On the evening of the 29th, the front headquarters of the 5th Marine Division, located on the outskirts of Palampur.

The sudden arrival of the commander really scared a few staff officers who were discussing what to eat at night.

However, it is also well deserved.

More than an hour ago, the front-line command of the Southwest Battlefield sent a notice that several helicopters would transport key personnel to the division headquarters of the Fifth Marine Division, and asked the Fifth Marine Division to be ready to respond, mainly to notify the troops along the way to avoid accidentally injuring friendly troops.

Who would have thought that the senior staff officers on duty on duty didn't take it seriously, and felt that it was another senior officer of the Allied forces who came to join in the fun.

In the past, high-ranking officers of the Allied forces often came to the front-line headquarters in the name of "study and observation", and the front-line officers and soldiers were tired of this.

Fortunately, the senior staff officer on duty reacted immediately, sending someone to inform the division commander and accepting the commander on the pretext of briefing the battle.

It's just that Ding Zhennan doesn't eat this set.

Although his career can be regarded as smooth, Ding Zhennan also started as a staff officer, and he knows very well the small means that staff officers are good at.

As a result, under the leadership of Ding Zhennan, all the staff officers of the division headquarters went to the grassroots units.

There is nothing to be ashamed of, Hou Chensheng is in the 053rd Marine Regiment.

The regiment withdrew from the city in the morning, lost a lot of main battle equipment, and also suffered hundreds of casualties, and the rest of the officers and men were not in a very satisfactory mental state.

Not because of excessive casualties, but because they were replaced halfway.

In the city, the battle is still in full swing, but the stubborn resistance of the Van army is at the end of the road.

In fact, the 053rd Marine Regiment just wanted to take the last piece of the city fortified by the Van army in one go, but it suffered heavy losses in last night's battle, and used up all its ammunition, so it had to exchange with the 054th Marine Regiment after dawn, and gave up the honor of capturing Palumpur to the brother troops. It was for this reason that the officers and men of the 053rd Marine Regiment were not convinced and felt that they had been greatly wronged.

feelings, the banquet was arranged, only to find out that the groom was not himself.

When Ding Zhennan and the others arrived, the regiment commander and several battalion commanders surrounded Hou Chensheng, and they were very excited.

"Commander!"

The senior staff officers who accompanied him reacted quickly, and shouted before Ding Zhennan opened his mouth, reminding the red-faced grassroots officers.

After seeing Ding Zhennan, it was like pressing a switch, and several officers straightened their waists and saluted in one go.

Ding Zhennan was speechless, fortunately this was not the front line.

Hou Chensheng shook his head with a wry smile, and extended to the senior staff officer, asking him to take away the officers who were missing roots in their heads.

Is there a rule for saluting the commander on the battlefield?

Several grassroots officers didn't dare to make a mistake, no matter how casual they were in front of Hou Chensheng, and they didn't dare to show it in front of Ding Zhennan.

Don't forget that Ding Zhennan is not a general of the Marine Corps, but a general of the Army.

Although the officers and men of the Fifth Marine Division admired Ding Zhennan very much after the Poshawan War and the southward attack on Guji Bang, as far as their personal feelings were concerned, the officers and men of the Marine Corps still regarded Ding Zhennan as an outsider and had more or less reservations in front of him.

After being greeted by the senior staff officers, the officers took their leave.

"It seems that the enthusiasm of the officers and men is not bad."

"They all want to fight the main force, and they all want to rush to the front, so who will come to the rear of the palace, and who will be responsible for the work in the rear?" Hou Chensheng let out a long sigh before saying, "It's not too early, let's go to the restaurant to eat and chat." You don't say hello in advance, I'm ready here. ”

"I'm not here to raid it, I'm just here to see what's going on. I'm not in a hurry to eat beforehand, but since I'm here, I'll accompany me around. ”

Hou Chensheng was speechless, but he knew the reason why Ding Zhennan was here.

The camp of the 053rd Marine Regiment was just outside the city, next to the road into the city, but the nearby city had long been occupied by the Marines.

The battle line has advanced to Dongcheng District, and it is being fought lively.

More than 10 kilometers away, the sound of artillery and explosions can still be heard, as well as the distinctive sound of heavy machine guns, and the roar of fighter planes flying at low altitude.

However, all that can be seen is the occasional smoke of gunpowder.

"As long as there are no accidents, it will take up to two days......"

"Is it too early to storm Udaipur?"

