Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 12 Suspicious tactics
The logistics and supply battalion of the 5th Division received the order from Division Commander Seishirō Itagaki.

In order to keep his official hat, the captain immediately organized all the mobile forces to clear out the scattered Jinsui Army.

However, due to the complex mountainous terrain, this Chinese army was as slippery as a loach.

It is difficult to locate its specific location in the vast mountains.

So they guarded all the important transportation routes in Wei County.

Waiting for this force to take the initiative to come out.

Wei County is located in the center of the valley, with flat terrain all around.

There is nothing to obstruct the view.

Once out of the mountainous area, the 414th Regiment was exposed to the Japanese army.

Therefore, Wang Feng thought quickly and led his troops to suddenly change direction when they were about to reach the exit of the mountain.

Head west towards Guangling County.

But just after leading the troops for a few miles, they were surrounded and blocked by the follow-up Japanese troops.

In the mountains west of Guangling

In the dense forest, the soldiers are taking a short rest.

Zhao Fangyuan spread the map on the ground and started gesturing on it.

"Commander, the current situation is very complicated."

"The scouts just came back to report that a Japanese squadron is blocking the main traffic route to our right front."

"There is another Japanese squadron in the left front, slowly advancing towards our direction."

"There are three Japanese squadrons chasing us from behind. They are currently about two kilometers away from here."

Wang Feng raised his eyebrows slightly, and was very optimistic: "It seems that we are going to be taken over by the devils."

Five Japanese squadrons.

More than a thousand devils.

What a generous gesture!

If they were placed on the front battlefield, these one thousand Japanese soldiers might be able to chase down an entire brigade of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army.

Now it is used to besiege his regiment.

What a luxury!
It seems that the constant harassment of the Fifth Division's supply lines over the past few days has indeed annoyed the Japanese.

"Go, call Zhang Hu over to me."

"Yes."

Wang Feng pondered over a countermeasure.

The troops have lost a lot of manpower due to the continuous fighting in recent days.

Currently, there are only about a thousand soldiers in the entire regiment who can still participate in the battle.

But a lot of equipment was captured along the way, enough to expand the troops to 3,000 people.

Zhang Hu came running over in a hurry, carrying a machete on his back.

"Commander, you called me?"

Wang Feng waved his hand: "Come, come and look at the map."

"Ok!"

"We are currently facing five pursuing enemy troops, but we can actually consider them as three."

"This first group of troops is the pursuers who have been following closely behind us."

"But these devils are very stupid. We don't need to worry about them at all. We can easily shake them off."

Wang Feng explained it in detail to Zhang Hu.

The three-dimensional combat map in his mind is simply a powerful weapon in mountain warfare.

There is no need to worry about getting lost or being chased.

No matter whether it is a narrow path or terrain that is not marked on the map, you can see it clearly.

Just by relying on this point, Wang Feng made the three squadrons of Japanese soldiers behind him stunned.

Really playing with it in the palm of your hand.

"This troop in the right front is stationed in place, which means that if we don't take this road, we won't encounter them."

Zhang Hu reacted for a moment and then nodded.

"I think I understand. Commander, do you want me to kill these devils?"

As he spoke, he pointed to the front left of the map, where the troop was slowly approaching.

Wang Feng shook his head: "No."

"What I want is for you to turn around and attack the pursuers behind you."

After hearing this, Zhang Hu nodded without thinking: "Okay." "I guarantee to complete the task!"

"The battle situation is urgent, I'm leaving now!"

As he said this, he was about to get up and leave, and gave the order to assemble the troops.

Zhao Fangyuan was a little puzzled, but he just lowered his head and thought without asking any questions.

The commander must have his reasons for doing this.

It's just that I haven't seen through it yet.

The leader said that when doing things, we should ask less and think more.
Wang Feng grabbed Zhang Hu and said, "Don't leave yet. I haven't finished talking yet."

"The only Japanese army unit that has come into contact with us so far is the one behind us."

"The Japanese troops in front of us are moving towards us based on the general direction provided by other troops."

"You are leading a battalion. Remember, you can only harass the Japanese through mobile warfare."

"Let the Japanese troops behind you mistakenly believe that your first battalion is the main force."

"Then lead all the devils to this place."

As he spoke, Wang Feng drew a circle on the map.

That is a valley bottom, about 1.5 kilometers away from here.

He checked it using a three-dimensional combat map.

This is a gourd-shaped valley.

The entrance is narrow and the inside is wide.

Best suited for ambushes.

That's right.

What Wang Feng was thinking about was not how to evacuate safely, but how to annihilate the Japanese army.

If we just leave like this, wouldn't it be a waste of this great advantage of mountain warfare?

He has no shortage of soldiers, and once he breaks out of the Japanese encirclement, he can recruit soldiers at any time.

What he really lacked was weapons and equipment.

The small workshop in Xiajiashan Village has limited output and can barely supply the current strength of one regiment.

But Wang Feng’s ambition is more than just one regiment.

"I have taught you mobile warfare and the strategy of confusing the enemy with a false front. Don't tell me you have forgotten!"

Zhang Hu grinned: "I remember it!"

"The trick Zhang Yide used at Dangyang Bridge?"

Wang Feng waved his hand and said, "Alright, stop doing those useless things and set off immediately."

"My subordinate understands!"

After sending Zhang Hu away, Wang Feng continued.

"Once the first battalion is exposed, it will definitely attract all the attention of the Japanese."

"The main force will ambush at the designated location first, occupy all key locations, and lay minefields in the valley."

"We'll wait for the Japanese to take the bait!"

Zhao Fangyuan suddenly realized: "The commander is wise!"

Wang Feng smiled calmly: "After we defeat this group of devils, we will continue to head south to Lingqiu."

These days, the 414th Regiment has been running back and forth in this mountainous area like a headless fly.

It has been repeatedly harassing several key supply transportation lines of the Japanese army.

This is not a long-term situation.

According to currently available reliable intelligence, Lingqiu in the south is still stubbornly resisting the Japanese army.

Wang Feng wanted to try his luck there.

Take the opportunity to replenish a wave of troops.

"Which unit is stationed in Lingqiu?"

“They were able to resist the Japanese for so long.”

Zhao Fangyuan thought about it and said uncertainly: "I think I've heard of it."

"The unit number should be called 358th Regiment?"

"I remember that it was a reinforced regiment with about 5,000 people. I met the chief of staff of their unit once during a general military meeting."

"He is very proud."

(End of this chapter)