Chapter 1173 The Rapidly Expanding Size of the Army

Gu Chengyuan's words echoed in the silent conference hall, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples in the hearts of everyone present.

A brief silence...

............

This silence was not opposition, but rather a reflection of the shock brought about by the enormous issue, and the rapid weighing and calculation in everyone's mind.

The first to break the silence was Wei Jingfang, commander of the Western Theater Command.

He cleared his throat, placed his hands clasped on the table, and looked steadily at Gu Chengyuan, his tone carrying a cautious support:

"Commander Gu's proposal is visionary!"

"In this apocalyptic world, fighting alone is not a long-term solution. Integrating our strengths and uniting as one is the only way to cope with the current crisis and plan for the future!"

"On behalf of the Western Theater Command, I support in principle the establishment of such a committee!"

He then subtly shifted his tone, seemingly casually, but in fact raising the core concerns of the Western Theater Command:

"However, the committee's organizational structure, division of responsibilities, and especially the coordination mechanism for resource allocation and military operations need to be clarified."

"Our western defense line is long and our forces are numerous, but we lack heavy equipment and high-tech weapons. When facing large-scale, high-intensity mutant attacks, we are often stretched thin."

"In this regard, we hope that after the committee is established, it will give priority to establishing an efficient and fair channel for equipment and technical support to ensure the solid defense of each strategic direction."

Wei Jingfang's words were impeccable, expressing support while also highlighting the "shortcomings" and demands of the Western Theater Command.

They need equipment and technology to bolster their vast but relatively “empty” defenses.

With the Western Theater Commander taking the lead, the other parties no longer held back or remained polite...

The establishment of the Military Commission is now almost a done deal; anyone who opposes it will be excluded and then crushed and bullied by this new group...

So, ostensibly a meeting to discuss matters, but in reality, it's an announcement of the establishment of the organization. Everyone here knows this perfectly well. So instead of engaging in pointless chatter, let's take this opportunity to say something that's usually difficult to discuss...

It feels like a child taking advantage of their parents' happiness to quickly make a request they wouldn't normally dare to ask for—like a large Ultraman or Barbie toy...

So Wu Xianglin, commander of the Southern Theater Command, quickly spoke up. His voice was loud and clear, carrying the straightforwardness characteristic of a soldier, but also containing shrewd calculations:

"Old Wei is right! I, Wu Xianglin, wholeheartedly support the establishment of this committee!"

"I wouldn't presume to say that our Southern Theater Command is completely different, but we still have some resources. Several key arsenals are still operating, and we've retained a considerable number of skilled workers and technicians. As long as the supply of raw materials and energy keeps up, restoring or even expanding production capacity shouldn't be a problem!"

He first showcased the South's strength and value, then shifted his focus to his own predicament:

"But right now, our biggest problem is that our living space is being severely squeezed!"

"Zombies, mutated beasts, and those endless, overwhelming sea monsters have left us besieged on all sides, greatly disrupting our production order. Raw materials and equipment are difficult to allocate, which affects production."

"Once the committee is established, we hope it can make overall plans and assist our Southern Theater Command in opening up external channels and recapturing key resource points!"

"With a stable supply of resources, our southern arsenals will become the committee's most solid equipment depot!"

...

Listening to the empty promises made by Wu Xianglin, commander of the Southern Theater Command, even Gu Chengyuan, who had anticipated this beforehand, couldn't help but twitch his lips at the shamelessness of the other party's words...

'The committee's most solid arsenal'?

These words might have been acceptable before the apocalypse, but what about now?

Given the density of the zombie hordes and sea monster hordes in the Southern Theater Command, and the army's ability to conduct assaults...

Most importantly, the Southern Theater Command has only secured a few raw material production sites so far. Having some machinery is like a skilled cook trying to make a meal without ingredients...

It is foreseeable that even with the full support of the Central Plains Theater Command, it will take at least 2-3 years for the Southern Theater Command to become self-sufficient.

Even with the system's cheat-like advantages, allowing the Central Plains Theater to sweep through a series of industrial zones, achieving self-sufficiency in military production remains a long way off... Currently, the logistical support for large-scale operations still relies on Gu Chengyuan's wealth to make his son, the "system prince," work tirelessly...

