As soon as the 3rd Battalion of the 6th Regiment, which hurriedly entered the field fortifications, arranged its firepower, the figure of the enemy cavalry appeared on the main road, and in the binoculars of Major Cheng Kui, the shadow of the German cavalry became bigger and bigger, and they seemed to be defenseless, not at all like combat reconnaissance, but like a tour. Until even the facial features of the enemy's cavalry soldiers were clearly visible, the battalion commander of the major raised his arm slashed down fiercely, and an air-cooled heavy machine gun beside him gurgled and roared, and the major's telescopes were not lowered immediately on the circular positions distributed on both sides of the kilometer, and he was satisfied to see that the enemy cavalry danced the dance of death in the rain of bullets and mortar shells, the dead riders hung upside down on their horses, and those sturdy and beautiful war horses fell one by one, and he felt sorry in his heart.

"Stop shooting!" The major shouted hoarsely. The sound of gunfire on the positions thinned out until it stopped. Without waiting for the major's order, the 9th Company jumped out of the trench first, followed by the soldiers of the 7th and 8th Companies also rushed onto the road.

All they had left was to clean up the battlefield. More than 70 German cavalrymen saved only 15 wounded soldiers who were still gasping in pools of blood.

"Prisoners are to be done according to the old rules." The major whispered to the commander of the 7th company. Seriously wounded prisoners are a burden, and military discipline does not allow the killing of prisoners, but the 1st Army has this unwritten rule in the hands of Feng Guozhu, and the officers tacitly agree to this.

Major Cheng Kui stared at the tall Germanic riders who had died, ignoring the constant sound of gunfire. The legendary pointed leather helmet has long been replaced with a steel helmet, and the style is very similar to that of the Chinese army. He had always wanted to get one of those military hats, and the spikes at the top made him very interested, but the Germans had already changed to steel helmets in 1916.

"Battalion commander. There were no casualties in our battalion. The signal corps reported.

"Very well, hurry up and strengthen the fortifications, the shells of the Germans will fall on our heads right away! Bunnies, aren't you looking forward to war? Now you can do it. Cheng Kui pointed to the four company commanders who gathered around and said, "Hurry up!" ”

But a quarter of an hour later, the radio received an order from the regimental headquarters to the 3 battalion to retreat immediately. Less than ten minutes after Major Cheng Kui gathered his troops and withdrew from his position, heavy bombs rained down on the empty positions of the 3rd Battalion. This was followed by four planes that dropped a dozen bombs at the Chinese positions where the smoke was rising. Half an hour later, the German artillery stopped firing. The infantry cautiously appeared. Enraged at the sight of dozens of mutilated limbs, the following artillerymen began firing shells at the Kovelli, and the German-Chinese agreement, which had been signed less than twenty days ago, was torn up.

The German army attacking Kovelli was the 20th Army, a unit with a great reputation on the Eastern Front. And the 1st Army of the Chinese Expeditionary Force was even more pretentious. It has always called itself the first army in the world. Even the 6th and 9th armies did not dare to compete with them. Because of its deep qualifications, it is the history of the founding unit of the Mengshan Army and the National Defense Army. More than half of it can be counted as the military history of the 1st Army. It is impossible for two pretentious ace armies to meet without something happening.

In his opinion, it was the Germans who first violated the agreement, and the Germans' shells had already fallen on the Covelli, causing damage to the logistics convoy, and the 2nd Division behind him sent troops to reoccupy the abandoned positions as a last resort. However, after hearing of the conflict, Commander Xiong Xun sent a military order to speed up the evacuation of Kovilli, and Xiong Xun said to Major General Du Sanli on a wired phone, "Since the Germans want to fight, we have no choice but to accompany them." But we don't fight in Kovelli, you speed up the retreat! ”

But Du Sanli had to wait for the logistics troops of the 2nd Division to withdraw before he could abandon the city, and the Germans came too quickly. Commander Xiong's order could not be violated, so he recalled the 6th Regiment behind his palace to the city and gave the 2nd Division an order to hold the city for a day and night.

That night, the forward units of the German 20th Army began to attack Kovelli, but they were fiercely blocked by the 2nd Division, and the Chinese planes also participated in the battle, and the planes of both sides fought fiercely over the city of Kovelli, and one plane was shot down each. After dark, the German offensive stopped.

