Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 6 A little test

Seeing the bandits chasing after him from the mountain, Tang Weiguo finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Damn it, the fish has finally taken the bait. Bandit, come to my bowl!"

Seeing the bandits chasing after them, Tang Weiguo quickly spoke to a communications soldier beside him.

"The communications officer blows the horn; prepare the defensive positions immediately."

As the bugle call for defense sounded, the soldiers immediately set up defensive positions using horse-drawn carriages as cover, following the preparations made in the exercise.

The heavy machine gun positions were set up in a shorter time than expected for the exercise, and the light machine guns of each squad and platoon, forming interlocking firing points, were already in place as designated. The artillery positions, which had been arranged in advance in the rear, were also completed and ready to fire at any time.

The pursuing bandits had no idea what had happened to the stopped convoy. They only felt that the convoy in front of them was like a delicate and beautiful woman with no strength, waiting for them to come forward and ravage her.

Little did these bandits know that what awaited them was a bloody slaughterhouse.

"Get ready, everyone relax and proceed as usual in training."

"Don't rush, wait until the bandits get close before attacking." Tang Weiguo kept giving orders as he watched the bandits about to charge at him.

"Everything will proceed as planned."

Tang Weiguo kept giving instructions to the soldiers who were going to the battlefield for the first time, helping them to calm down. Although Tang Weiguo was also a little flustered at this moment, this was his first time commanding a battle, having lived two lives.

Seeing the Tang family members hiding behind the carriage, Shang Liangshan felt a growing unease and quickly ordered the bandits to proceed with caution. However, the bandits, already obsessed with their prey, paid no heed to their leader's words and charged towards Tang Weiguo's convoy with loud shouts.

Seeing that the bandits were less than 50 meters from the defensive perimeter, Tang Weiguo decisively ordered them to open fire:

"Soldiers, fire! Fire hard!" Tang Weiguo fired the first shot.

Tang Weiguo's gunshot was a signal, followed by a dense barrage of bullets. Bullets poured from the soldiers' guns, and the concentrated firepower stunned the charging bandits. The bandits at the front fell one after another like leeks being cut down.

At this point, Shang Liangshan could easily see that they had fallen into a trap.

"Damn it, the Tang family has no martial ethics, they actually ambushed an old man like me who is over fifty years old."

"Second Master, you lead the men to attack from the flank. They have fewer men, we have more, we'll wear them down."

"The cannon's fired! Where's our cannon? What are those guys firing the cannons doing?"

"Liu Zi, go to the back and keep an eye on those artillerymen immediately," Shang Liangshan hurriedly issued the order.

...

Back mountain.

"Brothers, aim at the enemy position and fire!" The bandit artillery leader was issuing the order. He had barely finished speaking when a gunshot rang out, and he collapsed unconscious.

"Brothers, the enemy is attacking! Take cover!"

The gunshots seemed to be a signal, and then gunfire erupted from the forest, reaping the lives of bandit gunners one after another.

Just as the bandits on the perimeter were about to attack, the sound of artillery shells cutting through the air came, and mortar shells whistled in, blowing four or five bandits away.

After five minutes of shelling, few bandits remained standing. Niu Dali led the remaining soldiers of the reconnaissance platoon up, and with the cooperation of the sniper squad, they wiped out the bandits in no time.

"This guy dares to call himself an elite force? I swear."

"Fatty, you fucking come over here right now and fire the cannon! I'm going to sneak up on the bandits from behind!" Niu Dali yelled at the fat man who was running up from behind.

"Yes, platoon leader."

"Boss, these guys are too heavily armed. I led my men to charge several times but couldn't get through. I even got bitten by a bullet. We've suffered huge losses," the second-in-command said, running up to him while clutching his arm.

"It seems the enemy came prepared. I ordered the brothers to stop the attack and wait for artillery support. Damn it, what's wrong with that dog? Why isn't he firing yet?" Shang Liangshan was furious.

