Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 204: I'll do anything to fight the devils
Xiaogang Village, the temporary headquarters of the New Second Regiment.

"Old Chen, according to the intelligence from the scouts and local comrades, there should be two infantry squadrons, one artillery squadron, one machine gun squad, and an engineer demolition unit of the Japanese Sakamoto Battalion stationed in Mahe Town, a total of more than 2 people, and more than 1 puppet troops."

"Yaotou Village only had one squadron of Japanese soldiers and more than 2 puppet troops, but they had two mountain cannons. As for the other several strongholds in the surrounding area, each had 2 to people."

"There are cars traveling between the two strongholds of Mahe Town and Yaotou Village every day." Luo Ping first explained the current enemy situation.

"There are two mountain cannons in Yaotou Village? Nara Yukio is protecting himself." Chen Chengxing said.

According to the intelligence previously sent by the scouts, the Japanese sent out more than 8 soldiers from Wuyi County, carrying 6 large and small artillery pieces. Chen Chengxing originally thought that all these 6 artillery pieces would be stationed in Mahe Town, but he did not expect that Nara Yukio had a backup plan for him.

Yaotou Village is not a salient like Mahe Town, and the fortifications in Yaotou Village are basically complete, so it is not easy to attack by force. However, the Yaotou Village stronghold belongs to the edge of the New Second Regiment's influence, so it will not be a big deal even if they are kept.

"How advanced are the repairs of the Japanese in Mahe Town now?" asked Chen Chengxing.

"The Japanese have recruited 150 civilians and have now erected three barbed wire fences, but the trenches have not been dug yet and the gun towers have not yet been built."

"We can't wait any longer. The longer we wait, the more disadvantageous it will be for us," Chen Chengxing said affirmatively.

Time is now on the Japanese side. The longer the New Second Regiment delays, the more perfect the Japanese defense will be.

"What do you think?" Luo Ping asked.

"The situation is now clear. The enemy forces in the surrounding strongholds are at most around 900 people."

"But the Japanese can't send out all their forces to rescue us. Apart from the forces left behind, the enemy troops that can come out to reinforce us are at most 500 people. These people only need to be contained by the county brigades to prevent them from sending reinforcements quickly."

"Although there are many Japanese troops in Wuyi County, they are far away. In addition, the guerrilla team 24 is holding them back. Even if we want to provide support, it will be impossible for them to arrive within hours."

"Once the battle of Mahe Town started, the only ones who could provide support in a short period of time were the Japs from Yaotou Village. Together, there were less than 1,400 people on both sides."

"Although the New Second Regiment is not mobilized in full force this time, even if we deduct the Second Guerrilla Team that is going to harass the Japanese reinforcements in Wuyi County, the troops that can participate in the battle are more than 6000 people. We have an absolute advantage." Chen Chengxing said firmly while looking at the map.

The New Second Regiment now not only has an advantage in manpower, but also has good equipment. As long as the tactics are appropriate, the battle can be ended quickly.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Chengxing shouted, "Communicator."

"Have!"

"Order the 2nd Battalion to harass Mahe Town." Chen Chengxing ordered.

"Yes!" The messenger immediately mounted his horse and ran out to deliver the message.

The area around Mahe Town is the Second Battalion's range of activities, so it is easy for them to gather their forces. The Third and Fourth Battalions will be able to arrive tomorrow, but the First Battalion is at the northernmost end of the Zhongyun Mountains and is the farthest away. Chen Chengxing estimates that they will not be able to arrive until the day after tomorrow at the earliest.

Letting the Second Battalion carry out harassment would not only tire out the enemy, but also slow down the enemy's construction speed and buy time for the mobilization of troops.

Ever since the new Second Regiment was equipped, the marching speed of the troops has not been as fast as before. Even with the blessing of special features, the main battalion carrying a lot of heavy weapons has inevitably become slower and slower.

This is also one of the reasons why Chen Chengxing has been reluctant to distribute the infantry artillery directly. The speed of the artillery company is the slowest, and adding two infantry artillery will make it even slower.

Although the New Second Regiment seized a lot of pack horses and draft horses, there was still a big gap compared to the number of troops in the New Second Regiment.

After all, horses will die, especially during high-intensity marches, they can die at any moment.

This is also the reason why the artillery units of the Japanese brigade rely more on manpower to transport their shells. Although human-shaped cattle and horses can carry less, their vitality is really tenacious.

Even the Japanese were like this, not to mention the New Second Regiment which had few veterinarians. Even when attacking Wanjia Town, Chen Chengxing specially brought back a few puppet army veterinarians and made all the arrangements personally.

