Bright Sword: From Soldier to Brigade Commander

Chu Yunfei took a breath of cold air.

This ambush method, using the least amount of troops to launch a secret attack, is so cruel and efficient.

No wonder Su Fei's troops were able to easily defeat the enemy's heavy forces many times with only a small number of troops!

Qian Bojun, Fang Ligong, and the others thought Su Fei was bragging and expressed their disgust: "Brother Su, although your plan is good, if the main force of the Japanese and puppet troops roars from Wanjia Town and returns to the county together, can your people handle it? We may not be sure!"

Su Fei waved his hand, and the soldiers brought over a group of Japanese and puppet troops, all alive. They were introduced by a newly captured puppet soldier: "Captain Chu, this is Captain Morita, the commander of the Japanese army stationed in the county town. This is Hu Liqiang, the captain of the Imperial Army. The third one is Second Lieutenant Kurokawa of the Japanese army..."

When these captives saw Chu Yunfei and others looking at them like monkeys, they became angry and started cursing.

This curse actually confirmed their identities and their determination to die.

Chu Yunfei was not angry at all. The Japanese prisoners and the puppet army prisoners were all treasures. The National Army had clear rewards for them, and it was all money.

Order to take away.

"Chief of Staff Fang, Captain Qian, when it comes to fighting, we are indeed far less ruthless than Brother Su Fei! He truly risked his life. If all the hundreds of Morita troops returned to the county, their final fate would be the same, with no escape. Brother Su, I admire you so much!"

After negotiation, Qian Bojun's battalion was stationed in the county town to consolidate the existing results, and to intensify training and strengthen the troops.

Su Fei's troops retreated back to Baijia Town, but handed over Wanjia Town and the surrounding areas to Su Fei as a base for supplying troops and materials.

This approach is also fair.

Su Fei's troops first returned to Wanjia Town to help other troops clean up the battlefield and bury the bodies. At the same time, they sent people to publicize their troops' military exploits and recruit soldiers!

After Wanjia Town had suffered many disasters from the Japanese and puppet troops, the people were very enthusiastic about the war of resistance. They all believed that Su Fei's troops had avenged them and were trustworthy, so they signed up one after another. Within three days, more than 350 people were recruited.

In addition to the original military strength, except for the one company of militia left behind in Baijia Town, there are now 500 people who can be gathered under Su Fei's command, which is truly organized into a battalion.

Training, retraining, military discipline, equipment, shooting, tactics, etc., veterans lead recruits, officers teach soldiers, and provide very good treatment!

The treatment of Su Fei’s troops is better than that of the ordinary Shanxi-Suiyuan Army!

Why?

Chu Yunfei and the upper echelons of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army had already promised Su Fei that they would pay him the same amount of military pay as he recruited soldiers.

In addition to military pay, every battle captured Japanese puppet troops' money and supplies, military rations, etc., were all at Su Fei's disposal. Su Fei did not hesitate to distribute them equally to officers and soldiers, and the wounded and martyrs' families received even greater compensation.

After the veterans publicized these conditions, applicants immediately flocked in. They also needed to be screened for physical fitness and other qualities, and the best candidates were admitted.

The weapons are better.

In the two battles, hundreds of firearms were captured, including mortars, grenade launchers, light and heavy machine guns. In the county town, a large amount of enemy ammunition was captured. When the troops were mobilized, they were well-equipped. One and a half companies used Japanese equipment. In total, they had one mountain cannon given by Chu Yunfei, and captured one 70mm infantry gun, four mortars, eight grenade launchers, one heavy machine gun, and ten light machine guns from the Japanese.

The infantry artillery was reinforced by the Japanese army to Morita. Morita sent troops to Wanjia Town for reinforcement, but he felt that the infantry artillery was clumsy and did not bring it with him. It was easily seized by Su Fei's army in the county town.

Each company has 100 people. Su Fei established 5 companies. With more units and more officers, he could motivate officers and soldiers to make progress. There are three infantry companies, one artillery company, one machine gun company, plus a directly-controlled platoon.

Three days later, the weather was calm elsewhere, so Su Fei couldn't sit idle and had to lead his troops to fight.

Between Wanjia Town and the county seat, and dozens of miles further out, there are many Japanese strongholds. These were successively re-established by the Japanese army after the Eighth Route Army retreated westward. There are 25 strongholds of various sizes, spreading from this county to the east and northeast.

Training in actual combat!

After discovering a Japanese stronghold, two infantry companies were dispatched to move behind and to the left and right of the enemy stronghold to cut off the enemy's retreat. Then the artillery and machine gun companies attacked, approaching the enemy to within 800 meters, basically avoiding the damage range of the Japanese and puppet troops in the stronghold.

In the strongholds, the Japanese army had at most grenade launchers, and only large strongholds had mortars.

The maximum range of a grenade launcher is 670 mm, and the effective range of a light machine gun is only 600 to 800 meters.

