klisemfg Chapter 248 New Changes in the Expeditionary Force
Chapter 248 New Changes in the Expeditionary Force
Yang Hong said, "It doesn't matter. A little chaos will just let the United States see our disunity. Isn't that what they need? I'll have Wang Chengwu come out and confront you. It would be best if you two could have a fight. That would separate you two and facilitate the subsequent actions."
Qin Shi nodded. "If you guys start a fight here first, I'll slow down my side and make sure Meiying doesn't see through us. It's a pity that the eldest brother and the second brother are not here. If we have more people to discuss with, we can find more solutions."
Luo Bing waved his hand and said, "Third brother, don't bother involving the eldest and second brothers anymore. At this point, the greater their contributions, the more support we will have for our actions."
The discussion between the several people seemed secret, but in reality, it was being closely monitored by the top brass of the Flower Planting Clan. Upon receiving the news, the Flower Planting Clan's leaders were actually relieved. It seemed that this "upstart" group had no intention of competing with the Flower Planting Clan. This solved their problem. They were trying to eliminate the factions and groups that posed the greatest threat to the future of the country. These "upstarts" were, of course, the main targets. Since their future plans did not involve the Flower Planting Clan, that was easy to deal with. Furthermore, the "upstarts"' actions further facilitated the Flower Planting Clan's control over Southeast Asia. Why not? They simply looked for an opportunity to help them.
Huang Wei, Kuang Zhengqi, and others in the Soviet Union and North Africa sneezed repeatedly for no apparent reason, wondering, "Who is this person talking about me?" They didn't think much of it. But the subsequent series of orders from the Flower Planting Family stunned them. For example, in North Africa, Kuang Zhengqi received the latest order stating that Sun LR, commander of the Second Front Army, would be a figurehead and would not be deployed directly to North Africa. The reason was simple: Sun's injuries from the battle in India could not withstand the harsh weather of North Africa. However, the Flower Planting Family had no other replacements, meaning that Kuang Zhengqi would remain acting commander. At the same time, the 74th Group Army would be reorganized into the 7th Group Army after integration. Lieutenant General Wang YW would assume the position of Deputy Commander of the Second Front Army and Commander of the 7th Group Army, leading the 7th Group Army to join the Second Front Army.
In the Soviet Union, the effective operations of the Southern Front and the First Ukrainian Front in the south reduced the pressure in the north, and the Battle of Moscow was successful. The German army was eventually driven out of the Kaluga line, and the crisis in Moscow was alleviated.
In this battle, Liu BC played a vital role in the Chinese Expeditionary Force that joined the Battle of Moscow on the northern front. Due to the indecision of Deputy Commander Du YM, according to the plan of Zhukov, Commander-in-Chief of the Moscow Front, the Chinese army should attack Obninsk west of Moscow, cut off the 9th Army on the left wing of the German Army Group Center, and then carry out a large encirclement of the army. However, after the 5th Army broke through Gagarin, it encountered a counterattack from the German 28th Armored Corps, especially the SS Viking Division under the army, which dealt a heavy blow to the 5th Army. Du believed that the heavy German troop concentration in the direction of Gagarin was a trap, and ordered the 5th and 11th Armies to stop the offensive and switch to defense.
This change of tactics led to the 4th Army, isolated and deep outside Obninsk, being surrounded by four German armies. Fortunately, Deputy Chief of Staff Liu BC noticed the anomaly and decisively ordered the 4th Army to use its tank divisions as a central force to break through. Eventually, the two armies would reunite and, through a sudden, outflanking attack, they defeated the 129th and 5th Armies, which were facing the 11th and 28th Armies, forcing the Germans to withdraw from Obninsk. Ultimately, the Northern Front Group failed to encircle the 12th Army, allowing it to escape. Of course, losses on both sides were roughly equal, leaving the 9th Army of the Expeditionary Force virtually incapable of fighting again.
Du's performance disappointed Zhukov and other Soviet commanders. They also understood that although the Chinese army was good at fighting, if the commander was mediocre, it would still cause fatal damage to the troops.
By this time, the Soviets had recovered their momentum and, in the direction of Moscow, were already overwhelming the German Army Group Center in terms of both manpower and firepower. Similarly, as a national symbol, they did not want any foreign military assistance in defending their capital. Thus, the expeditionary force on the northern front was transferred back to the southern front.
The Flower Planters then made new adjustments, and the Third Expeditionary Force was divided into two groups.
第一集群由第4、5、9集团军组成，集团军也按照新的指引进行了变更，其中，第4集团军由原第4、5集团军整合而成，下辖第4军（原第4集团军残部整合而成）、第5军（原第5集团军三个师组成）、第15军（原第5集团军另外2个师+301师组成）；原115集团军改编为第5集团军，辖11、115军、117军，其中，11军则由原11集团军整编而成，115军由342、343、344师组成，第117军由341、345师，以及原第11集团军1个师组成；原第129集团军改编为第9集团军，辖111、120、129军，其中，第111军由原129集团军2个师+原11集团军的1个师组成，120军由原120集团军的3个师组成，129军由129集团军压缩组成。
第二集群由第8、17、35和第10骑兵集团军集团军组成，其中，200集团军被改编为第8集团军，暂辖第8、200军，由原200集团军+302师分别撤分组成；第17集团军辖第12、17、27、军，也分别由原第17集团军、原第120集团军2个师，以及补充部队组成；第35集团军暂时保持直辖5个师的编制；第10 骑兵集团军由原第1、2骑兵集团军合并而成，辖第1、2骑兵军，之前的骑兵集团军的规模实际上也也就一个军的规模，这次直接合并。
While this integration may seem meaningless, seemingly designed to accommodate Soviet organizational structures, the changes are actually quite significant. Through this integration, the expeditionary force will establish dedicated tank armies (the 5th and 8th Armies), armored armies (the 9th and 35th Armies), and motorized armies (the 4th and 17th Armies). The 5th Tank Army will primarily be equipped with Soviet-made tanks, while the 8th Army will primarily be equipped with American-made tanks. These two tank armies will form the main offensive forces of the expeditionary force.
Peng DH was appointed Deputy Commander and Commander of the First Group, assisted by Deputy Chief of Staff Liu BC; Huang Wei was appointed Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff and Commander of the Second Group, assisted by Ye T as the Second Chief of Staff of the Front Army. At the same time, Du was dismissed.