Bright Sword: Japs, times have changed

The team led by Shindo Mingtai had a bumpy journey and ultimately failed to reach the mission location. Even he himself was captured alive by Zhang Dabiao, the commander of the first battalion of the independent regiment.

On the other side, the commander of the 9th Brigade, Ming Ino, took the lead in deploying for the next battle after receiving false information from Zhang Dabiao.

Due to the complex terrain of the hillside and the obstruction of a section of woods, the Japanese cavalry abandoned their horses and turned into light infantry, following the infantry battalion and taking the lead.

In order to prevent the infantry guns they carried from becoming targets of the independent battalion's howitzers, Ming Jingye also deliberately used several infantry guns as bait to ensure that the team had certain artillery support after the war started.

Not only that, he also sent a squadron of troops to complete the unfinished task of Yamamoto Ikki.

In this operation, Ming Jingye only led two infantry battalions and one cavalry battalion, and the remaining troops were all commanded by Kawashita Hide.

Two battalions of Japanese soldiers hid in the woods, waiting for Shindo Mingtai to send information about their arrival location, so that they could launch a simultaneous surprise attack on both sides of the Eighth Route Army's position.

On the front battlefield, the Japanese army also passed Hulukou and was ready to attack outside the range of the howitzers. Only one battalion of Japanese soldiers came to reinforce the front battlefield.

It seemed that the Japanese had the intention of saving their grandfather like the Calabash Brothers, but in fact, this was a test attack by Kawashita Hide.

He didn't believe that an independent battalion could hold off the charge for too long, and as long as the Eighth Route Army still had howitzers, he would definitely use them again.

If the position is about to be lost and the howitzers have not been used, that is when the Japanese will launch the final charge.

The troops of the two brigades are not just for the purpose of wiping out the independent battalion. Once the mission is completed, they will immediately go deep into the Eighth Route Army's defense zone, cooperate with Taiyuan to encircle and carry out a large-scale mopping-up mission.

The independent battalion was just an opportunity, giving the Japanese a chance to mobilize a large number of troops.

If a large number of troops are mobilized rashly, the Eighth Route Army will naturally be on guard, and the effect of the sweep will be much worse.

However, the Japanese's series of plans were thoroughly analyzed by Lin Qiang and others at the Xiaowangzhuang position.

The first person to speak up was Ding Wei, the commander of the New 1st Regiment. He had the best military culture among the few people and had a different perspective on things.

"In my opinion, these two Japanese brigades are not entirely targeting your independent battalion."

Upon hearing this, Li Yunlong, the head of the independent regiment, put down his chopsticks, folded his hands on the table, and asked, "Old Ding, do you have the same idea?"

"What a coincidence, I thought so too."

Kong Jie, the commander of the New Second Regiment, also said, "The Japanese don't know much about Lin Qiang's independent battalion. They only know that it has howitzers. With just these few things, the Japanese can mobilize two brigades to encircle and suppress it. I think there must be something fishy going on."

The strength of two brigades is enough to carry out a mopping-up operation in the northwest Shanxi region, but now it is only used to encircle and suppress an independent battalion. Things are definitely not that simple.

Ding Wei took over and said, "It seems I'm not the only one who has seen this. The Japanese's action against the independent battalion is likely a cover. Their real purpose is most likely to conduct a large-scale sweep of our Eighth Route Army defense zone."

"Don't disbelieve me! If Lin Qiang's independent battalion is defeated, I'll risk my life. The Japanese from Taiyuan will definitely attack. Within two days, the entire base will be surrounded."

The three of them remained silent after hearing this. There was no other reason for this. What Ding Wei said made a lot of sense.

Lin Qiang had also thought about this matter, but the current situation prevented him from thinking too much about it.

Now after hearing what Ding Wei said, a complete sweep plan instantly emerged in my mind.

Thinking of this, Lin Qiang smiled bitterly and said, "It seems that my independent battalion cannot collapse. If it collapses, I will become a sinner!"

"Hahaha, that's not true!"

Just as several people were talking, information came from the direction of the county town.

When the letter was delivered to Lin Qiang, his expression changed significantly when he opened it.

Such a change was naturally noticed by the three veteran leaders. Ding Wei was the first to ask, "What's going on?"

"Information has arrived from the county seat. The two brigades dispatched by the Japanese this time are the 7th and 9th Brigades, commanded by Kawashita Hide and Akino."

"The Japanese 7th and 9th Brigades?"

Ding Wei then asked, "How did you get such detailed information?"

Lin Qiang explained to the three people the situation of the people in Laiyuan County, and introduced Zhang Zizai in detail, as well as the contact code between the two parties.

"If you encounter any difficulties in the county in the future, you can find Zhang Zizai."

After hearing this, Li Yunlong put down the wine that was about to reach his lips and said with a smile, "This kid named Zhang is really a natural born traitor! Hahaha!"

Not to mention those far away, there are several traitors in the northwest of Shanxi, but there are really few who can achieve what Zhang Ziyi has done.

Only Kong Jie has been deep in thought with a frown on his face since he learned of this information.

"Lao Kong, what are you thinking about?"

Hearing this, Kong Jie came back to his senses and said, "You two haven't forgotten that the Japanese Seventh Brigade was the team that swept through the base area back then, right?"

Kong Jie's words made Ding Wei and Li Yunlong fall into silence. They would not forget and could not forget that big raid.

In order to cover the transfer of the headquarters, the entire base was caught in a fierce battle with the Japanese, and the number of casualties was difficult to estimate.

After the battle, when the troops returned to the base and counted their numbers, the number of surviving soldiers in each unit was less than one-tenth of the original number.

It took a full year for the troops to recover their vitality.

After that operation, the three of them became group leaders and were dispatched to various places to develop teams.

On other battlefields, the Japanese 7th Brigade demonstrated extremely strong combat effectiveness. It once used a battalion of troops to defeat a brigade of the Central Army in thirteen days.

With its excellent fighter planes and sophisticated equipment, the 7th Brigade was also called an elite division by the Japanese.

Ding Wei lost his previous relaxed demeanor and said in a deep voice, "This 7th Brigade is known as the Japs' elite division. At least on the battlefield, we've never heard of their defeat."

If others encountered this team, they might be a little afraid.

But Li Yunlong is a stubborn person, otherwise he would not have disobeyed orders and confronted the elite Sakata Regiment head-on.

"What the hell are these elite bullshit!"

Li Yunlong took a gulp of Fenjiu, smacked his lips, and said, "I just don't believe this. Do the devils in the Seventh Brigade have three heads and six arms or something?"

"If you ask me, you two are just boosting the enemy's morale and destroying your own prestige. Where is the Sakata Regiment, once known as the elite? Is that old Sakata about to be born?"

Li Yunlong's words livened up the gloomy atmosphere. Ding Wei and Kong Jie burst into laughter after hearing them.

After the laughter, Lin Qiang, as if to reassure them, said, "The tanks and armored vehicles can be deployed at any time, and the artillery positions are piled high with shells."

"Don't even mention the two brigades of devils. If conditions permit, we can go straight to Taiyuan!"

"Captain Kong, have the soldiers of the New Second Regiment prepare themselves. The mortars have been deployed. There's no need to conserve ammunition!"

"As long as the devil shows up, we'll beat him to a pulp!"