newbobooks Chapter 54 Operation 8
Chapter 54 Operation 8
While Tang Weiguo's militia was resting, the Eighth Route Army on the other side of the county town was not idle. Zhou Zhengbiao, the Eighth Route Army battalion commander whom Tang Xiaohu had met last time, received news that a small squad of Japanese soldiers was preparing to transport supplies to the Japanese stronghold in Lijiazhuang.
According to intelligence, the transport convoy consisted of about twenty Japanese soldiers and a platoon of puppet troops. After receiving this information, he led his entire battalion of over 300 soldiers to ambush the route to Lijiazhuang.
Since Zhou Zhengbiao benefited from the Tangjia Town militia last time, he smoothly received a batch of puppet army equipment from the Zhaojiahe stronghold, including about 100 old Type 38 rifles and some weapons and ammunition.
To Zhou Zheng-biao's greatest surprise, there was even a dilapidated mortar and dozens of shells. This made Zhou Zheng-biao grin from ear to ear for several days. The battalion's equipment now was a world of difference compared to before.
He distributed these 100-plus rifles to the more skilled soldiers in the battalion, and then formed a separate combat company. This company was the source of Zhou Zheng-biao's confidence in ambushing the Japanese.
"Battalion Commander, the Japanese devils are coming soon," Tie Tou said.
"Everyone, stay hidden and don't let the Japanese find us," Zhou Zheng-biao instructed.
At this moment, in Zhou Zheng Biao's eyes, a transport team consisting of a car and two three-wheeled motorcycles was slowly approaching them.
"Platoon leader, those Japanese devils are really bastards. They want us to provide cover for them from the front and the rear."
"What else can we do? We're just puppet troops. In the eyes of the Japanese, we're nothing but their dogs," the puppet army platoon leader sighed.
Ever since the last attack on the Imperial Army, the Imperial Army still didn't know which unit had launched the attack, causing widespread panic within the puppet troops. They were terrified of encountering this army that dared to attack the Japanese.
"Platoon leader, what should we do if we encounter an attack?" asked a newly joined member of the puppet army.
"Shut your mouth, you jinx. What else can you do? Run or surrender," the puppet army platoon leader said irritably.
"Brothers, be smart! If you encounter the enemy, lie down immediately. If you can run, run away. If you can't, surrender. Your lives are more important."
"Remember, if you can't escape, you must shout 'Chinese people don't fight Chinese people,' understand?"
"Yes, platoon leader, I've got it all."
"Battalion Commander, those Japanese really don't treat their puppet troops like human beings. They're using them as cannon fodder. How are we supposed to fight them?" Tie Tou said with a gloating expression. Letting this son of a bitch be a puppet soldier, a traitor.
"Let them all in. Fight the Japanese first, then the puppet troops," Zhou Zheng-biao said.
"Erzhuzi, didn't you say you were good at firing cannons? Can you aim at those Japanese tricycles and shoot them for me?" Zhou Zhengbiao said to a soldier behind him.
"Battalion Commander, it'll be harder if we fire on the road, but if the Japanese rickshaws stop, I guarantee there won't be any problems," Erzhuzi replied, carefully wiping the cannon barrel.
"Okay, if you hit me, I'll get you a chicken to eat."
"Really?" Erzhuzi's eyes lit up instantly when he heard the battalion commander say that.
"Don't worry, just do your best, but be careful with the shells. We've worked so hard to accumulate this much wealth," Zhou Zheng-biao said with a pained expression.
"Don't worry, Battalion Commander, I'll go prepare now." After saying that, Erzhuzi picked up the mortar, followed by several young Eighth Route Army soldiers.
The puppet troops led the Japanese soldiers slowly into the ambush position that Zhou Zhengbiao had prepared for them.
"Lare." As soon as Zhou Zhengbiao finished speaking, thick smoke billowed from the ranks of the puppet troops and the Japanese soldiers.
"Comrades, give them a good beating!" Gunshots rang out from both sides of the road.
"Holy crap, platoon leader, enemy attack!"
"Take cover! Everyone, get down!" the puppet army platoon leader shouted, lying on the ground.
"Kill the chickens, please." The Japanese soldiers who were attacked did not panic. They organized a defense on the spot. The sound of the landmines exploding had not affected them much, except that a few unlucky puppet soldiers were injured.
