Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 112 Lianggou Coal Mine
From a topographical point of view, the location of Lianggou Village is very important. It is an important transportation route heading west from Zhongshan, and it is also a big lock used by the Japanese to blockade the Zhongshan guerrillas.

On the top of the mountain, Chen Chengxing used a telescope to observe the situation in Lianggou Village in the distance. However, because the puppet army had built many artillery towers and bunkers around the coal mine, Chen Chengxing could not get close, so he could not see clearly.

"What's the situation with this group of puppet troops?" Chen Chengxing asked.

"The leader of this group of puppet troops is called Gao Donglei. He was originally a regiment commander of the 29th Army of the Guo Army. After he defected to the Japanese, he was appointed commander of the 103rd Army of the North China Security Army. However, although it is called the 103rd Army, there are actually not that many people, only about 2 people, divided into three regiments and some direct-affiliated teams." said Cao Ze, captain of the 3th Guerrilla Battalion.

The main opponent of the 103th Guerrilla Team in the Zhongshan area was the rd Army. The guerrillas fought many battles with this group of puppet troops, and many guerrilla comrades died at the hands of this group of puppet troops.

"About 2 people? All here?" Chen Chengxing gestured to Cao Ze to continue.

"They are all in this area. After Gao Donglei became a traitor, he seized the Lianggou Coal Mine and established a headquarters in Lianggou Village. The villagers of Lianggou Village were either driven away or forced to mine after being captured. The original mine owner Zhang Anshun was also angered to death."

The Lianggou Coal Mine is a famous large coal mine in the area. It relies on machine mining and produces more than 600 tons of coal per day. There is also a special train connecting to the Tongpu Railway.

"Ever since Gao Donglei defected to the Japanese, the common people around here have been in bad luck. This group of puppet troops have been exploiting the common people in their sphere of influence at will, with various charges such as security maintenance fees, imperial army hospitality fees, horse feed fees, and even eldest daughter fees. The list is so numerous that it is outrageous.

If anyone showed any resistance during the payment, the puppet army would immediately accuse them of "collaborating with the Eighth Route Army." If they were caught in Lianggou Village, they would have no chance of survival. The local people hated them to the core."

When Cao Ze said this, he was so angry that his teeth were itching. This Gao Donglei was really worse than a beast.

"Go on, tell me about the arsenal." Chen Chengxing was very calm.

These guys are going to die soon, there's no need to bother with the dead.

"Arsenal? Yes! This group of puppet soldiers have been working wholeheartedly for the Japanese, so the Japanese will respond to their every request." Cao Ze said.

"In addition to providing Gao Donglei with the necessary guns and ammunition, the Japanese also shipped them a lot of gun-making equipment from Taiyuan. This arsenal can at least produce rifles and light machine guns. I also heard that there are Japanese gun-making experts in this arsenal, who were specially sent by the Japanese to guide production."

"Come here, bring a light machine gun and a rifle." Cao Ze turned his head and called.

When the 9th Guerrilla Team was fighting against this group of puppet troops, they seized weapons made by the puppet troops themselves, but the quantity was not large. According to the captured puppet troops, Gao Donglei was preparing to recruit soldiers, and the weapons produced by the gun factory were to be used to equip the new recruits.

There was nothing special about the light machine gun that Cao Ze brought over. It was a standard imitation of the Czech ZB26, which is also the most widely used light machine gun in China.

But the rifle in front of him was the first time Chen Chengxing had seen it.

"This gun" Chen Chengxing said he didn't understand what model it was.

The gun in Chen Chengxing's hand is similar in length and structure to the Type 7.92 rifle, but its bolt is similar to the Type rifle, and its caliber is also mm. It looks like two types of guns put together.

"Have you ever used this gun in actual combat? How is its performance?" Chen Chengxing asked.

"It's okay, better than the Hanyang rifle, but its accuracy cannot be compared with the Type 38 rifle." Cao Ze said.

In any case, this type of rifle fires 79 pointed bullets, which are much more effective than round-nosed bullets.

"I didn't expect that a small puppet soldier could be so capable." Chen Chengxing returned the gun to the soldier and signaled them to go back.

Normally, even if the puppet army has an arsenal, it will mainly focus on imitation and is unlikely to make changes, because change means instability.

Although the Japanese engineers contributed to this, this must have been Gao Donglei's request. Chen Chengxing believed that the Japanese would not cause trouble for him for no reason. Wouldn't it be good to make money without doing anything?
"Captain, Gao Donglei is very arrogant."

Zeng Ze then pointed to a hill in the distance and said, "Look, Gao Donglei built a large stronghold in Lianggou Village. Inside, he built a square main bunker as his headquarters. There are many small bunkers and trench walls around it. There are tunnels dug under the small bunkers that lead directly to the puppet army headquarters, and the firepower of the bunkers can also cross each other."

"Then around the Lianggou Coal Mine, Xicha Mountain, Huangpo Village, Mashan, Yangshugou Village, and Qiantou Village, there were also artillery towers and bunkers built by the puppet army, adding up to more than a dozen."

"The puppet army used these artillery towers and their equipment advantages to harass us and even sent troops to hunt down anti-Japanese cadres and masses in nearby areas."

"Moreover, Gao Donglei also announced that no matter how the Eighth Route Army attacks, they will not be able to return."

