In mid-March, a large number of soldiers and civilians gathered on the platform and square of Urumqi's newly built station, and people waited eagerly for an exciting moment to come. At this time, He Meng and his wife Xiuhua, Chief of Staff Lei Zhensheng, Lu Changlin, commander of the cavalry column of the Western Front Army, Lin Xiong, commander of the First Army, and officers at and above the brigade level of each army were present. There were also their family members, as well as people from all walks of life who had organized themselves themselves.

Undoubtedly, their gathering at this station with a strong Islamic style heralded a major event, and also announced the end of Xinjiang's history of no railways, and thus the western part of the country will undergo great changes. With the unprecedented conquest of the Chinese Empire, the railway lines of the Empire were also extending meter by meter. The march of the Imperial Army and the rapid advancement of the railway line in the midst of bullets and bullets are unique in the history of warfare in Shijie countries, and it is an epoch-making miracle.

Not to mention how He Meng recovered the whole of Xinjiang, the significance of a single railway line entering Xinjiang is immeasurable. It is not only to solve the logistical supply needs of the conquest army, but more importantly, it can quickly stimulate the economic development of the western region, promote the large-scale circulation of commerce and trade, and Xinjiang will usher in a new look in the future. The nascent Chinese Empire made great strides forward in the military and economic fields, and its momentum was unstoppable. Later historians called the miracle created by the Chinese Empire a great feat that could never be replicated, and called Deng Zixuan a messenger sent by God to save the Chinese nation.

At about 9 o'clock sharp, a train whistle was heard on the horizon in the distance, and soon a train came rushing in billowing smoke. At this moment, people who are looking forward to it. Suddenly there was jubilation. Firecrackers exploded, and gongs and drums shook the sky, and the station turned into a sea of jubilation. Ethnic minorities in Xinjiang have never seen a train. They spontaneously ran along the railway line, witnessing the behemoth rolling in.

The front of the car gasped and slowly stopped at the station. After the train stopped, a group of officials dressed in official mansions came down from the second carriage behind the plane, led by Lin Xu, who was transferred from the position of governor of Guangxi Province to Xinjiang and served as the governor of Xinjiang Province. Lin Xu is close to 50 years old. Since Tongren Academy followed Deng Zixuan, after decades of experience, he has made outstanding achievements during his tenure as an official in various places. This time it is natural to serve as a feudal official.

Lin Xu led the accompanying officials to get out of the car, and their families also got out of the car one after another. He Meng knew Lin Xu and immediately stepped forward to shake his hand and said happily: "Mr. Lin, I didn't expect you to take up the post of governor of Xinjiang, this time I can lighten the burden." Lin Xu smiled: "General He." The president praised you as a general in both the military and the political. Your achievements in the western expedition have been praised by the president. This time, I reported on my duties in Beijing, and the President was full of praise for your ability to take charge of your own affairs. "Thank you for the president's kindness, in fact, I am also walking on thin ice, and I know the bitterness and bitterness. If it weren't for the president's face-to-face teaching, I would also be the master of the six gods! He Meng said modestly.

Subsequently, Lin Xu introduced the mayor of Urumqi and other accompanying officials. The atmosphere was very harmonious. In a restaurant with a strong Islamic flavor in the city, He Meng washed the dust for Lin Xu and other officials. At the banquet. Lin Xu said: "According to the decision of the Prime Minister's Office, the railway line will continue to extend to the west, and wherever you hit, you will lay the railway there." Vice Premier Li said that the rapid formation of a railway network is a good opportunity that cannot be encountered at the present time, and this opportunity will be lost once the war is over. I think Li Hongzhang is right, and I hope that Commander He will give full support to the railway in the next step. ”

"Lord Lin, this is a matter within the commander's duty, please rest assured, you want people to pay, you want money to pay. But I declare in advance, I don't have any money! Lin Xu said with a smile: "The Prime Minister's Office has arranged special funds, and what I need is security." "Please rest assured that Mr. Lin has accumulated rich experience in how to protect the safety of railway lines, and has a set of practical methods." In a warm atmosphere, the guest and host smoothly handed over the administrative power.

The day after celebrating the completion of the railway line and welcoming the officials of the feudal territory, He Meng immediately convened a military meeting to deploy the operation to recover Xinjiang. In the huge conference hall, eye-catching military maps hung on the walls, and the red and blue arrows on the maps indicated the positions occupied by both the enemy and the enemy. He Meng said lightly and humorously in his opening remarks to the generals: "The Prime Minister's Office has sent a feudal official, and I have now reduced the burden on my body, and I can devote myself to the military field, which feels very cool!" ”

The generals laughed, and He Meng's words turned serious: "The railway line is through, and the arrival of the feudal officials also indicates the official start of the western campaign. At present, our central cluster, on the Baikal line, involves the main Russian army, so the headquarters ordered us to aim to win the whole of Xinjiang this year, seize the initiative strategically, and create excellent conditions for plotting against Central Asia in the future. In addition, after recovering the stalemate, we will form an east-west echo with the central cluster, especially to pose a mortal threat to the Baikal defense line of the Russian army, and ensure the necessary conditions for the central cluster to advance westward. ”

