Canteen System Assistance Notes

Chapter 480: Interlude of the War: Trust and Determination

"The maintenance vehicle has departed, and the first train has been assembled. The Railway Self-Defense Force estimates that rail operations will be resumed by tomorrow morning.

"According to the current situation, we can resume the operation of two trains on the morning of the 28th; after noon on the 28th, we can maintain the operation of four trains and two escort vehicles. Assuming a train speed of 30 kilometers per hour, we can obtain at least 6 train trips of transportation capacity from Lucheng to the designated assembly point on the front line.

"In other words, we can use the train to transport two complete field divisions, or two mobile brigades, to the front line. In other words, at the beginning of the second phase of the battle, we can deploy an additional two divisions/brigades. Together with the 15th Division of the Jinsui Field Army already in Qingcheng, we will have three divisions."

With the rapidly changing situation, the forward command, which had only been stationed on the south bank of the Yellow River for a few days, relocated to the outskirts of Salaqi. While the new forward command, built in the homes of locals, was still under construction, the commanders of this battle met and briefed each other on the situation.

General He, the veteran who held the fort, sat at one end of the room. Yang Jisheng sat with his partner, Guan Youwei. Nearby sat Chief of Staff Liu Xingchang, who was giving a report. General Zhao Shengling, unaccustomed to electronic maps, was watching the staff build a sand table. As for the conference table itself, it was a combination of a crappy square table from a fellow villager's home and a folding table from the staff headquarters. On it were milk skins and coffee candies bought from a fellow villager, along with a lighted tape recorder—this device, replacing the exhausted clerk who had fallen asleep, served as the meeting's recorder.

"The above is the summary from the General Logistics Department. Leaders, I have finished speaking."

The meeting room of the front command fell into a brief silence, with only the slight crackling sound of firewood in the earthen kang as the only sound.

从1941年7月27日的朝阳初升，到1941年7月27日夜色已深，由我军主动发起的首个会战顺利地结束了它的第一阶段.

Looking back on this short time of less than 24 hours, you have fought and learned

After finishing the battle training, the commanders still felt exhausted.

Yes, the troops were advancing at a breakneck pace. By now, the enemy forces surrounding Lucheng had been completely eliminated, including its eastern gateway, Salaqi. Aside from the troops left behind to await the death or surrender of the 13th Guyang Cavalry Regiment, the Lucheng area was ready for "entry and takeover." The 15th Division of the Jinsui Field Army in northwestern Shanxi, departing from Tokto, improvised and captured Qingcheng. Peng Shaohui, adept at observing the situation, adopted a strategy of dividing and encircling the divided Qingcheng, gradually defeating it piecemeal, capturing the city at minimal cost.

After a battle, part of the 15th Division even rode on a Japanese motor vehicle and attacked its subordinate battalion 45 kilometers west along the railway that afternoon. After the Eighth Route Army fired a round of artillery at the station, the puppet army guarding the station tied up the Japanese in charge and carried them out, announcing their surrender.

But at the same time, the various issues that needed to be coordinated and resolved also poured out like the smoke from simmering charcoal in a stove and igniting wet wood. Needless to say, the problems of excessive and uneven logistical consumption were numerous. Some units simply charged forward, relying on their firepower advantage and employing crude tactics. While they accomplished their mission, they suffered significantly high casualties. Other units, panicked by the rapid pace of the battle, made overly cautious and conservative estimates, resulting in disjointed attacks and missed opportunities.

Fortunately, all of this took place within a 30-kilometer radius of Lucheng. If necessary, the command structures of each unit could directly locate a company and issue orders. Despite the overwhelming command and coordination, there was still room for improvement in the many mistakes and inadequacies.

Or, instead of racking our brains here, why not go out and try to change our minds and become those Japanese little noses - figure out what they would think, what they would do, and how they would respond to our tactics... Political Director Guan Youwei made a new suggestion, "Maybe we can get some ideas here."

-------one

That’s right, sometimes it’s more convenient to change your mind.

