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

Chapter 180 Taking down the Japanese heavy artillery camp!

The Japanese had a heavy artillery company in Guoxian County, equipped with four 150mm howitzers.

Besides heavy artillery, there were more than 1,800 Japanese soldiers and more than 3,000 puppet troops.

In order to defend Guoxian, an important railway city, counter the threat posed by the Independent Detachment, and protect their heavy artillery, the Japanese forces...

Numerous defensive structures were also built, and the city wall of Guoxian County was reinforced.

With such a large force, coupled with strong city walls and fortifications, Yansong believed that Guoxian was impregnable and could act as a solid barrier to stop the Independent Detachment.

With a range of over 10 kilometers and a diameter of 150 millimeters, it could threaten an area of ​​more than 10 kilometers in radius, deterring the Eighth Route Army from large-scale operations.

With the large stockpiled shells, even if the entire Independent Detachment came, they could be crushed by the powerful artillery.

Indeed, the Independent Detachment shifted its focus directly from the First Army to the troops stationed in Mongolia.

The movement shifted from central and western Shanxi to northern Shanxi and even the Chahar region.

For a considerable period of time, they maintained a stalemate with the First Army.

Yansong believes this is thanks to his deployment of two heavy artillery squadrons in Shuiquan and Guoxian.

Little did he know that Chen Ming was simply too lazy to hit him.

When the Independent Detachment attacked Ping'an County, the headquarters organized troops to launch a sabotage attack on the Tongpu Railway.

The northern section of the Tongpu Railway is almost completely destroyed, and it will take several months to repair.

Under these circumstances, the strategic value of Guoxian and Shuiquan has greatly decreased.

Why would Chen Ming risk heavy artillery bombardment to attack it?

It would be better to launch a direct attack on northern Shanxi, targeting the Datong Basin and the Ping-Sui Railway, which have greater strategic value.

However, now that Chen Mingteng has made his move, in order to conduct a tactical rehearsal for the attack on Datong, he has come to find his old rival, the First Army, again.

Near Guoxian County, Kong Jie's reinforced second battalion of soldiers secretly moved to the vicinity.

Although the Japanese had heavy artillery threat, which prevented the Independent Detachment from operating on a large scale for a considerable period of time, making it difficult to attack Guoxian.

However, attacking the strongholds and watchtowers on the outskirts of Guoxian County would not be a problem.

In fact, apart from the strongholds near Guoxian County and the strongholds and blockhouses along the Tongpu Railway, all the other strongholds and blockhouses of the Japanese army were destroyed by the Independent Detachment and the guerrillas.

The Japanese forces' control was greatly reduced, and their vision was limited to the area near Guoxian County and along the railway line.

Therefore, Kong Jie's troops' activities were not discovered by the Japanese.

Chen Ming assigned the task of attacking Guoxian to Kong Jie.

The other two main forces of the Independent Detachment, namely Ding Wei's Independent First Brigade and He Jianxin's Reinforced First Brigade, have also made many meritorious contributions.

The fighting in the Datong area was mainly carried out by these two main forces, while Kong Jie's troops stayed at home to defend the base area.

Kong Jiebu did not participate in the several times they ate meat.

Although Kong Jie is an honest man, as one of the three main forces of the independent detachment, he would have his own thoughts as he watched others make contributions and develop.

Chen Ming sent Kong Jie's troops as the main force to attack Guoxian this time, also as compensation for him.

"Reporting to headquarters, all of our troops have arrived at their designated combat positions and are ready to launch an attack on the enemy in Guoxian County at any time."

On the mountainside five kilometers away from Guoxian County, Kong Jie, with an old pipe in his mouth, spoke to the staff officer beside him.

"Yes."

After reporting the situation to Chen Ming's command post, Kong Jie looked at the map again and again, checking for any omissions or oversights.

"This is a rare opportunity. This time, we must show the might of our Second Battalion and not let other units look down on us," said the chief of staff of the reinforced Second Battalion.

"Yes, this time the leadership assigned our Second Battalion to be in charge of the main attack, with other units cooperating with us. This gave us a chance to shine, so we must perform well and fight a brilliant battle."

