Jiang Baili nodded approvingly, and said, "Then let's quickly transfer the armored army to Manchuria, compared to the Heihe terrain, Manchuria is easier to be broken through by the Russians." ”

"I plan to personally lead the armored army to Manchuria to prepare for the surprise attack of the Russian army, and the defense of the northern front will be handed over to you." Zhang Xinghan thought for a while.

In terms of commanding armored troops in battle, Li Zhenyuan was far behind him, and Lao Maozi's tank troops and artillery units should not be underestimated, and Zhang Xinghan had to be cautious, so he decided to personally command this battle.

Seeing Zhang Xinghan's resolute attitude, Jiang Baili did not dissuade him too much, but instructed: "Commander, you must pay attention to safety, you are the backbone of our 200,000 new army." ”

"I know this, I won't take the lead in taking the risk of charging, in terms of tactical command ability, Zhenyuan is not as good as me, I went to act at the right time and formulate the most correct battle plan." Zhang Xinghan said.

On the same day, Zhang Xinghan led three armored divisions to advance westward along the Zhongchang Railway and in the direction of Manchuria, and at the same time transferred Liu Guodong and Wu Chengfeng's 5th Division from Qiqihar to Hulunbuir for reinforcements.

The first to arrive in Manchuria was not the armored unit led by Zhang Xinghan, but the Zhang Shixian Division of the 8th Reading Division, which had been ordered to enter Manchuria earlier.

Almost as soon as Zhang Shixian's 8th Division entered Manchuria, he met the Russian attacking force head-on.

The Russians, with tanks and armored vehicles as an assault force, supplemented by heavy artillery fire, easily repelled Zhang Shixian's 8th Division.

The Russian army then occupied Manchuria and pursued Zhang Shixian's troops all the way to Hailar.

At the critical moment, Zhang Xinghan led a huge torrent of steel composed of 600 tanks and 300 armored vehicles from three armored divisions to arrive.

One armored division attacked head-on, two armored divisions outflanked in a roundabout way, and the tanks and armored vehicles in front of them were equally easy to annihilate the Russian tank and armored forces pursuing Zhang Shixian's troops.

At this time, the first batch of medium tanks T-28 in the Russian army had not yet been officially put into service, and Lao Maozi's tank armored unit was still equipped with the MC-18 tank that fought with the Feng army three years ago.

This tank is known as a copy of the Russian Renault tank, and its surname can be similar to the Renault tanks of the Northeast Army received by Zhang Xinghan in Shenyang City.

Even the German-style No. 3 tank that the Northeast New Army reequipped some time ago is not as good, let alone the No. 4 tank that is now equipped with more advanced equipment in the Northeast New Army.

Moreover, the number of Lao Maozi's tank troops is less than 30 vehicles, which is less than one-thirtieth of the armored group army of the Northeast New Army.

In the case of being extremely backward in all aspects, he was beaten by a thirty-to-one siege.

The fate of the tank units of the Russian army can be imagined.

After annihilating this Russian tank force without much effort, Zhang Xinghan could order the 8th Reading Division to join the 5th Qiqihar Reading Division, which had rushed to reinforce it, along with the three armored divisions, to counterattack in Manchuria.

At this time, the strength of the Russian army in Manchuria was less than two infantry regiments, and when it was learned that the tank forces were completely annihilated, the new army in northeast China counterattacked.

While the Russian army quickly called for help, it held on to the spot, trying to hold on until reinforcements arrived and defeat this northeastern army.

However, when Zhang Xinghan arrived in Manchuria with a huge torrent of steel consisting of nearly a thousand tanks and armored vehicles.

Lao Maozi was all stunned, they didn't expect that this Northeast Army would have such a large number of tanks and armored vehicles.

Zhang Xinghan did not give the Russian army a chance to breathe, let alone pause because of their surprise, he immediately ordered the tank armored troops, thousands of artillery in unison, to launch a fierce fire attack on the Russian positions in Manchuria.

Subsequently, the 5th Division of Reading was dispatched to launch a full-scale attack on Manchuria with tank and armored vehicle units.

Wu Chengfeng, who suffered a catastrophe in the Qiqihar Incident, was extremely brave, and as the deputy division commander, he took the lead and personally led a regiment of officers and soldiers to charge with the tank.

Manchuria, because of its geographical location with a special surname, is different from other cities, and he wants to give it to the border county town without city walls.

Regardless of which side the defenders were, they could only build field fortifications along the city.

In such a flat terrain, without the barrier of the city wall, the assault ability of tanks and armored vehicles will be maximized.

Nearly a thousand tanks, six hundred 75mm tank guns, hundreds of anti-aircraft machine guns and hundreds of anti-aircraft guns were covered by simultaneous fire, which was unbearable for any unit.

Especially in the absence of well-established and sturdy permanent surname fortifications.

In just ten minutes of heavy firepower, the Russian army suffered hundreds of casualties in less than two regiments, under the powerful assault of the tank units of the new army.

Their defensive line was in full swing in less than half an hour, as Wu Chengfeng led the infantry to pour into the Russian position, after launching a fierce strafing fire with submachine guns and machine guns.

The Russian army was completely defeated, but they were surrounded by 30,000 tanks in front of them, except for a few people who stubbornly resisted to the end and were beaten into a sieve by bullets, most of them lost their weapons with interest and chose to surrender with their hands raised.

