The War of Resistance Against Japan: Starting with a Calm View of Life and Death

"What about the orders from above?" Zhou Jindong asked the communications soldier.

The communications soldier wiped the sweat from his face and tried to stand up straight: "Reporting to the captain, the order is 'The county brigade should act as appropriate, ensure the safety of the people's food supplies, and strike a blow against the enemy's arrogance.'"

The regimental headquarters said that the Japanese battalion stationed in Shuoxian County had recently shown signs of being rotated, and they could not spare many troops to support us, so we had to hold on on our own.

Commander Wu said, "Let's fight with all our might. If we really hurt these traitors, he'll recommend us for credit!"

"Camera handling..." Zhou Jindong repeated the four words, his eyes sharpening.

This means there is no fixed way to play; how to play, where to play, and how to play all depend on his judgment.

He turned and strode back into the team headquarters, his finger emphatically pointing to the location he had just looked at on the map—"Zifenggou".

"The route they took was most likely the shortcut from the official road to Zifenggou, with their target being the grain-producing area of ​​Gaojiabao and Liushuzhuang. If they wanted to transport the grain back to Shuoxian, Zifenggou would be an essential stop along the way."

"Let's ambush that son of a bitch!" Zhao Laosi slapped his thigh. "Let's take him down in the ditch!"

Wang Yuan pondered, "Over eight hundred men, their equipment should be quite good. Feng Laoliu isn't a fool to have risen to the rank of regimental commander. Our county brigade has a little over a thousand men at most, but the combat personnel we can immediately deploy are only... three companies, a little over six hundred men. In a head-on confrontation, even if we win, our casualties will be significant."

Zhou Jindong didn't speak immediately. He stared at the narrow ravine on the map, his mind racing with calculations.

The comparison of enemy and friendly forces, weapons and ammunition, terrain advantages and disadvantages, possible enemy reactions... a series of pieces of information were like beads on an abacus in his mind.

"Six hundred against eight hundred, the terrain is advantageous, we can fight." He finally spoke, his voice steady. "Old Feng is eager to seize the grain to report back, so his troops won't be too cautious. This is our opportunity. Zifeng Gully is a treacherous terrain, blocked at both ends, with the middle a trap. We don't aim to annihilate them all, but we must inflict heavy losses, scatter them, and reclaim the stolen grain!"

He raised his head, his gaze sweeping over Wang Yuan, Zhao Laosi, and Wang Quan: "Brother Yuan, you take the Fourth and Fifth Squadrons and stay behind in Dongzhai Town to strengthen vigilance and prevent Jin Wanfu or other enemies from taking the opportunity to cause trouble. Also, organize the villagers in the town and surrounding villages to be prepared to evacuate at any time, especially the grain; hide what you can first."

Wang Yuan nodded: "Don't worry about things at home, leave it to me."

"Brother Zhang!" Zhou Jindong looked at Zhang Fang.

"Here!" Zhang Fang straightened his chest.

"Your First Company, select the best marksmen and the most agile soldiers, form four reconnaissance teams, mount the fastest horses, and set off now. Keep a close watch on this group of puppet troops, find out their exact route of advance, formation, equipment configuration, and especially where their heavy firepower is located. Remember, do not engage them, observe them clearly, and then run, and send the message back."

"Understood!" Zhang Fang turned and ran out of the yard, shouting the names of several members of the First Squadron.

"Wang Quan!"

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"exist!"

"Notify the second and third companies to assemble. Check weapons and ammunition, especially machine guns and mortars. Bring as many shells and bullets as you can. Each person should carry three days' worth of dry rations. In half an hour, everyone will assemble at the back of Laojun Temple and prepare to depart."

"Yes!" Wang Quan also ran out.

Zhou Jindong looked at Wang Yuan: "Brother Yuan, you do the talking. I'll go get the things."

He went into the inner room, took his Mauser pistol off the wall, inspected it carefully, and then filled two magazines and stuffed them into the leather ammunition box on his waist.

After thinking for a moment, he took out the sniper rifle that he had captured from the Japanese soldiers and carefully wiped the gun body and lens with a cloth.

This gun has a long range and high accuracy, making it useful for ambushes.

Soon, the sound of urgent whistles and hurried footsteps filled the courtyard.

The soldiers ran from all over the training ground and barracks, their faces still wet with sweat.

No one spoke; only heavy breathing and the soft clanging of metal against metal could be heard.

Wang Yuan was already standing on a high point in the middle of the courtyard, watching the rapidly assembling team.

Three squadrons, more than 600 people, lined up in a somewhat disorderly but completely silent square formation.

The clothes were still a motley collection; some wore gray military uniforms, some wore captured Japanese soldiers' yellow leather coats, and others wore coarse black cotton coats dyed by themselves. But the weapons in their hands were all polished to a shine, and the bayonets gleamed coldly in the afternoon sun.

