Chapter 2345:

 Before Faqiushen's troops could launch an attack, someone had already jumped in front of them. General Kravchenko's 6th Guards Tank Corps had already gotten ahead of them and launched an attack on the enemy on the opposite side.

The heavy troops originally deployed here had just received an order from Yoshio Hongo to reinforce the two wings. Before they could set off, Harem Jun's new order arrived, asking them to abandon their existing positions and use alternate cover to attack several troops. Cities hundreds of kilometers away retreated.

The Japanese soldiers who received the order to retreat, although they were unwilling to do so, had to obey the order, boarded the transportation vehicles that had been sent to them in the first two days, and retreated in the designated direction.

As the Japs were retreating, the vanguard of General Kravchenko's 6th Guards Tank Corps arrived.

 The first offensive task was Lieutenant General Volkov's 9th Guards Mechanized Army. This army was equipped with a large number of Sherman tanks and could be regarded as a beautiful ordnance unit of the Soviet army. Although many people complained that the Sherman tank had weak armor and was easily penetrated and caught fire and exploded. But for the Kwantung Army, which lacks sufficient anti-tank forces, this armored force is still not something they can resist. The 37mm anti-tank guns equipped in large numbers by the Japanese can only penetrate 30mm of tank armor at a distance of 350 meters. The armor thickness of the Sherman tank is 63.5mm with a 47-degree sloped armor. Even the German No. 4 The tank also needs to be within a range of 800 meters to effectively penetrate it.

Facing the influx of Sherman tanks, more than a dozen anti-tank guns on the Japanese position fired continuously, but even if the shells hit the tank's armor by chance, they would either ricochet or fail to penetrate the armor at all. However, these artillery pieces were replaced by 76.2mm Sherman tanks, which could destroy the Japanese anti-tank positions with one shot.

 In less than five minutes, the Sherman tank group successfully broke through the Japanese defense lines and moved in depth towards their defenses.

Faqiushen learned that the Guards Mechanized Corps, which belonged to the Tank Group Army, had broken through the enemy's defense line and was developing in depth. He immediately issued orders to his subordinate regiments to attack the Japanese positions as quickly as possible. He wanted to compete with friendly forces to see who could advance faster.

 In normal times, his reckless behavior may cause the troops to pay huge casualties. But now the Japs have received the order to retreat, and coupled with the attack of the Guards Mechanized Corps on the flanks, a large number of Japs have been restrained, leaving the 233rd Infantry Division with very few enemy forces in front. So much so that when the artillery had just blasted through, when the infantry rushed up, they found that there were almost no living people on the position. After repeated inspections, only a few wounded soldiers with bleeding from their mouths and noses were found.

The Soviet commanders and fighters were all veterans of the battlefield. Seeing the conduct of the Japanese soldiers, they knew that it was hopeless and there was no need to waste their precious medicines. They pushed these wounded Japanese soldiers into the trench, and then threw a stringed grenade into them to relieve their pain and send them back to the island country's sacred toilet as soon as possible.

When Faqiushen arrived with the main force of the division, he found that only one company of the vanguard regiment was left on the Japanese position, and the remaining troops had already rushed towards the depth of the Japanese defense.

Faqiushen contacted the leader of the vanguard group through the radio and said displeasedly: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, what's wrong with you? You attacked half an hour earlier than us, and now you can't even see your shadow."

"Comrade division commander." The head of the vanguard regiment said excitedly: "I really didn't expect that the Kwantung Army was so vulnerable that it could almost be described as collapse at the first touch. Our regiment has not encountered any decent resistance at all from the beginning of the attack to now. Originally, I still want to stay on the position and wait for your arrival, but I heard that the mechanized army on the flank has advanced more than ten kilometers. I feel that I can't wait any longer. If we continue to stand still, the distance between us and the friendly forces will become wider. Come bigger.”

"You did the right thing, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." After praising his subordinates, Faqiushen continued: "We will be responsible for protecting the security of the left and right wings and the rear, so you don't have to worry. What you have to do now The thing is to continue to lead the troops forward, run as fast as you can, and never be dragged down too far by friendly forces. Do you understand?"

