Bright Sword: From Border Region Manufacturing to Major National Heavy Industry

Chapter 63 Important Materials in Ping'an County

The troops that attacked Heyuan County were not personally led by Li Yunlong and Ding Wei.

Instead, it was the Second Battalion under the New First Regiment that led the local troops in the operation, with a total of nearly a thousand men from the county brigade and district squad.

The second battalion commander led his troops in a feint attack on Heyuan County before turning back.

Faced with the Japanese reinforcements blocking the town, the second battalion commander deliberately slowed down, pretending to be chased by enemy pursuers.

The second battalion commander was "fighting desperately" ahead, while the Japanese soldiers and traitors were chasing him relentlessly from behind. No matter what he did, the second battalion commander could not shake off the enemy.

"Captain, good news!" A trusted aide ran up to Fujita Ichiji and reported, "The Eighth Route Army attacking the city has been caught in our clutches, and they can't shake them off."

"Great!" Fujita Ichiji's expression lit up with excitement. "These Eighth Route Army guerrillas gained an advantage by attacking the county town twice, and now they think they can gain an advantage again? But things don't work that well."

Hirata Ichiro's men behind Fujita Ichiji were still puzzled when they heard this.

How come these Eighth Route Army soldiers were so easily targeted?

The first time the enemy attacked the city, heavy artillery directly tore through the encirclement, blew up Litong Bridge, and escaped the pursuers.

The second time, they had a support unit.

This time, the Eighth Route Army did not fire artillery, blow up the bridge, or provide support troops. How did the Eighth Route Army get caught in the crossfire?
It's obvious that there's something wrong here.

Hirata Ichiro's men stepped forward and said to Fujita Ichiji, "Captain, I think..."

"What do you think?" Fujita Ichiji interrupted before the other could finish speaking. "Are you telling me that if the Eighth Route Army attacks my city, I'll turn a blind eye and just let them leave?"

“Uh…” Hirata Ichiro was speechless, the rest of his words stuck in his throat, unable to come out.

Also!

Fujita Ichiji is right; this is the third time the Eighth Route Army has attacked the city.

This is practically slapping the Imperial Army's face in the ground and trampling on it. If we don't catch and kill these farmers, won't just any Tom, Dick, or Harry be able to bully us in the future?
Fujita Ichiji ignored Hirata Ichiro's men and said to his confidant, "Send a message to the pursuers: the Eighth Route Army often lures people out and then sets up large traps outside to ambush them. Tell them to be careful and not to fall into the Eighth Route Army's ambush."

Clearly, Fujita Ichiji wasn't just a figurehead to become the military police captain; he was a capable person.

It's clear now that there's a problem here.

As long as the pursuers are careful, and if the Eighth Route Army has an ambush, they will definitely be able to find it in advance.

If they don't fall into the Eighth Route Army's ambush, this group of Eighth Route Army soldiers will have no way to escape!
"Also, send another telegram to Ping'an County, telling them the current location of the Eighth Route Army and asking them to cooperate in blocking them," Fujita Ichiji added.

Even if the Eighth Route Army is determined to kill us, it's not a problem if we can't force them to stay.

With the encirclement and suppression forces dispatched from Ping'an County, it's only a matter of time before the Eighth Route Army is surrounded and annihilated.

"Yes, Captain." The confidant hurried off.

Fujita Ichiji said to Hirata Ichiro's men, "Do you think I don't know how cunning the Eighth Route Army is? Do you think I'm as stupid as Hirata Ichiro, who managed to let the Eighth Route Army attack the county town twice in a row and even escape? He's a disgrace to the Imperial Army! Here, if the Eighth Route Army dares to attack the city, I'll make sure they don't leave alive!"

"Captain is wise! Under your leadership, our military police will surely wash away this disgrace!" Hirata Ichiro's men didn't argue, but instead flattered Fujita Ichiji.

He thought to himself, "Wait until you fail, then let's see if you're still so arrogant!"

Luring people out and setting traps to ambush them—you can see through such a simple tactic? Do you think the Eighth Route Army would be stupid enough to let you do something so easy?
It's possible that the Eighth Route Army is playing a grand strategy.

However, we can't figure out the Eighth Route Army's strategies right now, so we can only watch.

"And as for the bait, we don't need it anymore. Have someone remove it," Fujita Ichiji said confidently. "Yes," Hirata Ichiro's men seemed about to say something, but swallowed their words, nodded, and retreated.

Standing at the city gate of Heyuan County, the wind blew on Fujita Ichiji's face as he gazed into the distance, full of confidence.

……

Ping'an County
"Commander Kuroshima, there's a batch of supplies that needs to be transported by train to the Fengtian Arsenal in northeastern China. The trucks in the county town have broken down. Could you perhaps have some of your cavalry spare some horses to help transport it to the train station?" Commander Kobayashi Iji of Ping'an County said cautiously to Kuroshima Morita.

Kuroshima Morita is the cavalry regimental commander of the 4th Brigade, a member of the royal family, and a hereditary baron!

In the TV series, Sun Desheng's cavalry company was surrounded and annihilated by this regiment.

Before Kobayashi Iji could finish speaking, Kuroshima Morita slapped him hard across the face and cursed, "Baka! We are cavalry, we are combat troops, not horse transport! What do you take me for?!"

Kuroshima Morita is a member of the royal family and a hereditary baron; he has a proud look on his face!
and!

Cavalry has always had a strong sense of superiority over infantry.

To send our cavalry to help lowly infantry transport supplies is beneath our dignity!
"Yes, yes, yes." Kobayashi Iji nodded meekly in the face of Kuroshima Morita's scolding, not daring to utter a word in return.

Kobayashi Iji had no choice but to turn his gaze to Ueno no Mura's face again: "Commander Ueno, this batch of supplies is very important and must be transported away as soon as possible. Otherwise, you should have your mechanized units free up their armored vehicles..."

Ueno no Mura was the commander of the mechanized regiment under the 9th Brigade.

Before Kobayashi Iji could finish speaking, Ueno no Mura kicked him, yelling, "Baka! Are you an idiot?! I'm a mechanized unit, a mechanized unit, you know what I mean?! Baka!"

Damn it!

Mechanized troops are for charging into battle, armored vehicles are not for you to use as transport vehicles!

"I'm sorry, you two." Kobayashi Iji retreated, looking dejected.

"So, did Commander Kuroshima and Commander Ueno help transport these supplies?" Seeing Kobayashi Iji's unpleasant expression, the person asking the question guessed the reason but still asked.

This batch of supplies is not large, but it is very important.

The Eighth Route Army now has heavy artillery; Heyuan County has been attacked twice, and the military police headquarters and Dayue Warehouse have been looted.

Ping'an County is also very likely to become a target of the Eighth Route Army's attack.

It's unsafe to leave these supplies in the city; they must be moved quickly.

The truck that was supposed to be able to transport the goods broke down at this critical juncture, and it couldn't be fixed even after two days of repairs.

We had to find a way to get help from the cavalry and mechanized regiments, even though we knew the chances were slim.

"You can tell just by looking at my face," Kobayashi Iji said with a wry smile.

"Why don't we just keep it in the city? With Captain Kuroshima and his men there, we don't have to worry about the Eighth Route Army attacking the city."

“We’re not afraid now, but they’re only staying here temporarily. What will happen when they leave?” Kobayashi Iji said.

"Well, then we'll have to requisition the livestock truck. Sigh, livestock trucks are slow and take a long time on the road. I hope the journey will be safe."

……

(End of this chapter)