Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 108: If you can eat, you can be a guard

Taiyuan, First Army Headquarters.

Kiyoshi Katsuki's head was about to explode when he looked at the information about attacks in various places on the table.

The situation was a little better in the first half of the year, but now the Eighth Route Army is raiding more and more people.

Eight to ten reports of attacks are submitted every day.

And there will always be casualties every time. If the dead are from the Locust Association, it would be fine, but there will always be reports of casualties of the Locust Army.

It would be easy to deal with if someone really died, and it would be all over. However, those who stepped on landmines or traps would most likely not die, which would consume a lot of medical resources.

Moreover, the troops have to take care of the wounded soldiers who cannot fight. Now is a war time. If they cannot fight and are thrown back to their homeland to fend for themselves, who would work for Tianhuang?
Bushido is to face death with equanimity, but it does not mean to face begging with equanimity.

Katsuki Seiji put down the battle report, looked at Okabe Naosaburo and said, "Okabe-kun, this won't work. Although there are only a few casualties every day, over the years, this is not a small number. We must respond."

"Sir, what do you think?" asked Naosaburo Okabe.

The life and death of the Locust Army was not included in the conversation between the two.

"Wuhan is located in the Jianghan Plain, the intersection of the Pinghan and Yuehan railways. Originally, according to the headquarters' plan, the locust army needed to seize Wuhan in a short period of time and then force the Chinese government to surrender before the New Year."

"But up to now, the war has been going on for more than two months, and the progress on the front line has not been satisfactory."

"And because all the troops in North China were transferred to the front line, a large number of hostile armed forces appeared in the rear area occupied by our army, which has seriously affected the rule of our army." said Kiyoshi Kozuki.

The Wuhan War really involved too much energy. As far as Shanxi was concerned, except for a few kilometers of areas on both sides of the Tongpu Line and Zhengtai Line that could be guaranteed safe, other places were full of Eighth Route Army troops.

This is extremely unfavorable to the locust army's rule.

"Sir, this is the decision of the headquarters. It is the duty of a soldier to obey orders." Okabe Naosaburo heard the complaint from Seiji Kozuki and reminded him.

"I know that. What do you think about the current situation?" Katsuki Seiji waved his hand and chose to skip the previous topic.

Seeing that Kazuki Seiji no longer mentioned Wuhan, Okabe Naosaburo suggested, "Sir, if you just want to reduce the casualties of the locust army, then it's easy. Just recruit more locust soldiers."

"Tell me in detail." Katsuki Seiji became interested. He just wanted to reduce the casualties of the locust army.

"Sir, the Locust Army now has a large number of captured weapons, and these weapons are of varying quality and calibers. We simply cannot use them.

But if we take out these weapons, we can recruit armed forces on a large scale. At that time, those unimportant places can be completely handed over to the Locust Alliance Army to garrison.

The locust army only needs to concentrate its forces to ensure the safety of the county town and transportation lines." said Okabe Naosaburo.

At present, the locust troops in Shanxi are basically reorganized from the surrendered Chinese army, but what Okabe Naosaburo wants is to recruit a large number of new locust troops.

This will not only strengthen the locust army's rule, but also balance the influence of the current locust alliance army.

As for the light weapons needed for recruiting soldiers, Naosaburo Okabe said he would have as many as needed.

Not to mention the weapons seized by the Locust Army when it occupied Shenyang, which were enough to arm 20 divisions. The weapons seized from the battlefield during the attack on Taiyuan alone were enough to recruit tens of thousands of Locust Army soldiers.

With a force of tens of thousands of people, they can be used as the main force for any patrol and mopping-up missions. Even if there are casualties, it doesn't matter. It's just a matter of recruiting more.

Moreover, as long as we control the ammunition supply, we don't have to worry about these people having any intentions. Even if the rifle is seized by the Eighth Route Army, it doesn't matter. A rifle without bullets is just a firewood stick.

"Hey Nishi Okabe-kun, your idea is very good." Katsuki Seiji nodded.

"But we can still build more strongholds and artillery towers. According to the battle report, these Eighth Route Army has basically no ability to attack. The Locust Association can fully utilize the strongholds and artillery towers for defensive blockades. Bunkers can also be built on the walls of various county towns. This can greatly improve our army's defense capabilities." Katsuki Seiji added.

"Yes! What the commander said is right." Okabe Naosaburo looked educated.

Who wouldn't have thought of building a gun tower? Okabe Naosaburo didn't say anything just to give Kazuki Seiji a chance to show off.