Although Hou Chensheng was mentally prepared and knew that Ding Zhennan's coming here was related to the setback encountered by the 17th Armored Division when it marched to Pelodi, Hou Chensheng was still a little surprised after Ding Zhenna said it directly, after all, the storming of Udaipur was not directly related to the combat operation of attacking Jaipur, and it may not be able to help the 17th Armored Division, let alone change the current battlefield situation.

The point is that Udaipur is guarded by the fighting troops of the southern faction, while the Vatican army on the Jaipur side is mostly subordinate to the Central Army.

Besides, the main forces of the southern cluster went to Deoger and did not stay in Udaipur.

In this way, even if Udaipur is taken, because the main force of the 5th Marine Division is in the south, there is still no way to rush north to help the 17th Panzer Division.

In addition, Fu Weimin did not necessarily want to receive assistance from the Fifth Marine Division.

The 17th Armored Division finally opened up the situation with great effort, and sent the 5th Marine Division to reinforce it, isn't it just to grab credit?

From another angle, Hou Chensheng didn't want the 17th Armored Division to go south.

According to Hou Chensheng's understanding, the preferred strategy to stabilize the battle situation is actually to speed up the south.

After sweeping Guchibang, he continued to attack Baroda in the south, occupied and controlled the mouth of the Narmada River, and then went upriver according to Plan B, advancing inland from the Narmada River to complete the strategic detour and cut out all the areas south of the Malwa Plateau.

In fact, as long as the Baroda is defeated, it can force the Van army to increase its troops to the south.

Here, a very critical and sensitive issue is involved.

The constitution of the Brahma kingdom.

Although it has been under the colonial rule of the Bran Kingdom for hundreds of years, the current Van Luo Kingdom has inherited the mantle of the colonial authorities to a large extent. In other words, it is precisely because of the unification situation that emerged during the period of colonial rule that there is an ideological basis for great unification.

The First Southern Subcontinent War was a war of unification led and promoted by the Van Luo Kingdom.

As for the Second Southern Subcontinent War, it can actually be seen as a war of aggression launched by the Van Luo authorities in order to become a regional hegemon when there was no hope of reunification.

It's just that no one can deny a basic fact.

The capital of the country is actually several powerful and populous states in the northwest region and the Gangaro Plain. As for the dozens of small states in the southern region, which make up half of the country's land area, they were actually annexed by the large northern states during the First Southern Subcontinent War, or they were forced to accept the rule of Decheng and give up their independent status when the army was under the city.

Obviously, Decheng's rule over the southern region was not solid.

Among other things, the country has not yet been able to implement an official language throughout the country, and many southern states are still insisting on using local languages.

What is even worse is that the imbalance in social and economic development has exacerbated the internal contradictions of the Van Luo Kingdom.

As a result, the relationship between Decheng and the Southern Pradesh was more like that of a feudal dynasty, with the vast majority of the Southern States having considerable autonomy.

There is no doubt that if there is a physical division, the South will inevitably seek independence.

From this point of view, as long as the Van Roe administration remained committed to maintaining the unity of the country, it would not sit idly by and watch the Imperial army advance inland along the Narmada River.

In fact, the first to put forward this point was Ding Zhennan.

However, the problem is that there are many problems in order to turn this idea into practical action, and it will take a lot of time not only to invest a lot of troops.

It was only the Fifth Marine Division, which obviously could not be done.

It is for this reason that Ding Zhennan emphasized in the plan that this is only an alternative, and will only be used after the combat operation to attack Udaipur is in trouble.

The key is that there is a prerequisite for marching from the Narmada River to the hinterland of the Van Luo country.

The 17th Panzer Division took Jaipur and pinned down the main forces of the Van army, especially the Central Army in the northwest region, and at least had to stop the main force of the Van army from moving south.

Obviously, Ding Zhennan made such an arrangement, in fact, he didn't want the Fifth Marine Division to fall here.

Noticing that Hou Chensheng didn't say anything, Ding Zhennan looked at him.

"If you really want to say it, it's not too early." Hou Chensheng pursed his mouth and said: "The problem is that starting from Balampur, we can only go north from the side of Gulu Sikar Mountain, advance to the south of Pali, and then turn back to attack Udaipur, which is equivalent to going around in a big circle, and it is possible to encounter the main force of the Vatican army south of Deogel." In the battle with the main force of the Vatican army at the Aravalli Ridge, we may not be able to take advantage. ”

"What if you don't go around it?"

Hou Chensheng was stunned for a moment, and then showed a look of surprise.

"My current idea is whether I can convince the commander of the Vatican Army that the 17th Panzer Division is just a feint through a series of tactical actions."

"It's not easy."

"Can't do it?"

