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

Chapter 94 This is a half-cooked rice
On the way to Baijiazhuang, orders from headquarters also reached the Independent Detachment.

Headquarters ordered that the 714th Regiment, which was surrounded, be rescued at all costs, and that the enemy's retreat be covered.

Unlike the Nationalist army, the Eighth Route Army did not remain unmoved when friendly forces were in trouble.

Never abandon, never give up – this has always been the guiding principle of the Eighth Route Army, and these are comrades who would entrust their backs to each other.

Regardless, the 714th Regiment must be saved.

Even if the cost outweighs the value of abandoning the rescue, we must still save them.

Otherwise, if they can abandon the 714th Regiment today, they can abandon other units tomorrow.

Upon receiving the order, Chen Ming telegraphed headquarters, stating that no matter the cost, the Independent Detachment would definitely rescue the besieged 714th Regiment.

Two advance units, carrying only light weapons, marched 78 kilometers in 14 hours, relying on their own two feet.

They finally arrived five kilometers from Baijiazhuang before the Japanese reinforcements arrived.

Without a moment's rest, they relied on their indomitable will to successfully seize the high ground west of Baijiazhuang and build positions to block enemy reinforcements.

The main force did not lag too far behind, and with the help of a large number of captured mules and horses to transport heavy weapons and ammunition, their marching speed was not slow.

They are expected to arrive gradually in another four hours.

On the high ground west of Baijiazhuang, Wang Gui directed his soldiers to build a defensive position.

He assigned half of the soldiers to dig, while the other half took the time to rest. Once they had rested enough, they would take turns.

This would maintain the troops' combat effectiveness and prevent them from being severely weakened due to exhaustion when the Japanese launched an attack on the position.

"Comrades, hurry up! The higher-ups and other regiments are watching us," Wang Gui encouraged the soldiers.

In the last battle that annihilated the Kawasaki Battalion, he embarrassed the soldiers of the Third Battalion, and he was also severely criticized by Chen Ming for disobeying orders on the battlefield.

This time, Wang Gui volunteered to be the vanguard because he wanted to vindicate the soldiers of the Third Battalion.

This is a battle to prove themselves, and they must fight to show the spirit of the Third Battalion.

While Wang Gui was building his position, the Japanese soldiers besieging the 714th Regiment were also busy.

After the Japanese scouts discovered that the western high ground had been seized by the Eighth Route Army, they immediately reported it to Major General Katayama, the brigade commander of the Independent Mixed 4th Brigade.

Because the Independent Detachment was unusually active between the Zhengtai Railway and the Tongpu Railway, the Independent Mixed Fourth Brigade stationed in Yangquan was not transferred to the Zhongtiao Mountain battlefield.

Instead, they will be the ones to meet their old rival, the Independent Detachment.

"Sir, the western high ground has been captured by a force of Eighth Route Army soldiers. The garrison suffered heavy losses and was forced to retreat," the Japanese staff officer reported to Major General Katayama.

"Alright, how many enemies are there?" The Japanese major general smiled.

After fishing for so long, the fish finally started to gather around.

"There are about six hundred men. Should we send troops to retake the hill?" the Japanese staff officer asked.

The Japanese major general waved his hand and said confidently, "No need. Although that high ground is very important, you have to be willing to bait the area when fishing."

"The other troops are now rushing to the scene. Within eight hours, they will be able to form an encirclement and wipe out the Chinese army that came to their rescue."

"At this time, if you suddenly reveal your fangs, you will scare the fish away."

"Hai! Sir, you are wise. There is so much I can learn from you." The Japanese staff officer flattered him.

"Haha, Mr. Matsuki, dealing with the cunning Eighth Route Army is not like dealing with the main force of the Chinese army. This kind of enemy requires strategy," the Japanese major general said with a smile.

"Hai! Sir, should we launch another attack on the Chinese troops in Baijiazhuang to deplete their fighting strength?" the Japanese staff officer asked.

"No need. This unit's combat strength is negligible. If we deplete too many of their forces, the bait will become less enticing, and the Chinese army will likely abandon them," the Japanese major general said.

"Hai!"

Because of the Japanese soldiers' arrogance and deliberate leniency, the position built by Wang Gui was not subjected to a major attack by the Japanese.

They only sent a small force to make a show of attacking in an attempt to mislead the independent detachment soldiers stationed on the high ground.

These small units were quickly driven back by the soldiers on the high ground.

After repelling a small Japanese attack, they ignored it and continued to carry out Chen Ming's orders, holding their ground firmly.

When Chen Ming led the main force to the west of Baijiazhuang and joined up with the vanguard, he observed the entire battlefield situation through a three-dimensional combat map.

After the troop was expanded, Chen Ming's three-dimensional combat map was also upgraded to cover a radius of 20 kilometers.

This area is large enough to encompass more than 1256 square kilometers of land centered on Chen Ming.

The entire battlefield situation was laid bare before Chen Ming's eyes.

When Chen Ming saw that the Japanese were surrounding the 714th Regiment but not attacking, and instead building defensive fortifications, he knew what the enemy was planning.

"The Japanese devils are so arrogant and conceited that they actually think they can use two thousand Japanese soldiers and one thousand puppet troops to attract our more than 20,000 troops and replicate the tactics of the Yamazaki Battalion to surround us with the outer troops."

"I think he's delusional. I'll let this Japanese army know that they will be wiped out by our army just like the Yamazaki Battalion, and then we'll break through the encirclement and shatter their strategic intentions." "Although I've always advocated not fighting unprepared battles, and preparing the meal before welcoming guests, it's still a bit rushed. We can't just not open the door to welcome guests."

