Republic of China: Ace Pilot

The cheers of victory over the recapture of Datong City did not last long before intense preparations for war and evacuation were already underway.

From the moment the main force of the Japanese army fled in disarray to Chahar, the soldiers of the Fifth Military Region did not stop for a moment, racing against time to advance the three major tasks of transporting supplies, transferring personnel, and destroying facilities.

For two whole days, Datong City and its surroundings were bustling with activity.

The transportation of supplies from the black lead factory was completed first. Nearly 10 tons of high-purity graphite were transported to the rear base area in a steady stream by transport teams composed of heavy-duty bicycles, wheelbarrows, and oxcarts, thanks to the concerted efforts of the soldiers, civilians, and miners.

The transfer of supplies within the city was also carried out in a tense but orderly manner.

The soldiers worked in groups to collect, sort, and pack all the weapons, ammunition, food, medicine, and other supplies left behind by the Japanese army, which were then transported to the rear in batches by the transport team.

Inside the warehouse, the Japanese military supplies that had been piled up were gradually emptied; on the streets, soldiers carried ammunition boxes and food bags, their steps hurried yet orderly.

Meanwhile, another team focused on destroying Japanese military facilities and factories in Datong City. Following the principle of "complete destruction and leaving no hidden dangers," the soldiers used explosives to destroy Japanese military workshops, weapons depots, communication stations, railway platforms, and other facilities one by one.

This includes important facilities such as the Datong Black Lead Plant, the Yanling Power Plant, and the Mengjiang Coal Liquefaction Plant.

Explosions rang out one after another, thick smoke billowed, and the facilities that the Japanese army had once used to manufacture war materials were reduced to ruins in the explosions, ensuring that even if the Japanese army recaptured Datong, they would not be able to quickly resume production and reuse these facilities.

In the past two days, Fang Wen has not stopped at all. He has spent most of his time piloting gunboats to conduct aerial reconnaissance in Datong and the surrounding area, closely monitoring the movements of the Japanese army.

Gunships took off repeatedly, traversing the airspace in the direction of Chahar, Taiyuan, and Zhangjiakou. While skillfully avoiding the flight paths of Japanese warplanes, Fang Wen, with his special ability, could clearly see the movements of the Japanese army.

In the direction of Chahar, the Japanese army is assembling its forces, with a large number of cavalry units arriving one after another. These cavalry are the most mobile force that the Japanese army can currently mobilize, and they are obviously the vanguard of this counterattack.
In the direction of Taiyuan, the main force of the Japanese army relied on the Tongpu Railway for transportation. Large numbers of troops were heading to the station, preparing to take military trains towards Datong. The railway was the key to their rapid advance.

In the Zhangjiakou direction, the Japanese troops advanced slowly along the Huai'an-Tianzhen-Yanggao line. Since there were no mechanized units accompanying them, they relied entirely on infantry and a small number of cavalry to advance on foot, resulting in a very slow march, which contrasted sharply with the Japanese troops in the other two directions.

Fang Wen compiled and summarized all the information he had gathered and immediately reported it to the high command of the Fifth Military Region.

Looking at the map of Japanese troop movements drawn by Fang Wen, the commander said gravely, "The Japanese have gone all out this time, mobilizing more than 10,000 troops to attack in three directions, preparing to retake Datong. Our Fifth Military Region has limited forces and is simply unable to confront the Japanese head-on; retreat is the only option. But we must not let the Japanese retake Datong so easily. We must find a way to slow down their advance and buy enough time for the final transfer of supplies and personnel."

Subsequently, Fang Wen was invited to join the follow-up meeting to discuss countermeasures against the enemy.