He Meng continued to say majestically: "Ladies and gentlemen, although the situation is very good, our task is still not objective. At present, our Western Expeditionary Army has 1 cavalry division, 8 infantry divisions, and 2 artillery divisions, with a total of 200,000 troops. Among them, there were two cavalry divisions, which were to guard the absolute security along the railway, and three infantry divisions and one artillery division, which were responsible for guarding the key points. Therefore, the troops we put into operation are 5 infantry divisions, 8 cavalry divisions, and 1 artillery division, with a total strength of 150,000. However, the total strength of our Western Expeditionary Army to maintain 200,000 horses is the limit, and it is impossible to increase the number of troops. ”

"Ladies and gentlemen, according to reconnaissance intelligence, the Russian army has about 250,000 troops in the Altai region, Tacheng region, and Ili River valley region in the north, and we dispatched 150,000 troops, so you can imagine how difficult it is to defeat the enemy. Our strength is that we can concentrate superior forces and defeat the enemy individually. At present, in order to ensure the security of the rear of Irkutko, the main forces of the Russian army are deployed in the Altai region, so our first step is to attack to the west, first take the Ili River Valley, cut off the connection between southern Xinjiang and northern Xinjiang, and then quickly occupy the entire southern Xinjiang, Zuihou is dealing with the enemy in the north, and now I ask the chief of staff to introduce the situation of the enemy army. ”

Chief of Staff Lei Zhensheng stood up and said: "According to the reconnaissance, the 2nd Group Army of the Southeast Front of the Russian Army is currently stationed in Xinjiang. The Russian 2nd Army is under the jurisdiction of 10 cavalry divisions and 14 infantry divisions, with a total strength of 240,000 troops. Another Polish cavalry division was stationed in the Ili Valley for defense, and the total strength of the enemy was 25 men. The Russian army is heavily defended in Altai, with a strength of about 160,000 troops, including 6 cavalry divisions and 10 infantry divisions. ”

The Russian army deployed two infantry divisions and one cavalry division on the front line of Tacheng and Karamay. The Russian army deployed three cavalry divisions and three infantry divisions in the Ili River Valley, with a total strength of more than 60,000 people. The Russian army does not have independent artillery units, and the artillery units are all subordinate to each unit. The Russian army has about 300 artillery pieces, including 100 75-mm heavy guns. In addition, we have received information that a German army is stationed in Almaty, and the current strength is unknown, and I have finished my briefing.

Seeing the enthusiastic appearance of the generals, He Meng stood up and said: "The headquarters asked for our advice, and the campaign began in early April. Now I order the 9th and 10th Cavalry Divisions to defend the railway line and ensure that the railway line is unblocked. "Yes, my subordinates!" The two division commanders stood up and replied loudly. "The 8th, 7th, and 6th Cavalry Divisions were pulled to cruise between Tacheng and Karamay, blocking the enemy from sending reinforcements to the south." "Yes! Subordinate Order! The commander of the 3 cavalry divisions, the cavalry division commander replied with his chest straight.

He Meng continued: "Our main offensive direction is to launch an attack on the Ili River Valley, and to launch an attack on the Ili River Valley, first of all, we must take Kuitun. Kuitun is a strategic point into the Ili River Valley, and it must be resolutely taken. In order to quickly capture the Ili River Valley, we must efficiently annihilate the living Liliang of the Russian army. The first phase of the command's operation was to encircle Kuitun, encircle but not attack, and attract Russian troops to come for reinforcements. Besiege the city and send reinforcements, eat the enemy's reinforcements. ”

"You see, the Wusu River valley, which runs east-west, is the fastest and shortest passage to Kuitun. The enemy, for the sake of rapid reinforcements, must have sent out cavalry units. We know that there were three divisions of the Russian cavalry in the Ili Valley, one of which was the Polish cavalry division. We judged that it was highly likely that the enemy would dispatch all of his cavalry and quickly crush our besieging forces. Therefore, the headquarters boldly planned an operation and ate the enemy's 3 cavalry divisions in one go. ”

He Meng continued to deploy: "The 1st Army, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Infantry Divisions are responsible for encircling the Russian army in Kuitun, and the defensive strength of Kuitun is one division, and our 3 divisions are more than enough to deal with him. The Wusu River valley is more than 20 kilometers long, and the 4th Infantry Division is responsible for setting up positions at the eastern entrance of the Wusu River estuary to block enemy forces. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Cavalry Divisions made a detour back to the west side of the mouth of the Wusu River, and immediately after the battle began, they were dispatched to tie up the pockets. In the first battle of the Western Expedition, I will eat the enemy's three cavalry divisions cleanly and thoroughly. ”

Chief of Staff Lei Zhensheng said: "Eat three cavalry divisions, the defending Russian army in Kuitun will lose confidence, and we can take Kuitun in a very short time." The loss of cavalry units by the Russian army defending the Ili River valley means the loss of mobile combat units, and at that time the Russian army may choose to flee in the face of the attack of our army. If we occupy the Ili Valley without bloodshed, we will have the initiative on the battlefield. Whether you can take the whole of Xinjiang before the end of the year, the key is whether you can eat the enemy's 3 cavalry divisions cleanly, do you have confidence? "Have faith!" All the generals replied loudly.

After the military meeting, the generals rushed back to their units and began military deployment. He Meng in the headquarters told Lu Changlin: "You personally command 5 cavalry divisions to outflank them. It is very difficult for 50,000 people to remain untraced. If the Russian army discovers our intentions, the campaign will be undone. "Don't worry, Commander! I promise to complete the task. He Meng shook Lu Changlin's hand and nodded trustingly. (To be continued......)

PS: Don't fight unprepared battles, don't fight uncertain battles, front-line commanders already know this.