"Otherwise, when we go back after the war, who knows how my old comrade-in-arms Ding Wei will laugh at us," Kong Jie said.

In the past few months, Ding Wei and He Jianxin were enjoying great success, and Kong Jie was quite envious of them.

Ding Wei's troops raided several county towns in succession, and also caused great chaos on the Ping-Sui Railway in northern Shanxi and Chahar region.

The captured supplies were hauled back truckload after truckload; they were incredibly proud and elated.

Needless to say, He Jianxin was even more so.

As a cadre who has always followed Chen Ming and was personally trained by him.

The reinforced 1st Battalion is not only the strongest main force of the independent detachment, but also boasts a luxurious configuration of six infantry battalions and two artillery battalions.

He served as the frontline commander in the battle of the mining area in Dahuaizuo County (now Yungang District), commanding more than twelve infantry battalions and four artillery battalions.

Having accumulated practical experience in commanding major battles, their future prospects are limitless and equally glorious.

Kong Jie could only defend the base area, watching his comrades make contributions and develop outside, feeling only envy.

Now that Chen Ming has given him a chance, he must perform well and let the other units of the Independent Detachment know that his Kong Jie unit is also a main force of the Independent Detachment.

He, Kong Jie, is not made of dough either!

Inside the command post, Chen Ming looked at the telegram sent by Kong Jie and checked the situation of each unit using the map in his mind.

After finding no major problems, the order to begin operations was issued.

Located 12 kilometers north of Guoxian County, there is a medium-sized stronghold called Guoyang Stronghold, which is about the same size as the original Huting Stronghold.

This place was defended by a Japanese company and a puppet army battalion, and was an important medium-sized stronghold north of Guoxian County on the Tongpu Railway.

The third battalion under Li Yousheng was in charge of attacking this area.

Their mission was to draw away some of the Japanese and puppet troops in Guoxian County, thus reducing the difficulty for the main force to attack Guoxian.

In order to mislead the Japanese, Li Yousheng did not use the name of the Third Battalion of the Independent Detachment, but the Third Guerrilla Battalion of the Fourth Military Sub-district, which belonged to the local armed forces under the Fourth Military Sub-district.

If the Japanese knew that the main force of the Independent Detachment was attacking the Guoyang stronghold, they would definitely be more vigilant and dare not leave the city easily.

But local armed forces are different; the two sides frequently clash and are familiar with each other's combat capabilities.

After the battle began, Li Yousheng used two infantry battalions, three mortars, and six flying thunder cannons to launch an attack on the Japanese stronghold.

The Japanese soldiers in the stronghold immediately requested reinforcements from the garrison in Guoxian County, which was the closest to them.

"At 3 PM on March 31, my unit was attacked by a guerrilla battalion of Chinese troops. The enemy numbered around 1,000 and possessed three mortars and six 'heartless cannons.' We request reinforcements from the Guoxian troops."

The term "heartless cannon" was used by the Nationalist army to satirize the Eighth Route Army for the cruel and inhumane nature of their cannons.

The Japanese adopted the name they had learned from the Nationalist army based on intelligence.

The defense of Guoxian was carried out by two infantry battalions of the Independent Mixed 3rd Brigade, led by the Japanese lieutenant colonel commander of the 1st Battalion.

He took the request for help very seriously and immediately summoned a group of officers.

"A guerrilla battalion of Chinese troops launched an attack on our army's stronghold in Guoyang, with a force of about a thousand men."

"This unit is very clever. They deployed three mortars on the reverse slope to suppress the mortars inside the stronghold, while using earthwork to advance and cover the advance of the 'heartless mortars'."

"They want to blow up our stronghold with those heartless cannons."

The Japanese lieutenant colonel explained the situation.

After such a long period of fighting, the Japanese had also figured out the specifics of the Eighth Route Army's flying thunder cannons.

Having understood the advantages and disadvantages of the Flying Thunder Cannon, my fear of it was greatly reduced.

