nucmednet Chapter 253 Exercise Begins
Chapter 253 Exercise Begins
The day before the exercise, the temporary command post set up near Hill 501 was bustling with people and filled with noise, interspersed with the beeping of radios.
Except for the duty commanders, all combat command personnel of the Independent Brigade and the Eighth Route Army Independent Regiment were present. Tang Weiguo and Li Yunfei personally oversaw the exercise command center.
Members at the exercise command center are making final preparations for the exercise.
"Staff Officer Long, notify all participating units to double-check their ammunition situation to ensure that the ammunition distributed to the soldiers is for training purposes."
"Yes."
"Director Li, please check the communication status of each participating unit again to ensure smooth communication between the exercise command and each participating unit."
"Yes."
"Notify battlefield observers to reconfirm their respective areas of responsibility to ensure that the exercise situation can be recorded."
"Yes."
"Dean Chu, how's the field hospital doing?"
"The setup is complete, the medical equipment is ready, and the rescue team is ready to carry out rescue operations at any time."
"Okay, hard work."
As the person in charge of carrying out this exercise, Zhang Haoshan felt immense pressure. With the exercise approaching, Zhang Haoshan tirelessly went through the preparations again and again, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Tang Weiguo seemed to sense the pressure Zhang Haoshan was under, so he spoke up to comfort him.
"Deputy Brigade Commander Zhang, just follow the exercise plan. Don't worry too much. We're not afraid of going head-to-head with the Japanese, let alone this exercise."
"Brigade Commander, most of the recruits on both sides are new recruits this time. They're all fearless and naive. I'm worried that something might go wrong during the exercise," Zhang Haoshan said cautiously.
“Deputy Brigade Commander Zhang, don’t worry. This exercise is going to involve bloodshed if necessary. It’s better than actually going to the battlefield and losing your life fighting the Japanese,” Li Yunfei advised.
"Dean Chu has already built a field hospital nearby. In case of any emergency, the rescue team will provide immediate assistance to the soldiers," Tang Weiguo continued.
"Okay, Brigade Commander." With Tang Weiguo's words, Zhang Haoshan immediately felt relieved.
"It's 5 p.m. now, less than 7 hours until the exercise. Deputy Brigade Commander Zhang has notified all participating units to be ready at any time. The exercise will start on time at 12 p.m.."
"Yes, Brigadier."
After answering Zhang Haoshan's question, he threw himself back into the intense preparations.
"Brother Tang, I think your attack plan this time is quite cunning. After reading your battle plan, I feel that our victory this time will be difficult." Li Yunfei said with a sigh, holding the battle plan reported by Tang Xiaohu.
"Commander Li, you guys are pretty good too. This time we need to really learn your guerrilla tactics."
"Besides, this is just a battle plan. In actual combat, the commanders of each unit will make specific adjustments based on the actual situation. No one knows who will win or lose until the very end," Tang Weiguo replied with a smile.
"The battalion commander Zhou Zheng-biao, who is in charge of your independent regiment this time, is Commander Li's number one favorite general."
"Tang Xiaohu has mentioned Battalion Commander Zhou to me several times. He's not only steady and methodical in battle, but he also comes up with unexpected tactics," Tang Weiguo continued.
"The main reason is that you sent Commander Tang Xiaohu to serve as the commander this time. I know Commander Tang's abilities all too well."
"I can only send Zhou Zheng-biao to go head-to-head with you, but Zhou Zheng-biao is still far behind Commander Tang. After the exercise, Commander Tang will have to give him some proper guidance." Li Yunfei couldn't help but feel secretly pleased when he heard Tang Weiguo praise Zhou Zheng-biao like this.
"Let's see who wins this time, a clash of titans. Whoever wins will treat us to drinks," Li Yunfei said.
"Okay, it's a deal."
After Tang Weiguo finished speaking, the two extended their right hands and shook hands tightly.
"Commander Li, Political Commissar Zhao, it's lunchtime. Come on, let's go get something to eat first," Tang Weiguo warmly invited.
"Alright, Brother Tang, now that you mention food, I'm really hungry. The food at your Independent Brigade is delicious; Old Li has been in for a treat these past few days," Li Yunfei chuckled.
Political Commissar Zhao, standing to the side, glared at Li Yunfei speechlessly.
"Please." With that, Tang Weiguo led the group toward the makeshift kitchen on the side, leaving Zhang Haoshan busy in the command post.
The sun quickly set at the foot of the mountain, and a full moon slowly rose, its bright light spilling over the winding mountainside, making the leaves look as if they were covered with a layer of white frost.
The night was quiet; apart from the exercise command post, the rest of the place was completely silent.
Soon it was midnight.
"Reporting to Brigade Commander Tang and Regiment Commander Li, it's time for the exercise. Please give instructions!" Zhang Haoshan asked.
"Alright, I hereby declare the exercise officially open."
"Yes."
"Immediately telegraph Tang Xiaohu, Zhou Zhengbiao, and the observation group: the military exercise is officially beginning." Zhang Haoshan immediately issued the order.
"Commander, Commander, we've received a telegram from the exercise command center. The exercise is now officially starting," Shen Lei said as he ran over.
"Alright, commence the operation according to the planned battle plan. Reconnaissance teams, begin gathering enemy intelligence." Tang Xiaohu immediately issued the order.
"Yes."
On the other side, Zhou Zheng-biao also received a telegram from the command center.
"Order all battalions to remain concealed, and all sentries, both visible and concealed, to be on high alert to prevent the enemy from sneaking into the position under cover of darkness."
"In addition, order the reconnaissance platoon to be deployed to find out the enemy's direction of attack so that we can make defensive adjustments at any time." Zhou Zheng-biao issued several orders in succession.
As the commanders of both combat units issued orders, the two forces began to move. Under the cover of night, the reconnaissance units of both sides clashed first.
Gunfire shattered the night's tranquility. During the night's battle, both sides' reconnaissance soldiers suffered casualties but also obtained intelligence on the other side.
As dawn broke, Tang Weiguo and Li Yunfei returned to the command post. Tang Weiguo asked the duty officer of the exercise command group.
"How was the battle last night?"
"Reporting to the brigade commander and Regiment Commander Li, last night the reconnaissance units of both sides engaged in fierce combat. According to the front-line observation group, the reconnaissance units of the Independent Brigade participating in the exercise have established a significant advantage."
"These are the casualty figures for both sides." After saying that, the team member handed the notebook on the table to Tang Weiguo.
Tang Weiguo glanced at it briefly and then handed it to Li Yunfei.
Li Yunfei looked at it and said in surprise.
"I knew your reconnaissance unit was formidable, but I didn't expect the casualty ratio to exceed 2:1. After this operation, Brother Tang, you must help me train our reconnaissance soldiers."
"Hahaha, Commander Li, you've got the wrong person. The real expert is right behind me." Tang Weiguo pointed to Niu Dali standing behind him.
"Commander Niu, it seems I'll be troubling you more in the future," Li Yunfei said politely to Niu Dali.
"Commander Li, you're too kind. I admire your guerrilla warfare skills very much. We should exchange ideas more often in the future," Niu Dali said modestly.
"Okay, let's learn from each other after the exercise is over."
After chatting for a few more minutes, Li Yunfei returned to his seat.
"We've finished testing the waters last night, and today we're officially launching our attack. Let's see what surprises these two can bring us," Tang Weiguo said expectantly.
“Brigade Commander Tang is right. Let’s patiently see how much sparks these two units can ignite.” Political Commissar Zhao, standing to the side, also expressed his anticipation.