"Oh no, Boss! The enemy is attacking from behind!" A bandit rushed in from behind in a panic.

"What's going on? Aren't there brothers defending the rear?" Shang Liangshan said angrily, grabbing the bandit soldier who was reporting by the collar.

"A whole company of men came, their firepower is too strong, the brothers can't hold on."

"Useless, a bunch of useless people."

"Boss, something terrible has happened! The artillery position has been taken by the enemy!" Before Xiao Liuzi could finish speaking as he ran over from a distance, they heard the sound of artillery shells whistling in from behind, scattering the bandits in all directions.

"Damn it, that brat from the Tang family, he's made a fool of himself. I'll get my revenge sooner or later. Brothers, let's get out of here."

Seeing that defeat was inevitable, Shang Liangshan immediately ordered a retreat towards the stronghold.

"I, Shang Liangshan, have lived a life of constant anxiety, how could I not have a backup plan? When I return to the stronghold, I can make a comeback." Shang Liangshan secretly sighed that he was glad he had been cautious and left behind some capital.

Seeing the bandits preparing to retreat, Tang Weiguo, not wanting to let his catch escape, immediately ordered all his soldiers to pursue them, forbidding any bandit from getting away.

As Shang Liangshan led his bandits on their escape, their numbers dwindled until they reached the foot of Wolong Mountain, at which point there were fewer than fifty men left.

"Brothers, give it your all! We're almost at the stronghold. We can make a comeback!" Even without Shang Liangshan saying anything, the bandits sped up their escape.

"Platoon leader, the enemy has appeared."

"These bandits are indeed the commander's defeated foe. Tell the soldiers not to let a single one escape." The reconnaissance platoon, which Tang Weiguo had arranged to ambush them on the only road to Black Cloud Mountain, was well prepared for battle.

Upon seeing the bandits running towards them, the platoon leader decisively ordered, "Fire!"

Caught off guard, the bandits were suddenly attacked and routed. Shang Liangshan, who was running at the front, was riddled with bullets.

In the last second before his death, Shang Liangshan was filled with deep regret:

"It was truly a mistake. I have lived my entire life on thin ice, and one slip has caused me eternal regret."

The operation to annihilate the bandits who were descending the mountain soon came to an end. Some of the bandits surrendered, while others were surrounded and annihilated. The operation to wipe out the enemy was successfully completed.

"Tiger, did the leader of Qinglong Village not let him escape?" Tang Weiguo called Tang Xiaohu over.

"The commander is relieved. He was shot to death by the reconnaissance platoon during the breakout. I even had the captured prisoners identify him. He was their leader, no doubt about it."

"Oh, right, commander, we also captured the third leader of the bandits," Tang Xiaohu added.

As he spoke, Tang Xiaohu instructed the soldiers to bring a plump middle-aged man wearing a mink coat to Tang Weiguo. This man was none other than the third leader of the bandits.

As soon as the third leader walked up to Tang Weiguo, he suddenly knelt down before him with a thud, startling Tang Weiguo.

The third leader cried out, "Commander, please don't kill me! I have an elderly mother in her seventies and a baby crying for food. It was that bastard Shang Liangshan who forced me to become a bandit. Actually, I want to be a good person."

The third leader was crying so hard it shook the heavens and the earth. If Tang Xiaohu hadn't been holding him back, the third leader would have almost clung to Tang Weiguo's leg.

A question mark popped into Tang Weiguo's mind.

"How can there be such a shameless person?"

Upon seeing the third leader, Tang Weiguo suddenly had a plan.

"I won't kill you, but you have to do me a favor?"

Upon hearing this, the third leader immediately stopped crying and hurriedly said, "Commander, as long as you don't kill me, I'll help you with anything."

"It's nothing dangerous. As long as you lead us safely into Qinglong Village, we won't kill you. Otherwise, hehe." Tang Weiguo revealed a clear, youthful smile, but in the eyes of the third leader, it was like the smile of the King of Hell.