"Comrades!" Wang Yuan spoke, his voice not loud, but everyone heard him clearly, "That traitor from Shuoxian, Feng Laoliu, led a regiment of over eight hundred men into Ningwu and stole our people's life-saving grain! People have already shed blood in Gaojiabao and Liushuzhuang! We've been ordered to wipe out this enemy and reclaim the grain!"

A low hum rose from below, and the soldiers' chests heaved.

"This battle is the first time our county brigade has faced a fully-organized enemy unit independently since its establishment. The enemy outnumbers us, but we have the moral high ground and the advantage of terrain! Captain Zhou has already led his team there first. We'll follow his command on how to fight this battle!"

I have only one thing to say: Our county brigade is no longer one of those guerrilla groups fighting their own battles! We are a regular army!

In this battle, we must display the spirit of our regular army and the might of our Ningwu County Brigade! Defending the grain is defending our base! Do you have confidence?

"Yes!" More than 600 people roared in unison, their voices not loud, but carrying a fierce intensity.

"Alright! Check your gear, get ready to go!"

The troops sprang into action again, the officers urging them on in hushed tones, as the soldiers made a final check of the rifle bolts, grenade pull rings, and ammunition pouch buckles.

The cooks wrapped the steamed cornbread in cloth and stuffed it into the soldiers' ration bags. The ammunition handlers carried boxes of bullets and grenades onto the mules.

Zhou Jindong came out of the house, carrying a rifle on his back and a Mauser pistol at his waist, and walked to the front of the team.

He didn't say much, but his gaze slowly swept over the faces, some young and some weathered.

"Set off!"

He uttered two words, turned around, and walked out of the courtyard first.

Behind them, a group of more than 600 people flowed out of Dongzhai Town like a silent river, rushing along the rugged mountain road toward Zifenggou in the northwest.

The mountain path was difficult to traverse, but the soldiers moved swiftly.

No one spoke; only the rustling of footsteps and the occasional clash of weapons could be heard.

Zhou Jindong walked in the middle of the group, slightly ahead, repeatedly going over the battle plan in his mind as he walked.

Three hours later, as the sky began to turn yellow, they arrived at a dense forest on the outskirts of Zifenggou.

The first scout Zhang Fang sent back was already waiting there. He was a lean young man nicknamed "Mountain Cat," who could run faster than a rabbit on mountain roads.

"Captain!" Mountain Cat exclaimed excitedly upon seeing Zhou Jindong. "I saw it clearly! It's definitely Feng Laoliu's banner, the fake security regiment. There's a huge, dark mass of people, I'd estimate around eight hundred."

The column stretched out in a long line, with a scout platoon of about thirty or forty men at the front, a distance of about a mile from the main force. In the middle of the column were a dozen or so mules and horses, carrying what looked like two heavy machine guns and two… well, they looked like mortars, but they were too far away to see the exact models. Behind the column were many large carts, fully loaded and covered with tarpaulins—presumably looted grain!

"Where is Feng Laoliu himself?" Zhou Jindong asked.

"He was riding a white horse in the middle of the group, surrounded by a dozen or so men carrying Mauser pistols; that must have been his bodyguard."

"How's the formation and discipline?"

"What a mess!" Lynx curled his lip. "They looted a few villages, they're rolling in money, they're all swaying as they walk. The vanguard platoon is alright, but the rest of the team has scattered, some smoking, some laughing, and some straggling. Looks like they're rushing back after they've finished looting."

Zhou Jindong nodded, feeling reassured.

Arrogant soldiers are the best prey.

He spread out a map, and several company commanders and platoon leaders gathered around. Zhou Jindong used a twig to draw a rough outline of Zifeng Gully on the ground.

"Listen up, everyone. Zifeng Gully is narrow at the entrance and narrow at the exit, with a wide belly and a narrow opening in the middle, like a gourd. Feng Laoliu is in a hurry to get back, so he will definitely take this route." He tapped the branches in his hand on both sides of the "gourd's" waist. "Wang Quan, your second company, take our two mortars and that Type 92 heavy machine gun, and ambush on this high ground on the east side of the gully."

Once the enemy is fully within the ambush zone, take my gunshot as the signal. Your heavy machine guns will open fire first, blocking the road at the bottom of the ditch. Mortars will aim at the center of their formation, especially the two cannons and the heavy machine gun, and bombard them relentlessly! Don't conserve ammunition; eliminate their heavy firepower as quickly as possible!

"Understood!" Wang Quan's eyes lit up.

"Liu Rengui!" Zhou Jindong looked at the deputy captain of the third company. "Your third company is lying in ambush in this forest on the west side of the ditch. When the second company opens fire, the enemy will be thrown into chaos and will instinctively hide on the mountains on both sides."

Your task is to use grenades and rifles to push them back and prevent them from easily capturing the high ground on both sides. Pay special attention to the east; don't let the fleeing troops attack Wang Quan's position.

"Yes, sir! Mission accomplished!"

