Chinese Civil War

[Cataphrak]

0100 China Standard Time, March 1st, 1966
From: Marshal Sun Liren, Head of the Military Affairs Commission
To: All Army Commands

[CASE XIONGNU]

Technically, the Republic of China and the Peoples' Republic were still at war.

The conflict which had started in 1962 had never officially ended. Vietnam had sued for peace, Zhejiang had ceased to exist, but the PRC, who had entered the war in the spirit of a vicious opportunism which the leaders of the Republic had come to consider synonymous with Marxism-Leninism-Maoism, had only withdrawn to its borders and made a half-hearted request for a cease-fire. Evidently, it had assumed that the Republic - the Real Republic - would simply forget about the whole matter.

It didn't.

In Guangzhou, the civil and military leaders of the Republic had bided their time, but they had never forgotten. To them, China's history was a vast book of grudges, of which the Beijing Government took up the lion's share - a litany of outrages stretching back four decades, unredeemed in the name of unity against foreign invasion and the exigencies of the German Flu.

Now, at last, it was time to see the debt paid.

The Communists had sown the wind.

Now they would reap the whirlwind.

0500 China Standard Time, March 1st, 1966
WO3 W. Li, 3rd Commando Bde.
Somewhere along the Jiangxi/Anhui Border

"Commissar, eleven o'clock. Range, two hundred metres."

Warrant Officer 3rd Class Li didn't take his eyes off his scope, even as he called out targets for the members of his team. The new night vision optics they'd been issued for this campaign were a definite cut above the old kind. Instead of relying on the light of a seperate infrared lamp to illuminate targets, these new scopes did just fine without. Not only did it mean that 3rd Commando Brigade could finally dispense with their heavy night lights, but it also meant that they could pick out targets much further than before, just like-

Yes, there, another one. Li shifted his scope to centre on the new target, moving carefully to avoid disturbing the shrubbery surrounding him. He dialed in, making sure that he read the rank tabs on the new figure's collar properly.

"Another Commissar, ten thirty, seperating now."

The whole Brigade had been receiving briefings on the structure of the Communist armies. They could tell the rank and branch of a PLA officer at a glance, even in dim light, at two hundred yards - which was great, because those were exactly the sort of conditions they were expected to fight in.

"I have him, sir."

Li resisted the urge to nod. He resisted the urge to smile too. Any movement could give them away this close to the enemy, and if he gave them all away, his team would never forgive him, especially if it meant letting two commissars out of the bag.

The word had come down the grapevine just a week ago: someone with a lot of gold leaf on his shoulders was offering a bounty of ten thousand Yuan for every enemy Commissar confirmed killed, and twenty thousand for any captured alive - a prize that also was to apply to defectors who switched sides of their own free will. Of course, the Commandos' rather specific mission profile prevented them from taking prisoners, but that kill bounty was still up for grabs, and ten thousand Yuan split four ways was six months' salary for an NRA Corporal, enough to buy a new car and still have enough left over for a fancy new Korean-made colour television.

A low rumbling pulled Li's attention to the left, long enough for him to see the headlamps of the supply trucks coming up the gravel road.

"Convoy inbound on your eight. Wait for my go."

Normally, you had to bring back proof of a kill, but in the case of the Commandos, the Military Affairs Commission itself had ruled that signed statements by three witnesses plus the shooter was proof enough. Given that a Commando team consisted of four men, it made for a good reason for a team leader to keep all of his men on-side and alive.

The roar of the oncoming engines grew louder and louder. A moment later, and Li could see the beams of their headlamps throwing white light before them.

"Now!"

The reports of the De Lisles came as a pair of clacks, drowned out by the roar of the convoy's engines, their muzzle flashes hidden by the glare of the truck lights. Li let the convoy pass, and only stayed long enough to put eyes on the prone, unmoving forms of his team's targets.

"Good kill, good kill. Let's move before someone finds them."

