Canteen System Assistance Notes

There was no time to cook, so everyone drank water from their bottles and ate a simple snack of pickles and pancakes before forming into columns. Wang Tiechui also gathered the soldiers in his squad. Together with the other infantry squads, they briefly replenished their ammunition, helped the machine gun company load new ammunition, and began the next round of the march.

The distance was not long, just a matter of climbing a hill. The three companies, well-equipped, quickly crossed the Laoye Temple Plateau and arrived at a small village called Xinzhuang.

Looking out from here, there was a low, flat valley ahead. At the bottom lay a slightly larger village, divided into two halves, east and west. Here, about a platoon of our troops, along with several 60mm mortar crews, were firing shells at the distant Japanese. The distinctive thuds of mortar fire could be heard continuously. Farther away, soldiers in khaki uniforms belonging to the Eighth Route Army were charging fiercely at the enemy.

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"There's a Japanese artillery position ahead! Our 685th Second Battalion is attacking there!"

There were scouts from the division's direct troops in the village. When they saw the troops approaching, several scouts with grass rings on their backs ran back and explained the situation to the three company commanders. "Commanders, this is the situation. We need to occupy this area," he spread out the simple map in his hand, "and then attack downwards. We are now in Xinzhuang. Along this stream, Paochi Village is just ahead."

"Then send some men with you down to find the Japanese headquarters? What kind of headquarters is that, and how many people are there?" Captain Yang, commander of the 5th Company, 2nd Battalion, 686th Regiment, quickly understood. "If there are too many people, how about I send a platoon down to help?"

"Not many! Commander, not many! I'd estimate only thirty or forty! I think it's a battalion headquarters!" The scout shook his head repeatedly. "There are only a few people with guns! Why a platoon?"

"Then what about that hill over there? It's that high ground number 1886.4 on the map, right? It's crucial here." As a veteran machine gunner, Wu Jin saw the crux of the matter at a glance. "The Japanese army is facing the village. If they hold this high ground, the soldiers in our village will become targets."

"Over there, the 1st Battalion of the 685th Regiment is attacking and can capture the high ground."

"Yes!" Captain Yang nodded. When the Eighth Route Army made decisions on the front lines, they basically made decisions independently based on the judgment of several frontline commanders. They were very flexible. "You two, let's do it! Let's go capture the Japanese captain!"

Chapter 43: Capturing a Major General

Canteen System Assistance

By Forgotten Maple X

2184 words

2020-10-21 12: 00: 00

So far, in the minds of the Eighth Route Army, Toshiji Miura has always been a captain.

Paochi Village was nestled in a valley, leaving the major-general completely unaware of anything except the mountain ridge. For information about the outside world, he relied almost entirely on his messengers and the few nearby guards. He couldn't overlook the battlefield like the 101st Headquarters, nor could he stay with the regiment headquarters for safety like other Japanese headquarters. Furthermore, he had chosen this basin surrounded by high ground, a place ripe for encirclement and annihilation.

In a time and space without time travelers, the vanguard of the 115th Division also rushed into Paochi Village, and used captured machine guns on the high ground on the side of Paochi Village to "overtake and shoot" at the two Japanese battalions that came to rescue them, killing and wounding many people. At the same time, the special marksman Long Shujin killed three battalion officers in succession, forcing the Japanese army to retreat to Tuanchengkou.

Major General Miura's command post was successfully missed by the Eighth Route Army because there were too few people in it.

So why did the Miura Detachment place its headquarters here?

Who knows.

As a son of the Empire, a graduate of the 19th Army Academy and the 29th Army University, in the original history of 1939, Miura Toshiji would have been relegated to the reserve. Therefore, his technical and tactical skills weren't exactly exceptional—though they were more than adequate for a fight against the Nationalist army—so it's not surprising that he would make such a mistake.

But the situation has developed to this point, and even a slow-witted person like Major General Miura should realize that something is wrong.

