Bright Sword: Japs, times have changed

The Japanese advantage is undeniable. With just one order from the Taiyuan Japanese headquarters, half of the surrounding Japanese troops were mobilized to provide reinforcements.

This also included an infantry battalion and a cavalry battalion from Taiyuan.

Their order was to rescue Yamamoto Ikki at all costs.

After Shinozuka Yoshio's immediate superior, the Japanese commander of the North China Front Army, Tada Shun, expressed his disdain for the Eighth Route Army and his opinion of letting the Eighth Route Army develop on its own, Shinozuka Yoshio turned around and started dating Yamamoto Ikki.

The reason is very simple. Because of the methods adopted by Tada Shun against the Eighth Route Army, Yoshio Shinozuka suffered successive defeats in the battlefield of northwestern Shanxi.

Most of the battles, big and small, ended in defeat. Even if there was a victory, it was either a pyrrhic victory or a meaningless victory.

Because there was no effective attack or loss caused to the Eighth Route Army at all.

In order to control the development of the Eighth Route Army and undermine its morale, Yoshio Shinozuka launched many mopping-up and clearing-the-country operations.

In order to intimidate the people, consolidate the enemy-occupied areas and boost morale.

But they all ended in failure.

In terms of mopping-up operations, the greatest results were achieved, causing considerable losses to the Eighth Route Army.

But the fundamentals have not and never have been damaged.

During most mopping-up operations, the Eighth Route Army adopted the tactic of avoiding the enemy whenever possible, trying to get the troops out of the Japanese encirclement as much as possible, and then returning to the base after the mopping-up operation was over.

The Japanese have not yet taken any effective countermeasures to this tactic.

Over the years, hundreds of raids have been launched, all of which have ended in failure or with little success.

Just when he was at a loss, Yamamoto Ikki appeared with his idea of unconventional combat methods.

Special operations.

When the plan was first discussed, Yoshio Shinozuka knew it would work. He had been waiting for a long time, and the person who could break the current situation must be him, Yamamoto Ikki.

Since then, Yoshio Shinozuka has been fond of Ikki Yamamoto.

Whatever help and supplies are needed, as long as Yamamoto Ikki asks, Shinozuka Yoshio will definitely provide them.

With the strong support of Shinozuka Yoshio, Yamamoto Ikki's plan began to take shape, and the special forces team was successfully formed.

Yamamoto Ikki was not just a talker. If Kong Jie's independent regiment had not accidentally taken the blame for the headquarters, the Eighth Route Army would have suffered the greatest loss in its history.

It was this action that made Yoshio Shinozuka more determined in his inner thoughts. If he wanted to not have to look at other people's faces, he had to make achievements on his own.

And this opportunity lies with Yamamoto Ikki.

It can be said that Yoshio Shinozuka's success or failure is all tied to Ikki Yamamoto.

One glory and one glory.

That's why the order was given to rescue Yamamoto Ikki at all costs.

Special operations are his hope, and in Yoshio Shinozuka's view, it is the hope of winning this war.

Because even now, Tada Shun still believes that the Eighth Route Army is not to be feared, and the focus should be placed on the teams of Yan Laoxi and Chiang Kai-shek.

The consequence of Yoshio Shinozuka's actions was that one move would affect the entire body.

The first to receive the intelligence were the Eighth Route Army regiments on the front line, and the first to learn of the intelligence was the New 1st Regiment.

After learning about this, Ding Wei immediately determined who was behind this drama: "I can guarantee you, it's definitely that kid Lin Qiang who's caused trouble again!"

Not many people knew about the development of the first row during this period, but the movement made by Lin Qiang was known to the entire 386th Brigade.

Why didn’t the brigade commander look for Lin Qiang?

We have to thank Li Yunlong for this. If he hadn't let it slip that he had handed over his weapons and equipment, Lin Qiang would have been congratulated and made a fortune!

The staff officer asked in confusion, "Captain, how could Lin Qiang, with only a platoon of soldiers, have the audacity to cause such a big commotion? I don't believe it. But if you say it was Captain Li of the Independent Regiment who did it, then I certainly believe it."

"If this had happened before, I would have definitely said that Li Yunlong was responsible."

Ding Wei stood in front of the map and said, "Things are different now. Li Yunlong's independent regiment has been developing in a scattered manner. Let's not talk about how it has developed. No matter how he dares to cause trouble, he dare not provoke so many devils at once!"

