Canteen System Assistance Notes

In June 1941, the Nationalist army remained indifferent and continued to do business with the surrounding merchants.

In July 1941, most of the Nationalist troops continued to trade, reselling military rations, bedding, and northern goods. Thankfully, business has been good lately, with a significant increase in inbound and outbound cargo throughput. I just don't know why these businesses have added so many new staff. Could they be Japanese spies?

Perhaps due to the Japanese army's remarkable speed in concealing their tactical intentions, or perhaps because the Nationalist front often exaggerated their achievements in victory and the enemy's situation in defeat, this crucial intelligence ultimately failed to attract the attention of the Nationalist higher command. From Zhongtiao Mountain to the mountain city, almost everyone viewed this massive Japanese offensive as a routine, exploratory, small-scale attack.

One day in August 40, the 3rd and 9th Armies of the National Army stationed in Zhangdian and Jiyuan suddenly noticed that the number of merchants entering the Japanese-occupied areas seemed to have decreased significantly, the number of checkpoints on the roads had increased significantly, and the inspections had become stricter. It was like someone suddenly stepped on the water pipe when watering flowers, and no water could flow out. The 8th Division and the 98th Division's proactive external reconnaissance began to run into the Japanese army's tightly controlled defense line, and they could no longer obtain any valuable intelligence.

At this point, the Japanese army's various mobilizations were basically completed, and the battle began to enter the countdown.

Faced with such obvious signs, the Military Commission in Shancheng finally reacted. They concluded, "The enemy in southern Shanxi appears to be planning to successively seize our Zhongtiao Mountain strongholds, attempting to completely wipe out our forces on the north bank of the Yellow River. They will then coordinate with the enemy in eastern Henan to advance into the Luoyi and Taolinsai areas, threatening the flanks of our Fifth War Zone or heading west to target Gaojing."

To this end, the General Staff issued a directive, ordering all units in Zhongtiao Mountain to strengthen their defenses and adjust their deployments to guard against a Japanese attack. Because the terrain east of Zhongtiao Mountain was relatively favorable, the General Staff believed the main Japanese attack would likely be along the Jiyuan-Yuanqu Highway to the east. "Defense must be emphasized, with multiple positions and a tiered defense. All units should demonstrate a fearless and courageous spirit, fighting for every inch of ground, rallying to resist and safeguarding Zhongtiao Mountain."

However, newly appointed Zhang Benyao had been invited by Commander Tang next door to attend an opera in Luohe. Ah, the final battle-hardening would have to be postponed for another day.

Chapter 332: The Real Battle () All-out Offensive

Hengling Pass, northwest of Zhongtiao Mountain.

This natural pass, leading from Jiangxian County to the Zhongtiao Mountains, was previously controlled by the Nationalist Army and served as a frontline defense against the Japanese invaders. Later, this crucial pass, bearing the brunt of the Japanese attack, repeatedly changed hands, but ultimately remained under Japanese control. The Nationalist Army was forced to retreat back to the Shimen Village-Gaoluo line. When Zhao Shengling's unit of the 17th Division of the 38th Army took over the defense, he actively coordinated with the Eighth Route Army. Seizing the opportunity presented by the Eighth Route Army's annihilation of the Japanese mopping-up forces and the resulting weakening of the Japanese forces, they launched a valiant counterattack, ultimately securing control of the area.

However, now that the 38th Army is about to be transferred from the Fourth Army, its defense area needs to be gradually transferred to the 43rd Army, including the Hengling Pass defense position. "Brother, when can we transfer?"

"Switch, who the hell doesn't want to switch? You want to go down, but I don't want to go down? This broken place is deserted and there is no one. I am really stupid. I still believe the bullshit of the boss, saying that there is a lot of money here..." The 43rd Army stationed here is obviously not as dedicated as the 38th Army. Not only did they not send out company-level reconnaissance troops like the 38th Army to try to understand the movements of the Japanese army, but also the 43rd Army stationed here did not send out company-level reconnaissance troops like the 38th Army to try to understand the movements of the Japanese army.

I also think that there are only a few houses next to the defensive position on the mountain pass, which is too

The land was desolate and the conditions were harsh, with no villages to live in. So, they only set up a tax station there to collect taxes from merchants and the people, and to squeeze out their money.

