Bright Sword: From Soldier to Brigade Commander

After discussion, Li Yunlong, Zhao Gang, Xing Zhiguo and others unanimously agreed with Su Fei's battle plan.

Let’s be ruthless and fight the Japs!

No breakout, no retreat, no dispersion!

We must pull together and work together to have a good fight with the Japanese, which will decide both victory and defeat, as well as life and death.

Combine positional warfare and mobile warfare, turn the tables, coordinate inside and outside attacks, use sufficient weapons and ammunition and the rapid mobility of cavalry to annihilate the enemy one by one!

All the infantrymen of the independent regiment entered Hulu Valley and held their ground, guarding the valley entrance, the east-west passages, and the commanding heights of the high mountains and cliffs on both sides. They had to be conspicuous and confront the enemy for a long time.

Li Yunlong presided over the inner defense battle of Hulu Valley. Because it was very difficult to command such a battle, there could not be any mistakes. It required someone who was familiar with the terrain and tactics to lead the battle, teach and demonstrate to new recruits at any time, and firmly guard Hulu Valley for at least ten days, nailing it here like a nail to attract the enemy's siege.

Only Li Yunlong has this kind of prestige, ability, bloodiness and stubbornness.

This is a positional battle.

We must hold our ground and take all necessary measures to ultimately protect it.

During this process, you can use tactics such as temporary retreat, short assault, and night raid to counterattack the enemy and use offense as defense. You must actively defend, not passively.

After a long time, the enemy's main forces will surely come out in full force, especially the main infantry, which will be attracted here.

The more enemies you attract, the better.

This created an excellent environment for the cavalry regiment's external mobile operations, avoiding being entangled by the main force of the enemy infantry and being ambushed and intercepted in multiple places.

This positional battle is necessary!

At the beginning, when Su Fei proposed this concept, Li Yunlong, Zhao Gang and Xing Zhiguo were all shocked.

Confront the enemy head-on? Hold out for a long time?

This is fundamentally inconsistent with the overall strategy of our Eighth Route Army!

Basic guerrilla warfare, without relaxing mobile warfare under favorable conditions.

Now, the enemy is strong and we are weak, and the situation is unprecedentedly serious.

All units of the Eighth Route Army were swept by heavy forces of the Japanese and puppet troops, suffering heavy losses. No unit of the 386th Brigade had the spare capacity to provide support.

An absolutely isolated local battle will take place here.

However, Su Fei's reasons made the three independent group leaders quickly change their minds and sincerely convinced!

"The current independent regiment is severely weakened. With the addition of over 500 civilians and new recruits, its combat skills and organizational capabilities are extremely limited. It can be considered a mob, unsuitable for field and mobile warfare. If it encounters heavy losses or surrender from the main enemy forces, it is likely to collapse instantly! If it engages in guerrilla warfare, it is likely to become a loose sand again and be annihilated by the enemy one by one. Only by concentrating on defensive warfare can we have time to reorganize, educate, train, improve combat effectiveness, and play a real role. Secondly, in the past, the biggest difficulty our army faced in positional warfare was the generation gap in weapons and the lack of ammunition. Now, we have captured enemy weapons and have piled them up like mountains, which is not a problem at all. Our artillery firepower has been greatly enhanced. We can not only compete with the enemy's units of the same structure, but even surpass them!"

The independent regiment now has more than 70 people in the cavalry company led by Sun Desheng, more than 50 veteran infantrymen, and more than 500 new recruits and civilians. As a reinforced battalion, it is equipped with two infantry battalions and a cavalry regiment of the Japanese army, plus a squadron of the enemy in Hulu Valley that was just eliminated, a cavalry squadron outside the valley, an infantry squadron, and the equipment of a company of puppet troops. It can be said that weapons and ammunition have never been as abundant as they are today!

Li Yunlong was the first to jump up, patting his chest and promising to complete the mission: "Brothers, don't worry. With me here, our independent regiment will definitely be able to hold Hulu Valley for ten days, thirty days, a hundred days! Even if the Japanese send a squadron or two, even a regiment, a brigade, or a division, I won't give a shit!"

Su Fei asked Political Commissar Zhao Gang to assist Li Yunlong in guarding Hulu Valley.

Because I just noticed that the political commissar's arm was injured.

He reminded the two commanders that they needed to employ more surprising tactics and exploit the terrain's advantages. Secondly, how long would the food in Hulu Valley last? If not, how could they quickly stockpile it? Thirdly, the garrison of just over 600 men was too few, and the equipment of another 3000 men lay idle and wasted, a major problem. The best approach in the short term was to leverage the Independent Regiment's good reputation, avoid the enemy's eyes and ears, and recruit militiamen and enthusiastic young men from the surrounding area to rapidly expand the army to at least 1,000 men.

Political Commissar Zhao Gang and Li Yunlong smiled at each other and gave Su Fei a thumbs-up: "Well said, Brigade Commander Su, the young are to be feared! The young are to be feared!"

