Bright Sword: Starting from Obtaining the Equipment Slot

"We're going to attack Xiaowangzhuang stronghold tonight." Wei Dayong squatted down, picked up a twig, and started drawing on the ground. "Look, this is the terrain of Xiaowangzhuang."

He drew a circle on the land to represent a pillbox.

They also drew a small grove of trees north of the watchtower.

"The pillbox was built on an earthen slope at the entrance of the village, with a moat and barbed wire in front of it. A direct assault would have resulted in too much damage."

His branch moved behind the pillbox.

"This grove of trees to the north stretches all the way to the foot of the mountain. The bushes in the grove are thick enough to hide a person. The end of the grove is less than fifty meters from the back of the watchtower, with only a barbed wire fence in between."

Wang Xiao stared at the map on the ground for a while before looking up.

"Company commander, you mean we'll sneak up from behind?"

"Yes." Wei Dayong turned to the three prisoners. "How long have you three been in the stronghold?"

The older one quickly replied, "I stayed for half a year, and the two of them stayed for three or four months."

How many people are in the stronghold?

"There used to be a company of brothers, about 120 men. A couple of days ago, half of the company was transferred to the county town, and now there are only about 60 brothers left."

"Where are the Japanese?"

"There was a small detachment, thirteen Japanese soldiers, living on the first floor of the pillbox."

Wei Dayong nodded.

"You three, go back to the base tonight."

The older prisoners were stunned.

"Go...back?"

"Yes." Wei Dayong stood up, looked at them, and said, "This is the little favor I told you about."

He squatted down and used a twig to tap the map on the ground.

"After you go back, try to gather as many puppet troops as possible from the stronghold into the front yard."

The older prisoners began to sweat again.

The two prisoners next to him were also too frightened to speak.

"Sir, if the Japanese find out, none of the three of us will survive."

Wei Dayong glanced at him.

"Didn't you think of asking me this now, whether I'll survive? Your hands are stained with the blood of your comrades. Even if I let you go now, can you guarantee no one will betray you to the Japanese?"

The three prisoners fell silent.

Who the hell caused this? Don't you have any idea?

The officer in front of me is a real scoundrel; I can't afford to mess with him!

The older prisoner has now become the leader of the three.

His expression changed several times before he finally gritted his teeth and nodded.

"Sir, let's do it."

Wei Dayong patted him on the shoulder, stood up, and began to give orders.

"Wang Xiao, you take a platoon of ten soldiers, change into puppet army uniforms, and set off as soon as it gets dark. Go around to the dirt road west of Xiaowangzhuang. If reinforcements arrive, you must find a way to hold them off!"

Wang Xiao straightened his back.

"yes!"

"Zhou Huaiyuan, I'm assigning Ma Fenghuai to you. You take the brothers from the second and third platoons and sneak up to the outside of the barbed wire from the front, and set up the light machine guns."

When the time comes, you will launch a feint attack from the front. Remember, only fire shots, do not charge. Draw the attention of the Japanese and their puppet troops to the front.

Zhou Huaiyuan nodded vigorously.

"Understood!"

"I will lead the remaining platoon of brothers to sneak up from the grove of trees to the north. As long as we can get over the barbed wire and rush to the pillbox, we can take out all thirteen Japanese soldiers with one charge."

Wang Xiao frowned and said, "Company Commander, shouldn't you bring a few more brothers with you?"

"No need." Wei Dayong slung his submachine gun over his shoulder and tucked a few more grenades into his waistband. "Having too many people will only make us more exposed. You guys do your jobs, leave the rest to me."

The sky gradually darkened.

Several campfires were lit in the valley, and the soldiers sat around them eating.

After the meal, Wei Dayong had everyone check their weapons.

Wang Xiao called the soldiers from the two squads together and had them change into the uniforms of the puppet army.

Zhou Huaiyuan also distributed the captured Type 38 rifles to them.

Ma Fenghuai disassembled the light machine gun, carefully wiped the parts, and grinned at Wei Dayong.

"Company commander, this stuff will definitely get us a good meal tonight."

After it got completely dark, Wei Dayong ordered them to set off.

One hundred and thirty people were divided into four groups.

Wang Xiao led the soldiers dressed in puppet army uniforms at the front. Their mission was to circle around to the dirt road west of Xiaowangzhuang and ambush them.

Zhou Huaiyuan led the second and third platoons along the main road, and they dispersed when they reached the front of the stronghold.

Wei Dayong led the remaining soldiers and three prisoners over the ridge, into the bushes, and along the stream at the bottom of the valley.

The three prisoners walked at the front of the group. When Wei Dayong asked the oldest one his name, he simply called himself Old Wu.

He said he had been a dog of Japan, but refused to mention his full name.

He knew the roads well and led them around several easily exposed open areas.

After walking for about an hour, we could see the silhouette of the Xiaowangzhuang outpost's watchtower in the distance.

A searchlight hung on the top of the pillbox, its beam slowly sweeping across the surrounding ground.

Wei Dayong stopped 300 meters away from the grove.

He activated his all-seeing eye, and the terrain within a three-kilometer radius unfolded in his mind.

The distribution of personnel in the stronghold was clearly visible.

On the first floor of the pillbox, thirteen red lights clustered together—it was a small Japanese detachment.

In the bungalows in the front yard, more than sixty puppet soldiers were scattered in several rooms. Most of them were sleeping, while only a few on duty were sitting in the yard smoking.

On the top of the pillbox, two puppet soldiers stood guard by the searchlight. One was dozing off, while the other paced back and forth listlessly with his gun in hand.

Outside the barbed wire fence, Zhou Huaiyuan and his two platoons had reached a point less than 100 meters from the trench and were quietly spreading out.

Ma Fenghuai set up the light machine gun behind a sloping earthen mound, aiming the muzzle at the front door of the pillbox.

On the dirt road to the west, Wang Xiao and ten soldiers dressed as puppet troops had already laid an ambush.

Wei Dayong gestured behind him.

Old Wu, along with two companions, began to reveal themselves and bravely headed towards the pillbox.

Meanwhile, the other twenty-odd soldiers from the independent company crouched down and followed Wei Dayong into the grove.

Wei Dayong walked at the front, using his bayonet to cut through the branches blocking his way, carving out a path.

He would stop every now and then to reassess his surroundings.

After walking for about ten minutes, the woods began to thin out.

Through the gaps in the last few rows of trees, you can clearly see the back of the pillbox.

Sure enough, there was a small window on the back wall of the first floor of the watchtower. The window was not big, but a faint light shone through it.

Less than fifty meters behind the pillbox, there was only a barbed wire fence in between.

Empty cans were hanging on the wire mesh; they would rattle when touched.

Wei Dayong lay down behind a tree and called the soldiers behind him to his side.

After thinking it over, he decided to go first, not to be a hero, but mainly to reduce casualties.

With his cheat-like abilities at his disposal, he was confident in his fighting prowess!

"You all wait here. Once I sound the alarm inside, you rush in."

A squad leader lowered his voice and said, "Company commander, we'll go with you."

"Too many people make us a bigger target." Wei Dayong shook his head. "It's easier for me to sneak over alone. You guys wait for my signal, and once the gun goes off, just follow me!"