The Japanese soldiers, sitting in their tricycles, immediately set up their light machine guns and opened fire on the Eighth Route Army soldiers who were attacking them. Because the Japanese soldiers were very accurate, Zhou Zheng-biao's troops were temporarily suppressed by the Japanese firepower.
Seeing that the Japanese had gained the upper hand, the puppet troops on the side also began to get up from the ground and join the attack on the Eighth Route Army.
"Damn it, those Japanese devils are so damn hard to beat." At this moment, Zhou Zheng Biao was secretly glad that he had encountered the Tangjia Town militia. Otherwise, if he and his men went to attack the Japanese stronghold at Zhaojiahe, what difference would it be from sending them to their deaths?
"Damn it, what are these people from the Tangjia Town militia eating to grow up like this? They're so strong in combat, daring to go head-to-head with the Japanese."
Just as Zhou Zhengbiao was about to look up and observe the battlefield, a burst of bullets flew over his head.
"Damn, those Japanese soldiers are really good at shooting," Zhou Zhengbiao cursed as he squatted in the trench.
"Zhu Zi, is that enough? Bomb them!" Zhou Zheng Biao was anxious as he watched the soldiers around him fall one by one, and hurriedly asked Er Zhu Zi.
"Almost there, Battalion Commander." Erzhuzi hurriedly replied to the battalion commander, as he was carefully adjusting the angle of the mortar.
"Alright. Get ready to fire." Erzhuzi gestured to the soldier next to him to pick up a mortar shell and place it in the muzzle.
"Fire!" The soldier released the shell, which then flew towards the Japanese tricycle with a bang.
With a loud crash, the vehicle and the Japanese soldier were destroyed together. Immediately afterward, Erzhuzi repeated the same move, firing at another Japanese tricycle, but this time he missed, landing beside the tricycle and taking with him a Japanese soldier who was firing a rifle nearby.
"Damn, missed! Let's try again." Erzhuzi readjusted the angle and fired the shell again. This time, without any mishaps, it hit the Japanese soldier who was firing his Type 96 light machine gun.
"Battalion Commander, we hit them all! We hit them all! You'd better prepare two chickens for me tonight!" Erzhuzi shouted excitedly to Zhou Zhengbiao.
"Indispensable for you."
Seeing that the Japanese heavy firepower was gone, Zhou Zhengbiao ordered a charge. In the current situation, the soldiers' marksmanship was too poor, and if they dragged it out any longer, it would be troublesome if the Japanese came to reinforce them.
"Bugler, sound the charge!" As the bugle sounded, the soldiers who had been lying in ambush on both sides of the road leaped up and charged towards the Japanese soldiers.
Tiezhu, carrying a machine gun, charged ahead, suppressing the Japanese soldiers in front of him with firepower.
The remaining platoon leaders scrambled to the side of the Japanese squad leader, Ikeda Taijun.
Ikeda Taikun Masaji was organizing the remaining seven or eight Japanese soldiers to defend the area. Due to the Japanese soldiers' excellent marksmanship, some Eighth Route Army soldiers fell on their way to the charge.
Seeing the approaching Eighth Route Army, Japanese soldier Ikeda decisively ordered a retreat, fighting as they went. In the end, Ikeda escaped with only three or four Japanese soldiers and a squad of puppet troops.
Seeing the Japanese soldiers getting further and further away, Zhou Zheng-biao ordered a halt to the pursuit.
"Damn it, a few Japanese devils still managed to escape." Zhou Zhengbiao said with a regretful expression.
"Battalion Commander, Battalion Commander, we've got it! We've got it! There's flour and canned Japanese food!" Tie Zhu ran to the Japanese transport truck early in the morning to look at the loaded supplies inside.
"Do you have any weapons?" Zhou Zhengbiao asked.
"Commander, there are a few boxes of bullets and grenades," Tie Zhu said with some disappointment as he opened the boxes to check.
"Alright, quickly clean up the battlefield, let's get out of here," Zhou Zheng-biao ordered.
A small squad of soldiers approached from a distance, leading a horse-drawn cart. Zhou Zheng-biao directed the soldiers to load the carts. Seeing that the battlefield was mostly cleared, Zhou Zheng-biao decisively ordered a retreat.
As soon as Zhou Zhengbiao returned to the village, he saw a familiar figure standing at the village entrance. Upon approaching, Zhou Zhengbiao exclaimed in surprise:
"My commander, what brings you here?"