The signal flares just raised at the 3rd Battalion to the south indicated enemy contact. He had sent a messenger to investigate, but he hadn't returned yet. He had also just lost contact with the artillery battalion on the other side of the village; the phone was unavailable. However, it seemed the sentry post he had posted high up hadn't sent any other signals.

"Sir, the troops that ran past the village earlier do not seem to be the Imperial Army."

The staff officer at the door ran in with a nervous look on his face. "Although they didn't launch an attack, they don't look like any of our troops."

"Did you check the commands with them?"

"Well, I'm concerned that if they're enemy troops and shout slogans, they might be exposed..." The staff officer bowed his head in apology. "But considering the safety of the general, it's best to quickly move closer to our army and move in as soon as possible!"

This was almost a brilliant statement. At this critical moment, the one suggesting "moving forward" must have been some staff officer who "didn't understand the war situation." The commander, naturally, should have been a brave man at the vanguard of the empire, fighting to the death. He was merely forced to make a temporary compromise to protect the lives of his men. Miura nodded and was about to order everyone in the headquarters to evacuate immediately when something seemed to streak across the roof.

call out--!

Boom!

There was a loud explosion, and the charcoal truck parked at the door burst into flames, with debris flying everywhere.

Faint shouts and gunfire could be heard from all around, along with the urgent cries of a few guards. In the blink of an eye, the door was kicked open and a guard rushed in, shouting, "General, enemy attack! It's the ZN army, they're coming!"

The guard was still injured. As the door opened, the noise outside came in more clearly. What was even more terrible was that the sound seemed to come from all directions. The enemy had surrounded the entire village!

This was indeed a very critical situation, and Miura Toshiji was almost stunned for a moment.

Was the person who just rushed over really an enemy?

Why didn’t my sentry issue a warning?

Why was I surrounded?

Inside the detachment command post, everyone's eyes were focused on Major General Miura's face.

"General! Now is the time to make a decision!" Finally, someone brave enough stood up and reminded him.

"Retreat! Retreat!"

Like a dog that had been kicked, Miura finally shouted out and issued his first order, "Destroy... No! Evacuate directly to the northwest! Fire a signal flare, and let our troops rush to support us!"

To the northwest of Paochi Village, opposite the 1886.4 high ground, are the Japanese Second and First Battalions. In addition to attacking the National Army positions, they also have a large number of stationed troops. As long as a signal flare for help is fired, they can directly call them to come to the rescue!

If the enemy was attacking, it could only be coming from the direction of the Third Battalion—since the troops there had reported contact, it must mean the Third Battalion's interception had failed, and the enemy was attacking from the southeast valley. Miura had at least received adequate training, and after the panic had passed, he made a largely accurate assessment.

"Send a message to Captain Amihara Hide, tell him to get closer to me as soon as possible, and then evacuate immediately!"

Miura didn't care about saving face, nor did he feel the burden of asking for help. He directed several staff officers and soldiers in the civilian house to dig out the code book, send a short message, and then throw it into a burning metal barrel. The others began destroying confidential documents and preparing to destroy key equipment such as radios and telephones.

A staff officer rushed to the open space outside the gate, climbed up the half-earth wall, took out his flare gun, and fired a green flare into the sky. The gleaming green flare soared from Paochi Village, transmitting a message to the outside world.

This signal was a call for assistance, but it also conveyed a message to the enemies charging into the village, indicating their position and requesting assistance. Now, it was a race against time! Miura loaded his Nanbu Baby with bullets and ordered the staff present to expedite the destruction and flee.

He didn't think of helping himself.

However, the Eighth Route Army didn't want to play any racing games with him. The climbing staff officer tilted his head and fell down from the top of the wall with a thud. Within half a minute, the Eighth Route Army soldiers shouted from the corner of the wall:

"Over there, right here!"

"Kufusiyo, kufusiyo! Damn it, is this how the Japanese say surrender? Kufusiyo!"

The noisy footsteps and the increasingly close gunshots announced that the death knell was getting closer and closer. Miura Toshiji was so anxious that he was sweating all over. His feet seemed to be nailed into the ground with a large iron rod, unable to move. An extremely absurd and lingering idea emerged from his mind:

"Will I become the first general to be captured in the Great Neon Empire Army?"

