Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Xie Zhibang was overjoyed to receive a clear reply from the division headquarters.

He left the Second Battalion to search the mountains, while he led the rest of the 33rd Regiment southward at breakneck speed.

With this journey, the 33rd Regiment reached the north peak of Bomdila.

Two battalions from the Indian 67th Brigade, dispatched from Tezpur, have not yet arrived in Bomdila.

Therefore, only two battalions of the Indian 48th Brigade are still stationed in Bomdila.

Seeing Xie Zhibang lying on the ground observing through binoculars, Zhang Feng immediately guessed what he was thinking.

"Old Xie, you want to beat up Bondila?"

“That’s right.” Xie Zhibang put down his binoculars and nodded.

"Our mission is to block enemy reinforcements, but does it really matter where we block them?"

"If we can take Bomdila, we will not only immediately have a perfect position, but we can also wipe out a portion of the Indian troops that may come to our aid."

"This is killing two birds with one stone."

"It's not that simple." Zhang Feng shook his head.

“We don’t have much reconnaissance of Bomdila, and we don’t know much about the enemy deployment there.”

"But Bomdila is the most important strategic stronghold for the Indian army, and they will definitely defend it with heavy troops."

Moreover, Zhang Feng was certain that Xie Zhibang would never end the fight after finishing with Bondila.

“I know that,” Xie Zhibang said, pointing to the distant mountain peaks.
“That hill over there is the highest point in Bomdila. If we launch a feint attack there, we will know how many Indian troops there are.”

In modern warfare, whoever occupies the high ground has an absolute advantage.

Therefore, as long as an attack is launched on the high ground, even if it doesn't pose a significant threat, the Indian army will definitely take action.

As long as the Indian army makes a move, the 33rd Regiment may have an opportunity.

Xie Zhibang then ordered: "The mortar company shall establish positions on the spot and be ready to provide fire support at any time."

"The 3rd Battalion will advance covertly, the 7th Company will move to the left flank, and the 8th Company will move to the right flank, forming a pincer attack and advancing alternately."

"Let's poke him a little and see how the Indian army reacts."

Seeing that Xie Zhibang had made up his mind, Zhang Feng said nothing more, and the 33rd Regiment immediately took action.

The Indian troops in Bomdila were at a very low level of vigilance at this time.

Before seeing the fleeing soldiers, the Indian army never imagined that they would be attacked.

In addition, the fog in the mountains was quite thick at this time, so it wasn't until the 7th Company assault team got within a few dozen meters of the Indian troops that the Sikh soldiers on the main peak suddenly realized that someone was coming.

The Indian sentries were taken aback when they saw the central army appearing in the distant mountains.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

The sentry's shouts, gunshots, and alarms rang out almost simultaneously.

The Indian army's heavy machine guns on the main peak of Bomdila immediately began firing fiercely, regardless of where the enemy was.

Seeing the Indian army's position so close at hand, the soldiers of the 7th Company didn't waste any words. They countered with firepower while throwing a large number of grenades.

The Indian army's first line of defense was destroyed in an instant.

However, the second line of fire that followed was also the main position of the Indian army, which made it difficult for the 7th and 8th companies to break through in a short period of time.

Seeing that the offensive at the front was stalled, Xie Zhibang immediately ordered: "The artillery company will provide fire support and take out the enemy's firing points. The First Battalion will flank the enemy from the left and attack their rear positions."

As the battle broke out, another Indian army position was exposed just a few hundred meters behind the main peak of Bomdila.

The two positions were too close together; the heavy machine guns could even hit the flanks of the Third Battalion. Xie Zhibang could not allow the enemy to hinder the assault.

However, the artillery company was in a real bind when it received the order for fire support.

"Company commander, the Indian army's high ground is shrouded in fog. The observation team reports that they are unable to pinpoint the enemy's exact coordinates."

The artillery company commander looked at the surroundings of Bomdila and said with a grim expression, "Damn it, it looks like this fog won't dissipate anytime soon."

"The front line urgently needs support. If we are even a minute late, the number of casualties could increase by several."

"Tell the observation team that no matter what, they must report a coordinate, even if it's just a rough one. As long as the shells hit the Indian troops, it's considered a success."

"Fire a few more shots, and the fog will dissipate sooner or later."

"Yes!"

Having received the company commander's urgent order, the observation team did everything in their power to confirm the coordinates.

At a distance of 1500 meters from the position, visual observation is ineffective for observers. They can only roughly determine the enemy's position by listening to the gunfire of the Indian troops, and then adjust their firing parameters accordingly.

After calculating for a long time, several coordinates were reported to the artillery.

"5 rapid shots!"

"put!"

Due to limited visibility, the artillery battery did not conduct calibrated firing but instead opted for direct fire coverage.