Hou Chensheng tightened his brows and rubbed his forehead vigorously. After pondering for a while, he said, "There are indeed challenges, but they are not impossible. ”

Ding Zhennan nodded slightly and let Hou Chensheng continue.

"As things stand, there's one thing that's very good for us."

"That battle last night?"

Hou Chensheng nodded, and said: "Although the Van army has invested more than ten times the number of troops in the vanguard, and the Nuland Expeditionary Air Force has also been used, the loss of the vanguard of the 17th Armored Division is not as great as imagined, but after this battle, I am afraid that the Van army will change their views on the 17th Armored Division." If you want me to say, with the urine sex of the top brass of the Vatican army, maybe they are celebrating with the crown at this time. The point is that the top brass of the Vatican army probably felt that even if the 17th Panzer Division was the main attacking force, they would be able to hold Jaipur. ”

Ding Zhennan was stunned for a moment, and then couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"As long as the 17th Panzer Division closes its point, the Vatican army is likely to treat it as a feint. Besides, I'm afraid General Fu Weimin also wants to use the topic to play. ”

"I have my own way of doing his thing."

Hou Chensheng smiled and said, "The key is to convince the top brass of the Van Army that the 17th Armored Division is a feint and must do something in other directions. If it is only a strong attack on Udaipur, even if it is to encircle and annihilate the southern cluster, it may not be able to attract the attention of the top brass of the Vatican army. If the battle is not made bigger, so that the Van army will taste the bitterness, or feel a real threat, the Van army will still keep an eye on the 17th Panzer Division. ”

"To make a difference in other directions, the southern cluster needs to be annihilated first."

Hou Chensheng pursed his mouth, and his expression was obviously a little embarrassed, because his careful thinking was pierced by Ding Zhennan.

Of course, Ding Zhennan is also up to the point.

"My current idea is that the Fifth Marine Division will draw two brigades, at least one reinforced brigade, and move north from Palampur, cooperate with the marines on Deogel's side, encircle and annihilate the southern cluster of the Vatican army, and at the same time pose a threat to Udaipur and assume the posture of capturing Udaipur or Bali."

"What about Gugibang?"

"The battle on Rajkot's side, pause for the time being, and concentrate the remaining forces to attack Ahmedabad." Ding Zhennan paused slightly, and then said: "After taking Ahmedabad, I will send two brigades of the 24th Mechanized Infantry Division over and attack Vadodara in the south. ”

At this time, Hou Chensheng's brows locked tighter.

Obviously, according to Ding Zhennan's meaning, even if he wants to march from the Narmada River to the hinterland of the Van Luo Kingdom, it has nothing to do with the Fifth Marine Division.

The key is that the 24th Mechanized Infantry Division is still in the northwest battlefield, and there is no intersection with the southwest battlefield.

Could it be that Ding Zhennan intends to entrust all the combat operations here to the combat troops in the northwest battlefield?

If this is the case, not to mention the Fifth Marine Division, I am afraid that even the 17th Armored Division will be reduced to a supporting role.

At that time, you can only make soy sauce if you stay.

Thinking of this, Hou Chensheng said: "The strength of the two brigades is too small, right?" ”

"It's just a feint, that's enough."

"This ......" Hou Chensheng was even more shocked.

Sending out all the only two reserves turned out to be a feint?

What if there is an accident in the next combat operation and there are no reserves available?

"In fact, even if we take the Baroda, we won't go inland because we don't have enough troops. Besides, the 5th Marine Division had to withdraw in early December, and before that time it had to sweep away the remnants of the enemy in Gugibang before the occupation could be handed over to the Allies. ”

"So, after the capture of Vadodara, these two brigades will go north to replace us?"

"At least one of the brigades."

Hou Chensheng nodded slightly, pondered for a while, and then said: "With this arrangement, the problem is not big, we are sure to complete the task." ”

"That's good."

"Just ...... on specific issues"

"It's time for dinner, right? I used to hear Liu Zunshan say that the food of the Marine Corps was better than that of the army, and that the army's food was simply a way to send flowers. ”

"What can't he say with that mouth?"

Ding Zhennan smiled, and then said: "The specific combat arrangements, you can determine it, just make a record, you don't need to tell me everything." ”

"Okay, let's go eat first?"

Hou Chensheng also knew that Ding Zhennan was not evading, but delegating authority, and this was a direct manifestation of his absolute trust in him.

For a young and promising general, this kind of broad-mindedness is extremely rare.

It's just that Ding Zhennan is now thinking about filling his belly. In order to come to the front, he didn't even eat lunch, and he dealt with it casually in the morning.

As for whether the food of the Marine Corps is better than that of the Army, who cares?