At long last, the four Commandos moved, the rustling of the undergrowth covered up by the throaty noise of the retreating engines. For a moment, Li wondered what the Communists would make of the scene when they discovered it: two Commissars struck dead in the middle of their own camp, the .45 ACP rounds of Commando De Lisles buried in their heads.

The exact same sort of round which their American allies used in their sidearms, oddly enough.

Perhaps someone would put two and two together in just the wrong way to cause trouble for their enemies. Li could only hope. He certainly wouldn't be anywhere near the place by the time their handiwork was discovered.

Indeed, by the time the alarm was raised, Li's team was long gone.

By the time the artillery started coming down, they were already five kilometres away - and moving deeper into enemy territory.

Operation National Glory: The plans for the final destruction of the Peoples' Republic of China, and the unification of the Chinese Mainland, a plan years in the making to fulfil a dream which has eluded the Republic for nearly half a century.

Phase 1 of Case Xiongnu begins with a broad front attack into the provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui, and Henan, supported by massive saturation bombardment of PRC border defences, and the infiltration of Commandos across the border to wreak havoc on the enemy's lines of communications and operations.

Forces involved include:
Zhejiang (234) attacking into Jiangsu (230)
3 units Armour
6 units Artillery
3 units Mechanised Infantry
3 units Motorised Infantry
9 units Fighters
6 units Bombers

Jiangxi (233) attacking into Henan/Anhui (229)
1 units Armour
2 units Artillery
1 units Mechanised Infantry
1 units Motorised Infantry
5 units Light Infantry
5 units Fighters
7 units Bombers

Hubei (231) attacking into Henan/Anhui (229)
3 units Armour
6 units Artillery
3 units Mechanised Infantry
3 units Motorised Infantry
5 units Fighters

Possible Advantages:
-Knowledge of PLA Doctrine and structure, secured by Juntong assets prior to attack.
-Training to counter PLA doctrine, disseminated throughout RoC Forces over the course of the past year.
-Partial intelligence regarding PLA positions thanks to Juntong and allied reconnaissance.
-Decapitation strikes launched against PLA leadership in forward areas prior to attack.
-RoC Commando Brigades infiltrating into enemy rear areas.
-Saturation artillery bombardment.
-Close air cover by RoCAF fighters.
-Interdiction missions by RoCAF bombers to break up potential counterattacks
-Cash bounties offered for PLA leadership who defect or are "convinced" to defect by their troops.

[Sabriel]

The Royal Army Pilot Service engaged the enemy over Anhui and Henan provinces in support of the Republic of China. Six Wings of Air Superiority fighters, and two of Ground Attack fighters were made available for coordination with the RoC's own air forces. The objective was simply to keep the skies clear of communist air support, and to provide limited support to RoC ground forces.

OOG-
6 units Air Superiority, 2 units Ground Attack engaging in Territory 229 in coordination with RoC stuff.

[Alucard Tobor]

As their allies on the mainland moved, so did the Korean Navy; cruisers, destroyers, and frigates leaving port and moving from patrol routes, working their way into the Yellow Sea. Their destinations; position off the PRC's ports, staying out of shooting range, but nonetheless keeping them from an easy breakout.

Aircraft took off; Spectres and Buccaneers loaded with bombs and rockets heading towards the Chinese lines, escorted by more Spectres loaded down for air-to-air combat.

>6 units Fighters providing CAS for RoC forces in Territory 230, covered by 4 further units Fighters on CAP.
>3 units Heavy Warships, 3 units Medium Warships, and 4 units Light Warships entering the Yellow Sea; any PRC assets at sea or leaving port will be engaged.
>2 units Carriers, Fleet will remain in the Sea of Korea south of Territory 274 and their air wings will assist friendly naval units in the Yellow Sea.
>Airborne Early Warning aircraft are deployed over the Yellow Sea to track PRC air and naval movements; these are escorted by 2 units Fighters from land bases.