Naturally, there were no lights outside the old country houses. To maintain the blackout, although a generator was humming, no lights were on, and camouflage netting was used. However, this lighting made the sky particularly pure—on the night of the 27th, the moon was only a tiny crescent. A row of future generals and even marshals sat beneath the camouflage netting, clutching large white pears and Arctic Ocean sodas, gazing at the starry sky.

The Japanese's movements were no secret; intelligence had already been sent in. This comprehensive report, based on radio decryption, wiretap monitoring, aerial reconnaissance, and human intelligence transmission, outlined the latest Japanese movements.

The troops stationed in Mongolia were assembling, a natural occurrence. The 26th Division in Yunzhong was also assembling. The 13th Regiment and Division Headquarters there covered the largest defense area and were the slowest to assemble. The 12th Regiment in Fengzhen was assembling slightly faster, as they also had the support of the puppet Mongolian 7th Division. The 11th Regiment in Jining was assembling the fastest, primarily because they only had the 3rd Battalion left, having already lost the first two.

At the same time, the 51st Division (formerly the 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade, now reorganized) in Zhangheng also began to withdraw troops to reinforce the troops assisting in the defense of the Yunzhong area to fill the vacancies left by the 13th Regiment's northward advance. What will the Japanese do next?

From a rational perspective, if the Japanese had sent a small detachment for reconnaissance, they would have had a chance of learning that the Eighth Route Army had attacked their battalion. Based on this, a wise Japanese army would have dispatched a small force to destroy the railway between Jining and Qingcheng, forcing the troops in the Jining area to immediately abandon the city and retreat in a group. After linking up with the 12th and 13th Regiments, they would have formed a complete division minus two battalions and then counterattacked Jining.

If this combined attack could be successful, the Japanese army would have a chance to hold Jining by relying on the terrain. From Qingcheng to the east stretched the Daqing Mountains, and with a division blocking the pass, our army might not be able to break through the Japanese defenses for a while. In this case, the Daqing Mountain base, closest to the battlefield, would have to dispatch independent regiments and guerrillas to the railway north of Yunzhong to conduct dangerous raids in front of the enemy, thereby delaying the Japanese army's assembly.

However, years of experience have taught the commanders that the Japanese army can never be "measured with ordinary people's rational thinking."

-------one

Would the Japanese army in Jining, relying on only one battalion of troops, rush forward without waiting for the arrival of reinforcements? If so, General He and Yang Jisheng would almost wake up from their dreams with laughter.

The front command specifically instructed Yao Zhizhang of the Daqingshan base area to

When facing such Japanese troops, you are not allowed to open fire, and you have to "welcome" the devils in.

In this way, when the field troops attack Jining next time, they will almost be attacking an empty city, which is very convenient.

But you can't always expect the Japs to be stupid. Yano Otosaburo of the 26th Division rose through the ranks from an Infantry School instructor and staff officer, and even served as a fortress commander. His combat style is probably relatively steady, or, in other words, academic. "He Huzi complained about the casual discussion. Everyone had just analyzed the Japanese army's "most rational" approach and the "approach that is most beneficial to our army," and even hypothesized whether the Japanese army might suddenly become cowardly and turn around and run. "The current battle plan is indeed a bit too stable."

The staff, led by Liu Xingchang, had already developed several plans for the next phase of the war, anticipating different responses from the Japanese army. However, from the perspective of General He and others, these plans seemed too conventional and too "box-and-box":

The frontline troops accelerated their advance, advancing along the railway line to seize the Zhuozi Mountain and Shibatai areas, the starting points for the attack on Jining, and held them firmly. Then, under the cover of the air force, the follow-up troops reached their starting positions by rail and motorized maneuvers. Once their forces were sufficiently strengthened, they captured the Jining area in one fell swoop. Afterwards, the troops turned south and engaged the main Japanese forces in a decisive battle south of Jining and north of Fengzhen, ultimately securing victory.

"What is Mr. He's opinion?"

