Bright Sword: Iron Will 32

Chapter 32: Change of Defense, Heading to Caijiayu

At Tuanchengkou, on the temporary First Brigade’s positions.

The battlefield was shrouded in smoke, thick fumes stinging the nostrils and causing incessant coughing. The Twenty-first Brigade’s attacks had decreased in intensity, but their frequency had increased. By eleven o’clock that morning, the temporary First Brigade had repelled seven Japanese attacks.

Wang Feng’s brows furrowed.

This wasn’t good.

His keen battlefield instincts told him the Japanese were brewing some insidious trick. The decrease in attack intensity indicated that the Japanese on the front lines still didn’t expect to conquer the Shanxi Defense Army’s positions. The increased frequency, however, only had one explanation – a strategy of attrition. Constantly depleting the defending troops’ stamina, then suddenly appearing with a surprise force in an unexpected location to exploit the weakness and seize the positions.

It seemed the Japanese troops that appeared at Taianling were indeed maneuvering to the rear of Tuanchengkou. If Tuanchengkou fell, the subsequent battles would be much harder to fight.

Zhao Fangyuan rushed over: “Commander, an urgent telegram from the Sixth Group Army headquarters!”

“Read it!”

“This telegram orders the temporary First Brigade, directly under the 33rd Army, to immediately withdraw from the Tuanchengkou positions. The 358th Regiment of the 73rd Division will take over the defense.”

“The temporary First Brigade is specially ordered to bypass the left flank of Tuanchengkou and proceed to the Caijiayu area to cooperate with the Eighth Route Army’s 115th Division in a pincer attack on the Japanese invaders, thereby bolstering the glorious military might of the Shanxi Defense Army!”

After reading, Zhao Fangyuan was puzzled: “Commander, we’ve only been defending for a few days, and we’re being redeployed?”

Wang Feng was momentarily lost in thought.

The 115th Division? Caijiayu? The great victory at Pingxing Pass? Today is September 25th.

Since Wang Feng’s time travel, he had been fighting guerrilla warfare in the heartland of the Fifth Division, causing considerable trouble for the Fifth Regiment of the Supply Corps. It seemed the timeline had shifted as a result. The planned battle had been delayed by several days.

“Inform the men that after the 358th Regiment arrives for reinforcement, we will withdraw in an orderly manner, preventing the Japanese from seizing any opportunity.”

Zhao Fangyuan snapped to attention and saluted: “Understood, sir!”

Back at headquarters, Wang Feng began recalling the specific details of the Pingxing Pass battle.

According to the original historical plan, the 115th Division and the Sixth Group Army were to cooperate in a pincer attack on the Japanese in the Caijiayu area. However, due to the imminent danger and mutual suspicion between the two factions, when Sun Chu decided to send the Reserve Second Army to join the 115th Division in the pincer attack, Gao Guizi, having run out of ammunition and supplies, had already abandoned his position. He hadn’t informed the Sixth Group Army headquarters. As a result, Guo Zongfen’s Reserve Second Army directly clashed with the Japanese occupying the Tuanchengkou positions. Thus, only the 115th Division remained in the Pingxing Pass area.

If everything had gone according to plan, it wouldn’t have been as simple as eliminating over a thousand Japanese soldiers.

Now, the temporary First Brigade was taking over the original mission of the Reserve Second Army, and the 115th Division was no longer fighting alone. The situation hadn’t severely deteriorated; there was still a chance.

Calming himself, Wang Feng began sending a telegram to the Sixth Group Army. You can’t expect a horse to run without feeding it. Without later supplies, what would he use to launch a pincer attack on the Japanese? In the end, it would only lead to increased casualties.

Chu Yunfei received the order before Wang Feng. Knowing the urgency of the situation, he led his troops in a forced march. By three o’clock in the afternoon, the 358th Regiment had arrived at the Tuanchengkou positions.

Chu Yunfei saluted first: “Brother Wang, long time no see, how are you?”

Wang Feng returned the salute with a smile: “Doing well, very well indeed!”

“You, Brother Yunfei, I haven’t seen you in a few days, but your troops seem even more robust!”

The new uniforms, and the rifles, although imitations of the Jinyi Type 65, looked brand new. Truly worthy of an elite reinforced regiment. The aura alone was stronger than his entire brigade.

Truly, Yan Laosi’s favorite son. (Yan Laosi was likely a powerful figure supplying the troops) But it didn’t matter. Once the Xiajiashan village armory started mass producing Type 24 rifles, all problems would be solved. At that time, he would find a way to secure several mines for self-sufficiency.

Chu Yunfei quickly laughed: “Brother Wang, at this critical juncture, let’s not joke around.”

“Men, give our friendly forces 20,000 rounds of ammunition!”

“A small token of our friendship, I hope Brother Wang won’t refuse.”

Wang Feng didn’t refuse; every little bit helps: “Then I won’t stand on ceremony. Thank you, Brother Yunfei!”

Chu Yunfei responded with a smile. Twenty thousand rounds of ammunition were nothing to the elite 358th Regiment. In a major battle, they might expend it all in less than twenty minutes. The temporary First Brigade, having fought for many days, was relatively short on supplies; a timely assistance was far more valuable than an additional layer of help on top of already enough. Using these 20,000 rounds to show favor was a wise move.

After exchanging positions, Wang Feng, riding a chestnut steed, led the remaining 2,500-plus soldiers of the temporary First Brigade along the route designated by the Sixth Group Army. The temporary First Brigade wound their way along the valley, rapidly advancing towards Caijiayu.

That night, a torrential downpour on the Weilai highway in the rear caused flash floods, rendering the roads impassable. Manual cleanup was simply impossible. The front lines desperately needed weapons and ammunition. According to reliable sources, the Fifth Regiment of the Supply Corps would send a transport unit of about a hundred trucks tomorrow to forcibly transport supplies to the front. The 115th Division was scheduled to launch an attack tomorrow.

“Forced march!”

“Ten hours, we must reach Caijiayu!”

Wang Feng pulled on the reins, waving his whip to urge the soldiers onward. Ahead, Zhao Fangyuan, riding a white horse, galloped towards Wang Feng.

“Commander, a telegram from the Sixth Group Army!”

Wang Feng quickly took it and scanned it.

Supplies were arriving. A special approval from Commander Yan. The more Wang Feng read, the more excited he became.

One thousand Jinyi Type 65 rifles, 400,000 rounds of ammunition, over 10,000 grenades, and over 1,500 reserve troops. And six 60mm Jinyi manufactured mortars.

This batch of supplies, transported by a dedicated motor transport unit, was rapidly advancing towards Caijiayu. He could guarantee that this was Yan Laosi’s most generous gesture ever. Wang Feng was almost surprised to not recognize him.

Zhao Fangyuan’s grin was impossible to suppress: “Commander, it looks like we’re really going to get rich!”

Wang Feng folded the telegram and put it in his pocket. As the saying goes, “Unusual events always have hidden reasons.” It seemed Yan Laosi was finally getting desperate. After so many battles without a major victory, the Nanjing government had begun to doubt his competence. While geographically distant, Chiang Kai-shek’s orders did not directly control Yan Laosi, but without war funds, even Yan Laosi’s own resources wouldn’t last long against the Japanese. His desire for victory was likely stronger than anyone else’s.

This desperate attempt to achieve success was likely the reason he was providing so much support to his temporary First Brigade. He probably hoped to cooperate with the 115th Division for a decisive victory at Pingxing Pass.

“This is the most well-supplied battle I’ve ever seen!”

“Quickly, advance! We must reach Caijiayu by one o’clock in the morning!”

(End of Chapter)

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