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

Chapter 232 A Conversation with the Teacher! The Collapsed Mongolian Garrison
In the time that followed, Chen Ming continued to do the same things over and over.

We study, attend meetings, and frequently discuss with teachers the future of the country and the path of development for the nation.

Through continuous communication, Chen Ming also deeply felt the teacher's foresight.

This is a vision that transcends its time; even Chen Ming, who came from a later era, would have to admire it.

However, thanks to the information he learned from later generations, and the fact that Chen Ming's vision has now been elevated to a very high level.

This earned him a lot of praise from the teacher.

It is naturally gratifying for a teacher to see their students succeed.

Chen Ming's teacher was very proud of his student.

With the teacher's encouragement, Chen Ming and Cheng Qingrong's relationship gradually became closer.

One was an outstanding, highly educated revolutionary young woman, and the other was an excellent frontline commander with numerous military achievements, respected and admired by countless people.

Cheng Qingrong felt the same way about Chen Ming; her feelings included both admiration and affection.

After learning about the progress of Chen Ming's personal issues, the brigade commander immediately had an idea.

We're going to finalize this as soon as possible. As for the relationship not being at the point of marriage, what does that even mean?

During wartime, it was common for couples to marry first and then fall in love.

If two people have a certain emotional foundation, they can definitely settle things first and then gradually deepen their relationship.

Chen Ming's teacher agreed with this, as his student was already 32 years old, and if they delayed any longer, it would be too late by the time Chen Ming returned to the front lines.

I don't know how long this will drag on.

Although both of them knew that, given the current situation, the Japanese could not hold out for more than a few years if they continued fighting.

But the war would not end after the Japanese were defeated.

Even after the victory in the War of Resistance against Japan, there will still be battles to fight.

By the time the war is completely over, Chen Ming might be over forty, and he'll be a complete old bachelor.

And so, Chen Ming and Cheng Qingrong's marriage was arranged.

However, Chen Ming had his own ideas about the wedding date.

"I plan to hold this after I return to the front line, so as to lull the Japanese into a false sense of security and launch a major campaign."

Chen Ming said this.

After Chen Ming returned to the base, the Independent Detachment, after several months of rest and recuperation, was able to restore its combat effectiveness and become even stronger.

However, the Japanese soldiers' vigilance would gradually increase as the Independent Detachment rested and reorganized.

Anyone with basic military knowledge knows that after a major battle, an army needs several months to rest and recuperate, during which time it needs to replenish its forces and make tactical adjustments. This is common knowledge.

This process can take anywhere from a few months.

Both the Nationalist Army and the Japanese army operated in this way: after launching a major campaign, they would halt operations for a period of time.

Like in many novels, where after a battle, new recruits can somehow regain their original fighting strength and launch continuous offensives, that's just nonsense.

Let alone newly recruited soldiers, even if veterans are recruited from other units, it is impossible for them to be put into combat and exert their full combat effectiveness in a short period of time.

If that were truly the case, Chen Ming would have launched another offensive long ago after the Japanese forces of tens of thousands left northern Shanxi, and attacked Datong and Guihua a second time.

The reality was that during the period when the Independent Detachment was resting and reorganizing, the Japanese troops along the Datong-Jining and Guihua lines became increasingly vigilant.

Both sides knew that once the independent detachment had finished its reorganization, there would inevitably be another battle.

It's just that the timing is uncertain.

Chen Ming's plan was to use the wedding as a pretext to lull the Japanese into a false sense of security, and then launch a surprise attack on the same day.

Okamura is a China expert and understands that for Chinese people, marriage is an absolutely major life event.

As the highest commander of the independent detachment, Chen Ming wouldn't cause trouble on his wedding night, would he?
Moreover, the Japanese might take advantage of this opportunity, when the Independent Detachment is celebrating and lowers its guard, to try and launch a major attack on the Independent Detachment using their air superiority.

If we could kill Chen Ming with a plane, that would be the best outcome.

Even if they can't kill Chen Ming, killing some of the arriving cadres would still be a win.

As a high-ranking commander, surely no one would come to Chen Ming's wedding?

Chen Ming intends to use his wedding as an opportunity to launch a campaign.