However, at this time, anyone still daring to trade at Hengling Pass was like a fool trying to sell pineapple naan in Rome—they were simply fed up with life. The traffic at the tax card was "poor," so naturally, these soldiers had little to gain.

If the order to remedy the situation had not been given directly to Tang Keqin by the Military Headquarters, the 43rd Army would not have bothered with this "useless" pass position at all. This young platoon leader would probably still be able to live in the houses in Gaoluo Town behind, eat, drink, and maybe even visit the dormitory.

"Damn it, if it weren't for these 38th Army soldiers, I would have gone back..." The platoon leader looked at the 38th Army soldiers squatting in the sandbag position, bending over to dig a hole, and uttered a fright. In the end, he didn't say anything else. "They really have nothing to do after eating. They are about to get out, and they are still not at peace..."

"That's right, that's right! You're just doing your job, why are you taking it so seriously? These Shaanxi people are just clueless!"

The soldier quickly agreed with his leader, "No matter how much they repair it, it will only benefit us! Once they leave, we won't have to lift a finger.

Then he would get the fortifications for free; and then report it to the higher authorities, and the eldest brother would be promoted to a higher level.

what!"

The defense of Hengling Pass is now at the level of a little more than a company. The 43rd Army has only one platoon here, and the remaining company is from the 38th Army next door, each occupying the left and right sides of the road.

Over the past few days, the two sides have formed a sharp contrast. The 38th Army has been digging holes and filling them with sandbags all day long, and they often send people down the mountain, saying that they are going to scout the movements of the Japanese. However, it is obvious that they are often defeated. The number of people returning is always smaller than that of those who went out, and those who return are more or less injured.

That's it, how can we defeat the Japanese! When we were in Shanxi Province, the number of the Japanese soldiers could not exceed 3,000. If there were more than 3,000 Japanese soldiers, the Shanxi Army would be unable to defeat them no matter what.

"Well said! You're quite clever with your words. When I get promoted, I might give you a small official position..." The old platoon leader of the 4.3rd Army crossed his legs and dozed off. "Anyway, when the Japanese come, we'll take our brothers and run away. It's better to let our friends die than to let me die!"

Since entering Zhongtiao Mountain, the Japanese had launched few offensives there. The few "massive offensives" they had launched were merely tests of their own strength. They simply had to withdraw quickly, and by the time the Japanese were no longer able to fight, they would retreat. His long-standing inertia made him unwilling to consider whether this attack was any different from previous ones. After all, as a small platoon leader, he didn't know much about the battlefield situation, only the orders from his superiors.

As for now, no matter how much you dislike these guys from the 38th Army, you have to endure it. You don’t have big fists, so naturally you can’t speak louder. What’s more, they have people behind them delivering water and food every day. If you want to eat something good, you have to build a good relationship with them.

The afternoon sun made him feel a little tipsy. Just as the young platoon leader of the 43rd Army felt himself drifting away, about to wander into the void, drinking and chatting with a group of gods and fairies, a loud voice suddenly rang out beside him. "Stop... Who's there?"

"Password..." Bang!

"Damn it, who is so blind as to fire a gun randomly..."

A gunshot rang out, and the platoon leader, who was flying high in the clouds, fell back to the ground. He suppressed the dizziness and the grumpiness of being woken up, and shouted, "Platoon leader! Platoon leader! It's a ghost..."

The shouting stopped abruptly, and a bloody flower burst out from the chest of the upright soldier. His expression twisted, but then froze. His mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. He simply fell to the ground with a thud. What? Japs?

The young platoon leader's mind still hadn't reacted. Perhaps the disparity between the ethereal aura of High Heaven Palace and the current, bullet-spinning environment was so vast, as if a world of difference, that he hadn't yet grasped the urgency of the situation. In front of the checkpoint, a cluster of ochre-colored figures leaped forward, running and crouching. And chains of fire, emanating from nowhere, struck the barely worked position like a whip, sending dust flying everywhere and weighing down the men.

The devils are coming! The devils are coming!

His previous courage and composure had deflated like a deflated pig's bladder. The platoon leader neither blew his whistle nor deployed his troops, only shouting, "Hold on!", which betrayed his own helplessness. On the other side of the road, the 38th Army had retreated into the trenches, their guns planted on sandbags, and fought back with all their might.

"Hold on, hold on!"

