Chapter 134: A Grand Encirclement!

"The enemy's two infantry divisions now total over sixty thousand men, and they are full of momentum!"

"Here in Anshan, besides the 19th Division, we have four mixed brigades. Overall, our troop strength is comparable to the enemy's, and we might even hold a slight advantage."

"However, in terms of combat effectiveness, our 19th Division is newly formed and not yet fully prepared for battle."

"Whether we can withstand the enemy's offensive remains to be seen."

During the meeting, Chief of Staff Wang Xiao addressed all the commanders, then turned with a solemn expression to Division Commander Li of the 19th Division:

"Commander Li, if the defensive line is breached, I will take the responsibility. This is because my strategic planning was not comprehensive, giving the enemy an opening."

"This is the reason we do not hold an advantage right now."

"It is clear that the enemy has deployed their second reserve division to the battlefield ahead of schedule!"

"Therefore, I want to emphasize that the fall of the Shahe front was not due to any failure in your command, Commander Li."

"On the contrary, the failure lies in our higher-level strategy, so you need not carry this psychological burden."

Upon hearing this, the previously anxious commander of the 19th Division felt a sense of relief.

Commander Liu San of the 4th Mixed Brigade spoke with apparent ease:

"Chief of Staff, since the enemy has already sent their reserves to the front line,"

"Does this mean that once we wipe out these two elite enemy divisions,"

"The entire enemy front might collapse?"

Hearing this from Liu San, the usually stern Chief of Staff Wang Xiao could not help but smile and replied:

"You intend to wipe out two enemy divisions in one go?"

"Aren't you afraid of biting off more than you can chew?"

"You must remember, there is no record of the enemy ever being completely annihilated!"

"Therefore, in this battle, even if we can heavily damage or destroy one division,"

"I would be very satisfied."

"But we must also prepare for the worst-case scenario. If we truly win this time and manage to wipe out both of their divisions,"

"The enemy will surely retaliate even more fiercely."

"Then, they will certainly mobilize more forces and launch an even more violent attack against us!"

Chief of Staff Wang Xiao looked around at those present and spoke slowly:

"I hope everyone is mentally prepared to face a hard-fought battle; do not be overly optimistic."

"If we win, our names will be recorded in history and earn the love of future generations; even a hundred years from now, people will remember our heroism."

"If we lose, we will become a disgrace in history; even a thousand years from now, people will remember our failure."

"I cannot afford such a price, and I believe you feel the same."

"Therefore, no matter what, in our upcoming battle, we must thoroughly defeat the enemy's 2nd and 5th Divisions. This is our most important task!"

"I want to ask, do you have the confidence?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than all the commanders replied in unison:

"Report to the Chief of Staff, we have the confidence to complete the mission!"

In their view, regardless of whether the enemy continues to attack, as long as they follow the Corps Commander, they will defeat the enemy time and time again.

In this way, the final victory will surely belong to our 7th Field Army.

After the mobilization meeting concluded, Chief of Staff Wang Xiao turned to Division Commander Li Jian of the 63rd Division beside him:

"Commander Li, it is now your turn to issue the operational orders."

Li Jian acted immediately and began assigning tasks:

"Listen carefully, our current mission is to hold Anshan and use all available military resources to eliminate as much of the enemy's effective strength as possible."

"If necessary, I will mobilize the 63rd Division stationed in Chengyun to move quickly and provide support!"

"If we can surround these two enemy divisions, victory will be within our grasp."

While planning this campaign, Li Jian's expression was grave and particularly earnest.

He was prepared to mobilize all available power. He believed that if the situation on the battlefield became critical, other units would surely come to assist quickly.

However, he was also worried that the enemy might immediately discover their plan and choose to retreat. Thus, Li Jian appeared somewhat hesitant; he was reluctant to deploy his 63rd Division unless absolutely necessary, fearing that too much movement would scare off the enemy and ruin the plan to encircle and annihilate them.

Suddenly, Li Jian's eyes became resolute, and he began to arrange the deployment of his troops.

The two mountains to the south were to be guarded by the 4th Mixed Brigade, who would utilize the terrain to build strong defensive lines to block the enemy's fierce attacks.

The eastern side was more open and required a nine-kilometer defensive line stretching to the Shahe River. This task was assigned to the 19th Division, whose heavy artillery and machine guns could deliver a lethal blow to the enemy on the plains. The mountainous areas to the north and west would be guarded by the 5th Mixed Brigade.

For the mixed brigades that had been established for a shorter time and possessed weaker combat power, Li Jian decided to place them behind the defensive line, his face showing a serious expression.

This was done to ensure they could quickly support any direction based on the situation at the front.

Overall, the west, south, and north sides of Anshan had mountains and rivers as natural barriers. By utilizing this terrain, as long as they did not make any major mistakes, they could effectively block the enemy's advance.

The only problem was the flat terrain on the east side, which had a large open area nearly nine kilometers long. If the enemy decided to launch a major offensive there, that sector would be the focal point.

Therefore, Li Jian specifically assigned the experienced and well-equipped 19th Division to guard that area, a flash of determination in his eyes.

Once the operational orders were issued, the engineers and soldiers of the 19th Division began digging trenches and constructing fortifications on the eastern side.

When the local people heard that the 19th Division was determined to hold the line and not retreat, they showed expressions of gratitude and resolve, spontaneously coming to help build the defenses, all hoping for the defeat of the enemy.

Seeing such determination and the cooperation between the military and civilians, Li Jian's confidence grew even stronger.

In that tense yet orderly atmosphere, the soldiers of the other two mixed brigades also threw themselves fully into the work of digging trenches, their faces displaying seriousness and resolve.

In just one day, they had managed to construct a solid defensive line nine kilometers long, and a sense of pride shone in everyone's eyes.

This defensive line consisted of two layers, separated by 200 meters, connected by communication trenches, and filled with machine-gun bunkers and artillery emplacements.

Barbed wire and minefields were also specifically set up in the front, significantly enhancing the defensive power.

Light and heavy machine guns of various types were positioned to form a powerful grid of fire.

If the enemy tried to charge through from this direction, the barbed wire and machine-gun positions would certainly make them pay a heavy price.

As the troops discussed the plan, although there was a sense of tension, there was even more confidence.

The 19th Division would use the fortifications to exhaust the enemy's strength, while the other two mixed brigades prepared to strike from the flanks to encircle and attack the enemy from the rear.

While the plan was straightforward, it required precise execution and relied on the enemy underestimating them.