"Boom-" "Click-"

Another tank No. 3 was hit by an anti-tank gun placed inside the half-collapsed building of the 305th Division of the Soviet Red Army! The front armor of the tank, which was up to 60mm thick and arranged at an oblique angle, could not block the enemy's armor-piercing shells, and after a loud bang, a huge fireball suddenly rose, and the turret of this No. 3 tank was actually lifted into the air! It seems that the shell inside the tank body was detonated. Not far from this hapless tank, there are two more Chinese tanks emitting smoke! This is the merit of the establishment of the 305 ZIS-1 anti-tank gun under the command of the 1st platoon commander of the 1st anti-tank artillery battalion of the 305th Regiment of the Artillery of the 1st Division of the Soviet Red Army! After destroying the tank, flames erupted from all over the building, knocking the Chinese infantry around the tank to the ground! Another round of attacks by the Chinese was repulsed.

"Well done! Comrade Second Lieutenant, I will report your exploits to the Political Commissar of the Army Group! You'll get the Lenin Medal! ”

"Quick! Cannonballs, cannonballs...... Comrade commissar, I need more shells now, and not what Lenin medal! ”

"Quick, get some shells for the ZIS-1 cannon!"

Lieutenant Colonel Boroni, political commissar of the 305th Division, shouted, and several Soviet Red Army soldiers who were blackened with gunpowder hurriedly found several 57mm armor-piercing shells and piled them up behind Second Lieutenant Chekov.

"Comrade commissar, that's all there is to it...... "A large Slav in the uniform of a Red Army soldier looked at the commissar with a blank eye. If the shells run out. What should we do? ”

Colonel Boroni could certainly understand the subtext of this guy, he was actually trying to say, "Okay, okay!" Master Political Commissar, we have worked hard enough, but it's not worth dying here, I still have a wife and children at home, I want to live......"

"Comrades! We have to stay here! The lieutenant colonel glanced at the few dozen people around him, this is the last force that the 305th Division of the glorious Workers' and Peasants' Red Army can organize! Now they are guarding their division headquarters, a house built next to the bridge, which has been occupied by the Chinese. But the house, which was in ruins, was just the way to get in and out of the bridge! If this place is lost. Then the back of the entire 21st Army of the Red Army would be completely exposed to the tanks of the Chinese. So the command of the army group has already given them a strict order that they must hold on to the last man!

"Comrades! It's very critical here, and if the Chinese kick us out of here, then they open the door to Chita. At the same time, it also closed the door to the retreat of our 21st Army! So we'll have to hold out here a little longer, reinforcements will come soon, and we'll be able to go home then......"

Speaking of this, the lieutenant colonel's eyes were also sour, and two lines of hot tears flowed down like this, he had just been sent here from the city of Moscow, where he lived a comfortable and comfortable life. Originally, I just wanted to gild it and accumulate some experience in the work of grassroots troops, so that I could be promoted to a higher position...... Young cadres like him, who were admitted to the Political Academy of the Red Army after the Soviet Civil War. It has risen rapidly in recent years! After all, they were not Trotskyists or White Guards. But who would have thought that these damn Chinese devils would suddenly start a war just as the winter of 1937 was approaching? Isn't all the intelligence sure that they won't be ready until after the spring of '38? It looks like I had to die here for my wife and children!

Zhang Lingfu, commander of the 1st Armored Division of the Wehrmacht, had also moved his temporary division headquarters to the other side of the bridge, and he had witnessed the failed attack just now. But there was no trace of joy or anger in that handsome and cold face. Putting down the binoculars, he just asked coldly: "The anti-tank guns of the Soviets are good." Really, have your brigades captured a few gates? ”

Peng Mengji, commander of the 1st Tank Brigade, thought for a moment and replied: "Report to the division, our brigade captured several 57mm anti-tank guns abandoned by the Soviet army during the attack. ”

"Hehe, the Soviets have also learned to be obedient and know how to deal with tanks." The corner of Zhang Lingfu's mouth twitched. It seems that the enemy is also advancing, and this war is really not going to work if it is not dealt with seriously.

Come to think of it. He beckoned to his communications staff officer and ordered: "Order the division's self-propelled artillery regiment to transfer two 150mm No. 3 self-propelled guns here." ”

"Order the 1st Motorized Rifle Brigade to transfer an Panzergrenadier Battalion to the 1st Tank Brigade."

