Chapter 7: The Raid (Part 2)

  Song Zhe-wu inspected the deployment of troops at each location and inquired about the sentry arrangements. After learning that all visible and hidden sentries had been deployed, especially with a 5-kilometer patrol on both sides of the highway, Song Zhe-wu finally felt at ease to eat and sleep.

  Since leaving Tianjin, Song Zhe Wu had a feeling of a bird escaping from its cage. After entering the Taihang Mountains, this feeling became even stronger, and he even felt a sense of security that he couldn't explain. Song Zhe Wu thought that perhaps it was because the Taihang Mountains were once a famous base for resisting the Japanese in their past lives...

  At more than 3 am, Song Zhe Wu, who was sleeping soundly, was startled awake by the sound of footsteps and commands in the courtyard. Song Zhe Wu stretched out his hand to take out a pistol from under his pillow, and as he sat up, his right hand shook slightly, accompanied by a faint metallic collision sound, the pistol had already been unlocked.

  The voices of Ye Changgui, Chu Feng and others talking to the guards outside the door were heard, and soon the guard outside reported. Song Zhiwu hastily opened the door. Ye Changgui, Chu Feng, and Wang Xinggang rushed in, and Chu Feng quickly lit the oil lamp.

  "Comrade Commander, we have a situation. The scouts sent out in the direction of Tang County report that a bandit force of two to three thousand men is rapidly approaching Yangjiazhuang, and judging from their equipment, they appear to be bandits. They extinguished their torches 5 li away, and it seems their target is us. I have ordered each company to enter the battle formation and prepare for combat. Please instruct."

  A bandit gang of two to three thousand people, five miles away, had already extinguished their torches. It was clear that these bandits knew we were in Yangjia Village. By putting out the torches, they didn't want to alert us and obviously planned to launch a surprise attack before dawn. If it were daytime, with the firepower of the guard battalion, not to mention two or three thousand bandits, even five or six thousand would be no problem. But now it was nighttime, and the guard battalion's firepower was limited. The bandits dared to attack this guard battalion, equivalent to a regiment, with only twice the number of troops, probably thinking that way. Moreover, once they broke into the village and engaged in a fierce battle with the guard battalion, relying on their numerical superiority, victory was entirely possible.

  Thinking of this, he immediately ordered Ye Changgui: "Immediately deploy all the heavy machine guns left in the courtyard to the first company's position. Order each company that once the enemy attacks, use firepower to intercept the enemy outside the courtyard. Each unit is not allowed to leave their position voluntarily, and they are not allowed to engage in close combat with the enemy voluntarily. As soon as it gets light, we will have a way to eliminate them."

  After finishing speaking, Song Zhe Wu grabbed his military uniform and headed out: "Chu Feng, bring the guards, we're going to the First Regiment."

  Ye Changgui stepped forward, blocking Song Zhe Wu's path: "Commander, you can't go to the first company. This is a guard regiment and I am the regiment commander. Your presence at the first company will interfere with my command. Moreover, when we were training in the instructional corps, you repeatedly said that a qualified unit commander should direct his troops in battle rather than personally fighting on the front line. It was you who set the rule that commanders above the regiment level are not allowed to enter the front-line position, and you can't lead by example in violating this rule."

  After finishing speaking, he roared at Chu Feng: "Deputy Officer Chu, the battalion commander is handed over to you. If there's any mistake, none of the brothers in the battalion will agree." Then, with a flick of his hand, he rushed out of the command center.

  Song Zhe Wu's past life was a weak scholar, but the consciousness of Young Master Song still lingered in his memory. In this life, this Young Master Song graduated from Baoding Military Academy and then entered the Dresden Infantry School, receiving strict military education from the start. He had a strong desire to fight bravely and fiercely. As soon as he heard that there was a battle to be fought, he felt an overwhelming urge to charge into action. The order not to allow officers above the rank of battalion commander to go to the front line was given by him. When Ye Changgui mentioned it, he naturally didn't want to disobey.

  Chu Feng and Wang Xing smiled helplessly.

  "Deputy officer of Chu, send a telegram to the chief of staff." Song Zhe Wu thought to himself, he really couldn't go out yet, there were still many things to do.

  Chu Feng quickly opened the leather wallet that had never left his side, pulled out a pen, and prepared to take notes.

  "Our troops arrived at Yangjiazhuang last night. At dawn this morning, we were attacked by thousands of bandits. Order: One battalion to rush to our aid immediately. The troops left behind in Taiyuan should be on high alert and take all precautions against unexpected attacks."

