nucmednet Chapter 130 Independent Regiment Operations
Chapter 130 Independent Regiment Operations
"Report, Your Excellency Commander, the marching column ahead has been harassed by the Eighth Route Army. The vanguard is clearing out the Eighth Route Army troops," the accompanying staff officer reported.
"Hmm? This is interesting. Even the Eighth Route Army has gotten involved. But it doesn't matter. If they dare to come, we'll take care of them all this time." Ikeda Maken looked coldly ahead.
"Report, Commander, an urgent telegram from the Sanjiaji stronghold." At that moment, another communications soldier quickly reported the intelligence from the Sanjiaji stronghold to Ikeda Masato.
"read."
"Currently, all outer positions of the Third-Level Garrison have been lost. The soldiers at the stronghold are currently relying on several sturdy underground fortifications to resist the enemy's attack. The situation at the Third-Level Garrison is extremely precarious. We request the commander's immediate support."
"It seems I really underestimated this unit. It looks like the Sanjiaji outpost can't be held."
"Commander, should we continue to provide support?" the staff officer asked.
“Go, the Sanjiaji outpost has been lost, but the enemy troops sent to Qingyun County haven’t passed through Sanjiaji yet. As long as we can recapture the Sanjiaji outpost before they withdraw, the final victory will still belong to us,” Ikeda Maken said calmly.
"Commander, how should we deal with the Eighth Route Army troops harassing us at the front?" the military staff officer asked.
"These little Eighth Route Army guerrillas only know how to launch sneak attacks, they're not worth mentioning." Ikeda Maken looked at the Eighth Route Army's guerrilla tactics with disdain. In his eyes, they were a bunch of rats who only knew how to run away, not worthy of being called a hero.
"Order: The troops at the front shall quickly clear out the harassing Eighth Route Army; the remaining troops shall proceed at full speed, with the target being the Sanjiaji stronghold." Ikeda Maken immediately issued the order.
"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander."
"The vanguard is responsible for clearing out the Eighth Route Army, and the rest of the troops should quickly pass through the area." The accompanying staff officer immediately assigned the combat mission.
A small contingent of the Japanese vanguard was seen diverting troops to hold back the attacking Eighth Route Army, while the rest of the troops were rapidly moving through the area.
At the Independent Regiment's temporary command post, a communications officer was reporting the battlefield situation to Li Yunfei.
"Report, Regimental Commander, the First Company of the Third Battalion has engaged the vanguard of the Japanese troops, but the Japanese did not linger in battle. Instead, they left a small force to hold them off while the main Japanese force continued to advance toward the Sanjiaji stronghold."
"okay, I get it."
"Heh, this Japanese troop under the political commissar really doesn't take us seriously, daring to deal with us by sending a small unit," Li Yunfei sneered.
“Old Li, our Eighth Route Army is poorly equipped, and our soldiers haven’t received proper training. The gap in combat effectiveness between us and the Japanese troops is too great. Besides, this unit comes from the Japanese Fifth Division, which is the elite of the elite. It’s perfectly normal for them to look at us this way.”
"Hehehe, elites, that's exactly what I'm going to fight! This time I'm going to give them a good go at." Hearing the political commissar say this only fueled Li Yunfei's fighting spirit.
"Correspondent, order the Third Battalion to continue the harassment mission. Order the Second Battalion to meet up with the First Battalion at Dawangzhuang. I want to teach the Japanese a lesson here."
"Yes, Captain."
“Old Li, isn’t this too dangerous? After all, our mission is to slow down the Japanese reinforcements. Blocking the Japanese in the Dawangzhuang area is too risky. I don’t recommend doing this. I still suggest sticking to the previous plan and using guerrilla tactics to slow down the Japanese advance,” Zhao Xiaogang objected.
"Political Commissar, I'd like to, but given the current situation, it's unlikely that our harassment operations against the Japanese troops with small units will be effective in slowing down their reinforcements."
"Our individual combat capabilities are far inferior to those of the Japanese. The Japanese only need to send a small unit to deal with us, while their main force can march normally."
"In this situation, it would be better if we went against their wishes and took advantage of their belief that we wouldn't dare to openly confront them. We could ambush them in the Dawangzhuang area and catch them off guard," Li Yunfei explained.
"Commander, Tang Xiaohu sent back intelligence that the puppet troops following the Imperial Army are also quite strong, so I still think it's too risky."
"Political Commissar, you don't know this, but I had already led people to dig ambush fortifications in Dawangzhuang. I was thinking that we would have an opportunity to ambush the Japanese devils here in the future, and this time it really came in handy."
"One more thing, Xiaowangzhuang is at the foot of the mountain. If we can't beat them, we can run into the mountains. This Japanese force's goal is to support Sanjiaji, so they have no intention of pursuing us."
"I didn't expect you to plan so far ahead, Lao Li. Okay, we'll do it your way. We'll hold off the Japanese in Dawangzhuang." In the end, Zhao Xiaogang nodded in agreement.
"By the way, Lao Li, did you send the First Battalion to Dawangzhuang ahead of time because you planned to block the Japanese devils here?" Zhao Xiaogang suddenly remembered that when the troops were being assigned, he was curious as to why the First Battalion and the artillery company were all placed in the Dawangzhuang area.
Now he fully understood that Li Yunfei had never intended to delay the Japanese troops through guerrilla warfare.
"Haha, the political commissar still found out about my little scheme. I sent them there so they could prepare in advance."
"In that case, let's go to Dawangzhuang immediately to direct the battle."
"Let's go." After saying that, Li Yunfei followed Zhao Xiaogang to the front line of Dawangzhuang.
"Comrades, hurry up and make sure the position is repaired."
"Yes."
"Zhou Zhengbiao, how's the landmine placement going?" Li Yunfei called out.
"Commander, I've planted landmines all along this one-mile stretch of road in front of us, just waiting for the Japanese devils to come and give them a good taste of their own medicine."
"Keep a record of how many landmines you used. After the war, I'll ask Commander Tang and the others for reimbursement. Their militia is big and powerful; they won't miss out on our little bit of stuff," Li Yunfei said with a smile.
"Don't worry, Commander, I've already memorized it."
"it is good."
"I'll leave the frontal defense to your battalion. I have high hopes for you."
"Commander, don't worry. All the best weapons and soldiers in our regiment are with me. I guarantee we'll win this battle."
"Okay, I'll have the mortar company support you then."
"Yes, Captain."
"Time is running out, so get ready as soon as possible. This is going to be a tough battle."
"Yes, Captain."
"I'm going to inspect the other positions." With that, Li Yunfei led Dapeng toward the other positions.
Half an hour later, the commander of the third battalion of the independent regiment ran back.
"Reporting to the regimental commander, the main force of the Japanese army is about to arrive, and our 3rd Battalion has not been able to play a role."
"Yes, I know. Right now, your Third Battalion is serving as a reserve force, ready to support the soldiers at the front at any time."
"Yes, Captain."
"Reporting, Commander! Scouts at the front report that the Japanese have stepped on a landmine."
"Alright, everyone prepare for battle."
At Li Yunlong's command, the soldiers of the Independent Regiment mobilized and took up their respective defensive positions.