After listening to Zeng Ze's introduction, Chen Chengxing said disdainfully: "Don't be afraid of his rampant behavior, I will make a list for him today!"

"Zeng Ze, are there any of our fortress households nearby?" Chen Chengxing asked.

They could not confirm the specific situation of the puppet army by simply observing from the outside, so they had to find a way to sneak in and observe.

If we could know how many puppet troops were inside Lianggou Coal Mine and their firepower deployment before the attack, we could launch the attack according to the well-reconnaissanceed route.

This can shorten the battle time and reduce combat casualties.

"Yes, there are fortress households in Jiazhuang." Zeng Ze nodded.

Wherever their guerrillas arrived at a place, the first thing they did was to develop stronghold households, otherwise it would be difficult for them to carry out activities.

"Let's go to Jiazhuang." Chen Chengxing said.

"Yes!"

Chen Chengxing and his companions changed their clothes and followed Zeng Ze into a house in the northeast corner of Jiazhuang. "Captain, this is Uncle Jia; Uncle Jia, this is our Captain Chen," Zeng Ze introduced briefly.

"Hello, Uncle Jia. I want to thank you for your support for our Eighth Route Army." Chen Chengxing shook hands with Uncle Jia.

The guerrillas were able to operate behind enemy lines, and the fortress households played a very important role.

"We are all Chinese. No matter who fights the Japanese, I will support them!" Uncle Jia affirmed.

His son was killed by the Japanese, so he hated the Japanese and traitors to the core.

After the two talked for a few sentences, Chen Chengxing finally stated his purpose.

"Uncle Jia, do you know about the nearby Lianggou coal mine? How can we sneak into the Lianggou stronghold without arousing the puppet army's suspicion?"

"You want to sneak into the stronghold? That's not difficult." Uncle Jia said, "You just need to disguise yourself as merchants who want to buy coal for business."

Jiazhuang is close to Lianggou Village, and Lianggou Coal Mine has existed for many years, and people are often seen coming to buy coal.

"But you have to change your clothes. The merchants who buy coal usually dress quite luxuriously and are very generous with their money. The most important thing is that you have to understand the price of coal, so that you can have smooth sailing in Lianggou Coal Mine." Grandpa Jia added.

He had brought big bosses who bought coal to Lianggou Village before and was familiar with the process.

"That's easy. I can pretend to be the boss." Chen Chengxing said confidently.

He is familiar with three hundred Tang poems, even if he can't write poems, he can chant.

Chen Chengxing, who has watched countless dramas about domineering CEOs, said that it is difficult for him to pretend to be a grandson, but it is very easy to pretend to be a boss.

"No, no." Xu Wu and several guerrilla captains nearby changed their expressions and tried to stop him.

If the political commissar knew that they let the regiment commander go deep into the enemy's lair, he would skin them alive.

"Are you the team leader, or am I the team leader? Is it your turn to say no?" Chen Chengxing said unhappily.

"Captain, no matter what you say today, it will be useless." Xu Wu shook his head like a drum.

No matter what, he couldn't let Chen Chengxing take risks. If something happened, everyone present would suffer a bad ending.

"You!" Chen Chengxing was almost angry to death. How dare you commit treason?

Zeng Ze on the side said: "Captain, if you go this time, I'm afraid the political commissar will have to follow you all the time in the future, then..."

Zeng Ze didn't finish his words, but Chen Chengxing understood what he meant. Once Monkey King puts on the tight hoop, it will be difficult to take it off.

Chen Chengxing felt a little helpless when he heard what Luo Ping said. Of course, Chen Chengxing was not afraid of Luo Ping, but of the brigade commander. Once the brigade commander knew about this, his life would be difficult in the future.

"It's not that I have to go, the main reason is that none of you looks like the boss." Chen Chengxing said.

"Captain, I have a candidate." Xiao Yi, the captain of the 5th Guerrilla Team, suddenly spoke up.

"Hurry up and tell me, hurry up and tell me." Xu Wu said anxiously, as long as he could suppress the captain's idea.

"Our Fifth Brigade is mainly active in Wuyi County. The Wuyi County Brigade now has about 100 people. Their captain is Li Chishui. He is brave and smart, and people nickname him Li Dabenshi. There will definitely be no problem if we let him go." Xiao Yi said.

"Okay, okay, let him go." Chen Chengxing waved his hand.

Although Chen Chengxing is the head of the group, he cannot have the final say. If all his subordinates oppose him, he cannot force his way into anything.

Moreover, Chen Chengxing has also watched this TV series and he approves of Li Dabenshi's intelligence.

Hearing that Chen Chengxing no longer asked them to go, everyone immediately went to prepare.

Even if Li Chishui is smart, he still needs to have the necessary data, and at least he needs to have a clear understanding of the situation related to coal.

After Li Chishui was called to Jiazhuang, he immediately began to cram for the exam.

Following Uncle Jia's instructions, I began to imitate and learn seriously.

At the same time, the guerrilla fighters also ran to Guozhuang Station on the Tongpu Railway to inquire about the situation of coal.

The coal from Lianggou Coal Mine can only be transferred to the freight train of Tongpu Railway after being transported to Guozhuang by small train. There are many coal-carrying trains running on Tongpu Railway on weekdays, so the people here are more familiar with the situation of coal.

After a day of intensive study, the next morning, Li Chishui brought a few soldiers to Lianggou Village under the introduction of Uncle Jia.

(End of this chapter)