Damn it, I don't have anyone up there! If I get caught, they definitely won't come to save me!

In a flash, a lump of iron suddenly flew in from the window frame covered with window paper, shattering the window paper and the smoking iron thing fell to the ground.

"Your Excellency General!"

The diligent staff officer rushed over, threw Miura to the ground, and held him down tightly, "Ninth Dan..."

Before he could finish shouting, Miura lost all his hearing. A fatal dizziness, scattering shrapnel, and thick smoke mixed with the smell of burning blood rushed out. In such a fatal moment, he actually became angry:

"Damn it! Why did you just throw the grenade?!"

Chapter 44: First Battle Victory

Canteen System Assistance

By Forgotten Maple X

2407 words

2020-10-22 12: 22: 24

The outcome of the battle was finally settled. The Eighth Route Army, which had stormed Paochi Village, finally apprehended the "captain." However, who could have guessed that this headquarters of only about thirty men actually included a major general? Because the destruction was carried out so hastily, the Eighth Route Army seized numerous trophies, including military maps, radio parts, medicine, and a small Nanbu pistol.

And Major General Toshitoshi Miura who was pinned down by the staff.

The major general was indeed very lucky. The grenade that exploded in the house sent shrapnel flying everywhere, killing or seriously injuring nearly all of the more than ten people inside, but he was only knocked unconscious by the shock wave and injured his ear. The Eighth Route Army then singled out this "important-looking Japanese officer" for custody and provided him with medical treatment to prevent his death.

Fighting in other directions proceeded as the 101st Division had anticipated. The 688th Regiment, with superior numbers, combined with the 685th Regiment's rear attack to defeat the 3rd Battalion of the Miura Detachment. The 1st Battalion of the 685th Regiment captured the crucial Hill 1886.4 and, employing Maxim rifles and captured Type 92 heavy machine guns, engaged the massed Japanese forces three kilometers away using overflying fire. Having annihilated the artillery battalion, the 2nd Battalion of the 685th Regiment also turned its 92mm infantry guns, originally aimed at the preserved fruit positions, and, with the infantry's unfamiliarity in manipulating the guns, opened fire fiercely on the Japanese.

Although the hit rate of these two tactics was very low, the Japanese army had a full battalion and a half gathered in a narrow valley, which resulted in certain casualties. As a result, the commander of the Japanese army's first battalion, Major Oie Kei, was hit by a 92mm rifle shell when he was forcing the infantry to charge under fire. He was hit by shrapnel on the forehead and saw Amaterasu on the spot.

History has formed some strange coincidences here - compared to being shot down by a sharpshooter in history, perhaps this is less painful?

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The two remaining Japanese battalions, under the command of their replacements, eventually abandoned the counterattack on Hill 1886.4 and Paochi Village and began to move closer to Tuanchengkou, where they joined the two battalions led by Amihara Hide. This dramatically increased the density of the Japanese army and brought its defensive capabilities to a very high level.

The 697th Regiment attempted an offensive, flanking attack, but gained nothing. They waited a while, only to discover that the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, which had been telegraphing and hoping for coordinated attack, remained "as still as a mountain," unmoved. Even the 115th Division's telegraph office intercepted Yan's telegram ordering Li Shouying to initiate the attack, but the Nationalist troops remained frozen, as if welded to a bench, motionless and like turtles.

The divisional command broadcast an enemy situation report, saying that more than one and a half regiments of Japanese reinforcements had arrived from Laiyuan County and were rushing towards the blocking position of Yang Nengjun, the Independent Regiment of the 115th Division.

This group of Japanese troops were fully equipped and strong. Brother 101, who knew his own strengths and weaknesses well, immediately ordered all units to prepare for retreat, and then ordered Yang Nengjun to resolutely block the Japanese reinforcements and resolutely fight back against the Japanese army while putting his own survival first.