"Zhang Fang!" Zhou Jindong turned to Zhang Fang, who had just returned. "Your First Company will split into two groups. You will lead two platoons, plus one platoon from Liu Heiqi's Fourth Company, to ambush at the exit of the ditch, which is the location at the bottom of the gourd."

Once the enemy's vanguard has passed, immediately seal off the exit! Cut down trees and pile up stones to block the road! Then establish a blocking position and don't let a single enemy escape! Remember, wait until the fighting begins in the ditch before you move in!

"Don't worry, Dongzi! I guarantee not even a rabbit will escape!" Zhang Fang replied, rubbing his hands together.

"The rest of you, the rest of the Sixth Company and the rest of the Fourth Company, follow me and ambush at the entrance. Once the enemy's rear guard comes in, we'll seal the entrance. We'll trap them like dogs in a locked cage!"

Zhou Jindong tossed aside the branch and looked sharply at everyone: "Do you all understand your mission?"

"Understood!"

"Remember three things. First, no one is allowed to reveal themselves before I fire! Second, concentrate fire, take out the officers first, take out the heavy weapons first! Third, the real battle begins when the bugle sounds, don't rush down! These puppet troops aren't Japanese devils, they won't back down if they're scared out of their wits! We need food, not to kill them all! Understand?"

"clear!"

"Alright, everyone disperse and take your ambush positions! Move quietly and stay hidden!"

The troops immediately dispersed, disappearing silently into the forests on both sides of Zifeng Gully, like water droplets merging into sand.

Zhou Jindong led about two hundred men and ambushed them behind a rocky slope inside the gully.

The view here is excellent; you can see the section of the official road that turns into the gully.

The soldiers lay prone behind rocks and in bushes, barely daring to breathe.

Zhou Jindong chose a spot near the front, propped up his Type 99 rifle with a scope in a crevice between rocks, adjusted his posture, and pressed his eye against the scope.

In the mirror, the distant official road was deserted, with only dust swirling up from the ground in the wind.

Time passed slowly, and the sun gradually set in the west, casting long shadows across the mountains and forests.

Sweat streamed down the soldiers' temples, itching, but no one bothered to wipe it away. Occasionally, a few mountain birds would flutter by, making one's heart skip a beat.

Zhou Jindong remained motionless, like a stone. His breathing was steady, but his heart was beating faster than usual.

This isn't tension, but rather the focus and anticipation a hunter has before his prey steps into his trap.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a swaying shadow finally appeared on the official road outside the ditch.

First, there was a small black dot, then two, three... A group of puppet army scouts, wearing hats askew and carrying guns, cautiously appeared.

They walked slowly, glancing at the mountains on either side from time to time, but their expressions were not particularly wary, but rather weary from their journey.

These scouts reached the mouth of the ditch and stopped to look around.

The entrance to Zifenggou is narrow, and the cliffs on both sides look as if they were cleaved by a knife, which looks a bit eerie.

A puppet soldier who looked like a squad leader waved his hand, and the scouts split into two groups. They searched along both sides of the ditch for about a hundred meters, but found nothing unusual. They then whistled to signal the main force behind them to come over.

Zhou Jindong watched through the scope as the puppet army squad leader lit another cigarette, cursing and urging his men to hurry up, a cold smile creeping across his face.

Feng Laoliu's soldiers are only this good.

A large force began to come into view. First came scattered infantrymen, walking sparsely, some carrying their rifles on their shoulders, others dragging them on the ground.

Next came mules and horses carrying heavy machine gun and mortar parts, with the puppet soldiers driving them shouting obscenities.

Then came the main force of the brigade, a dense, dark mass stretching out in an extremely long line. The sounds of noise, coughing, and laughter could be faintly heard, making it impossible to describe any marching formation.

Sure enough, there was a striking white horse in the middle, with a fat man wearing a yellow woolen military uniform and a peaked cap sitting on it. It must be Feng Laoliu.

He was surrounded by a dozen or so guards carrying speedometers, who were more vigilant than the other soldiers, constantly looking around.

Large trucks also appeared, one after another, numbering twenty or thirty in total.

The cart was covered with tarpaulins, piled high, making the axles creak. The driver, a laborer, had a blank expression and, urged on by the bayonets of the puppet soldiers, kept his head down and pushed the wheels with all his might.

The prey is walking step by step into the trap.

Zhou Jindong lightly placed his index finger on the rifle trigger guard, but did not pull it.

He was waiting, waiting for more people to enter the ambush zone.

The muzzle of the gun moved slowly along with the white horse.

More and more puppet troops were entering the ditch, and the noise grew louder and louder.

Someone started singing a vulgar tune at the top of their lungs, which drew laughter from the crowd.

Feng Laoliu seemed very dissatisfied with his subordinates' lax discipline. He lashed out at a soldier next to him with his whip and shouted something. The ranks quieted down a little, but quickly returned to normal.

They felt that they had been in the heart of Ningwu for so long without any trouble, and had just successfully plundered and returned with a full load, so this was the time to relax.