At the meeting, Fang Wen, based on his reconnaissance findings, proposed a targeted plan:

"Gentlemen, the Japanese forces in three directions each have different characteristics. The Japanese troops in the Taiyuan direction are the furthest from Datong and rely entirely on railway transportation; the railway is their lifeline. As long as we destroy the railway, we can slow down their advance and prevent them from arriving in time. This task is assigned to me. I will lead the gunboat squadron to conduct an air raid, destroying the railway section north of Taiyuan in Qixian County, rendering them unable to use the railway. The Japanese troops in the Zhangjiakou direction are the slowest in marching and lack mechanized units, posing the least threat to us. We can temporarily ignore them and concentrate our forces to deal with the Japanese troops in the Chahar direction. The Japanese troops in Chahar are mainly cavalry and are the fastest. Once they break through the defense line, they will directly threaten the transfer of supplies to Datong. We must set up an ambush before they reach Datong, severely damage their morale, and slow down their advance."

Fang Wen's plan was practical and highly targeted, and the military region's top leaders unanimously expressed their approval.

The commander immediately made a decision: "Immediately mobilize half of the troops in Datong City to head north and set up ambushes and lay minefields along the route the Japanese cavalry are sure to take. Use these minefields to establish blocking positions and strike the Japanese cavalry in the Chahar direction. Mr. Fang, you will lead the gunboat squadron and aircraft team to depart immediately for the Qixian section of the railway to carry out air raids and sabotage. The remaining troops will continue to advance the transfer of supplies and personnel and accelerate the destruction of the remaining Japanese facilities in the city. We must complete all transfer and destruction tasks before the Japanese arrive."

After the order was issued, all units immediately sprang into action.

Inside Datong City, the remaining soldiers sped up the transfer of supplies and the destruction of facilities. The civilians also joined in, helping to move supplies and dismantle Japanese facilities. The entire city of Datong was making a final sprint for the retreat.

1000 Eighth Route Army soldiers left the city and quickly headed north. They carried a large number of landmines and quickly laid minefields in the Datong North area, which the Japanese cavalry was sure to pass through. They then hid in the nearby woods and earthen slopes, ready to ambush the enemy.

The Japanese cavalry from the direction of Chahar arrived very quickly.

These Japanese cavalrymen, equipped with 1.6-meter-tall Japanese horses and armed with Type 44 lances and Type 32 armor swords, used the speed advantage of their horses to gallop forward towards Datong.

Japanese cavalry arrived in the northern area of ​​Datong. The leading cavalry officer brandished his saber, shouted slogans, and led a large number of cavalrymen toward Datong City.

After the cavalry entered the minefield, the Eighth Route Army's mine detonator pressed the radio-controlled detonation device.

"Boom—boom—boom—" A series of violent explosions instantly shattered the silence of the wilderness.

A large number of Japanese cavalrymen were attacked in a minefield laid by the Eighth Route Army. The mines exploded one after another, flames shot into the sky, and rocks and dirt flew everywhere. Many Japanese cavalrymen were blown away along with their horses.

Startled, the warhorses neighed wildly and scattered in all directions, instantly turning the once orderly cavalry formation into a chaotic mess, making it impossible for them to form a group charge.

"Attack!" With a command from the commander of the ambush force, the Eighth Route Army soldiers immediately launched an attack.

The spread-out ambush lines unleashed a barrage of fire at the Japanese cavalrymen in the minefield.

Bullets rained down on the Japanese cavalry, who were trapped in the minefield and unable to regroup. They became easy targets, with soldiers constantly being shot and falling to the ground. Screams, horse neighs, gunshots, and explosions mingled together, creating a chaotic scene.

Seeing this, the Japanese cavalry officer was furious. He brandished his saber and tried to command his soldiers to assemble and launch a counterattack, but the frightened horses did not obey his commands at all, and the soldiers were terrified by the dense bullets and the constantly exploding landmines, making it impossible for them to organize an effective offensive.

Under the dual threat of dense bullets and landmines, the Japanese cavalry suffered heavy casualties. In just over ten minutes, hundreds of cavalrymen were killed or wounded. The remaining cavalrymen no longer had the will to continue fighting and turned their horses around, retreating in disarray towards Chahar.

The Eighth Route Army soldiers did not pursue the Japanese cavalry until they had completely disappeared from sight before they stopped firing.

