Courtyard Houses: Longevity Since the War of Resistance

Western Laoyashan blocking position

Wang Tiezhu stared at the dirt road down the mountain. The Second Battalion was facing the Japanese soldiers from Taishi. They were more mechanized, with a dozen or so three-wheeled motorcycles leading the way, each equipped with a machine gun. Behind them, a long line of trucks followed, with large-caliber mountain guns towed behind the trucks, and infantrymen behind the trucks.

"Keep your cool, everyone." Wang Tiezhu waved his hand to the soldiers behind him. "Let the landmines cause some initial damage."

These are all the results of the learning within the War God Regiment recently. Although Shan Tiexin is the political commissar, he is also a veteran who has experienced various battles. His arrival has made up for my irresponsibility.

If you can use a landmine, don't shoot; if you can use a hand grenade, don't shoot. After all, life is more important.

The minefield first encountered the two leading motorcycles.

Boom! Boom!

The motorcycle was blown over, and the convoy behind it braked immediately. The Japanese soldiers jumped off their vehicles and spread out to form a defensive perimeter.

"Sappers!" a Japanese officer shouted, brandishing his saber.

Same beast, same brain, same shouting.

Several sappers crouched down and stepped forward, carrying mine detectors. But before they could even begin, another officer suddenly shouted, "It's too late! Use grenades to clear the way!"

Dozens of Japanese soldiers simultaneously pulled out hand grenades and threw them onto the road ahead. Amidst the continuous explosions, the buried landmines were detonated in clusters, sending dust billowing several meters high.

"Organize a suicide squad to charge the remaining route."

A group of Japanese infantrymen took off their clothes and ran wildly on the dirt road like mad dogs. Some of them stepped on the surviving landmines and were blown to pieces in the explosion.

But the Japanese soldiers behind them still charged forward recklessly, clearing a path with their corpses.

"Damn it, they're really willing to spend money!" Wang Tiezhu spat.

After clearing the landmines, the Japanese convoy restarted, clearly intending to force its way through.

"We can't let them get past!" Wang Tiezhu roared. "Send grenades!"

The soldiers were already prepared, hurling rows of grenades down the mountain. Amidst the explosions, the three-wheeled motorcycles were overturned. But the trucks behind them continued to surge forward, the Japanese soldiers on board firing their machine guns wildly.

"Roll logs and boulders!" Wang Tiezhu gave the order.

Logs and boulders, which had been prepared beforehand, rolled down the hillside and crashed onto the road with a thunderous roar. The trucks in front were unable to avoid them and were hit squarely by the logs and boulders, causing them to swerve and become completely stuck in place.

"Baka! Get off the vehicle and fight!" the Japanese officer shouted angrily.

The Japanese soldiers jumped off the trucks, using them as cover, and opened fire with both light and heavy machine guns, firing up the hill. The artillery also set up their cannons, and shells exploded on the position.

"Hold on tight, all of you!" Wang Tiezhu patrolled back and forth in the trenches. "Don't hold back on bullets, I've brought out all my ammunition, let's give those Japanese devils a good thrashing!"

The Second Battalion held the advantage of terrain, while the Japanese relied on their fierce firepower, and the battle was temporarily deadlocked.

On another mountain path, Old Han, the county brigade leader, lay prone on the hillside, clutching an old-fashioned rifle. Behind him were about two hundred soldiers, all farmers, armed with a motley collection of weapons, from homemade muskets made in Hanyang to broadswords and spears. Their best weapons were two homemade cannons hollowed out from elm tree trunks, and homemade explosive charges.

"Captain, the Japanese transport team is here." Erwazi ran over crouching low. "There are more than six hundred of them, and they're carrying mortars."

Old Han squinted, watching the convoy winding its way into the distance. He knew all too well that for these country bumpkins from the county brigade to fight the well-equipped Japanese head-on was like throwing eggs against a rock.

"Captain, shall we continue fighting?" Erwazi's voice trembled slightly.

Old Han was silent for a moment, then suddenly slapped his thigh: "Attack! Commander Li and his men are fighting the Japanese in Yangchang County. If we let these Japanese get through, are we even human?"

He turned to his soldiers, his voice hoarse but firm: "Brothers, our equipment may be inferior, but we know this mountainous terrain well! Even if we all perish here today, we must hold off the Japanese!"

The soldiers nodded silently, no one spoke, but their eyes revealed a resolute determination.

As the vanguard of the Japanese troops entered the minefield, Old Han suddenly waved his hand: "Pull the bowstring!"

The homemade landmines exploded one after another. Although they weren't very powerful, they still managed to kill several Japanese soldiers. The remaining Japanese soldiers immediately scattered, and the mortars were quickly set up.

"Take cover!" Old Han shouted.

Shells rained down on the position, sending dirt and rocks flying. The soldiers of the county brigade lay prone in the trenches, enduring the explosions around them.

"Prepare the artillery!" Old Han immediately gave the order after the artillery fire subsided slightly.

The two elmwood cannons roared, unleashing a hail of iron pellets and shrapnel at the Japanese soldiers. Though their accuracy was poor, their wide coverage brought down a large number of them instantly.