Besides, the food and fodder needed to raise a horse can feed three soldiers. After Chen Chengxing pulled the horses from Wanjia Town back to Dayun Mountain, even the main force battalions were arranged by Chen Chengxing to the guerrilla zone. The New Second Regiment really couldn't afford to raise too many horses.

In the afternoon, Chen Chengxing and Luo Ping, along with their combat staff, climbed up the nearby Chaijin Mountain.

Standing on the top of the mountain, Chen Chengxing observed the surroundings with a telescope.

Through the telescope, the houses of different heights in Mahe Town and the half-built artillery tower on the nearby high ground are clearly visible.

"The Japs are really fast. If we wait a few more days, the main gun tower can be built." Chen Chengxing said.

The turret was built so quickly that it was definitely not a civil structure. Moreover, the Japanese used cement to build roads, so Chen Chengxing estimated that this turret must be made of concrete, or at least a brick-concrete structure.

Facing the concrete structure of the gun tower, even a 75mm mountain gun would find it difficult to destroy it directly. Just as everyone was carefully observing the situation, a burst of "crackling" gunfire was heard around Mahe Town.

Immediately afterwards, the sound of "boom boom boom" of artillery fire was heard in Mahe Town.

"The Second Battalion is really fast. They have already started the attack." Luo Ping said with a smile.

"Let the Second Battalion greet the Japanese for a while to avoid getting bored. We will formally launch the attack after the First Battalion arrives." Chen Chengxing said casually while looking at Mahe Town.

The Second Battalion is good at night combat. If we let them carry out harassment day and night, the Japanese will have a hard time.

After the Second Battalion's harassment came to a temporary end, Chen Chengxing, Luo Ping and others rode their horses eastward along the ridge, observing as they went.

It was not until the big stone mouth that Chen Chengxing stopped and observed for a while before the others moved forward again.
In the evening, everyone returned to Xiaogang Village.

As soon as we got back to the regiment headquarters, the guards brought a man dressed as a shepherd to report: "Captain, this man took the initiative to come here and said he could provide information about Mahe Town."

"Come in." Chen Chengxing motioned Wei Dayong to bring a stool.

"Captain Chen, my name is Ma Youfu, and the branch secretary sent me here." Ma Youfu saluted as he entered the room. It was obvious that he knew Chen Chengxing.

"Sit down and talk slowly." Chen Chengxing gestured.

"Captain Chen, I heard from the branch secretary that the new Second Regiment is going to attack Mahe Town, right? Our district team is very happy." Ma Youfu said with a naive smile.

"That's true." Chen Chengxing nodded. "Which village are you from?"

"He is from Mahe Town, and he is the team leader of the district team. Our branch secretary is the team leader."

"Are you from Mahe Town? Then do you know where the Japanese live?" Chen Chengxing suddenly became excited.

"Well, there are some in my home, and there are also some in other places. I know them all and can show them to you." Ma Youfu said.

"Okay, it's getting late now, take me to see it tomorrow." Chen Chengxing said happily, "The battle hasn't even started yet, you've already made a contribution."

"As long as it's to fight the Japanese, I dare to do anything! I will lead you during the war!" Ma Youfu affirmed.

Chen Chengxing talked to Ma Youfu for a few more words, and then shouted, "Monk, take Comrade Fu to rest."

"Yes!"

Early the next morning, Ma Youfu, Chen Chengxing and others took advantage of the terrain and trees to quietly approach Mahe Town.

Lying on a hillside, Ma Youfu pointed ahead and said, "Just this barbed wire fence, the Japanese put up three in total."

"Look, the nine big buildings in the center of the town house the Japanese headquarters and most of the Japanese soldiers."

"The Li Family Mill next door is where the Japanese machine gun unit is stationed. There are dozens of light and heavy machine guns."

"However, the Japanese artillery is not placed inside the town, but on the hillside next to it. There are four of them, two large and two small." Ma Youfu said, pointing to the hillside outside the town.

The combat staff officer at the side hurriedly wrote it down on the map. This was very important information. If they didn't know it in advance, if they launched an attack from this direction, they would most likely be attacked from both sides.

The Japanese artillery positions will not only have cannons, but also infantry to defend them.

"There are sentries under the big tree in the north of the town and on the bridge in the east. There should also be secret sentries, but I don't know where they are."

"That's my home. Twenty Japanese devils live there. You can beat them as hard as you can. I will build a new one after you destroy it." Ma Youfu said, pointing to a gray house not far away.

After pointing out several Japanese dormitories that he knew, Ma Youfu stopped introducing.

"Write everything down?" Chen Chengxing looked at the combat staff officer next to him.

"I've made a note of it and have drawn a sketch." The operations staff nodded.

"Okay, let's retreat!"

(End of this chapter)