Bright Sword: Japs, times have changed

Having said that, after Duan Peng left, Lin Qiang still called the brigade commander.

This call was not to ask for instructions, but to inform the brigade commander in case a battle broke out and other teams were not ready.

In fact, Lin Qiang didn't need to make this call. With the brigade commander's intelligence network, it would not take long for the brigade commander to get the news as soon as the gunshots were heard here.

However, what no one expected was that the special forces team turned back in just one hour, and there were several wounded members in the team.

Duan Peng found Lin Qiang and reported the situation ahead: "Battalion Commander, that was a trap set by the Japanese. I led the special forces team to the ambush position and the Japanese discovered us. We thought they would launch a charge, but we were already prepared for battle."

"But who knew that the Japanese wouldn't take any action. Before I could react, I was immediately bombarded by their artillery. If the team hadn't retreated quickly, I'm afraid it would have been more than just an injury."

Moreover, Lin Qiang also learned a very important piece of news from Duan Peng. This time, the Japanese actually had artillery with a caliber of more than 100 mm.

The Japanese marching routes were all along the highway, and the weapons they carried were in full view. The only way to explain the transportation of artillery was the train station.

Only then did Lin Qiang realize that it was no wonder that the Japanese reinforcements from Laiyuan County and Anhua County came so quickly and in so many numbers. It turned out that they were there to protect the weapons and equipment that were being transported there.

"It's okay. Take this time to rest. We'll need the special forces to take action later."

Duan Peng had just left, and before Lin Qiang could think of a countermeasure, the sentry came running over to report: "Report to the battalion commander, a large number of Japanese soldiers are marching rapidly towards the base."

"Ok?"

Lin Qiang was obviously stunned for a moment. He didn't expect the Japanese to act so early. "How many people are there? Are they carrying heavy weapons?"

The sentry thought for a moment and replied, "There are about one battalion of troops. According to observation, no mortars or heavy machine guns were seen."

"Okay, I understand. Keep observing."

"Yes!"

From the sentry's answer, Lin Qiang guessed that this group of Japanese soldiers came to test the defense deployment above Xiaowangzhuang again.

Regardless of whether it was true or not, Lin Qiang could only treat it as such for now. He then picked up the walkie-talkie and gave orders, asking each company not to reveal all their combat deployments and just deal with the Japanese casually.

"Since you want to play, then play bigger!"

…………

There is good news that is approaching the base of the independent battalion.

The teams developing outside caught wind of the situation and had already begun to move towards the base. Therefore, it didn't take much effort for the messengers sent out to convey Lin Qiang's orders.

The teams continued to gather together and were now marching along the edge of the independent regiment's defense zone.

If there was only a small group of troops, it would naturally be faster to return through Xiaowangzhuang, but the team was too large and the target was obvious, so they could only make a circle and pass through the defense zones of the Independent Regiment and the 358th Regiment.

How big is the team?

Li Yunlong, the commander of the independent regiment, was busy with battle deployment. After receiving the news, he mobilized a company for defense with great concern. The same was true for the 358th Regiment of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, because they did not know which part this huge team belonged to.

Lin Qiang's guess was correct. This battalion of Japanese troops came to test the enemy. After achieving their goal, they retreated quickly and left the battlefield as soon as possible.

Just as Lin Qiang was thinking about how to deal with the next battle, Zhang Yuntian rushed to find him and said excitedly: "Battalion Commander, you're back, everyone is back!"

"What's back?"

Lin Qiang said without even looking up: "What's the matter? Tell me clearly."

Zhang Yuntian pointed outside with one hand, supported the wall with the other and said, "Team, all the teams that were developing outside are back!"

"I'm back now."

Lin Qiang continued with his drawing homework and said nonchalantly, "Since we're back, let them serve as logistics for the time being."

The Xiaowangzhuang position was not big, and the troops of more than 10,000 people were crammed in. Let’s put it this way, although they were on the same position, most of the soldiers were unable to shoot.