The blood and lives of the Japanese soldiers would be the best wedding gift.

This is called knowing yourself and your enemy, and you will win every battle.

Although Chen Ming's marriage could only lower the Japanese guard to a limited extent.

But on the scales of victory, even a slight increase in the odds is worthwhile.

"Wouldn't this be too unfair to you and Xiao Cheng?" Chen Ming's teacher asked.

For Chen Ming and Cheng Qingrong, their wedding day, such a joyous occasion, was a day of self-sacrifice for the greater good.

This is unfair to individuals.

“Teacher, our personal fates have long been intertwined with the revolution. What do these things matter for the sake of the revolution?”

"Comrade Qingrong and I have already discussed it. It's just that some traditional rituals will be omitted. As long as we can eliminate more Japanese devils, it will be worth it."

Chen Ming said with a smile.

“That’s right. After the war is over, I will personally hold a wedding ceremony for you.”

Chen Ming's teacher said with satisfaction.

For one's own students to voluntarily sacrifice their own families for the greater good demonstrates a very high level of political awareness.

But as a teacher, I can't let my students suffer.

So although he agreed with Chen Ming's decision, he planned to personally make up for this regret after the war was over.

"Thank you, teacher."

Chen Ming smiled happily.

"I'll report this plan to the leadership tomorrow," Chen Ming said.

Deep within the camp of He Jianxin's Independent Detachment, one could always see He Jianxin clenching his fists as he inspected the position.

Ever since his defeat in the last tactical exercise against Ding Wei and Kong Jie, he had been harboring a pent-up anger with nowhere to vent it.

That feeling wasn't resentment towards his comrades, but rather a struggle with himself for "not being able to do his best."

In his view, losing to one's own people is not terrible; what is terrible is that this "relaxation" will affect the real battlefield.

So he channeled all the pent-up energy into fighting the Japanese invaders.

Every day before dawn, he would lead his staff to study the movements of the troops stationed in Mongolia, repeatedly rehearsing tactics using maps, and even the training intensity of the soldiers was much higher than usual.

Everyone could sense that Commander He was turning all his "dissatisfaction" with himself into "color" for the Japanese.

By this time, the Japanese troops stationed in Mongolia had long lost their former arrogance.

Since being defeated by the Independent Detachment in the last Jinbei Campaign, the Japanese army stationed in Mongolia has been completely marginalized within the Japanese army.

Instead of replenishing their elite forces, General Headquarters transferred the equipment that originally belonged to them to the Pacific theater and the main battlefield in North China.

Although some new recruits were added later, the quality of these recruits was simply indescribable.

The Japanese army already had a shortage of reserve soldiers, and the best soldiers had long been given priority to units with stronger combat capabilities and more important strategic positions.

"Marginal forces" like the troops stationed in Mongolia can only pick up the leftovers.

As a result, the troop strength in Mongolia has not yet been fully replenished.

An infantry battalion should have 1,100 men, but now it has at most 600; an artillery company should have four cannons, but now it's considered good if it can even muster two.

Under the continuous infiltration and attacks of the various units of the Independent Detachment, the troops stationed in Mongolia suffered repeated defeats and gradually became unable to hold out. They lost control of most of the rural areas and could only retreat to the cities and along the railway lines.

The important towns of Datong, Guihua, and Baotou were barely held by relying on their strong bunkers and barbed wire.
Along the Ping-Sui Railway, there was a pillbox every few kilometers, where Japanese soldiers hid. Even when they came out to patrol, they had to be very careful.

A shadow of impending annihilation loomed over the entire Mongolian garrison. Every soldier could feel the deteriorating situation, and morale plummeted to rock bottom.

Even areas 500 meters away from the railway line became "forbidden zones" that the Japanese dared not easily set foot in.

On one occasion, a small Japanese detachment attempted to leave the pillbox and raid a nearby village for grain.

As soon as they stepped off the railway line, they were ambushed by a company of He Jianxin's Independent Detachment. Of the dozen or so men, only two made it back, both wounded.

From then on, the Japanese soldiers never dared to easily step outside the "500-meter" range again; beyond 500 meters, it had become a restricted area.

