Anti-War Game: Starting from Normandy Campaign-Chapter 551 - 263: The Hundred Regiments Offensive and the Strategic Importance of Jingxing Coal Mine
It was a completely asymmetric battle.
On one side were Japan’s over 200,000 Kantou Army, puppet forces.
On the other side were tens of thousands of troops of the Red faction, along with most of the militiamen and spontaneously organized guerrilla teams by the civilians.
Although the total military strength of the Red faction was over twice that of Japan’s side,
they had a limited number of weapons, and each person had a limited supply of bullets. More guerrilla members were equipped with cold weapons like swords and spears.
However, this guerrilla squad was capable of making crude mines, which made them quite formidable among various guerrilla teams.
At least they could bridge a bit of the firepower gap.
But this gap was negligible.... because the Japanese Army’s firepower was more than ten times that of the Red faction.
After Yu Feng returned and reported.
He handed over the information he gathered to the higher-ups.
Followed by a brief rest.
Meanwhile, Yu Feng also explained his mission, displaying a map in the live stream:
"This is the Zhengtai Railway."
The view showed a railway connecting the Hebei and Shanxi regions.
Yu Feng pointed to the center at Niangzi Pass and Jingxing Station, and began to speak:
"This is the core point for choosing an assault."
"Niangzi Pass and Jingxing Coal Mine."
"As for why we chose here, it relates to Japan’s current situation."
"Because since 1939, after the Imperial side began attacking Europe,"
"the United States stopped its trade with Japan, which means Japan lost its source of oil."
"Now Japan is trying to find a way."
"One of the methods is coal refining oil, but this method obviously cannot meet the demand, especially since the Red faction is targeting a raid on Jingxing Coal Mine."
"If this place is destroyed, then the Japanese Army’s oil source will be greatly reduced."
"It’s quite critical."
"As for what happens next, although it’s not apparent now, the old players who played World War II should all know, right?"
As Yu Feng’s words fell.
The scrolling comments in the live stream made it obvious that they knew what was going on.
Only some new players had not yet fully understood the world view, game background, and materials, thus were clueless.
Some veteran viewers helped explain.
The current time is 1940, only a year since the United States stopped trade materials with Japan, and Japan can still hold on.
But by the end of next year, 1941, Japan won’t be able to hold on anymore.
Without oil, their armored tanks will turn to scrap metal.
To plunder oil resources, they set their sights on the Southeast Asia region, targeting the British Commonwealth colonies and other places occupied by European countries in Southeast Asia for looting.
The subsequent storyline is known to many Blue Star players.
Initially, Japan indeed fought aggressively, but it couldn’t overcome being just an island nation and only knew how to plunder.
After consuming the batch of resources in Southeast Asia, they were out of options.
With nowhere left to plunder.
Such is almost all there is to say, and many veteran viewers stopped explaining.
Even some new players, who were initially confused, understood.
And marveled with amazement.
Could a battle really connect over such a long distance?
Nevertheless, it allowed many beginner players to feel the effect of simulation.
Connecting one aspect to the overall situation, and then to the world scenario.
Most of the players of this war game were males, and who among them could refuse such a feeling?
New players in the live stream were stirred up with enthusiasm.
And Yu Feng continued explaining:
"Besides the Jingxing Station’s coal mine, the Red faction’s another target is the adjacent Niangzi Pass station."
"If both these neighboring railway stations are destroyed,"
"it can tear a big gap in the enemy’s blockade line."
Saying so, Yu Feng clicked on the map, marking a red frame linking the bases on the north and south sides.
"Following through this gap, both sides of the bases can coordinate in combat."
"Conducting a comprehensive offensive and destruction of the railway line connecting Hebei and Shanxi."
"Crushing the Japanese side’s ’cage policy.’"
"Directly weakening Japan’s acquisition of war resources."
After finishing the offensive plan, Yu Feng brought out the information he gathered:
"Currently."
"The combined forces of the Red faction, including civilian forces, guerrilla militia, and the Red faction’s own troops, number about 400,000."
"In contrast, Japan’s side has over 200,000, excluding rifles and the like."
"Over 500 cannons, tanks haven’t been tallied yet, but over 300 known ones surely, with potentially higher actual numbers."
"They also have air support, controlling the railway network and road network."
"Now let’s see the first wave of offensive."
"As long as the offensive goes smoothly, cutting off the railway between Niangzi Pass and Jingxing Station will tear a gap in this complete defensive circle."
"Subsequently, it should become primarily a guerrilla warfare scenario, which I can’t simulate ahead."
"It’s not else but simply a lack of capability."
"These 105 regimental divisions are too scattered."
"Looking at the layout map, I don’t even know where to start."
Yu Feng said with a helpless expression, spreading his hands.
This helplessness provoked laughter among the Blue Star viewers in the live stream.
But noticing the densely marked known units on Yu Feng’s map, Blue Star viewers deeply understood.
Seeing such a headache-inducing layout requires the Red faction’s professionals to command.
....
As time ticked away.
Several days later.
The National Fortune Dungeon [Hundred Regiment Battle] officially launched.
Yu Feng entered the National Fortune Dungeon of [Hundred Regiment Battle], and in his [Single-player Story Mode], he has already taken Jingxing Station and Jingxing Coal Mine.
However, the situation elsewhere remained unclear.
Because within the single-player story, there’s no ’global real-time map’ of the National Fortune Dungeon nor the dungeon-specific restart mechanism.
Although one can choose the same region and identity in single-player mode,
it’s definitely different from the last time.
In the National Fortune Dungeon, restarts are in faction mode, just choose a faction.
As the countdown ended.
Yu Feng quickly entered the battlefield, but in an instant, it reached the 8th round, and with each round having a capacity of 100,000, there were already several million online.
After all, opening 8 rounds of 100,000-player battles in less than a second.
Such a large number, when evenly distributed to both sides, wasn’t much.
Upon entering the story dungeon.
Yu Feng glanced at the ’real-time map’ minimized to the largest, quickly spotting the entire Zhengtai Railway sketch, then noticed his location:
"Brothers, luck is with us."
"This time we’re near Niangzi Pass, so our team’s task is probably to attack Niangzi Pass."
"It’s a good opportunity to witness the battle I didn’t see in the single-player story dungeon."
Before the battle began, Yu Feng returned to the Celestial Shark Live partition, and from the top category list, found the live stream also in the 8th round of [Hundred Regiment Battle].
Currently, there weren’t many viewers, just over 60 live streams.
But Yu Feng knew this was just the beginning, and while he thought this, the number of live streams increased by 6.
Yu Feng scanned through and roughly understood.
Each live stream had a real-time map in the top right corner, summarizing these real-time maps gave an overview of the Red faction’s overall layout and the attack direction of their units.
Thus allowing analysis of the Red faction’s command tactics.
The Blue Star side players enjoyed analyzing the Red faction’s command most.
Whether they could understand it or not,
at least analyzing brought them into the role, feeling the command of a thousand troops, breaking the enemy’s ranks, a feeling different from the overwhelming force crush.
The latter is pure hard strength, whereas this feels more like a tactical, strategic level of intellectual domination.
To Blue Star, it’s more akin to art.
With time passing.
Players on the frontlines familiarized themselves with their location, units, and tasks.
Whoosh—!!!
A flare of red shot through the night sky.
Instantly.
The once silent mountains seemed awakened, as countless small lights illuminated in all directions.
