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

Chapter 72: The Current Situation of the Independent Second Regiment Stuns All Regiment Commanders
In August 1940, in accordance with the unified deployment of the General Headquarters, the Eighth Route Army launched a simultaneous attack on the Japanese and puppet troops on all fronts in North China, with more than 100 regiments and over 400,000 troops participating in the battle.

The Japanese rear was thrown into chaos, with transportation and communication thrown into disarray.

At this time, Japanese reinforcements approached the Eighth Route Army from different directions, attempting to form a pincer movement from the east and west.

The Eighth Route Army then began to transfer its forces and enter the second phase of the operation.

The Japanese army, operating in battalion-sized units, brazenly conducted sweeping operations deep into the base areas of our Eighth Route Army.

One of the battalions accidentally stumbled into the base's field hospital, which was located next to the arsenal.

This stirred up a hornet's nest, and the boss angrily gave the following instructions:

"How did this battle turn out? A few hundred Japanese soldiers dared to swagger into my base area. What's wrong with the company commander defending Yixiantian? He ran away before the battle even started?"

"Go, kill that company commander right now."

Because the company commander of the company guarding the narrow pass deserted, the Yamazaki Battalion crashed into the field hospital without any hindrance, causing great losses.

The commander was furious and immediately ordered the brigade commander to wipe out these hundreds of audacious Japanese soldiers.

Upon receiving the message, the brigade commander immediately summoned nearby troops and ordered them to quickly move towards the brigade headquarters.

The Second Independent Regiment was also among them, but because of the distance, it would take them half a day to get there.

Upon receiving the order, Chen Ming immediately assembled his troops.

"Notify the First Battalion, Artillery Battalion, and Sharpshooter Company to assemble."

"Yes."

Yes, Chen Ming now has an artillery battalion.

The last time the Independent 2nd Regiment captured, including the county town of Shouyang and the surrounding strongholds and railway stations, there were a total of four Type 92 infantry guns, twenty mortars, and nearly three thousand shells.

After Chen Ming's persistent efforts, he managed to extract a Type 92 infantry gun, four mortars, and 1,000 rounds of ammunition from the brigade commander.

Other light and heavy weapons also received 30%, but rifles were included in the complete set.

After the Independent 2nd Regiment captured rifles, they directly equipped the soldiers who did not have guns, so they were not counted as part of the captures.

The brigade commander turned a blind eye to this, since the guns had already been issued and they couldn't be taken back.

For soldiers, their guns are like their wives; forcibly taking away someone's wife is very demoralizing.

Including the weapons and ammunition that Chen Ming secretly hid, the artillery battalion of the Independent 2nd Regiment now has a total of 14 mortars, two Type 92 infantry guns (one of which was temporarily issued by the division headquarters), and more than 1,500 shells.

Each person had a rifle and seventy bullets per person.

It can be said that no unit in the entire Eighth Route Army was richer than the Independent Second Regiment.

The number of participants has reached more than three thousand.

After organizing the militia for some time, Chen Ming recruited some militia members into his team, expanding the force to four battalions.

Of the more than 800 casualties in the Battle of Shouyang, only more than 400 died, and the rest were able to return to the battle after recovering from their injuries.

The First Battalion, an reinforced battalion of the Independent Second Regiment, had a strength of eight hundred men, more than many other regiments.

Not long after Chen Ming issued his order, more than 800 soldiers from the First Battalion, plus the artillery battalion and the sharpshooter company, a total of more than 1,200 soldiers, had assembled.

"Report: Battalion Commander He Jianxin has led his troops back to their unit. Please give instructions."

Battalion Commander He Jianxin saluted Chen Ming.

Deputy Regiment Commander Wang Dafei has stepped down as Battalion Commander of the First Battalion, and He Jianxin, the former Company Commander of the First Company of the First Battalion, has taken over.

During the Battle of Shouyang, he led his troops in a brave and fierce battle, annihilating many enemy soldiers, and was promoted to battalion commander by Chen Ming.

"Alright, now gather all the combat supplies and march to the brigade headquarters immediately," Chen Ming nodded and ordered.

"Yes."

The artillery battalion and sharpshooter company were directly under the regimental headquarters and were not far from the headquarters, so they had been prepared long ago.

Under the command of headquarters, the 386th Brigade and the First Column of the Death Squad have formed two attack forces, one on the left and one on the right, and have surrounded the Yamazaki Battalion at Lijiapo.

Lijiapo is steep on three sides, with only one side suitable for attack. Due to the terrain, only one company can be sent at a time.

The Japanese wanted to use this opportunity to hold their ground, attract the Eighth Route Army to launch an attack, and coordinate with the reinforcements that arrived later to create a pincer movement.

"The enemy's retaliation is swift. We just launched a few raids on the Zhengtai Line, and they immediately turned around and attacked our base."

The commander looked at the map and said, "This Yamazaki Battalion is too arrogant. With only a few hundred men, they dare to venture deep into our base area."

"No question, kill him!"

The call reached the brigade commander at the brigade headquarters.

"It's me, the deputy commander-in-chief."

"Don't worry about how many Japanese are coming. There's only one thing: get ahead of them and wipe out that son of a bitch Yamazaki Battalion! Repeat that to me!" the boss roared on the other end of the phone.

"Yes, I repeat, wipe out this son of a bitch Yamazaki Battalion," the brigade commander shouted.

In the direction of Lijiapo, the Yamazaki Battalion built defensive fortifications, taking advantage of the terrain, and formed a dense fire network with light and heavy machine guns, mortars, and grenade launchers.

Yamazaki, that old devil, was very confident that with the firepower of his troops, they could definitely hold out until reinforcements arrived.