“I understand, comrade division commander.” The head of the regiment said enthusiastically, “I will never embarrass you.”

After ending the call with the head of the vanguard regiment, Faqiushen contacted Army Commander Chumakov via the radio: "Comrade Commander, I have good news to report to you. The 233rd Infantry Division has successfully broken through Kantō. The army’s defense line is advancing deep into their defenses.”

"Well done, Colonel Fatyushin." Chumakov said approvingly: "Your division's performance at the beginning was very good, but you can't be proud. I heard that the friendly forces on your flank have advanced ten meters deep into the enemy's defenses. It’s only a few kilometers away, so you have to speed up and don’t be left far behind by them.”

"Comrade Commander, please rest assured on this." Faqiushen said confidently: "I have given orders to all commanders and fighters in the division, saying that the enemy has been defeated by us, and everyone must rush forward as quickly as possible. If the friendly forces are allowed to take the lead, they will not even be able to drink the soup. At this moment, the morale of the soldiers is high, and they rush towards the enemy's position like a whirlwind."

Faqiushen’s idea is good, but he forgot that mechanized armies are all mechanized troops. In addition to trucks and motorcycles, soldiers can also charge forward in tanks. The commanders and fighters of the infantry army walked on two legs, and they were definitely not comparable to these mechanized troops. The gap between the two soon widened.

Seeing that his troops were lagging behind, Faqiushen couldn't help but become anxious. He personally came to the vanguard regiment, found the regiment leader and asked loudly: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, what's going on with your troops? The battle has been going on for several hours. The troops have only advanced about ten kilometers? If you take a look at the leading troops of the 6th Guards Tank Army, you will have been completely wiped out."

"I'm sorry, comrade division commander." The regiment leader quickly admitted his mistake to Fa Qiushen: "We didn't expect the Kwantung Army to retreat so quickly, so we didn't prepare enough transportation. The friendly forces were equipped with a large number of tanks, trucks, armored vehicles and motorcycles. , they use these technical equipment to transport troops, and the speed of advancement is naturally slowed down. As for us, we can only rely on our own two legs to race against the opponent. It is strange that we can outrun other people's car wheels. "

After hearing what the regiment leader said, Faqiushen realized that he had wrongly blamed the other party, and quickly said: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I'm sorry, I was too impatient. I didn't even understand the situation, so I just criticized you casually." He raised his hand. He patted the opponent on the shoulder and said kindly, "You must be very tired after running for several hours. Stop and rest, and leave the offensive tasks to the commanders and fighters of other regiments to complete."

When the regiment commander heard this, he immediately became anxious: "Comrade division commander, we can still continue to fight, please don't withdraw me."

"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you misunderstood." Seeing that the other party had misunderstood what he meant, Faqiushen quickly explained to him: "Our offensive campaign has just begun, and there are still many battles to be fought. If you consume it too early, After your physical strength is exhausted, will you still be able to handle the next battle?"

"Comrade Division Commander, is everything you said true?" "Of course it is all true." Faqiushen nodded and said in a positive tone: "You guys stop and rest first, and let other regiments continue to pursue the enemy. Wait for them When you are tired, your physical strength will be almost restored, and then I will send your group up."

The head of the regiment felt much more at ease after receiving Faqiushen's promise. He immediately issued orders to each battalion, asking the commanders and soldiers to stop advancing and stay where they were to rest and recuperate, while his comrades in other regiments continued to attack and pursue the Kwantung Army troops.

Five hours after the 53rd Group Army's attack began, Yakov handed the latest battle report to Sokov: "Misha, look at our battle report. The 57th Army, which serves as the first echelon, is currently destroying the enemy. We are advancing towards the depth of the Kwantung Army's defenses. So far, we have wedged ourselves into the enemy's defenses to a depth of twenty kilometers."

After hearing the data Yakov said, Military Commissioner Gorokhov couldn't help but smile. He repeatedly said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, our soldiers are really amazing. They actually wedged themselves into the enemy's territory in such a short period of time." The defense line is so far away. After this battle is over, I will ask for credit from them."

