Sword of Light: Humanoid Self-Propelled Artillery

Chapter 140 Operational Autonomy

Despite the distance, Wang Gensheng arrived the next day.

There was nothing they could do; he was at least a deputy commander-level regimental commander, yet he had never even met a deputy commander or deputy army commander.

I'd guess Wang Gensheng was the only one among all the regimental commanders in the entire Eighth Route Army!

After all, in the entire Eighth Route Army, those who could become regimental commanders were at least soldiers who had crossed the grasslands.

“Eighth Route Army, Cavalry Regiment Directly Under the Army, Commander Wang Gensheng reporting for duty.”

Wang Gensheng's report silenced the discussions in the command room, and everyone turned to look at Wang Gensheng standing at the door.

However, although the discussion in the command room was interrupted, it did not cause the slightest dissatisfaction. One of them stepped forward and said:

"Eighth Route Army, Deputy Commander welcomes you."

Before Wang Gensheng could say anything, she pulled him aside and said:

"You've come at the right time! We were just discussing your decapitation operation in Taiyuan City! Now that you, the person involved, have arrived, tell us about it! How did you come up with the idea to attack Taiyuan City?"

Wang Gensheng looked at the expectant gazes of the people in the command room, and his heart raced. However, having experienced numerous battles, he had personally killed so many Japanese soldiers that he had almost lost count. So he immediately calmed down and said:
"Reporting to everyone on the first battle, the idea of ​​attacking Taihara and capturing Yoshio Shinotsuka alive actually came about three years ago during the Battle of Yangcun. At that time, I was still in the Independent Regiment, and I was very shocked to face the Yamamoto Special Forces, who were all equipped with submachine guns and were extremely good at night fighting."

After Commander Kong Jie and Commander Li Yunlong deduced that Yamamoto's special forces' real target was actually our command post, I had a plan to retaliate in kind and also form an elite force to launch a surprise attack on the Japanese command post...

Although Wang Gensheng spoke at length, everyone in the Eighth Route Army command listened with great interest.

I'm quite curious about Wang Gensheng's methods for forming and training special forces.

"So when I learned from the telegram that the Japanese were all supporting Ping'an County, and then discovered that almost all the Japanese in Taihara City had also been mobilized to support Ping'an County, I realized that this was an excellent opportunity to attack Taihara and capture Yoshio Shinotsuka alive."

Wang Gensheng explained in great detail, covering everything from how to form a special operations team to the methods of attack. The deputy commander affirmed this.

"Your judgment is very sharp, and your combat style is very bold. Do you think there is a chance that your method can be promoted throughout the army to enhance our military strength?"

However, when faced with the deputy commander's idea of ​​expanding Wang Gensheng's special forces team, Wang Gensheng shook his head and said:
“Deputy Commander, forming a special operations team isn’t easy. Special operations teams have very high requirements for combat equipment. For example, a major reason why your special operations team is so effective and has such low casualties is because we’re equipped with bulletproof vests and helmets!” As he spoke, Wang Gensheng removed his military cap, bulletproof vest, and bulletproof arm and leg guards. At this moment, a military staff officer stepped forward and weighed Wang Gensheng’s bulletproof gear in his hand, saying:

"My God, this set of bulletproof gear must weigh at least 80 or 90 pounds! Does everyone in your special forces team fight in this gear?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Gensheng shook his head and said:
"No, right now, in the entire special forces team, only I and someone who has practiced martial arts since childhood are wearing this kind of bulletproof gear. The rest of the soldiers are wearing bulletproof vests with bulletproof helmets and bulletproof masks. They are not equipped with bulletproof limbs. However, even so, the weight of their equipment has reached 40 pounds. Add weapons and ammunition, and the average soldier's load is 70 or 80 pounds. So with such a heavy load, all special forces soldiers must be cavalry, otherwise they simply cannot move! Therefore, to form special forces soldiers, at the very least, we must first form cavalry, otherwise it is meaningless."

Upon hearing Wang Gensheng's words, everyone in the command room fell silent. The deputy commander also abandoned the idea of ​​promoting it throughout the army, and said regretfully:
"Hearing what you say, it seems there's no chance to expand it across the entire army. Right now, our Eighth Route Army doesn't have many cavalry, and more importantly, we lack radios. So, a large number of warhorses are being used as communication horses. Therefore, it seems your special operations regiment won't be able to expand in the short term. Of course, if you have the ability to expand, then I won't object!"

Upon hearing the deputy commander's words, especially the mention of expansion, Wang Gensheng's eyes immediately lit up:

"Deputy Commander, does that mean I have autonomy in operations?"

"Your reaction is quick, not bad. Given the special nature of your special cavalry regiment, the command has decided to grant you operational autonomy. However, you can't act recklessly. Don't fight any battles you're not confident of winning. You can only win, and win big. Alright, you should go back now! We won't keep you for dinner!"

········
When Wang Gensheng returned to Majia Village, he felt a great sense of relief. With autonomy over the operation, he no longer had anything to worry about.

However, even after gaining autonomy in combat, Wang Gensheng was at a loss as to how to fight, because, to be honest, he didn't have a very clear understanding of the true history of the War of Resistance against Japan.

After all, history books only mention the Hundred Regiments Offensive and other small-scale battles of the Eighth Route Army in the War of Resistance Against Japan, and hardly mention the rest.

Thus, Wang Gensheng's knowledge of the history of the War of Resistance Against Japan was even less than that of the characters in the TV series "Bright Sword".

After Wang Gensheng returned to Majia Village, Duan Peng happily approached him and said:
"Commander, great news! The Japanese devils in Qingyun Town have retreated, and Qingyun Town is now a no-man's land!"

Seeing Duan Peng's happy expression, Wang Gensheng was speechless and said:
"What are you so happy about! The Japanese have withdrawn from Qingyun Town. Although it means we can easily take Qingyun Town without attacking it, it also means we can't seize the Japanese weapons and ammunition anymore! What, Duan Peng, are you still afraid to fight the Japanese?"

Wang Gensheng's words immediately surprised Duan Peng. When he first heard the news that the Japanese had withdrawn from Qingyun Town, Duan Peng was indeed very happy. He thought to himself that he would finally not have to attack Qingyun Town. In the future, when he asked for leave to visit his mother, he would not have to take a special detour. A day's ride on horseback would be enough to visit her!
Seeing Duan Peng's hesitant expression, Wang Gensheng understood that Duan Peng wanted to go home to visit his mother, but was too embarrassed to ask, since none of the soldiers in the regiment had mentioned wanting to go home!

However, in order to win over Duan Peng, Wang Gensheng immediately said:

"Judging from your expression, you're worried about your mother, aren't you? In that case, let's go back! It's good that the Japanese have withdrawn from Qingyun Town, leaving Duanjiagou and Majia Village without any barriers, so it's time to establish a village militia system in Duanjiagou!"

(End of this chapter)