"As long as we hold this high ground, the reinforcements will form a huge encirclement around it and wipe out the enemy's main force in one fell swoop."

"Sir, General Shinotsuka is calling."

"Read it." "The 16th Brigade and the 9th and 4th Brigades are on their way, and the air force has already taken off."

"Yoshi, as long as reinforcements arrive, we can start our counterattack!" the old Japanese soldier Yamazaki said confidently.

Now, both sides are racing against time to eliminate this isolated enemy force before Japanese reinforcements arrive.

Otherwise, if enemy reinforcements arrive, the various units will have no choice but to abandon this arrogant Japanese force and let them swagger away.

When Chen Ming led his troops to Lijiapo, the brigade commander had already been organizing the troops to fight for nearly five hours.

Although Chen Ming surrendered a lot of weapons and ammunition, including Type 92 mortars and infantry guns.

However, the Eighth Route Army previously lacked artillery, and large quantities of artillery were captured during the Hundred Regiments Offensive, resulting in a severe shortage of artillery personnel.

These artillery pieces had not yet been fully converted into combat power. In addition, the Japanese were very skilled at building fortifications, and it was difficult to shake their core fortifications with mortars alone. In the end, the only solution was to rely on infantry bayonet fighting.

When Chen Ming entered the command room, the brigade commander, who had been looking worried, immediately walked over quickly upon seeing Chen Ming.

"You've finally arrived, kid. The attack isn't going well right now, and the 772nd Regiment has suffered too many casualties. We need to replace them. Do you have the confidence?" the brigade commander said.

"Brigade Commander, let our Independent Regiment go. I guarantee we'll take Lijiapo," Li Yunlong interjected.

Li Yunlong had already observed the terrain of Lijiapo and had a plan for attack.

With the Yamazaki Battalion now suffering more than half its casualties, in Li Yunlong's eyes, it was already a piece of meat that was within his grasp.

"Get out of my way, I don't have time for you right now." The brigade commander completely ignored Li Yunlong.

The Independent Regiment is poorly equipped and short-staffed; if they fight again, they'll be wiped out.

He was doing it for Li Yunlong's own good. The current Independent Regiment should prioritize attacking puppet troops and small strongholds, and then focus on developing its strength first.

A tough battle like the one at Lijiapo should be fought by a well-equipped and fully-manned main force regiment.

"You are now leading your troops to take over the position from the 772nd Regiment. I'm only giving you five hours at most. If you can't take the position, I'll hold you accountable," the brigade commander said sternly.

"I guarantee I'll complete the mission," Chen Ming replied loudly.

"Okay, I will notify the 772nd Regiment to withdraw from the position, and the Independent 2nd Regiment will follow."

The brigade commander made a phone call to the 772nd Regiment's position.

"Brigade Commander, please give our regiment another chance. I will definitely take Lijiapo this time."

On the 772nd Regiment's position, Blind Cheng got through to the brigade commander on the phone.

"What? It's the Second Independent Regiment again? Why is it always him who gets all the good things?" Blind Cheng said, feeling wronged.

When attacking the Japanese supply lines, the Independent 2nd Regiment was the main force, while the 772nd Regiment served as the reserve. As a result, the Independent 2nd Regiment got a very good meal.

I didn't expect them to come again this time.

“Our regiment attacked for a full five hours, and the Yamazaki Battalion has suffered more than half casualties. Sending the Independent 2nd Regiment in now would just be letting them get away with it.”

"Brigadier, I don't understand."

"If you can't figure it out, think about it slowly. Now execute the order immediately. We'll talk about anything else after the battle," the brigade commander said sternly.

He had been following the Battle of Lijiapo closely, and when he saw company after company of soldiers charging forward, only to fall one by one on the way, he was extremely anxious.

We can't keep fighting like this; the casualties will be too great if we continue.

The Second Independent Regiment has arrived; it's time to replace them.

Chen Ming always manages to surprise the brigade commander, and I believe he won't disappoint him this time either.

"Yes, execute the order, withdraw."

After the 772nd Regiment withdrew, the 1st Battalion of the Independent 2nd Regiment quickly took over the position.

The brigade commander and several other regimental commanders also came to Chen Ming's forward command post to observe.

Li Yunlong was thinking, why should the Independent Second Regiment be sent? If he wasn't allowed to go, he wanted to see what the Independent Second Regiment was capable of.

Blind Cheng felt the same way; he wanted to see why the brigade commander would allow the Independent 2nd Regiment, an outsider, to take over the position of his 772nd Regiment.

When the regimental commanders saw the soldiers of the First Battalion of the Second Independent Regiment with their luxurious equipment, they all gasped in surprise.

Be nice!

If it weren't for the fact that the clothes were Eighth Route Army uniforms, they would have thought this was a unit under the Japanese Army's Class A division.

The rifles were all Type 38 rifles, there were more than twenty light machine guns and eight heavy machine guns.

Even the soldiers were wearing military boots, not the cloth shoes their troops wore.

"How many troops did you bring this time?" the brigade commander asked, looking at the number of people from the Independent 2nd Regiment.

The Second Independent Regiment has more than 2,500 men, and even including the casualties from the last incident, there are still more than 2,000 men.

However, judging from the scene, there were only a little over a thousand people.

"Reporting to the brigade commander, because we need to get there as quickly as possible, the Independent 2nd Regiment only sent one battalion of 800 soldiers, plus an artillery battalion and a sharpshooter company of 400 soldiers, for a total of 1,200 soldiers," Chen Ming replied.

"What? You have an artillery battalion!"

Several regimental commanders spoke with shocked expressions, Chen Ming's words almost making their jaws drop.

(End of this chapter)