Bright Sword: From Border Region Manufacturing to Major National Heavy Industry

Chapter 264 Tens of Thousands of Japanese Soldiers and Traitors
boom!
boom!
boom!
……

Commander Kumamoto led his sweeping troops, rushing towards Yang'er Mountain.

Along the way, the vanguard of the sweeping army stepped on a considerable number of bounding mines, in addition to being secretly attacked by the Eighth Route Army guerrillas with sniper fire and artillery.

Almost every step forward comes at a bloody price.

Even the vanguard has been replaced several times.

But Commander Kumamoto did not slow down at all. He did not care about the lives of the vanguard troops, because they were all puppet troops, not the Emperor's soldiers under his command.

Even along the way, the Kumamoto Division Commander was still frantically urging them to speed up: "Baka! Faster, faster! Anyone who dares to slow us down will be shot on the spot!"

"Commander Kumamoto, this is a telegram that just came from the Army Air Force." Muto Juichi said as he handed the telegram to Commander Kumamoto. "The news from them is that the Eighth Route Army in Yang'er Mountain seems to have dug out all the tungsten ore and is rushing to escape in different directions. The escape routes are also in the telegram."

Upon hearing this, Division Commander Kumamoto immediately took the telegram. After reviewing the escape routes, his expression turned serious: "We're not far from Yang'er Mountain now. There's still time. Let's split up and give chase. At all costs, we must retrieve all the tungsten ore!"

“Okay.” Muto nodded.

In this way, the Japanese army quickly split into several groups and chased after Cheng the Blind along different escape routes.

"Commander, the Japanese are too fast." The news quickly reached Blind Cheng.

"Speed ​​is the key. I'm just worried that if he's not fast enough, and I manage to escape with the tungsten ore, those little devils won't be able to find me, and that will be troublesome." Blind Cheng was very calm and ordered, "When the Japanese catch up, proceed according to plan. Make sure to act convincingly."

"Yes, Captain."

Not only Cheng Xiazi's troops, but also several other regiments, covered the transport team as they retreated from different directions.

……

"Fujita-kun, come here for a moment." Colonel Kitano Chuji, the logistics commander of the sweeping army, called out to Fujita Ichiji.

"Colonel, what do you need me for?" Fujita Ichiji quickly approached Kitano Chuuji.

"The main force has gone to pursue the Eighth Route Army with rations to recapture the tungsten ore. It's estimated that they won't be able to return and rejoin us in a short time. We have too much logistical supplies and can't go with them," Kitano Chuji said to Fujita Ichiji. "But this wilderness area isn't suitable for encampment either. Do you see if there's any suitable place nearby for us to encamp?"

The Kumamoto Division Commander and his troops went to pursue the Eighth Route Army, leaving the logistics and supplies to wait in place.

However, this place is indefensible, and if it were to be attacked by the Chinese, there would still be some trouble.

The reason it's described as a minor inconvenience is not due to insufficient personnel to escort the logistical supplies.

On the contrary, the Eighth Route Army was known for its tendency to disrupt enemy logistics. Learning from the lessons of its predecessors, the commander of the Kumamoto Division also placed great importance on logistics and supplies.

The logistics and supply garrison here consists of a regiment and a battalion, totaling a full five thousand men.

In addition, there are several puppet legions, totaling tens of thousands of men.

With tens of thousands of people overseeing the logistics, supplies, and provisions, they naturally weren't worried about a sneak attack by the Eighth Route Army. However, if they did launch a sneak attack, the area would be indefensible, which would still be a bit troublesome.

After all, the Eighth Route Army's heavy artillery was not just for show.

Therefore, Kitano Chuuni wanted to find a safer place elsewhere.

Fujita Ichiji was able to find even the site of a destroyed coal mine, solving the problem of cooking for the troops. Kitano Chuuji was going to ask Fujita Ichiji if he was familiar with the area and find him another place.

Upon hearing this, Fujita Ichiji immediately said, "I do know a place that is easy to defend and difficult to attack."

"Oh, really? Where is it?" Kitano Chuuji immediately asked Fujita Ichiji to point it out on the map.

“Here.” Fujita Ichiji quickly pointed to a place called “Falling Snow Slope” on the map and said, “Behind Falling Snow Slope are cliffs, and to the left and right are rivers that act as barriers. If we transport supplies to Falling Snow Slope, we don’t need to worry about being attacked from the left and right or from the rear. We just need to defend the front. The terrain in front is also easy to defend and difficult to attack. You’ll understand once you go and see for yourself.”

"Yoshi." Kitano Chuuni's expression showed satisfaction upon hearing this, and he immediately sent someone to investigate.

The place wasn't far from here. After riding over to scout, the scout returned in less than half an hour and reported to Kitano Chuji: "Colonel, the situation is true. Behind the snow-covered slope is a cliff, steep and precipitous. The rivers on both sides have risen due to the rain, which are indeed natural barriers. There are many high points in front that can be defended. Establishing a defense there would make it easy to defend and difficult to attack."

"Yoshi." Kitano Chuuni once again showed a satisfied expression and immediately ordered the logistics and supplies to move closer to the Snowfall Slope.

As tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers and traitors escorted Kitano Chuji and his large supply train toward the Snowfall Slope, Liu Weidong of the 115th Division was somewhat troubled.

The large number of Japanese mopping-up troops were drawn away by the tungsten ore, but tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers remained behind to guard the logistics and supplies.

Although Liu Weidong also had several thousand troops supplemented by headquarters leaders.

Even with the replenishment of weapons and ammunition, it was still not suitable to engage in a head-on confrontation with tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers and traitors.

