In early April, the operation to regain the Erie Valley was officially launched. The key to whether the first battle can be won and whether it can quickly seize the initiative on the battlefield is whether the siege and reinforcement operation of the Battle of Kuitun can be successfully realized. In this regard, He Meng led the headquarters to move forward, and the headquarters was located in Changji. The armies of all walks of life began to act secretly according to the planned operation. The three infantry divisions of the 1st Army, which was responsible for encircling Kuitun, took the lead, and later the five cavalry divisions, led by Lu Changlin, the commander of the cavalry column, made a long detour to the west side of the Wusu River valley and arranged ambushes.

The key to why it is judged that the Russian army must rescue Kuitun is that Kuitun's strategic value to the Ili River Valley is too important. Kuitun is the only way to enter the Ili River Valley, and taking Kuitun is equivalent to opening the east gate of the Ili River Valley. Of course, He Meng still has an alternative plan, once the Russian army does not choose to support, then take Kuitun in one go. Given the importance of Kuitun, if the Russian army does not rescue Kuitun, it is tantamount to abandoning the Ili River Valley, and this possibility is minimal.

"Report to the commander, the 1st Division surrounding Kuitun has taken the lead in reaching the designated position, and the 2nd and 3rd Divisions have no news yet! In addition, the 1st Independent Artillery Division is following the 1st Infantry Division. A combat staff officer in the headquarters reported. He Meng's expression was solemn, and he looked at the map without saying a word. Chief of Staff Lei Zhensheng walked over and said, "Commander, are the 2nd and 3rd Divisions a little sluggish?" He Meng said: "The time of the attack is tomorrow morning, and they can distribute the message at midnight." ”

He Meng continued: "Is there any suspicion of the Russian troops in Kuitun? "Report to the commander, I received a report from the reconnaissance unit an hour ago, and the Russian army did not notice anything." "Command the 1st Division. Before midnight, it is necessary to enter the attack position with great fanfare, and the Russian army must be aware of the purpose of our army and give them sufficient time to react to report the message. Our aim is to destroy the enemy's reinforcements. The Russian army must be allowed to send the news out. ”

At midnight, at the headquarters of the Russian army division in Kuitun, a Russian officer hurriedly broke into the division headquarters, and the Russian division commander was awakened in his sleep. This guy came out of the bedroom with a cry and said dissatisfiedly: "What happened to disturb my good dreams? "Report to the general, the scouts have found a large number of Chinese troops in the east." "What did you say?" The Russian division commander was completely sleepy, and immediately walked to the map to check: "Where does the Chinese army appear?" The officer who reported it pointed to a point on the map.

The Russian division commander was shocked and said: "The command is not a judge. Is the Chinese army attacking to the north, how can it appear in our direction, immediately bring the chief of staff! "After a while, the chief of staff of the Russian army was summoned. This guy is just as sleepy-eyed and languishing. The Russian division commander explained the situation again, and Zuihou said: "Chief of Staff, you judge that the Chinese army will not be a bluff!" "The chief of staff of the Russian army immediately came to the spirit.

"Is that true?" "The Chinese army is about 20 kilometers from Kuitun. Currently pushing towards me! The chief of staff of the Russian army groaned for a moment and said: "The judgment of the headquarters may be wrong. If the Chinese army of the Western Expedition launches an attack on us, the target must be the Ili River Valley, and we should immediately enter into battle readiness and report to the military headquarters for reinforcements. "The commander of the Russian division considered the situation serious, on the one hand, he sent someone to report and request reinforcements, and on the other hand, he ordered the troops to enter combat readiness.

At about two o'clock, the atmosphere in the division headquarters became even more tense. "Report to the general, the Chinese army stopped advancing 5 kilometers from Kuitun. It is expected that the offensive will be launched after dawn. The Russian division commander said: "The military headquarters can get the news at dawn and send reinforcements." It can arrive at night at the earliest. Kuitun City is well defended, and we have no problem holding on for a day. As soon as our cavalry units arrived, the offensive of the Chinese army would be aborted. Ordered the city defense troops to strictly defend after the battle began, and those who were unfavorable in defense would be shot. ”

The whole city of Kuitun immediately became lively, and torches and lanterns were lit everywhere. Kuitun was a fortress town newly built by Zuo Zongtang when he quelled the rebellion in Xinjiang. The town is tall and fortified, and the defenses are well-equipped. After the Russian army occupied this place, it was reinforced on a large scale for modern warfare, so the Russian army was very confident in its defense. Although the Russian army was a little panicked, the combat preparations were quickly put in place. In recent years, almost all the Han people in Kuitun have run away, and there are a small number of local ethnic minorities living in the city. When the Russian army began to prepare, panic spread, and the people in the city fled one after another when they heard the news.

In the Changji headquarters, an operational staff officer reported: "Commander, Commander Lin reports that the Russian troops in Kuitun City have obtained our situation, and according to the report of the reconnaissance unit, the entire Kuitun City is lively. He Meng nodded and said, "How is the situation of the artillery unit?" Chief of Staff Lei Zhensheng said: "The 1st Artillery Brigade is already in position, and it will be shelled on time at 6 o'clock. He Meng nodded again, his eyes aimed at the map. Lei Zhensheng knew what He Meng was thinking, there was no problem in taking Kuitun, the key was whether the siege could be carried out smoothly.

