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

At the critical moment, Zhou Jindong rushed over from the side, kicked the soldier to the ground, and picked up the grenade from the ground and threw it far away!

"boom!"

A muffled thud, and dirt flew everywhere.

As the smoke and dust cleared, Zhou Jindong clapped his hands.

The soldier was so frightened that his face turned ashen and he trembled all over.

Zhou Jindong walked over and kicked him, not hard, but enough to bring him to his senses: "Get up! You're not dead yet! Remember, once you pull the bowstring, you throw it! If there's a next time, the Japanese won't even have to lift a finger; you'll kill yourself!"

The soldier scrambled to his feet and burst into tears, crying, "Captain, I was wrong! I'll never do it again!"

"Stop crying! Wipe your tears! Keep practicing!" Zhou Jindong shouted.

The news quickly spread throughout the entire county brigade. The soldiers' gazes towards Zhou Jindong changed; it was no longer merely admiration for a hero, but a deep trust that bound them to each other's lives.

A month later, Brigade Commander Chu of the 358th Brigade arrived in Ningwu for an inspection with his staff.

Brigade Commander Chu stood on the city wall, observing the training ground below through binoculars.

More than a thousand soldiers were seen conducting offensive and defensive drills.

The red and blue armies are in a confrontation, with the blue army defending and the red army attacking.

The Red Army's offensive was very methodical. First, they used mortars and heavy machine guns to suppress the enemy, then infantry squads took turns covering their advance. When they encountered a strongpoint, a demolition team would immediately go up and blow it up.

"Excellent! Well done!" Brigade Commander Chu put down his binoculars, praising the unit highly. "Near East, your unit has truly upgraded its weaponry. Not only have the numbers increased several times over, but its combat effectiveness is also on a completely different level!"

Zhou Jindong stood to the side, smiling, and said, "Brigade Commander, this is all thanks to your excellent guidance. If it weren't for the main force holding the line, we wouldn't have had the opportunity to develop so quickly. However, there is still a problem now."

"What's the problem?"

"We have more people and more guns, but not enough officers." Zhou Jindong pointed to the training ground below. "Many squad leaders and platoon leaders were promoted from the soldiers. Although they are brave and willing to fight, they lack command ability."

In particular, tactical skills require systematic training. Furthermore, the logistical pressure is immense; feeding, watering, and providing for the basic needs of over a thousand people, along with ammunition consumption, are quickly depleting Ningwu's resources.

Brigade Commander Chu nodded: "You're right. It's common for things to be indigestible when development is too fast. Here's what we'll do: I'll transfer twenty-five instructors from the brigade's training team to train your junior officers."

In addition, regarding logistics, the military region just delivered a batch of supplies to us. I'm allocating fifty boxes of hand grenades, twenty thousand rounds of ammunition, and two new 82mm mortars to you.

Zhou Jindong's eyes lit up: "Thank you, Brigade Commander! With this equipment, we're much more confident!"

"Don't be too happy yet." Brigade Commander Chu's expression turned serious. "According to intelligence, the Japanese troops in Datong are gathering, and it seems they are preparing to launch a new round of mopping-up operations in northwestern Shanxi. Although the scale may not be as large as last time, they will definitely come. Your county brigade is now the gatekeeper of Ningwu. Whether you can hold it depends on your abilities, Zhou Jindong."

Zhou Jindong's smile vanished, and he straightened his back: "Rest assured, Brigade Commander! As long as I, Zhou Jindong, have a breath left, I will never let the Japanese devils set foot in Ningwu! We will not only hold it, but also wear down the enemy through mobile warfare and drive them completely out of Northwest Shanxi!"

Brigade Commander Chu patted Zhou Jindong on the shoulder: "Good ambition! But you must also be careful to preserve your strength and not just fight head-on. The Ningwu County Brigade is also a precious asset of our Eighth Route Army. I feel bad if we lose even one of its members."

After seeing off Brigade Commander Chu, Zhou Jindong returned to the team headquarters and immediately convened an emergency meeting.

"Everyone heard what the brigade commander said. The Japanese are coming; we need to prepare for a major battle." Zhou Jindong spread out a map, his finger tracing the terrain around Ningwu. "This time, we can't just defend the county town like before; we need to move the battlefield to the outskirts. Brother Zhang!"

"arrive!"

"You will lead a company to lay mines on the highway from Ningwu to Shenchi. Use chain mines, a mix of real and decoy mines. The Japanese engineers will need time to clear the mines, so we need to buy time."

"yes!"

"Wang Quan!"

"arrive!"

"Take the Second Company and attack the Japanese transport convoy. Don't engage them head-on; fire a few shots and run, luring them into the ambush."

"yes!"

"Ren Wuliu!"

Ren Wuliu suddenly stood up: "Here!"

"You'll lead the Third Company, responsible for mobile support. Go wherever the situation is dire, but remember, without my orders, do not engage the enemy without authorization, and do not be greedy for merit or act rashly!"

"I guarantee the mission will be completed!" Ren Wuliu, who was previously the squad leader of Ningwu County, not only did not oppose Zhou Jindong's leadership, but also obeyed Zhou Jindong's every word.