This ambush successfully routed the vanguard of the Japanese cavalry, slowing their advance and buying precious time for the transfer of supplies and personnel within Datong City.

At the same time, Fang Wen was leading the gunboat squadron toward the Qixian section of the railway north of Taiyuan.

As the gunboat squadron arrived at the bombing site, a military train loaded with Japanese soldiers and weapons had just arrived at the Qixian section of the railway and was preparing to continue its journey toward Datong.

"Attention all crews, we have entered the air strike range. Prepare for an air strike!" Fang Wen issued the order in a deep voice through the airborne communicator.

"Roger!" all crew members responded in unison, immediately adjusting the gunship's flight attitude and preparing to drop bombs.

Fang Wen, piloting the aircraft, pressed the bomb release button first under his command, and aerial bombs and incendiary bombs were dropped from the gunboat, falling towards the military trains and railways.

"Boom—" The first bomb landed on the front of the military train, and the violent explosion instantly shattered the front of the train, sending flames soaring into the sky and thick smoke billowing out.

Immediately afterwards, more bombs and incendiary bombs fell on military trains, railways, and bridges, with a series of explosions occurring one after another.

The train was the most severely damaged by aerial bombs. The carriages were deformed and collapsed, and the Japanese soldiers inside were trapped by the explosions and twisted metal carriages because they did not have time to escape.

The railway tracks were also blasted open with huge gaps, and the bridges were destroyed, with the broken bridges falling into the river below, completely blocking railway transportation.

The Japanese troops stationed along the railway line then realized what was happening.

However, they had no way to deal with the heavily armored gunships in the air; their 7.7mm machine guns couldn't penetrate the bottom and side armor of the aircraft.

Fang Wen led the gunboat squadron, circling in the airspace and repeatedly dropping bombs to bomb the railway until it was confirmed that the Qixian section of the railway was completely destroyed and the military trains were completely destroyed. Only then did Fang Wen lead the gunboat squadron back to base.

Both attacks were highly successful, effectively slowing down the Japanese advance. The Japanese cavalry in the Chahar direction, having suffered an ambush, suffered a significant drop in morale and could only slow their advance, reorganizing their ranks while sending out scouts to investigate the road ahead.

The Japanese troops in the Taiyuan direction were unable to advance due to the destruction of the railway, and could only stop in Qixian County. They urgently mobilized manpower to repair the railway, and could not continue to advance towards Datong in a short period of time.

A day passed just like that, and it was the morning of the third day.

The transfer of supplies and personnel within Datong City has been basically completed.

The remaining supplies were quickly packed up by the soldiers and prepared to be transported to the rear. The Japanese military facilities and factories in the city were also completely destroyed, leaving only ruins. The last batch of miners and civilians, escorted by the soldiers, embarked on their journey to the base area.

Just then, the Japanese troops from the Zhangjiakou direction finally appeared in the Wulongxia area west of Datong.

Originally, they were the slowest marching Japanese troops and would have been the last to arrive, but now they have become the first Japanese troops to arrive in the vicinity of Datong.

But all of this had been prepared in advance.

Wulong Gorge is a strategically important location, serving as the only route from Zhangjiakou to Datong. With towering cliffs on both sides and only a narrow road in the middle, it is ideal for ambushes.

On the cliff of Wulong Gorge, a group of Eighth Route Army soldiers were setting up an ambush.

When the Japanese troops below appeared, they were met with fierce attacks.

At the same time, Fang Wen led the gunboat squadron to the airspace of Wulong Gorge and dropped the remaining aerial bombs.

Such a fierce attack inflicted enormous damage on the Japanese army and deterred them from advancing further.

The attack ceased as they retreated.

The two sides were deadlocked.

Two hours later, the main force of the Eighth Route Army in Datong City had completely withdrawn, and the blocking mission at Wulong Gorge had been completed.

After receiving the order to retreat, the blocking force quickly put away its weapons and retreated along the path on the cliff, disappearing into the mountains and forests.

The Japanese army was unaware of all this.