If even one of the 30 shells lands on an Indian firing point, the Indian heavy machine gun will be destroyed.

While the observation team's sound localization wasn't perfectly pinpointed, it was fairly accurate. Furthermore, given that mortars are designed for area-of-effect attacks, the Indian frontline firing positions either stopped firing abruptly, either due to the shelling or the soldiers' fear.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the 7th and 8th companies launched a swift attack, breaking through the enemy's second line of fire and capturing the main peak of Bomdila.

Seeing that the main peak had fallen, the Indian troops in the surrounding bunkers showed no intention of providing support, and the defenders fled one after another.

While the Sikh camp was engaged in fierce fighting, the Madras camp, located only a few hundred meters away, chose to remain indifferent.

"Battalion Commander, judging from the gunfire, the Sikh battalion is in great danger. The central army should have already reached the main peak position."

Battalion Commander Rahul of Madras sneered, "The Sikh battalion is full of arrogant people. Today I'll see how they fight this battle!"

The Sikh soldiers in India usually considered other Indians to be useless, so the Sikh battalion often mocked the Madras battalion.

Therefore, although they all belonged to the 48th Brigade, their relationship was no different from that of enemies.

Let alone providing rescue, simply refraining from taking advantage of someone's misfortune already demonstrates a broad perspective.

If it weren't for military regulations, Madras Battalion would have taken the opportunity to stab the Sikh Battalion in the back long ago.

Just as Rahul was cursing and swearing towards the Sikh camp, a communications soldier ran over.

"Major, the central army has appeared on our left flank, and a small-scale firefight has already broken out."

Upon hearing this, Rahul rushed to the observation window and raised his binoculars.

Scattered central army combat teams could be seen operating on the hilltop.

Rahul asserted, "This is the enemy conducting reconnaissance with fire."

"Tell the heavy weapons company not to fire rashly. Frontline troops should repel the enemy with rifles and light machine guns."

"In addition, call the brigade headquarters, report the situation of our unit, and say that the situation is urgent and request support."

"Report! We can't get through to the brigade headquarters by phone!"

Rahul was furious: "A major battle is about to begin, and to cut off communication at this time is simply a joke."

"Send someone to check the line immediately!"

"Tell the communications platoon that I need to speak with the brigade commander within half an hour!" "Yes, sir!"
Upon receiving the order, the communications platoon leader quickly dispatched additional personnel and also sent someone directly to the brigade headquarters to report the news.

However, to everyone's surprise, Madras Battalion never managed to establish contact with the brigade headquarters.

Because the brigade headquarters has disappeared.

"Can you say that again?!"

Rahul stared at the communications platoon leader with eyes bulging out of their sockets, he could hardly believe his ears.

"Major, it's absolutely true."

The communications platoon leader wore a wry smile; he had already confirmed it three or four times.

“I sent several signalmen, but they all reported that the brigade headquarters and the brigade communications office were completely empty.”

"Bastard! Bastard!" Rahul cursed angrily.

The Sikh battalion has already engaged in large-scale fighting with the central army, and they are unable to withdraw from the battle. The Madras battalion, on the other hand, has not even started fighting yet.

"Pass on my order! The entire army must retreat immediately!" Rahul shouted urgently. "We're heading straight back to Tezpur!"

The brigade headquarters is gone. Let whoever wants to guard Bondila take it. Madras Battalion is not going to serve them anymore.

"yes!".
The 1st Battalion of the 33rd Regiment had already engaged the Indian army, but in the blink of an eye, the Indian army disappeared.

If it weren't for the spent shell casings on the ground, the soldiers would have thought they were dreaming.

Without the Madras Battalion blocking their way, Bomdila fell directly into the hands of the 33rd Regiment, completely sealing off the Sikh Battalion's retreat route.

At this time, a battalion of the 67th Brigade's reinforcements had actually arrived less than 10 kilometers from Bomdila, but the reinforcements stopped immediately after learning that the Sikh battalion had been attacked.

The main reinforcement force then set up camp, ate, and rested on the spot, while only a small reconnaissance unit went forward to monitor the battle situation in real time.

If the Sikh battalion wins, they will rush to the front lines to join the fight as quickly as possible.

If the Sikh battalion loses, they will also turn back and charge as quickly as possible.

After annihilating the Sikh battalion, the 33rd Regiment, feeling like they had just warmed up, chose to press their advantage and pursue the enemy.

The original reserve 9th Company took the lead this time.

After passing through Bondila, the 9th Company didn't see a single enemy. The soldiers didn't waste any time and chose to continue the pursuit.

As a result, less than two kilometers outside of Bomdila, the 9th Company's elite squad was ambushed by Indian troops.

"Report! Company Commander, the advance troops report that the Indian army has already seized positions on both sides of the road, forming a crossfire blockade."

