Chapter 2376

The Soviet troops who launched an attack on the Kwantung Army's positions probably never dreamed that weeds half as tall as a man could actually become the enemy's accomplice, causing huge confusion in their attack. In addition to the anti-tank fighters hidden in the grass and pits, there were also many infantry mines and anti-tank mines, which caused great trouble to the attacking troops. As the battle continued into the evening, the troops that had made rapid progress in the previous two days had only advanced about ten kilometers.

When Sokov saw such a battle report, he couldn't help but frowned. If we advance at this speed, when will we be able to join the troops of the First Far East Front coming from the east?

Lu Jin saw Sokov frowning and comforted him: "Misha, there are many reasons why we were able to advance quickly in the early stages of the campaign. For example, the Kwantung Army did not expect that we would attack on August 8. They launched an attack on them in May, and we were caught off guard. Secondly, their troops deployed on the border were limited. Facing our powerful offensive, they simply did not have enough strength to resist. Now as we penetrate deeper into the hinterland of the Far East, The Kwantung Army gradually woke up from the chaos, and in addition they gave up large areas, the troops that originally defended these areas shrank to new defensive areas, which hindered our attack."

"Yes, Misha, Comrade Deputy Commander is right." Yakov continued: "You must still remember that after the victory in the defense of Stalingrad, our army used the Voronezh Front Army and the Southwest Front Army near the Dnieper River. The Third Battle of Kharkov was launched. In the early days of the battle, our army also made rapid progress and regained a large area of ​​​​land from the Germans. However, as time went by, our front line became longer and longer, and our logistics supplies It became difficult; as for the Germans, because they shrank their troops, shortened their supply lines, and formed a local advantage over us. When the time came, Manstein organized his troops to launch a comprehensive counterattack, which led to our victory. It was reduced to nothing in just a few days.”

Military Commissar Gorokhov, who has become almost transparent recently, suddenly showed a panicked expression on his face when he heard what Yakov said. He approached Sokov and asked: "Comrade Commander, our Far Eastern campaign is not going to happen." Will it be like the Battle of Kharkov two years ago, where we will win first and then lose?"

Sokov laughed after hearing this, and then said: "Comrade Military Commissar, you are worrying too much. Although today's progress is not ideal, it does not mean that the Kwantung Army can win the battle. After all, compared with the Germans, they have In terms of technical equipment and the quality of the soldiers, they are not even close to each other."

"But as far as I know," Gorokhov continued, "the Kwantung Army is the most elite force in the island country. Although their performance on the battlefield these days has been very embarrassing, once they have calmed down, they will fully devote themselves to it. If we launch a counterattack, I am afraid that the situation on the battlefield will develop in a direction that is not conducive to our army."

"Comrade Military Commissar, you are right about one thing. The Kwantung Army is indeed the most elite force of the island country." Sokov looked at Gorokhov and said: "But this happened 42 years ago. With the development of the Pacific War, When the outbreak broke out, the elites of the Kwantung Army were transferred to the Pacific to fight with the US military. The Kwantung Army now in the Northeast is just a third-rate force composed of the old, weak, sick and disabled. Even if they can cause us temporary trouble, in the end They will definitely be completely defeated by us.”

"Then this time must be very long." Gorokhov asked tentatively: "If we want to achieve the final victory in the Far East Campaign, I think it will take at least about half a year."

"Comrade Military Commissar, you really think too highly of the Kwantung Army." Sokov said with a sneer: "After the U.S. military launched a major counterattack in the Pacific, I think someone at the top of the island country realized that if they continued to fight, they would definitely fail, so they considered How to end this war with dignity. The two super bombs dropped by the United States and the attack launched by our millions of troops gave these people a reason to cease the war and surrender. Let alone half a year, I don’t think it will even take half a month. The island country will declare its surrender."

Regarding Sokov's statement, not only Gorokhov did not believe it, but even Yakov and Lukin, who had a good relationship with him, found it unbelievable. However, because they were concerned about his face, they did not put forward any rebuttal. . Gorokhov obviously did not realize this, and still asked Yakov and Lukin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, Comrade Deputy Commander, do you agree with the commander's statement?"

