The War of Resistance Against Japan: Special Operations Battalion Traverses Shanghai and Slaughters

Before long, Deputy Commander Luo arrived at the scene after receiving the report.

Deputy Commander Luo walked up to Long Fei, panting, and asked with a smile.

"You're the Dragon Flame Squad? You're Long Fei?"

Long Fei quickly saluted and said, "That's right, I am Long Fei, no doubt about it."

Long Fei then countered with, "So you are Deputy Commander Luo?"

Vice Commander Luo mimicked Long Fei's tone: "That's right, I'm the real deal too."

The two then looked at each other and burst into laughter.

Immediately afterwards, Deputy Commander Luo took the initiative to extend his hand and shake hands with Long Fei.

"How did you end up here? This is enemy-occupied territory."

Since it was the New Fourth Army, Long Fei didn't intend to hide it.

"Deputy Commander Luo, we have completed our mission in Nanjing and are planning to return to the Taierzhuang area."

"On a mission? Back to Taierzhuang?"

Deputy Commander Luo immediately became serious. He gave Long Fei a deep look and sincerely praised him.

"Your Dragon Flame Legion fought a brilliant battle at Taierzhuang not long ago! This great victory has spread throughout China, greatly inspiring the military and civilians across the country."

"I admire you from the bottom of my heart. If all the Chinese army were like you, how could we not wipe out the Japanese devils?"

Long Fei could only humbly reply, "Vice Commander Luo, you flatter me. In fact, the vast majority of Chinese troops are very brave and tenacious."

Deputy Commander Luo liked Long Fei's humble and unassuming personality very much, so he nodded and asked again.

"What mission are you going to Jinling for? Can you tell me?"

"Of course we can. The Japanese had set up a bacteriological research base at the former Nationalist Army Central Hospital in Nanjing. We destroyed it completely."

Upon hearing this, Deputy Commander Luo immediately gave a thumbs up: "The Japanese devils are despicable and shameless. They love to do these inhumane things. You did a good job bombing them."

Long Fei smiled and asked in return, "Deputy Commander Luo, are you going to fight the Japanese?"

“That’s right. After the reorganization of our New Fourth Army, we have been fighting guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines. We have received intelligence that there is currently only one Japanese company and one puppet army battalion stationed in Lai’an County. I plan to take Lai’an County.”

Long Fei glanced around at the troops behind Deputy Commander Luo and found that there were about a thousand of them.

Most of them carried Hanyang rifles and Chiang Kai-shek rifles, and there were only three Czech-made machine guns and two Type 91 machine guns.

"Deputy Commander Luo, you don't even have mortars. You're attacking Lai'an County like this? I'm afraid..."

Deputy Commander Luo smiled confidently and replied with gusto.

“You’re right, but I’ve brought enough explosives to launch a surprise attack tonight and blow open the city gates of Lai’an County.”

"Once the city gate is blown open, those hundred-plus Japanese soldiers and three hundred-plus puppet troops will be my snacks."

Deputy Commander Luo is right; this is one of the few siege tactics they can employ given their current weaponry and equipment.

Long Fei believed that there was no need to be too tactful when communicating with Deputy Commander Luo, so he spoke frankly.

"That's possible, but I'm worried that your army will suffer heavy casualties. After all, the Japanese have a company with considerable fighting strength and firepower."

Deputy Commander Luo sighed heavily and said, "Commander Long, our New Fourth Army is already poorly equipped, and the equipment that the Nationalist government promised to give us has been delayed. I have no choice but to do this."

Long Fei had already made up his mind.

“Deputy Commander Luo, since you went to fight the Japanese and I ran into you, my Dragon Flame Legion will definitely lend a hand.”

Long Fei's words immediately brought a smile to Deputy Commander Luo's face.

"Really? That's great! Everyone says your Dragon Flame Legion has top-notch weaponry and equipment. With your assistance, taking Lai'an County will be as easy as taking candy from a baby."

Long Fei had already figured out how to settle the elderly people in the village.

"Deputy Commander Luo, I have a favor to ask."

Deputy Commander Luo raised his hand and replied decisively, "Just say what you want to say."

Long Fei then recounted the situation the village had encountered and expressed his hope that after the battle of Lai'an County, Deputy Commander Luo could bring the village's elderly people to the base area.

Although the New Fourth Army's current base area was not large and it was frequently harassed by the Japanese.

But for these old people, going to the base area was better than staying in the village and starving to death.

Deputy Commander Luo agreed almost without hesitation, only pausing slightly before readily agreeing.

"No problem, we have established several bases now, so accommodating these 30 or 40 elderly people shouldn't be a problem."

"Alright, thank you, Deputy Commander Luo. Without further ado, you go ahead. I'll make some arrangements and catch up immediately."

Deputy Commander Luo nodded and then ordered the troops to continue advancing.

Long Fei then turned back to the village and gave instructions to everyone.

“The New Fourth Army is going to attack Lai’an County. They lack heavy weapons, so I decided to help them.”

"However, the Japanese and puppet troops in Zhuzhen must also be eliminated. They have certainly harmed many surrounding villages, and they must be made to pay for their crimes in blood."

Everyone got excited when they heard there was a battle to fight and they could kill the Japanese devils.

"Commander, just give the order."

“Alright, I’ve decided to split the action team in two. Commander Xie and I will lead one team to assist the New Fourth Army in attacking Lai’an County, while Commander Zhou will lead the other team to set off immediately to take Zhuzhen.”

When Zhou Weiguo heard that he was to lead the army to attack Zhuzhen on his own, he was so happy that he immediately stood up.

"Yes, I promise to complete the mission."

"Commander Zhou, I have only one request for you, and that is that the safety of personnel is the top priority."

"As for how to fight and how to avenge the people, that's up to you to decide on the spot."

Zhou Weiguo smiled and nodded: "Commander, I understand, don't worry."

Long Fei patted Zhou Weiguo on the shoulder and said generously.

"I will give you two Tiger tanks, two Greyhound armored vehicles, two Wespe self-propelled guns, and ten mortars."

“I don’t want any of my brothers to be injured or killed, so I have to use a sledgehammer to crack a nut.”

After saying that, Long Fei told Zhou Weiguo's team to prepare to go outside the village to receive the equipment.

He then went outside the village and moved all the weapons and equipment out at once.

Then, Long Fei waved to Xie Qiang and led half of the action team members to quickly catch up with the New Fourth Army.

The village was only five or six kilometers away from Zhuzhen. After receiving the equipment, Zhou Weiguo ordered them to set off immediately.

He was eager to avenge the villagers and didn't want to wait a moment longer.

To the west of Zhuzhen is Lai'an County, and further west is Chuzhou County.

In other words, after the Japanese troops in Zhuzhen were attacked, the only Japanese troops that could reinforce them in the shortest amount of time were the Japanese troops in Lai'an County.

If Lai'an County were to be besieged, only Chu County could quickly send troops to reinforce it.

Long Fei sent Zhou Weiguo to lead a team to attack Zhuzhen in order to lure the Japanese troops out of Lai'an County and then ambush and annihilate them.

After eliminating a portion of the Japanese forces, the attack on Lai'an County would significantly reduce the casualties of the New Fourth Army.