Bright Sword: From Soldier to Brigade Commander

The Japanese army had been prepared for a long time.

Along the way, Su Fei's troops had to eliminate the Japanese strongholds set up on the road one by one. The five large strongholds were all heavily fortified. The blockhouses were made of stone bars, wide, tall, and extremely strong. There were also a large number of blocking ditches. Outside the strongholds, there were also very high and thick breast walls, horse-tooth trenches, and various barbed wire fences.

The Japanese strongholds had very strong firepower. There were more than 50 Japanese and puppet troops in one stronghold, and at least one machine gun.

If it were an ordinary Eighth Route Army unit or local armed forces, they would not even think of using conventional methods to directly attack the enemy stronghold.

Three or two people shared one gun, and each gun was equipped with 5 to 10 rounds of bullets. The shoddy grenades would only blow an object in half. The effective range of the rifle was only more than 200 meters. The soldiers lacked bullets for training, and their skills were far worse than those of the Japanese army.

However, the two combined battalions of Su Fei's troops were much more powerful.

The Japanese army was equipped with all bolt-action rifles, and each soldier was equipped with 60 rounds of bullets. The number of machine guns and grenade launchers in the unit was only more than that of the Japanese, not less. Moreover, the artillery fire was particularly fierce. When they saw a stronghold, they would directly bombard it with mountain artillery and infantry guns from a distance.

Even if you are a bunker built of stone, the 75mm shells can't blow you up, but they can still aim directly at your machine gun firing holes. The shells can hit you inside the turret, blow you to pieces, and even explode your interior!

As for the Japanese troops hiding outside the village walls and blockhouses, we will directly cover them with mortars to prevent any of them from escaping!

The Japanese army was powerless to fight back.

After Su Fei's troops launched a heavy bombardment, a small number of infantry rushed over to check and clean up, and the small-scale battle was won.

The Japanese and puppet troops’ artillery shells and bullets were often destroyed before they could fire a few rounds. The weapons and ammunition in the strongholds were used as storage for Su Fei’s troops!

Along the way, crushing everything with ease!

169 Japanese soldiers were killed, 23 wounded soldiers were captured, 220 puppet soldiers were killed, more than 250 were captured, 2 mortars, 7 grenade launchers, 8 machine guns, 1 heavy machine gun, 113 Type 38 rifles, 368 miscellaneous rifles, and more than 6 rounds of various bullets were seized.

Of course, there was no replenishment of ammunition for mountain artillery and infantry guns.

Approaching Laiyuan City for one thousand meters, the vanguard troops encountered the Japanese army in the west of the city. The Japanese army set out from the county town and formed a standoff with Su Fei's army in the Gongzhufen area.

An infantry company of Su Fei's army occupied Gongzhufen, and the Japanese army then rushed over to besiege it.

Princess Tomb is a piece of high ground with a relative height of more than 50 meters, covered with weeds and thorns. It is said that a princess of the Northern Qi Dynasty was buried there.

200 meters from east to west and more than 600 meters from north to south.

Su Fei was overjoyed when he heard the news.

The Japanese army actually gave up such an important strategic location, which shows that the Japanese army was not stupid, but paralyzed.

The area more than ten miles away from the county seat was under the direct control of the Japanese and puppet troops, and there were large villages and towns guarding the surrounding areas. The Japanese army did not expect Su Fei's troops to advance so quickly.

Since the enemy has come out to rob, let's fight.

To guard the Princess Tomb, you don’t need too many troops, just one company is enough.

Su Fei's goal was not to capture Laiyuan City, but to destroy the Japanese army's manpower.

According to intelligence, the Japanese army was defending in the Laiyuan area, and the 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade was stationed in more than a dozen counties. One brigade was stationed in more than a dozen counties, and the defense area was very large. At most, there was one infantry battalion that could be stationed in Laiyuan City. Even if the Japanese army mobilized troops to besiege with all their strength, it would not exceed one infantry regiment.

Su Fei's two combined battalions consist of a thousand people.

After the enemy's five large strongholds were eliminated, more than 200 captured puppet soldiers were being screened and educated. Most of these people were soldiers who were just eating food to get by, and they might not be converted immediately, but they could serve as logistics soldiers immediately.

Along the way, Su Fei also organized a new recruit battalion of more than 600 people.

These soldiers all actively requested to join the army. They had been bullied and harmed by the Japanese in the stronghold for a long time. Today they finally welcomed the royal army and shed tears.

Although under the orders of General Okamura Yasuji, the Japanese army had greatly reduced the massacres and harm they inflicted on civilians, they still kept on arresting coolies and finding excuses to arrest and abuse women. The military police, in particular, arbitrarily slandered civilians as anti-Japanese elements, tortured them, and forced them to pay money...

The recruit camp immediately distributed weapons and ammunition, and asked veterans to serve as officers for organization and training.

In Su Fei's eyes, the arrogance of the Japanese army was mainly due to the excellent weapons and ammunition, and everything else was really average.

