Bright Sword: From Soldier to Brigade Commander

Time waits for no one. Three days later, Su Fei led the cavalry company and Chu Yunfei to the Third Division of the First Provisional Army of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army.

The troops gave a warm welcome.

However, after inspecting the troops and asking the officers, Su Fei learned that the total strength of this newly formed division was only 1800 people, which was pitifully small.

"Commander, this is actually the situation. Our Shanxi-Suiyuan Army had 250,000 people at its strongest. At the beginning of the War of Resistance Against Japan, we suffered heavy losses. Commander, you won't feel sorry for your noble status, right?" Chief of Staff Qian Tongshen said sarcastically.

Su Fei stared at him fiercely: "How is this division commander noble? This division commander is just a cannon fodder who has fought bravely on the battlefield. Unlike some people who wear gold-rimmed glasses, dress neatly, speak politely, do nothing for the Anti-Japanese War, pretend to be noble, and speak in a sarcastic manner to the officers and soldiers fighting in the war. Such rubbish and good-for-nothings waste the country's food and the people's money. They are a disgrace to the country!"

what?

you?

Qian Tong was so angry that his face turned red and he was panting heavily.

Su Fei ignored him.

Because he had learned a lot from Chu Yunfei, for example, the officer configuration of the Jinsui Army, the supervisor and deputy must have different temperaments, even contradictions, so that the president can firmly and confidently control the army! This is a political strategy and tactics. Therefore, although Chu Yunfei's chief of staff Fang Ligong is very good, the commander of the main battalion, Qian Bojun, is a thorn in the side. His rank is actually lieutenant colonel, the same as Chu Yunfei!

By the way, Qian Tongshen, the chief of staff of the newly formed Third Division of the Provisional First Army, was the uncle of the traitor Qian Bojun who was executed by Su Fei!

Checks and balances?

Well, I'll cater to his needs!

After harshly confronting Qian Tongshen, Su Fei summoned the officers one by one, inquiring about the division's situation and then going down to the grassroots to understand the soldiers' situation. Basically, the division was a makeshift one, and its combat effectiveness was very weak. This showed that the Jinsui Army's commanders wanted Su Fei to achieve victory to bring them glory, but were unwilling to invest, using a motley crew to prevaricate. It was truly the stingy style inherited from Yan Laoxi.

The equipment was even worse, with only 1 mountain cannon, 4 mortars, 2 heavy machine guns, 14 light machine guns, 16 grenade launchers, and 950 rifles.

The firepower equipment of such a division is no better than that of a Japanese infantry battalion!

They had two infantry guns, 12-15 mortars, about four anti-tank guns, four heavy machine guns, 36-48 light machine guns, and 36-48 grenade launchers...

When asked about the officers' fighting spirit, they were all indignant, feeling that they were the newly formed Third Division sent by their superiors to fight? After the Linfen Campaign, the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army rarely fought, and they were lucky to be able to hold their territory.

Are there so many difficulties?

It's ok.

Su Fei quickly adjusted the troop organization, dividing it into three regiments, each with 500 people, and further divided into three combat echelons. The first regiment was the field combat force, the second regiment was the guard training force, and the third regiment was the supplementary force. Officers and soldiers signed up themselves, and the three echelons were treated differently in terms of military pay, especially after participating in the war. All captured spoils, except for those that had to be handed over, were distributed equally.

The adjustment was completed within one day.

There were 150 officers and soldiers who signed up for the first regiment, most of whom were in the second regiment. On the third day, there were more than 300 people.

This shows that the morale of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army in the fight against the Japanese aggression was very unsatisfactory.

Su Fei immediately sent people to nearby villages to look for victims of the Japanese army. He found more than 20 people and convened a meeting of the entire division to let these people denounce the atrocities of the Japanese army. As a result, the meeting broke up on the spot.

The accusations made them burst into tears, some fainted, and the officers and soldiers below also burst into tears. Some cried and shouted, some cursed the Japanese devils, and some came forward to tell about the tragic things happening in their hometowns.

The meeting to denounce the Japanese army's crimes lasted for three days, and the entire army changed completely. Many people wanted to join the First Regiment to attack the Japanese army and wipe out the Japanese devils.

Su Fei also gave a speech, telling about the crimes of the Japanese invading army that ordinary people are unknown to them, such as biological warfare, Unit 731, the Nanjing Massacre, comfort women, and the atrocities committed by the Japanese military police against civilians.

The troops changed further.

All the officers and soldiers were howling and shouting wildly, demanding to fight immediately and fight the Japanese devils!

Su Fei then spoke of his own battle history, excerpting some of the stories, such as the Battle of Wanxiancheng, the Battle of Baishishan, the Battle of Heiyagou, and the complete annihilation of the Japanese Yamazaki Regiment and Haneda Brigade in Baijia Town and Wanjia Town, always defeating the larger force with a smaller one...