"Commander, according to the forward unit of the 1st Division of the Lin Xiong Division, they encountered the Russian reconnaissance cavalry about 20 kilometers away from Kuitun, and the time was about 23 o'clock. It is estimated that the Russian army in Kuitun will not get more than zero o'clock in the news, and according to the speed of the Russian army's response, the Russian army in Ili will be able to get the news at about dawn. It will take time for the Russian army to mobilize cavalry to assemble reinforcements, and the Russian cavalry vanguard will be able to reach Kuitun at dusk tomorrow at the earliest. ”

Lei Zhensheng then analyzed: "The 4th Division has already built a blocking position on the east side of the Wusu River Valley, and the 2nd Artillery Brigade has bypassed Kuitun and is estimated to reach the blocking site at noon. Now all deployments are carried out in accordance with our jihua, and it depends on whether the Russian army can take the bait. "There is no problem for the Russian army to take the bait, the key is whether all the cavalry units of the Russian army can be dispatched, which is the issue I am most concerned about." "Yes, if you can eat the 3 cavalry divisions of the Russian army, the initiative on the battlefield will be in your hands, and the infantry units will advance to the west, and there will be no worries." Lei Zhensheng said.

In the army headquarters on the east side of Kuitun, the army commander Lin Xiong couldn't stop looking at his watch, and at this time, a fast horse galloped over. "Report to the commander of the army, the 2nd Division reported that they found the Russian reconnaissance cavalry in the 36th area, and the Russian reconnaissance cavalry has been heading west, and it is estimated that it is the Russian army's messenger, and the time is about one o'clock in the morning. At present, the 2nd and 3rd divisions have begun to surround Kuitun! "Great!" Lin Xiong was overjoyed when he heard this: "It's 5 o'clock in the morning, order the artillery brigade to enter the preparation, and order the attacking troops to enter the attack position. In addition, immediately report the situation to the command. ”

Lin Xiong continued: "At 6 o'clock, the artillery brigade launched an artillery bombardment on time, and after 20 minutes of shelling, a powerful offensive was launched in four directions at the same time, and a overwhelming formation must be formed." The feint attack must be realistic, but it must be grasped to ensure the main force of our cavalry and completely annihilate the reinforced Russian cavalry. "The operational staff officer immediately telephoned to issue orders, and at present, when the Wehrmacht troops are in the field, the telephone communication has already formed a scale, and the commander will issue operational orders to the nearest troops as soon as possible.

At 6 o'clock, suddenly the earth began to shake, and a violent roar shook through the air. 30 76mm heavy guns and 60 infantry guns fired a salvo, and the scene was extremely shocking. In the blink of an eye, Kuitun City was shrouded in smoke and dust. After all, the Russian army is hiding in the fortress, and the lethality of artillery fire will not be great, but it can shock the Russian army mentally. With such heavy artillery fire, the Russian army knew that the powerful offensive of the Chinese army had begun.

After the artillery fire stopped, the attacking troops attacked. The Russian division headquarters in Kuitun City received the bad news that it was being attacked in four directions at the same time, and the Russian division commander was shocked and immediately threw all Liliang into strengthening the defense. "It seems that the Chinese army has premeditated, and we are surrounded." The chief of staff of the Russian army was surprised. The commander of the Russian division was shocked and forced to calm down: "The Kuitun fortress is strong, and it is wishful thinking for the Chinese army to take Kuitun in one go, and order the defending troops to resist stubbornly and not to retreat." ”

The chief of staff of the Russian army said: "Fortunately, we reported immediately, and after the military department received the news, it will immediately send a cavalry unit to rescue, as long as the rescue cavalry unit arrives, the enemy will be defeated." The commander of the Russian army said: "We must hold out until dusk before reinforcements can arrive." Tell all officers and men that holding out until dusk is victory. "After the infantry attacked, the Russian artillery fire began to counterattack, the artillery brigade opened fire again, and the Russian artillery was suppressed.

The powerful attack was doomed to not improve, and the charging troops were repulsed when they advanced to a certain distance, and it seemed that the attack was very unfavorable. Two hours later, the gunfire on the battlefield began to thin out. "Report to the general, the attack of the Chinese army was repulsed." The commander of the Russian army was overjoyed when he heard this: "Haha! The Chinese army is nothing more than that, and those stupid pigs blow the Chinese army to the gods, which is simply a disgrace to Peter the Great. Order the defending units, check the defensive situation, consolidate their positions, and meet the enemy's second attack. "The commander of the Russian army seems to have confidence.

"Report to the army commander, we have retreated, do you want to continue to organize the attack?" An operational staff officer in the military headquarters said easily. Lin Xiong said: "Carry out artillery bombardment, and after 10 minutes of shelling, the attack will be stopped on all fronts. Our goal of encircling Kuitun has been achieved, so that the Russian army will think that our attack has failed, and let Lao Maozi be happy first. In addition, needless depletion of bombs. The medicine can't be drawn. The chief of staff said: "Commander, we are besieging but not attacking, and when there is no hope for Russian reinforcements, it is possible to choose to break through to the west." ”

"This can happen!" Lin Xiong pondered for a moment and said: "Report the situation to the headquarters immediately, our army suggests that a brigade of the first division on the east side be withdrawn, the encirclement on the west side should be strengthened, and if the Russian army chooses to break through, it will be eliminated in the field." ”

At the Changji Headquarters, an operational staff officer put down the phone and immediately reported Lin Xiong's suggestion to He Meng. "Lin Xiong, this guy has made great progress, tell him that I agree to withdraw the troops on the east side and strengthen the Liliang on the west side."

He Meng continued: "Tell Lin Xiong, be bolder, just leave one brigade in the east, and transfer two brigades to strengthen the operation in the west." If the Russian army chooses to escape, it will all be eaten cleanly in the wild! (To be continued......)

PS: The net is already open, waiting for the enemy to take the bait.