Yakov did not answer. He looked up at the mottled ceiling and the spider web in the corner, wondering if some unlucky flying insect would crash into the web and be eaten by a spider in a predatory state. . Lukin smiled at Gorokhov and said: "Comrade Military Commissar, it has been a week since the battle started. Whether it can be ended within half a month, we can wait patiently for the final result."

As soon as Lu Jin finished speaking, the phone on the table rang. Yakov, who was sitting at the table watching spiders preying on the corner of the ceiling, grabbed the microphone, put it to his ear and said: "I am Major General Yakov, Chief of Staff, who are you?"

 After listening for a moment, the expression on Yakov's face changed. First he was shocked, then surprised. He asked into the microphone: "General Zaharov, is everything you said true?"

Based on the change in the expression on Yakov's face, Sokov guessed that something big must have happened, and quickly asked him: "Yasha, what happened? What did Comrade Chief of Staff of the Front Army tell you?"

Yakov didn't even have time to cover the microphone, and said excitedly to Sokov and others: "Misha, good news, good news! General Zakharov told me that they just received a message from comrades from the Supreme Command, the island country Tianhuang on the other side read out the "End War Edict" on the radio..."

“The End of War Edict?” After Gorokhov repeated this complicated word, he asked in confusion: “What does it mean?”

"Idiot!" Seeing Gorokhov's confused look, Yakov couldn't help laughing and scolding: "The so-called "End War Decree" is the island country's term. If it is put into a language we can understand, it is a surrender decree. . Do you understand, my comrade chief of staff? The islanders found that they could not defeat us, and their Tianhuang announced their true surrender."

Gorokhov was stunned at first, and then turned his attention to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, it seems that your judgment is correct. You said that the Kwantung Army cannot last for half a month, but they really have not lasted for half a month. In the past month, their Tianhuang has announced its surrender, which is simply unbelievable."

At Gorokhov's flattery, Sokov just smiled faintly, and then said to Yakov: "Yasha, ask the chief of staff of the front army, what should we do next?"

After Yakov and Zaharov chatted for a while, he put down the phone and reported to Sokov: "General Zakharov said that since Tianhuang of the island country has ordered to surrender, our attack can be suspended and wait for the Kwantung Army to surrender. Arms surrender to us.”

Gorokhov interjected and asked: "Since the island country Tianhuang has announced its surrender, I believe that the Kwantung Army will cease all hostilities with us after learning this news. I think it is completely necessary for the troops to temporarily terminate the attack."

After Yakov waited for Gorokhov to finish speaking, he glanced at him, and then turned his attention to Sokov: "Misha, will the airborne plan we made in advance be cancelled?"

As a person from later generations, Sokov naturally knew very well that there were huge differences among the island countries on whether to surrender. Before Tianhuang's "End War Edict" was broadcast on the radio, the commander of the 1st Guards Division Tsuyoshi Mori was killed by the leader, Major Tanaka, because he opposed the Young Boys' rebellion; Army Minister Anami Yuki committed suicide after hearing about the mutiny; Cabinet Prime Minister Kantaro Suzuki learned about the rebellion of the Guards Division and fled in panic He took over his official residence to avoid the fate of being killed by random gunfire. "No!" Sokov said firmly: "The airborne plan remains as usual. Yasha, please inform General Ye Liaoming that his troops will carry out the airborne landing the day after tomorrow, that is, August 17, according to our original plan. Combat mission.”

“But the island country Tianhuang has issued an edict for the Kwantung Army to surrender to us.” Yakov reminded Sokov: “Yasha, I’m afraid it’s not appropriate for us to do this, right?”

"There is nothing inappropriate." Sokov said forcefully: "As long as the enemy does not completely lay down his weapons, our battle cannot stop. I remember that during a battle last year, someone once asked Marshal Zhukov: We are besieged What should we do if our enemy refuses to surrender?