What use is a homemade cannon with a range of only a hundred or two hundred meters, no matter how powerful it is, if it can't hit the target?

As long as artillery with a longer range suppresses the flying thunder cannon, this type of artillery becomes useless.

"It's just a guerrilla battalion of a Chinese unit. They only dare to operate outside the maximum range of my heavy artillery company, fearing my power."

"If they dare to enter the range of my artillery, I will make sure they suffer a crushing defeat!"

The speaker was the captain of the Japanese heavy artillery company. Because he was in charge of the Japanese 150mm heavy artillery, his rank was exceptionally promoted to major.

As one of the very few officers who held the rank of major while holding the position of company commander, the heavy artillery company commander was extremely powerful and incredibly arrogant.

The Japanese lieutenant colonel was somewhat annoyed by the nonchalant tone of the heavy artillery company commander.

What a fool! He thinks he can do whatever he wants in the county town just because he has four heavy cannons. He doesn't even respect anyone.

If it weren't for the need to rely on the enemy's heavy artillery to intimidate the Independent Detachment, he would have slapped them a few times to show them what it meant to respect hierarchy.

“Sada-kun, these Chinese guerrilla units, although their combat strength is not comparable to that of the main Chinese forces, are not without their cleverness.”

"If they manage to advance the Heartless Cannon into firing range by digging tunnels, the Guoyang stronghold will be in great danger," the Japanese lieutenant colonel said.

"Don't worry, Mr. Nagata. We can send reinforcements directly to contain this Chinese force. I will then deploy artillery for long-range fire support to eliminate these overconfident Chinese troops."

Major Sada, the commander of the Japanese heavy artillery company, was very disdainful and immediately began to instruct the Japanese lieutenant colonel on how to fight.

Lieutenant Colonel Nagata felt somewhat aggrieved as he looked at Sada, who was lecturing him on how to fight with his nose in the air.

He, a lieutenant colonel who commanded over 1,800 Japanese soldiers and over 3,000 puppet troops in Guoxian County, was actually taught how to fight by a company commander.

If word gets out, where will he put his face?
However, there is indeed a reason why the Japanese lieutenant colonel has to endure it.

Which of the First Army's independent mixed brigades hadn't been beaten by the independent detachments?
There was no other way; they were terrified of being attacked. Their defense zone directly bordered the Independent Detachment's defense zone, making it easy for reinforcements to be attacked by the Independent Detachment.

He feared this was a tactic of the Eighth Route Army to besiege and attack reinforcements, relying on the range of heavy artillery to deter the Eighth Route Army from easily considering attacking his reinforcements.

"Alright, once the troops I sent out have located the Chinese troops, let Sada-kun's heavy artillery unleash its full power."

"Don't worry, with my heavy artillery support, the troops I send out will be invincible and will send the Chinese troops back in defeat!" Sada patted his chest and assured them.

Therefore, the Japanese sent more than 500 Japanese soldiers and more than 1,000 puppet troops to reinforce the Guoyang stronghold.

The Japanese lieutenant colonel was very confident this time. With the threat of heavy artillery, the main force of the Independent Detachment dared not attack his reinforcements.

Once the reinforcements arrive at the Guoyang stronghold and cooperate with the troops already there, they will surely inflict heavy losses on this Eighth Route Army guerrilla force.

Little did he know that the Independent Detachment's objective was neither the Guoyang stronghold nor the Japanese and puppet troops reinforcing it.

Instead, it was the main force of the Japanese troops in Guoxian County, as well as the Japanese heavy artillery company in Guoxian County.

With the Japanese county seat captured and their heavy artillery in hand, who would care about the 500-plus Japanese reinforcements and 1,000-plus puppet troops?

Is such a small force worth Kong Jie mobilizing so many troops for?
The Japanese and puppet troops that came to reinforce, as well as those at the Guoyang stronghold, were just killing two birds with one stone, doing it on the side.

After the Japanese reinforcements were dispatched, the Japanese heavy artillery company also started to move.

Because the Guoyang stronghold was outside the maximum range of the Japanese heavy artillery, the Japanese heavy artillery had to move a certain distance to reach it.