>2 units Carriers, Fleet and 4 units Carriers, Heavy will provide defence of Korea.

All of the above units will permit identified SRA or Soviet units a chance to identify themselves and fall back from the fighting, though will engage freely if fired upon.

[Markus Wilding]

Private

Usually, the situation room was a place of silent seriousness, where bated breaths were common and grand speeches incredibly rare. In the past, seasoned officers feared delivering intelligence reports to van Baarle while he was in here, obsessing over every detail of a war. Primarily, they feared one of his famous outbursts and hours-long rants whenever the intelligence displeased him, or when he was surprised by something. Hell, when General Markwardt had burned down Rockford, it took half his cabinet three hours to cool him down long enough for him to not immediately fire him and ship him off to Victoria, never to be seen again.

President Connally, however, was a new man, and though he had been present for many of van Baarle's infamous meltdowns, few knew how he would react to changing situations. Officers from the Army and Navy moved pushpins on a map, sliding small figures and markers around as if at random while analysts listened intensely to broadcasts and signals. CIA agents scrutinized every small detail on satellite pictures, immediately recognizing the hazy outlines of vehicles and armored units without even being told where the picture was taken.

"Comrade President," an officer said, handing his new president a manila folder. "The report from China, sir."

The President thanked him, opening the folder to read its contents as his staff and cabinet members sat at the table, surrounding him. It felt like an eternity to them, each man silently wondering what the reaction would be. Nominally, they knew President Connally intended to prevent the SRA from becoming entangled in foreign wars, but the shadow of holding to van Baarle's commitments hung over them. This "China situation" as many men termed it, would be the first real test of the new American foreign policy.

Shame it had to come so early into the administration.

President Connally sighed, closing the folder and putting it off to the side as he clasped his hands in front of him on the table. "Well, gentlemen?" he said, looking around the room. "Our comrades in China find themselves under assault by the Republicans and their allies in Korea. As well as, this report notes, our allies in Victoria. Speak freely, if you would."

General of the Army Dillan Kauffmann stood up first, slightly nodding to his new President. "Comrade President, our boys over in China believe themselves to be severely outnumbered. I have been told by General Snijders that his staff reports their position to be untenable."

"And how does he report?"

General Kauffmann smirked. "He thinks he and his Marines can kill every Republican between Nanjing and Guangzhou."

Connally scoffed, shaking his head. "Well, if we need a propaganda movie idea, tell him to call the Georgia Theater Company next time. This report made mention of a coded transmission to our forces from the Republicans. What's our stance on that, gentlemen?"

"It appears valid," Director of the CIA Szymon Pokorny said. "It matches known transmissions from the Republicans."

"So then they don't want us out, they want the communists gone," Connally said, rubbing his chin. "Uh, Comrade Howse, remind me again what the predictions on casualties were for Operation Bar Brawl?"

Secretary of Defense Valentine Howse shuffled some papers around, looking for the right report. "Long-term, bad. The worst case scenario happened. The Koreans are already enacting a blockade of the Chinese coast. If we had the Enterprise and her escort fleet there, we could provide transport of reinforcements, but as it stands, it's the Chinese and Korean navies standing off, and I suspect the Koreans are going to beat them out with their naval aviation capacity. Without reinforcement or support from Atlanta, it is very likely that we will have a 90% casualty rate among the Marine Corps, with the other 10% captured by the Republicans."

"And by the time our navy gets there, half the battle might already be over," Connally muttered, staring at the map. Confirmed attacking Republican units were pinned, with possible formations identified by recon noted as well. The Korean battlegroup off the coast was marked, with the Chinese navy still sitting in port as far as they knew. The Soviet disposition was unknown, but Secretary of State Kunkle reported that Moscow was "considering its options" which almost never was a good sign.

"Get our boys out of there," Connally said, sighing heavily. "The Chinese are on their own."