The newly appointed commander of the troops stationed in Mongolia is named Shichida.

Shichida was Okamura's colleague in the Kwantung Army. The two belonged to the same faction and had a fairly good relationship.

The reason for transferring Shichida this time was nominally because he was "appointed in a time of crisis," and it was hoped that he could use his experience in the Kwantung Army to stabilize the situation in the Mengjiang region.

In reality, it was simply because other powerful generals were unwilling to come to the "big pit" of the Mongolian garrison, so Shichida had to be the one to "fill the pit".

When Okamura summoned Shichida in Tokyo, he specifically patted him on the shoulder and solemnly said:
"Shichida-kun, the Mengjiang region is crucial to our strategy against the Soviet Union. If it falls, the Soviet Union could very well take the opportunity to move south. You must stabilize the situation, just as you did when you were in the Kwantung Army!"
This is not only for the sake of the empire, but also for your future!

Gangcun's words were nothing more than words of comfort and encouragement.

Those who know Shichida know that his promotion was not due to outstanding military achievements, but rather to the vacancies caused by the expansion of the Japanese army and the heavy losses of frontline generals.

His promotion was based on seniority rather than ability.

Ginnosuke Uchida of the Japanese General Staff once privately commented on Shichida:
"Arrogant but tactically rigid."

Ostensibly, it means he has an arrogant personality, but it also implies that he lacks ability, only knows how to stick to the rules, and doesn't know how to be flexible and adaptable.

Even later historical evaluations define Shichida as "a typical general who maintains the status quo, lacking the ability to make progress."

He'd be lucky to hold his current position; he has no ability to launch an offensive and turn the tide of the battle.

Placing such a mediocre general in the army stationed in Mongolia was a desperate move by the Japanese because they had no other options.

The Japanese generals with real power were unwilling to come to this huge pit of the troops stationed in Mongolia.

Given the current situation of the troops stationed in Mongolia, let alone Shichida, even if Okamura, who had the most outstanding comprehensive ability and influence among the Japanese troops who invaded China during the War of Resistance against Japan, were to personally command them, it would not necessarily be able to reverse the decline.

The problems of the troops stationed in Mongolia are no longer something that can be solved by "changing the general," but a systemic crisis in which troop strength, equipment, and morale have all collapsed.

After taking office, Shichida looked at the increasingly smaller defense zone on the map, which was being compressed by the Independent Detachment, and learned about the specific situation of the troops stationed in Mongolia. His heart sank.

He convened several military conferences, asking his staff for advice, but after much discussion, he could not come up with any other solutions besides "strengthening defenses".

Finally, having exhausted all other options, Shichida had no choice but to target the pseudo-Mongol cavalry.

He ordered the transfer of two divisions of puppet Mongolian cavalry to assist the garrison in Mongolia and support the fighting along the railway line.

The puppet Mongolian cavalry were quite active in the early stages of the War of Resistance against Japan. They not only burned, killed, and looted everywhere in Chahar Province, but were also transferred to the North China battlefield to cooperate with the Japanese army in attacking the National Revolutionary Army.

However, they were later soundly defeated and suffered heavy losses in a battle against a ragtag Nationalist army unit.

From then on, they became completely obedient and never dared to take the initiative again. They could only hide in the rear and become a second-rate security force that only knew how to bully ordinary people.

Shichida knew better than anyone that sending two puppet Mongolian cavalry divisions would have a negligible effect.

Chen Ming's cavalry detachment was a renowned "elite force," with soldiers possessing superb horsemanship and accurate marksmanship.

Previously on the grasslands, a large battalion of troops once defeated a division of the puppet Mongolian cavalry.

Even if two puppet Mongolian cavalry divisions were transferred here now, it would only be to give the Independent Detachment "military merits".

But he really had no other troops to spare.

The troops stationed in Mongolia are firmly pinned down in the cities and along the railway lines; any movement could create vulnerabilities.

Back at headquarters, repeated requests for reinforcements were rejected, with the only response being, "Let him handle it himself."

Left with no other choice, Shichida could only send the pseudo-Mongol cavalry to "fill the gap," even if it was just to slightly relieve the pressure.

