Devil's Army

After Captain Liu and his men were out of danger, they asked the team leader:

"what happened?"

"After we completed our reconnaissance mission and were about to leave, we spotted a Japanese patrol team leaving the city. We followed them and wanted to wipe out the team. During the operation, a Japanese soldier fired a warning shot. The Japanese soldiers in the city quickly chased us out, and we were forced to fight them. Captain, you know what happened next."

After returning to the Dayunshan regiment headquarters, Captain Liu reported their reconnaissance situation to the regiment commander.

"Have you discovered through reconnaissance that the Japanese troops in Jiumazui only have about half a battalion's strength?" the regiment commander confirmed with Captain Liu.

"Yes, I circled Jiumazui twice with my golden eagle, and I'm sure there are less than a battalion of Japanese troops in Jiumazui. Should we recapture Jiumazui?"

A regiment commander walked over to the sand table made according to the map of the division headquarters of Commander Tan and stayed there for a while, then said:

"Our new recruits have not yet formed combat effectiveness, so the battle to retake Jiumazui will be put on hold for the time being."

"There are so few devils here, why would we need new soldiers? We can handle them with just one regiment."

"We can handle this little bit of the devil with one regiment, but the problem is that Jiumazui is easy to defend but difficult to attack. If we can't win the battle quickly and turn it into a protracted war with the Japanese, how can we deal with the Japanese army stationed in Yueyang and Linxiang, where they come to reinforce us?"

"Commander, what Japanese troops retreated to Yueyang Linxiang after the Battle of Changsha? How many people were there?" Captain Liu asked, looking at the sand table.

"According to the intelligence provided by Commander Tan, after the First Battle of Changsha, the Japanese troops that withdrew to Yueyang and Linxiang included the Japanese 3rd Division: with a strength of about 1.5 to 2 men. This division was a permanent division of the Japanese Army with a relatively complete organization.

The 4th Division, Hayabuchi Detachment, had a strength of about 1.2 to 1.5 troops. It was a Type A division of the Japanese Army and was well-equipped.

The 6th Division: With a strength of approximately 1.5 to 2 troops, the 6th Division is a Type A division of the Japanese Army with strong combat effectiveness.

40th Division: With a strength of about 1 troops, this division is a special division of the Japanese Army.

Araki Detachment: Under the command of the 6th Division, with a strength of approximately 2000-3000 men.

The Pingye Detachment landed on the shore of Baini Lake north of Xiangyin, occupied Xiangyin, and covered the wounded as they retreated northward by water. It had a force of approximately 1000 to 2000 men.

The Morita Detachment, commanded by the 4th Division, occupied the northern foot of Shending Mountain. After the main force withdrew, it returned to the base with a strength of about 2000-3000 troops.

Jiang Teng Detachment, subordinate to the 14th Independent Mixed Brigade, was responsible for protecting the military station between Changle and Xinqiang. It returned to the base after the 6th Division withdrew. It has a strength of about 1000-2000 people.

"The Japanese still have 60,000 to 70,000 troops in the area?" Captain Liu exclaimed after doing some calculations in his mind.

"Besides, we are crossing the river to fight, not to attack by surprise. The Japanese army still has air superiority. If their planes bomb our wooden boats, thousands of people from our first and second regiments will be stranded on the north bank of the Xinqiang River."

"Captain, you know there are so many Japanese troops here, why did you ask us to go over and investigate?"

"Our troops are short of guns and ammunition, and I have no other options. I also wanted to recapture Jiumazui. After you left, I learned about the Japanese forces there from Division Commander Qin."

"We also seized nearly 200 guns and ammunition from the Japanese this time. Do you want to go over and get some more?"

"Forget it. Crossing the river to launch a surprise attack is too risky, and the Japanese army is already prepared."

The regiment was short of guns and ammunition. It was impossible to ask the Nanjing government army for more, and it was unrealistic to seize them from the Japanese. After thinking it over, the regiment commander sent a telegram to Leng Junchang to tell him about the dilemma the troops were facing.

Soon, Leng Junzhang came back and asked the commander of the first regiment to coordinate with the Nanjing government garrison to arrange an airport so that they could transport a batch of ammunition and supplies. He also instructed the commander of the first regiment:

Your unit is now in the Kuomintang-controlled area. Pay attention to maintaining good relations with friendly forces. If unnecessary, do not have any contact with the red regime.

When the commander of the first regiment received the telegram, he immediately called the political commissars Hu and Liang of the second regiment to the headquarters. He knew the identities of the political commissars Hu and Liang recommended by Secretary Li.

The head of a regiment handed the telegram from Leng Junzhang to Political Commissars Hu and Liang, and said with a double meaning:

"We are now developing our troops in the Kuomintang-controlled areas. We should not do things that could easily cause misunderstandings, and we should not contact people who could easily cause misunderstandings."

Political Commissar Hu and his men certainly knew what the regimental commander was referring to and who he was. Their current mission was to be a good political commissar in the army and lead the troops to fight the Japanese. They had not received any new missions from the organization, so they immediately responded:

"Captain, don't worry, we know where we are and will never cause any trouble to the troops."

"It's good for you to know. How is the recruitment going?"

"The number of new soldiers signing up is quite high, but this district is so small that it is difficult to have new development. Can we recruit soldiers on the south bank of the Miluo River?"

"That's uncertain. I need to go talk to Commander Qin about something. Political Commissar Hu, please come with me."