Enraged by this sudden attack, the Japanese soldiers began to organize an assault. The county militia fought back fiercely with their rudimentary weapons, aiming every shot precisely; they were short of ammunition, so they had to be accurate.

In just one hour of fighting, the county brigade was attacked thirteen times by the Japanese, and their positions were repeatedly bombarded by artillery fire. Fewer than 15 soldiers survived. Old Han's left hand was severed, and he simply tied it up with a strip of cloth.

"Hahaha, just as Wu Song captured Fang La with one arm in ancient times, I, Old Han, will kill the Japanese devils with one arm today! Brothers, kill them!"

"Captain, we're almost out of ammo!" Erwazi reported in a hoarse voice.

Old Han looked around. Every surviving soldier was wounded, but their eyes remained resolute. He smiled. "That's enough. These two hundred or so of us have already taken down over five hundred Japanese soldiers."

At that moment, the Japanese launched their final charge. Old Han, watching the approaching Japanese soldiers, suddenly smiled: "Brothers, it's time to go!"

He turned to the remaining dozen or so soldiers: "Are you afraid?"

"We're not afraid! We've already gotten our money's worth!" the soldiers said in unison.

Old Han nodded and pulled out the fuse hidden under the position. This was explosives they had planted long ago, originally intended to be used to blow up the mountain and block the road as a last resort.

"You little devils, fuck your mother!" Old Han roared and pulled the fuse hard.

The deafening explosions echoed through the valley, making the hillsides tremble. When the smoke cleared, not a single figure could be seen standing on the county brigade's position.

All 203 county brigade soldiers sacrificed their lives, and what they gained in return were the corpses of more than 500 Japanese soldiers and a Japanese reinforcement that could never reach Yangchang County.

No one may know the names of Lao Han and the county brigade, but their sacrifice will be forever etched on this land they protected with their blood.

On a broader battlefield, the "Iron Triangle" of northwestern Shanxi was also mobilized.

Li Yunlong stood in front of the temporary command post, observing the defenses of Ping'an County through binoculars. Zhang Dabiao strode over: "Regimental Commander, the reconnaissance company reports that the Japanese in Ping'an County have sent two companies to reinforce Yangchang County. Now there's only one company and a puppet army regiment left in the city."

"Damn it, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! That brat Li, I, Old Li, won't blame you for mobilizing me this time." Li Yunlong slapped his thigh. "Messenger! Tell the First Battalion Commander to concentrate all firepower and focus on attacking the city gate! The Second Battalion will launch a feint attack from the flank, and the Third Battalion will be responsible for intercepting reinforcements!"

"Old Li, should we ask for instructions first? The higher-ups only want us to help with reinforcements," Political Commissar Zhao said with some concern.

"Old Zhao, didn't the higher-ups say we should attack vulnerable areas when the opportunity arises? I think Ping'an County is very vulnerable. The opportunity will be fleeting. I'll take responsibility if anything goes wrong!"

Political Commissar Zhao looked at the intelligence and nodded in agreement. He truly was Li Yunlong's good partner.

As he spoke, he grabbed a light machine gun: "Zhang Dabiao, come with me to the front lines! If we don't take Ping'an County today, I'm resigning as regimental commander!"

Ding Wei, holding binoculars, carefully observed the Japanese reinforcements. The chief of staff approached: "Regimental Commander, this Japanese regiment is well-equipped; a direct confrontation would likely result in heavy casualties."

"Who said I was going to fight head-on?" Ding Wei smiled slightly. "Order each battalion to adopt a rotation tactic. The first battalion will harass from the front, the second battalion will flank, and the third battalion will be responsible for destroying the road. Remember, hit and run, don't linger!"

"But Commander, will this really stop the Japanese?"

Ding Wei pointed to the map and said, "Look, we have to pass through three mountain ridges to get to Yangchang County from here. We'll take turns blocking the enemy at each ridge, and each blockade will not exceed half an hour. Once the Japanese have organized their attack, we'll retreat to the next defensive line. This way, we can both hold off the enemy and reduce casualties."

He paused, then added, "Tell the soldiers to prepare plenty of stones and timber, and block up all the mountain roads. I'll make the Japanese trucks crawl slower than tortoises!"

Kong Jie's troops were sabotaging the railway when a soldier ran over to report: "Commander, scouts have spotted a military train heading this way, and it's full of Japanese soldiers!"

"Perfect timing!" Kong Jie's spirits lifted. "First Battalion, continue sabotaging the railway! Second and Third Battalions, follow me!"

He led his troops to quickly seize the high ground on both sides of the railway: "Listen up, everyone! When the military train is forced to stop at the damaged section, concentrate your fire on the carriages!"

"Commander, should we capture a few prisoners?"

"What prisoners are you talking about!" Kong Jie glared. "These are special times. Give these Japanese reinforcements a good beating!"

Gazing at the black smoke rising in the distance, Kong Jie said to the communications officer, "Send a telegram to Lao Li and Lao Ding, telling them I've succeeded on my side, and tell them to go all out!"

At this moment, all the anti-Japanese forces in northwestern Shanxi were fighting for the same goal.