Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 307 Showing weakness to the enemy

"Nanchuan-kun, we've reached Dingshan Village ahead and will be heading to the battlefield soon. Should we do some scouting beforehand?" Okamoto Ichichu asked cautiously.

“Okamoto-kun, you’re being too cautious. The Eighth Route Army here is terrified of us.”

"Even if there's an ambush, there are still the puppet troops to draw our fire."

“Okamoto-kun, if we are really surrounded by the Eighth Route Army, then we can turn the tables and wipe them out.”

Hearing Minami Ichiro say this, Okamoto Ichichu lowered his guard.

Okamoto thought to himself that they really weren't afraid of being ambushed in this area.

"Okay, let's move on."

"Messenger, order the puppet troops to speed up."

"Hay."

On the other side, at the Dingshan Village position, Niu Dali was closely monitoring the movements of the Japanese troops.

"Commander, the Japanese are too arrogant. They haven't even set up their battle formation and are just heading straight to provide support," Yang Shan said, looking at the approaching Japanese troops through his binoculars.

"Commander, I can lead the troops in a charge right now. If I can't take down this group of Japanese soldiers in one wave, I'll answer to you with my head," Yang Shan said confidently.

"Not for now. Obey the orders from headquarters. If we don't follow orders, we'll be in big trouble."

"I will punish the teachers myself without their personal intervention."

"Commander, I understand, but seeing such an easy-to-charge formation for the first time really makes me itchy to try it myself."

Don't worry, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future.

"Order the entire regiment to prepare. Reiterate to each battalion that heavy firepower is strictly prohibited. Anyone who uses it without authorization will be court-martialed."

"Furthermore, notify the First Battalion that once the battle begins, they should quickly infiltrate through the junction between the Japanese and the puppet troops and cut off their communication."

"Is Staff Officer Chen ready?" Niu Dali asked.

"Staff Officer Chen has already prepared the Third Battalion of the 186th Regiment of the Eighth Route Army. I have already sent someone to hand over the weapons that the First Regiment prepared for the Eighth Route Army."

"Okay, once we surround the Japanese, let the Eighth Route Army launch a fierce attack."

"Yes, I'll go and inform them now."

After giving instructions, Niu Dali continued to observe the Japanese troops in the distance.

In the darkness, the headlights of the Japanese vehicles were exceptionally bright.

As the Japanese soldiers stepped into the encirclement step by step, Niu Dali decisively gave the order.

"Fire."

"Rat-a-tat-tat-tat." The peaceful night was filled with the sound of gunfire.

Thanks to Niu Dali's advance orders, the reconnaissance regiment conserved its firepower and opened fire on the Japanese.

In contrast to the reconnaissance regiment, the Third Battalion of the 186th Regiment of the Eighth Route Army and the county brigade used the weapons and ammunition supplied to them by the First Regiment and fought exceptionally fiercely.

"That's so much fun! So much fun!" Meng Hong became more and more excited as he fought.

This was the first time he had fought such a costly battle.

On the Japanese side, thanks to years of training, the two Japanese units immediately changed their defensive formations upon being attacked, covering each other as they launched a counterattack against the surrounding enemy forces.

"You idiot! I never thought the Eighth Route Army would actually dare to attack us," Minami Ichiro said in an unfriendly tone.

“I didn’t hear any heavy gunfire, so it’s the Eighth Route Army,” Minami Ichiro said without a doubt.

"Nanchuan-kun, judging from the gunshots, there are at least three regiments of the Eighth Route Army here," Okamoto Ichichō speculated.

"It seems the Eighth Route Army has big ambitions; they want to wipe us out with just three regiments," Minami Ichiro continued.

"However, they should also be prepared to be eaten by us. It's still uncertain who the hunter and the prey are."

"Messenger, notify the troops to set up a defensive position in place, and immediately report to headquarters to request support to wipe out the main force of the Eighth Route Army."

"Hay."

“Okamoto-kun, as long as we wait for Colonel’s reinforcements, we will definitely wipe out this Eighth Route Army squad,” Minami Ichiro said confidently.

“Nanchuan-kun, something feels off to me. How could the Eighth Route Army gather three regiments in this area?” Okamoto asked, still somewhat doubtful.

"Hmph, at most they'll join forces with the Nationalist government's troops."

"Whether it's the Nationalist army or the Eighth Route Army, they are no match for our Imperial Army."