At ten o'clock that night, General Xiong Xun, who had driven from Sanel to Korosjian, met with Wang Mingyuan and reported on the battle at Kovelli, emphasizing that it was the Germans who had made the first move, and that the counterattack of the 1st Army was completely forced.

The General Headquarters of the Expeditionary Force has very few personnel, and is currently following Wang Mingyuan to temporarily set up Korosjian.

Wang Mingyuan listened to Xiong Xun's report very calmly, "What is your opinion?" ”

"It was the Germans who violated the agreement. If you just retreat, it will hurt morale. ”

"I'm asking you for a specific opinion! Now it's you who command the 1st Army! ”

"If you are not opposed to going to war, I am prepared to teach the Germans a lesson," Xiong Xun relieved, "I plan to continue to retreat eastward, and annihilate one of them at the right opportunity." Now I can't decide whether to start on the south or north roads, so I ask the commander to withdraw to Kyiv first according to the plan, organize the transfer of supplies, and leave the front-line fighting to me. For the time being, there is no need for Commander Shi's support. ”

"I have no objection to going to war, especially when the Germans are pressing," Wang Mingyuan said calmly, "but you must understand that the withdrawal of our troops to the east is an established principle and the overall situation." To fight, it is a clean and neat war of annihilation, not a fight for attrition. Do you understand? ”

"Totally understood. Rest assured, commander. Xiong Xun had already understood Wang Mingyuan's attitude, in order to deal with the Entente, Wang Mingyuan actually hoped to fight a few battles with the German army, but he was worried about the loss of troops, "Commander, the Germans' 11th Army is concentrated on the northern flank, and his 9th Army is concentrated on the southern flank. To the east of Kovelli to Sanel, there was a large swamp, which was not conducive to the movement of troops, and it was difficult for the Germans to intersperse and overtake our troops. I plan to block the German 11th Army with the 1st Army, transfer the 3rd Army to the southern front, and concentrate four armies waiting for an opportunity to counterattack the 9th Army on the southern route, according to the information we have, the 9th Army has only 3 corps and 9 divisions, while the 11th Army has 11 divisions and has railways to take advantage of, compared to the southern route, there are more opportunities......"

"I agree. But whether there is a chance or not depends on the attitude of the Germans. If they retreat, we will not be sorry for ourselves. Wang Mingyuan looked a little tired, "According to the president's latest instructions, the headquarters of the expeditionary force will be withdrawn to Kyiv, and the weapons handed over to us by the Germans will also be transported to Kyiv and handed over to Denikin." I go to Kyiv, you stay in Krosjian. Shi Dashou stays in Vinnitsa, the southern route is in charge of Shi Dashou, and the northern road is handed over to you. From now on, the 7th, 15th, and 16th armies will be assigned to the 2nd Army, and the 9th and 21st armies will be transferred to you. The 5th Army and the 11th Army are my general reserves, and on the north and south lines, where the fighters appear along the way, the general reserves will be thrown. ”

For the battle situation, Wang Mingyuan already has his own plans. The headquarters of the expeditionary forces and the headquarters of the two army groups on the front line are purely command organs, and even more so the headquarters of the expeditionary forces. Units are mixed back and forth in corps units, and each army is often assigned to different group army operations. I'm used to it. In particular, the 7th, 15th, and 16th armies on the southern flank were under the command of Shi Dashou for a longer time, and Wang Mingyuan was not worried about anything wrong with changing the command system before the battle. Korosjian was more than 200 kilometers away from Vinnitsa, and letting Xiong Xun coordinate the two battles actually replaced himself as commander-in-chief. And. There are also a few military forces in the rear to use. Some time ago, we were in fact in a state of armistice. It was appropriate to have Xiong Xun's 1st Army in charge of the front line, and Shi Dashou's 2nd Army as the general reserve, but now the situation has changed. The chain of command must be adjusted accordingly.

"Okay, I'll obey orders."