All the officers and soldiers, including Chief of Staff Qian Tongshen, looked at Su Fei with admiration. At the meeting, whenever Su Fei stopped speaking to rest, the officers and soldiers applauded.

Su Fei also proposed future combat plans, tactics, combat objectives, etc. to further motivate the morale of officers and soldiers.

"Our division must become the strongest unit of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army and strive to destroy a Japanese infantry battalion within a month."

Chief of Staff Qian Tongshen took the initiative to approach Su Fei and said, "Commander, I greatly admire your abilities, and your record and tactics in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression are truly remarkable. However, our newly formed Third Division is truly inadequate. Our equipment is so poor. Therefore, I am willing to work with you to request more equipment from Commander Wang and Commander Yang."

Su Fei was delighted. A pillow was given to me when I was sleepy.

However, he doesn't want weapons and equipment, but research and development!

After a brief chat with Qian Tongshen, the two men set off overnight on horseback, rushing to Commander Wang of the Provisional First Army to explain the situation. Commander Wang shook his head firmly, "Commander Su, your idea is excellent. Our Shanxi Arsenal was once quite impressive, on par with the Fengtian Army and Nanjing Arsenals. However, after the fall of Taiyuan, some of our equipment, including some technical personnel, could not be transported away and was seized by the Japanese! Why do you think our Shanxi-Suiyuan Army has been declining in strength over the years? It's because of our inferior equipment."

After complaining, Commander Wang said that the equipment and technicians were moved from Taiyuan by the Japanese army to Yangmingbao in Dai County, where they were responsible for repairing some of the Japanese army's firearms and equipment.

Yangmingbao? Airport?

Commander Wang looked at Su Fei's shocked expression, thinking that he didn't believe it, so he called Commander Yang of the Group Army. Commander Yang told Su Fei on the phone that the current Jinsui Army Arsenal was personally managed by the president, and no one else was allowed to interfere. Therefore, it was simply a pipe dream for Su Fei to want the arsenal to help develop new weapons and equipment. Not only had the Jinsui Army's territory been reduced, but it also lacked sources of iron ore and coal. Even if there were any, it was far beyond the authority of a division commander!

"Brother Su Fei, you should study warfare more carefully. Didn't you also use the worst weapons before?"

Su Fei was extremely grateful to Commander Yang and Commander Wang, and immediately returned to his unit.

The troops were immediately mobilized to concentrate the training of the First Regiment, and every possible means was used to gather 150 cavalrymen.

Originally there were only 100 horses, and Su Fei borrowed 100 from Chu Yunfei's troops.

Take all the main weapons of the division, including 1 mountain cannon, 4 mortars, 14 light machine guns, 2 heavy machine guns, 16 grenade launchers, and ammunition.

Find out about Yangmingbao Airport and get road directions.

Repeatedly assess the difficulties you may encounter along the way and be prepared for any emergencies.

They set out two days later, leaving Qian Tongshen in charge of the remaining troops. "Old Qian, if I die, you will lead the entire division."

Qian Tongshen was so moved by the sincerity of the conversation that he not only patted his chest to express his loyalty, but also cursed his nephew Qian Bojun as a bastard.

set off.

They slept in the open air, moved at night and hid during the day. Led by a guide, they crossed hundreds of miles of Japanese and puppet army territory and arrived at Yangmingbao Airport in three days.

The airport was rarely used, but the barbed wire fence was further expanded to encompass much of the surrounding area. According to local residents, the Japanese stationed an infantry company to guard it, surrounded by twelve bunkers and three circles of trenches, and a battalion of puppet troops assisted in the protection.

By the way, there was a company commander in the puppet army who forcibly married a local girl and usually stayed overnight at her home.

Su Fei immediately sent people to capture the guy.

At night, it is necessary to understand the enemy's firepower deployment.

Su Fei personally interrogated the puppet army company commander.

To save his life, the puppet company commander was forced to reveal the situation inside the airport. "Sir, the arsenal equipment and technicians were originally going to be sent to the Northeast, but when they arrived here, the Japanese changed their minds and stayed. This place is conveniently located between Taiyuan and Datong, with access to roads and railways, so we established an ordnance repair shop. We repaired damaged Japanese weapons and also produced small batches of ammunition."

Using the bait of the battalion commander of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, Su Fei asked the pseudo-company commander to cooperate in taking over the Yangmingbao Airport. He also lied that he brought 3500 people with him, which scared him at once.

Upon hearing this, the pseudo-company commander immediately revised some of his previous confessions, admitted that he had lied, and drew a detailed topographic map.

This bastard!

Su Fei personally stabbed the insidious traitor with his saber.

"Commander, let's launch a surprise attack at night! We brothers are not afraid of death!" The cavalry company commander and platoon leaders volunteered to fight.

