Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

Chapter 315 Happy Brigade Commander!
Wuxiang County.

386 Brigade Headquarters.

Ever since Li Yunlong led the New 1st Regiment to recapture Wuxiang County.

Wuxiang County became the headquarters of the 386th Brigade.

The last time the 129th Division fought a battle with the 20th Division on Zhengtai Road.

The morale of the Eighth Route Army soldiers, including those of the 386th Brigade, was greatly boosted.

At this time, the brigade headquarters was holding a battle summary meeting.

The main regiment commander, Cheng Shifa, was in high spirits: "Our 772nd Regiment engaged the 20th Regiment of the 40th Brigade of the 79th Division of the Japanese Army in Pingding. Since it was an encounter, the Japanese were really good with their marksmanship, and my troops didn't gain an advantage. However, I called in the brigade's mountain artillery and heavy mortar battalions for fire reinforcements, which stunned the Japanese on the spot. A few rounds of artillery fire directly destroyed an entire Japanese squadron."

386旅的前身是红四方面军第31军，1937年该军被改编为386旅，下辖771团、772团。

但是在今年7月份的时候，771团便调出386旅建制，与东进纵队2团及抗日游击独立第二师一起合编为独立旅，自此771团便脱离386旅的建制。

This means that the main force regiment around the 386th Brigade Headquarters is only the 1nd Regiment.

Of course, the three regiments of the Jinzhong Military Region are currently still under the command of the 386th Brigade.

but.

With the permission of the headquarters, the brigade commander expanded the organization by five core regiments with the weapons and ammunition captured and handed over by Li Yunlong.

Although they are organized as a basic regiment, their weapons and equipment and combat effectiveness are all first-class, with each basic regiment having more than 2,000 troops.

In addition to the five basic regiments, the brigade commander also expanded an artillery regiment, which was composed of a mountain artillery battalion, a heavy mortar battalion, and an 82mm mortar battalion.

and a cavalry battalion.

The main force of the 386th Brigade in southeastern Shanxi consists of about people, plus more than militiamen.

If the troops in Jinzhong are added, the main force of the 386th Brigade will exceed 3 people, and the militia will exceed people, which is definitely an army.

Thinking of this, Brigade Commander Chen couldn't help but curl up his lips. Now the 386th Brigade is a real local rich man.

After Cheng Shifa finished speaking, leaders of the core groups, such as Zhong Zhicheng, spoke enthusiastically one after another, summarizing experiences and learning lessons.

Finally, the deputy brigade commander made a concluding speech:

"Although we won the battle on Zhengtai Road, our troops also suffered heavy casualties."

"After all, the 20th Division is a Type A division of the Japanese Army, and its combat effectiveness can be regarded as the first echelon in the entire Japanese army."

"And there are 20 Type A divisions like the 16th Division in the entire Japanese Army."

"But China only has one 129th Division. Even if we forcibly wipe out the 20th Division, our division will suffer heavy casualties."

"Compared to the past, we are better off, but compared to the entire Japanese army, we still have very little capital."

"In the current stage of fighting the Japanese army, we should avoid head-on confrontation and give full play to our advantages."

"First, we must utilize guerrilla warfare, concentrating superior forces to eliminate the small number of enemies, and using piecemeal methods to expand our victories and accumulate practical combat experience."

"Second, we must learn to concentrate firepower, such as artillery and submachine gun fire. At the beginning of the battle, we should use the advantages of artillery and submachine gun fire to inflict a wave of casualties on the enemy, killing them, breaking their courage, and reducing troop casualties."

"Third, the troops must intensify their shooting and bayonet training. In this battle, we engaged in local hand-to-hand combat with the Japanese army, and the Japanese army's hand-to-hand combat skills are still very strong."

"..."

A group of regimental commanders or political commissars quickly recorded the deputy brigade commander's speech.