After hearing Ding Wei's words, the staff officer nodded in agreement, but he was still confused and asked, "What you said makes sense, but Lin Qiang only has a platoon, and he dared to make such a big fuss? Even the Japanese in Taiyuan have been dispatched. This is a big deal!"

Others were not aware of Lin Qiang's courage, but Ding Wei was very clear and said with a smile: "You forgot, that guy had only a few men at the time, but he dared to attack the Japanese train station. That guy is just like Li Yunlong. There is nothing in the world that he dares not do!"

"Then he dared to invite so many devils to reinforce him?"

The staff officer still didn't quite believe it. He would rather believe that Li Yunlong was leading a battalion to attack the county town.

Ding Wei looked at his staff officer, his smile growing wider. "You know what? Lin Qiang is just like Li Yunlong. If he had one or two divisions, he wouldn't dare attack Taiyuan!"

After listening to Ding Wei's narration, the staff gradually believed it, after all, their new regiment had only obtained a few mortars.

After analyzing the enemy's reinforcement route, Ding Wei put down his pencil and said, "Safety! No matter which direction the enemy reinforcements from Taiyuan come from, they will have to pass through the defense zones of our New 1st and New 2nd Regiments."

The staff officer said, "But the New Second Regiment received orders from the brigade commander and headed towards Heiyun Village yesterday..."

Talking about this matter, the staff officer finally completely believed that this matter was caused by Lin Qiang.

Ding Wei laughed heartily and said bluntly, "Do you believe it now? Do you understand what it means that there are always people better than you and there are always things better than you?"

The staff officer came back to his senses and smacked his lips, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, I've really broadened my horizons!"

"Let's talk about the Japanese reinforcements!"

Ding Wei marked out three routes with a pencil and pointed to the one in the middle of the defense zone. He said, "The Japanese are unlikely to take this route. This is the center of our defense zone. If the Japanese dare to take this route, once a fight breaks out, the 772nd Regiment can outflank us and cooperate with us to wipe out their entire regiment!"

"In my opinion, the Japanese are likely to take this road. This is a highway, suitable for their mobile troops and cavalry. As long as we deploy two battalions at Wang Erdaohezi, the Japanese will not be able to pass through here."

The staff officer was shocked when he heard this, and thought Ding Wei's words were absurd: "Commander, the Japanese have gathered from three sides, which means they have more than one regiment, and I'm afraid they have more than two. Erdaohezi has the advantage of terrain, but sending two battalions, wouldn't that push the soldiers into the fire pit?"

Ding Wei had his reasons for making such a decision. At the same time, he also knew that the staff officer said this for the sake of all the soldiers of the New 1st Regiment and himself, Ding Wei.

He mobilized troops to join the war without telling his superiors. No matter what the reason, if the troops were wiped out, he, as the combat commander, could not escape responsibility.

Two battalions against two regiments, there is no chance of winning no matter how you look at it.

Ding Wei smiled mysteriously: "Erdao River is so wide and the water level is not shallow. If the Japanese dare to go down to the river, they will be sitting ducks. Two battalions are more than enough."

Only then did the staff officer realize: "Commander, do you mean to blow up the bridge?"

"That's right!"

Ding Wei answered decisively and affirmatively: "Not only must we blow them up, but we must also blow up all the bridges in the defense zone!"

"It doesn't matter whether we can get through or not, we can't let the Japanese get through. At least we can't let the Japanese get through my defense zone. Otherwise, I won't be able to face Li Yunlong and the others!"

The staff officer knew that he could not persuade them, and he had no intention of trying to persuade them. He could not just watch the Japanese go to reinforce and let the brother troops fall into dire straits.

"But we can't hold out for long with just one group!"

"Yes!"

Ding Wei sighed and gave an order: "I can't care about so many things now!"

"Pass on my order. Order the first and second battalions to rush to Erdaohezi immediately. Make sure to blow up the bridge before the Japanese!"

"Also, the Third Battalion will head to Tiger Leaping Cliff, spare the Japanese cavalry, and focus on intercepting the Japanese infantry!"

"Fourth Battalion, County Brigade, District Squad, Militia, do your best to intercept the Japanese cavalry. Don't let a single Japanese cavalryman get through!"

"Tell them not to hurt my horse!"