Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 48 Signal for War

"Hey, Company Commander Zhao, did you lose some of your weapons while running?" Tang Xiaohu asked as he ran.

"Battalion Commander Tang, don't worry, there won't be any problems. I've told the cooks to throw away their cooking utensils."

“Okay, very good. I’ll have your battalion commander give you a commendation.”

"Will Battalion Commander Tang's suggestion be of any use?"

"The tactics used by our ancestors are not easy to use against the Japanese devils."

"Battalion Commander Tang, we've reached the ambush site."

"Alright, order the soldiers to slow down and lure the Japanese devils over."

"Yes, Battalion Commander Tang."

"Damn it, this Chinese army is too fast. Even armored vehicles can't catch up with them. They have no Bushido spirit at all. The Chinese army is cowardly and easily defeated," Ono-sama said contemptuously.

"Gou Dongxi's puppet troops were actually defeated by this Chinese army. It's a disgrace to our empire. When I get back, I will definitely report to Commander Fujino and teach Gou Dongxi a lesson. These puppet troops are a bunch of useless trash, not even as good as our empire's military dogs."

Ono-sama looked at Gou Dongxi's collaborators with utter contempt. If it weren't for the policy of using Chinese to control Chinese, Ono-sama would have shot Gou Dongxi dead long ago.

"Ono-kun, you're right. According to the reports from the pursuing Imperial soldiers, the enemy lost all their weapons in their hasty escape, and one small squad even found a large cooking pot used by the Chinese army."

"Yoshi, they've been terrified by the warriors of our empire."

"Company Commander Ono, the Chinese army is full of this fighting force. I believe we will soon bring China into the empire's territory," said Squad Leader Murakami with a fanatical expression.

"Murakami-kun, you're right. Let this land become the territory of the Empire and realize His Majesty the Emperor's great cause." Ono-kun's face was equally fervent.

"Signal soldier, notify the troops to accelerate the pursuit, break out of this area, and head towards the Longting stronghold. Notify the forward assault team to maintain vigilance and prevent the Chinese army from having any hidden plans."

"Hay."

"Mr. Murakami, we must be extra careful as we approach the final stage. There is an old Chinese saying that if you walk by the river long enough, you are bound to get your shoes wet. We must be extra careful and not let our boat capsize in the ditch."

"Hai, I will immediately notify the troops to continue to strengthen vigilance."

"Order the supervisory team to make the puppet troops keep up with us." Ono-sama felt a surge of anger as he saw the puppet troops slowly advancing behind the Japanese.

"Hai." Another communications soldier turned and ran back.

"Continue advancing. Notify the artillery detachment to continue providing illumination," Ono-ta-kun then ordered.

"Hay."

Following Ono's orders, the Japanese mortar units fired flares into the sky at regular intervals to ensure that the Japanese advance was illuminated.

Tang Weiguo, who was standing on the mountain observing the battlefield, was startled when he suddenly saw the Japanese flares being fired.

"Damn, these Japanese devils are really well-equipped, they even have TND flares, they really came prepared."

"The Japanese devils are cunning. During their attack, they didn't forget to force the puppet troops to follow them. They really made the most of the puppet troops' role as cannon fodder."

Seeing the Japanese soldiers' actions, Tang Weiguo immediately changed his previous battle plan and spoke to Li Debao, the only battalion commander left behind.

"Li Debao, you will now lead the Third Battalion to outflank the Japanese. Once Niu Dali detonates the explosives, you will immediately lead the Third Battalion to infiltrate through the border between the Japanese and the puppet troops and cut off their communication."

"First, find a way to eliminate the Japanese soldiers who are supervising the battle. The remaining puppet troops are not worth mentioning. They have been scared by Tang Xiaohu and his men. You only need to send a small team to intercept these puppet troops."

"They were used as cannon fodder by the Japanese just now. As long as their puppet army captain isn't an idiot, they won't risk their lives to support the Japanese. They'll just put on an act."

"Then, your Third Battalion will immediately lead the main force to attack from the rear of the Japanese. This time, we'll trap them and beat them in the act," Tang Weiguo said coldly.

"Yes, Commander," Li Debao replied.

“Your battalion’s artillery company will stay here and follow you, affecting your assault speed.”

"Yes, Commander." After Tang Weiguo finished explaining the mission, Li Debao led the Third Battalion to outflank the Japanese from the rear.

Opposite Tang Weiguo, four battalions of Sichuan soldiers led by Zhou Liansheng were lying in ambush.