After the deputy brigade commander finished speaking, the brigade commander nodded, his expression changing from satisfaction to seriousness. He glanced at everyone and said:

"What I want to say has already been said by the deputy brigade commander. I will add a little more."

"Every regiment, from the commander to the soldiers, must guard against arrogance and impatience. High morale among soldiers is a good thing, but it can easily lead to arrogance. As the saying goes, pride goes before a fall. Last year, our brigade's 771st Regiment was attacked by the enemy, which is a negative example. When you return to the regiment, you must do a good job of ideological work among the commanders and soldiers."

All the regimental commanders or political commissars shouted in unison: "Yes!"

The brigade commander was about to adjourn the meeting when a telegraph soldier walked in quickly with a telegram in his hand.

"Report, the commander of the New 1st Regiment, Li Yunlong, has sent an urgent message!"

Swah——

All the regimental commanders looked at the telegraph soldier, and the brigade commander, deputy brigade commander and others were no exception.

At this time, Li Yunlong sent a telegram, most likely asking him to hand over weapons and ammunition.

Every time Li Yunlong handed over weapons and ammunition, the brigade would make a fortune.

"Read!"

Seeing that all the regimental commanders and political commissars were very eager to know the contents of the telegram, the brigade commander looked expectant and serious, and waved his hand and gave an order.

"Yes!"

The telegraph soldier held the telegram in both hands and read:
"In the battle of Xinzhou, our Jinzhong troops wiped out more than 108 Japanese soldiers from the 5000th Division, killed Major General Nakano Naozo, commander of the 25th Brigade, destroyed 36 Japanese planes, and killed 19 Japanese pilots."

The telegraph operator replaced the second telegram and continued reading:
"After leaving half of our troops behind, we will turn over 120 105mm mortars and 25mm howitzers each, equivalent to the weapons and equipment of a main infantry regiment, to the brigade. Please send troops to the old location to prepare for the harvest."

"Brigade Commander, I, Li Yunlong, congratulate you on your fortune. I'm Li Yunlong, the commander of the New 1st Regiment."

After the telegraph soldier finished reading, he put down the telegram, turned around and walked away quickly.

“Wow…” Inside the brigade headquarters, all the regiment commanders, political commissars and staff officers were in an uproar, their eyes widening.

"Two heavy artillery regiments and the weapons and equipment of a main force regiment, we are going to make a fortune." The artillery commander's tone was full of shock.

"What are you thinking about? We must hand over at least half of this batch of weapons and equipment to the division headquarters." said a core regiment commander.

"That still leaves the weapons and equipment of one heavy artillery regiment and one basic regiment," said the artillery commander.

"So, this kid Li Yunlong has gained two heavy artillery regiments and a main force regiment this time?" Cheng Shifa's tone was full of envy. He couldn't understand why all the good things belonged to Li Yunlong?
The brigade commander pushed his glasses up, his face showing an expression of great satisfaction:
"Communications Officer, call Li Yunlong back immediately. The message is as follows: Li Yunlong, I also congratulate you on your fortune."

All the regiment commanders, political commissars and staff officers laughed and said, "Congratulations on your prosperity!" This is an old tradition of the Eighth Route Army.

"Yes!"

The communications officer drafted a telegram with a smile on his face, and the brigade commander signed it and handed it to the telegraph room to send out.

Noon the next day.

The brigade commander, who was busy with many affairs, went to Huzhuang near Wuxiang County in person to receive the goods.

There are many consignees in the county town, and there is a risk of being targeted by Japanese spies.

There is a basin near Huzhuang, where a battalion of troops is stationed, which is very convenient and safe.

In the past, all the goods that Li Yunlong delivered were received here.

Just after twelve o'clock, a tapping sound was heard in the sky.

Everyone, including the brigade commander, immediately raised their binoculars to look.

"Look, Commander, here they come!"

Cheng Shifa sounded excited.

In the northwest sky, a large number of giant helicopters were flying densely, and under each helicopter was a cannon or a large truck.