Even if we succeed in the end, it will definitely be a Pyrrhic victory... oh no!
These five thousand Japanese soldiers are quite powerful; even a Pyrrhic victory would be difficult to defeat them.

Moreover, Liu Weidong's mission was to launch a surprise attack and disrupt the enemy's supply and logistics, not to engage in a direct confrontation with their escort team.

Once the supply and logistics are disrupted, the Japanese military trains will deliver new weapons and supplies. At that point, the task of dismantling locomotives for the border region's arsenal can also be completed.

“These Japanese suffered from having their supply lines cut off, leaving behind so many troops. Commander Liu, you've read so many books, you can't afford to rest at a critical moment.” Several other Eighth Route Army commanders turned their gazes to Liu Weidong. One of them added, “The Japanese supplies are now moving towards Luoxue Slope. Luoxue Slope is a natural defensive position. If the Japanese move there, even if we have ten times more troops, it won't make a difference.”

Liu Weidong thought for a moment and said, "Isn't it said that Luoxue Slope is a natural defensive position? How about we go and claim it first?"

The regimental commanders exchanged glances, then looked at Liu Weidong: "Regimental Commander Liu, our advance occupation of Luoxue Slope is only a temporary solution. The Japanese supplies can't get in, but they're still there. Our mission is to attack the Japanese supplies."

Another regimental commander added, "Behind this snow slope is a cliff, and on both sides are rivers that have risen in water. If we cross it, and the Japanese block the front entrance, wouldn't we be trapped like turtles in a jar?"

Liu Weidong corrected, "What I meant was that we all went and occupied Luoxuepo. Let a regiment go and occupy that place. Isn't it easy to defend and difficult to attack? It will prevent the Japanese from getting in. As long as the Japanese supplies don't go in and are still outside, we can still think of ways to attack them."

"Hmm, that makes sense." Several regimental commanders nodded in agreement, each eager to volunteer.

"Commander, the 772nd Regiment is coming." At this moment, someone reminded Liu Weidong.

"Scholar, what's going on here?" Blind Cheng asked as he strode over. "I've drawn away the main force of the Japanese army, why aren't you taking action against their logistics and supplies?"

One of the Eighth Route Army regimental commanders explained to Blind Cheng: "Regimental Commander Cheng, Kumamoto isn't stupid. He has tens of thousands of troops stationed in his logistics and supply garrisons. The combined forces of our several regiments don't even outnumber theirs. We're currently discussing how to fight them."

Upon hearing this, Blind Cheng's eyes widened: "Are you kidding me? Did the Japanese leave behind tens of thousands of troops for logistics and supplies?"

Damn it, this is ruining the dish!

With tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers and traitors defending the area, even if we wanted to fight them head-on, it would be a tough battle.

Kumamoto, those little devils, were deliberately prepared for this move.

Then, Blind Cheng inquired about the specifics of the situation.

Blind Cheng immediately suggested, "In my opinion, we should let the Japanese troops set up camp at Luoxuepo."

"What do you mean?" Liu Weidong and the others looked at Blind Cheng.

Regardless, although his nickname is Blind Cheng, his master is Li Yunlong.

In addition, their brigade commander was one of the three outstanding figures of the Whampoa Military Academy.

This blind man Cheng followed these two and managed to get the position of commander of a main force regiment with a unit number, so he must be quite capable.

"Now that the Japanese have occupied Luoxuepo, they've definitely focused their main defenses on the front, leaving the flanks and rear relatively undefended," said Blind Cheng. "I've been to Luoxuepo. If we could transport our cannons to the cliff edge and bombard them from above, we could definitely..."

Before Blind Cheng could finish speaking, a regimental commander from the Eighth Route Army interrupted him: "Commander Cheng, are you kidding me? How are you supposed to transport cannons up a cliff?"

The Hell Cannon weighs several hundred pounds; it's welded shut and can't be disassembled.

Even climbing up that cliff would be difficult enough for a person, let alone transporting a cannon up there!

“Why not?” Blind Cheng said seriously. “Although the cliff is steep, some of my men have been up there before. Let him go up first with the rope, and then use the rope to pull the cannon up from there. That should do it.”

"Can your men pull a cannon weighing hundreds of kilograms up a cliff with their bare hands?" Several Eighth Route Army regimental commanders couldn't help but complain.

The nickname "Blind Cheng" is well-deserved; are you blind in the heart or in the eyes?

Liu Weidong sensed something in Cheng the Blind's tone and couldn't help but ask, "Commander Cheng, could it be that the border region's arsenal has produced a new type of rocket that doesn't require artillery barrels to fire?"

The blind man's tone was so confident; he must have something to rely on.

Judging by the timeline, the new rockets from the border region's arsenal should have been produced by now.

The Hell Cannon is too heavy to be pulled up the cliff.

But this new type of rocket, which doesn't require a cannon barrel to fire, must be lighter, right?

When the time comes, these new rockets will be launched up the cliff, where the view is wide and the terrain is high, allowing for precise artillery fire at the Japanese munitions depots.

If the weapons can be blown up and a secondary explosion is triggered, then the attack will essentially be successful.

Perhaps some people will complain.

Why can't we bombard the opposite banks of the river from either side?

The reason is simple: the area around Luoxuepo is large, and observing it from the opposite bank of the river only provides a limited view.

Even if they bombard, it will only be a blind shot.

Moreover, the Japanese artillery was not to be underestimated; it would retaliate.

If we were on a cliff overlooking the landscape, wouldn't we be able to see everything clearly?

We can bombard them from our high vantage point, making it difficult for the Japanese artillery to hit us.

(End of this chapter)