The reason is not for outsiders to know, but Zhou Yannian once saved Ren Wuliu's mother's life.

In addition, they knew Zhou Jindong was a good fighter.

He was also grateful and not competitive, so he naturally accepted the appointment of the county brigade leader by his superiors.

After the meeting, the entire Ningwu County Brigade started operating like a sophisticated machine.

Three days later, late at night, a scout brought an urgent report: a regiment of puppet troops, totaling more than a thousand men, had been dispatched from the direction of Datong and were heading towards Ningwu.

Zhou Jindong looked at the intelligence report and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

"Good timing! I was just looking for a place to test my skills! I can't beat the Japanese devils right now, but dealing with a regiment of puppet troops shouldn't be too much trouble!"

He walked to the wall, took down the sniper rifle, and skillfully pulled the bolt to chamber a round.

He always kept the gun very well, polishing it until it gleamed.

"Pass down the order: assemble the whole team! Target: Hongtugou, twenty li north of Ningwu! We're going to set up a trap for the traitors!"

Under the cover of night, the soldiers of the Ningwu County Brigade quietly left the county town.

Their rubber-soled shoes made almost no sound as they walked on the dirt road.

Everyone's face was smeared with soot from the bottom of a pot, and their eyes gleamed in the darkness.

This county brigade, which was reorganized from a guerrilla force, has undergone a complete transformation after a month of standardized training and intensive drills.

They were no longer the guerrillas who only knew how to fire sniper shots, but a regular armed force with iron discipline and unwavering conviction.

Zhou Jindong walked at the front of the line and glanced back at the long line behind him.

Under the moonlight, the bayonets in the soldiers' hands reflected a cold light, like a long steel dragon.

He took a deep breath, a surge of pride welling up in his chest.

This battle was not only to defend Ningwu, but also to test the results of the past month's training. He wanted to let the Japanese army throughout northwestern Shanxi and even the whole of North China know that the Eighth Route Army was inexhaustible and would only grow stronger with each battle!

"Speed ​​up! We must be in position before dawn!" Zhou Jindong ordered in a low voice.

The group quickened their pace and disappeared into the vast night.

When the team reached Hongtugou, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

Hongtugou is a natural pocket formation, with a gully between two mountains and a winding road in the middle.

After surveying the terrain with his squadron-level officers, Zhou Jindong quickly issued orders: "Don't hold back for now. Third Company, tighten the noose around your mouth, let the vanguard pass, and cut off the rear. First Company, ambush on the right hillside, and move out as soon as my signal flare goes off. Wang Quan, Second Company, on the left, are responsible for blocking the puppet troops and preventing them from charging up."

After assigning the tasks, Zhou Jindong led his guards up a small hill at the front of the ravine, where they had a wide view overlooking the entire valley floor.

At nine o'clock in the morning, the puppet army's convoy appeared.

In front were three sidecar motorcycles with machine guns mounted on them, followed by several large trucks full of soldiers, with two columns of puppet troops following on either side.

Zhou Jindong raised his binoculars and observed carefully.

An officer was sitting in the passenger seat of the first truck.

"Damn, he's a lieutenant colonel." Zhou Jindong put down his binoculars, a smirk playing on his lips. "Not a low-ranking officer."

He turned to Sun Erniu beside him and said, "See the machine gunner on that sidecar? When I fire the first shot, you shoot the machine gunner on the first sidecar. There's only a three-second window; if the truck turns, the man will be blocked. Are you sure?"

Sun Erniu pursed his lips, said nothing, but nodded heavily, his finger lightly resting on the trigger.

The enemy convoy walked right into the ambush without them noticing.

The wheels rolled over the gravel, making a screeching sound.

Zhou Jin took a deep breath and fixed his aim on the lieutenant colonel's head.

"Bang!"

A shot rang out.

Almost at the same instant, Sun Erniu's gun also fired.

The machine gunner on the first sidecar motorcycle suddenly jerked his head back, spraying blood all over the vehicle.

The lieutenant colonel in the passenger seat of the truck had a bloody hole between his eyebrows. Without uttering a sound, he tilted his head and collapsed against the truck door.

"Well done!" Zhou Jindong shouted, drew his pistol, and fired three shots into the sky.

"beat!"

Instantly, gunfire erupted on the hillsides on both sides of Hongtugou.

Zhang Fang's First Company opened fire first, and a crossfire network of several light machine guns swept towards the Japanese troops at the bottom of the ditch like a sickle.

The marching Japanese troops were instantly mowed down, their truck tires were blown out, and their engines spewed black smoke.

"Enemy attack! Take cover!" The Japanese soldiers reacted quickly, jumping off their vehicles and seeking cover to fight back.

But Zhou Jindong was prepared.

He had planted a lot of Lafayette landmines at the foot of the mountain.

Just as several Japanese soldiers took cover behind a large rock, before they could even set up their guns, a landmine went off at their feet.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Shrapnel and fragments flew everywhere, and several Japanese soldiers were blown away by the blast wave.