Seeing Minami Ichiro's confident demeanor, Okamoto Ichichu had no choice but to cooperate, since he couldn't afford to offend Minami Ichiro's background.

"Fight back! Fight back!" Minami Ichiro shouted.

At the same time, intelligence about the attack on the support troops was immediately relayed to the Fenxian County Command Headquarters.

"Baka yarou, the Eighth Route Army is besieging the city and attacking the reinforcements. Their real target is the reinforcements from our county."

"Damn it! We've fallen for the Eighth Route Army's trick again!" Matsuyama Kenichi slammed his hand on the table angrily.

"Commander, I will immediately lead the troops to support Minakawa-kun and his men," Staff Officer Nagata said immediately.

"Alright, you lead the Sagawa Company, along with the puppet troops, to support them. Three companies must remain in the county town."

Although Kenichi Matsuyama was furious, he still retained a sliver of clarity.

In any case, at least half of the garrison troops remained in the county to ensure its safety.

Hail, I will immediately lead my troops to provide support and cooperate with Nan Chuan Jun and his men to eliminate this band of Eighth Route Army soldiers.

"Yoshi." Kenichi Matsuyama patted Staff Officer Nagata on the shoulder with satisfaction.

"I await your good news of a resounding victory. I will be waiting for your triumphant news at headquarters."

"Hay."

After saying that, Staff Officer Nagata immediately left the office and ran towards the military camp.

At this moment, for Staff Officer Changshan, speed is of the essence.

As soon as the new wave of Japanese reinforcements left the city, the intelligence department promptly relayed the information to the command headquarters.

"Commander, you're amazing! Those Japanese devils have really lost their minds; they've actually sent reinforcements again!" Shen Lei said excitedly, holding the intelligence report.

"How many reinforcements are there?" Tang Xiaohu asked.

"A regiment of puppet troops plus a company of Japanese soldiers."

"So, there are only three companies of Japanese soldiers left in the county town?" Tang Xiaohu asked.

Yes, Commander, the pressure on our attack has been greatly reduced.

"Based on our current firepower, we have enough to take Fenxian County before dawn today," Shen Lei said.

"No, we need to speed things up."

"Now I'm giving you a new order, write it down."

"Yes."

"Order the Second Regiment to open an opening and let in the new Japanese reinforcements."

"After the Japanese troops regroup, the First Regiment, the Second Regiment, and the Reconnaissance Regiment will immediately launch a general offensive and must resolve the battle within one hour."

After the battle, all troops immediately returned to Fenxian County to participate in the siege.

"We must completely occupy Fenxian County before 4 a.m.," Tang Xiaohu said, glancing at his watch.

"Yes."

"In addition, the general offensive has begun on the Dingshan Village position. The Third Regiment, the Artillery Regiment, and the Second Brigade are ordered to immediately launch an attack on Fenxian County."

"No more detailed attacks, a full-scale offensive."

"Yes."

In Dingshan Village, apart from the 3rd Battalion of the 186th Regiment of the Eighth Route Army desperately attacking the Japanese, the other units of the Independent Division maintained a very restrained offensive. They only launched a slightly more serious counterattack when they saw the Japanese attempting to break out.

The rest of the time he was mostly just coasting.

"Commander, this battle was easy; we didn't have to exert much effort," Yang Shan said casually.

"Take a break and conserve your energy. The main event is about to begin," Niu Dali said with a relaxed expression.

"I wonder when Xiaohu will issue the order for the final assault," Niu Dali muttered.

As Niu Dali was muttering to himself, the messenger ran over to report.

"Reporting to the regimental commander, the command headquarters has notified that a regiment of puppet troops and a company of Japanese soldiers have been dispatched from Fenxian County to support the Japanese troops surrounded in Dingshan Village."

"The command ordered that once the Japanese troops have converged, a general offensive should be launched immediately, and the battle must be ended within one hour."

"The battle is over. All troops shall immediately return to Fen County to participate in the siege."

The commander ordered that Fenxian County must be captured before 4 a.m.

"Finally, a job has come." Niu Dali's relaxed expression vanished, replaced by a look of fighting spirit.

"Communicator, notify all units to be ready for combat at any time."

"Once the general offensive begins, the battle must be resolved within an hour, no more than half an hour," Niu Dali ordered.

"Yes, Captain."