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

Chapter 53 Reactions from all parties
The controversy surrounding the annihilation of the Sakata Regiment continues.

The Eighth Route Army, with its rudimentary weapons and equipment, annihilated a formidable Japanese regiment, causing a great uproar.

The Japanese military would certainly not admit it, and publicly claimed that only 800 men were killed or wounded, and that the Sakata Regiment still retained its fighting capacity and could be restored after reinforcements.

The Nationalist government also did not believe that the poorly equipped Eighth Route Army could annihilate the Japanese Sakata Regiment.

It should be noted that the Sakata Regiment defeated the 72nd Division of the Central Army during the Battle of Xinkou.

Although the 72nd Division was not a first-rate unit, it was still far superior to the Eighth Route Army's dilapidated equipment.

They believed that the Eighth Route Army was exaggerating their battle achievements, which was common in the current environment, so they prejudicially determined the nature of the crime.

Based on the Japanese army's consistent practices, they believed that the Eighth Route Army had severely damaged the Sakata Regiment, and the actual casualties should be around 2000.

The officials of the Nationalist government generally agreed with this conclusion.

Those who have made meritorious contributions should be rewarded, so Chiang Kai-shek issued a commendation order to the 129th Division for this operation.

The document only commended the 129th Division for its heroic fighting, without mentioning any material rewards.

Forget about replenishing weapons and equipment, we don't even have a single dollar.

Headquarters had become accustomed to Chiang Kai-shek's character. In order to maintain the united front and fight the Japanese together, what did it matter if he suffered a little grievance?

The Eighth Route Army was able to develop to its current state not because of the weapons and equipment provided by the Nationalist government.

Two days later, Chen Ming finally woke up.

He felt pain all over his body, as if something was binding him, and his mouth was dry and he felt very uncomfortable.

"Da Biao, get me some water," Chen Ming called out weakly.

Outside the door, Da Biao, the bodyguard who had been guarding Chen Ming, immediately pushed the door open and entered when he heard the regimental commander call him.

"Commander, you're awake." Da Biao's face showed exhaustion, but his complexion was also flushed with excitement.

"Go get me some water," Chen Ming said.

"Okay, I'll go right away."

Upon hearing this, Da Biao immediately rushed out and got Chen Ming a bowl of water.

Chen Ming took a sip; it was still sweet.

"What's going on? Why is this water sweet?" Chen Ming blinked and asked.

"Commander, you are a wounded soldier now. The doctor said you need to replenish your nutrition. This sugar water is a nutritional supplement for wounded soldiers."

Hearing Da Biao's answer, Chen Ming felt a pang of sadness.

In this era, sugar water, which was made from sugar, had become a nutritional supplement, and it could only be supplied to the wounded, which shows how scarce resources were.

Chen Ming didn't stand on ceremony and drank the sugar water in one gulp, which made his mouth feel a little better.

"How long have I been asleep? What's the situation with our team now?" Chen Ming asked after finishing his water.

"Commander, you've been asleep for two days. During the time you were unconscious, the brigade commander, division commander, and even the commander-in-chief came to see you in person," Da Biao said.
"Our regiment was also awarded the title of 'Heroic Regiment of the Battle of Cangyunling',"

When talking about his honorary titles, Da Biao's face lit up with pride.

The young soldiers yearned for honor, and the title of "Heroic Regiment" was the best reward for the brave soldiers of the Independent Second Regiment.

From then on, when the soldiers of the Independent Second Regiment met other brother units, they would stand up straighter when they said they were from the Hero Regiment.

"Yes." Chen Ming was also very happy.

As a soldier, while protecting the country, I also yearn for honor.

"How many soldiers in the regiment sacrificed their lives in this battle?" Chen Ming asked again.

Upon hearing Chen Ming's question, Da Biao's mood soared again.

Seeing Da Biao's condition, Chen Ming knew that the Second Independent Regiment had suffered significant losses this time.

