HLnovel Chapter 43 An Encounter with the 8th Route Army
Chapter 43 An Encounter with the 8th Route Army
Time slipped away amidst the militia's tense pre-battle preparations, and as the time for the attack drew near, the militia's various units began to move.
Tang Xiaohu led the First Company, the Artillery Company, and the First Company of the Reconnaissance Battalion to the vicinity of Zhao Jiahe under the cover of night. Behind them was the logistics transport team, which was ready to depart at any time, consisting of soldiers from the replenishment regiment and civilians from the vicinity of Wolong Mountain who came to provide support.
"Battalion Commander Tang, we've discovered an unexpected situation," reported Qin Yang, the company commander of the Special Reconnaissance Battalion.
"Company Commander Qin, what's going on?" Tang Xiaohu's heart tightened; he couldn't afford to mess things up at this crucial moment.
"There is another unit behind the stronghold, the number of which is unknown. It looks like they are also preparing to attack the stronghold."
"Can you tell what kind of person the other party is?"
"Judging from the fact that most of them were not wearing regular military uniforms, I guessed they were the Eighth Route Army. The Nationalist army had long since stopped doing that."
"Okay, Company Commander Qin, take me to see them. I'm ready to make contact. We can't let them interfere with our operation," Tang Xiaohu said.
"No problem, this way." Led by Qin Yang, Tang Xiaohu walked towards the troops.
...
Behind the Zhao Jiahe stronghold, a unit of the Eighth Route Army was quietly hiding.
"Battalion Commander, when are we going to fight the Japanese?" a young soldier asked.
"Don't rush. The Japanese aren't asleep yet. If we fight now, we'll suffer heavy losses. Everyone, calm down and wait."
Upon hearing the battalion commander's words, the soldier who had just asked the question continued wiping his red-tasseled spear.
The purpose of this Eighth Route Army force was to launch an attack on the Japanese troops here before the stronghold was established. It would be more difficult to launch an attack once the stronghold was established.
"Everyone remember this: when we attack, we must rush in quickly. Throw grenades first, then go in and fight the Japanese hand-to-hand. We don't have enough guns and ammunition."
"Yes, it's the battalion commander."
"Iron Head, come here for a second."
"Battalion Commander, you wanted to see me?" Tie Tou came over carrying a machine gun.
"Notify all machine gunners in each company that they don't need to be stingy with ammunition this time; they must suppress the enemy's firepower," the battalion commander said to Tie Tou.
"Battalion Commander, are we going to starve ourselves?" Tie Tou asked, puzzled.
"However, our equipment is too poor. The heavy firepower of the entire battalion depends on just a few machine guns. Let's take advantage of the situation while the Japanese haven't established a stronghold yet, otherwise we won't have the chance later."
"I'm going to have a good time tonight!" Tie Tou said impatiently, brandishing the machine gun in his hand.
"Commander, there's a situation!" the reconnaissance squad leader rushed over and said.
"what's the situation?"
"The sentry ahead spotted a few people who specifically requested to see our highest-ranking officer."
"Who are they?"
"Judging from their clothes, they look like members of the Nationalist government's army."
"I haven't heard of any Nationalist troops here. Come on, Tie Tou, let's go and meet them," the battalion commander shouted.
Before long, the battalion commander arrived at the sentry post with Tie Tou. The battalion commander sized up the three men in front of him. They were all quite young. The leader was wearing a Nationalist government uniform, but his unit number was not discernible. The other two were dressed strangely, as if they were covered in a pile of leaves, and their faces were painted with strange colors, making it impossible to tell where they came from.
The battalion commander didn't hide anything and directly stated his affiliation: "We are from the Eighth Route Army's Jinbei Independent Regiment. I am Battalion Commander Zhou Zhengbiao. Which unit are you from?"
"So you're a comrade-in-arms from the Eighth Route Army. We're from the Tangjia Town militia. I'm Battalion Commander Tang Xiaohu."
"The Tangjia Town militia?" Zhou Zheng Biao was frantically thinking about it.
"I haven't heard of it."
"May I ask what brings you here?" Zhou Zheng-biao asked.
"I really want to ask you? We plan to attack the Japanese devils here and rescue the captured civilians. I wonder what your purpose is in coming here?" Tang Xiaohu asked in return.
"What? What kind of militia is this? They actually dared to fight the Japanese devils. It's a good thing they didn't surrender and become traitors." Zhou Zheng-biao thought to himself, full of disbelief.
But instead of showing disbelief, he said, "Coincidentally, our goal is also to fight the Japanese and save the people."
“Since we share the same goal, why don’t we fight the Japanese together?” Zhou Zheng-biao suggested.
The Eighth Route Army's principle was to unite all forces that could be united. Since this militia also wanted to fight the Japanese, they could fight together. The spoils would be divided among them based on their own abilities. Zhou Zheng-biao just hoped they wouldn't desert in the face of battle.
“That’s a good suggestion. Since we all share the same goal, we can act in unison, but we need to take the lead. I don’t think your weapons are very good. You can just follow behind us and launch an attack.” Tang Weiguo pointed to the sentry’s gun and said.
It was an old Hanyang rifle, a weapon that even the militia's supplementary regiments rarely used. Judging by the sentry's cautious manner, he treated this gun like a treasure.
"Then you'll have plenty of weapons. What kind of equipment could your militia possibly have?" Tie Tou muttered from the side.
"The Japanese soldiers in the whole battalion are equipped with decent gear, right?" Tang Xiaohu said with a hint of pride.
"Ha, you guys are just bragging." Tie Tou looked unconvinced.
"Tie Tou, what are you saying? If their entire battalion is really equipped with Japanese equipment, what's wrong with us fighting them head-on?" Zhou Zheng Biao didn't believe it, but he didn't show it.
"Battalion Commander Zhou, you're a straightforward man. It's settled then. We'll launch the main attack, and you can attack after we've finished ours."
"What? You really have Japanese equipment?" Zhou Zhengbiao asked in shock.
“That’s right, come with us if you don’t believe me,” Tang Xiaohu said confidently.
Seeing Tang Xiaohu like this, Zhou Zhengbiao, who hadn't believed it before, was now 80% convinced.
"Then we'll fight alongside you," Zhou Zheng-biao said. Since the enemy's firepower was so strong, Zhou Zheng-biao no longer tried to take the lead in the attack. Their battalion's equipment was too poor; if they really went in, they didn't know how many men in the battalion would be sacrificed.
“Alright, it’s settled then. As for the spoils of war, we only want the Japanese equipment; the puppet army’s equipment and men are yours,” Tang Xiaohu said.
Tang Xiaohu recalled Tang Weiguo's instructions: if they encountered the Eighth Route Army, they should help them if possible. He wondered if they were truly sincere in fighting the Japanese.
"Really?" Zhou Zhengbiao asked.
"Really, but we'll need your help to move some things."
"No problem, it's settled then." Zhou Zheng-biao quickly agreed, afraid that Tang Xiao-hu might change his mind.
"Alright, see you on the battlefield." Tang Xiaohu said, then took his leave.
"Battalion Commander, are they really there? A battalion of Japanese soldiers equipped like that, they would have to kill at least several hundred Japanese soldiers to do that." Tie Tou still didn't know.
"Or they just happened to ambush the Japanese transport team, but still thought the enemy was not weak."
"Those two wearing strange clothes are carrying Type 38 rifles." Zhou Zheng-biao, with his sharp eyes, recognized them immediately.
"Looks like tonight will be easier than I expected," Zhou Zheng-biao breathed a sigh of relief. At least these newly recruited soldiers will survive.