Regardless of whether others could hear him or not, the platoon leader, who had become a parrot, tried hard to drive his group of old Jin army soldiers. However, it was obvious that the Japanese on the opposite side discovered the imbalance between the left and right sides of this defensive position: one side had organized firepower counterattacks, while the other side was almost firing randomly and hurting no one.

They quickly adjusted the focus of their attack. The grenade launchers that had just been hitting the 38th Army's machine gun fire points quickly moved over and opened fire fiercely at the 43rd Army. Unfortunately, the military headquarters' order to make up for the loss was passed down step by step, and when it finally arrived here, this small infantry platoon didn't even have many machine guns, so the grenade launchers had nothing to target and could only fire at the crowded infantry, blowing people up into the sky and onto the ground. It was a tragic scene.

Such a bloody scene quickly caused the morale of the 43rd Army to collapse. The platoon leader's brain, which had been disconnected, finally connected a nerve. He glanced at the 38th Army's guard company, which was organizing personnel to support this side, and changed the tape on his mouth's "reader":

"Retreat! Retreat! Retreat quickly!"

Even in the history of this time and space, the Nationalist Army, revitalized by the US military, possessed this signature skill. The ragtag group of the old Jin Army during the War of Resistance Against Japan, even more so, knew this skill by heart and could execute it effortlessly. Just now, "Hold on" was difficult to convey in the clamor of the battlefield, with few responses. But this "Retreat" had the unparalleled power of transmitting sound over a thousand miles.

Seeing the friendly forces rushing over to reinforce them, the 43rd Army platoon turned and ran, scurrying down the mountain from their position, which was only a pit for soldiers. They ignored the angry shouts of their allies, the Japanese bullets flying from behind, and several of their own men who were shot in the back, tumbling and crawling away, and in the blink of an eye, they disappeared - now it was the turn of the small garrison company of the 38th Army to be trapped here.

"Coward! You bastard! These idiots are a bunch of idiots, I'll punish your ancestors!"

The 38th Army's garrison company put up a desperate resistance. With only a single company of soldiers, they were no match for the onslaught of the regular Japanese troops. After miraculously repelling a charge, a fierce artillery fire descended upon the hilltop position, tearing apart sandbags and collapsing trenches. The Japanese, resting their composure, replaced their forces and attacked again, supported by grenade launchers.

What was even more terrible was that the 43rd Army that was fleeing did not seem to have escaped far. In the direction of their escape, the iconic gunshots of the Type 38 rifle and the Type 99 rifle were heard.

There were also sporadic gunshots from the Zhongzheng Army - it was obvious that the attacking devils were far away.

Not only that, just now, some Japanese soldiers had crossed the mountain, bypassed the front position of Hengling Pass, and were attacking towards their rear.

Now, the company had lost almost all of its automatic firepower and was no longer able to resist. Even if they were brave, they could not perform another miracle. "Assault!"

The artillery fire had just stopped, and amidst the throbbing ringing in his ears, the distant shouts of the Japanese soldiers were muffled. The company commander spat out the sand in his mouth and crawled through the tunnel. He ripped the signal gun from the dead messenger's body, shakily inserted a flare, and fired a shot into the air.

A red meteor flew into the sky, indicating that Hengling Pass was beyond saving. As this information spread, he seemed to be energized, drew his pistol, and shouted: "Comrades!"

The company commander exhaled a bloody breath. He had been calling them "brothers" for too long. He was going to give his all this time anyway, so it didn't matter. "Bayonets!"

Chapter 333: The Real Battle (⑵) Only a Fight to the Death

In the combat paradigm of World War II, reconnaissance was often the forerunner of a battle.

They point the direction for the attack, bring intelligence to the defense, report the coordinates for the artillery, and lead the way for infiltration.

Otherwise, they would not rush forward without knowing the situation of the defender.

According to the American custom, this kind of reconnaissance is often carried out through groups of two or three tactical reconnaissance aircraft, using aerial reconnaissance to detect the enemy's deployment; while for the Soviet Union, the best reconnaissance is to send out PPSh supermen sitting on T-34 tanks. Under the powerful firepower assault, the defenders must react and expose their own deployment.

However, if the intelligence was crystal clear, a fierce attack could be launched instantly, pounding the defenders' lines—the attackers would have a natural advantage in choosing the time and place. Under Itagaki's command, the Japanese army, through meticulous reconnaissance, had already essentially grasped the entire deployment of the Nationalist army.