"Zhan Gong, you are already a general, you must learn to start from the overall situation." Wang Mingyuan understands Xiong Xun's psychology, "Our task is not to fight to the death with the Germans, we want to empty Ukraine's industrial facilities, and it is always bad to do it blatantly, and now that the Germans have killed me, it can be regarded as giving me a defensible reason." Your task now is to hold the Germans west of Korosjian before my orders are given, and to ensure that the road and rail from Vinnytsia to Kiev are in our hands. Under this premise, the actions of your army group are completely autonomous, and I will not interfere. However, the initiation of an army-level operation needs to be approved by me. ”

"Of course, rest assured, commander, that without your orders, not a single German rat will cross Korosten."

On January 19, the German 20th Army began its attack on Kovil. At noon, a division of the 20th Army made a detour from the northern flank of Kovelli in an attempt to cross the Corveli to cut off the eastern avenue, but was blocked by the 3rd Division of the 1st Army. In the afternoon, the main force of the 20th Army successfully broke through into the city, and fierce street battles broke out between the two armies in the urban area. The battle lasted until dark, and the Germans, who had suffered severe casualties, were driven out of the city.

The next day, another German corps rushed up and launched a roundabout outflank from the southern flank of Covelly, with the obvious purpose of trying to encircle Covelly. The 1st Division of the 3rd Army, deployed on the southern flank, stubbornly resisted for a whole day, and at dusk the main position was broken through, and the 1st Division suffered heavy losses, two battalion commanders were killed in battle, and one regiment commander was seriously wounded. After receiving Xiong Xun's order to abandon Kovelli, Major General Du Sanli took advantage of the dark night to withdraw from the headquarters and retreated in the direction of Sanel.

Du Sanli was very dissatisfied with the appearance of the 1st Division. Leaving the chief of staff to preside over the military headquarters, he rushed to the 1st Division to understand the situation and reorganize the troops. He knew that the current 1st Division was not the main force of the 1st Army, the original 1st Division had been transferred away, and the 11th Army was formed with it as the main body, and the current 1st Division was a new group later, and it seemed that the combat effectiveness was indeed inferior to the two teachers.

Du Sanli longs for victory and meritorious service. Wu Peifu was promoted to lieutenant general by virtue of his military exploits, and Yan Zòng stimulated him.

On the 19th, southwest of the city of Lviv on the southern flank, the 15th Army of the Chinese Army also exchanged fire with the forward troops of the German 9th Army. Two days later, Lviv was occupied by the Germans, and the German 9th Army broke through to Vinnitsa along the main road.

The secret agreement signed by Wang Mingyuan and Strauss in Lublin has in fact been torn up.

Colonel Vlasova, who had been following the actions of the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary forces, withdrew from the outskirts of Lublin to Korosjian. During this time, he sent three telegrams to the French Consulate in Moscow, reporting on the retreat of the Chinese. He could conclude that the Chinese and the Germans had reached some kind of agreement, and that the Chinese were systematically withdrawing eastward, but did not know where they would withdraw. Now Vlasova was excited, the Chinese and the Germans fought, and fierce battles broke out between the two armies. In Vlasova's opinion, there is no better news than this.

"I told you a long time ago that we are enemies and enemies with Germany!" Major Chen Hao's request to go to the front line to lead the troops was rejected by the commander-in-chief, and he was holding his breath in his heart, and scolded Durasova, "What are you going to see at the front line? See if we are really fighting the Germans? Aren't those wounded the best proof? ”

Of course, the best proof of this. Standing on the messy platform of the Korosjian railway station, Vlasova saw a large number of wounded being put on the military train. And the General Headquarters of the Chinese Army is also going to leave Korosjian with the car.

"Colonel, you don't have to doubt the combat effectiveness of our army, soon you will hear about the victory. Let's go, come with us to Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, where there are many things waiting for us to do. ”

"I don't doubt the strength of your army, but I don't understand why it's retreating! You know, you've retreated hundreds of kilometers. ”

"When it comes to strategy and tactics, the Chinese can be your teachers. Napoleon was the pride of France, but he was defeated by Kutuzov's retreat, and you should not forget about it. Chen Hao has taken over as the commander of the guard battalion of the General Headquarters, Wang Mingyuan has partially met his requirements to lead troops, he must now go to Kiev with the commander-in-chief, Wang Mingyuan reminded him that the French must also be taken away, "Let's go, get in the car." Ten minutes to drive away. Chen Hao glanced at his watch, looked up and saw that Wang Mingyuan had come to the platform accompanied by Xue Xiaocai, and hurriedly greeted him. (To be continued......)