"We need to have some confidence in the Japanese commanders, but we must also have confidence in our soldiers. Over the years, our field army construction and the soldiers' hard training have all been truly costly. In the first active offensive operation, we played it too safe and were so hesitant that we actually dampened the enthusiasm of the troops.

"I think we can capture Jining and Fengzhen, and even the Yunzhong area, completely annihilate the Japanese 26th Division, and severely damage the 51st Division that comes to reinforce us—this goal is within our reach!"

"By the way, Comrade Xingchang, when a brigade of the Mobile Corps is moving in motorized form on a gravel road, what is the approximate speed per hour?"

Mr. He had just finished speaking when Yang Jisheng, who was standing beside him, suddenly interrupted.

"Normal marches are 20-25 kilometers per hour, slowing to 15 kilometers per hour at night. Assuming an expected march time of eight hours, a normal march can cover 150 kilometers a day, while a forced march can double that distance. Furthermore, motorized troops need to stop for one hour for repairs and resupply after every four hours of marching."

This is the fundamental skill of a staff officer, Chief of Staff Liu Xingchang immediately reported. "Of the three brigades in the Mobile Corps and the Training Division, which one is in the best condition?"

"They're all in good condition. The 3rd Brigade didn't participate in the battle in the Lucheng area, so their combat readiness should be at its highest." "That's fine. Let's go back to the room."

Yang Jisheng grabbed the soda bottle, raised his head, gulped it down, and then walked back to the command room, holding the bottle. By the time the commanders returned to the room, Yang Jisheng had already started using the mouse. He moved the electronic map on the projector and zoomed in on a specific area. The Eighth Route Army's electronic map didn't have the rich details of later satellite map software, and the static military map that had been recorded was a bit blurry due to the zoom.

General Yang Jisheng focused the map on a place called "Zhuozi Pass".

"During the Anti-Japanese United Army, we sometimes needed to conduct large-scale tactical maneuvers to evade Japanese raids." He switched his mouse to marker mode and began marking on the map. "In our original battle plan, the Mobile Corps, the 1st Training Division, would be the spearhead of the attack. Indeed, in a frontal breakthrough, the small noses would be completely unable to stop them. But their mobility was even more exceptional. When there was a road, even cavalry could not outrun them."

"Now, our field divisions can face the enemy head-on. When the forces are similar, we are not afraid of the Japanese in sieges or field battles. Moreover, we have the support of artillery and armored troops, so...

As Yang Jisheng's brushstrokes swirled, a virtual red line stretched southward from the Zhuozi Pass. This line followed the road marked on the map all the way south, extending to the Daqingshan base area with Liangcheng as its core.

During the previous road construction and protection campaign, the Daqingshan base area converted the road from Zhuozi Mountain Pass to the base area into a single-lane gravel road. This road was used by motorized troops.

He continued to operate the electronic map while stating his opinion. This red route meandered southward, turned southeast east of Daihai, and finally drew a huge right hook, crashing firmly into the blue mark of the Japanese army in Fengzhen.

"The entire route is approximately 180 li (approximately 3 li), with the first half being mountain roads and the second half being flat land. This is the core area of ​​the Daqingshan base, with a supply center and a strong community base. This allows for easy maneuvering and occupying the interior. However, for an ordinary unit equipped for offensive operations, even a forced march by road would take at least three days to reach the destination and launch an attack."

"I believe the comrades in the teaching division can finish the race in one day."

Facing the stunned crowd, Yang Jisheng dropped his mouse and confidently said, "Leave the task of attacking Jining along the railway front to the two field divisions. Let Comrade Qi Baotang of the Mobile Corps lead the 3rd Brigade to disembark at Zhuozi Pass and march to Daqingshan!"

"Isn't the 26th Division on guard against us taking Jining and rushing down from the north? Hey! We'll attack them from the north, and then from the west, strike them in the waist and give them a hard blow!"

Chapter 481: "Flying" Four Hundred Miles

On July 27, the sound of artillery fire roared in Suiyuan, while on July 28, the sound of whistles blew in Mengxi.