In early September 1940, after clearing outlying checkpoints like Hengling Pass, the Japanese 37th Division in Yuncheng arrived first and quickly launched an attack on the Zhangdian area occupied by the Third Army, firing the first shot of the battle.

On ordinary days, this division stood just over 20 kilometers from the front lines of the 7th Division of the 3rd Army, practically on the brink of war. Although this old Yunnan Army unit, which had once supported Sun Yat-sen's founding of the People's Republic of China, had been continuously infiltrated, downsized, and infiltrated by Chiang Kai-shek, degenerating into a faction of the Central Army, the 3rd Army's combat effectiveness remained above average in the Zhongtiao Mountains. They fought back fiercely under Japanese artillery fire, and despite heavy casualties, they managed to hold their ground against the initial assault of the 37th Division.

However, the Japanese quickly adjusted their deployment, increasing their firepower and, while maintaining their frontal assault, expanding their offensive towards the Third Army's flanks, attempting to partially encircle it. It's even said that, having already determined the approximate locations of the Third Army's 7th and 12th Division headquarters, the 65th Division (formerly the 16th Independent Mixed Division), acting as a reserve, formed a special unit and, at the outset of the attack, launched an infiltration and decapitation operation, attempting to eliminate the Nationalist command structure in a single blow.

The sound of artillery fire finally marked the beginning of the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain.

The Third Army struggled to hold on under the assassination of the advancing team and the siege of the enemy, and the fourth episode had to face a more complicated situation.

When news of the Japanese attack came from Hengling Pass, the 17th Division of the 38th Army, which was the first to bear the brunt of the attack, organized a counterattack. However, the Japanese troops behind the hill soon discovered the intention of Division Commander Zhao Shengling through infiltration troops. They immediately mobilized field artillery and blocked the road up the mountain with intensive artillery fire to prevent the counterattack of the 17th Division.

Lacking a clear view and sufficient artillery, the 17th Division attacked several times without success and could only watch helplessly as the red flares on the mountain rose up and the sudden shouts of killing gradually subsided.

Finally fell silent.

Under the cover of artillery fire, the Japanese army finally gained a foothold at Hengling Pass.

The Japanese troops occupying the pass didn't waste much time regrouping; they quickly launched a second offensive and set up an artillery observation post in Henglingguan Village, which originally had only a few households, to guide the artillery on the other side of the mountain to prepare fire. The troops that had previously attacked the pass joined forces with the flanking assault force and began to attack Gaoluo Town at the foot of the mountain.

"Don't fire, artillery! Stay hidden! Wait until the Japs arrive, then fire at their infantry guns. Shoot directly!"

Shells began to rain down on the outlying positions of Gaoluo Town. The Japanese, holding the commanding heights and clear lines of sight, were highly accurate, targeting all those seemingly support points along the front lines. While the 75mm field guns were clearly less powerful, they were still a significant blow to the 17th Division's positions.

Compared with other national army units, the 38th Army had a high proportion of communists, activists and people with communist tendencies in its various units. This usually meant worse levels of military pay and equipment supply, and could not guarantee its combat effectiveness like the real Eighth Route Army. But it was also because of this that the 38th Army could at least guarantee one thing, that is, the execution of orders: from top to bottom, basically a system of communist officers and non-commissioned officers at least ensured the communication of orders and the most basic pre-war preparations.

What's more, the 17th Division, as the main force of the 38th Army, was able to ensure that the troops had 6000 rifles, nearly 200 light and heavy machine guns and more than 30 mortars, making it a very capable force in the National Army.

At this moment, the anti-artillery holes that had been built for several months finally came into their own. The Japanese field artillery blasted the sandbags on the front line and set the wood on fire, but did not cause much harm to the soldiers hiding in the rear. Moreover, the 17th Artillery Corps, very self-aware, followed orders and did not attempt to use the only eight field artillery pieces to fight the Japanese. Instead, they hid in the shelter and leveled them, ready to fire directly.

When the Japanese field artillery extended its fire once and then suddenly returned again, the Japanese 41st Division's artillery preparation was finally over. Obviously, the Japanese army did not have too much confidence in this battle-hardened former Shaanxi Army and seriously carried out a false extension of the artillery fire.

