Bright Sword: Leading the Special Operations Squadron to Fight the Japs

In the past, people always planned carefully before taking action, but Wang Meng did not have much time to think about it now. The most important thing at the moment was to reach the path that the poison gas bombs must take and make adequate preparations. As for what kind of ambush method to adopt, that would be discussed later.

Since the large-scale march was ruled out, Wang Meng decided to lead the special forces and reconnaissance battalion personally.

By marching by motorcycle and on foot, they maneuvered to the planned ambush site, Zhuangtou Village, which was about the same distance from Licheng and Pingshun.

There is a hillside called Shentouling outside Zhuangtou Village. The road from Licheng to Pingshun needs to pass through the ridge on Shentouling. After crossing the ridge, you will enter a ravine.

Wang Meng, who was the first to arrive at Shentouling by motorcycle, looked at the terrain with a frown.

"Where do you think is a suitable location for the ambush?"

Zhang Xuan and Monk Wei pointed their fingers towards the ravine at the same time.

"We didn't bring any heavy weapons with us on this forced march. The terrain on both sides of this ravine is high, and throwing grenades can make up for our lack of firepower."

"That's right, we fight from top to bottom, it's easy to fight!"

Wang Meng nodded. Since Zhang Xuan and Monk Wei both chose the ravine, he would choose the ridge of Shentouling as the ambush location.

"Chief of Staff, why? The ridge of Shentouling is bare and not suitable for hiding. We don't have heavy weapons, which puts us at a disadvantage!"

"That's right, Chief of Staff Wang, it's unreasonable for us to do this."

Wang Meng explained that they had just stolen the Japanese gas masks from Pingshun County yesterday.

Perhaps the Japanese have discovered that what was lost were gas masks, which means that their independent column has been eyeing poison gas bombs, so they will definitely be very careful during the transportation process.

Since everyone thinks that the ravine is the best place for an ambush, the Japanese will definitely conduct a thorough investigation, and the chance of being exposed will be much greater.

However, if the ambush site is chosen at Shentouling, which has relatively ordinary terrain, and they successfully lie in ambush, they will definitely catch the Japanese off guard.

The most important thing about an ambush is surprise.

Zhang Xuan and Monk Wei were so happy that they were rubbing their teeth. No wonder he could become the chief of staff!

The vanguard troops who arrived on motorcycles quickly built ambush fortifications and lay in ambush.

By midnight, all the reconnaissance battalions that had to rely on walking had arrived at the scene. Without a single moment's rest, they directly began to build fortifications.

The Broadsword mines, which are most effective against individual soldiers, lightweight, and essential for killing people, are naturally placed around the mountain ridges.

Anti-tank guns and anti-material sniper rifles were also hit on the front line, ready to directly paralyze the Japanese cars and armored vehicles to prevent the Japanese from pulling the poison gas bombs forward smoothly.

After the ambush circle was set up, Wang Meng sent out two squads of scouts to monitor the enemy's movements in the direction of Pingshun County and Licheng respectively to prevent sudden changes in the situation.

The other soldiers took out the compressed biscuits they carried with them to conserve their energy.

Wang Meng looked at Zhang Xuan and Monk Wei who were somewhat worried.

"What's wrong? Are you a little worried?"

Zhang Xuan and Wang Meng are old acquaintances, so naturally he expressed all his concerns.

"Captain, we used to rely on our superior weapons to fight the Japanese. This time we didn't bring any heavy weapons, and we don't have any artillery support, so we're a little unsure."

"It's the chief of staff. Although we had a hard life before, our life is much better now. However, we are in the Japanese-occupied area and we are outnumbered, so I am a little worried."

Zhang Xuan nodded, indeed.

In the past, the Eighth Route Army had at least twice the number of troops to ambush the Japanese. However, according to a fully-strength battalion of the Japanese, there were at least more than a thousand people. Adding the baggage troops that might be responsible for transportation, the number might be as high as fifteen hundred.

Due to transportation problems this time, the special forces and reconnaissance battalion participating in the ambush mission totaled more than 400 people, and the enemy's number was three to four times ours.

Not easy to fight!

"Brothers, this battle is indeed not easy to fight, but there are some things that we have to do no matter how difficult they are! I can't guarantee that I can bring them all back, but I can guarantee that I am the first soldier to charge forward!"

After hearing Wang Meng's encouraging words, Zhang Xuan and Monk Wei, who had just been like deflated balls, immediately became full of fighting spirit.

"Yes!"

Early the next morning, good news came from the direction of Licheng. For some unknown reason, only half a battalion of Japanese soldiers and dozens of cavalrymen, escorting ten trucks, drove towards Pingshun County.

The scout raised his telescope and saw Shio Murata of the 227st Infantry Battalion of the th Regiment riding on a tall horse.

Shio Murata was short in stature but ruthless. It was he who suggested to Yuichiro Nagano the use of poison gas bombs this time, and he also volunteered to take on the task of launching poison gas bombs at the Eighth Route Army's positions.

"Captain Murata, why do we have to march towards Pingshun County in two batches? The war is imminent. The sooner we reach the battlefield, the more Eighth Route Army soldiers we can kill!"

The corners of Murata Shio's mouth slightly raised, making his fat face look like a meat bun.

"There is an old Chinese saying: Don't put all your eggs in one basket. The Yellow No. 1 shell is our secret weapon, which is particularly important for destroying the Chinese people's will to resist. Therefore, we should transport it in batches and be careful."

Murata Shio thought of the thousands of poison gas barrels dropped in Haining, Taierzhuang and Yichang, which had caused huge casualties and a shadow of terror to the Chinese army, and he laughed so hard that he started to bounce on his horse.

"Li Yunlong of the 386th Brigade Independent Column, it is your luck to let you die at the hands of the Empire's secret weapon!"

Licheng County was only forty or fifty miles away from Shentouling. With the transportation of the baggage troops, the Murata Brigade marched very quickly and could see the small hill of Shentouling in the distance before noon.

The vicious and cunning Murata Shio stopped the march of the army when they were two miles away from Shentouling and started observing with binoculars.

"Although this is an area controlled by the Imperial Army, we still have to be careful. As an old Chinese saying goes, all is fair in war!"

Murata Shio sent out dozens of cavalrymen to search in the direction of Shentouling.

Wang Meng lay on the ground, nervously pulled a handful of grass, and held his breath, fearing that the noise of his breathing would be so loud that it would alarm the Japanese.

The Japanese cavalry rushed up the Shentouling ridge like a gust of wind, but as if they had agreed beforehand, they only searched within ten meters around the road and did not extend to the sides at all.

"This side is not important, the ravine! The cunning Eighth Route Army likes to set up ambushes in the ravines!"

After the leading team leader finished speaking, he raised his whip and conducted a thorough search of the ravine in front of Shentouling, extending the search range from the ravine to the hillside, and even dismounted to scout and shoot in easy hiding places.

Zhang Xuan and Monk Wei, who saw all this, were so scared that they broke out in cold sweats.