Hu Hao nodded, thoroughly satisfied with Long Yagu's analysis. The other staff officers turned their attention to them, eager to hear why Long Yagu's deduction was correct.
"If that's the case, how many reinforcements do you think they'll send?" Hu Hao asked, a smile playing on his lips. He was genuinely pleased with the young officer's reasoning.
"Report! That... I couldn't say. Any number I give would just be a guess," Long Yagu replied with an embarrassed smile.
"Mm. At least two corps. Their 1st Corps has effectively been crippled tonight. However, they will not retreat. Their objective is Late City, and they will hold their ground in Yonghe City even if it means fighting to the last man. They are digging in to wait for reinforcements," Hu Hao explained to the room.
"Why specifically two corps?" Long Yagu asked.
"The 1st Corps is a full-strength heavy corps. Combined with the two infantry divisions they brought up, they started this offensive with over 80,000 men. Based on tonight's engagement, they've likely suffered between 30,000 and 40,000 casualties—nearly half their strength.
"To guarantee the capture of Yonghe City and the subsequent assault on Late City, they must commit massive reinforcements. But they also need troops on other fronts; they can't simply pull everything they have. And mobilizing forces from their southern staging areas will take too long. Who knows when the torrential rains will hit?
"Therefore, the Allied forces will dispatch a minimum of two corps toward us. At least one, perhaps two, will be sent directly to Yonghe City. However, I highly doubt they will pull two entire corps from the western front; that would severely disrupt their offensive timetable there.
"Consequently, they will likely pull one corps from the central front as well, creating a pincer movement aimed directly at Late City!" Hu Hao laid out his strategic forecast. The officers nodded in profound understanding.
"Hao-ge, is that why you ordered troops to Jinhe City and reinforced Bopa City? To guard against a thrust from the central front?" Long Yagu realized.
"Exactly," Hu Hao nodded.
"When do you expect these reinforcements to arrive?" Long Yagu pressed further.
Hu Hao smiled. "Three days!"
"Why three days?" Long Yagu asked.
"Because the 1st Corps won't last much longer than that, and High Command won't risk letting them be completely annihilated. Frankly, if we wanted to, we could annihilate them tonight.
"Alright, everyone! Run a new simulation. Figure out how we can completely annihilate the Mara Empire's 1st Corps tonight, using only the forces currently deployed in Yonghe City. Do not factor in any reinforcements from the rear!" Hu Hao challenged the junior officers.
"Annihilate them tonight?!" The officers were stunned. They couldn't fathom how Hu Hao could believe this was possible. They only had roughly three divisions inside Yonghe City.
Even after tonight's brutal casualties, the 1st Corps and its two attached divisions still numbered over 40,000 men. Annihilating a force that size in a single night seemed impossible!
"Report! Could we utilize the tank division?" an officer stood up and asked tentatively.
"Your name is Lu Zu'an, correct?" Hu Hao asked with a smile.
"Yes, sir!" the officer nodded vigorously.
"The tank division," Hu Hao repeated.
"Yes, sir," Lu Zu'an confirmed.
"Come here," Hu Hao beckoned him over. Lu Zu'an hurried to the front and stood at attention beside Hu Hao.
"Tell me, how would you use the tanks to annihilate them?" Hu Hao asked encouragingly.
"We have an entire tank division stationed inside Yonghe City, commanded by General Bai Ye, plus three independent tank regiments. That's over 300 tanks.
"Meanwhile, the Allied tank division has been severely depleted. Their artillery has been decimated, and their air cavalry is entirely gone.
"If we deploy our armor now and launch a massive flanking maneuver to strike their rear echelon... their battered infantry won't stand a chance. If our own air cavalry provides close air support, the battle will be even more decisive!" Lu Zu'an laid out his tactical proposal.
"Excellent. Very good. Truly excellent!" Hu Hao nodded, his satisfaction evident.
"Hehe... you included a similar scenario in the training materials you gave us! The battle against the Mara 43rd Corps! The materials stated that once you establish absolute armored superiority, and the enemy lacks anti-tank capabilities or favorable terrain, a massed armored charge is unstoppable!" Lu Zu'an smiled sheepishly, admitting he had simply applied Hu Hao's own lessons.
"Haha, good! You remembered the lesson well. Keep studying hard! You are currently a Captain. Once you graduate from this command center, I will promote you to Colonel and give you command of a tank regiment!" Hu Hao promised, patting the young officer on the shoulder.
"Ah! Yes, sir! Thank you, Hao-ge!" Lu Zu'an saluted sharply, his face flushed with excitement. Hu Hao smiled and waved him back to his seat.