As for the cavalry regiment's operations, they were guerrilla warfare and mobile warfare, reconnaissance and searching for enemy situations on the periphery, looking for opportunities to destroy the enemy.

Of course, the cavalry regiment is too big a target, so it's best to split it up into multiple units and spread out to hide. We've captured a large number of enemy radios and walkie-talkies, which can be deployed universally for instant communication. However, radio operators are scarce, and walkie-talkie communications require a codeword immediately!

Li Yunlong, Zhao Gang and Xing Zhiguo all felt that this kind of combat and communication method required too much to be done and must be studied immediately.

Su Fei called over the communications personnel from a nearby cavalry battalion and company. In just a few minutes, they came up with some frequently used code words, such as attack, retreat, and detour, which were represented by teeth, ankles, and eyes respectively. Hulu Valley, Baijia Town, the county seat, several surrounding villages, and important strongholds were represented by various colors. The number of troop units was represented by meters, decimeters, and centimeters respectively. Meters represented regiments, decimeters represented battalions, and centimeters represented companies...

Su Fei quickly wrote it down on a piece of paper and asked the telecommunications personnel, especially the soldiers using walkie-talkies, to write it down.

Those who can write, quickly copy down the walkie-talkie code!

In this way, we can use captured enemy walkie-talkies efficiently and safely to contact and command our troops in real time, and we must not lag behind the enemy in information technology. Even if the enemy hears it, they will be confused!

Sun Desheng was stunned watching from the side: "Brigade Commander Su knows everything, he's a genius!"

Li Yunlong instinctively yelled at him: "Sun Desheng, what are you talking about? There is no such thing as a god. Comrade Xiao Su is a revolutionary soldier who has fought step by step for our New 1st Regiment, now the Independent Regiment. A few months ago, he even wet his pants on the battlefield! Our Eighth Route Army is materialistic..."

Political Commissar Zhao Gang immediately poked him in the face, knowing that he had too much pride to tolerate anyone else's boasting. He laughed and teased, "Old Li is absolutely right! Comrade Xiao Su is nothing special. Isn't he just a little better than the two of us? Isn't he just our savior? A few months ago, he wet his pants, and a few months later, the cavalry regiment is crisscrossing northwest Shanxi... Old Li, aren't things reversed? Our independent regiment is the one wetting its pants now, right?"

Li Yunlong was stunned for a moment, then realized his mistake and burst into laughter. "Su Fei, Comrade Brigade Commander Su, you're so much better than me, Li Yunlong. I'm jealous of you! Let's go, I peed my pants. Let's go back and put them on my head to dry!"

Political Commissar Zhao Gang carefully reviewed the walkie-talkie code, nodded repeatedly, gave some instructions, and returned to Hulu Valley with Sun Desheng and others.

The cavalry unit that was chasing the enemy in the east has returned.

Unexpectedly, they had a very hard time chasing. The enemy was obviously better at controlling horses and was very fast. They turned back and shot while fleeing, causing serious trouble to our army. However, the enemy made an obvious mistake and actually escaped into the Hanzhuang stronghold.

Now it was a good time. As soon as the machine gun company of the first battalion of the cavalry regiment arrived, they blocked the firing holes of the enemy bunkers with more than a dozen machine guns, and the artillery company bombarded the enemy's wall with mortars. Before they could assemble the infantry gun parts carried on horseback to aim and fire directly, the Japanese could not bear it anymore. They opened the village gate and fled from the east. There were 30 cavalrymen, 45 Japanese infantry garrisons in the stronghold, and 37 puppet soldiers. They were chased by the cavalry and instantly turned into tofu dregs by the crossfire of machine guns.

9 wounded enemy soldiers were captured.

A large amount of food and ammunition, 35 war horses, 3 light machine guns, 1 mortar and 2 grenade launchers were seized from the Hanzhuang stronghold.

Su Fei ordered that, except for replenishing ammunition for his own machine gun company, all other ammunition should be sent to Hulu Valley for storage for the Independent Regiment, and the captured injured war horses should be sent there. If the Independent Regiment was besieged by the enemy for a long time, the war horses could be used to satisfy hunger. The high-quality protein could provide abundant physical strength.

Interrogating prisoners.

In exchange for preferential treatment, the puppet soldiers revealed all the information. In exchange for being released with free horses, Su Fei learned about the enemy situation from the mouths of the wounded Japanese soldiers!

The wounded Japanese and puppet soldiers were bandaged, the puppet prisoners were sent to Hulu Valley for recuperation, and the Japanese prisoners were sent away with horses.

The three wounded Japanese prisoners walked a few steps and then returned. "Eighth Route Army officers, we appreciate your righteousness and integrity and would like to remind you that what we say is true. The Imperial First Army has appointed Deputy Chief of Staff Colonel Gao Wuxun as commander-in-chief. They have mobilized a cavalry regiment, a reinforced infantry regiment, some garrisons, and more than 3 Imperial Army troops. They have set up a tight net here. You should escape as soon as possible!"