The 9th Company Commander was somewhat surprised, "I didn't expect that there were soldiers in the Indian army who were willing to fight to the death."

"Let the 1st Platoon attack immediately, with the artillery platoon providing artillery cover, and break through the enemy's defenses as quickly as possible."

Since the enemy has set up blocking positions, it means that there must be troops ahead.

At this time, the soldiers of the 9th Company did not know that the Indian troops blocking their way were not a blocking force, but a reconnaissance platoon of the 67th Brigade reinforcements.

According to the plan, the reconnaissance platoon was supposed to enter Bomdila to monitor the battle situation in real time, but they stopped halfway there.

According to the Indian army, once they went to the battlefield, they would likely be caught in the crossfire.

As long as they set up positions along the way, the central army will know when they arrive.

This way, not only would you not have to risk going to the front lines, but you could also easily conduct a short-range attack and report back that you had annihilated over a hundred enemy soldiers.

The Indian army deployed two squads of soldiers to set up firing positions on both sides of the road, creating crossfire.

The platoon leader led another squad as the reserve team.

The Indian army did not expect the 9th Company to have such fierce firepower.

Faced with the suppressive fire of the 9th Company's mortars and general-purpose machine guns, the Indian Army's Bren light machine guns were simply no match and were suppressed so badly that they couldn't even lift their heads.

Under the cover of the fire support platoon, the 1st Platoon of the 9th Company crawled forward rapidly.

When they got within 30 meters, a series of grenades were thrown onto the Indian army's position.

Taking advantage of the instant the grenade exploded, the soldiers of the elite squad leaped up and charged toward the Indian army's position.

Before the smoke from the explosion had even cleared, the soldiers' guns were already pointed at the Indian soldiers' heads.

The 9th Company annihilated two enemy squads with zero casualties. As for the Indian platoon leader and the other squad, they had long since disappeared.

While cleaning up the battlefield, the 9th Company Commander kept stroking his chin as he looked at the two jeeps parked by the roadside.

A soldier standing nearby said, "Company commander, I can drive. I'll be your driver."

"Stop talking nonsense." The 9th Company Commander waved his hand: "I don't want to ride in the vehicle, I just feel that this vehicle is not right."

"Something's not right? Is it broken?"

Seeing the soldier preparing to get down on the ground for inspection, the 9th Company Commander kicked him in the buttocks.

"Get up! I mean the vehicle is facing the wrong way," the 9th Company Commander explained.

"If this were the enemy's rearguard, their vehicles should be facing south, but they are facing north. What does that mean?"

The instructor standing nearby realized what was happening. "You mean, these are Indian reinforcements? They're preparing to march north to reinforce?"

“That’s right!” The 9th Company Commander nodded: “Since they are reinforcements, the main force must be following behind them.”

"We should now take advantage of the enemy's unpreparedness and launch a direct attack on their forces before the deserters return!"

After making the decision, the 9th Company Commander immediately ordered, "Communicator, telegraph your superiors and request immediate support."

"The rest of you, speed up with me!"

The 9th Company advanced rapidly southward in combat formation. Upon receiving the report, the 3rd Battalion and the main force of the 33rd Regiment also set off one after another, urgently advancing southward.

The 33rd Regiment only managed to wipe out one Sikh battalion this time; none of them had a satisfying fight.

Half an hour later, the 9th Company, which had marched five kilometers, saw the Indian army's camp after turning a corner.

A few hundred meters away, a battalion of Indian soldiers were singing, dancing, chatting and laughing as they ate and rested.

Lying on the hilltop, the 9th Company Commander looked at the Indian troops with great delight.

“These Indian troops should be a reinforced battalion, and they are not well prepared.”

"Correspondent, quickly ask the battalion commander where they are. Don't blame the 9th Company for eating alone if it's late."

"No need to ask, I'm already here." As he spoke, the battalion commander walked over to the company commander of the 9th company, panting heavily.

In order to catch up, the entire 3rd Battalion ran as fast as they could.

While observing the situation of the Indian troops, the Third Battalion Commander took a few breaths and said, "The machine gun company and the artillery company have already seized advantageous positions, and the Eighth Company is also in position."

The 9th Company Commander hurriedly said, "Battalion Commander, you can't give this main attack mission to the 8th Company!"

"What are you saying? The 9th Company arrived first, so naturally they'll be the main force. But are the 9th Company's stamina up to par?"

The 9th Company had fought a battle before, and its previous search and suppression missions involved traversing mountains and valleys, unlike the 8th Company which went straight here.

"Don't worry, Battalion Commander, there won't be any problems!" the 9th Company Commander said, patting his chest.

"Alright, go and get ready. The 9th Company will take cover in the front. After the firefight begins, the artillery and machine gun companies will support you."

"Yes!" (End of Chapter)