After all, the historical record of Yang Nengjun's regiment, which single-handedly defeated the Japanese 9th Brigade, was still too frightening. Brother Biao deeply suspected that Commissioner Liu had misremembered the information.

"What? Captain, are you kidding me? What do you mean by self-preservation first?"

On the phone, Yang Nengjun was a little angry. He felt that this was a sign of the leader's lack of trust in him.

"We've taken so many things from the division headquarters, and you still say we can't win? We were once the 1st Regiment of the 1st Division of the Red Army! Commander, as long as we're here, these little Japanese won't be able to get a single step closer!"

After hanging up the phone, 101 smacked his lips. After 115 had replaced its Soviet-era equipment, it had selected some of the better-performing equipment, including some that used German ammunition, and given it to Yang Nengjun's independent regiment. This gave him the ability to almost form another independent division. The independent regiment was indeed growing in strength.

No, I have to remind him not to underestimate the enemy. After all, the enemy is also a regiment! Historical records say one thing, but now it is sometimes another.

But is it really necessary?

Will he really chase the Japanese to Hebei Province?

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As a result, Yang Nengjun launched a proactive counterattack, defeating the Japanese reinforcements from Laiyuan County in one fell swoop and learning their designation: the 9th Japanese Brigade. The independent regiment attacked fiercely, chasing the Japanese out of Shanxi Province and engaging in a strong and effective pursuit.

However, the independent regiment lacked heavy weapons, and its effective killing power against the Japanese was not particularly high, resulting in only modest results. This shift from a blocking engagement to a pursuit was reminiscent of the "chase them a hundred miles" strategy of the past. The remaining regiments of the 115th Division had ample time to clean up the battlefield, tally their gains, and treat the wounded. They were able to leisurely gather their forces and retreat before the larger Japanese encirclement approached.

In this engagement, the Eighth Route Army completely annihilated the 21st Brigade's supply and logistics forces, a squadron of motorized infantry missing a single unit, and a squadron of artillery. They routed the 21st Brigade's 2rd Battalion and its artillery battalion, inflicting considerable casualties on the 21st Brigade's remaining two battalions. Finally, they captured the detachment commander, Major General Toshiji Miura. In total, they annihilated approximately 2300 enemy troops.

The 115th Division successfully captured several hundred Japanese rifles, dozens of light and heavy machine guns, several Type 92 infantry guns, and ammunition supplies. Ultimately, losses totaled approximately 1500 men, primarily casualties from close-quarters bayonet engagements with the 3rd Battalion. Compared to close-quarters combat resolved by automatic fire, bayonet engagements inflicted significantly higher casualties, as the Japanese were highly skilled in bayonet fighting.

But no matter what, the outcome was decided: the 115th Division, with its small strength, successfully repelled the attack of the entire Japanese 5th Division and forced it to postpone its next attack for at least a week.

So, did the 115th Division, which was stronger than in history, and its greater and better results than in history, ultimately change history?

"No way!" 101 complained angrily while drafting a telegram announcing victory in the central government. "Our dear allies are busy vying for favor, bickering, and making things difficult for us!"

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At the beginning of the battle, Tuanchengkou fell, and the National Army started a very exciting palace fighting drama: Yan Laoxi, who belonged to the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, tried to command Sun Cuiya to let Li Shouying go to support, but Sun Cuiya found that he could not command Li Shouying. No one was willing to attack Tuanchengkou occupied by the Japanese army, and no one was willing to send reinforcements to the 83rd Division which was being attacked from both sides by the Japanese army.

In the end, Yan Laoxi tried to find Fu Shuili to coordinate with Li Shouying. In order to deceive him into ordering troops to support, Yan Laoxi even concealed the fact that the Japanese army occupied Tuanchengkou.

Facing Fu's questioning, Li Shouying accused Yan Laoxi of concealing the true situation of the war. He shouted that Tuanchengkou had long been occupied by the Japanese army, and that it was Yan who wanted to capture him, a "guest soldier", to die, while he sat back and watched the tigers fight. At this time, the telegrams from the Eighth Route Army requesting assistance were naturally ignored.