"The engineer battalion was ordered to erect two pontoon bridges over this river for the passage of tank No. 3." He looked back at Peng Mengzhi again and said, "Wait for the self-propelled artillery to come." Just use them to completely collapse that house, and if you can't let the infantry charge, our tanks ...... Save it for something else! ”

Twenty minutes later, two No. 3 self-propelled guns carrying 150mm howitzers roared and dragged billowing smoke and dust to the edge of the bridge, and the thick muzzles of the black holes were aimed at the crumbling building on the other side of the river. With a loud sound, heavy shells flew out of the thick and slender barrels and flew towards the intended target. Soon it turned into a fiery red and deadly ceremonial flower. This was the first close shelling of enemy targets by such self-propelled guns. All the artillery officers worked extremely hard, especially when they saw the three destroyed No. 3 tanks, and they held their breath. Now they have taken all their anger out on each other. The shells flew towards their intended targets as if they had eyes. Zhang Lingfu, on the other hand, saw the situation on the other side clearly through the high-powered telescope in his hand. While looking at him, he nodded slightly, "The effect of the shelling is good, this kind of self-propelled gun is quite effective, it seems that there will be a few more in the future!" After speaking, he glanced back at Peng Mengji, who was standing next to him. He paused for a moment, and then said, "Zhenru, let the infantry charge later, I will end the battle in half an hour!" ”

Ten minutes later, the squadron's shelling of the Soviet defenders finally stopped. Under the continuous bombardment of about 20 rounds of 150mm shells. The sturdy Soviet building was finally reduced to a pile of rubble, so the subsequent infantry charge was just a process...... Then the 20,000 officers and men of the 1st Panzer Division and more than 300 tanks, lined up in a long line, and once again rumbled forward. And the tragic resistance of the Soviet Red Army, which took place here, is gradually forgotten.

……

"Congratulations to the assistant commander, just now General Bai Jiansheng (Bai Chongxi) sent a telegram that the armored group has successfully broken through the Soviet army's defense line in the steppe south of Borja and advanced 60 to 70 kilometers! Annihilated the 305th Soviet Division and routed the 306th Division that came to reinforce it. In all, more than 12,000 Soviets were captured in today's fighting. The losses of our troops were slight. ”

General Yang Jie, deputy chief of the General Staff, reported the seemingly good news to his boss Luo Yaoguo in an unusually excited tone. But Luo Yaoguo, who was sitting in the war room of the General Staff, did not feel very happy. Because the rate of assault of armored forces is slower than expected. Push at this rate...... It was not until at least the night of October 12 that the door to the westward withdrawal of the Soviet 21st Army could be completely closed. Complete the siege of the Borja Fortress. But tonight, the Soviets had every chance to escape!

"Alas! Looks like tonight is the key to this battle! Thinking of this, Luo Yaoguo shook his head, and then signed his name on the latest battle report with a big stroke of his pen, and handed it to Yang Jie. Let's get these out to the public! Our airborne forces captured the westernmost city of Krasnoyarsk in Eastern Siberia, and almost 2 million Soviet troops in the Far East and Eastern Siberia have no way to retreat! This news should boost the morale of the people, right? ”

And just after Yang Jie left with this order. Yan Wu, head of the General Staff Operations Department, walked in again. "Auxiliary commander, the situation is a bit unfavorable for the 1st Airborne Division now!" As he spoke, he took out a report and handed it to Luo Yaoguo. "This is a translation of a Soviet telegram that has just been intercepted by the Military Intelligence Directorate. They had a reserve infantry division in Novosibirsk, an infantry division adapted from the USSR Internal Guard. The Soviet High Command had already formed the two divisions into the 111th Special Army, appointed Major General Chuikov as its commander, and ordered him to recapture the city of Krasnoyarsk within a week. ”

"What!" Hearing the news, Luo Yaoguo shook his head slightly. "How many of our troops do we have in Krasnoyarsk now? How's the equipment going? Who's in command? ”

"There are a total of 100 sorties of F, G37 general-purpose machine guns today, but most of the airborne troops use Min-26 automatic rifles, which are very powerful! Moreover, the airborne troops are all elite, and they may not suffer in a real fight. ”

The Min 26 automatic rifle mentioned by Yan Wu was developed according to the design requirements put forward by Luo Yaoguo in 1932. In fact, at that time, several automatic rifles had been produced in the world, the most famous being the American Browning automatic rifle. However, there are no intermediate power bullets, and all automatic rifles fire rifle bullets with a lot of recoil. Therefore, Luo Yaoguo put forward the requirement of developing a 7.62 x 39mm "short cartridge rifle cartridge", and used this bullet to design an automatic rifle that can shoot continuously and has acceptable shooting accuracy. As a result, the development and design of such "short cartridge rifle cartridges" and automatic rifles dragged on. It was not until June 1937 that it was finalized, and the production volume was not high. At present, it can only meet the needs of special forces such as the Airborne Forces.

"Are there enough bullets?" Listening to Yan Wu's words, Luo Yaoguo frowned. "Automatic rifles cost bullets to fight. How many days can the Airborne Forces fight with only that little ammunition they carry with them? At this point, he unfolded the map and said to Yan Wu: "We are not capable of sabotaging the railways of Western Siberia, so Stalin will soon bring in a steady stream of troops." The battle for the defense of Krasnoyarsk is expected to be very difficult, I am afraid that it will not work with those small arms of the Airborne Forces, and it is necessary to find a way to transport a few cannons over, the estimate of 105 is not good, and the 75mm mountain artillery can always be transported, right? There is also ammunition to be replenished in a timely manner. Tomorrow's transport plan will be changed, don't transport so many troops, and transport more ammunition and artillery...... The matter of air freight depends on the day to eat. Always let God not appreciate his face. And ......" Speaking of this, Luo Yaoguo glanced at Yan Wu who was standing beside him, and there was a trace of worry in his eyes.

