Bright Sword: Japs, times have changed

Ding Kong and the other man kept their word and handed over all the combat teams they brought to Lin Qiang for arrangement. In the final analysis, even the two of their regiment commanders obeyed Lin Qiang's arrangements.

There was nothing they could do about it. Knowing that Lin Qiang dared to ask them to come and attack the train station together, they could guess that the guy had information that they didn't have.

Who wouldn’t be a smart guy to become a regiment leader in a time of war?

After Lin Qiang left, Ding Wei lowered his voice and said, "Old Kong, you've handed all your men over to Lin Qiang to command. Isn't that a disguised way of letting him command you as well? You're a regimental commander, and you have to obey a platoon leader in battle?"

Kong Jie laughed and said, "Old Ding, how could I not know what you're thinking? You just feel embarrassed that a regimental commander is being ordered around by a platoon leader. If it gets out, you're dragging me into this, so it won't be so embarrassing, right?"

From these words, Ding Wei knew that Kong Jie didn't care at all about Lin Qiang commanding him. All he wanted now was to seize the time to improve the combat effectiveness of the New Second Regiment.

The defeat at Zhaojiayu was caused by Li Yunlong, which made the entire independent regiment have to make meritorious contributions. Now that Kong Jie has come out alone, he must prove to his superiors that the team he leads is not a bunch of idiots.

Ding Wei sighed, knowing full well the difficulties faced by his old comrades. But whose team is not facing difficulties nowadays? The New 1st Regiment had almost exhausted all its resources in the head-on battle with the Sakata Regiment, and its strength has not yet recovered.

Otherwise, after the operation is over, we can provide some supplies to Kong Jie's New Second Regiment.

"Old Ding, this is not shameful."

Kong Jie lit up a cigarette as usual, took a puff and said, "You are a top student. If it weren't for Li Yunlong, you would be studying in Yan'an now. I have little education, but I know that you scholars are arrogant. You are a regimental commander, but you have to listen to the orders of a platoon leader in battle. Whether he is your platoon leader or not is just two different things."

Ding Wei smiled and asked, "Which two things?"

Kong Jie put down his pipe and gestured on the table with it, saying, "First of all, he must be like me. He knows that Lin Qiang has sufficient intelligence and a battle plan. If we say anything more, we may have to make a new plan. This operation was carried out without the knowledge of the brigade commander. Who wouldn't want to go back early?"

"The second one is even simpler. Renlin is willing to lend you the mortar. What else do you have to say?"

This was indeed true. Ding Wei asked, "Lin Qiang didn't lend you a weapon, so you agreed?"

"Why would I be reluctant?"

He knocked his pipe on the ground, and the extinguished tobacco rolled out. Kong Jie put away the pipe, and his tone was a little helpless: "You know what my current situation is. The Japanese's action has left me with no chance for development. Now that I finally have an opportunity, how can I let it go?"

"I don't think even Li Yunlong knows about this. Otherwise, Lin Qiang wouldn't have asked us to keep the team's situation a secret for him."

Li Yunlong is an old comrade of theirs. After so many years in northwestern Shanxi, he is very familiar with their temperament. Once Li Yunlong knows the current situation of the first row, he will definitely treat this team as a treasure and will not let them develop independently outside.

Ding Wei pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "I think it's very likely that Li Yunlong doesn't know. Since we promised to keep it a secret, we have to do it. Just listen to me. Sooner or later, we will make a fortune by using Lin Qiang."

Kong Jie sat up straight and said in surprise: "Hey, damn, it's exactly what I thought!"

…………

The next day, early morning.

The team marched quickly along the route. In order to prevent the action from being exposed, Lin Qiang deliberately chose a hidden path.

There is no way that donkey carts can pass through, so the combat team will set off first, and the team responsible for transportation will set off an hour later.

Zhang Yuntian led the team into the train station last night. If nothing unexpected happens, someone will be there to pick up Lin Qiang and the others at the meeting point one kilometer away from Qinghe Town.

After three hours,

The team arrived at the meeting point outside Qinghe Town. The waiting soldiers were wearing puppet army uniforms. If Lin Qiang had not told them in advance, it would have probably caused misunderstandings.

The Eighth Route Army soldiers hated the puppet army almost more than the Japanese, and they wanted to kill all these traitors.

Through the soldiers' narration, Lin Qiang and others clearly understood the situation inside Qinghe Town.

The information was similar to what Lin Qiang had learned. There were three bunkers, each with two firing holes, one Type 92 light and one heavy machine gun, and ten Japanese devils were in charge.

There are two watchtowers inside the train station, with three Japanese soldiers and a Type 92 light machine gun on top.

