Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 32 Keeping Your Word and Returning Favors
After receiving Chen Chengxing's order, Xu Wu immediately assembled his troops and quickly returned to Hongni Bay.

"Captain, where should we attack?" Xu Wu asked excitedly.

Xu Wu did not notice any tension on the way back, which meant that the base was not under attack.

Since it’s not the base that’s being attacked, then it must be an attack on someone else.

"Zhang family meeting." Chen Chengxing said.

"Zhang Family Association? That security group?" Xu Wu reacted immediately.

"You know?" Chen Chengxing asked in surprise.

"When I was recruiting soldiers in the village north of Hongniwan, I heard from the locals that there was a mountain road leading to the Pingluo Highway. I led some people up there, and it was less than 15 miles from the exit to Zhangjiahui."

"The Zhang Family Society's security team does all kinds of evil on a daily basis, and there is no one in that area who doesn't hate them," Xu Wu explained.

"It looks like we have one more reason to take action."

Chen Chengxing stood up and ordered: "Let's go!"

Since there was a small road that led directly to the highway, Chen Chengxing naturally canceled his original plan of taking a detour and instead led the first battalion straight to Zhangjiahui.

It is indeed very fast to take the small road. The total distance from Hongniwan to Zhangjiahui is less than 20 kilometers.

Chen Chengxing led the team to set off at noon, and before 3 pm, the troops arrived at Beiwan Village, less than 2 kilometers away from Zhangjiahui.

Although there are two characteristics that contributed to this, this situation still aroused Chen Chengxing's vigilance.

If we can take this road, the Japanese will naturally be able to take this road in the future. If the Japanese launch a sneak attack from this road, the New Second Regiment will be caught off guard and may not be able to react.

Especially in the future, the Japanese will have a Yamamoto Special Forces.

"Xu Wu."

"Captain." When Xu Wu heard Chen Chengxing calling him, he hurried over.

"After you go back, you will set up the headquarters of the first battalion in Shuangjing Village and guard this 10-mile-long mountain road to prevent the Japanese from sneaking into the base from this place." Chen Chengxing ordered.

The path was winding and full of mountain passes. A company of soldiers could easily block a full-strength battalion of the Japanese.

"Yes!"

Xu Wu had no objection to this order. It didn't matter which direction they developed. After reaching Pingluo Highway from this mountain road, there were a large number of villages on the east, west and north sides. Moreover, Ping'an County was 30 miles to the east, which was very convenient.

At this moment, the scout who had gone out suddenly ran back and reported: "Captain, we have caught two soldiers of the Zhang Family Security Corps who were doing evil in Beiwan Village."

Upon hearing that the security team members had been captured, Chen Chengxing immediately said, "Let's go and take a look."

This is a great opportunity to understand the specific situation of the Kang family.

In Beiwan Village, Chen Chengxing looked at the two embarrassed soldiers squatting on the ground and asked curiously, "What happened?"

"Captain, when we arrived, we happened to see these two guys about to bully women. We couldn't help it and beat them up." said the sentry on the side.

"Oh" Chen Chengxing just said "oh".

No matter how we deal with such scum, it's never too late.

"Separate the two of them and let them confess the Zhang Family Society. Then compare the confessions. Whoever says less will be shot." Chen Chengxing waved his hand and signaled Xu Wu to take the two away. Faced with the threat of death, the two naturally told everything they knew. Not only did they tell the security team's deployment clearly, but they even told Liang Zhenxing what he liked to eat and which secret door he usually visited.

Looking at the two confessions in his hands, Chen Chengxing didn't expect that Liang Zhenxing also knew a little about military strategy.

Because Zhangjiahui was located at the turning point of the Pingluo Highway, Liang Zhenxing placed two battalions on two high grounds on the west side so that they could form cross-fire to block the entire highway.

Another camp was stationed on the back mountain of Zhangjiahui, blocking the road behind Zhangjiahui to prevent a sneak attack from here, and through this mountain road, they could go directly to Liangzhuang.

As for the headquarters of the security corps, it was set up in the ancestral hall in the center of Zhangjiahui. The ancestral hall was built of stone and was very easy to defend.

As for the tablets originally in the ancestral hall, they naturally left tactfully.

Liang Zhenxing was also willing to spend money on weapons. A security regiment of less than 500 people had one Maxim heavy machine gun and six Czech-made machine guns. Ordinary soldiers were also equipped with all-Hanyang-made machine guns. This equipment was even more luxurious than that of the First Battalion, which only had Czech-made and Type 6 rifles, but no heavy machine guns.

"Where did Liang Zhenxing get these equipments?" Chen Chengxing asked.

The Hanyang-made machine gun is easy to buy. You can just go to the arsenal and buy it. The ex-factory price is 40 dollars, and it is fair to everyone. But the Czech light machine gun and the Maxim heavy machine gun are not simple to buy. They are not something that ordinary people can get.

"These two people said that Liang Zhenxing bought it during the Northern Expedition. At that time, many warlords' soldiers would steal the troops' weapons and sell them. A Czech-style machine gun could be sold for 1100 oceans. After the machine gunner sold it secretly, he could become a rich peasant when he returned home." Xu Wu explained.

"This Liang Zhenxing knows how to find the opportunity." Chen Chengxing threw the confessions of the two men aside.

"Drag out the one who speaks less and stab him to death." Chen Chengxing ordered.

After all, this place is not far from the Zhang family association, so if you can avoid using shooting, then don't use it. Therefore, although Chen Chengxing mentioned shooting before, it does not mean that shooting is really necessary. Using a bayonet can also produce the same effect.

"What about the other one?" Xu Wu asked.

"Tie his hands and let him stand in front to block bullets when we attack the Zhang Family Society. If he can survive standing, spare his life." Chen Chengxing said after thinking for a while.

The most important thing in life is to keep your word and to repay kindness. If you say you won’t be shot, then so be it, but I spared your life. You should be grateful, right?
If you can survive the hail of bullets, then everyone will be cleared.

"Yes!"

Xu Wu and his men dragged the crying security soldiers out of the village.

After Xu Wu came back, Chen Chengxing did not lead the team to set off directly, but decided to rest in the village and wait until dark to attack Zhangjiahui at night.

According to the confession just now, although Liang Zhenxing is a capable man, the soldiers under his command are useless.

Liang Zhenxing placed two camps on the hill west of Zhangjiahui, but no one was serious about their responsibilities. On weekdays, everyone stayed in their houses playing cards and gambling, or smoking opium and playing with women. There was never even anyone on guard.

In this case, a night attack could save Chen Chengxing from a lot of unnecessary trouble.

If they coordinate properly, the four companies of the first battalion can attack Liang Zhenxing's four battalions and the headquarters of the security regiment at the same time.

If done well, a single charge can end the battle.

However, although Chen Chengxing decided to take a rest and wait for dark, it did not mean that he was unprepared.

Chen Chengxing not only sent an observation post to Zhangjiahui, but also arranged for sentries to control all exits of Beiwan Village.

After all, this place is unfamiliar to me. Who knows if there are people here who are loyal to Liang Zhenxing? It is better to be careful.

(End of this chapter)