"Assistant, I propose to withdraw all our non-combatants from the city of Krasnoyarsk." Yan Wu understood and proposed to retreat the "non-combatants", which was actually Natalie. Her mission to Krasnoyarsk was to try to persuade the heads of the Soviet internal affairs department and labor camps there to come out and help China govern the newly acquired territory. Most of these people were first-generation Cheka warriors, and Natalie probably knew most of them, and she was able to grasp their psychology.

……

"Comrade Commander, we cannot afford to delay any longer. The 20th Cavalry Army must be ordered to immediately dispatch to meet Borgia's 21st Army. Although the Chinese armored forces were quick to assault, they were not enough to advance along the Middle East Road in a single day and cut off Borja's rear road. As long as we send cavalry to respond, it is still possible to rescue most of the forces of the 21st Army. As long as they enter Chita, we will have thirteen or fourteen infantry corps and three cavalry corps in our hands, and there should be no problem in holding Chita. A voice sounded in the Russian-style hall, and Blyukher, following the voice, saw only the large map on the left wall, and the chief of staff, Lyuschenkov, with a baton on his face, grim.

"Nope. Borgia cannot be abandoned. What Lyuschenkov did not expect was that as soon as his voice fell, Malenkov, the political commissar of the Far Eastern Front, was already shouting: "Comrade commander, comrade chief of staff." Comrade Stalin had instructions for a long time. The Far Eastern Front cannot give up an inch of land! You can't take a step back either! Even if it's fighting to the last man. ”

"Comrade Malenkov, then do you say that it is possible to hold Borja with more than 100,000 people in the three armies of the 21st Army? There were 400,000 to 500,000 people attacking them! And it's armed with a staggering number of tanks and planes, as well as heavy artillery enough to destroy the fortress's defenses! If we don't give up Borgia, then we can only throw the fortress and the troops together! Although Malenkov was sent by Stalin, at this point, Lyuschenkov couldn't care much about it, so he spoke out.

"Comrade Admiral, please pay attention to your words. You are a high-ranking general of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, and at the same time a GCD! Now it is the party that demands that the Far Eastern side hold on to Borja and Chinese bloody battle to the end...... And look no further. Winter in the Far East is coming soon, and nature will defeat the Chinese for us! Malenkov exclaimed: "So I think." We should not withdraw our troops from Borja, on the contrary, we should immediately reinforce them, and at the same time order the commander of the 21st Army, Lieutenant General Vasily, to shrink the troops around the fortress and hold on to the reinforcements. We are going to drag down the Chinese with the impregnable Bolja fortress! ”

"But ......"

"Didn't start." Malenkov once again interrupted Lyuschenkov's words and said coldly: "Comrade Lyuschenkov, as a general, you must consider the problem comprehensively, not only a local problem, the Far East's persistence is to win time for defeating Poland and Germany on the western battlefield, even if it consumes the entire Far Eastern Front, it is worth it!" ”

Malenkov's words made Blyukhel feel extremely difficult. He said that he agreed with Lyuschenkov and preferred to withdraw his troops from Borja, because he expected Borja to be difficult to hold! But the problem is that Malenkov is the political commissar, and the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army is the last decision of the political commissar, that is to say, Malenkov, who knows nothing about military affairs, is the supreme commander of nearly 2 million troops in the Far East! And he, Blyukher, was in fact nothing more than a top military adviser.

So after much deliberation, he agreed to the proposal to hold on to Borja, but at the same time asked Moscow to return the two aviation brigades to the Far Eastern Front to ensure that the Far Eastern Front had the most basic air cover.

At the same time, in Krasnoyarsk, at the other end of Eastern Siberia, a military conference was also underway.

"Stalin has already sent troops to counterattack here!"

The news suddenly made the air in the headquarters of the 1st Division of the Airborne Forces tense. However, when he learned that the counteroffensive force was only a reserve division and an infantry division adapted from the Ministry of the Interior, Huang Hui, commander of the 1st Airborne Division, breathed a sigh of relief.

Huang Hui quickly walked to a huge military map in Russian, and from the map, it was seen that there were still thousands of kilometers from Novosibirsk to Krasnoyarsk, and even by train it would take nearly 24 hours, and those Soviet second- and third-line troops could be concentrated immediately and the train could be found immediately.

"Third Master." Huang Hui sighed softly, turned to Natalie and said, "The order says that all non-combatants will be evacuated, and you can take the plane back tomorrow." ”

Natalie's face was solemn, and she slowly shook her head and said, "I am a major general of the Wehrmacht, how can I say that I am a non-combatant?" And the situation here is going to be very serious! You don't know the situation, as far as I know, the combat effectiveness of those internal guards is very strong! Their soldiers were selected from the regular army of the Soviet Red Army, and they were by no means tofu scum! And the prisoners in the nearby labor camps will also be organized against us! Yaozu, blow up the bridge over the Yenisei River and get ready to fight! (To be continued)