Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 349 Bring it to you
On the 9th, the Central Committee issued the order for a major counter-offensive.

The Second New Regiment also moved closer to the Japanese-controlled area, but Chen Chengxing showed no intention of launching an attack.

August 15th.

Chen Chengxing didn't go anywhere that day; he stayed at the temporary regimental headquarters.

At noon, Zhou Weiguo, who was listening to the radio, suddenly stood up.

"The Japanese have surrendered," Zhou Weiguo said, somewhat incredulously.

"What did you say?" The person next to him wondered if he had misheard.

"On the radio, in the Japanese broadcast, the Japanese 'Heavenly Locust' announced unconditional surrender!"

Zhou Weiguo pointed at the radio and shouted.

Now the entire regimental headquarters could hear it clearly.

After a brief silence, everyone instantly erupted in excitement.

"Victory!"

"We've won!"
Just as everyone was jumping and dancing, Chen Chengxing stood up.

"Quiet!"

The crowd stopped celebrating and looked at Chen Chengxing.

"Now is not the time to be happy."

"Give me the order!"

"The Independent Regiment and the Supplementary Regiment shall immediately accept the surrender of Luyang!"

"The Second and Third Independent Regiments took over Luye; the Fourth and Fifth Independent Regiments took over Xinkou."

"If the Japanese refuse to surrender, attack directly without asking for permission!"

"First Battalion, Second Battalion, Third Battalion, come with me to Wuyi County!"

"Yes!" everyone responded.

Just then, the telegraph operator ran in with a telegram.

"Commander, we have received a clear message from the Second War Zone Command."

"The command ordered all Eighth Route Army troops to remain in place and not to accept the surrender of the Japanese army without authorization!"

Everyone's eyes immediately turned to Chen Chengxing.

"Secondary Zone? And what the hell is the command headquarters?"

"Did Yan Xishan ever pay me a single penny in military pay?"

"Now you remember you're the superior officer?"

"I want to eat shit!"

"Everyone, move out immediately!" Chen Chengxing commanded.

Let alone Yan Xishan, even if Chiang Kai-shek sent a telegram directly to the New Second Regiment, he wouldn't pay any attention to it.

Just kidding, they're nowhere to be seen during wartime, but they're faster than anyone else at looting.

"Yes!"

Upon meeting Chen Chengxing, Mori Tomoro readily handed over his command sword to Chen Chengxing.

“Chen Sang, you were right, it’s been less than a week.”

"Defeat in war and national subjugation and genocide are two different things," Chen Chengxing said.
After casually handing the command sword to Xu Wu beside him, Chen Chengxing suddenly asked:
"Mr. Mori, how are the preparations going?"

"Everything is ready, right at the train station." Tomoro Mori nodded.

Since we're going to help, let's go all the way.

"Thank you, Mori-kun."

"I'll leave the rest to Mori-kun at the barracks. But don't worry, the Fourth Division's supplies will not be lacking."

Mouri Tomoro didn't say much, but after standing at attention and bowing his head, he took the initiative to lead the team towards the barracks.

"Xu Wu, you will stay in Wuyi County with the First Brigade and be responsible for coordinating the work in Luye, Xinkou and Wuyi County."

"We must prevent the Kuomintang troops from Suiyuan from entering along the railway," Chen Chengxing instructed.

"Don't worry!" Xu Wu nodded.

"The rest of you, follow me!"

Inside Wuyi County Railway Station, two freight trains are quietly resting on the tracks.

White smoke billowed from the locomotive's chimney.

"Get in the car!"

"The guard company will take control of the vehicle's cab," Chen Chengxing ordered.

"yes!".
The locomotive crew members waiting beside the locomotive had a slight look of surprise in their eyes.

They had never seen such disciplined troops.

During the pedaling process, only the sound of footsteps could be heard; no other extraneous sounds could be heard.

Even the Japanese army when they first entered Shanxi could not do this.

