Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Changjin Lake, a Hundred Battles, a Hundred Victories

Chapter 102 Personnel Adjustments! (Sensitive Content, Subscribe Now!)

Upon returning to the independent detachment, Chen Ming immediately deployed the troops for the next combat operation.

The Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain is nearing its end. In less than a month, the Japanese will be able to free up a large number of mobile troops.

What Chen Ming needed to do was to take advantage of this time to have his troops launch guerrilla warfare, along the railway and transportation lines, seizing the points where the Japanese forces were weak, and destroying as many Japanese strongholds and pillboxes as possible.

Use raids to replenish weapons and ammunition, and to boost the morale of the independent detachment.

Having annihilated the main force of the Independent Mixed 4th Brigade, the Independent Detachment suffered severe depletion of weapons and ammunition.

They are no longer capable of launching large-scale operations.

Chen Ming himself had no intention of mobilizing a large force to fight the main Japanese army in the coming period.

After the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain, the situation in the base area became increasingly difficult, and it was difficult for large groups of troops to survive in the isolated and helpless enemy-occupied battlefield.

Guerrilla warfare is the only way to survive and thrive.

At the same time, Chen Ming also made personnel appointments and adjustments to his subordinate troops.

The headquarters was notified that the organizational structure of the two detachments of the Independent Detachment would remain unchanged, with Kong Jie still serving as the captain of the Second Detachment and He Jianxin as the captain of the First Detachment.

Chen Ming recommended Li Yousheng to be the captain of the third brigade in the fourth district.

The headquarters had no doubt about He Jianxin's appointment, but it began to discuss Li Yousheng's appointment.

Is it inappropriate to appoint someone who came from a puppet army background and has only been in the army for two years as the battalion commander of a district?

The appointment of a battalion commander is no small matter; it concerns the life and death of thousands of soldiers and must be handled with utmost care.

Despite some people's objections, Chen Ming did not back down and boldly stated, "Back when the Independent Detachment was still a district squad, the other side joined the district squad under the Party's policies."

“From the district squad to the Second Independent Regiment, and now to the Independent Detachment, Comrade Li Yousheng’s political awareness and combat command ability are evident to all.”

"Just because the other party was a former puppet soldier, does that negate their contributions?"

“I am Li Yousheng’s introducer to the Party. Li Yousheng is now a Party member and our comrade. We cannot disregard him as our comrade just because of his background.”

Chen Ming's words were quite strong; he would not back down on this matter, either publicly or privately.

From his time in the district squad to his time in the independent detachment, Li Yousheng led his troops in heroic battles, annihilating numerous enemy soldiers. He also maintained a high level of ideological awareness, actively seeking to align himself with the organization.

Chen Ming also personally acted as the introducer for the other party to join the Party.

At the same time, promoting Li Yousheng also has united front value. By promoting Li Yousheng, we can show the puppet troops who have joined our army that the Eighth Route Army does not discriminate against them and treats them equally.

Regarding political loyalty, the two-year test has been sufficient proof of their loyalty.

In terms of military capabilities, the troops led by Li Yousheng have annihilated no fewer than two thousand enemy troops to date, possessing experience in commanding regiments. They also participated in decision-making during the battle to annihilate the Independent Mixed Fourth Brigade.

In terms of popular support, because Li Yousheng fought bravely, always took the lead, and cared for his soldiers, he received more than 80% support from the soldiers' committee of his unit.

For a comrade who has no problems in terms of political loyalty, military ability, and popular support, what reason is there to disagree with promoting him/her?
Does one have to exclude an outstanding comrade just because of their background or seniority?

With Chen Ming standing firm, the matter was reported to the rear.

After reviewing the materials submitted by Chen Ming, the rear command personally issued the following instructions:

"Comrade Li Yousheng, our comrade, approved."

With personal approval from the rear, those who had objections were now speechless.

As a result, Li Yousheng was successfully promoted to the position of captain of the third brigade of the independent detachment.

At the Independent Detachment Command Post, when Li Yousheng saw the instructions from the rear, he looked towards the rear and tears welled up in his eyes.

My faith has grown stronger.

"Alright, now that you are the commander of the Third Battalion, you should lead your soldiers to fight well in the days to come and not let me and the commanders in the rear down."

Chen Ming spoke warmly to Li Yousheng.

"Yes, I, Li Yousheng, will absolutely live up to the expectations of the Party and the people!"

Li Yousheng stood straight, gave Chen Ming a standard military salute, and said in a solemn tone.

Chen Ming patted Li Yousheng on the shoulder as encouragement.

After Li Yousheng's incident, the soldiers of the Independent Detachment, under Chen Ming's command, began to carry out sabotage operations along the Japanese railway and highway lines.

Eliminate strongholds, destroy blockhouses, liberate towns and villages, and recover rural areas.

In a short time, a large number of puppet troops and traitors fled and were captured.

In a short time, the independent detachment turned the northern, northwestern, and northeastern parts of Shanxi Province upside down.

When Yoshio Shinotsuka, the commander of the Japanese First Army, found out, he slammed his fist on the table in anger.

"It's that independent detachment again. While our forces were focused on southern Shanxi, they not only annihilated the main force of the 4th Independent Mixed Brigade, but also caused such a big problem in the occupied area."

"The independent detachment has become a major concern for me!"

