Chapter 945 Suspicion

“Since it is difficult to reach a resolution at this stage of discussion, I suggest that the issue be shelved for the time being.”

Following the eye signal from Commander, Admiral Wei Jingfang, Deputy Commander, Lieutenant General Zhou Yifeng, who is in charge of joint logistics support, spoke calmly.

"The overall strategic situation in the theater is currently stable, and there is no need to rush into making decisions. We can continue to engage in negotiations and gradually seek a turnaround. What do you think, comrades?"

Before Zhou Yifeng finished speaking, Commander Wei Jingfang quickly took over the conversation and set the tone for the matter:

"Comrade Yifeng's opinion is in line with reality! This matter involves the overall situation and is sensitive and complicated. A hasty decision can easily trigger a chain reaction and lead to strategic passivity!"

Then, he turned to the director of the Political Department, his eyes were sharp: "Comrade Shouzheng, the subsequent negotiations and coordination on the construction of the Corps will be fully followed up by your department. The core requirement is: we must explore a solution that takes into account the core concerns of both sides!"

Wei Jingfang slammed his finger on the table, his voice as loud as stone: "The political bottom line must not be crossed - the compensation plan can be flexible, but it must not damage the foundation of the troops' fighting will!"

Seeing the deputy commander and the commander express their opinions one after another, the leaders of the war zone present naturally understood what they meant.

Therefore, Lieutenant General Zhang Shouzheng, Director of the Political Department, quickly suppressed his thoughts, stood up suddenly, and said in a deep voice:

"Resolutely implement the leader's instructions! The Political Work Department will ensure that the task is completed!"

..

As the meeting came to a temporary end, the war zone generals who had been in continuous high-intensity meetings relaxed a little, leaned back in their chairs, and sipped the warm tea in front of them.

Just at this moment, a colonel who had been sitting quietly in the corner for a long time stood up solemnly - this action instantly attracted the attention of the entire audience.

Commander Wei Jingfang and other members of the theater standing committee did not make any comments, but the theater chief of staff, Lieutenant General Dong Ping, asked in a deep voice: "Director Chen, what is the urgent military situation?"

"Report to the commander and all the leaders!" The colonel straightened his back and said in a tense voice:

"I have been ordered to report on the progress of the Lan City Campaign. Half an hour ago, I received an urgent telegram from the 76th Corps, saying that its 76th Armored Division and 76th Mechanized Infantry Division have completed the blockade of the entire perimeter of Lan City, and the first phase of the combat objectives have been achieved!"

After the words were spoken, there were only a few nods in the conference room. Obviously, this result was expected.

As the only fully-organized mechanized corps in the theater of operations, the 76th Corps is far from being comparable to the border defense corps in terms of combat effectiveness. The so-called "first phase mission" is nothing more than clearing out scattered resistance strongholds around Lan City, and the combat intensity is not even as strong as that of actual troop exercises.

At this moment, the theater commander, Admiral Wei Jingfang, who was sitting in the main seat, rubbed the rim of the cup with his fingertips, anger visible in his eyes.

"Damn it! Nearly 4 mechanized elite troops spent ten days to only capture the surrounding villages and towns? Using cannons to kill mosquitoes is so slow?"

This made Wei Jingfang wonder whether the 76th Corps was deliberately slowing down the pace of the attack in order to stockpile combat supplies that would be continuously supported by the war zone.

You know, in order to fight Lan City, the entire Western Theater has to tighten its belt, and it's no joke.

It took nearly two months for the pre-war preparations alone, and tens of thousands of tons of combat supplies were collected and shipped to Lan City. Since the battle to retake Lan City officially started ten days ago, the average daily supply of thousands of tons of supplies has continued to be transported to the 76th Legion!

If you count carefully, it took the 76th Corps 10 days to remove some minor scraps on the front line, while the war zone has already invested more than 2 tons of combat supplies!

You have to know that the Northwest region is not comparable to the eastern coastal area where he was previously located. There are not only few factories but also few people. There is a shortage of industrial equipment and labor.

This resulted in the Western Theater Command spending nearly half a year and plundering all the military resources it could in the entire Ning Province before it was able to barely integrate a small military production system in Xihai Town, the current theater headquarters.

In terms of production capacity, it is not even as good as any large machinery factory in the eastern coastal areas...

At the same time, there are also severe restrictions on energy and materials. The iron ore comes from the Qilian Mountains and the saltpeter comes from Qarhan. In the end times, both mining and transportation are quite troublesome!

直至今日，整个西方战区最大的军工生产基地——西海镇军工生产基地，产能仅能做到日产子弹5万发、67式手榴弹300枚、硝酸铵炸药0.8吨、土制燃烧瓶 1000个.....

In a nutshell, the production capacity is very low!

Therefore, the current supply of combat materials to the 76th Army to recapture Lan City is entirely from the old capital, which was opened by the Western Theater Command in a large number of war reserve depots in the area...

Although these war reserve depots store a huge amount of weapons, equipment and combat supplies, they only take out more than they take in. Who knows when it will take to achieve a balance between income and expenditure?

If this continues, wouldn't the 76th Corps be fattened up and the war zone be starved?

So thinking like this, how could Wei Jingfang, as the commander of the theater, not be angry? !

The 76th Legion is considering Dalan City as its iron rice bowl, right?

At this moment, the faces of the leaders of other war zones were also solemn. The satellite towns marked with red circles on the battle map seemed to have turned into silent mockery.

.....A depressing silence spread in the conference room; even the sound of drinking water suddenly disappeared.

Finally, just when Director Chen, who was reporting the results of the battle, was at a loss, Lieutenant General Dong Ping, the chief of staff of the theater, broke the deadlock:

"I have received the battle report. Although the battle rhythm is not ideal, the established goal has been achieved..." He briefly paused and proposed a contingency plan:

"Issuing the theater commendation order according to the regulations is the key to stabilizing the morale of the troops. Please review it with the commander and other comrades."

As soon as the words fell, all eyes focused on the main seat. Wei Jingfang tapped the table unconsciously several times with his knuckles, and finally nodded: "Okay."

In the current situation, no matter how angry he was, he had to tolerate this tepid pace of advancement. At least before finding the missing 77th Legion, the entire Western Theater could not afford the shock that this only main force legion might bring.

However, this incident also sounded a warning to him. If the 76th Army was deliberately delaying the pace of the attack and hoarding supplies, then he must be highly vigilant!

If they were allowed to use the massive resources poured into the war zone to form a de facto separatist regime in Lanzhou, the largest industrial center in Gansu Province, they would be losing both the wife and the army, and would be in big trouble!

So checks and balances must be imposed!

And right now, there is a perfect excuse. Thinking of this, the theater commander, Admiral Wei Jingfang, suddenly spoke in an unusually calm tone:

"Lanzhou is the capital of Gansu Province after all. Before the end of the world, its population exceeded 76 million. It is an objective fact that it is difficult to attack. The th Corps suffered heavy losses in the end of the world and was rebuilt not long ago. It is not easy to have the current progress."

???

As soon as these words were spoken, all the war zone leaders in the conference room were stunned.

Although the commander never said it explicitly, anyone who was not a fool could sense his dissatisfaction with the 76th Legion.

What happened today? The sun rose from the west? ? He actually... spoke up to defend her? ?