Vostok correctly deduced that Hu Hao intended to threaten the primary logistical artery running through Tonglong City, prompting him to order immediate redeployments to fortify the critical nexus. Hu Hao, meanwhile, was indeed planning to threaten that exact supply line to force the Allied High Command's hand.
"Supreme Commander, we already have eight divisions garrisoning the Tonglong City sector. Isn't that sufficient? Hu Hao can't possibly mass enough combat power to take it. If he's foolish enough to try, we can deploy a fresh corps from another sector, launch a counter-offensive toward Xinqiao City, sever his line of retreat, and encircle him!" Vitali proposed, tracing the maneuvers on the map.
"Encircle Hu Hao? Do you honestly believe it would be that simple? If he attacks, he will be prepared for a counter-attack. We still don't even know his true troop strength!
"According to Eastern Spirit intelligence intercepts, his 1st Group Army is authorized seven corps. That's a theoretical maximum of 420,000 men. Even if we added a full corps to our current eight divisions, we would still have fewer than three corps in that sector. We wouldn't have a guaranteed advantage.
"Granted, he can't mass all seven corps for a single offensive; he has a massive perimeter to defend. But I am no longer primarily concerned with his territorial expansion. My absolute priority is securing our logistical arteries!
"Think about it. He only has a finite number of troops. The more territory he conquers, the thinner his forces are spread. When the dry season arrives, we can launch multi-pronged offensives and slice his overextended army to ribbons! Losing those exposed cities to him right now is strategically acceptable.
"However, Tonglong City is absolutely non-negotiable. Every inch of that primary supply line must be held. If that artery is severed, our entire frontline offensive collapses!" Vostok explained his strategic priorities.
"True. The supply lines are sacrosanct. If the logistics fail, the millions of men on the front lines will starve," Vitali agreed.
"Therefore, continue reinforcing Tonglong City!" Vostok ordered.
"Understood. I will draft the redeployment orders immediately. However, Supreme Commander, we are beginning to run low on strategic reserves in this theater. We might need to request reinforcements from the rear staging bases.
"Over the past few months, Hu Hao has practically annihilated four of our corps—nearly 200,000 men. Furthermore, we just deployed several corps to establish the northern blockade between Hu Hao and the Eastern Spirit main lines.
"With those forces tied down, our operational reserves are severely depleted. Should we request another 500,000 troops from the rear echelon to deploy against Hu Hao? We wouldn't launch an offensive immediately, but we could use them to permanently contain his expansion.
"For example, we could deploy an additional corps to Tonglong City, and beef up the garrisons in all the remaining cities bordering his territory, effectively boxing him in!" Vitali suggested, outlining a massive containment strategy.
"Mm. I've considered that, but I have two major reservations. First, mobilizing and supplying half a million fresh troops during the rainy season is a logistical nightmare.
"Second... I am haunted by Ketonli's final warning. He stated that Hu Hao was using us for live-fire training. If we mass hundreds of thousands of raw recruits around his perimeter, we are simply providing him with more targets! He will undoubtedly continue to attack!
"Look at the current situation! The moment we withdrew from Yonghe City, he immediately launched offensives in the south and east! He needs to blood his conscripts before the rainy season ends!
"If we provide him with easy targets, and he spends the next two months turning 400,000 raw recruits into hardened veterans... imagine the horrific casualties we will suffer trying to dig him out during the dry season!
"That is exactly why I ordered the tactical withdrawals! I am giving him the territory! Let's see if he has the manpower to hold it! The more territory he attempts to control with his limited forces, the weaker his overall defensive posture becomes.
"This entire sector is flat plains! Once the dry season arrives, we can deploy our heavy armor and strike from any direction! If his forces are spread too thin, we can easily encircle and annihilate his isolated garrisons!" Vostok revealed the brutal, pragmatic logic behind his strategic retreat.
He had considered deploying massive reserves to contain Hu Hao, but realizing that Hu Hao was actively seeking combat to train his army had changed his mind.
He still remembered Ketonli's warning. His greatest regret of the war was ignoring Ketonli's initial assessment. Because of his arrogance, Hu Hao had annihilated nearly 200,000 Allied soldiers, using their blood to forge a terrifyingly competent army. Vostok refused to make that mistake again.
Meanwhile, in Nanli City, the conventional Eastern Spirit infantry, heavily supported by the Special Operations operatives, shattered the first Allied defensive line shortly after the assault began. With the heavy snipers neutralizing the enemy's heavy weapons and command structure, the infantry advanced relentlessly into the city.
By 11:00 PM, the battle was over. The two Allied divisions garrisoning Nanli City were entirely wiped out.