The earth pillars stirred up by the shells fell down, and in the smoke, the hazy khaki uniforms of the Japanese army appeared again - these devils didn't care that their side was in the direction of a feint attack, and still launched the battle with a very fierce offensive.

"Assault!"

"beat!"

From over a hundred meters away, the Japanese commander drew his sword, swung it forward, and led his infantry in a charge; the defending 17th Division, at the command of the whistle, launched a counterattack. In front of the battle line, which had been repeatedly cleared and bombed, the attacking and defending sides had just opened fire, and the intensity reached a fever pitch.

While not a powerful four-unit division, the 41st Division executed basic tactical maneuvers competently. Led by their respective squads and team leaders, the infantry, leveraging their superior top-down firepower, suppressed the KMT machine gun positions and attempted to eliminate them with grenade launchers. The 17th Division diligently shifted its light machine guns around several firing points, evading enemy fire and responding with mortar fire, making it difficult for the Japanese grenade launchers to aim and fire.

But the Japanese army's firepower was clearly superior.

With a loud bang, a concealed machine gun position was hit by an artillery shell, and the circular bunker built with sandbags was penetrated by a 70mm artillery shell, causing a tragic chain reaction explosion. The heavy machine gun team, which was unable to maneuver, did not even have time to run out before all the members died in their battle positions.

In the distance, a Type 92 infantry gun revealed its presence. This small artillery piece was often used by the Japanese to attack the Nationalist army's fixed firepower points, with great effectiveness. As soon as it fired, the 17th Army's firepower suddenly stagnated, creating a gap.

The pressure on the front line suddenly increased, and the proactive Japanese grassroots troops immediately rushed towards the gap. Under the dense enemy fire, the brave riflemen could not even throw grenades, and were hit by several bullets and fell to the ground and died.

"Stop hiding! Shoot that thief's cannon!"

The Type 92 field gunners hiding in the rear shouted, this was no longer the time to hide! They struggled to tear away the straw and stalks used for camouflage, turned the handwheel, and aimed the artillery at the Type 92 infantry gun that was attacking another firing point.

As a ragtag army, their artillery was inherited from the Shaanxi Army, and they lacked access to sufficient supplies of preserved fruit, much less the extensive live-fire training enjoyed by their allies in the Eighth Route Army. Even with diligent air-to-air artillery drills, they could only improve their skills to the point of effective direct-fire fire, not effective non-visual fire—but at this moment, they still had something to realize.

Take the fucking direct fire, you little bastards!

The most fundamental function of artillery since its inception was fully realized at this moment. At a distance of less than 1 kilometer, this Dek mountain gun, imported into China during the Beiyang Warlord era, fired a low line of fire that screamed across the crumbling front line and pierced the Japanese rear.

"Near miss! Right 0-05!"

The gunner quickly cranked the handwheel, correcting the angle a few degrees to the right. The loader shouted a slogan, ejecting the shell and loading the new round, while the aimer had his eyes glued to the sight. Past training was like flowing water, and this gun crew's extraordinary performance allowed them to complete another reload and correction within 10 seconds.

"put!"

The Japanese artillerymen in the scope were in a state of disarray, retreating in panic. Unfortunately, the gunner's performance was not exceptional. With a sudden pull of the gun cord, the second shell arrived first, hitting the other side of the 92mm rifle, setting off a violent explosion.

"You idiot! You missed the target! Left O-02!"

The third shell fired, and finally, this time, the damned little steel cannon was sent flying into the sky. However, this shot also inevitably exposed the cannon to the Japanese army's sight. Now, there was a Japanese artillery observation post on the hilltop of the pass. If the situation persisted for a long time, the Japanese artillery's counterattack would be formidable!

However, seeing their comrades on the front line desperately fighting against the Japanese troops who were about to rush into the trenches, struggling to maintain the shaky front line, every national army soldier was well aware of the lethality of the Japanese in close combat. If the troops, who were inferior in physique and bayonet fighting skills, allowed the Japanese to rush into the trenches, it would be a one-sided massacre.

The gunner didn't order a retreat. He glanced at the few boxes of ammunition, totaling no more than 20 rounds, and steeled his resolve. He ordered, "Never mind, fire all the shells! One more round, 0-17 to the left, behind a rock! There's another heavy machine gun!" "And a small cannon!"