In addition, there are defensive fortifications set up by the Japanese at the entrance of the train station, and heavy machine guns are guarding both sides of the entrance. The puppet army is responsible for patrolling the town, and its number is small.

After hearing the information, Lin Qiang and Ding Wei talked for a few words and decided to act according to the previous plan.

Ding Wei nodded to indicate that he understood, and then led his team and a mortar to the designated location.

Under Lin Qiang's command, the team advanced another 300 meters. This distance was already a dangerous distance and it was very likely that they would be discovered by the Japanese lookout tower in advance.

Kong Jie and Lin Qiang looked at the watchtowers built by the Japanese at the same time. Although they were tall towers built with wood, they were as high as three stories high and formed crossfire with the bunker.

It seems that the Japanese put some effort into defending the train station, but it was not enough.

Apart from heavy machine guns, there was not even a mortar inside. It was obvious that they believed that no Eighth Route Army troops would dare to raid here.

The Japs were indeed confident in this. A large-scale mopping-up operation coupled with a campaign to clear the countryside completely forced the main forces of the Eighth Route Army to retreat to the point where they had to shrink their defense zone and move away from the county town and other major towns and villages.

The local armed forces and guerrillas were simply unable to inflict any substantial damage to such a defense, which gave Lin Qiang and his men an opportunity to exploit a loophole.

After observing for a while, Kong Jie whispered, "Brother Lin Qiang, these two watchtowers don't pose much of a threat to us, but as soon as we take any action, we'll be discovered by the Japanese. We have to concentrate our firepower and take down these two watchtowers while firing."

Lin Qiang said calmly: "Don't worry, these two watchtowers will definitely be my first targets."

Then he turned to the soldier beside him and said, "Go and inform Captain Ding immediately. Tell him to blow up the bunker as soon as he gets the signal. Leave the watchtower to us. Tell him not to be stingy with the shells and to fire all of them!"

"Yes!"

The soldier responded and immediately stood up and moved quickly in the direction of Ding Wei.

Long before setting off, the three of them had learned about the situation inside the train station. They all knew where the warehouses and some important materials were stored, and the mortars would definitely avoid these places.

Kong Jie couldn't stand Lin Qiang's wasteful behavior and said, "If it were up to me, we should just let the soldiers rush to the bottom of the watchtower and blow it down with grenades. We'll provide cover fire from behind, and it shouldn't cause too many casualties."

"no!"

This proposal was immediately rejected by Lin Qiang. At this time, Lin Qiang did not care whether Kong Jie was the head of the regiment or not. He said, "Captain Kong, I don't care how you fight. Since we agreed that I will command, you must listen to me. Captain Kong, you can't go back on your word, right?"

"Well, you decide!"

Kong Jie stopped talking, but he still felt a little distressed. Mainly because he was afraid of being poor, he wished he could split one bullet into two.

Looking at his painful expression, Lin Qiang wondered whether he should tell him that he had three mortars and enough shells. Would he ask for a shell as well?

The scheduled time soon arrived, and there was no movement in the train station. I guess there was no accident on Ding Wei's side.

Both sides are ready, just waiting for Zhang Yuntian to send a signal from within.

At this time, inside the train station, Zhang Yuntian and others were surrounded by the Japanese and puppet troops, and any movement would result in them being shot to death.

One of the devils said viciously, "Zhang Sang, you have betrayed the trust of our Locust Army. You will be buried with the imperial warriors who died in battle at Wulipo!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Japs all pulled the bolts of their guns, ready to pull the trigger and shoot them at any time.

Zhang Yuntian knew that there was no point in quibbling, so he suddenly surrounded himself and others. He was sure that he had received accurate information, and whispered to his comrades around him: "Brothers, are you afraid of death?"

"I'm not afraid of anything. Even if I die, I'll take someone with me!"

"Don't worry, squad leader. I'm ready. If the devils start shooting, I'll treat them to grenades for breakfast!"

There was no fear on Zhang Yuntian's face, only a smile of being ready to die. He did not regret choosing to join the Eighth Route Army. Dying here in battle would also leave a good reputation for himself and his brothers.

Knowing that he couldn't escape, Zhang Yuntian whispered to the soldiers beside him, "Get your grenades ready. As soon as I give the signal, throw them at the Japanese. Try to find cover and hide. As many people as possible will survive!"

Just when Zhang Yuntian was ready to give the signal at the risk of his life, he heard a sharp sound from mid-air, and then saw the watchtower at the entrance collapse.

The sudden explosion scared the Japanese, but also gave Zhang Yuntian and others a brief opportunity.

"Throw grenades, find cover, quick!"