"Okay, let's not talk about the Southern Expedition Army now. You all know that we are encountering difficulties in food now. Even if the Southern Expedition Army can provide us with some support, I'm afraid it will be difficult to sustain until next summer's harvest. I don't know. Is there any good way for us to overcome this difficulty?" Mailly waved his hand with some annoyance, interrupting Baron Ferdinand, the deputy commander of the Seventh Corps who was about to speak. He knew that the other party also wanted to do something for him. Nick explained, but he was no longer in the mood to talk about these unhelpful things. He just wanted to find a solution to the current problem. For a soldier, the biggest problem now is food. Behind him is his motherland. Now he has to rely on himself to solve food supplies. This sounds funny even to Maili himself, but that's how it is.
"Marshal, the wealthy households in Fanlin City and Jiama City should still have a lot of surplus food. If we can take some special measures, we should be able to gain something. In addition, although the Taixuan Mansion of the Tanghe people has also suffered from drought, But I heard that Li Wufeng had accumulated a large amount of grain at the beginning of the year, and also purchased grain continuously from the mainland. My subordinates suggested that we ask the Prime Minister to withdraw one or two regiments from the Southern Expeditionary Army. We can avoid it by going south from Jiayuguan. Where there are sufficient military forces in the western Xinjiang of Nanjieluo, they are raiding Taixuan, Yinchuan and even Guide and Qingyang. The target is food. Now hasn't Li Wufeng concentrated the main force of the army to the east? Since he can go deep into our occupied area to destroy Then we can do the opposite, follow the example of the Luobei people back then, and carry out a large-scale raid on the northwestern interior!" It is still the same Baron Ferdinand, with solemn eyes, resolute face, and firm and powerful words. Obviously, he is also the same. Very well prepared for this issue.
"Oh?" Ferdinand's words made Maili's eyes flash, and he could tell that he was moved by the other person's suggestion. This Ferdinand had not been under his command for long. He was originally a cavalry commander of the First Corps. He had just been promoted to the commander of the Seventh Corps and had not had much contact with Maili. But just these few words were enough. Let Maili realize that this guy is different from other deputies.
It is obviously not advisable to collect food from the wealthy households in Jiama and Fanlin City. Although this half-borrowed and half-levied food collection has attracted a lot of opposition, after all, it has not allowed these people to maintain a cooperative relationship with the occupying forces. The local gentry has fallen out with him. If he repeats his old tricks, I'm afraid things will really get out of hand. However, the other party's second proposal is quite new and deserves careful discussion. It is not difficult to go south from Jiayuguan to sweep Taixuan Mansion, but Taixuan is an important portal facing our side in the northwest and may be attacked by our side at any time. During the military raids at Jiayuguan, apart from some food for the people, there probably wasn't any big target worth paying attention to, especially big things like grain storage warehouses, but Yinchuan and Qingyang were different.
It is said that Xijiang and the Hesithro people have signed a good-neighborly and friendly treaty, and this time the Hessi Lu people also purchased a large amount of food at low prices from the West Xinjiang, making the Hesi Lu people suddenly have the most relaxed life among the Liberian countries. country, and the Puer people, because domestic agricultural production has been unstable, so they save a lot of food every year, and their lives must be easier than in their own country. Think about it, the most powerful and prosperous Kaman Empire suddenly became the most difficult. In this country, this kind of drastic change is really hard to accept.
Due to the improvement of relations with the Heathrow people, Yinchuan has become the most important port in Western Xinjiang for the Heathrow trade. Since the number of troops stationed in Nuremberg, the southern fortress of the Heathrow people, has dropped to the lowest level in history, it is almost undefended. As a goodwill In return, according to intelligence, the garrison of Yinchuan Prefecture is less than 10,000 people, and it is said that the grain purchased by the Xisluo people from Western Xinjiang should also be transported to Xisluo from Yinchuan Port. Such a large reserve granary, Yinchuan Prefecture seems to be in There is one near Fucheng. Maili doesn't know the specific situation, but he believes that his domestic intelligence department should have it. As for Qingyang, the core hinterland of Western Xinjiang, as the seat of the Western Xinjiang Protectorate and the key point connecting the Western Regions, Northern Luzon and the Tengger Grassland, and deep in the interior, this kind of grain reserve is definitely indispensable.
It's just that the distance between attacking these two places seems too far. The usually cautious Maili doesn't like this kind of risky action. Under normal circumstances, Maili would definitely ignore it, but now, However, Maili had to calm down and carefully consider the feasibility of this plan and the pros and cons.
Seeing the coach's move, Ferdinand's eyes flashed with excitement. This was an opportunity. He had struggled for six years from being a commander of thousands of cavalry to being a commander of ten thousand cavalry, and he had been struggling again from being a commander of ten thousand cavalry to being the deputy commander of a regiment. Five years and eleven years have allowed him to rise from a mid-level officer to a senior general. If he can seize this opportunity, perhaps the time it will take him to erase the title of deputy commander will be shortened a lot.
