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

Chapter 69 Sir, Save Me (Fourth Update, Please Vote)

After replying to Chen Ming, the brigade commander then sent the battle report to headquarters via telegram.

This was the first day of the offensive launched by 22 regiments against the Japanese supply lines. Not only did the brigade commander stay up all night waiting for news, but even the top commander at headquarters stayed up all night.

Upon receiving the telegram, the commander-in-chief's drowsiness vanished, and he burst into laughter in the operations conference room.

"Boss, what's got you so happy?"

Seeing the commander's happy expression, the division commander smiled and asked.

"Take a look."

The general happily handed the telegram to the division commander.

The division commander took the telegram, glanced at it by the lamplight, and laughed.

"The Second Independent Regiment fought well. Their ambush and defense were well-organized, and their timing was very accurate. They also had no major problems coordinating a force of more than 5,000 men. They are worth focusing on developing."

The teachers were generous with their praise.

The 2nd Independent Regiment belonged to the 129th Division, and its good performance brought honor to the 129th Division.

"That's good. We'll make arrangements for Chen Ming later. Right now, the important thing is to finish the battle," the boss agreed.

Who wouldn't like a talented person who can develop troops, fight well, and follow orders?

On the Independent Second Regiment side, after receiving orders from the brigade headquarters, Chen Ming ordered the encirclement of Shouyang County to begin.

"Major, Lieutenant Colonel Tada and more than 400 soldiers of the Locust Army who were supporting the railway station were ambushed by the Eighth Route Army and have all been killed. The enemy has now surrounded the county town and is estimated to have more than 1,700 men."

Inside Shouyang County, a Japanese soldier reports to the captain of the Shouyang County Military Police.

Upon learning that the more than 400 soldiers who went out, including the commander of the 14th Battalion, had all died, and that the county town was surrounded by more than 1,700 enemy soldiers, the major was furious and swept the tea set off the table, shattering it on the ground.

He never imagined that a force of over four hundred men would be completely wiped out by a Chinese army of over a thousand men in just two hours.

Under normal circumstances, even if they were no match for the Chinese army, they could have easily retreated to the county town and wouldn't have been wiped out.

Now there are only a little over a hundred military police soldiers left in the county town, and more than five hundred puppet troops.

The military police were far less effective than field troops, not to mention the puppet troops.

"Immediately send a telegram to the Fourth Brigade: Shouyang County is under siege by more than 1,700 Chinese troops. The city's defenses consist of only a little over 100 military police and more than 500 puppet troops. We request reinforcements to arrive as soon as possible. It is extremely urgent."

Now all he can do is ensure that the troops supporting the Fourth Brigade arrive as soon as possible.

Otherwise, with only a hundred or so men under his command, it would be difficult enough to prevent the puppet troops from rebelling, let alone defend a county town!
After giving the order, the military police captain then ordered his men to notify the puppet troops inside the city to assist in defending the city.

To prevent the puppet troops from turning against them, he also spread false information, claiming that the troops that went out were entangled by an enemy force and would need several hours to return, while reinforcements from the direction of Yangquan would arrive within three hours.

"I hope that these hundred-plus people, plus the puppet troops, can hold out until reinforcements arrive, otherwise Shouyang County will be lost in my hands."

The Japanese military police captain prayed silently.

However, deep down he was pessimistic, after all, a field force of more than 400 men could be wiped out in two hours.

Even a train station with reinforced concrete fortifications could be captured by the enemy, indicating that the troops besieging the county town were definitely very strong.

Yangquan.

The commander of the Independent Mixed 4th Brigade was greatly shocked after receiving the request for assistance from the direction of Shouyang.

Didn't the enemy launch a surprise attack on the train station four hours ago?

How long has it been? Shouyang is about to fall, and the troops sent out to provide support have been completely annihilated!
This was definitely not a simple sneak attack.

The battle has only been going on for four hours, and the Japanese army still hasn't figured out the Eighth Route Army's intentions.

But the commander of the Independent Mixed Fourth Brigade was certain that this was no simple sneak attack.

However, the immediate priority was to address the crisis in Shouyang County. Therefore, he immediately ordered the dispatch of one or two additional companies, bringing the total to over 1,100 men (one battalion) to Shouyang to resolve the crisis.

The Independent Second Regiment had already assembled at the foot of Shouyang City, but did not rush to attack.

Chen Ming awaited the actions of the armed work team and underground party comrades in the city.

Inside the city, the puppet army's regimental commander was forced by the Japanese to defend the city, and he was very unwilling.

If he hadn't known the Japanese were powerful and that their reinforcements would arrive in just a few hours, he definitely wouldn't have wanted to defend the city.

"Commander, someone is requesting an audience. He says he's here to save your life."

Just as the puppet army commander was feeling annoyed, a puppet army battalion commander suddenly ran over and said something.

"What do you mean, save my life? I'm perfectly fine! Get rid of him!" the fake legion commander said impatiently.

He didn't say anything, but the fact that his second battalion commander could relay a message about killing someone meant that the person must have some connections.

The fact that he has survived to this day, without being killed by the Japanese or eliminated by the anti-traitor squads or the Eighth Route Army, suggests that he has his own way of handling things.

"Commander, we can't bomb him! This is him!" the battalion commander said, carefully making an eight-shaped hand gesture.

The puppet regiment commander's expression hardened at the sight. Thinking of the nearly two thousand Eighth Route Army soldiers outside the city walls, he immediately spoke:
"Bring people in quickly."

Not long after, a refined middle-aged man in a black robe came to the puppet army commander.

"You are this?"

The fake legion commander made a figure eight gesture with his fingers and asked in a low voice.

The middle-aged man nodded and said, "I'm here to save your life."

"What nonsense are you talking about? I'm perfectly fine, aren't I?"

"Look what this is!"

The middle-aged man didn't reply, but instead took out a long, narrow object wrapped in a black cloth.

The fake regimental commander thought it was a gun and immediately reached for his waist.

However, when the middle-aged man untied the black cloth, the fake legion commander's eyes widened in surprise when he saw what it was.

This was a bloodstained military knife, and its owner was none other than the Japanese battalion commander who was leading the troops out on a mission.

The fake legion commander remembered it very clearly!
"The more than 400 Japanese soldiers outside the city have been wiped out by our army. Other Japanese troops are also blocking the way in the direction of Yangquan. There are more than 2,000 people surrounding the city. Do you want to live or die now?"

The middle-aged man spoke softly.

The sound reached the ears of the fake legion commander as violently as a thunderclap.

The fact that this person was able to obtain the Japanese battalion commander's sword means that the battalion commander, along with more than four hundred Japanese soldiers, who were out on missions, had all been wiped out.

But how long have they been gone?
How strong was the fighting power of this Eighth Route Army unit that they wiped out so quickly?
With over 500 men under his command, could he really hold out until Japanese reinforcements arrived, facing a Eighth Route Army force capable of quickly annihilating the Japanese?

The enemy had over two thousand men, while he only had five hundred under his command. Needless to say, their combat strength and fighting spirit were far superior.

It's good enough that they didn't all scatter.

Moreover, the other side also said that the supporting troops would be blocked by other troops, and they definitely could not reach Shouyang County on time.

Regardless of whether what the other party said was true or false, the fake legion commander could only assume that what the other party said was true.

He will die if he guesses wrong.

"Sir, I want to live, sir, save me."

P.S.: Four updates! You can tell from my name. Four updates is my limit, so please vote for me!

(End of this chapter)