"Yo, then you draft a plan. If I find it's ok, I'll send it to the North China Front Army Headquarters." Kiyoshi Kozuki said with a smile.

"Hai!"

The North China Front Army naturally had no objection to the First Army's request. After all, the troops in Hebei were also doing the same.

Anyway, they are all things that the Locust Army can't use. It doesn't matter even if the combat effectiveness of the Locust Army is weak. We can't expect them to be able to fight.

In Anqiu City, Huang Jinbiao learned that the locust army was asking for soldiers and immediately became interested.

The last time they were captured, out of the more than 200 people of the Anqiu Guard, only less than were left, except for those who were beaten to death on the spot or shot afterwards.

If it weren't for the fact that although he always bullied people, he never fought against the Eighth Route Army or killed ordinary people. In addition, he betrayed the secrets of the Japanese, he would have saved his life.

As for the traitor spy who was betrayed and then caught by the Eighth Route Army, that was his own carelessness and has nothing to do with me, Huang Jinbiao.

Gold Biao didn't care about the number of troops, but with fewer people under his command, he could deduct less military pay.

All in all, the loss is not a small amount.

After leaving the security team, Huang Jinbiao went straight to an underground gambling house. It was not that he wanted to gamble, but that a few gangsters he knew gambled here on weekdays.

As soon as he entered the door, Huang Jinbiao saw several people gambling there.

"Brothers are busy?" Huang Jinbiao said.

"Hey Captain Huang, I was wondering why I heard the crow's cry this morning. It turns out that a distinguished guest has come to visit. Please take a seat. Please take a seat."

"What's that crow calling? That's a magpie!" Huang Jinbiao corrected.

"Whatever Captain Huang says is what it is."

"Okay, okay, I won't waste time talking to you. I'm here to find you something good." Huang Jinbiao didn't care too much. It was good enough for these people to get to know an old crow.

"Good thing? What good thing?"

"I just received an order from the Locust Army to recruit soldiers to supplement the organization. I thought this is a great thing, so I came to find you." Huang Jinbiao said.

"Captain Huang, it's not that we look down on ourselves, but with our level, we're afraid we can't be soldiers." Several thugs said in embarrassment.

Even though Huang Jinbiao is fat and big-eared now, he was the best wrestler in Anqiu back then and a famous figure in Anqiu City. They can't compare to him.

Hearing what several people said, Huang Jinbiao didn't care at all. Did they ask you to come here to fight with the Eighth Route Army?

"What's the point of talking about your level? If it's your turn, you should buy some clothes first and owe the two dollars a month."

"Ah?" Several people were confused. What was owed?

"Ah, it's 2 dollars a month." Huang Jinbiao quickly changed his words.

As for the issue of withholding military pay, we will deal with it after they join the army. At that time, if they are not paid, they will not dare to ask Japan for it.

"Captain Huang, we really can't do this. We don't know how to do it."

"Is there anything you can't do? Let me ask you, can you eat?" Huang Jinbiao asked.

"Look at what you said. We are so old, how can we not know how to eat?"

"Soldiers eat food, eat food and become soldiers. Well, if you know how to eat, you can work in the security team." Huang Jinbiao said with a smile.

"But we really don't know how to fight, and we can't stand the training."

"You don't understand this, right? I tell you, no matter how good a gun is, it's not as good as a good pair of legs. When we in the garrison go to war, we never care about the quality of the gun. We only blame our parents for giving us two fewer legs."

"All you need is to be able to run!" Huang Jinbiao said firmly.

Training? What the hell!

Who will train with you? You might as well find a place to sleep if you have that much time.

"Ah? So simple?" Several people were shocked. Can they be a security team just like that?

"Just trust me. Come to the security team to find me tomorrow and I will take you to work." Huang Jinbiao said, patting his chest.

"Thank you, Captain Huang."

"What Captain Huang, Big Brother, call me Big Brother."

"Yes, yes, brother, brother."

“Okay, okay, you can call me whatever you want. It’s all fine.” Huang Jinbiao didn’t care at all about what they called him. He might have to recruit soldiers again soon, so he could call them whatever they wanted.

"You guys continue playing. I have something else to do, so I'll leave first." Huang Jinbiao stood up and said.

"Take care, bro."
After Huang Jinbiao left this place, he hurried to the next place. He was very busy. Recruiting one more soldier meant more money, and his voice would also be louder in Anqiu City.

(End of this chapter)