The passenger and freight cars pulled by steam trains had an astonishing carrying capacity. The 11th Division of the Northwest Field Army (from the border region) and the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Training Division of the Mobile Corps, transporting their entire complement of weapons and equipment, were able to reach their starting positions east of Qingcheng in under eight hours, even managing to grab a couple of bottles of Coke for the journey. Other troops either waited for the train to return or used vehicles from their own logistics teams to maneuver eastward along the Jingsui Railway.

At the same time, various support and guarantee forces also began to move eastward. The artillery column left behind the 5th Howitzer Division's training battalion, composed of cadets, to prepare for relocation via rail and road. The armored troops boarded flatbed cars at the station and began long-distance maneuvers. The Air Force moved into the recently occupied Harbin Airfield and began to establish its own ground support facilities for refueling, loading ammunition, and battlefield maintenance operations.

The automated communication nodes, which had previously played a vital role and made the troops somewhat reluctant to leave, could no longer accompany the troops. These devices were bulky, took nearly six hours to dismantle and deploy, and had a range of only a little over 30 kilometers. They were undoubtedly unable to keep up with the speed of the incoming troops' attack and had to withdraw from the battlefield for the time being.

The battle entered its second phase.

After the goal of attacking Jining, Fengzhen and even the Yunzhong area, and fighting a war of annihilation with the enemy in front and the reinforcements to destroy the enemy's vitality was set, the Eighth Route Army's already fast battle rhythm began to become rapid, even a little inhumane.

But for the Japanese, this was not a big deal. A large corps destroyed an entire cavalry group in one day, and then jumped over 400 li to smash their own heads - this was beyond imagination, and at that moment, it was not in the Japanese's brain circuit.

Just the day before, the 13th and 14th Brigades of the Cavalry Group reported that they were surrounded, and one reported that they were about to go south to provide support; Saraqi reported that he was about to go to provide support.

The fake Houhe reported that he was about to go to support, but he saw the Eighth Route Army in the west.

To the south, it seems that they are heading to Lucheng for support.

Never knowing, no fear.

Combining the above intelligence and their usual arrogance, the Mongolian-based troops, who had the least fighting with the Eighth Route Army, referred to the current situation in North China and made the following judgment: at this time, the main force of the Eighth Route Army was around the Hebei-Central region, and its main goal was to break through Dezhou and connect the two sides of the Jinpu Road.

Therefore, the Eighth Route Army had no main force in Suiyuan. These communist troops probably wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to attack the railway line from multiple directions, completely cut off the Suiyuan section of the Beijing-Suiyuan Railway, and seize control of Lucheng.

This misjudgment of the enemy's campaign objectives led the commander of the Mongolian Army, Shigetaro Amakasu, to choose the wrong response strategy. He ordered the 26th Division to quickly gather its forces and march north, starting from Jining. The 26th Division would lead the attack, with the puppet Mongolian Army's 3rd and 7th Divisions providing support. They would sweep across the Jingsui Line from east to west, restoring railway operations.

He also warned the 26th Division to be wary of Communist raids on the railway in the Daqingshan area east of Jining, which could hinder reinforcements to Lucheng. In response to this order, Yano Otosaburo of the 26th Division ordered the 11th Regiment, which consisted of only one battalion, to defend Jining. "Don't worry, the main force will be arriving soon. Once they arrive, we will all head west to drive away those troublesome Communist troops," he said.

Well... a puppet Mongolian division of a little over a thousand men, plus a battalion of a little over a thousand men and a regimental headquarters of over a hundred men, defended Jining under attack from two field divisions. Well, especially since the two field divisions were a bit short on men, bringing along a 122mm artillery battalion and enough ammunition for two 30-minute fire preparation rounds.

Thus, before 9:00 AM on July 29, Jining was declared a lost city. During the siege, the Eighth Route Army once again employed artillery preparation and combat group siege tactics. After more than three hours of fighting, the 11th Regiment of the Japanese 26th Division was completely destroyed, and the remaining members of the puppet Mongolian 3rd Division raised the white flag.

