Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 131 The Three Reunite

"Commander, good news, good news! Deputy Commander Zhang has captured the Sanjiaji stronghold!" Li Qin reported to Tang Weiguo immediately after receiving the intelligence from Zhang Haoshan.

"very good."

"Now all the obstacles on our way back have been cleared. Our only current difficulty is the Japanese reinforcements in Sanjiaji."

"Li Qin, immediately send a telegram to Zhang Haoshan, first congratulating them on successfully capturing the Sanjiaji outpost and clearing the way for the militia's transport team."

"Secondly, we hope they will carry forward the spirit of not being afraid of hardship or sacrifice. We order Deputy Regiment Commander Zhang to immediately set up a blocking position at the original ambush location. We must intercept the reinforcing Japanese troops on their last line of defense and ensure that the militia logistics troops can pass through the Sanjiaji stronghold smoothly."

"Yes, Commander." Li Qin, who had made the note, immediately sent out the telegram.

"Deputy Regiment Commander, the Regiment Commander has sent a telegram," Staff Officer Sun shouted to Zhang Haoshan, who was directing the cleanup of the battlefield.

"What did the commander say?" Zhang Haoshan asked.

"The regimental commander congratulated us on the successful capture of Sanjiaji and ordered us to immediately proceed to the original ambush position to intercept the Japanese reinforcements."

"Deputy Regiment Commander, this is the original telegram." Staff Officer Sun handed the original telegram to Zhang Haoshan.

"Immediately forward the original telegram to the troops," Zhang Haoshan said to Staff Officer Sun after reading it.

"Yes, Captain."

"Communicator, notify the Eighth Company to clean up the battlefield and clear the roads. The rest of the troops should assemble immediately and follow me."

"Yes, Vice Captain."

"The Eighth Company is to clean up the battlefield; the rest of the troops are to assemble immediately!" the communications officer shouted as he ran.

The soldiers who were cleaning up, except for those from the Eighth Company, quickly put down their work and regrouped with their respective units.

The troops were assembled in no time.

"Reporting to Deputy Regiment Commander Zhang, the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Companies, the artillery battalion, and the two mountain artillery companies that just arrived from Wolong Mountain have all assembled and are awaiting your instructions."

"Depart immediately, target: ambush position."

"Yes." Zhang Haoshan then led his soldiers toward the ambush position.

On the other side, Tang Xiaohu led the retreating team to a point on the Juma River and met up with Li Debao, Zhang Liansheng, and Niu Dali.

"Little Tiger, we can fight side by side again this time!" Niu Dali said happily.

"This time, in order to maintain unified command, we will follow your orders as before," Li Debao said.

"Xiao Hu, the ammunition you requested has been transported over by the logistics department and is currently stored in the back," Zhou Liansheng said.

"Great! The deputy battalion commander will immediately lead everyone to replenish ammunition. We can use this time to rest and recuperate. The wounded will be handed over to the logistics department so they can be transferred to the local hospital immediately."

"Yes, Battalion Commander." The deputy battalion commander received Tang Xiaohu's order and hurriedly led the troops over.

"Dali, how's the construction of our positions around the Juma River going?" Tang Xiaohu asked hurriedly after giving instructions.

“Although the Juma River is called a river, it only has water in spring, summer and autumn. In winter, the river dries up, so it’s just a larger trench for us. We only had time to build a simple position on one side of the Juma River,” Tang Dazhuang said.

"In addition, we have laid landmines at the bottom of the river to prevent the Japanese from quickly breaking through the Juma River line," Li Debao said.

“You’ve done a great job. Time is indeed too tight. The purpose of setting up an extra line of defense here is to buy more time,” Tang Xiaohu said.

"How did you arrange your positions?"

"I'll be in charge of defending the front line, Li Debao will be in charge of the left flank, and Zhou Liansheng will be in charge of the right flank," Tang Dazhuang said.

“Alright, I’ll take the remaining troops as reserves and be ready to support you at any time. Also, my artillery company suffered no losses, and once we’ve replenished our ammunition, they can provide us with artillery support,” Tang Xiaohu said.

"That's great! We were just worried about not having artillery cover," Tang Dazhuang added.

"The regimental commander instructed that we would only hold off one wave of Japanese attacks before retreating immediately. Sanjiaji behind us would be our final defensive position."

"With the four of us from the militia here, we can stop the enemy twice by working together," Tang Dazhuang said confidently.

"Dazhuang, obey the regimental commander's orders. We cannot fight the Japanese head-on; we must preserve our strength to the greatest extent possible."

"Yes."

"While there is still time, everyone should continue to repair the position and ensure the safety of the soldiers and personnel."

"Yes." After saying that, the three of them walked towards their respective positions.

After quickly handing over the mission, Tang Xiaohu heard the sound of gunfire in the distance and knew that the Independent Regiment was helping them stop the Japanese advance.

"Damn it, do those Japanese have no money for artillery shells? With their artillery clearing the way, all the mines we laid are useless." Li Yunfei was furious when he saw the Japanese using artillery to clear a path, but there was nothing he could do. Because the Japanese artillery positions were tightly surrounded, he couldn't send troops to raid them.

"Reporting to the Commander, the minefield on the road has been cleared," the staff officer reported.

"Order Aoki Squadron to launch an immediate attack on the Eighth Route Army ahead," Ikeda Maken ordered.

"Yes."

"In addition, I ordered the engineers to repair the roads."

"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander."

"The Japanese have finished their artillery barrage; now it's our turn." Li Yunfei said, watching the Japanese soldiers attacking their position.

"Old Li, the other side only sent one company of Japanese soldiers. It seems they think they can take us down!" Zhao Xiaogang said.

"Oh. I thought they would send puppet troops, but I didn't expect the Japanese to attack us. It seems they still value us quite a bit."

"It would be impolite not to reciprocate. The Japanese are taking us so seriously; if we don't wipe them out, we'll be letting them down," Li Yunfei said coldly.

"Listen up, all of you! No firing a shot is allowed without my order. Pass it down to the next person," Li Yunfei commanded.

"Yes, Captain."

"Zhou Zheng-biao, it's all up to your battalion this time. Don't let me down at this crucial moment," Li Yunfei shouted at Zhou Zheng-biao.

"Yes, Captain, I promise to complete the mission."

"100 meters, 80 meters," Li Yunfei calculated the attack distance. When he saw that the Japanese soldiers were 50 meters away from the position, Li Yunfei fired a shot at the Japanese soldier in front of him.

"Call me."

Following Li Yunfei's order, the soldiers of the Independent Regiment opened fire on the Japanese. With the extra ammunition supplied by the militia, they were undeterred, and bullets rained down on the Japanese. The Independent Regiment's artillery company also opened fire, covering the attacking Japanese troops.

"Baka yarou! Kuroda Company, immediately launch a flanking attack!" Ikeda Maken, who was observing the battlefield, immediately thought that this unit might be a local militia in disguise. The Eighth Route Army didn't have such strong combat capabilities.

This idea went through Masatoshi Ikeda's mind again and again. He became more and more certain that his speculation was correct, and decisively sent more troops to prepare to take the position in one fell swoop.

"Commander, those bastards have sent troops to attack my right flank."

"Good timing! Battalion Commander, immediately lead men to reinforce the right flank."

"Yes."

"Today I will show the might of our Eighth Route Army here," Li Yunfei said resolutely.

I wonder if Li Yunfei will feel like vomiting blood when he finds out that Ikeda Masaki considers them a militia.