It can be said that Kong Jie's choice of Guoyang stronghold as a target to lure the Japanese attack was an excellent one.

This would allow the Japanese heavy artillery to move a certain distance away from its originally heavily fortified position, without moving it too far, thus raising the Japanese's vigilance.

If the chosen attack position is chosen, the Japanese heavy artillery will need to move a considerable distance, making the Japanese feel insecure.

The Japanese would rather not send heavy artillery reinforcements than compromise the safety of their heavy artillery.

After all, they were facing an independent detachment. If they went too far away, their heavy artillery could be destroyed in a surprise attack by the independent detachment.

A large number of people will have to take responsibility in the future.

After the Japanese heavy artillery squadron had finished its deployment and was testing its artillery, Zhou Weiguo led his special operations team, dressed in Japanese uniforms, and drove a truck bearing Japanese flags to the Japanese heavy artillery squadron's position.

That's right, this time Zhou Weiguo personally led the team.

Because he needed to impersonate a Japanese officer and infiltrate the enemy's position, Duan Peng's broken Japanese and accent, coupled with his appearance, made him look nothing like a Japanese officer.

Zhou Weiguo, with his fair complexion, Kyoto accent, and familiarity with Japanese customs, was the perfect candidate to play a Japanese officer.

The convoy was stopped when it reached the outskirts of the Japanese positions.

Zhou Weiguo glanced at the Japanese lieutenant who was blocking his way, but didn't even look at him directly. "Let him through. I have an important secret mission under the orders of General Iwamatsu of the First Army Headquarters. Go and summon Sada."

The Japanese lieutenant was surprised to see that Zhou Weiguo's rank was only major, and then he heard the Japanese man's Kyoto accent.

Thinking to himself, a major in his twenties, and a native of Kyoto, is probably some young master from a wealthy family who's here to get his resume professionally.

No wonder he looks down on people and won't even give them a second glance.

The Japanese lieutenant wanted to ask more questions, such as checking his identification, but Zhou Weiguo had already turned his head away, not even bothering to look at him.

He must be some young master from Kyoto, so superior to everyone else.

The Japanese lieutenant didn't suspect anything, after all, Zhou Weiguo and his group were driving a car, and the soldiers in the car were all wearing Japanese military uniforms.

The Japanese lieutenant felt as if the soldiers' eyes could devour him.

They're definitely elite!

Driving around in broad daylight with such a swagger, and speaking with a genuine Kyoto accent, how could it be fake?

Besides, even if there were any problems, this team only had thirty people, while their camp had more than four hundred.

This small number of people can't cause any trouble at all. The Chinese army isn't that stupid to send people to their deaths.

However, since it was an important area, the Japanese lieutenant did not dare to let them pass directly and reported the situation to Major Sada by phone.

Sada looked puzzled when he received the message.

"The headquarters sent someone, and specifically asked for my name? Why didn't they just send a telegram?"

Despite his doubts, Sada dared not delay for a moment.

I learned from the phone call that the person leading the team was a major in his twenties with a Kyoto accent, and his identity was definitely not simple.

Sada is almost fifty years old and has only barely reached the rank of major; he can forget about becoming a lieutenant colonel.

You could say that what is someone else's starting point is already Sada's end point.

Sada dared not neglect such a person; if he offended him, he might have to resign early.

When Sada arrived at the door, he immediately saw Zhou Weiguo sitting in the car.

"Just as I thought, a major in his early twenties, who looks to be only twenty-seven or twenty-eight, must be here to get some experience," Sada thought to himself.

According to the Japanese army's normal promotion process, under normal circumstances, one would be promoted to major at the age of thirty-five or thirty-six.

Even Okamura was 35 years old when he was promoted to major.

According to the theoretical limit, such as a 20-year-old second lieutenant plus seven years of service, the minimum age to be promoted to major is 27.

Zhou Weiguo looks to be only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, so it's only possible for him to be promoted at the right time.

The other party has a powerful background, so I need to treat them well.

After Sada approached Zhou Weiguo, Zhou Weiguo showed him his identification.