Marshal Zhukov replied without hesitation: If the enemy does not surrender, we will destroy them. "

After scanning everyone one by one, Sokov continued: "Although Tianhuang of the island country has issued a surrender edict, it is still unknown whether the Kwantung Army fighting us will implement this edict. If we think that The enemy will take the initiative to lay down their weapons and surrender to us, and stop attacking them, which may give them a chance to breathe. If they take advantage of our unpreparedness and suddenly launch a counterattack against us, we will suffer a big loss. .”

After listening to Sokov's words, Gorokhov wanted to find someone to echo his statement. He first looked at Yakov, and thinking that Sokov and Yakov were so close that they wore the same pants, it was obvious that they would not speak for him, so he turned his eyes to Lukin: "Comrade Deputy Commander, you What do you think?"

"I agree with Misha." Lu Jin looked at Gorokhov and said slowly: "Although Tianhuang of the island country issued the "End War Edict," what will happen to the Kwantung Army who are fighting us? The reaction is still unknown. We cannot risk the lives of our commanders and soldiers, so it is completely necessary to continue fighting the enemy."

Seeing that Lukin did not support him, Gorokhov asked with some disappointment: "Do we need to report our decision to the front army headquarters?"

"There is no need." Sokov shook his head and said: "We are fighting in the area designated by the front army headquarters. Whether to temporarily cease the war or continue to fight, I have the absolute right to say." He said this At that time, I still wished that the Kwantung Army would not surrender, so that I could legitimately eliminate more little Japs.

Hearing that Sokov was unwilling to report the next battle plan to the front army headquarters, Gorokhov had nothing to say. After all, the surrender order from the island country Tianhuang came too suddenly, disrupting everyone's plans. But he asked reluctantly: "Then we contact the friendly forces on the left and right wings and listen to the opinions of those commanders. Is this okay?"

“That’s possible.” Sokov nodded in agreement with Gorokhov’s proposal, and then began to think about who to call first.

Before Sokov could think of a suitable candidate, the high-frequency phone on the table rang again. Sokov grabbed the phone and put it to his ear, and soon heard Lyudnikov's voice coming from the receiver. "Misha, it's me, I'm Lyudnikov."

 “Hello, Ivan, what’s the matter?”

“Have you received a call from the Front Army Headquarters?”

As soon as Sokov heard this, he knew what Lyudnikov was going to say next, and quickly asked: "Ivan, are you talking about the surrender of the island country Tianhuang?"

"Yes, that's it." After Lyudnikov confirmed Sokov's guess, he asked in a questioning tone: "Misha, what do you think we should do next? Order the troops to stop attacking. Should we wait for the Kwantung Army to surrender to us, or should we continue to attack according to the original plan?"

“Needless to say, of course we will continue the attack.” Sokov replied without thinking.

 “Why?” Lyudnikov asked the question in his mind.

"The reason is very simple," Sokov explained: "The army of the island country has always had the tradition of conquering the superior. Even if their leader Tianhuang issued a surrender edict, there are still many officers and soldiers who are unwilling to obey the order. If we stop rashly The attack is just a plan to give them a breathing space. Maybe one day they will take advantage of our lax alert to launch a counterattack by surprise, and we will suffer big losses. So I have told my chief of staff After that, let all troops continue to fight according to the original plan. As long as the enemy does not lay down his arms and surrender for one day, our battle will not stop."

"I understand, Misha." After listening to Sokov's words, Lyudnikov said excitedly: "I was still worried. The troops were making good progress, but suddenly such news came, which made me a little confused. I'm at a loss. Since you said you want to continue the attack, I will listen to you and arrange the troops to continue advancing deeper into the enemy's defenses. If anyone dares to resist, I will completely eliminate them."

After Sokov put down the phone, he smiled and said to Gorokhov: "Comrade Military Commissar, you have heard it. Not to mention that I am not willing to stop the attack. Even General Lyudnikov is not willing to stop the attack at this last moment." At the critical moment, we must stop attacking the enemy. Therefore, not only must our troops continue to attack the enemy, but at the same time, the airborne operations two days later must also be carried out according to the original plan."

 (End of this chapter)