The mountain artillery and infantry artillery were lurking in place, firing at a distance of a thousand meters. A few shots blasted open the enemy's bunkers and artillery towers, killing and wounding seven of the enemy. A small number of infantrymen attacked, and at this time, the mortars bombarded the enemy again, covering the assault troops to enter the enemy stronghold and eliminate the enemy.

Basically, two artillery shells can destroy a gun tower or bunker, disintegrating the defensive core of the enemy stronghold. What remains is the panicked fleeing of the Japanese and puppet troops, who are then hunted down and intercepted by Su Fei's troops.

This kind of battle lasted for two days. Su Fei's troops lost 4 officers and soldiers and were injured 11. They eliminated 15 Japanese and puppet army strongholds, killed more than 140 Japanese soldiers, injured and captured 35, and annihilated more than 380 puppet troops.

On the third day, bad luck! All the Japanese and puppet army strongholds disappeared overnight!

ran away.

Amid the roar of mountain artillery and infantry guns, the Japanese and puppet troops were terrified and repeatedly asked their superiors for instructions and received orders to retreat.

After two days of fighting, Su Fei's troops seized the equipment of a Japanese squadron, the equipment of a puppet army battalion, a large amount of money, food, and supplies, and also recruited more than 150 relatively honest puppet army prisoners into the army.

Taking advantage of the victory, more than 300 new soldiers were recruited from these villages.

Su Fei's troops already have a thousand soldiers.

Intensify training.

At this time, Chu Yunfei brought good news. After Chu Yunfei's efforts, the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army agreed to use Su Fei as an independent combat unit, known as the Northwest Shanxi Advance Column, and also allocated 2 mountain cannons and 200 artillery shells.

it is good!

Unfortunately, the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army sent a chief of staff, Qian Boxun, with a telecommunications squad, an infantry company, a cavalry platoon, and an officer platoon to join the force, requiring that all company commanders and platoon leaders of Su Fei's troops must be appointed by Qian Boxun.

Qian Boxun is the cousin of Qian Bojun, the battalion commander of the 358th Regiment.

The troops were reorganized into an infantry battalion, an artillery battalion, and a direct-controlled guard company.

Su Fei was the commander-in-chief of the column, Qian Boxun was the chief of staff, and all the positions below the deputy commander, including battalion commander, company platoon leader, and squad leader, were held by officers arranged by Qian Boxun, and the original officers of the army were demoted to deputy positions.

Qian Boxun originally thought that Su Fei would strongly object, but unexpectedly, Su Fei readily agreed.

The soldiers brought by Qian Boxun were all veterans. In terms of regularization and military knowledge, literacy, and technology, they were undoubtedly teachers.

Our officers and soldiers must undergo formal and rigorous training.

No problem.

Qian Boxun was very happy and put forward a new request. This advancing column should immediately leave northwest Shanxi and advance towards Hengshan and Wutai Mountain areas to open up the northeastern Shanxi region.

Su Fei looked at the map and felt it was a little unreliable. Isn't this fighting for territory with the Eighth Route Army?

However, there were also a large number of cities and towns occupied by Japanese troops in that area.

"Okay, everything is for the war."

The advancing column of more than 1,100 people quickly moved eastward, hiding during the day and traveling at night, and the journey was relatively smooth.

However, when they reached 20 miles north of Fancheng, they were besieged by Japanese and puppet troops.

It seemed that the Japanese and puppet troops had received the news. During the day, a large number of Japanese and puppet troops had surrounded them. In the front, several blockade lines were set up, which could be seen through telescopes. In the back, Japanese and puppet troops also began to appear. There were mountains on the left and swamps, rivers and reeds on the right. There were also Japanese motorboats roaring!

This is Jedi.

The marching route is being carried out completely in accordance with the information provided by Qian Boxun.

Su Fei called Qian Boxun over and asked, "What's going on?"

Qian Boxun smiled: "Brother Su, you are a wise man, you should know what to do."

Su Fei understood: "Are you an insider of the Japanese army?"

Qian Boxun laughed. "No, no, I just have a clearer understanding of the national situation. Brother Su, don't worry. As long as you are willing to surrender to the Imperial Army, I will guarantee your life, wealth and glory! Colonel Inoue has already told me that the Imperial Army values ​​talent, especially Commander Gangcun. He promised not to harm you, so I brought you here."

Ha ha.

Su Fei smiled.

He had long been suspicious of Qian Boxun. Anyway, his cousin Qian Bojun later betrayed Chu Yunfei and the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, surrendered to the Japanese army, and was eventually exterminated by Chu Yunfei.

"You don't want to? Well, I will take you, the prisoner, and hand you over to the Japanese in exchange for a bright future!" Qian Boxun pulled out his pistol and shouted. A group of people came and surrounded Su Fei with the black muzzles of their guns.

"Take his gun away!"

Qian Boxun roared sharply.

However, these people turned their guns on Qian Boxun and took away his pistol.

Qian Boxun took a look and found that these people included Su Fei's guards and his own guards.

The leader is Duan Peng!