"Company commander, no, battalion commander, they fought really hard just now, they made those traitors run all over the place," Sun Wukong said.

"The puppet troops are not worth mentioning. Our main opponent is still the Japanese. They even used flares. Our Sichuan soldiers have suffered countless losses because of the Japanese flares."

Zhou Liansheng realized that once the Japanese flares were used, their tactics of attacking the Japanese at night would be greatly weakened, and countless Sichuan soldiers were shot dead by the Japanese flares.

"Notify the brothers to hide well, and don't let the Japanese find us," Zhou Liansheng ordered.

"When the battle begins, tell the brothers to fight the enemy well and show the commander and the others the strength of the Sichuanese gangs. Otherwise, we will be letting down the weapons the commander has given our battalion."

Since the Sichuan soldiers were formed into a separate battalion, Tang Weiguo equipped all of them with the remaining Shanxi-made Type 38 rifles that had been replaced by the other battalions 1 and 2, and even assigned machine guns to the combat squads of the 4th Battalion.

Not only that, Tang Weiguo also equipped them with five mortars. Old Yang, who came from an artillery background, was overjoyed. He even wanted to sleep with the mortars close to him like he was holding his wife.

Heaven has mercy on them; when did their entire battalion become equipped with such powerful firepower? The regimental commander even promised that once they captured more Japanese equipment, they would equip all their men with Japanese gear. The entire Sichuanese comrade of the Fourth Battalion immediately felt a surge of camaraderie and a desire to serve their comrades.

"Brothers, we've never fought such a rich battle before. When the time comes, we must fight hard and then immediately charge into the battlefield to beat the Japanese devils and show the spirit of our Sichuan soldiers."

"Cough cough cough, Battalion Commander, the Regiment Commander said we're not allowed to charge indiscriminately. If we can kill the Japanese on the position, we should kill them on the position. If we really want to charge, we have to wait for the Regiment Commander's order," Sun Wukong said.

"Yes, Sun Wukong is right. Now that we're rich, we can't fight like before. We must follow the commander's orders." Zhou Liansheng almost forgot the commander's instructions. If he didn't listen to the commander, how could he improve in the future?

Zhou Liansheng is now extremely eager to improve.

At the forefront of the ambush position, Niu Dali led the soldiers of the First Company of the Special Reconnaissance Company, who lay in ambush on both sides of the road at the bottom of the valley, preparing to pull the rope to detonate the explosives that had been planted beforehand.

To ensure the Japanese soldiers' ascent to heaven, Niu Dali buried nearly 200 kilograms of explosives, just waiting for them to arrive.

Niu Dali haggled with Bi Shoucai for a long time to get so much explosives, and in the end, the regimental commander gave him special permission to take them out of the warehouse. While Niu Dali was taking them, Bi Shoucai grumbled about how wasteful he was.

"Everyone, take cover! The Japanese armored vehicles are coming soon!" Niu Dali heard the roar of approaching cars.

When Niu Dali saw the Japanese armored vehicles driving into the blast zone, he immediately gave the order:

"Detonate."

As soon as Niu Dali finished speaking, the four Japanese armored personnel carriers were engulfed in an explosion. Because Niu Dali had planted enough explosives, the shockwave from the blast lifted the four vehicles into the air. The already fragile outer armor of the vehicles was no match for the explosion, shattering into pieces. Niu Dali didn't even need to look to know that the Japanese soldiers inside were definitely dead.

The sound of the explosives seemed to be a signal; Ono's company was suddenly subjected to gunfire from all directions. In an instant, Ono's company suffered heavy casualties.

"Damn it! The enemy is incredibly cunning; they even have troops lying in ambush." ​​Ono-tai-kun had long lost his previous composure.

"Murakami-kun, retreat immediately and rendezvous with the puppet troops behind you," Ono-ta-kun hurriedly ordered.

"Smoke grenades for cover!" Squad leader Murakami quickly ordered the Japanese soldiers to throw smoke grenades into the retreating area to provide cover.

"Damn it, they even used smoke bombs! They think they can get away with something that's already in my hands? No way!"

"Sound the charge, signal the whole regiment to charge! We'll overwhelm them with bullets!"

"Battalion Commander, the bugle call to charge has sounded," Sun Wukong reminded him.

"I've been waiting for this for ages! My sword is itching for a fight! Brothers, charge!" Zhou Liansheng leaped to his feet.