As for the Japanese army later on, needless to say.

"Comrades, how can we help you?"

Several guards walked up to the locomotive crew and saluted them.

"Oh, no need, no need, we're all ready." The group waved their hands repeatedly.

I had heard that the Eighth Route Army was well-disciplined, but I never imagined it was this good.

They've been doing this for so many years. In the past, it was considered good if they didn't get scolded. Now, people are even saluting them?

"Hey guys, hurry up and get started!" the leader immediately called out.

"Get on the bus! Get on the bus!"
The crew members felt that they were two points stronger than usual.

"Woo~woo~".
A dozen minutes later, the two trains departed from Wuyi County Railway Station one after the other.

Then it began to gradually accelerate.

It is more than 70 kilometers from Wuyi County to Taiyuan.

If it were on foot, even a forced march, it would take two days.

However, it only took less than three hours by train to reach Taiyuan Railway Station.

"What's going on? Didn't they say the Japanese surrendered? Why are there still trains coming?"

The staff at Taiyuan Railway Station were somewhat puzzled.

"Never mind that, let's guide the train into the station first."

"Place them at Station 1 and Station 2 respectively."

Guided by the authorities, the train slowly glided into the station.

With a hiss, the train came to a stop.

"Bang!"

The train doors were pushed open forcefully.

"Quick! Action!"

"Seize the entry points into the city immediately!"

The troops in the first vehicle immediately moved out quickly in company units.

The station staff stared dumbfounded at the Eighth Route Army soldiers filing out, unsure of what to do. But the soldiers clearly had no time to pay them any attention.

The Second New Regiment's actions to seize key positions were not hindered in any way.

The Japanese soldiers inside the bunker readily surrendered their weapons.

It's obvious that Tomoro Mori gave them advance notice.

Of course, this is also related to the temperament of the Fourth Division.

The battle is over, and the locusts have already surrendered.

Want them to keep risking their lives? Dream on!
However, the arrival of the new Second Regiment also disrupted the peace in Taiyuan.

"Sir, something terrible has happened! The Eighth Route Army has entered the city!" Yamaoka Michifumi rushed into the command post in a panic.

The people who had been sitting dejectedly in the command post immediately raised their heads.

"The Eighth Route Army? Where did this Eighth Route Army come from?!" Yoshio Shinotsuka exclaimed urgently.

The General Headquarters of the Chinese Expeditionary Army has sent a telegram demanding that all units surrender to the Guo army.

What's going on with the Eighth Route Army entering the city now?

"The situation is unclear at the moment. All we know is that they arrived in Taiyuan by train, and there are more than 5,000 of them!"

"Why didn't the city defense troops stop us?" Yoshio Shinotsuka demanded angrily.

Isn't this putting him on the hot seat?
Yan Xishan sent him a letter, saying that as long as he surrendered to him, he would receive great benefits.

"Bring Yoshida Nobuhiro to me!" Yoshio Shinotsuka ordered.

The defense of Taiyuan was the responsibility of the 37th Regiment of the 4th Division, and Yoshida Nobuhiro was the regimental commander.

A few minutes later, Nobuhiro Yoshida ran over.

"Sir!" Yoshida Nobuhiro stood at attention as he entered the room.

"Colonel Yoshida! My orders are to surrender to the Kuomintang army. Why are the city defense troops not stopping the Eighth Route Army?" Yoshio Shinotsuka asked.

"Reporting, sir, the 37th Regiment surrendered to the 18th Group Army of the National Revolutionary Army precisely on your orders!"

Nobuhiro Yoshida replied loudly.

At this moment, the headquarters was completely silent.

Yoshio Shinotsuka opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Was Nobuhiro Yoshida's answer wrong? Strictly speaking, no.

Regardless of the actual situation, the Eighth Route Army is indeed still part of the Kuomintang army.

It's just that people automatically divide them into two groups in their everyday conversations.