But the puppet Mongol cavalry weren't stupid; they had long seen through the predicament of the garrison in Mongolia.

Over the years, they've lived a life of luxury alongside the Japanese, so their fighting ability was already weak, and now they're supported by the Japanese.

The Japanese can't even defeat the Eighth Route Army themselves, so their coming here is just suicide!
After all, they followed the Japanese to earn a living, not to die.

The total strength of the puppet Mongol army was about 100,000 men, but most of them were infantrymen with little combat capability. The core combat force was mainly eight cavalry divisions.

However, due to the long-term harassment by the independent cavalry detachments, these eight cavalry divisions had already suffered heavy losses.

Some cavalry divisions were reduced to half their original strength, while others couldn't even muster enough warhorses.

If two more divisions were to be dispatched to support the troops stationed in Mongolia, and they were wiped out by the Independent Detachment, the puppet Mongolian regime would have very little "resources" left.

At that point, it's hard to say whether they can even keep their position, let alone make a living.

If the cavalry division is completely wiped out, wouldn't Prince De of the puppet Mongolian army be left with no one to command?
Therefore, when faced with Shichida's order to transfer them, the pseudo-Mongol cavalry began to make all sorts of excuses.

One minute they'd say, "The troops are resting, and the warhorses need recuperation; they can't be mobilized for the time being."

One moment they would say, "There are Eighth Route Army activities in the jurisdiction, so we need to stay and protect local security. We cannot leave the defense zone."

Then they said, "We don't have enough food and supplies, and we need to wait for the Japanese to replenish their supplies before we can set off."

In short, they found all sorts of excuses to delay and were unwilling to arrive at the designated location as ordered.

Privately, the puppet Mongolian army had already been sending "friendly signals" to the Independent Detachment through intermediaries.

They expressed their willingness to "not invade each other's territory," meaning they would never launch an attack on the Independent Detachment unless attacked by it.

They could even provide the independent detachment with intelligence about the Japanese at crucial moments.

They are complete opportunists, always siding with whichever side is stronger.

Upon learning of the attitude of the puppet Mongol cavalry, Shichida was so angry that he smashed a teacup in the headquarters.

He looked out at the gray sky, his heart filled with anxiety.

As the Independent Detachment gradually completed its reorganization, its operations became more extensive.

The troops stationed in Mongolia were tightly compressed into the cities of Baotou, Guihua, and Datong.

Once the Independent Detachment cuts off the Ping-Sui Railway, these cities will become completely isolated, losing their food and ammunition supplies. It will only be a matter of time before the Independent Detachment takes them down one by one.

Now, on the battlefields in northern Shanxi, Chahar, and Guihua, the initiative has long been firmly in the hands of the Independent Detachment.

The independent detachment had the final say on when to fight, where to fight, and how long to fight, leaving the troops stationed in Mongolia with no choice but to defend passively and constantly on the move.

Shichida sat in the headquarters, looking at the mountain of battle reports piled up on the table, so anxious that he almost lost all his hair.

He smoked one cigarette after another, his mind racing with solutions, thinking about them all night long.

It wasn't that he had figured it out, but rather because it was dawn.

"That bastard Okamura! He knew perfectly well that the Mongolian army was a pit of fire, yet he still pushed me into it!"

Shichida couldn't help but curse inwardly.

He originally thought that becoming the commander of the troops stationed in Mongolia was an "opportunity" in his military career.

Being able to command troops in one region might even allow one to achieve military merits, adding a brilliant chapter to one's resume.

But he never expected that the situation in the Mengjiang region would deteriorate to this extent.

The troops stationed in Mongolia were a collapsing force. Forget about making any contributions; they would be grateful if they could avoid playing cards with Yoshio Shinotsuka and Saburo Noon.

"No wonder other powerful generals are unwilling to come here. It turns out this is not an opportunity, but a pit of fire!"

Shichida gave a bitter laugh, looking at the setting sun outside the window, his eyes filled with despair.

He knew that he might end up like Nono Saburō.

P.S.: I got criticized today. A reader criticized me for being petty and not making the free channel available, causing him to spend half an hour finding a pirated copy, and then going back to the legitimate version to criticize me after reading the pirated version.
(End of this chapter)