The third leader hurriedly agreed, "Alright, I'll take everyone there."

"By the way, how many bandits are still in Qinglong Village?" Tang Weiguo asked.

“There are still more than 200 people. The fourth leader is guarding the base,” the third leader replied immediately.

"Okay." Tang Weiguo nodded in satisfaction.

"Tang Dazhuang".

"Here!" Tang Dazhuang rushed over as soon as he heard Tang Weiguo calling him.

"You lead the soldiers of the Second Company, put on bandit clothes, some of them disguise themselves as bandits, and others disguise themselves as bandits and follow the third bandit leader to break through the gate of Qinglong Village. Let us play a trick on them," Tang Weiguo ordered.

"Don't forget to bring a few cartloads of grain," Tang Weiguo instructed.

"Yes!" Tang Dazhuang ordered two soldiers to capture the third leader and head towards Black Cloud Village.

"Tang Xiaohu, clean up the battlefield immediately. We'll camp at Qinglong Village tonight," Tang Weiguo ordered again.

"Yes."

Tang Dazhuang, along with the Second Company members dressed as bandits and the Third Leader, quickly arrived at the gate of Qinglong Village.

"Behave yourself, or I'll shoot you."

Tang Dazhuang followed closely behind the third leader, pointing his gun and saying.

"Yes, yes," the third leader hurriedly replied in fear.

The third leader shouted to the bandits upstairs, "Zhao Gouzi, I'm back! Open the door!"

Zhao Gouzi, standing on the city wall, asked, "Third Master, where is the First Master?"

"The chief is planning to rob Tangjia Town. The Tangjia gang is neither good-looking nor useful. Let me take the grain back to the stronghold first."

After saying that, the third leader pointed to the grain behind him.

"What was that gunshot just now?"

“A few prisoners tried to escape, but I killed them,” the third leader said, pointing to the prisoners behind him.

"Zhao Gouzi, open the door now, are you itching for a beating? I still want to prepare a victory celebration banquet for the boss."

"Alright, Third Master." Zhao Gouzi ordered his men to open the door.

Tang Dazhuang quietly gave the order: once inside, immediately take control of the gate and the firing positions. The second platoon of soldiers, disguised as bandits, were already prepared for battle.

As the gates of the stronghold slowly opened, Tang Dazhuang led the third leader inside.

"Don't move!" The second platoon rushed in and immediately took control of the bandits at the door. Zhao Gouzi upstairs noticed something was wrong and hurriedly prepared to lead his brothers in a counterattack.

Zhao Gou was shot dead by Tang Dazhuang before he could even draw his gun. The other bandits who were preparing to follow Zhao Gouzi in rebellion were also killed by the soldiers of the second platoon.

"You think you can fight me? You really think my gun is just for show?" Tang Dazhuang glanced at him.

"Zhao Gouzi dares to defy Platoon Leader Tang; he's practically asking for trouble," the third leader flattered from the side.

"You stay put and behave yourself." Tang Dazhuang didn't even glance at the third leader.

"All squads and platoons, quickly occupy all parts of the mountain stronghold and eliminate the remaining bandits," Tang Dazhuang ordered.

Where to fire?

The fourth leader, who was left behind in the stronghold, heard the gunshots and led his men out of the Hall of Heroes, only to be wiped out by the soldiers of the Second Company guarding the entrance.

With all the bandit leaders dead, the remaining bandits surrendered, and the Second Company easily took control of Black Cloud Village.

Upon receiving news from Tang Dazhuang that Qinglong Village had been captured, Tang Weiguo also arrived at Qinglong Village with his guard squad.

"Tang Dazhuang, organize the soldiers to thoroughly clean up the battlefield. Make sure you search carefully and find all the bandits' belongings. Qinglong Village has been entrenched for so long, there must be some good stuff there."

"Niu Dali, where is Niu Dali? Let Niu Dali lead the reconnaissance platoon to come and help."

"Yes, Captain."