"Colonel Yoshida, forget what happened before. I now order you to immediately organize a counterattack and drive the Eighth Route Army out of Taiyuan!" Yoshio Shinotsuka commanded.

"Sorry sir!"

Nobuhiro Yoshida's attention stance is very standard.

"As per Tianhuang's orders, the battle is over!"

"Of course, if Sky Locust issues new orders, the 37th Regiment is willing to fight for Sky Locust's honor!"

How much are Yoshio Shinotsuka's orders worth? The Eighth Route Army paid for them.

One must be honest and trustworthy!

The headquarters fell into a deathly silence once again.

Yoshio Shinotsuka was so angry that his eyes turned red and he was breathing heavily through his nose.

But he couldn't do anything about Yoshida Nobuhiro.

The other party's reasoning was so perfect.

Can Yoshio Shinotsuka produce the Heavenly Locust's order?

It's obvious that it's not possible.

Faced with the stalemate, Nobuhiro Yoshida was not in a hurry at all.

He stood there motionless, maintaining a respectful posture.

Time passed slowly, and Yoshio Shinotsuka finally slumped weakly into a chair.

In wartime, he could immediately order the military police to take Yoshida Nobuhiro out and shoot him.

But now the war is over.

Even if the military police still obeyed him, he couldn't command the 37th Regiment.

Without the heavy weapons of the 37th Regiment, the hundreds of military police would be sent to their deaths.

Without orders to retaliate, even if some Japanese soldiers in Taiyuan wanted to resist, they couldn't make much of a fuss.

Or rather, the new Second Regiment couldn't be happier for them to rebel, because only in this way could they legitimately eliminate them.

Moreover, these people died in vain, without receiving a single penny of compensation.

However, such foolish people are still in the minority.

An hour later, the Second New Regiment completed its control of Taiyuan.

"Sun Desheng, you will lead the cavalry battalion to take control of the steel mill, chemical plant, and arsenal north of Taiyuan City."

"Not a single plant or tree inside can be damaged."

"Furthermore, the safety of the factory workers and technicians must be guaranteed, including the Japanese."

"If anything goes wrong, I'll shoot you!"

"yes!".
Compared to the Fourth Division or even the First Army, Chen Chengxing's real target was the heavy industry and technical personnel in Taiyuan.

Despite the fact that Taiyuan's heavy industry suffered multiple blows after its fall, Taiyuan's situation remains unchanged.

However, as far as China is concerned, there is no place where weapons can be produced independently from scratch.

Besides Shenyang, Taiyuan is another one to consider.

Once truly heavy equipment is in place, it cannot be moved.

Of course, due to the shortage of supplies for the Japanese, the factories were not fully operational.

But as soon as things are cleaned up, production can resume immediately.

In 42, the Taiyuan Ironworks alone produced 1 tons of crude steel and 5 tons of pig iron.

And what about the Kuomintang's steel production? By 45, when they had a complete advantage across the board, they were all bankrupt.

With Taiyuan under their control, the Eighth Route Army could produce lathes and then rapidly expand its influence.

Historically, Yan Xishan only controlled Taiyuan and its surrounding areas in Shanxi; he had nothing else.

However, he produced more than 2,000 pieces of equipment in just one and a half years.

At its peak, production reached 3,000 rifles, 200 light machine guns, and 80 mortars per month.

Monthly production capacity: 8 million bullets, 150,000 hand grenades, and 50,000 mortar shells.

Moreover, with the assistance of Japanese engineers, they copied the Type 94 mountain gun, with an annual production capacity of fifty guns.

Regardless of the quality of the imitation, something is better than nothing.

This is just Taiyuan alone.

Chen Chengxing could hardly believe it: taking over the resources of Shanxi, combining them with the equipment in Taiyuan, and adding the buff from our Party.

What kind of energy will ultimately be unleashed?

(End of this chapter)