"Long Yagu!" Hu Hao called out.
"Here, sir!" Long Yagu snapped to attention.
"Your tactical analysis is superb. Once your training is complete, you will remain here at headquarters. I am appointing you Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, with the rank of Colonel! Continue to study the battlefield. When the time is right, I will send you to a frontline unit as a Chief of Staff, and eventually, a Division Commander!
"And the same goes for you, Lu Zu'an. Once you take command of your regiment, prove your worth with combat merits. If you perform well, Division Commander or even Corps Commander is entirely within your reach!" Hu Hao declared.
"Yes, sir! Thank you, Hao-ge!" Lu Zu'an saluted again.
"Thank you, Hao-ge!" Long Yagu shouted, equally thrilled.
"And this applies to all of you! If you have ideas, if you have thoughts on any of our engagements, speak up! I want you to speak up!
"Under my command, anyone can become a general! I don't care about military clans here! Yes, personal connections exist, but those connections will only help you cross the threshold to general.
"How far you go after that depends entirely on your own abilities. Whether you command a division or a corps depends on how well you fight! The vast majority of you will receive at least a one-rank promotion upon graduation. The exceptional ones among you might jump two or even three ranks! I promote based on talent and merit!" Hu Hao addressed the entire room of junior officers.
As Hu Hao spoke, the officers stood up in unison. When he finished, they roared together, "Yes, sir!"
"My expectations for all of you are incredibly high. I expect many famous generals of the Empire to emerge from this very room. I cannot share all the details of our current situation with you yet.
"But know this: every single one of you has the potential to become a general. To achieve that, you must earn combat merits. I won't claim I am perfectly fair in everything I do, but I swear this: I will never bury true talent, and I will never intentionally suppress a capable officer!
"My only goal is for you to mature into outstanding commanders as quickly as possible!" Hu Hao concluded his impassioned speech.
"Yes, sir! We will not let you down, Hao-ge!" the officers shouted fervently.
"I know you won't. I've already discovered two exceptional talents today, and I am very pleased. But you two, do not let this go to your heads. You stood out today, but that doesn't mean you are the best.
"Your tactical thinking is still raw. You must continue to study and refine your skills!" Hu Hao warned Long Yagu and Lu Zu'an.
"Understood, Hao-ge!" Both officers snapped crisp salutes.
"Brothers, we live in chaotic times. As soldiers, we bear a heavy burden. How do we end this war as quickly as possible? How do we protect our people? These responsibilities fall on my shoulders, and on yours. I expect you to seize every moment to study and think. If you have any questions, write them on the blackboard. I will review them and provide answers!" Hu Hao instructed.
"Yes, sir!" the officers roared.
"Good. The frontline situation is stable for now. Continue your studies," Hu Hao nodded and walked back to his private office. The battle in Yonghe City wouldn't see any major shifts tonight; he no longer needed to monitor it constantly.
Once seated at his desk, Hu Hao finally relaxed.
"Hao-ge, Wang Yao called earlier. He said he needs to speak with you," Mo Qin reported, stepping into the office.
"Wang Yao? Is it urgent?" Hu Hao asked.
"No, not really. I could tell from his tone. He just wanted to fish for information about his promotion level. He heard a rumor that Huan Xingtao might be getting a Major General star, and he's feeling a bit salty about it!" Mo Qin chuckled.
"Ha! What is he worried about? Does he not trust me?" Hu Hao laughed.
"It's not that. You know Wang Yao; he's incredibly impatient. He hears Huan Xingtao is a division commander, how could he not be jealous? He just wanted to know his own rank, specifically if he made Major! He said if he didn't even make Major this time, the gap between them would be too huge!" Mo Qin explained with a grin.
"Is he looking down on me? Ah? Major? He was already an acting battalion commander; that's a Major's billet! Our forces are expanding massively, and he thinks he'll still just be a Major?" Hu Hao looked at Mo Qin, amused.
"Ah... oh! Haha! I'll tell him he's a Lieutenant Colonel right now! That should make him feel a lot better!" Mo Qin laughed.
"You guys... can you stop comparing yourselves to Huan Xingtao? Can you stop creating unnecessary friction?" Hu Hao sighed, looking at Mo Qin.
"There's no friction! We're all great brothers! But of course we compete secretly! He didn't even graduate from a military academy; he was just lucky enough to be your squad leader, Hao-ge! Of course we're a little jealous! Are we really worse than him?" Mo Qin defended their competitive spirit.
(End of Chapter)