The battle itself was largely uneventful. The only significant incident was the 26th Division's telegram forcing the 7th Mongolian Division, stationed south of Jining, to rescue the 11th Regiment at a critical moment, sparking intense discontent among the troops. Coincidentally, the 7th Division's commander, Damiling Sulong, had long collaborated with the Daqingshan base and was an active anti-Japanese fighter who had been coerced into the puppet army. Seeing the opportunity, he seized it and declared a collective uprising for over 110,000 men in the 7th Division.

The entire Seventh Division wore their uniforms inside out, arrested or shot the Japanese instructors in the ranks, and then simply gave up their defenses, welcoming our troops to continue marching south to fight the devils—oh no, the underground working group under this division commander directly pulled out a company of guides to lead the Eighth Route Army's attacking force!

----―———

...So, Your Excellency, the cavalry group may not be organizing a defense right now." Chief of Staff Takahashi Shigekiyoshi carefully explained the latest situation. "Wired and wireless communications are down. Perhaps, perhaps, they have already died for their country."

When there was no news from Lucheng, news came that Jining was attacked. A few hours after Jining was attacked, the 11th Regiment of the 26th Division stationed there broadcast a farewell message. Both the 26th Division and the Mongolian Army Headquarters received the extremely short but extremely tragic message.

"The enemy is approaching, and bullets are raining down. My troops are fighting bravely, and His Majesty the Emperor..."

Now, the situation couldn't be clearer. On the third day after the battle began, the Eighth Route Army had actually flown over 400 miles from Lucheng and smashed the skulls of the 11th Regiment of the 26th Division. "I know."

Amakasu Shigetaro shooed the Chief of Staff out. He stood up, first drawing the thick curtains across the headquarters, then groping in the darkness, turning on the desk lamp. With a flick of a button, a yellow light flickered in the darkened room, illuminating a small area on the desk. It had been 24 years since he graduated from Army University, and he had fought in countless battles. Why did this war suddenly seem so unfamiliar?

A dizzy sensation gripped Shigetaro Amakasu, who slumped back into his comfortable chair. The commander lowered his head, took off his hat, and rubbed his bald head vigorously with his hands.

When he opened his eyes again, the familiar surroundings began to become unfamiliar, just like now.

The enemy's unfamiliar tactics, equipment, and speed even made their own troops unfamiliar. The Eighth Route Army's vanguard attacking Jining consisted of three regiments. According to the Communist Army's practice, there would have been more than six regiments of supporting forces continuously advancing to the front and preparing to outflank their flanks.

If this continues, I'm afraid that attacking Jining will become extremely difficult. Perhaps the 26th Division will also be at risk. No, I can't think so. If the 26th Division also collapses, won't the entire Mongolian army be almost wiped out?

A cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and Amakasu Shigetaro didn't dare to think any further. In the adjacent command room, the sound of the staff arguing carried through the walls, making him shudder for no apparent reason. "Takahashi-kun," he pressed the doorbell, summoning his chief of staff. "Don't wait for the staff to discuss. They won't be able to come up with anything anyway... Just record my orders."

"Hi, Commander."

"The 13th Regiment in Yunzhong should not retain any garrison troops, nor should the 26th Division headquarters. All personnel should march north and arrive in Fengzhen before noon today to reunite with the 12th Regiment. Zhang Heng's 51st Division (formerly the Independent Mixed 2nd Division) should also not retain anything. The 1st and 2nd Regiments must assemble today and then depart by train before dawn tomorrow to provide support to Fengzhen. Yes, the vehicles should proceed straight ahead, without stopping in Yunzhong."

Staring at the map, Amakasu Shigetaro spoke a series of orders in one breath, "The 3rd Regiment of the 51st Division has already gone to Yunzhong to assist in the defense. They should withdraw their defense and not attack again. Just hold Yunzhong."