Sokov had no objection to asking for credit for the commanders and fighters who participated in the war, but he still reminded Gorokhov: "Comrade Military Commissar, the Kwantung Army we face is not as good as the Germans on the Western Front, so a few Advancing more than twenty kilometers in an hour is nothing at all.”

"Comrade Commander," after hearing what Sokov said, Gorokhov chuckled and said: "The 17th and 39th Army attacked a few hours earlier than us. Even if they are twenty or thirty kilometers ahead of us, I don't think so. What a big deal."

But Sokov just smiled faintly after hearing this, and then said to Yakov: "Yasha, could you please call General Kravchenko and ask how far his troops have advanced?"

"Okay, Misha." Yakov knew very well that the reason why Sokov put him in contact with Kravchenko was because the 6th Guards Tank Army was transferred from the Third Belarusian Front, and he used to be The deputy chief of staff of the front army was barely Kravchenko's superior. Even if he inquired about something privately, the other party would give him face. He nodded and said, "I'll call General Kravchenko right now. Find out how things are going with him there.”

 A few minutes later, Yakov put down the phone after finishing the call, and the expression on his face became solemn. Seeing this, Sokov quickly asked with concern: "Yasha, your expression seems a little off. Did something happen?"

"I'm fine, Misha." Yakov looked at Sokov and said with a wry smile: "Guess how far the Guards Tank Army on our flank has advanced today?"

Sokov thought for a while and said, "I think it's about fifty or sixty kilometers."

Yakov shook his head and turned his attention to Military Commissar Gorokhov: "What about you, Comrade Military Commissar, how much do you think the friendly forces have advanced?"

Gorokhov did not answer the question immediately, but asked Yakov cautiously: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I wonder if the data the commander heard is still too high or too low?"

"Of course it's on the low side." Yakov said impatiently, "You should guess quickly."

"Eighty kilometers." Gorokhov said bravely: "This should be their limit. It is obviously impossible to think more."

"Comrade Military Commissar, you can't say that." Lu Jin interjected: "I believe our soldiers are good at creating miracles. Comrade Chief of Staff, please stop being tight-lipped and tell us quickly how far the tank group army has advanced. Far?"

“One hundred and sixty kilometers.” Yakov said: “If I hadn’t verified it twice, I wouldn’t have believed that there would be such a result.”

"Oh my God." Hearing what Yakov said, Gorokhov's eyes widened in surprise: "The commanders and fighters of the tank army ran very fast, actually several times faster than us."

"Comrade Military Commissar, there is no comparison between us and the tank army." Fortunately, Lu Jin came out and said something fair: "They are equipped with a large number of trucks, armored vehicles and motorcycles, which can be used to transport soldiers. Even combat tanks , you can also take a part of the infantry and charge forward with them, so that it is completely possible to march 160 kilometers a day. However, our commanders and fighters can only walk on their own two legs, how can they compare with the mechanized troops? ?So I think that they can advance more than 20 kilometers, which is also a very remarkable result."

“It’s getting late, do you want to order the troops to stop advancing?” Yakov asked.

"No, Yasha, the army's offensive cannot be stopped." Sokov said to Yakov: "Judging from the current situation, the Kwantung Army has no combat effectiveness at all, and its army is disorganized and has low morale. It has no chance of fighting us. Courage. If we stop the attack now, it will give the Kwantung Army a chance to breathe. When they use this opportunity to re-establish a new line of defense, we will suffer unnecessary losses in tomorrow's attack."

"Misha, the troops of the first echelon must be very tired after several hours of fighting and pursuit." Lukin made his suggestion to Sokov: "I suggest that they stop their advance temporarily and let the second echelon Go and fight in their place. When the second echelon is also tired, the third echelon will be transferred to the field. In this way, the three echelons take turns to play, ensuring that each unit can participate in the battle and each commander and fighter can get enough rest. This ensures that the troops can maintain long-term combat missions."

"Yes, yes, Comrade Deputy Commander, you are right." Yakov agreed with Lukin's statement: "I will call General Melekhov and ask his 49th Infantry Corps to take over. The battle of the 57th Army gave General Chumakov’s troops the necessary rest time.”