"besides....…"

The artillery crew fired recklessly, seemingly oblivious to the death slowly approaching. They managed to knock out a Japanese heavy machine gun and several grenade launchers, doing their utmost to help the front line withstand this deadly onslaught. But before they could load their final shells, the ghostly howl echoed back again—a rapid barrage of Japanese counterattacks blanketed the straw-covered position, wiping out their bravery, fearlessness, and their lives.

In this battlefield of minced meat, this was like an insignificant episode: at this moment, no one had the leisure to commemorate their bloody battle.

Chapter 334: The Real Battle (3) A Hard Fight in the Dark Night

On the battlefield of Zhongtiao Mountain, the Japanese army was the strong one and the national army was the weak one.

The strong hold the initiative on the battlefield, possessing more abundant resources, better preparations, more powerful armaments, and even superior soldiers. When such an opponent descends upon the weak with irresistible force, it seems the wisest course of action for the weak is to kneel down in surrender, begging for mercy.

It's not that there aren't some weak individuals who are determined to be brave, but unfortunately, this materialistic world doesn't care how a brave and fearless weak individual resolutely draws his sword. When the gap is too great, the comparison of the two sides' overall strength will ultimately determine success or failure in a cold, ruthless, and unchangeable way.

Then, the weak need to take advantage of the right time and the right place. And when all the cards have been calculated, the 38th Army, determined to resist to the end, can only put their blood and bravery on the table and fight for the last glimmer of hope with their lives.

They decided to launch a night attack.

"We must take back Hengling Pass!"

Zhao Shengling, commander of the 33rd Army and commander of the 17th Division, slammed the table. In front of him were several wounded regimental commanders under him, Kong Congzhou, commander of the 46th Independent Brigade, and Liang Chunpu, commander of the 43rd Army, who had lost his shoes and twisted his ankle.

During the day, after several unsuccessful assaults on Hengling Pass, the 38th Army, relying on the selfless direct fire support of its own artillery and the desperate efforts of its soldiers, successfully repelled two waves of Japanese attacks. This was truly a miracle. During these two attacks, the Japanese artillery observation posts hidden at the Hengling Pass and the top-down firepower deployment inflicted heavy casualties on the 17th Division.

If the Japanese army took control of this commanding height on the northern edge of the battlefield, the entire position of the National Army would be visible to them. The Japanese army could easily store supplies and assemble logistics on the reverse slope of the mountain, and then adjust the distribution of firepower according to the deployment of the National Army and attack from a high position. On the other hand, the 17th Division not only had no terrain advantage, but also had to attack from above to fight back against the Japanese army, which put it in a very unfavorable situation.

Now it was getting dark, the Japanese troops were slowly retreating, and everyone was finally able to sit down and take a breath.

"Otherwise, Gaoluo will surely fail tomorrow. The Japanese will charge down from Hengling Pass and directly attack Yuanqu, the core of Zhongtiao Mountain! A thousand-mile dam collapses because of an ant hole. If Yuanqu is lost, not only will the flanks of over 100,000 friendly troops be threatened, but all of the army's food and ammunition will fall into enemy hands, and the defense will collapse without a fight!"

Zhao Shengling's expression was serious as he emphasized the importance of capturing Hengling Pass. In fact, during the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain in the original time and space, the Hengling Pass position, held solely by the Shanxi Army's 43rd Corps, was not only captured by the Japanese before the battle began, but its main defensive positions were also riddled with holes, allowing a small Japanese detachment to penetrate. This allowed the 41st Division to advance directly into Yuanqu and then deploy eastward and westward, severely disrupting the Nationalist Army's command, transportation, and logistics systems.

(According to maps from 1933 and military maps used by the Nationalist army, Yuanqu at that time was located in the present-day "Ancient City" area.)

Zhao Shengling threw his hat on the table and asked:

"Our army's firepower is inferior to the Japanese, and a daytime attack is almost futile. At night, the Japanese's firepower is difficult to exert, and in a close-range confrontation, our army still has a chance. Who is willing to take on this important task?"

—――-―-――

The Japanese army's advantages in firepower and armaments meant that they rarely organized large-scale night attacks during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. After all, they had a huge advantage in daytime operations, so why bother with dangerous and unpredictable night raids? Neither the 1929 version of the "Combat Outline" nor the 137th edition of the "Infantry Drill Manual" contained specific requirements for night combat training and tactics. The 1940 edition only added "Night Defense Outline" to guard against the Eighth Route Army's night raids.