  As soon as Song Zhe Wu's voice fell, Chu Feng also finished recording. He handed over the telegram, Song Zhe Wu checked and signed it without error, then handed it back to Chu Feng, who immediately went out to send the telegram.

  Song Zhe Wu saw Wang Xing Gang's awkward appearance and smiled, saying: "Xing Gang, let's go. They won't let us go to the front line, so we'll sneak up to the rooftop to watch the excitement."

  In the courtyard, several ladders had already been erected. The fourth company commander was directing soldiers to strengthen the defense of the courtyard. Song Zhe Wu brought Wang Xing Gang to the front house ladder and waved his hand to stop the fourth company commander who came to block them, then climbed up onto the roof.

  The main house has a wall made of bluestone and a tiled roof. On the roof, two groups of people were already hiding, one was a group of soldiers from the 4th company, and the other was led by Zhang Ming, the commander of the machine gun company, with an observation team. The rooftop couldn't salute, Zhang Ming just called out to the brigade commander. At this time, a soldier sent up a phone from below.

  "Commander, this is the tallest house in the whole village. I've set up the observation team here to facilitate command." Zhang Ming said while assisting soldiers with wiring.

  "Good." Song Zhe Wu said, half-kneeling on the windowsill, taking over the binoculars handed over by the guard to gaze out at the Zhuangbei Highway.

  The sky was still dark, and in the north at this time of year, it wouldn't get light until around 4 am. Song Zhe Wu glanced at his watch; it was now half past three, the darkest moment.

  Song Zhe-wu looked around, the mountains behind the village were quiet and still, black and dark like a giant beast waiting for prey. Only the small river to the west of the village was babbling "gurgling" incessantly. According to the owner of this house, this river is a tributary of the Ju Ma River. For some reason, on the eve of the great battle, Song Zhe-wu did not have a single thread of tension. Not only did he have confidence in his own troops, but also...

  Song Zhe Wu shook his head hard and tried to calm himself down.

  "Wang Lianzhang." Wang Ming replied, turning over and sitting up in bed.

  "As soon as the battle starts, you will let your 12 82mm mortars conduct blocking fire. Target, a line of trenches 100 meters in front, with a width of 200 meters. Indiscriminate firing."

  Song Zhe-wu was inspecting the battlefield at dusk, and carefully examined the terrain in front of the village. The 200-meter width perfectly blocked the highway and the valleys on both sides. Beyond this 200 meters, it could only be passed through from the half-slopes on both sides. But this would lose the speed of attack

  A loud gunshot rang out, and the sound of gunfire erupted from the small hill in front of the village. With that shot, the sound of gunfire instantly filled the air on the hill. Amidst the long, whistling sounds of rifle fire, the two heavy machine guns stood out particularly. It was like the strong rhythmic beat of a drum. "Boom boom, boom boom. Boom boom boom." In the midst of the gunfire, Song Zhe-wu even heard the cries of agony coming from the other side of the hill.

  Song Zhe Wu thought to himself, it seems that this group of bandits is not simple, they know the importance of this small high ground to the village. Once the bandits occupy the high ground, they will suppress the firepower inside the village.

  A shot rang out on the small high ground, and a burst of killing sounds immediately erupted from the darkness in front of the village. The front line of the village also responded with a burst of gunfire at the same time. Amidst the firing of numerous rifles and more than 20 light and heavy machine guns, six 60mm mortars on the front line also exploded into balls of fire. The flashes of light from the mortar explosions illuminated the targets for the soldiers on the front line, and in the flashing lights, it could be seen that many bandits were falling to the ground after being hit.

  Wang Ming gave the order to fire through the microphone quickly and clearly, in less than ten seconds, the sound of "Boom! Boom!" came from the 82mm mortar firing from the back of the village. The mortar shells whistled as they soared into the sky and then dived towards the ground, exploding with twelve intense flashes and massive explosions in front of the position. Although the caliber was only slightly larger than 22mm, the explosive power was many times greater than that of a 60mm mortar.

  The 82mm mortar fired, and with the flames rising from the front of the position, the charging bandits suddenly became panicked, with some turning around and running away.

  "It's a long journey." Song Zhe Wu turned around and saw Chu Feng climbing onto the rooftop. In a low voice, he said to Song Zhe Wu: "Ye Ying Zhang called on the phone, the other side not only has bandits but also the Northwest Army."

  It's not easy for a newcomer to make progress. Also, thank you for collecting.