"Immediately recall the Ninth Brigade that has been transferred to southern Shanxi, and at the same time, have Yamamoto Ichiki come to see me." After thinking it over, Yoshio Shinotsuka decided to recall the Ninth Brigade that had been transferred to southern Shanxi for key defense, and at the same time prepare to have Yamamoto Ichiki's special attack team target the Independent Detachment Command Headquarters as a new objective.

"General, I've arrived."

Upon receiving orders from Yoshio Shinotsuka, Yamamoto Ichiki immediately went to Shinotsuka's office.

"Yamamoto-kun, I have an important task for you," Yoshio Shinotsuka said directly, without any pleasantries.

"Please give your instructions, General."

"I need you to infiltrate the Fourth Military Sub-district of the Eighth Route Army, find the headquarters of the Independent Detachment, and wipe out its command system in one fell swoop," Yoshio Shinotsuka said.

"General, the Independent Detachment is just an unorganized Chinese unit. Wouldn't it be a waste of talent to send my special forces to deal with such an enemy?" Yamamoto Ichiki was also proud.

In his mind, his target should be the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army or the headquarters of the Second War Zone. Only such a target would be worth his attention as an elite.

At the very least, it should be a division-level unit like the 129th Division. Sending him to raid a unit below a division is somewhat of a waste of his talents.

Yoshio Shinotsuka felt somewhat helpless in the face of Yamamoto Ichiki's arrogant demeanor.

He couldn't directly and forcefully order the other party around because Yamamoto Ichiki was a member of the Yamamoto family and had considerable influence in the local area.

Yamamoto Shichiya was qualified to become the Commander-in-Chief of the Combined Fleet because he was adopted by the Yamamoto family and changed his name to Yamamoto.

Yoshio Shinotsuka supported Ichiki Yamamoto's special operations, and even personally set up a stage for him to put his special operations concepts into practice, all in order to gain some of the Yamamoto family's support after he was transferred back to Japan.

Otherwise, how could Yamamoto Ichiki continue to operate his special forces team after a major general had died?

Yoshio Shinotsuka could only offer kind words of advice to Yamamoto Ichiki.

"Yamamoto-kun, the Independent Detachment has become a major concern for me. If we don't eliminate them now, they may grow to a point where they are impossible to deal with in the future."

Yoshio Shinotsuka's words made Ichiki Yamamoto hesitate.

Since the other party had gone this far, Yamamoto Ichiki couldn't refuse any longer.

Yoshio Shinotsuka provided him with tremendous support during his time in North China, providing him with manpower and equipment as needed.

The other party was a lieutenant general commanding the First Army of the Japanese Army stationed in North China. Even just because Yamamoto Ichiki was a member of the Yamamoto family, he was still being very respectful.

"General, I understand. The special forces will target the independent detachment's command post and launch a surprise attack to destroy the enemy's command system in one fell swoop."

Yamamoto Ikki spoke.

At this moment, the Independent Detachment's command post had become a higher priority in Yamamoto Ichiki's mind than the Second War Zone Command Post, second only to the Eighth Route Army's General Command Post.

"Yes, please, Yamamoto-kun. This is the location of the Independent Detachment Command Post, as well as the information on the Independent Detachment Commander."

Yoshio Shinotsuka took out a document and handed it to Ichiki Yamamoto.

This document came from the mountain city.

Since the Independent Detachment had made such a great contribution, the Shancheng authorities naturally collected some information on Chen Ming and even sent a special team to inspect the Independent Detachment and award him.

The location of the independent detachment was naturally given by Chen Ming; he couldn't let the other side get lost.

The Eighth Route Army was still in the Nationalist government's order of battle, so it naturally could not refuse such a fair and aboveboard request for assessment.

The mountain city has been thoroughly infiltrated by Japanese agents. What the mountain city knows, the Japanese army also knows, sometimes even faster than the mountain city's leaders.

Chen Ming naturally knew that giving the command post to Yamashiro was no different from directly telling the Japanese army that he was here.

However, Chen Ming was not worried.

Anyway, the Independent Detachment Command Post was deep in the base area. Even if the Japanese army knew the location of the command post, they wouldn't be able to escape the reconnaissance spies that Chen Ming had set up.

Large forces can't get in, and small forces that come in are just free kills!
With his ability to identify friend from foe using a three-dimensional combat map in his mind, Chen Ming had captured countless Japanese spies.

Before the Japanese Independent Mixed Brigade No. 9 was recalled, the entire northern Shanxi region became the home ground of the Eighth Route Army.

The troops, organized into companies and platoons, operated in the mountainous and plain areas where the Japanese defenses were weak, fighting against puppet troops, capturing traitors, seizing strongholds, and taking down pillboxes.

It caused enormous damage to the enemy-occupied areas.

In particular, the independent detachment possessed infantry guns. Although they were running low on ammunition, taking down pillboxes was still no problem.

It should be noted that our army once captured a cannon with more than a hundred shells, and with that cannon, we directly destroyed more than eighty Japanese strongholds.

This demonstrates the immense threat a single infantry gun posed to a Japanese stronghold's pillbox.

The soldiers of the Independent Detachment simply placed an infantry gun there, and many puppet troops in the puppet army strongholds surrendered without firing a single shot.

It can be said that even without large-scale battles, the independent detachment could still make a fortune with its infantry artillery.

Along the two railway lines, the soldiers of the Independent Detachment once reached the outskirts of Taiyuan and destroyed a pillbox in front of the Japanese.

This was a direct slap in the face to the Japanese invaders in Taiyuan!

(End of this chapter)