---

Slowly, SRA Marines made their way to the coast, using the challenge that they had been provided by the Republic of China if they came across any Republican units in their march. The SRN's Second Fleet, headed by the SRN Enterprise, headed for the Yellow Sea reporting to the Korean Navy and People's Liberation Army Navy that they were on a peaceful mission to retrieve the SRMC, and did not plan to participate in combat, but would defend itself if fired upon.

[Markus Wilding]

To the Nanjing government, the sudden attack was not unexpected of their Republican foes. After all, they had anticipated such an assault over the years, despite the positively chilly relations that the two sides enjoyed. It was rather inevitable, many concluded, especially given how both sides actively spied on one another. There could, of course, only be one China. What they had not expected was for the Americans to abandon them, but this too became less of a surprise the more Nanjing thought of it. At least the Soviets still understood the value of helping a friend in need.

Chaos consumed the People's Liberation Army leadership almost immediately as border units tried to coordinate with one another and organize a withdrawal. Fighting in the Soviet sector was not considered an issue, though Nanjing did fear a potential assault from the north - thus, after arguing with Soviet command for about an hour, PLA troops and aircraft withdrew to the coast, preferring to let the enemy walk into an occupied Henan and Anhui.

In Jiangsu, however, retreating units did not participate in combat - but it mattered little when the PLA had plans of its own for this sector. Nanjing was under threat - there was only one viable solution that the government saw. In addition to the preferred regular counterattacks, the PLA prepared a "special weapon," which caused some concern among officers in charge - surely this wasn't right. Grim orders from Nanjing told them it was.

Out at sea, the PLAN sailed to contest the Korean blockade, aiming to destroy or at least seriously damage the Korean aircraft carriers over all other goals.

---

Soviet troops, acting on PRC advisement, headed north and east to provide security for PRC rear areas, committing aircraft to Jiangsu in order to aid the Chinese against incoming aerial attacks from the sea.

---

OOC:

PRC and Soviet units withdraw from Territory 229. The Republic of China now has control over this territory. The 5 units of Industry here are considered Lost.

PRC units from Territory 229 move to the following territories:
229 to 226:
1 unit artillery
1 unit armor
2 units fighters

229 to 228:
2 unit artillery
2 units motorized
1 unit bomber

229 to 230:
2 units artillery
1 unit armor
3 units motorized
2 units light infantry
3 units fighters

Soviet units move to the following territories:
229 to 226:
1 unit artillery
4 units motorized
1 unit armor
1 unit bomber

229 to 228:
1 unit artillery
4 units motorized
2 units armor

229 to 230:
7 units fighters

[Markus Wilding]

OOC: Going forward, posting order shall be:

Republic of China
Victoria
Korea
NPNs (PRC/USSR)

Combat Results

Territory 229
No combat occurred in this territory as the PRC and Soviet troops withdrew.

Territory 230

In their attacks, the Republic of China rolled a 9 and a 10 for ground and air actions, respectively. This results in 3 units of ground losses, 4 units of ground damages, 2 units of air losses, and 3 units of air damages for the PRC. A bombing campaign resulted in 3 Industry lost, 5 Industry damaged, 2 units of ground losses and 3 units of ground damages for the PRC.

In their attacks, Korea rolled a 6 for air actions. This results in 2 units of air losses and 3 units of air damages for the PRC.

In their attacks, the PRC rolled a 2 and a 3 for ground and air actions, respectively. This results in 6 units of ground losses and 7 units of ground damages for the Republic of China. This also results in 3 units of air losses and 4 units of air damages for the Republic of China and Korea. These casualties must be decided upon by the defending players. A bombing campaign resulted in 2 units of ground losses and 3 units of ground damages for the Republic of China.

Additionally, the PRC deployed 1 unit of chemical weapons in this territory against the Republic of China's forces. In their chemical weapons deployment, the PRC rolled an 8. This results in 1 unit of ground losses and 2 units of ground damages for the Republic of China.