"Damn it! They're Eighth Route Army guerrillas! Charge! Seize the high ground!" A major brandished his sword, trying to organize a counterattack.

But he had barely shown half his body when Zhou Jindong fired his second shot.

The bullet precisely shattered his sword and then pierced his shoulder.

The major screamed and fell to the ground.

At this moment, Ren Wuliu's Third Company attacked from behind, completely blocking the Japanese army's retreat.

When a small group of puppet troops saw that their retreat was cut off and that the Eighth Route Army's firepower was so fierce, they immediately cowered and lay on the ground, not daring to move. Some even began to slip away.

And the guerrilla fighters did indeed become fiercer and more confident as they fought!

The battle lasted for an hour, and the resistance of the puppet troops grew weaker and weaker.

They were trapped on a stretch of road less than 500 meters long, resulting in heavy casualties.

"Captain, the traitors are trying to break out! They're gathering their forces and trying to rush towards Zhao Laosi's side!" the communications officer reported as he ran over.

Zhou Jindong sneered, "Trying to run? Did you ask if I had a gun?! Pass on my order: all mortars, aim at the biggest truck in the middle of the road and fire! Wang Quan, lead the Second Company to press down from the left and engage in hand-to-hand combat!"

"yes!"

Several mortars roared simultaneously. The shells landed precisely among the Japanese troops, each explosion sending up a trail of severed limbs.

Immediately afterwards, Wang Quan led the soldiers of the Second Company down the hillside.

They held rifles with bayonets fixed in their hands, and their battle cries were deafening.

"Charge! Kill the Japanese devils!"

The morale of the puppet troops completely collapsed.

They had never seen such a fierce guerrilla force before; not only were they accurate marksmen and skilled in tactics, but they were also ruthless in bayonet fighting.

A Japanese sergeant, bayonet in hand, charged at Wang Quan. The two passed each other, and Wang Quan dodged the bayonet by sidestepping it. Wang Quan slammed his rifle butt into the sergeant's face, followed by a bayonet thrusting into his stomach.

"Die!" Wang Quan pulled out his bayonet, spraying hot blood all over his face.

The battle lasted for three hours.

Finally, the remaining two hundred-odd puppet soldiers were surrounded under an earthen mound, making a last stand in despair.

Standing on a high point, Zhou Jindong shouted through a megaphone: "Put down your weapons! Surrender and you'll be spared! Your regimental commander has been captured, who are you going to fight for now!"

There was a moment of silence below the earthen embankment, then several gunshots rang out, followed by a cacophony of shouts.

A moment later, a white flag emerged from behind the earthen embankment.

When Zhou Jindong led his troops down to the bottom of the ravine, they saw corpses and wounded soldiers scattered all over the ground.

Old Zhao Si was leading his men in confiscating weapons, his face beaming with joy: "Good heavens, we've struck it rich this time! Light machine guns, grenade launchers, and two mountain guns! This traitor is the captain of the transport brigade!"

Zhao Laosi walked over, covered in blood and carrying a blood-stained command knife: "Captain, we've really struck it rich this time."

Zhou Jindong looked at the spoils scattered on the ground, but he didn't feel much excitement.

He walked over to a fallen soldier, knelt down, and helped him close his unclosed eyes.

"Carry the fallen soldiers away and give them a proper burial. The wounded should be sent to rear hospitals immediately and given the best medicine," Zhou Jindong said in a deep voice.

"Yes!" Wang Quan replied, his eyes red.

In this battle, the Ningwu County Brigade suffered fewer than 100 casualties, annihilated more than 600 enemy soldiers, captured more than 400, and seized a large amount of weapons, ammunition and supplies.

When the news reached Ningwu County, the whole town was in an uproar.

The people spontaneously flocked to the streets, banging drums and gongs to welcome the triumphant procession.

But Zhou Jindong did not bask in the joy of victory. Upon returning to headquarters, he immediately convened a meeting with officers at the company level and above.

"We won this battle, but it also exposed some problems." Zhou Jindong pointed to the map with a serious expression. "Brother Zhang, your First Company's firepower distribution was unreasonable during suppressive fire, resulting in wasted ammunition."

Furthermore, during the charge, the soldiers failed to provide alternating cover. If the enemy collaborators hadn't been so terrified, you would have lost even more men!

Zhang Fang lowered his head: "Captain Dong... I know I was wrong, I will definitely make corrections when I get back."

"Ren Wuliu, your Third Company was too slow in securing the enemy's supply lines, almost letting the enemy's rearguard escape. Don't underestimate those three short minutes; in large-scale battles, that could be enough to change the course of the war!"

Ren Wuliu wiped his sweat: "Captain, I accept the punishment! I'll get the soldiers back for extra training!"

Zhou Jindong sighed, his tone softening slightly: "Comrades, we are now a regular army; we can't fight solely on brute force. Future battles will be larger and more brutal. Only by sweating more in peacetime can we bleed less in wartime. Starting tomorrow, the entire battalion will undergo a month-long reorganization and training program to summarize the lessons learned from this battle and address our weaknesses!"

"Yes!" all the cadres responded in unison.