Major Yamamoto, staff officer of the First Army Staff Department of the Japanese Army!
Upon seeing the document, Sada's smile was almost obsequious.

That's right, from the Yamamoto family. First there was a young colonel, Yamamoto Ichiki, and now there's a young major, a staff officer.

"Sir, may I ask?"

Before Sada could finish speaking, Zhou Weiguo interrupted him.

"Hmph, you think I'll just read out the secret mission to you from the outer gate?" Zhou Weiguo sneered.

Upon hearing Zhou Weiguo's tone and accent, Sada thought to himself, "That's right, he's definitely from a big family here to get some prestige."

The Japanese army's routine orders were encrypted by telegram, while top-secret orders were delivered by special personnel to prevent the telegrams from being stolen and deciphered.

Sada thought to himself that the order to be delivered by special personnel was definitely a top-secret order and could not be told to outsiders.

"Sorry, it's my fault. Let them pass." Sada ordered the Japanese lieutenant.

Then, he fawned over Zhou Weiguo and said, "Your Excellency, please come with me."

Once they reached a safe location inside the camp, only Zhou Weiguo and his "captain adjutant" remained, along with Major Sada of the Japanese army and the captain of the heavy artillery squadron who was protecting them.

After confirming that the surrounding area was safe, Sada began to receive the "top secret order".

"Walika," Zhou Weiguo began reading the declassification order.

The gist of the matter is that the First Army, through secret intelligence, discovered the command post of the Independent Detachment and ordered the heavy artillery company to fire on that location and destroy the enemy's command post.

Major Sada was somewhat puzzled after hearing the order.

Weren't they just sent to support the reinforcements? Why have they changed their orders now?

"Okay, I'll verify this with my superiors."

Despite his doubts, he continued to follow the strict verification process for this deadly mission.

Deadly missions are carried out by designated personnel and must be verified in strict accordance with procedures.

Sada began verifying Zhou Weiguo's identity over the phone, and the response he received was:

"There is no major named Yamamoto in the First Army Staff, nor has the Staff issued any new top-secret orders to the heavy artillery company."

has a problem!
Sada became alert and immediately tried to call the guards to restrain Zhou Weiguo and the people next to him.

Looking back, the company commander of the heavy artillery squadron had already had his throat slit.

Zhou Weiguo then came up to him, covered his mouth with one hand, and slit the man's neck with the other.

"Take a deep breath, dizziness is normal."

Sada struggled desperately, but he was almost fifty years old and could not break free from the young and strong Zhou Weiguo.

Coupled with rapid blood loss, his strength vanished quickly.

Not long after, his stiff body went limp and he became still.

Outside the gate, the other special operations team members had also taken care of the Japanese soldiers outside. As long as they didn't enter the courtyard, no one would be able to detect them.

"Act now!"

Zhou Weiguo walked out of the room and gave the order.

It was dinnertime, and apart from the soldiers on guard duty, the rest of the Japanese soldiers began to gather together to eat.

Dinner was good tonight; they even made egg drop soup, probably using eggs they snatched from the locals.

While the Japanese soldiers were eating, the disguised special forces soldiers secretly threw more than twenty grenades into the room.

"Boom boom boom!"

Amidst the loud explosion, the pot used for making egg drop soup was overturned.

However, although the egg drop soup was gone, the Japanese soldiers still got to eat a new kind of egg drop soup, but it was grenade drop soup.

"Da-da-da, da-da!"

After the explosion, the special operations team soldiers took the submachine guns hidden in the car and fired at the surviving Japanese soldiers.

"I want egg drop soup, but I also want bullets and grenades!"

The special operations team used grenades and bullets to prepare a final dinner for the Japanese soldiers.

A dozen or so special operations team members eliminated more than 120 Japanese soldiers in the evening with almost no effort.

He achieved an extremely high K/D ratio.

When another team of special forces attacked the Japanese heavy artillery position, the offensive went very smoothly, and they eliminated the Japanese soldiers next to the heavy artillery.

Gunfire and explosions shattered the tranquility of the camp.