Naval War

In their attacks, Korea rolled a 3 and an 8 for naval and naval air actions, respectively. This results in 2 units of naval losses, 3 units of naval damages, 2 units of naval air losses, and 3 units of naval air losses for the PRC.

In their attacks, the PRC rolled a 7 and a 5 for naval and naval air actions, respectively. This results in 1 unit of naval losses, 1 unit of naval damages, 2 units of naval air losses, and 3 units of naval air damages for Korea.

NPN Casualties

In Territory 230, the PRC takes the following casualties:
3 units motorized lost
3 units artillery damaged
1 unit mechanized damaged
2 units fighters lost
1 unit bomber damaged
2 units fighters damaged
2 units mechanized lost
2 units motorized damaged
1 unit mechanized damaged
2 units fighters damaged - double damage leads to loss
1 unit bomber damaged - double damage leads to loss
1 unit chemical weapons expended

At sea, the PRC takes the following casualties:
2 units Warships, Medium lost
3 units Warships, Medium damaged
1 Fleet CAG lost
No further naval air casualties are available to be taken

[Cataphrak]

Territory 234
3 units Armour destroyed
3 units Artillery destroyed
3 units Mechanised Infantry destroyed
3 units Artillery double-damaged, leading to loss.
1 unit Motorised Infantry double-damaged, leading to loss
2 units Motorised Infantry damaged.
2 units Fighters Lost
3 Units Fighters Damaged

1200 China Standard Time, March 14th, 1966
From: Marshal Sun Liren, Head of the Military Affairs Commission
To: All Army Commands

I AM NOT LEFT-HANDED

1200, China Standard Time, March 14th, 1966
Senior Sergeant R. Zheng, 3rd Dragoon Regiment, 14th Tank Division "Zhongshan"
Somewhere on the Shanxi/Hebei Border

"That's it!" Ling called from his radioman's position. "That's the signal."

Zheng nodded as he went over his equipment checklist again, and took what were likely to be the last breaths of fresh air he might have for a long, long time.

"All right. Da Gou Three-One Actual to all Da Gou Three Vehicles, five minutes to kickoff."

The sounds of rubber-softened thumps echoed through the interior spaces of Long Dong's fighting compartment as its crew closed the hatches one by one, giving them each an extra tug to make sure they were good and sealed.

"Blowers on in three... two... one... mark."

At Zheng's command, the sound of a whirring set of ventilators joined the cacophony: the tank's positive pressure system going on line. After reports that the Communists were deploying nerve gas down south, nobody was taking any chances.

"Kickoff in thirty seconds, Senior Sergeant."

Zheng nodded as he took one last look around him. The greenery and the camouflage netting and the earthen berms might have concealed the massive armoured column around him from recon birds and spy satellites, but the smooth shapes of the 3rd Dragoon Guards' three squadrons of main battle tanks were painfully obvious from a few metres away. He wondered how many of them would be left by the time this was all over.

"Kickoff in three... two... one... Switching!"

For anyone who had been tracking the presence of the NRA forces in Northern China through their comms, it might have seemed like the entire National Revolutionary Army had just... blinked out of existence. Every single known military channel went silent, in a motion which had been carefully rehearsed piecemeal for weeks.

Zheng didn't know if the Communists had been reading their mail, but evidently, someone in the Military Affairs Commission hadn't wanted to take chances on that either.

"Switchover to new operations net... now."

Ling gave his tank commander a dubious look. Despite being probably the most technically inclined of Long Dong's crew, he was also the most distrustful of new and unfamiliar technology, and there was nothing newer or more unfamiliar than the idea of bouncing secure communications off of a satellite in orbit - especially a Korean satellite.

And yet...

"All right. Da Gou Three-One Actual to all Da Gou Three Vehicles. Check in."

"Da Gou Three-One Actual, Da Gou Three-Two reading."

"Da Gou Three-One Actual, Da Gou Three-Three hearing you."

"Da Gou Three-One Actual, Da Gou Three-Four here."