Of course, this is partly due to the rapid expansion of the Central Plains Theater Command. Currently, its main combat force is approaching 60. Adding in semi-military units such as militia, construction corps, and construction divisions, it's not impossible for the force to exceed 80, or even reach a million...

其中60万的主战兵力里，第1和第2两个集团军加起来就接近10万，再加上歼16、轰20、运20三个航空兵旅、火箭军等等，光系统军队就接近11万...

Then there's the Yezhou Infantry Brigade, which has been continuously expanding for a long time. Its current strength has increased to 20, meaning 20 standard 5000-strong infantry brigades, plus 5 new recruit training brigades of 5000 each, maintained on a regular basis as reserve forces...

The total strength of the Yezhou Infantry Brigade is approximately 13.

There are also the Yezhou and Yucheng Internal Security Corps, which serve as the backbone of security and stability maintenance in various gathering areas under the war zone. The Yezhou Internal Security Corps has a total strength of about 3 people, and the Yucheng Internal Security Corps has a total strength of 1 people.

Combined, the total strength of the internal security forces is approximately 4.

There is also the 77th Army Corps. It is difficult to quantify how well its combat capabilities have recovered since it was incorporated into the theater. However, in terms of manpower, as a model unit that was transferred to the theater, the theater has reorganized and replenished it to full strength according to the standards of a Class A group army!

With a total strength of approximately 7.2 troops, it is undoubtedly the number one army in the entire Central Plains Theater in terms of troop strength alone!

Subordinate to:

Mechanized infantry divisions x2:

It has 1.2 personnel and is composed of several armored/mechanized infantry regiments, artillery regiments, and air defense regiments.

Armored Division X2:

Similar in size to a mechanized infantry division, it numbered around 1, primarily consisting of tanks and armored vehicles.

Artillery Brigade X1:

It provides operational-level fire support and is equipped with howitzers, rocket launchers, anti-tank missiles, and tactical missiles. The force numbers 5000.

Air Defense Brigade X1:

It is responsible for field air defense within the army group's operational area and is equipped with anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft missiles. It has approximately 3000 personnel.

Army Aviation Brigade X1:

Provides air mobility and fire support, equipped with helicopters and drones. This is a technology-intensive branch of service, numbering 1000.

Special Operations Brigade X1:

2000 people are tasked with carrying out special missions such as reconnaissance, sabotage, and decapitation strikes.

Engineer Brigade X1:

They were responsible for tasks such as building bridges, paving roads, clearing mines, and constructing fortifications, with a workforce of approximately 2000.

Communications Group X1:

To ensure smooth communication throughout the military. Approximately 1500 personnel.

Electronic Warfare Team X1:

Responsible for electronic reconnaissance, jamming, and defense. Approximately 1000 personnel.

Chemical Defense Regiment X1:

Responsible for nuclear, biological, and chemical reconnaissance and decontamination. Approximately 1000 personnel.

Logistics Support Brigade X1:

Responsible for the supply and transportation of ammunition, fuel, food, and other supplies. Number of personnel: 3000.

Equipment Support Brigade X1:

Responsible for the repair and maintenance of weapons and equipment. Approximately 2000 personnel.

Of course, the above only covers the staffing; a large amount of equipment is still lacking...

Then there's the railway corps of the theater command. As the latest-established but fastest-expanding force, after several rounds of expansion, the size of the railway corps with official personnel has now exceeded 10. As for the hidden, unorganized size, it's difficult to estimate.

Finally, there's the Yezhou Special Operations Force, which numbered over 3 even before the Battle of Yucheng began. While the Battle of Yucheng resulted in significant casualties, it also led to substantial expansion...

Chongqing, a city with a population of over 3000 million, is so prone to even minor distortions that its population could easily exceed that of special operations forces by several times...

Therefore, considering everything, the total troop strength of the Central Plains Theater has expanded in recent months in such a dramatic way that it can no longer be described as a snowball effect; it has increased exponentially...