As for the remaining two regiments of the 26th Division, after the 12th and 13th Regiments join up, they will attack northward. The 1st and 2nd Regiments of the 51st Division will serve as their reserve forces. After arriving at Fengzhen, they will provide support to them. "Don't hesitate, Mr. Yano, and launch your attack bravely."

"Okay, Commander." Chief of Staff Takahashi Shigekiyoshi wrote down the commander's order and asked hesitantly, "This means Commander Zhang Heng's direct guard will be gone..." "I know about this. Send a telegram to the North China Front Army in my name, requesting their assistance and 'guidance', and at least dispatching a battalion to assist in the defense."

"Excuse me for being blunt, Commander, but the 64th Division in Peiping (formerly the 15th Independent Mixed Division) is also threatened by the Communist Army, and I'm afraid... Hey, I understand." Commander Amakasu said nothing more, just waved his hand and drove the chief of staff away.

"Alas!" He sighed and turned off the desk light. The command room, which had been bright in the daytime, fell into darkness again. "Four regiments..."

Chapter 482: Deep and Detour

14 hours, 72.5 kilometers, or 145 Chinese miles, and immediately engaged in battle after the attack, successfully intercepted the US 1st Cavalry Division, which had advantages in firepower and numbers, and dealt a heavy blow to the enemy.

The three-suoli forced march, held by the 113th Division of the 38th Army in another time and space, is hailed by many as the pinnacle of light infantry, a symbol of the Volunteer Army's brilliant combat capabilities and a glorious entry in the 38th Army's honor roll. However, in a sense, this miracle, achieved through the courage, tenacity, wisdom, and discipline of the Volunteer Army, also reflects the Volunteer Army's difficult material conditions at the time.

Lacking air superiority, they needed to be bold and careful in abandoning their disguises and pretending to be South Korean puppet troops; lacking mobile transport capabilities, the troops could only abandon heavy firepower above 82mm mortars and advance manpower without sufficient ammunition; lacking logistical supplies, the troops had to rely on supplies captured from the US and puppet troops to fill the logistical gaps... The desperate penetration of light infantry often meant a trade-off between the troops' firepower sustainability and offensive capabilities, and also meant that the soldiers had to use many other things to make up for the equipment gap between the enemy and us: and this was accompanied by many sacrifices.

Who wouldn't want to be able to attack with planes, cannons, wheels and tracks?

So now that the conditions are right, why hold back?

With a whistle and a whistle, the dispatcher commanded a train to a stop on the siding at Zhuozishankou Railway Station. Amidst the white mist emanating from the steam locomotive, soldiers from the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Training Division began to disembark in an orderly fashion. Xinmin Street, adjacent to the station, had long been under military control. With the assistance of railway workers and disembarking soldiers, the heavily armed 3rd Brigade began unloading tanks and artillery from the trains. Then, they formed into a marching column and headed south.

Compared to the 2nd Brigade, which launched the initial assault on the city, and the 1st Brigade, which attacked from the side and blocked the gate, the 3rd Brigade was forced to serve as the division's reserve during the battle on the 27th, having no chance of fighting. However, their designated weapons were now unable to be fully equipped and manned. In order to board the train and complete the approximately 180-li detour, they had to leave some items behind. The tank company's T.26E tanks could no longer be towed by tractors; the tractors could only carry them a short distance. Once the vehicles turned back, the tanks would have to move on tracks. The troops could no longer afford the luxury of carrying double ammunition as before, relying only on standard combat ammunition. Even so, this nominally brigade motorized unit continued its march southward along the Zhuozi Pass like a mighty stream of iron.

"Keep a distance of 30 meters between the vehicle in front and behind, follow instructions, and stay in touch!"

The Daqingshan cadres, riding horses and holding small flags, began to act as traffic controllers. Their whistles first became sharp and then became low with the clatter of horses' hooves.

