Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 166 I am still slightly inferior to Crouching Dragon and Phoenix
After listening to the reconnaissance platoon's report, everyone in the temporary command center looked at each other in confusion, as they did not understand the Japs' actions.

"Old Chen, do you think the Japanese have received an order to retreat?" Luo Ping asked with some confusion.

We have fought so many battles, big and small, with the Japanese, but have never encountered a situation like this.

"It's impossible that they received the order to retreat." Chen Chengxing shook his head: "The Japanese are not retreating in large strides now, but have re-stationed in Xiaoliu Village."

It's not dark yet. If the Japanese really want to retreat, they can continue to retreat.

Chen Chengxing's insight has now reached level 4, and he can easily see through plans like Mizuhara Kosuke's.

"I think the Japanese are setting up a confusing array and want to attack us when we are not paying attention." Chen Chengxing said, "How about this, the main force of the New Second Regiment continues to set up an ambush in Tujialing, and the guerrillas deploy defenses at the various passes in the mountainous area. I want to see what the Japanese are up to."

No matter what conspiracies and tricks the Japanese are playing, they will always go into the mountains. This will not change. As long as we grasp the core purpose of the Japanese, we can naturally deal with it calmly.

Under Chen Chengxing's order, each unit began to act on its own, and the reconnaissance platoon paid close attention to the movements of the Japanese.

In the middle of the night, Xiaoliu Village, which had fallen into silence, suddenly became noisy again.

Mizuhara Kosuke led the Japanese troops and carefully returned to Tanzhuang under the cover of night.

Looking at the quiet environment around him, Mizuhara Kosuke said proudly: "The Eighth Route Army is just like this. We only need to use a little trick to play with them in the palm of our hands."

Kiyohiro Ozawa immediately began to praise him: "The captain's strategy is so ingenious that only Crouching Dragon and Phoenix can be compared with it!"

"Hahahaha, you're too kind, Ozawa-kun. I'm still slightly inferior to Crouching Dragon and Phoenix Chick, slightly inferior." Mizuhara Kousuke said with a smile.

What Mizuhara Kosuke likes most is to be compared with Wolong, and Ozawa Kiyohiro's flattery has scratched his itch.

This was a plan he had thought of after much effort and racking his brains, and there was also a follow-up.

However, just when Mizuhara Kosuke thought he had evaded the Eighth Route Army that was besieging him, the Japs' every move was under the control of the New Second Regiment.

Listening to the scouts constantly reporting the latest movements of the Japanese, Luo Ping was a little surprised and said, "Damn, the Japanese are really setting up a confusing array and actually came back to attack with a surprise move."

If the New Second Regiment had retreated before, the Japanese might have directly attacked Hongni Bay.

It is not easy to organize a defense or an ambush in a hurry.

"I guess the Japanese must have thought that we were retreating. This is a good opportunity to let them know what it means to turn the tables on their opponent." Chen Chengxing said with a smile.

"Tell all the machine gun companies and artillery companies in the regiment, once the battle begins, hit hard! Don't save ammunition!"

The Japs are so cunning that the probability of them engaging in a head-on confrontation with the New Second Regiment is low. They will most likely retreat after being ambushed, so the greater the density of the first wave of firepower, the greater the results.

"Yes!"

The soldiers were extremely excited after receiving the order. Since entering Hebei Province, the New Second Regiment had never been at full firepower, and they had long missed the feeling of showering the ground with ammunition.

Moreover, the arsenal has accumulated inventory for several months. Although the arsenal's output has not reached its peak due to raw material reasons, it is enough for the mortars of the New Second Regiment to have a good bombing.

Seeing the Japanese soldiers getting closer and closer, Chen Chengxing raised his pistol and fired a shot into the air.

"boom!"

As Chen Chengxing's gunshots rang out, countless tongues of fire appeared on the Tujialing position.

"Da da da"

Countless bullets were fired at the Japanese vanguard troops that entered the ambush position.

"There's an ambush! Scatter! Scatter!"

"Covering fire!"

"Kill the chicken and give it to me!"

Hearing the sudden gunshots around them, the Japanese captain leading the team immediately shouted.

However, before the Japanese soldiers could respond, a large number of mortar shells fell from the sky.

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!".
The 60mm and 82mm shells knocked the Japanese to the ground and made them unable to move.

Now shrapnel is flying everywhere, and whoever dares to stand will be turned into a sieve.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, the Japanese captain immediately ordered a retreat. Now that the firepower of the Eighth Route Army was so strong, if they continued to stay here they would be killed sooner or later.

After leaving behind more than 200 corpses, the remaining 500-odd devils finally withdrew from the ambush circle.

Looking at the Japanese soldiers fleeing in panic after being beaten, Luo Ping said with emotion: "It's really spectacular! Old Chen, when do you think we can get heavy artillery?"

Luo Ping had seen the power of heavy artillery. If it was heavy artillery that fired just now, these Japs could have retreated 1/4, even if their Sky Locusts were really effective.

"There will be." Chen Chengxing replied.

It's hard to say about the rifled cannon, but Chen Chengxing has already made some ideas about the mortar, except that he hasn't got the materials yet.

Mizuhara Kosuke's face was terribly gloomy as he looked at the First Battalion that was ambushed and retreating in embarrassment.