Zhang Xinghan did not order the prisoners to be killed, he did not want to anger Lao Maozi's leader too much, because now was not the time for a full-scale war with Lao Maozi.

After recapturing Manchuria, Zhang Xinghan did not continue the offensive with a hot head, but began to order his troops to repair and strengthen the fortifications in Manchuria and wait for the Russian army to attack.

At the same time, on the battlefield on the Eastern Front, with the arrival of reinforcements from the Northeast New Army Air Force and Jiamusi.

The two regiments of the Russian troops who crossed the river, after heavy losses, hastily retreated to the east bank.

However, soon the powerful artillery fire of the Russian army began to shell the defensive positions of the Aihui defenders of the Northeast New Army, and the air force fighters also took off to help in the battle.

However, it was attacked by the destruction of the fighters of the flying regiment led by Liu Cuigang, and all six Russian planes that took off were destroyed and shot down.

The news came back to Vladivostok, the current commander of the Far Eastern Military District, Vasily. Konstantinovich. Blyukhel was shocked.

Both the east and west attacks failed?

"Zhang Xinghan's Northeast New Army is so powerful? Their air force and armored forces, in particular, seem to be far superior to those of our Red Army. Blyukhel muttered to himself in horror.

"General, what are we going to do next? Do you want to stop the offensive? An adjutant asked.

"No, we must not settle with the Chinese, but we must mobilize more tanks, planes and artillery to win, and I will immediately send a telegram to the leader asking for reinforcements." Blyukhel said immediately.

……………………………… Nanjing, the official residence of Chairman Chiang.

Wang Shihe hurriedly walked into Chairman Jiang's study and saluted: "Commission, the matter is clear, the cause is because of a dispute between the two sides of the Eastern Railway, Wu Chengfeng, deputy commander of the 5th Division of the New Army, shot and killed more than 100 Russians when he put down the chaos, triggering this war with the Russians. ”

"Who, Wu Chengfeng? Niang Xipi, this kid did a good job, in this way, Zhang Xinghan's strength will inevitably be hit by the Soviets. After hearing this, Chairman Jiang was not worried but rejoiced: "Zhang Xinghan has been in the limelight too much this time, it's time to kill his sharp spirit." ”

"Bench, should we do something?" Wang Shihe asked tentatively.

"No, just sit back and see what happens." Chairman Chiang said without hesitation.

…………………… Dalian Lushun, known as the headquarters of the Kwantung Army.

Hashimoto Toranosuke rushed into Muto Nobuyoshi's office and said excitedly to Muto Nobuyoshi: "Your Excellency General, I just got the news that Zhang Xinghan's Northeast New Army has a military conflict with the Russians, and the two sides have now started a fierce battle in the border area. ”

"Nani? Is this serious? Muto Nobuyoshi had some disbelief in his ears, Zhang Xinghan dared to go to war with the Russians at this time?

"Your Excellency, General, it's true." Toranosuke Hashimoto said and took out a piece of information, handed it to Muto Nobuyoshi and said, "Your Excellency General, please take a look at this and understand the cause of this incident." ”

After reading it, Muto Nobuyoshi couldn't help but snort coldly: "Zhang Xinghan also wants to follow Zhang Xueliang's example to take back the Eastern Railway? Did he really think that the Russians would willingly give up? Pipe dream. ”

"Your Excellency General, did we take advantage of Zhang Xinghan's division to fight the Russians and take the opportunity to counterattack Beiman?" Toranosuke Hashimoto was eager to try.

Unexpectedly, Muto Nobuyoshi shook his head and said: "No, at present, the local reinforcements of the imperial army have not yet arrived, and Zhang Xinghan has deployed heavy troops in Tongliao and Siping, and it is difficult to win if he attacks rashly." ”

"But, general, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Zhang Xinghan's Northeast New Army is pinned down by the Russians, we take the opportunity to attack, he will definitely suffer from the enemy on his back, and the opportunity must not be lost!" Toranosuke Hashimoto hurriedly persuaded.

"Hashimoto-kun, you think things too simply, first of all, after the battles of Shenyang, Tongliao, Rehe and North Manchuria, several main divisions of our Kwantung Army have already been almost lost, and now we are still insufficient for self-protection, how can we have the strength to counterattack North Manchuria?

So we have to wait for the right time. Muto Nobuyoshi said meaningfully.

"But, General, don't miss the opportunity and don't come again!" Toranosuke Hashimoto was a little unwilling.

"The opportunity will definitely come again, this time Zhang Xinghan has already made enemies with the Russians, no matter who they win or lose in this war, once we are ripe to attack Beiman in the future, we can invite the Russians to attack with us at the same time, and attack on both sides." Nobuyoshi Muto explained.

……………………………… Beiping, Zhang Shaoshuai's Mansion.

Chen Dazhang, the attendant adjutant, mysteriously came to Zhang Xueliang's office and reported to him: "Young Marshal, Zhang Xinghan led his Northeast New Army to fight with the Russians in Manchuria and Heihe. ”

"What? You say that Zhang Xinghan went to war with the Russians? Zhang Xueliang was taken aback.

"Yes, to be precise, the Russians went to war against Zhang Xinghan." Chen Dazhang nodded.

Zhang Xueliang was stunned at first, and then laughed proudly: "Haha, Zhang Xinghan, this idiot, actually went to war with the Russians, he thought the Russians were himself, so easy to provoke?" Hmph, this bastard is finally going to walk around without staying this time! ”

(To be continued)