Bright Sword: Iron Will 12

Chapter 12: The Feint Strategy

The Fifth Division’s large rear-area supply train, upon receiving orders from Division Commander Itagaki Seishiro, immediately mobilized all mobile units to wipe out the scattered remnants of the Shanxi Defense Army. However, constrained by the complex and crisscrossing mountainous terrain, this Chinese army was as slippery as an eel. It was difficult to pinpoint their exact location in the vast mountains. Therefore, they guarded the various transportation arteries within the territory of Uixian County, waiting for this unit to emerge from the mountains.

Uixian County is located in the center of a valley, surrounded by flat terrain. There was no obstruction to the line of sight. Once out of the mountains, the 414th Regiment would be completely exposed to the Japanese army. Therefore, Wang Feng, in a moment of inspiration, led his troops to suddenly change direction just as they were about to reach the mountain pass. They headed west, towards Guangling County.

But after traveling only a few kilometers, they encountered a relentless pursuit and interception by the following Japanese troops.

In the dense forest of the Guangling western mountains, the soldiers were taking a short rest. Zhao Fangyuan spread a map on the ground and gestured on it.

“Commander, the current situation is very complicated,” he said. “Just now, the scouts returned and reported that a Japanese company is blocking the main road to our right front. A Japanese company is slowly advancing towards our position on the left front. Three more Japanese companies are in hot pursuit from behind, about two kilometers away.”

Wang Feng raised his eyebrows slightly, his demeanor quite optimistic. “So we’re going to be completely surrounded by the Japanese, huh?”

Five Japanese companies. More than a thousand Japanese soldiers. Quite a grand gesture! On a conventional battlefield, these thousand Japanese soldiers could probably chase a brigade of the Shanxi Defense Army. Now, they’re used to encircle his single regiment. It’s truly extravagant! It seems that the continuous harassment of the Fifth Division’s supply lines in recent days has indeed angered the little devils (a derogatory term for the Japanese).

“Go, call Zhang Hu over here,” Wang Feng ordered.

“Yes, sir.”

Wang Feng pondered countermeasures. Recent battles had depleted their forces. Currently, only about a thousand soldiers in the entire regiment were still combat-ready. However, they had captured a considerable amount of equipment along the way—enough to expand the regiment to three thousand men.

Zhang Hu, carrying a large machete, rushed over excitedly. “Commander, you called for me?”

Wang Feng beckoned him. “Come, look at this map.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Currently, we are facing five pursuing Japanese companies, but these can be considered as three groups. The first group is the one that has been following us closely. But these Japanese soldiers are rather foolish; we don’t need to worry about them. We can easily get rid of them,” Wang Feng explained carefully to Zhang Hu.

His three-dimensional battlefield map was a veritable weapon in mountain warfare. He didn’t need to worry about getting lost or being pursued. Regardless of whether it’s a narrow, winding path or terrain not marked on the map, everything was crystal clear to him. Based on this alone, Wang Feng had skillfully evaded the three Japanese companies following behind. He was truly playing with them in the palm of his hand.

“This unit in the right front is stationed in place, which means if we don’t take this road, we won’t encounter them.”

Zhang Hu thought for a moment, then nodded. “I think I understand, Commander. Are you planning to have me wipe out this group of Japanese?” He pointed to the slowly approaching unit in the left front on the map.

Wang Feng shook his head. “No. I want you to turn around and attack the pursuing force behind us.”

Zhang Hu nodded without hesitation. “Okay! Guaranteed mission accomplishment! The situation is urgent; I’ll leave now!” He was about to get up and give the order to assemble the troops.

Zhao Fangyuan was somewhat puzzled but kept his head down, pondering without speaking. There must be a reason behind the Commander’s actions; he just hadn’t figured it out yet. The Commander had said that one should ask less and think more.

Wang Feng grabbed Zhang Hu’s arm. “Don’t go yet, I haven’t finished speaking. The only Japanese troops we’ve directly encountered are the ones behind us. The Japanese troops currently moving in front are also approaching our position based on the general direction provided by other units. You, with the first battalion, must only use mobile warfare to harass the Japanese. Make the Japanese behind us mistakenly believe that your battalion is the main force. Then, lure all the Japanese to this place.” Wang Feng drew a circle on the map.

It was a valley about 1.5 kilometers away. He had checked it using his three-dimensional combat map. It was a gourd-shaped valley—narrow at the entrance and wide inside. It was perfect for an ambush.

That’s right. Wang Feng wasn’t thinking about how to safely withdraw, but how to annihilate the Japanese army. Just leaving would be a waste of the excellent advantage of mountain warfare. He wasn’t short of soldiers; he could recruit more after breaking out of the Japanese encirclement. What he really lacked was weapons and equipment. The small workshops in Xiajiashan Village had limited production capacity, barely enough to supply the current regiment. But Wang Feng’s ambition extended far beyond a single regiment.

“I’ve taught you mobile warfare and the feint strategy. Don’t tell me you forgot!”

Zhang Hu grinned. “I remember! It’s the same trick Zhang Yide used at Dangyang Bridge!” (Referring to a famous story of bravery from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms.)

Wang Feng waved his hand. “Alright, stop with the nonsense. Leave immediately!”

“Understood, sir!”

After sending Zhang Hu away, Wang Feng continued. “Once the first battalion is exposed, it will definitely attract the full attention of the Japanese. The main force will go to the designated location to set up an ambush, occupy all key positions, and lay minefields in the valley. We’ll wait for the little devils to take the bait!”

Zhao Fangyuan suddenly realized. “Commander, you are brilliant!”

Wang Feng smiled calmly. “After we finish off these Japanese, we’ll continue south to Lingqiu.”

In recent days, the 414th Regiment had been like headless flies, darting around in the mountains, repeatedly harassing several key Japanese supply lines. This was not a long-term solution. According to reliable intelligence, Lingqiu to the south was still stubbornly resisting the Japanese. Wang Feng wanted to try his luck there, taking the opportunity to replenish his troops.

“Which unit is stationed in Lingqiu? How are they able to resist the Japanese for so long?”

Zhao Fangyuan thought for a moment and said uncertainly, “I think I’ve heard of them. Their designation should be the 358th Regiment? I remember it’s a reinforced regiment with about five thousand men. I met their chief of staff once at a general military meeting. He was very arrogant.”

(Chapter End)

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