The Flames of Resistance Against Japan in Jiangnan

After finally confirming the location, Xue Geming had a sudden inspiration and immediately came up with an idea.

Upon returning that day, Xue Geming convened a meeting with the group's leaders and battalion and company-level officers to explain his general combat plan.

With Xue Geming's help, the staff officers had already drawn up a map and quickly made a model of Huanglong Bay's terrain using mud and grass, as Xue Geming had instructed. After intense discussions, they continuously identified problems, devised solutions, and improved the plan.

Finally, everyone agreed that with such favorable terrain, they should ambush the White Army and give them a good beating. Seeing that no one had any objections, Xue Geming formally issued the battle orders:

1. The engineering company immediately laid mines in this area. Among them, pull-string mines were mostly set at the entrances and exits, and the mines were pulled after the main force entered the ambush area; automatic detonation mines were set on both sides of the mountain, which would automatically detonate and kill the enemy as soon as they arrived or attacked the mountains on both sides.

2. On the high ground on both sides, prepare plenty of grenades and Molotov cocktails to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy once they enter the ambush area. At the exit, prepare plenty of rocks to prevent the enemy from breaking out of the encirclement. At the entrance, prepare plenty of grenades to prevent the enemy from counterattacking. Two light machine guns at the entrance and one at the exit will assist in blocking the enemy. The sniper platoon will deploy one squad at each of the entrance and exit, with the rest scattered on the hills on both sides to snipe valuable targets.

III. Troop Deployment: The 1st Battalion will guard the entrance. Once the enemy has completely followed the Special Operations Battalion into the encirclement, the entrance will be immediately sealed off, effectively trapping the enemy. The 2nd Battalion will guard the left hilltop, and the 3rd Battalion will guard the right hilltop. The Special Operations Battalion will initially feign engaging the enemy, but will ultimately be overwhelmed and retreat while fighting, luring the enemy into the encirclement. After the rear launches an attack, they will immediately join forces with the Special Operations Battalion to launch a counter-offensive. The grenade throwing company and sniper team will serve as mobile forces, specifically responsible for throwing grenades and sniping at enemy strongholds, areas with heavy firepower, and the most aggressive positions, ensuring the enemy's will to resist is broken. The regimental directly subordinate units—the guard company, communications company, and logistics and supply company—will serve as the general reserve, also prepared for the final battle.

IV. Once the battle is successful, the guard company will be responsible for taking prisoners, and the supply company will be responsible for collecting supplies. The 1st Battalion, the Special Service Battalion, and the Special Operations Battalion will immediately be responsible for covering the rear. If the pursuing enemy is few, they will be wiped out in one fell swoop; if the pursuing enemy is many, they will be responsible for blocking the enemy and ensuring that the 2nd and 3rd Battalions protect the guard company and the supply company so that they can take all the prisoners and captured supplies. Then, the three rearguard battalions will take turns fighting and retreating. If there is no enemy pursuing or attacking, these three battalions only need to be responsible for guarding.

5. The reconnaissance company is responsible for situational reconnaissance from beginning to end. In the event of an emergency, the reconnaissance company and the guard company will be the first to engage the enemy, buying time for the main force to mobilize. If no emergency is encountered, they will be responsible for leading the way and ensuring that the road to the old camp deep in the mountains remains clear.

VI. All military and political commanders shall go to the front line. If the battle is successful, all prisoners of war shall be dealt with by the political commanders, including appeasement and reformation; all military commanders shall be responsible for organizing troops to attack, protect, and guard against the enemy.

Seeing everyone nod in understanding, Xue Geming waved his hand, and all troops immediately sprang into action. Soon, a large ambush site was formed. Xue Geming personally led his team to guard the entrance; Bian Jing led the special operations battalion to guard the exit. Cai Zhongshan and He Changgong were positioned on either side of the hilltop. Yun Tiansheng personally led his troops to lure the enemy.

Intelligence about the White Army's march arrived quickly. Having suffered a major defeat last time, the White Army's 47th Regiment was extremely cautious this time, proceeding slowly and deliberately. However, the White Army's 53rd Regiment, having never been attacked or suffered losses at the hands of the Red Army, was fearless in its ignorance and, led by Regiment Commander Luo Shiyin, launched a fierce attack.

Luo Shiyin was from Xiangyin, Hunan, and had also studied at the Whampoa Military Academy. He was overjoyed to receive orders to fight the Red Army in the Hubei-Henan-Anhui region. You see, he had always wanted to move up the ranks; he had already done his research, and with even a little military merit, his superiors would be more accommodating, and his position would rise rapidly. Moreover, in the eyes of this graduate of a regular military academy, these peasant-led Red Army soldiers were far too easy to defeat. Hmm, how to put it... he could almost see his uniform, and another set of stars about to be added to his shoulders!

With this in mind, he quickly urged his troops forward. Learning from his deputy that the 47th Regiment was moving slowly, he sneered inwardly, thinking these men were probably terrified, or as they'd say in his hometown of Xiangyin, "cowards," utterly incompetent! Then he thought, no matter how powerful the Red Army bandits were, according to his intelligence, they only numbered a few hundred, and didn't have many weapons—but little did he know, that intelligence was from a long time ago; the current situation was definitely not like that—such a force would scatter in a single attack, wouldn't it? Hmm, when he attacked a certain place recently, didn't those Red Army divisions still have two divisions? He heard they were their main force, and weren't they scattered and forced to retreat to the mountains by his troops? Hmph, a few hundred this time, they think they can take us on? ...Haha...Waaah, don't laugh, don't laugh! If you laugh any longer, you'll laugh your teeth out!

Luo Shiyin, inwardly laughing, coldly ordered his men to advance. They didn't linger at Jinzhai, immediately launching an attack. Shortly after leaving the city, a messenger reported that the First Battalion had engaged the enemy. Judging from the enemy's heavy firepower, it was likely their main force. Upon hearing this, Luo Shiyin thought to himself:

No wonder there was gunfire ahead! Hearing that the enemy might be their main force, a thought struck me, and I hurried to the front lines. Ah ha, judging by the accuracy and intensity of the Red Army's marksmanship, it seemed the Red Army ahead truly was their main force. I was overjoyed, thinking to myself that my promotion was now absolutely certain. I immediately ordered someone to notify the 47th Regiment to come over, and I made immediate arrangements:

The first battalion launched a frontal assault, the second battalion outflanked from the left, and the third battalion outflanked from the right, aiming to annihilate the entire Red Army force! The battalion commanders, upon hearing this, all agreed and led their troops into action. However, after only a short while, the Red Army leader seemed to realize that Luo Shiyin intended to encircle them, or perhaps anticipating their inferiority, and immediately organized a retreat. Nevertheless, the retreat was relatively well-organized.

Luo Shiyin glanced around and saw that the enemy was beginning to retreat. It seemed his plan had failed. "Good," he thought, "that Red Army leader has some vision, but he's taken the wrong path. Normally, I'd invite him for a drink and offer him a company commander position, but this time, no chance. He's beheaded—ha, whatever! Charge! They're capturing Red Army soldiers!"