With F4 Wildcat fighters already covering the skies above the battle zone and securing partial air superiority, the 3rd Brigade of the Training Division had become its own biggest enemy. They could have rumbled along in broad daylight, but collisions, vehicle breakdowns, and traffic jams were unavoidable.

After all, the Daqingshan Highway M was a simple road rammed with gravel and sand. It was a smooth, smooth road for the base's three-wheeled motorcycles, horses, and 11-wheeled vehicles on weekdays. But for the Bedford and CMP trucks carrying 100mm mortars and pulling 75mm mountain guns, as well as the Morris C8 tractors towing reinforced 25-pound guns, the journey would become an arduous cross-country rally.

Roads that only allow one car and one person to travel side by side are simply a collection of car rollover scenes!

The tires of the vehicles kicked up gravel and creaked as they moved forward, leaving two shallow dents in the unpaved road. Repeated rolling by the wheels would gradually transform the dents into deep trenches. Then, an unlucky truck would slip and break down in a dent, completely blocking the road. The soldiers on board would have to jump out of the truck bed, find a tow rope and shovel to rescue the vehicle, and then work with the engineers to shovel dirt to fill the dent and repair the road before they could move forward.

The truck team could at least be rescued, but the tanks were in even greater danger.

After the tracked advance began, every one of the eleven T26Es in the training brigade suffered horrific consequences. Some suffered broken or dislodged tracks, others suffered engine and cooling system overheating, and the worst-case scenario was a vehicle whose suspension collapsed on the undulating mountain road, leaving it paralyzed in the middle of the road. Her crew members wept in frustration, unable to repair the problem by manually repairing the suspension mechanism.

In the end, to avoid blocking the road, they had no choice but to push their vehicles off the roadbed, then wipe their tears, pick up their guns, and join the ranks of the infantry. Fortunately, this was a base area, and there were militias to help watch over the tanks. Otherwise, these guys would have been forced to endure the wind and sand here for several days, waiting for the subsequent rescue team to arrive, or wait until they returned after a battle to find that their cars had been completely dismantled by the locals.

The morning of the 29th was spent in swearing, chaos and nonsense.

The fighter planes that flew east in the morning flew back. The number was basically the same, but several of them were damaged, and one was even trailing black smoke. The local troops accompanying the troops received some coordinates and sent out a small team to capture the Japanese pilots who parachuted, and to pick up our pilots whose planes were seriously damaged and about to make an emergency landing.

However, at this time, the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Training Division, which had been making a deep and roundabout move, finally saw a glimmer of hope. After nearly 40 kilometers of mountain roads, their vision finally opened up: the road began to flatten out, and the overlapping peaks finally disappeared. The mountain road was finally over, and the rest was basically flat!

This is the territory of Liangcheng. Glittering on the horizon is the Daihai Lake. By now, the soldiers were in excellent physical condition, but their morale was a bit low: halfway through their journey, the training brigade had already lost four tanks, three trucks, and a 75mm cannon that had flipped into a ditch. The cost of this motorized forced march was beyond the soldiers' imagination.

"Hey! Look!"

Someone poked their head out of the back of the truck and peered over the cab roof. As the road gradually flattened, the crowds began to gather. Small red and green flags began to appear along the roadside. "Our army, with its iron feet, can travel a hundred miles at a speed like the wind; driving tanks and flying airplanes, they strike fear into the hearts of the Japanese..."

Some were beating drums, others were playing hand gongs, singing along the roadside. Many fellow villagers, dressed in vibrant, tropical styles, began to appear along the roadside. Although numerous, they formed small groups of a dozen or so, stretching out along the road like forked branches. There was an open space, marked with large squares in white powdered ash, and each small group of people stood guard at the edge of each square. At each fork in the road, a numbered sign stood tall.

"Group car supply! Group car supply! Group car supply!"

The information from the previous training and agreement revived in my mind, and the scene before me was strange yet familiar. Facing this supply point that was similar to the training station, but slightly different

The drivers of the 3rd Brigade operated the trucks almost by muscle memory, leading

One by one, the teams began to turn towards their respective areas.