Su Fei refused because the time was wrong!

There was no violent attack, but Su Fei prepared for it. He set up a mountain cannon, four mortars, two heavy machine guns, etc. outside the south gate of Yangmingbao Airport, and gradually moved the distance forward. Finally, he ambushed at a position 800 meters away from the artillery fire and 400 meters away from the light and heavy machine guns and grenade launchers.

Quickly dig trenches and individual pits to hide yourself.

The Japanese army has been at peace here for too long and is very lax. They didn't even arrange searchlights?

After dawn, the Japanese and puppet troops did morning exercises at the airport, and the Japanese sentries on the bunkers were yawning.

At this time, more than a dozen cavalrymen arrived at the gate, dressed in Japanese uniforms. When the Japanese soldiers interrogated them, they suddenly used pistols to shoot and killed four Japanese sentries who were stretching. Then, they used light machine guns to fire at the Japanese soldiers.

A large number of Japanese and puppet troops on the playground fell down in an instant.

4 mortars, 2 heavy machine guns, and 16 grenade launchers bombarded at the same time!

More than 100 Japanese soldiers and more than 400 puppet soldiers were beaten into a panic, with corpses flying everywhere.

The sentries on the bunkers on both sides began to shoot, as did the machine gunners.

The hidden Su Fei mountain cannon fired several shots at close range, knocking down the enemy bunkers and destroying the firepower points.

A small number of people were left to continue the bombing and suppress the enemy, while the remaining troops, more than 120 people, rushed into the Yangmingbao Airport on horseback.

Shouting slogans of not killing puppet soldiers made a large number of puppet soldiers kneel down and beg for mercy.

There were only a few Japanese troops left, and they were quickly destroyed as they were being hunted by machine guns.

Su Fei's troops entered the airport compound, where there was only an airport and hangar, but no planes. Under the guidance of the puppet army, they occupied the entire airport and the nearby compound.

At the ordnance repair shop, 120 technicians and more than 300 coolies were rescued, and the Japanese military police squad leader and his subordinates who foolishly came to resist were killed.

There are 15 trucks here.

Su Fei sent someone to contact the technicians while searching the arsenal's equipment facilities. He then took over the call himself. "Hello, Hayi, the Eighth Route Army guerrillas and the Nationalist Army launched a joint surprise attack. They have been defeated by our army and are currently fleeing to the north. Hayi, they have strong firepower and number over 1500."

After misleading the Japanese, Su Fei also asked the Japanese superiors to transfer the personnel and equipment here to Datong.

"The enemy's large-scale surprise attack means they are determined to destroy our arsenal. We must move."

As a result, the Japanese officer scolded him severely, saying that the enemy was fleeing to the north, shouldn't they move to the south?

But the Japanese officer asked where the airport commander, Captain Kurosawa, was?

Su Fei said that Captain Kurosawa had died in battle.

The Japanese superiors felt that the problem was serious and agreed to retreat south.

But it’s not Taiyuan, but Xinzhou.

That’s okay too.

Su Fei threw away the phone and collected some military maps from the Japanese office, becoming familiar with many top-secret information about the Japanese garrison in Shanxi.

Take the map and all the information away!

The technicians and coolies were also willing to follow Su Fei south, "Sir, our life here is too hard, ah ah ah."

Not having enough to eat and not having enough clothes to wear, and being slapped in the face at any time!

What made Su Fei happy was that there were indeed military manufacturing equipment here, but there were too many of them and they were too bulky.

No equipment for making mountain cannons!

Even the equipment needed to manufacture rifles and machine guns would require the dismantling of many machine tools. Fortunately, the Japanese had their trucks.

At the fastest speed, 150 Su Fei cavalrymen, more than 100 technicians, more than 300 coolies, and more than 100 puppet army prisoners, fully armed, rushed towards the southwest in a mighty force.

This time, they all sped up their operations during the day. Japanese soldiers along the way came to greet them, saying they had received a call and needed to cooperate...

Haha.

When they arrived not far from Yuanping City, Su Fei's troops changed their usual behavior, killed the Japanese soldiers who were assisting in the transportation, changed direction to the west, and quickly disappeared.

This time they moved at night and hid during the day, with someone following behind to clear away the truck tracks and horse hoof prints.

Even so, they were discovered by the Japanese army and intercepted repeatedly. Su Fei's army easily broke through the Japanese army's blockade and wiped out more than 100 Japanese soldiers and more than 100 puppet soldiers.

There was no other reason. Once the more than 300 coolies were equipped with the equipment of the Japanese and puppet troops and received a little training, they became the most ferocious fighters. The puppet soldiers didn't care. They just wanted to get a meal and worked hard under the orders of their superiors.

In five days, Su Fei's expeditionary force made a long-distance raid like a ghost and recovered three sets of military equipment and a large number of skilled engineers and technicians!