Looking at the Japanese troops' deployment and the information from headquarters, Chen Ming learned that the Japanese had drawn two infantry regiments from other directions to the outer perimeter, along with a brigade of puppet troops, totaling 15,000 men.

Together with the Japanese troops from other routes of the Independent Mixed 4th Brigade, a total of more than 20,000 troops formed a huge encirclement.

They attempted to swallow up the Eighth Route Army forces, totaling approximately 2.5 men, including the troops in the Fourth Military Sub-district and the southern part of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region.

The current battlefield situation is that the Japanese Independent 4th Brigade, along with its puppet troops, totaling more than 3,000 men, has surrounded the 714th Regiment in Baijiazhuang.

The Independent Detachment, the Independent Second Brigade, and two military sub-districts in the southern part of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region, totaling more than 20,000 troops, surrounded the 3,000 Japanese and puppet troops.

On the outermost edge, the Japanese mobilized about 20,000 Japanese and puppet troops, forming an even larger encirclement.

Outside the Japanese encirclement, troops from the 115th Division were responsible for providing cover.

The key now is whether we can rescue the surrounded 714th Regiment within the limited time and then annihilate this force of three thousand men.

Once these 3,000 Japanese and puppet troops are eliminated, and there are no more worries about their rear, the more than 20,000 troops will break out of the encirclement. With the cover of the 115th Division, the Japanese will not be able to stop them.

If this force of 3,000 Japanese and puppet troops is not eliminated, the troops will be caught in the crossfire, attacked from both sides, and suffer heavy losses.

In order to eliminate this enemy force, headquarters assigned the main attack mission to the Independent Detachment, which had the largest number of members and the strongest combat power.

After understanding his mission, Chen Ming knew that he now carried the lives of countless soldiers on his shoulders.

"This is a half-cooked rice, but even if it's half-cooked, we still have to eat it."

"Order the artillery to immediately construct positions and, fifteen minutes later, fire a basic load (20 rounds) of shells at the fastest speed toward the Daling Heights north of Baijiazhuang and the Menzi Cliff to the northwest."

"After that, we immediately headed towards the core position of the Japanese troops and used up half of their ammunition reserves."

"After the artillery positions opened fire, all the soldiers of the Second Battalion, at top speed and under the cover of artillery fire, took the Japanese Guanfengkou position, and then moved south to cut off the communication between the Japanese and the puppet troops."

"The First Battalion plunged straight into the heart of the Japanese territory, broke through to Baijiazhuang, and covered the retreat of the surrounded 714th Regiment. After that, it immediately launched a fierce attack on the core positions of the Japanese."

"The Third Battalion, together with the First and Third Battalions, formed two independent guerrilla brigades, which maneuvered around to the rear of the Japanese positions to cooperate with our brethren in cutting off the Japanese breakout route."

"The cavalry battalion, the fourth and fifth, a total of two independent guerrilla battalions, will wipe out the Japanese reconnaissance units and make the Japanese blind."

Chen Ming immediately arranged the combat mission, using the strongest battalions, the First and Second Battalions, totaling 5,500 soldiers, to launch a strong attack on the Japanese core position.

Cut off the communication between the Japanese and their puppet troops, concentrate superior forces and firepower, and launch a fierce attack on the main force of the surrounded Japanese troops.

The coordinates that Chen Ming provided to the artillery battalion were the locations of the Japanese unit's artillery positions and command post.

Having a 3D combat map as a cheat code, of course we should make use of it and let the Japanese know what a dimensional reduction attack is.

Once the Japanese artillery positions and command posts are destroyed, the Japanese will become like wild dogs without claws or brains, completely at the mercy of the Independent Detachment.

After Chen Ming's operational plan was reported to headquarters and relayed to other units, headquarters immediately approved it.

The battlefield situation changes rapidly, and we should trust the commanders and soldiers on the front lines.

It's ridiculous to not be able to perform battlefield micro-management like someone else.

Upon learning of Chen Ming's operational intentions, Brigade Commander Wang of the Independent Second Brigade, who had received the operational deployment from the Independent Detachment, immediately gasped in shock.

"Good heavens, the Independent Detachment is going to launch a strong attack on the Japanese positions and engage in a head-on battle with the Japanese!"

"With such strong combat capabilities, how dare they try to wipe out this well-fortified Japanese unit in one fell swoop? Aren't they afraid of breaking their teeth?"

Brigade Commander Wang was somewhat puzzled.

Although the two units had previously cooperated to annihilate more than 1400 Japanese soldiers from the Kawasaki Battalion, the previous operation had resulted in their defeat.

But that was an ambush, which gave us the advantage of being the first to strike and the element of surprise, so it wasn't surprising that we were able to annihilate the Japanese.

He also knew that the Independent Detachment was very powerful.

But now they were faced with a well-prepared Japanese and puppet army of three thousand men, who had built a complete defensive position.

This is a head-on battle, a contest of hard power. The independent detachment has only been expanded for a few months, even though the main force has nearly 10,000 men.

However, combat effectiveness is not simply determined by the number of troops; it also depends on weaponry, equipment, and the quality of personnel.

It is common sense that a large-scale expansion of the armed forces will severely reduce their combat effectiveness.

Brigade Commander Wang was unaware that Chen Ming possessed such add-ons as a 3D combat map and badge system, and therefore had doubts about the independent detachment's ability to build up its ranks and develop its capabilities.

This is normal.

However, since headquarters has already approved the independent detachment's operational deployment, Brigade Commander Wang has no choice but to cooperate.

After all, the 714th Regiment, which was surrounded, was his main force regiment.

Even if we can't annihilate this group of Japanese soldiers, we must rescue the surrounded troops.

(End of this chapter)