US military did not meet the requirements of the aid-to-Chaozhou army and the Huaguo.

After receiving this order, the frontline commander convened a meeting and addressed the group:
"The US military has thirteen Lions deployed on the front lines! That's about 200,000 men. Our current forces, even including the Chaozhou army, don't even amount to 300,000! So the difference in numbers isn't that significant!"

After the commander at the front finished speaking, the logistics officer in charge of logistics at the front said:

"We're advancing south! The further south we advance, the longer our supply lines become! Compared to the first campaign, our supply lines have nearly doubled! The intensity of enemy air strikes has quadrupled! Many of our clothes and boots are gone! And it's freezing outside!..."

Clearly, the logistics officer was quite troubled by the supply problem, but before he could finish speaking, the frontline commander interrupted:
"We must resolutely cross the 38th parallel. We can't always look at this from a military perspective. What we should be discussing now is not whether to fight or not, but how to fight and how to fight this war well! The long war and the War of Resistance against Japan were much more difficult, but we still survived! Now we have the support of the entire nation and thousands of troops as our reserve force. What are we afraid of!"

Sure enough, after the frontline commander finished speaking, the staff officers and army commanders in the command room fell silent and stopped discussing whether or not to fight.

Seeing the somewhat silent atmosphere, the frontline commander took the initiative to speak again:

"Warfare cannot be fought without command. Isn't the Dayudong command post too far from the front line? It should be moved forward!"

The frontline commander had barely finished speaking when the logistics staff officer interjected:
"Commander, I've already chosen a location. There's a place called Junzili. It has many mines and is easy to defend against air raids. I think we should set up here in Junzili!"

The frontline commanders did not object to the new frontline command unit chosen by the logistics staff!

So a group of staff officers, front-line commanders, telegraph operators, and codebreakers all chose to drive to Junzili overnight. However, on their way to Junzili, the car of the deputy commander of the aid-to-Chaozhou army was bombed by American aircraft. Fortunately, the deputy commander was only injured and not in life-threatening danger.

Indeed, to prevent being wiped out by the US Air Force, the staff, telegraph operators, codebreakers, commanders and deputy commanders of the front-line command were sent to the new command post in batches. That's why the US bombing only injured the deputy commander and did not wipe out the entire force.

Upon arriving at Junzi Lane, the frontline commander spoke:

"Our first operational meeting in this new home has now been held. The 38th parallel! It seems we have no choice but to cross it! Let's discuss! How should we cross this line?"

After the commander finished speaking, the intelligence officer pointed to the Chaozhou map on the wall and said:

"Commander, the area south of the 38th parallel is the area that Nanchao previously focused on developing. Now, they have deployed five armies, thirteen lions, three battalions, and one airborne regiment, totaling more than 200,000 troops, in a deep, tiered configuration across the entire peninsula, covering a front of 250 kilometers and a longitudinal area of ​​60 kilometers. This forms two main lines of defense. In addition, to further increase the depth of defense, they have also formed three mobile lines of defense with the US forces south of the second line of defense to the 37th parallel!"

Clearly, the intelligence strategist had thoroughly investigated the defensive arrangements in Nanchao. Although the reinforcements had not yet entered Nanchao, the scouts who spoke the Chaozhou language had already infiltrated the country and gathered a clear understanding of the defensive deployments.

After all, it was relatively easy for the aid troops who could speak the Teochew language to disguise themselves as civilians in southern Taiwan. With the cooperation of the Teochew people, it was also easy to figure out the defensive deployment near the 38th parallel in southern Taiwan.

After hearing the intelligence officer's introduction, the frontline commander smiled and said:

"These five lines of defense sound quite intimidating, but what about the enemy's troop deployment?"

As the frontline commander inquired, the intelligence officer, who had already compiled the intelligence gathered by the scouts, continued:

"The first line of defense is still the Nanchao Army, and the second line is the main force of Mi Guo. The fundamental difference from the previous two battles is that the enemy has entered a strategic defense, and the infiltration and mobile warfare that we used to be good at cannot be carried out. We are facing a head-on assault!"

Upon hearing the intelligence officer's words, the operations staff officer frowned and said:

"A head-on confrontation is difficult because we lack the firepower for assaults, making it hard to fortify permanent positions. Commander, we need artillery for assaults!"

Before the frontline commander could speak, the logistics officer spoke up:

"Commander, the ammunition reserves of all units at the front are almost exhausted. Not to mention howitzers, even mortar shells have been reduced by 70-80% during the Second Battle! The comrades in Dongbei are doing their best to help us replenish our ammunition. Commander, how about this: we launch the attack after the ammunition is fully in place!"

The frontline commander shook his head at the logistics staff's suggestion:
"No, we can't wait any longer. Since fighting a siege battle is disadvantageous to our army, and you have to fight this battle, what should we do? We can only concentrate all our artillery firepower for a quick victory. As long as the vanguard assault team quickly opens up a gap, and our main force can break through in the middle, the enemy's defenses will collapse completely!"

The operations staff nodded in approval of the operational plan and strategy proposed by the frontline command.
"Commander, I agree with your assessment, but I must remind everyone that our army only has one chance. If the campaign progresses slowly or is subject to repeated setbacks, and we deplete our limited supplies, then we'll be in serious trouble. North of the Imjin River is a plain, and we have no natural defenses. With our ammunition and food supplies running low, we won't be able to withstand the enemy's subsequent attacks! Therefore, the tide of the battle may be turned!"

At this moment, the logistics officer also said:

"Commander, the key to this battle lies with our vanguard force! We must immediately break through the natural barrier of the Imjin River, penetrate deep into enemy territory, and leave them no chance to counterattack!"

The operations staff officer then spoke up:

"Commander, which unit do you plan to send out the first shot?"

However, before the frontline commander could make a decision, Wang Gensheng, who had been a silent observer all along, suddenly spoke up:

"Commander, let me lead the Marines as the first assault team! We'll definitely break through the enemy's lines!"

(End of this chapter)