"Boss Lin's methods are truly miraculous." Although it was not the first time that the brigade commander had seen Boss Lin's fleet, he was still deeply shocked every time he saw it.

If the brigade commander was not a staunch materialist, he would definitely think that God was helping the Eighth Route Army.

As time went on, cannons and large trucks were delivered to the basin of Huzhuang.

Every large truck was not empty, but was filled with ammunition boxes, and each box was filled with artillery shells.

Boss Lin's fleet came and went quickly. After leaving behind cannons and boxes of ammunition, the fleet left quickly.

Each howitzer is equipped with two Jiefang brand trucks and five basic units of artillery shells.

The artillery regiment commander quickly stepped forward to understand the situation and reported to the brigade commander with a smile on his face, "Brigade commander, there are a total of 25 105mm howitzers, camouflage nets, artillery scopes, and precision maps. In addition, there are 30 artillery instructors with rich training and combat experience. There are five basic loads of artillery shells, one basic load of shells is training shells, and these vehicles are loaded with half a basic load of shells. Two more batches of artillery shells will be delivered this afternoon. 5 heavy mortars and shells will be delivered tomorrow, and weapons and ammunition for the infantry regiment will be delivered the day after tomorrow and the day after tomorrow."

"That's right." The brigade commander, wearing a leather jacket and holding a horsewhip, smiled even more broadly. "Pass on my order to move all the cannons and shells to the brigade headquarters' secret warehouse."

According to the organization of the National Army, an artillery regiment is equipped with 24 cannons. Now there are 25 cannons, which is enough to equip an artillery regiment.

It was not a 75mm mountain artillery regiment, but a 105mm howitzer regiment.

The 105mm howitzer was already considered heavy artillery in the Asian battlefield, so it was also a heavy artillery regiment.

A heavy artillery regiment is a strategic-level force in the National Army.

"Yes."

The artillerymen hung the cannon on a hook at the rear of the truck.

Dozens of Eighth Route Army drivers who had been prepared in advance got into the driving seats and started the trucks, with each driver's mouth corner raised high.

Boss Lin’s big truck has sufficient power, low failure rate, and acceptable fuel consumption. It is much easier to drive than the Japanese’s small truck.

In the afternoon, two more waves of Boss Lin's fleet arrived and delivered all four and a half bases of artillery shells.

The brigade's transport team made two trips to transport all the shells back to the brigade headquarters.

One base number for a gun is 100 shells, and five base numbers of shells means shells.

Although 2500 of them are training rounds, 105 rounds of mm live ammunition are still a huge fortune.

"If this batch of howitzers and shells are used properly, one shell can conservatively kill two Japanese soldiers on average, which means 2 Japanese soldiers can be killed." After inspecting the warehouse and ordering it to be heavily guarded, the brigade commander had a look of happiness on his face.

Based on the calculation that it takes five Chinese soldiers to kill one Japanese soldier on the front line, this batch of howitzers and artillery shells can save the lives of 10 Chinese soldiers.

The brigade commander's happiness didn't last long. On the fourth day, just after he finished receiving the goods, the division commander called him and said, "Chen*, congratulations on your fortune."

The brigade commander said, "Division Commander, your call was spot on. I just received the goods."

The division commander got straight to the point: "Tell me the truth, how much did you get from Li Yunlong this time?"

"Not much," the brigade commander said. "It's just a few. I always hand in most of my weapons and ammunition. How about we not hand them in this time? Divisional Commander, is that okay with that?"

"Don't try to fool me, kid." The commander asked with a smile, "How many are there?"

Seeing that he couldn't hide it, the brigade commander had to confess honestly: "Not much, just the weapons and equipment of two heavy artillery regiments and one infantry regiment."

The division commander was shocked: "Good fellow, you want to set up a heavy artillery brigade? You said that you, a brigade commander, want to set up a heavy artillery brigade, then as a division commander, I must also set up a heavy artillery division?"

(End of this chapter)