What he didn't know was that from the moment he set out, Su Fei had been extremely alert and had sent his own personnel to contact Qian Boxun and his men in the guard company, to have earnest talks, to persuade and mobilize them, to appeal to their emotions and reason.

Most of the people in the guard company, including some led by Qian Boxun, were unwilling to surrender to the Japanese.

"Kill this traitor!"

Everyone in the guard company was filled with indignation.

Su Fei summoned the battalion commanders, company commanders and platoon leaders and announced the matter.

"Anyone who doesn't want to fight can leave, but leave your guns and bullets behind for us to use against the Japanese. We will absolutely guarantee your safety once you leave."

Su Fei swore to heaven that he would never shoot these people in the back.

As a result, more than 20 officers and more than 80 soldiers led by Qian Bojun were willing to leave, and more than 200 officers and soldiers recruited by Su Fei were also willing to follow Qian Boxun.

Qian Boxun was rampant again. "Su Fei, are you going to die? This time, if you don't surrender, you're dead. Since you've been so polite to me, I'll urge you one last time. Brother, surrender. You can't escape."

Su Fei waved his hand and said, "Chief of Staff Qian, please go. We have different ideals and cannot work together!"

Qian Bojun burst into tears and left with his men. He turned back and clasped his fists to Su Fei, saying, "Brother Su, I am the one who is sorry for you. Please take care of yourself."

After Qian Boxun and others left, Su Fei ordered the entire army to enter the trenches and tunnels that had been dug to prepare for battle.

To the east of the Japanese and puppet troops' encirclement, the Rising Sun Flag waved. Not far from the flag, Japanese Colonel Inoue sneered and observed the movements of Su Fei's troops through a telescope. Seeing someone raise his hand and walk out, he said triumphantly, "Commander Gangcun's idea is brilliant. If we can't defeat the enemy head-on, we must attack from within. It's true!"

Major Watanabe, standing nearby, also laughed and said, "The key is that Your Excellency's specific operations were miraculous. Inciting Qian Boxun to rebel was simply the finishing touch. From then on, the rampant Chinese army's Su Fei, this ferocious wolf, fell into the trap of our Imperial Army."

Another major, Heisen, was more cautious: "What if there are unexpected changes? You know, this Su Fei is extremely cunning."

Colonel Inoue nodded and said, "Keep close surveillance. Have Qian Boxun bring his team here immediately."

Qian Boxun has arrived.

He nodded and bowed hurriedly: "Taijun, His Excellency Colonel Inoue is wise and powerful. He blessed me to come back. Almost, hi!"

Colonel Inoue asked, also surprised: "He actually noticed you? When was it?"

Qian Boxun couldn't say that he was ignorant. If others discovered it early, he would say that it was one of his subordinates who had rebelled!

Colonel Inoue thought carefully, observed the concentration point of Su Fei's troops, and asked about their fortifications.

"They actually dug so many anti-artillery holes? They're so vigilant? It's really rare, but it must have consumed a lot of physical strength."

Major Watanabe advocated an immediate attack, using artillery to bombard the area and completely destroy Su Fei's army's simple anti-artillery holes, so that large-scale ground forces could be deployed.

Colonel Inoue waved his hand, expressing his disapproval because this did not conform to Commander Okamura's plan of pursuing parallel political and military strategies.

Raising the white flag, he went to Su Fei's position alone.

Su Fei also walked out of the trench and waved to him because they knew each other.

Su Fei couldn't let him get close to his troops, because his troops were busy digging tunnels, the kind of underground tunnels. They used captured Japanese engineering shovels to quickly lift up the soil from the trenches and dig deeper in the inclined direction.

Qian Boxun only knew that there were anti-artillery holes, but he didn't know that there were tunnels. The excavation of the tunnels was not carried out until he left, which was also considered a hidden secret.

We must not let the Japanese army know.

"Mr. Su Fei, we meet again. It's fate." Colonel Inoue was in a very good mood and stretched out his hand to shake hands with Su Fei.

Su Fei waved his hand and smiled faintly: "Colonel Inoue's wisdom is so extraordinary that it makes people shudder."

Colonel Inoue laughed heartily. "It's the right time, it's the right situation, Mr. Su Fei. Now, I formally invite you to join our Imperial Army. To show my respect, I'm leading an infantry regiment, an artillery battalion, and an armored vehicle squadron to welcome you. In addition, Colonel Onijima's troops are supporting us from the outside. I hope you can understand my sincerity."

Su Fei took a deep breath. The old devil was threatening, but it must also be the truth.

Excluding the periphery, the total strength of the Japanese army was more than 5000 people, and they had an overwhelming advantage in equipment and heavy firepower.

Su Fei pretended to be in great pain and said fiercely, "If it weren't for the betrayal of the traitor, our army would never have come to this!"

He sat down, picked up a handful of dogtail grass, played with it, chewed it, and started chatting!

He wanted to use a wheelbarrow of nonsense to delay the Japanese army from day to night!