Just now he was comparing himself to Crouching Dragon and Phoenix, but now he was slapped in the face. He could never have imagined that even though he had withdrawn his troops, the Eighth Route Army was still here and didn't leave.

Fortunately, I was careful and divided the troops into the front and rear armies. If all the troops had rushed in headfirst, the consequences would have been disastrous.

"Haha. The Eighth Route Army does have some ability since they were able to see through my counterattack. But I still have a clever plan!" Mizuhara Kosuke tried to save face.

"Order the artillery squadron to deploy and the second infantry battalion to attack!" ordered Mizuhara Kosuke.

"Hai!"

A few minutes later, the four Type 4 mountain cannons that had been deployed began firing at Tujialing.

"Boom!" "Boom!".
Artillery shells continued to fall on the positions of the New Second Regiment, especially the previous heavy machine gun positions, which were the main targets of the Japanese mountain artillery.

However, after the Japanese retreated, the soldiers had already moved with their heavy machine guns. The Japanese artillery fire only destroyed the surface bunkers on the positions.

Of course, the Japs also knew that the mountain artillery would not have much effect on the Eighth Route Army hiding in the trenches. The purpose of the Japs' artillery was only to help clear obstacles as much as possible for the infantry's attack.

A few minutes later, as the shelling stopped, the Japanese infantry began to attack.

"Kill the chicken and give it to me!"

"Da da da" "Da da da".
Facing the Japanese attack, the New 60nd Regiment responded calmly. The mm mortar could hit all the Japanese firepower. Although it might not be so accurate, the Japanese heavy machine guns had to be moved frequently, otherwise they would be killed by the shells falling from the sky.

The Japanese attacked several times in succession, but never got close to the position of the New Second Regiment.

Looking at the troops retreating again, Mizuhara Kosuke felt that it was almost time, and ordered: "Stop the attack! The troops retreat to Tanzhuang to rest!"

After receiving the news that the Japanese retreated, Luo Ping was somewhat surprised and said, "The Japanese didn't put in much effort, so why did they retreat?"

Except for the initial ambush, which resulted in heavy casualties due to the density of the troops, the subsequent attacks by the Japanese were not smooth, but the casualties were not that heavy.

Now that both sides have not exerted their full strength, the Japanese should continue to attack stubbornly.

"Old Chen, do you think the Japanese don't want to fight at night? Are they preparing to regroup and launch the attack at daybreak?" Luo Ping asked.

"That's possible, but it's probably not the main reason." Chen Chengxing said, "The Japanese can't use their firepower advantage at night, but the mortars of the New Second Regiment can't play their power either."

The 82mm mortars of each battalion did not make any sound except in the first wave of ambush, when they played a huge role because their positions were marked in advance.

In the dark, when the target's location cannot be determined, the farther the weapon can hit, the greater the disadvantage.

The Japanese could not attack the Tujialing position at night, and they could not attack it during the day either.

During the day, after gaining visibility, the 82 mortar can cause great damage to the attacking Japanese infantry. The enemy even has to withstand the bombardment to get within the 200-meter squad attack distance.

After a little contemplation, Chen Chengxing said, "I think the Japs are probably going to do something tricky."

"Send out the communications squad and have all troops be on high alert to prevent the enemy's flanking attacks."

This is the Japanese's third trick. When they cannot break through from the front, they will use a flank attack.

On the other hand, after the Japanese withdrew to Tanzhuang, Mizuhara Kosuke immediately asked someone to find Li Zhengfu, the chairman of Xiaoliu Village's maintenance association.

Mizuhara Kosuke looked at Li Zhengfu and said, "Mr. Li, I need your help with something."

"Madam, please just ask, I will do my best to help."

Li Zhengfu didn't know why Mizuhara Kosuke was looking for him, so he could only go along with what Mizuhara Kosuke said.

"Li Sang, don't be nervous. This matter is very simple."

"I just need you to lead the locust army to take a small path across Laolong Mountain and rush to Hongni Bay. I think that for Li Sang, who has lived in this area for decades, this is not difficult."

Mizuhara Kosuke looked at Li Zhengfu with a smile, but Li Zhengfu knew very well that he had no right to refuse at all.

"Taijun, it is not difficult to cross Laolong Mountain. You only need to go through Yanzi Gorge and Changyu to cross Laolong Mountain."

"But these are small roads, unsuitable for artillery, wagons, or even pack horses."

There are various paths to travel through in Laolong Mountain, and the route Li Zhengfu mentioned is one of the easier ones to travel.

After all, it is impossible for the Japanese to go with only three or five people. If a large army is to march, it is definitely not possible to take a road that is too steep and difficult to walk on.

"Hey, Li Sang, if you can successfully destroy the enemy's nest, you will have made a great contribution and the Locust Army will reward you greatly!"

Mizuhara Kosuke was very satisfied after hearing what Li Zhengfu said. Even if the artillery could not pass, the infantry he had was enough to carry out a surprise attack.

"Hi! Thank you Locust Army for your cultivation!" Li Zhengfu had a smile on his face but was very happy in his heart.

Xiaoliu Village is just outside the New Second Regiment’s base, and Li Zhengfu is very clear about how the Eighth Route Army treats traitors.

Having led the Japanese this time, I am afraid I will never be able to live in Xiaoliu Village again. Moving away with my family is the best outcome.

And I have to move far away. If I am found by the Eighth Route Army, I might die without knowing how I died.

(End of this chapter)