After several years of fighting, the hundreds of thousands of elite troops initially trained by the Japanese army had been greatly depleted. In addition, the elite troops were withdrawn to fight in Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, and the strength of the Japanese army in North China was rapidly reduced.

Su Fei's troops were divided into three groups and stationed in a long snake formation within a range of 2,000 meters west of Gongzhufen. There was an abandoned Japanese stronghold and a village among them.

The village is very small, with a large number of houses and walls. The new military camp is hidden among them and is not allowed to be public.

The second combined battalion was stationed in an abandoned stronghold, with one company in the stronghold and one company in each village a thousand meters away on both sides.

It can be said that Su Fei's tactical intention had no specific goal. He left the three main battalions to Fang Ligong, which showed that he wanted to attract the Japanese to attack his rear.

His troops were so famous that once they left Yuan County, the Japanese army would get the news through various channels. Then, they would definitely send their best troops to make a long-distance raid, wipe out the lair of Su Fei's troops, cut off his retreat, and then encircle and annihilate him.

To the north of Linwu County, and further afield, the Japanese garrison troops were from the 26th Division.

Once Su Fei's troops were dispatched, the Japanese army could fully cooperate. The 26th Division would dispatch troops to capture Linwu County, and the 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade would absorb Su Fei's troops. After the 26th Division occupied Linwu County, the 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade would be able to come out in full force and completely surround Su Fei's troops.

It is also possible that the Japanese army will dispatch other troops to encircle Su Fei's combined brigade.

So, when Su Fei found out that the Japanese army was late to the party and came to attack Gongzhufen, he laughed.

"Immediately send a telegram to Chief of Staff Fang Ligong and tell him to pay close attention. The enemy may launch a surprise attack on Linwu County."

Su Fei himself also went to the front line of the battle.

At Gongzhufen, officers and soldiers of the first company of the first battalion of the combined brigade were fighting, digging trenches based on the high ground, and the battle was very easy.

The Japanese and puppet troops came from the east and launched several small-scale assaults, mainly approaching Gongzhufen. The front line was already close to 300 meters.

On the way of the charge, the Japanese army left behind more than 30 bodies and the puppet army left behind more than 60 bodies.

About two Japanese infantry squads, divided into left and right, were scattered on the position. They used natural ravines to further dig.

The Japanese army has begun to use ravines to hide and snipe the troops here with rifles.

Their tactical intentions were brilliant.

They played to their strengths and avoided their weaknesses, using their ability to accurately shoot to kill a large number of our officers and soldiers.

Su Fei used a telescope to observe the enemy county town. There were not many soldiers on the city wall, and no trace of artillery fire was seen.

No other Japanese troops were found on the left or right sides.

Haha, this approach is too crude, it's just a, keep in contact, magnetic tactic, stick to you.

Su Fei concluded that there were a lot of artillery hidden on the Japanese city walls.

So, after observing, he issued an order, "Mortar soldiers, test fire at the enemy's wall!"

One mortar fired three test shots, quickly determining the range and firing parameters, and then four mortars fired fiercely at the enemy's city wall.

After 20 shells, smoke and dust billowed on the city wall, and some Japanese and puppet troops were blown away.

Blood splattered everywhere, and the pillars and walls of the city wall were stained with blood.

Finally, the devils were enraged.

They also fired mortar shells from inside the city, hitting the Princess Tomb.

Su Fei hid in the trench. When he heard something wrong with the artillery fire, he quickly hid in a small anti-artillery hole on the side of the trench.

Boom boom boom.

The Japanese army fired more than 80 artillery shells, causing smoke and dust to rise over the Princess Tomb. Some of Su Fei's officers and soldiers had no time to dodge and were blown to pieces.

When the enemy's artillery fire stopped, Su Fei ordered a retreat.

The infantry companies moved out of the trenches and moved westward along the communication trenches. Then, relying on the small hills of Gongzhufen for cover, they quickly dispersed and retreated westward.

While retreating, Su Fei ordered artillery fire, and the artillery fired at the Japanese and puppet army's infantry skirmish line positions in front of Gongzhufen.

More than 30 artillery shells forced the Japanese and puppet troops to hide in a hurry, and some soldiers were blown to pieces, killed, or injured.

The rising smoke and dust could block the sight of the Japanese artillery and cover the first company of infantry's withdrawal from the position.

After they withdrew from their positions, the Japanese army was still unaware of the situation. The infantry continued to fire, and the artillery inside the city also fired fiercely. Smoke and dust rose from the Princess Tomb.

More than 500 meters to the west, Su Fei's troops quickly dug trenches, making use of the blockade ditches and blockade walls that the Japanese had forced the civilians to dig, and easily dug them into fortifications.

Half an hour later, the Japanese army appeared at the Princess Tomb. They occupied the Princess Tomb, only to find that it was empty.

There was no trace of Su Fei's troops in the trenches. Of course, some bodies that had been killed in the explosion were still lying there in a hideous manner, and the blood had already stagnated and turned black.

Some trenches collapsed.