"Da Gou Three-One Actual, Da Gou Three-Five, ready."

"Da Gou Three-One Actual, Da Gou Three-Six, loud and clear."

The Senior Sergeant resisted the urge to smile. This little part of the plan might have worked, but if the rest fell through, they could still all be dead.

But there was no way to know for sure until they committed.

"Da Gou Three-One Actual to all Da Gou Three Vehicles: Troop, advance."

Case Xiongnu Phase Two: A massive armoured attack from the northwest, driving through Hebei Province to take Beijing, and encircle the PLA from the rear.

Henan/Anhui (229) attacking into Jiangsu (230)
4 units Armour
8 units Artillery
4 units Mechanised Infantry
4 units Motorised Infantry
5 units Light Infantry
14 units Fighters
13 units Bombers

Shanxi (227) attacking into Hebei (226)
9 units Armour
6 units Artillery
10 units Mechanised Infantry
1 unit Motorised Infantry

Additional Advantages:
-Territory of the North China Plain perfect for armoured combat.
-Sudden switch to Korean Satcomm network to render enemy SigInt ineffective.

[Sabriel]

Queen Catharine Akinyi al Victoria stared at the paper that had been given to her. After several minutes of silence she crumpled the paper into a ball and tossed it aside. “You know,” she spoke quietly, addressing no one in particular, “I really hoped that the world could learn. That people wouldn’t need constant reminders. That we could fucking relax. But of course not. No. We have to destroy ourselves in the worst ways whenever it’s convenient.”

She shook her head and then turned to speak directly to one of the military officers in the room, “Begin enacting Judgment on the communist capital. If they continue to use their poison weapons, move on to their next largest city. I’ll reduce them to nothing but ash if I have to.” The officer saluted and went about their work.

***
The RAPS fighters were diverted from their operations over the secured areas of Anhui and Henan, instead flying up north toward the capital city of the PRC. They were joined by the entire force of Victoria’s Seraphim, which they protected. The Seraphim had the simple mission of dropping their full load of incendiary ordinance on Beijing again and again. For as long as it took for the city to cease.

A message was broadcast to the Communist leadership when the first Seraphim arrived. It stated simply: “Burn”.

OOG-
8 units fighters and 10 units bombers going in at territory 226.

[Alucard Tobor]

With many Victorian aircraft taking up escort duty for the Seraphim, the Korean Air Force added the newly-active 5th Air Division to the CAS efforts over the RoC's advancing lines; and another task force sailed into the Yellow Sea to assist in the blockade and shore up the losses and damages sustained.

>5 units Fighters assigned to assist RoC units in Territory 226
>1 unit Warships, Heavy deployed to Yellow Sea
>1 unit Warships, Medium deployed to Yellow Sea
>1 unit Warships, Light deployed to Yellow Sea

>2 units Carrier Air Wing destroyed
>3 units Carrier Air Wing damaged
>1 unit Fighters destroyed
>1 unit Fighters damaged
>1 unit Warships, Light destroyed
>1 unit Warships, Medium damaged

[Markus Wilding]

The fighting near Nanjing had left the PLA bloodied and disrupted, that much was certain. Arriving Soviet and PLA units found themselves facing a scene of chaos, leaving Soviet pilots to salvage what they could of the situation with little support and a confirmed horde of enemy bandits incoming. For many, it must have felt like Moscow had abandoned them to their fate. All that the PLA and Soviets could do was sit and watch as the Americans were given free reign past the incoming Republicans, marching silently and stoically to the shore in order to evacuate.

The north was scarcely better. Undermanned positions and unmotivated divisions stood against a seemingly impossible sight - mass Republican tanks utilizing some of the best maskirovka seen since Operation Citadel, and skies blackened by the black star of Victoria. All they could hope for was a miracle, the sort of rage that could only be conjured forth when a cornered beast had nowhere to go but out.

General tactics handed down from Soviet and Chinese commanders were simple - fight to the last dying breath.