However, this was not unexpected. In war, people always die. If the soldiers don't sacrifice themselves, it is the civilians who will.

Having chosen to join the army, he, all the soldiers of the Independent Second Regiment, and everyone in the entire Eighth Route Army were prepared to sacrifice themselves at any time. "It's alright, go ahead and tell me, I want to know," Chen Ming said.

"Commander, the doctor said you can't get emotional right now. Let's talk about it when you're better," Da Biao said after a moment's hesitation.

"Dabiao."

"arrive."

"stand at attention."

"Yes."

Da Biao immediately stood at attention.

"Who is the commander of the Second Independent Regiment?" Chen Ming asked.

"You are the regimental commander."

"louder."

"Report, the commander of the Independent Second Regiment is Chen Ming," Da Biao shouted loudly.

"Then, as the regimental commander, am I qualified to know about the situation of the soldiers in the regiment?" Chen Ming continued to ask.

"Have!"

"Tell me, how many soldiers in the regiment sacrificed their lives in the Battle of Cangyunling?" Chen Ming asked solemnly.

"Yes."

Little brat, he's a regimental commander, can't he even control his own bodyguards?

Da Biao couldn't persuade Chen Ming otherwise, so he had to say, "In this battle, our Independent Second Regiment had 432 soldiers in the First Battalion, 297 of whom were killed; 353 soldiers in the Second Battalion, 203 of whom were killed; and 297 soldiers in the Third Battalion, 130 of whom were killed."

"Including the sniper company, the guard platoon and other soldiers who sacrificed their lives, a total of 670 soldiers were killed, and most of the other soldiers were also wounded."

Da Biao reported the casualty figures in a somber tone.

Hearing that so many soldiers had sacrificed their lives, Chen Ming sighed.

This battle was a devastating blow to the Second Independent Regiment. Of the more than 1,200 soldiers who participated in the battle, only more than 500 survived and returned home.

Weapons and ammunition have also been severely depleted, and it will be difficult to restore them to their original combat effectiveness in just a few months.

The honor of the Heroic Regiment was earned by the soldiers of the Independent Second Regiment with their lives. Although it is an honor, it weighs heavily on their shoulders.

"And what about the Japanese soldiers? How many Japanese soldiers did you kill in total? What were the casualties of the other regiments?" Chen Ming continued to ask.

Da Biao then reported the casualties of the other regiments to Chen Ming.

After listening, Chen Ming nodded.

The soldiers' sacrifices were not in vain, having eliminated so many Japanese soldiers.

However, when he heard that Kong Jie's Independent Regiment had less than 300 soldiers left, and its designation was almost wiped out, with casualties even heavier than those of the Second Independent Regiment, he sighed inwardly.

Speaking of which, Kong Jie, the commander of the Independent Regiment, had saved my life during the last ambush of the Japanese train.

"Who's in charge of the work in the group right now?" Chen Ming then asked.

Because of a lack of cadres and the fact that the Second Independent Regiment had only recently been reorganized, Chen Ming was the only cadre who could take on a major role.

He held the dual positions of regimental commander and political commissar, without even a deputy regimental commander.

"It's Brother Dafei. Brother Dafei has been promoted to deputy commander and will temporarily take charge of the work. Our regiment has also been transferred to the vicinity of headquarters for rest and recuperation," Da Biao said.

Chen Ming nodded, relieved that Da Fei would temporarily take charge of the work.

Dafei was one of the earliest members of the district squad, and he has come all the way from the district squad of twelve people to the independent second regiment of thousands of people.

In the Second Independent Regiment, he had enough seniority, and the officers in the regiment would not disobey him.

Furthermore, the Second Independent Regiment was transferred to a location near headquarters for rest and recuperation. With headquarters taking care of him, at least during his recovery period, nothing would go wrong.

P.S.: There's one more chapter, but I'm not sure if I should post it. I'm thinking of taking a break.
(End of this chapter)