Upon learning of the enemy attack on the camp, the outer defense forces immediately organized their troops to launch an attack on the camp, intending to eliminate the enemy inside.

At the same time, they called the garrison in Guoxian County for reinforcements to ensure the safety of the heavy artillery.

however.

The attack by the special operations team is a signal.

As soon as Zhou Weiguo's side began to act, the soldiers hidden in Guoxian County simultaneously detonated the explosives buried under the northwest city wall of Guoxian County.

The two thousand kilograms of explosives directly blew away the ten-meter-thick city wall of Guoxian County, creating a huge breach.

Even the Japanese soldiers inside and outside the city walls were affected, suffering heavy casualties.

At the same time, cannons roared!
The three artillery battalions that Kong Jie had brought directly bombarded the Japanese troops in Guoxian County, and the sound of explosions echoed one after another.

The soldiers of the Independent Detachment followed behind the artillery fire, and with the cover of the artillery, they fought their way into the county town through the huge breach created by the blast.

"The power was damn strong. If we hadn't prepared in advance and brought wooden planks, we might have been blocked by the crater we blasted ourselves."

A battalion commander from the Second Battalion remarked with emotion.

The explosives created a huge crater, more than ten meters deep, with only the edge passable.

However, this situation was also within the scope of consideration. The attacking soldiers carried planks and placed ladders on them, allowing the army to quickly pass through the gap and enter the county town.

The sudden attack by the independent detachment caught the Japanese off guard.

The Japanese never expected that the city wall would suddenly fly into the sky.
Did the Eighth Route Army develop any super-powerful artillery?

After regaining his senses, the Japanese lieutenant colonel in charge of the defense of Guoxian County immediately organized his troops to resist, trying to drive the soldiers of the Independent Detachment out of the county town.

"We absolutely cannot let the main force of the Eighth Route Army enter the county town, or we're finished!"

"Immediately order the heavy artillery company to open fire on the main force of the Eighth Route Army and stop the follow-up troops of the Eighth Route Army from continuing to attack the city!"

The Japanese lieutenant colonel was very clear-headed; his greatest reliance was the county town's fortifications and the heavy artillery reinforcements from the heavy artillery squadron.

If the main force of the Eighth Route Army were to enter the county town, his two major advantages would both disappear.

Without the county town's fortifications, the heavy artillery squadron couldn't fire at them, and Guoxian would definitely fall.

With Guoxian County lost, the heavy artillery company was left to fend for itself. Even with its few hundred men and fortifications stronger than those of the county town, and its advantageous position, it was difficult to defend against the Eighth Route Army's attack.

"First Battalion, attack! Charge no matter what's in front of you!" the First Battalion Commander roared.

In siege warfare, the struggle for the breach is particularly important.

More than 800 soldiers from the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Reinforcement Battalion, along with more than 400 Japanese soldiers and more than 700 puppet troops, engaged in a fierce battle at the breach.

The bodies began to pile up, and blood flowed like a stream.

On one side were the soldiers of the First Battalion who were determined to capture the breach at all costs, and on the other side were the Japanese soldiers and puppet troops who were determined to stop the Eighth Route Army at all costs.

When two armies meet on a narrow path, the brave will prevail. When facing an enemy, one must draw one's sword. The contest is about who has the strongest firepower, the greatest resilience, and the most unwavering determination!

After the city wall was blown open and the Japanese heavy artillery was attacked by the special forces, the soldiers of the First Battalion knew that they were close to winning the battle.

In terms of determination, they are second to none.

In this battle, the puppet troops were the first to be defeated and began to scatter on a large scale.

After the puppet troops were defeated, the remaining Japanese soldiers could not hold out any longer and the position was captured by the soldiers of the First Battalion.

After securing the main breach, the main force began to pour into the county town through the breach.

After entering the county town, the soldiers began to expand their gains and attacked the city gate, hoping to open it and allow the main force to enter the city.

P.S.: There's one more chapter of 4,000 words, which will be posted later. I guarantee I can reach 10,000 words a day without worry. I missed out again today.

(End of this chapter)