They still dared not advance rashly. It wasn't until 20 minutes later that the Japanese commander sent out a reconnaissance unit to cautiously investigate both sides of the cliff. They discovered that the Eighth Route Army squad that had ambushed them had all withdrawn, and there was nothing on the cliff.

Upon seeing this, the Japanese commander was filled with doubt and vigilance, fearing that this was a trap set by the Eighth Route Army. He waited in place for another half hour to confirm that there was no ambush before ordering his troops to continue advancing.

Two hours later, the Japanese troops from the Zhangjiakou direction finally arrived outside Datong City.

Meanwhile, Japanese cavalry units from the Chahar direction also arrived outside Datong City.

After the two Japanese forces joined together, their total strength reached more than 8000. They eyed Datong City covetously, but did not immediately launch an attack.

It turned out that both of these Japanese troops had been ambushed by the Eighth Route Army, and were therefore filled with vigilance.

After discussion, the commanders of the two Japanese armies decided to wait for the Japanese troops from the Taiyuan direction to arrive before launching a joint attack on the city, hoping to take back Datong in one fell swoop by virtue of their numerical advantage.

Subsequently, the Japanese commander immediately contacted the Japanese troops in the Taiyuan direction by telegram to inquire about their progress.

Soon, a telegram arrived in reply: the railway section north of Taiyuan in Qixian County had been completely destroyed by the Eighth Route Army's gunboats and aircraft, and the military trains could not move forward. At present, manpower was urgently mobilized to repair the railway, and it would not be able to reach Datong in a short time.

Upon learning this news, the commanders of the two Japanese armies were left to fight on their own.

After a brief discussion, the two Japanese troops immediately assembled and headed towards the north gate of Datong.

They advanced slowly along the road north of Datong City, carefully surveying the surrounding environment, fearing that they might encounter another ambush by the Eighth Route Army.

Even so, they still couldn't avoid the minefields left by the Eighth Route Army.

All the landmines planted this time were equipped with triggering devices.

When Japanese infantrymen stepped on a landmine, the pressure from their feet activated the mine's trigger mechanism.

"Boom—Boom—" Landmines exploded one after another, and Japanese soldiers who stepped on them were instantly blown to pieces. The fragments scattered by the landmines after the explosion quickly affected the surrounding area, and large numbers of Japanese soldiers fell to the ground, screaming incessantly.

The Japanese troops were thrown into chaos. The commander immediately ordered a halt to the advance and dispatched engineers to search for and remove landmines.

The sappers carefully cleared the mines from the road, making very slow progress. It took them a full hour to identify the minefield and designate a new attack route.

Subsequently, the Japanese soldiers, led by their commander, attacked the north gate of Datong.

They assumed that there would be Eighth Route Army soldiers guarding the North Gate and that they were prepared for a fierce battle. However, when they rushed to the North Gate, they found that the city wall was empty, with no Eighth Route Army soldiers, no fortifications, and not even the city gate was closed.

Only a gust of wind blew by, stirring up the dust on the ground.

The Japanese soldiers looked at each other, their faces full of doubt and vigilance, and dared not enter the city gate rashly.

The Japanese commander frowned and cautiously sent a reconnaissance unit into the north gate to investigate the situation.

The reconnaissance troops cautiously entered the north gate and were not attacked.

They then blew open the city gates and cautiously advanced into the city.

Along the way, they encountered no resistance. The streets were deserted, with no Eighth Route Army soldiers or civilians in sight.

The once bustling city of Datong has become desolate, with only ruined factories, abandoned military camps, and empty streets remaining.

The reconnaissance soldiers reported their findings to the Japanese commander.

Upon learning of this, the Japanese commander personally led his troops into Datong City. Looking at the ruins before him, his face was filled with anger and resentment.

He finally understood that the Eighth Route Army had already completely withdrawn, leaving them with only an empty city. The Datong they had painstakingly planned and mobilized a large force to recapture had long lost its original strategic value.

"You bastard!" The Japanese commander trembled with rage, drew his sword, and slashed at the wall beside him. (End of Chapter)