Su Fei waved his hand, expressed his gratitude in fluent Japanese, and also told them not to reveal the truth about being captured.

The three Japanese prisoners left in tears.

After walking over a thousand meters, the three captives sneered and consoled themselves: "It doesn't matter. Even if we tell them about the imperial army's situation, the Eighth Route Army won't be able to win. Instead, they will be frightened to the point of mental collapse and even surrender to our army."

Su Fei gathered all the troops of the cavalry regiment, except for the cavalry company heading to Baijia Town.

The troops were divided into three parts, with the three cavalry battalions acting independently.

Su Fei led the first battalion, Xing Zhiguo, deputy commander of the independent regiment, led the second battalion, and the third battalion was led by the cavalry battalion commander himself.

Someone was immediately sent to inform the cavalry who were conducting reconnaissance in Baijia Town not to linger in the battle, but to circle around, provoke and disrupt the enemy, and then return immediately to the Third Battalion.

Now, the main forces of the enemy's infantry and cavalry are lurking around, waiting to ambush us. As for us, not only will we not take the bait, but we will also take advantage of the silence of the enemy's main forces, avoid the strong and attack the weak, and take the opportunity to make a big profit.

With Hulu Valley as the center, the third battalion was hidden not far to the south, ready to support the independent regiment at any time. Su Fei's first battalion and Xing Zhiguo's second battalion immediately attacked in the northwest and southwest directions to break the enemy's cage chain.

If the enemy's main force appears, we will retreat immediately, use the cavalry's rapid mobility to gallop back and forth, and as soon as there is an opportunity, we will launch a large-scale attack on the enemy and kill the enemy's main force.

After the task is assigned, radio stations are also distributed. If the distance exceeds 5 kilometers, walkie-talkies are no longer sufficient and radios are the only option.

"set off!"

Su Fei led more than 300 cavalrymen from the first battalion and advanced rapidly towards the southeast.

The enemy's cavalry and infantry regiments may be ambushing in the east, so we should stagger them.

2 infantry guns, 1 mountain gun, 10 mortars, 30 light machine guns. The heavy machine guns were relatively bulky, so they were all left to the independent regiment.

Su Fei was fascinated by the happenings in Baijia Town, the voices and smiles of Seventh Aunt, Meng Zhiyuan and others, but he could not go to rescue them immediately and was very worried.

There is a stronghold 5 miles southeast of Hanzhuang stronghold. Seeing the tall artillery tower, Su Fei gave orders from a kilometer away. After the parts of the infantry gun were installed and restored, the distance was measured and debugged, and three shots were fired at the artillery tower.

At the same time, 100 cavalrymen rushed forward, brandishing their sabers.

The first shell missed the target, but the second and third shells finally hit the target. Boom! A big hole was blown in the enemy's blue brick bunker, and the Japanese soldiers on the top of the bunker were directly blown down.

The Japanese sergeant, who had been watching the Tubalu cavalry through a telescope with a sneer on his face, suddenly pissed himself. "Retreat! The Tubalu have artillery!"

They originally wanted to use bunkers and village walls to block the Eighth Route Army's horses, rifles, and sabers, but they didn't expect there would be such a big guy.

If you don't leave now, you'll be waiting to die.

The Japanese army is tenacious, but not stupid.

As soon as a squad of Japanese troops and a platoon of puppet troops left the bunker 300 meters away, they were surrounded from both sides by Su Fei's cavalry company.

The Japanese sergeant ordered to stop fighting, but before he could finish his words, he was shot to pieces by a machine gun.

A large number of bullets, 2 horses, 1 light machine gun and 1 grenade launcher were seized.

More than 30 puppet soldiers were captured.

The same thing happened again and again. Su Fei's First Cavalry Battalion, with superior weapons and equipment, swept more than 50 miles in the three hours before dusk, and eliminated four large Japanese strongholds and eight small strongholds. They first bombarded the bunkers with infantry artillery, and then used cavalry to chase and kill the enemies, scaring them away one by one, and then chasing and surrounding them. They successively wiped out more than 200 Japanese soldiers and more than 400 puppet soldiers, and seized 18 light machine guns, 6 mortars, 16 grenade launchers, a large amount of ammunition, a large amount of food, and 35 war horses and draft horses.

Su Fei's troops suffered only about 10 casualties.

By the way, they also absorbed puppet army prisoners and organized a supply troop!

He also mobilized more than 300 people from the surrounding areas to join the army, and together with the captured baggage train, formed a new infantry battalion.

Arm them with the newly captured weapons and ammunition.

The people were shocked by the Eighth Route Army soldiers like Su Fei. They were all equipped with foreign horses, machine guns, cannons, and sabers. The Eighth Route Army was so mighty!

Excited, and with Su Fei's troops distributing 30 kilograms of captured millet to them, countless young people rushed to join the army!

The enemy's occupied areas, strongholds, and garrison supplies became the best source of Su Fei's manpower and material resources.

At night, Su Fei Radio received a piece of important news...