The two Eastern Spirit divisions, primarily composed of raw recruits just hours earlier, were now blooded veterans. Having witnessed the Special Operations operatives systematically dismantle the enemy's heavy firepower, the recruits had fought with immense courage and aggression.
Following the victory, Hu Hao immediately ordered Wu Kexiao to deploy forces to secure Xinqiao City.
Around 5:00 AM, Wu Kexiao called Hu Hao with a surprising update: the Allied garrison in Xinqiao City had withdrawn completely. Eastern Spirit forces had occupied the city without firing a single shot. Furthermore, the garrisons in Jifeng City and Jiliang City had also retreated.
However, Allied forces were still heavily entrenched in Tianxi City and Liangyuan City. Reconnaissance indicated the Allied High Command had consolidated at least one full corps in each of those two cities, formed from the retreating garrisons of the abandoned towns.
Wu Kexiao requested permission to launch immediate assaults on Tianxi City and Liangyuan City.
Hu Hao ordered him to hold his position and wait for Weng Tao's Corps to arrive.
After ending the call, Hu Hao paced the operations center. Lu Qing and Wang Yunlong stood nearby. They had spent the entire previous day wargaming with Hu Hao, and he had personally guided them through the tactical intricacies of the urban assault the night before. All three had slept in the command center and had been awakened by Wu Kexiao's call.
"Voluntary tactical withdrawals. A brilliant strategic maneuver," Hu Hao muttered, analyzing the Allied response.
"Are they terrified of us?" Lu Qing asked, puffing his chest slightly.
"Unlikely. They are trying to stretch our lines! They know we have a finite number of troops. The more territory we occupy, the thinner we spread our combat power. They're willingly trading space for time, avoiding unfavorable engagements while forcing us to overextend!
"By consolidating their forces in Tianxi City and Liangyuan City, they are drawing a line in the sand. They are telling me: 'This is as far as you go without a fight.'
"And I guarantee they have massed at least two full corps in Tonglong City. That is the critical nexus they absolutely cannot afford to lose," Hu Hao explained the Allied strategy.
"Then what do we do, Hao-ge? Do we halt our expansion? Honestly, we've already exceeded the initial operational objectives Commander Wu gave us! We've pushed over 300 kilometers south and 400 kilometers east! We've secured a massive buffer zone!" Wang Yunlong pointed out.
"True. The immediate objectives are complete. We've pushed the Allied airbases far enough back that they can no longer launch unescorted bombing raids on Late City from the south or east.
"However, the threat remains from the other vectors: Nage City, Xike City, and the territory directly west of Late City. Allied fighters can still escort bombers from those directions," Hu Hao noted.
Regardless, Wu Kexiao's 106th Corps had performed admirably. Four of his six divisions had now experienced intense, victorious combat, drastically elevating the Corps' overall combat effectiveness.
"So, Hao-ge, where do we strike next?" Lu Qing asked eagerly.
"Mm. Where do you think?" Hu Hao asked, testing them.
"Tonglong City! We strike straight at their heart!" Lu Qing declared instantly.
"Exactly! We take Tonglong City and sever their jugular!" Wang Yunlong agreed.
"And if we take it, do you honestly believe we can hold it?" Hu Hao smiled, looking at them. "If we capture Tonglong City, the Allied High Command will throw every available soldier in this theater at us to take it back! They cannot survive without that supply line!"
"Who cares if we can't hold it?! Once we're inside, we completely destroy the rail yards and the highway infrastructure! Then we just retreat! The damage will be done!" Lu Qing argued passionately.
"But do we really need to conquer the entire city just to destroy a railway?" Hu Hao asked softly, an amused glint in his eye.
"Ah?" The two Division Commanders blinked, confused.
"Railways and highways are incredibly long, exposed targets. Why assault a fortified city when we can just blow a massive crater in the highway fifty kilometers out? Or demolish a critical bridge in the middle of nowhere?
"If we blow up a section of track every single day in a different location, how will they ever maintain a steady supply flow?" Hu Hao chuckled.
"Oh! That makes perfect sense, Hao-ge!" Lu Qing's eyes widened in realization.
"Start preparing your men. In a few days, we assault Tianxi City! Once we secure it, we continue pushing east, maximizing our operational frontage along their primary rail line! Let's see if they have enough troops to guard every single inch of track!" Hu Hao ordered, outlining the next phase of his logistical warfare campaign.
"Yes, sir!" the two commanders saluted enthusiastically.
"By the way, what's the ETA on Weng Tao's Corps?" Hu Hao asked a nearby staff officer.
"Report: they are currently approaching Gunan City! Per your orders, they will deploy to Tianjing City and establish their staging area there!" the officer replied promptly.
(End of Chapter)