The cave, which was obviously a bomb-proof hole, also collapsed.

The Japanese army did not care about anything else and advanced quickly to observe the enemy situation on the west side of Gongzhufen.

"Ah? Enemy, artillery shells!"

As soon as they appeared on the west side of the Gongzhufen position, artillery fire from Su Fei's troops in the west exploded.

The mortar was thrown high, and no matter where the Japanese were hiding, as long as they were not in a bomb-proof hole, they would all be destroyed.

After a fierce bombardment, more than 20 Japanese soldiers were killed or wounded, and one of the Japanese squad leaders was killed in the explosion.

The puppet army also suffered many casualties.

The Japanese and puppet troops were furious. While shooting, they used flag signals and walkie-talkies to report to the Japanese troops in the county.

The Japanese artillery in the county town immediately bombarded Su Fei's troops west of Gongzhufen.

At the same time, the Japanese army sent reinforcements to Gongzhufen.

Two infantry squads with more than 100 people.

Together with the troops that had been deployed before, excluding the losses, there were three teams in total, which made the force quite strong.

During the bombardment, the Japanese army not only had mortars, but also mountain artillery.

Mountain artillery has a long range and great power.

This means that the Japanese troops stationed in the Chinese county town were at least at the level of an infantry battalion or a detachment, otherwise, it would not have been possible.

Mountain artillery was equipped in Japanese regiments, and often four guns formed a regimental artillery squadron.

This made Su Fei realize that the Japanese army had indeed stockpiled heavy troops in Laiyuan County or the surrounding area, waiting for him to arrive.

Just by hearing the sound of mountain artillery and seeing the smoke from the explosion, Su Fei realized that it was unrealistic to attack Laiyuan County.

Well then, I'll make a killing!

Under the visual guidance of the Japanese army on Gongzhufen, the Japanese artillery fire was quickly corrected and accurate, bombarding the first company of the first battalion of Su Fei's troops retreating in the trenches.

Further away, the loosely deployed Sufei artillery also launched a fierce bombardment on the Japanese positions on the west side of Gongzhufen, mainly killing and wounding Japanese observation posts, blinding the eyes of Japanese artillerymen, and for a very strange purpose.

The artillery also extended its fire to bomb the area east of Gongzhufen.

There were also artillery shells that continued to fly onto the walls of Laiyuan County, harassing the enemy.

The two armies engaged in a fierce artillery battle.

The reinforcements of two Japanese infantry squads quickly entered the trenches of Gongzhufen and moved westward along the communication trench.

The Japanese army was waiting at Gongzhufen. Once the firecrackers were over, they would launch a charge and continue to hunt down Su Fei's troops.

The Japanese believed that their artillery fire was very accurate and fierce, and it had destroyed many fortifications on Gongzhufen. Su Fei's troops could not bear the heavy casualties and fled with the wounded.

Now, Su Feijun’s artillery fire is so ferocious, which shows that they are enraged, so they are eager to retaliate.

The Japanese officers and soldiers were laughing in the trenches, thinking they had a good plan.

As long as the Imperial Army can entangle Su Fei's troops and provoke them, they will win!

Captain Akiaki Kameda, the front-line commander of the Japanese army, was not afraid of the flying shells and observed through a telescope.

"The most elite eastward-moving troops of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army are like jackals caught in a trap. They won't be able to jump for many more days!"

If the troops of the 26th Division attacked Linwu County and cut off Su Fei's troops' retreat, the 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade would come out in full force and wipe them out in one fell swoop.

All Japanese officers and soldiers were informed of the situation of Su Fei's troops and the demand for revenge for the Japanese troops in Heiyagou, Linwu County and other places. The morale was extremely high, and many Japanese officers and soldiers gritted their teeth.

Although they have recruited a lot of new soldiers, their combat effectiveness is also quite strong due to their hatred education.

Captain Kameda has secretly told his officers and soldiers that once the enemy is defeated, they can quietly arrange for them to burn, kill, rob money and abduct women around the battlefield area. Then, they can say that it was done by the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army!

Gangcun would never know!

The eyes and faces of the Japanese soldiers were red.

"Hurry up, hurry up!"

At this time, there were still some Japanese soldiers on Gongzhufen, searching for any wounded soldiers from Su Fei's army who might have stayed behind. However, Su Fei's army's artillery fire had just begun, and six of the 13 Japanese soldiers in the squad were killed or wounded. The rest took the wounded and retreated into the trenches. They went west to report to Captain Kameda, saying, "Inspection completed, safe."

Not long after they left, more than a dozen people came out from the collapsed or closed anti-artillery holes.

This is the suicide squad left by Su Fei, and it is also his old routine.

The bombing of their central and eastern positions was intended to clear out and expel the enemy, creating conditions for their comeback.

After coming out, they joined forces in pairs, carrying pistols, followed the communication trench, observed, and moved forward to the west.

They were wearing Japanese military uniforms, which Su Fei brought with him when he entered the position.

The killing is about to begin!