Because of their position, they could not see the Japanese at first sight.

Zhang Yuntian suddenly laughed and asked, "Battalion Commander, are you sure you want to use these 3,000 people as logistics?"

"What!?"

Hearing Zhang Yuntian's words, the pencil in Lin Qiang's hand broke under the huge force, and the distribution map of the positions was also punctured.

"You mean, the returning team has more than three thousand members?"

Zhang Yuntian was very satisfied with Lin Qiang's reaction, because he had the same reaction: "Yes, a rough count shows that there are about 3,500 people."

That’s a full two regiments of troops!

During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the strength of the Eighth Route Army Corps was almost always around 1,500 people, and few units exceeded this number.

There are two reasons. The Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, the Central Army, the Eighth Route Army and the Three Armies were all scrambling for manpower. Coupled with the horrific casualty ratio on the battlefield, each unit had few troops.

The second reason is that if a regiment has too many soldiers, it will lead to food shortages. Simply put, it cannot be supported.

Take Li Yunlong for example. A cavalry battalion in Wanjia Town was robbed by the brigade commander and only one company was left. Was the brigade commander really jealous of the cavalry?

Actually not.

The brigade commander did this because he knew Li Yunlong and knew he would never give up on forming a cavalry battalion.

It was because of this that the brigade commander found an excuse to take away the horses and equipment, in order to prevent the independent regiment from being dragged down by this cavalry battalion.

Anyone who can feed a team of 2,000 people is considered a top general.

Therefore, this team of 3,000 people can indeed be called two regiments.

This is also the key point of Li Yunlong and Chu Yunfei's defense. These two regiments have unknown origins and are well-equipped. If they are suddenly attacked, they may not be able to defend themselves.

After Lin Qiang got the exact answer, he was so shocked that he was speechless.

The team was sent out after the battle ended a month ago. Unexpectedly, in just one month, a team of 3,000 people was formed.

It’s really unimaginable!

Lin Qiang was awakened by the ringing of the phone. He said to Zhang Yuntian, "I understand. Bring the team back to the base. No one is allowed to move without my order!"

"Yes!"

Zhang Yuntian left quickly after receiving the order. Lin Qiang then picked up the phone and answered: "This is the independent camp."

"Lin Qiang, you've made a fortune again!"

The call was from Li Yunlong, and Lin Qiang knew that the "get rich" he was talking about was the group of more than 3,500 people who had returned: "Hey, it's okay."

"You kid, don't be so ungrateful after getting such an advantage."

Li Yunlong said with envy and admiration: "Damn, a team of more than 3,000 people came towards my defense zone. I was so scared that I almost peed my pants. I thought, I hope it can't be the enemy team, otherwise, I'm afraid I will have to die here today."

"I didn't expect that I would send people to follow me all the way, but it turned out to be your team!"

"Hey, it's really frustrating to compare yourself to others. I was just happy that Zhang Dabiao brought back more than 2,000 people, but you turned around and slapped our old Li in the face."

Lin Qiang didn't listen to Li Yunlong's Versailles words and asked, "Captain, tell me the truth, does the Independent Regiment have tens of thousands of combat troops right now?"

"hey-hey!"

Hearing Lin Qiang's question, Li Yunlong was indeed very happy: "Guess how many troops I have now? To tell you the truth, I have to say, eight battalions!"

"Eight battalions!"

Lin Qiang feigned surprise and waited until Li Yunlong had finished being happy before he replied, "Eight battalions is not a small number. With another four or five battalions, the total strength of the independent regiment will catch up with our independent battalion."

"Hahaha!"

"Captain, I have something going on here. I won't talk to you anymore. I'm hanging up!"

What a joke! If you dare to act like this in front of Lin Qiang, aren't you asking for trouble?

Lin Qiang could imagine that Li Yunlong must be still in the posture of answering the phone and not reacting at all. When he finally reacted, the first thing he would say would definitely be scolding himself.