Fu Shuili, unable to endure the arguments, ultimately had to personally go to the front lines to coordinate. However, Sun Cuiya, who was supposed to be the commander-in-chief on the scene, felt that Fu's arrival had taken away his command power, so he began to slack off and ordered his subordinates to remain inactive. From then on, the two sides were engaged in a war of words that lasted for several days.

Such a messy palace intrigue and wrangling eventually ruined the time that the 115th Division had worked so hard to gain. Finally, another place outside the battlefield, Ru Yuekou, was lost. The Japanese army led by Tojo had already passed through the Great Wall defense line and attacked the flank of the National Army. Everyone fled in all directions like birds and beasts, leaving only a pile of saliva and paper scraps on the ground.

It can be said that the Eighth Route Army was busy killing the enemy, while the National Army was busy arguing!

Chapter 45: Ultimately, those who are self-reliant will become stronger

Canteen System Assistance

By Forgotten Maple X

2410 words

2020-10-23 12: 00: 00

"So, how did Chiang Kai-shek 'accidentally discover' that we had won a great victory?"

Liu Helian was sitting in the cafeteria's office, looking at a stack of battle reports on the table, his face full of joy.

"It was Yang Junru. He chased the Japanese out of Shanxi Province and even all the way to Zijing Pass. Because of the fierce fighting, the independent regiment's red flag was damaged, so they simply raised the old flag of the Red 1st Army, which scared the Nationalist troops." Staff Officer Zuo was a little helpless, but still answered him with a smile, "Then, Xu Cichen and Lin Wei from Guosu saw it and sent a telegram to Chiang Kai-shek, saying that we annihilated 10,000 Japanese troops and captured Laiyuan County. Chiang Kai-shek then said: Oh! So you, the Eighth Route Army, won a victory!"

"They sent a commendation, and then what? That's all?" Liu Helian flipped through two telegrams: one intercepted by the Radio Department and one from Chiang Kai-shek. "Soldiers 'fighting with their lives'? Tsk, Chiang Kai-shek indeed. After all, in their eyes, more deaths means active resistance against Japan."

"This battle actually proves that the Japanese army is not invincible." Staff Officer Zuo sighed, then shook his head regretfully, "If only the Nationalist Army could at least provide support when the 115th Division surrounded Tuanchengkou, alas..."

"If we want them to provide support, I think it would be better to hope that the Japanese have more foolish commanders like Miura."

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Neither of them spoke. Liu Helian, though not commanding troops, possessed the experience to build upon. Staff Officer Zuo, having studied in the Soviet Union and participated in the Long March, possessed a solid military foundation. Despite their regrets, both men knew that the precious window of time had been lost, their chance to defeat the Japanese gone.

Although Wei Junru was still holding the Japanese in the ravines of Xinkou, employing a sensible, staged delaying tactic, delaying them would not defeat the Japanese strategic intent and would only delay the impending defeat. Furthermore, after the 115th's crushing defeat of the Banheng Division, the Tojo "Chahar Corps" further north seemed to be moving south to provide support—a move that deviated from historical precedent and might have further accelerated the Nationalist army's defeat.

Although they already knew the history, Chairman Mao and General Zhu still sent a large number of reminder telegrams to remind the national army to prepare defenses at some important locations. However, these efforts were still all "ineffective". The Japanese army had broken through the natural barrier of Taihang Mountains and was advancing in multiple directions. The fall of Shanxi Province was inevitable.

"We still can't change the course of the war..." Liu Helian closed his eyes. The flickering "1938-0*-**" continued to jump, but the number representing the month was locked between 1 and 2, constantly changing. "If only this canteen system could produce more, maybe we could make more... I don't know what this date number in '38 actually represents."

"Moscow wasn't built in a day," Staff Officer Zuo consoled him. "On a brighter note, the weapons you've brought back and developed have received very positive reviews from the 101st Infantry Division. You've already changed a lot of things, Comrade Xiao Liu. There's no need to belittle yourselves, fellow revolutionary."