"Marshal, I have carefully analyzed Li Wufeng's arrangements in the northwest. Now due to the change of the West Luo people and the decline of the nomads on the Tengger Grassland, Yinchuan and Qingyang are actually under the so-called Western Xinjiang Protectorate controlled by Li Wufeng. In the safe zone, the shrinking number of troops stationed in the southern part of the Hesi Luo people is actually no longer able to pose any threat to Yinchuan. Therefore, Li Wufeng is indeed qualified to transfer the main force eastward, but he ignored an important factor, that is, going south from Jiayuguan, we The cavalry can advance westward along the southern foothills of the Hindu Kush Mountains and penetrate into Yinchuan. Although this distance is not short, it is flat and has neither mountains nor major confluences, which is extremely beneficial to cavalry operations, and this area is basically There are not many obstacles and market towns. We can use the mobility of night marches and cavalry to rush into Yinchuan Prefecture overnight and catch them by surprise!"
"Oh? You want to capture Yinchuan Mansion? If it were just our cavalry, I'm afraid it would be difficult for us to capture Yinchuan Mansion with only 10,000 defensive troops." Maili seemed to understand the other party's intention, but he did not point it out.
"No, we don't need to capture Yinchuan. Our goal is the grain storage depots in Yinchuan Prefecture and Qingyang Prefecture. Qingyang Prefecture is the seat of the Western Xinjiang Protectorate. There should be more than one division of troops stationed there. But if we can dispatch 30,000 to 50,000 cavalry, we can completely blockade the defenders in Qingyang and Yinchuan, forcing them to be unable to fight. And now the Western Xinjiang Army that is closest to Qingyang and Yinchuan and can arrive in time should be The 2nd and 4th Cavalry Regiments stationed in Ulanji on the Tengger Grassland, and although they are closer to other places, they lack sufficient mobility. The 2nd and 4th Cavalry Regiments received information from them and then accepted it. The order is given to set off. If we finally arrive in Qingyang, it is estimated that it will be impossible to arrive in less than a week, and one week is enough for us to do a lot of things." He had already stood in front of the screen wall in the lobby and opened the curtain with one hand. Ferdinand was in high spirits. , while pointing at various targets on the map, while explaining endlessly.
"Well, that's interesting, but have you considered what if the enemy's rangers and cavalry troops abandon their operations in Yulin, Qinghe and Pinglu and return westward for reinforcements?" Mailly already recognized the other party's intention deep in his heart, although There are still many things that need to be considered, but at least the fact that the other party has proposed a brand new attack strategy is worthy of recognition, but he does not show any sign of approval in his language.
"This•;•;•;•;•;•;" I was speechless for a moment, and the deputy commander of the Seventh Corps obviously did not consider this issue.
"Let's take a look. From Nanjieluoke to Qingyang via Guide, there are all flat and unobstructed wilderness plains. Even if the enemy's rangers are operating in Yulin and Qinghe, once they get the news, they will return with all their strength. It will take at most three days to return to Qingyang. What is our purpose of going south to Yinchuan and Qingyang this time? It is not to burn and kill and then give up, but to seize the other party's food and transport this batch of food. Returning to our control area, from Qingyang and Yinchuan to Jiayuguan, even if there is no obstruction or delay, it will take at least more than five days. As long as the enemy's cavalry arrives, we have no chance. How can we send this batch of food back? This is still based on our ability to successfully seize the other party's food." Maili also slowly came to the map, pointed his finger from Qinghe to Qingyang, and then pointed from Qingyang to Jiayuguan, pointing calmly.
The officers who were originally excited by Ferdinand's insights suddenly stopped talking. The marshal was right. The purpose of going south this time was to seize food, not to fight. This strategic intention was not realized. No matter how beautifully you fight and how many enemies you kill, your side business will be prosperous and your main business will be depleted, and you will still end up hungry in the end.
Ferdinand's arrogant aura was also shaken by the coach's words. His eyes were fixed on the map under his furrowed brows, and he rubbed his hands vigorously under his nose, as if to remove the tissue from above his lips. Some ideas emerged from the stubble of his beard. Mailly withdrew his gaze from the map and looked at the deputy commander with great interest. He wanted to see if Baron Ferdinand could break out of this box and find a better way.
Ferdinand's eyes were fixed on the map, but his mind was racing rapidly. He had indeed neglected the Western Xinjiang cavalry who were having a great time in Yulin, Qinghe and Pinglu. According to what the coach had imagined, his expectations were indeed a bit too high. Be optimistic. Once the war begins, many unpredictable surprises may occur. As a coach, it is impossible not to think carefully. But the hint of approval in the coach's eyes did not escape the observant Ferdinand. The coach seemed to be still questioning himself, but where is the way to resolve this problem