Courtyard House: I Rely on Time-Space Trade to Build a Nation

On the other side, the sun was high in the sky, beside the dirt road leading to the mountain.

Zhao Desheng and more than two hundred people were gathered haphazardly by the roadside to "rest".

A few broken pots were cooking thin cornmeal porridge. The soldiers held broken bowls, squatted on the ground, and drank it slowly. They wore old military uniforms that had been washed until they were faded. The guns they held were all old-fashioned Zhongzheng rifles and old-fashioned rifles. There were even a few old-fashioned "Hanyang rifles" with rusted bolts.

The troops were disorganized and lacked any formation; they were nothing more than a tired, poorly equipped ragtag army.

This was precisely the bait that Zhao Desheng had carefully laid out.

They pretended to be short of clothes and food, and had no guns or ammunition, to lower the guard of the 1st Regiment. As for equipment? Wang Dashan led them to hide in the woods a mile away.

Dust rose in the distance as the vanguard 2nd Battalion of the 1st Regiment arrived. After asking a few simple questions, they sent a communications soldier to inform the regimental commander and then left.

When Sun Degong, the commander of the 1st Regiment, who was riding on horseback, saw this scene through his binoculars, a look of undisguised contempt immediately appeared on his lips.

"Stop!" Sun Degong waved his hand, and the group halted. He led several staff officers and guards, riding up to Zhao Desheng's group.

"Which department are you from? What are you doing here?" Sun Degong asked arrogantly, looking down at him.

Zhao Desheng quickly put down the broken bowl, jogged over, and saluted with a smile:

"Reporting to Regiment Commander Sun! This humble officer, Zhao Desheng, Battalion Commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 6th Regiment, is here on orders from our regimental commander to rest and await further orders."

Zhao Desheng's eyes flickered as he spoke, as if he were somewhat guilty.

Sun Degong glanced at the broken guns and tattered bowls, then looked at the thin, watery cornmeal porridge in the pot, and scoffed:

"Is this how Zhao Dongliang leads his troops? Hmm? Making you squat by the roadside like beggars drinking pig feed? Are those weapons you're planning to use to scare away sparrows?"

His staff officers and guards behind him also joined in the laughter, pointing and gesturing at the soldiers of the 6th Regiment.

Zhao Desheng's face turned pale and then flushed, and he lowered his head, behaving timidly.

"Commander Sun is right...it's our regiment's problem; our regiment is facing supply difficulties..."

"Enough!" Sun Degong interrupted impatiently. "Supply difficulties? That's because your Commander Zhao is incompetent! Look at our First Regiment!"

He pointed to the relatively well-disciplined and clearly well-equipped troops behind him, his face beaming with superiority.

"Once this mission is completed, I will give the division commander a proper 'report' on the 'character' of your 6th Regiment!"

Keep going! Speed ​​up! Don't let these beggars bring you bad luck!

Having said that, Sun Degong spurred his horse and led his main force past Zhao Desheng and his group of "beggars" with an air of arrogance, kicking up dust all over Zhao Desheng's face.

As he watched the cloud of dust disappear into the distance, the humble and obsequious smile on Zhao Desheng's face vanished instantly, replaced by a chilling killing intent and a sneer of triumphant satisfaction.

He straightened up and spat behind him: "Pah! You snobbish bastards! Brothers, stop acting! Grab your weapons and get to work! Build the fortifications!"

The soldiers, who had been listless just moments before, instantly transformed, their eyes sharp and their movements swift.

Zhao Desheng swiftly ordered: "Second Company, immediately dig defensive fortifications on the spot! Guard Platoon, send someone to inform Company Commander Wang Dashan of the First Company to immediately bring back all our real weapons and set up the defensive line! Hurry!"

after an hour,

Just as the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Regiment swaggered into the designated ambush area—a valley with low hills on both sides and winding roads—they were unaware that Zhao Dongliang had been waiting for them on the position behind the low hills for quite some time.

Four Maxim heavy machine guns were already in position at the crossfire point, and the firing parameters of ten 60mm mortars had been calculated. The gunners' fingers were on the firing levers.

The soldiers of the 1st Battalion of the 6th Regiment lay prone in the dug trenches, aiming their guns at the road below.

Zhao Dongliang held the individual infantry radio that Zhao Pingan had exchanged for.

He had just received a report of victory from Zhao Ping'an: "The northern front, in coordination with friendly forces, has taken down four regiments and is on its way to reinforce them."

Zhao Dongliang's spirits lifted. He whispered orders to his companies to prepare over the walkie-talkie, then peered out of the trench, watched the approaching enemy soldiers, took a deep breath, and suddenly swung his hand down: "Fire!"

"Thump thump thump thump...!"

Ten mortars fired almost simultaneously with a muffled thud, the shells arcing through the air and striking the front and middle sections of the enemy marching column with pinpoint accuracy!

"Boom boom boom boom—!"

Violent explosions erupted one after another among the enemy ranks, instantly turning the orderly ranks into a chaotic mess of men and women, with blood and flesh flying everywhere.

"Da da da da da—!"

Almost at the same time the shells landed, four Maxim guns on the low hills on both sides roared with death, their crisscrossing tongues of fire sweeping across the road like razors, mowing down enemy soldiers who had escaped the blast wave.

"Enemy attack! It's the Sixth Regiment! They've rebelled!"

"Take cover! Find cover quickly!"

The sudden and fierce attack completely stunned the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Regiment.

The battalion commander was killed in the first shelling, and the troops lost their command. They were crammed together on the narrow road and became perfect targets.

Within minutes, this elite battalion had suffered more than a quarter casualties, and the remaining soldiers fled in disarray, abandoning their armor and weapons, crying out as they ran back the way they came.

"Cease shelling! Extend machine gun fire! First company, give chase, capture a few prisoners, but don't chase too far!" Zhao Dongliang calmly commanded.

The first battle was a resounding success, clean and decisive.

The main force of the regiment was shocked and furious upon receiving news of the vanguard's defeat. Regimental Commander Sun Degong could hardly believe that those "beggars" dared to ambush his regiment.

He personally led the main force, the 1st Battalion, to the area of ​​engagement. This time, he was much more cautious and did not rush into the valley. Instead, he sent out small groups of troops to probe and attack the low hills on both sides.

However, the soldiers of the 6th Regiment on the low hill were well-trained and had a reasonable firepower configuration.

The moment the probing enemy troops showed themselves, they were met with precise rifle shots and machine gun suppression.

Occasionally, when a slightly larger-scale charge was organized, it would immediately attract focused attention from mortars and crossfire from heavy machine guns.

After several attempts to probe, the 1st Battalion not only failed to ascertain the enemy's strength but also suffered losses of over a hundred men.

Sun Degong's face turned ashen. He finally realized that the 6th Regiment opposite him was definitely not the easy target he had imagined.

It's a tough nut to crack, a tough nut to crack with extremely high tactical skills!

"Damn Zhao Dongliang, he's been hiding his true intentions well!" Sun Degong gritted his teeth, but the situation was beyond his control. Seeing that a direct confrontation would result in too much loss, he made a decisive move:

"Signalman, notify the 3rd Battalion to establish a blocking position on the spot and hold them off! 1st and 2nd Battalions, provide alternating cover and withdraw first!"

He planned to sacrifice the 3rd Battalion to cover the rear and preserve the main force.

Zhao Dongliang observed the enemy's movements through binoculars and immediately ordered Liu Dali, the company commander of the 3rd Company of the 1st Battalion, via walkie-talkie:

"Liu Dali, take your men and follow the fleeing soldiers, capture some prisoners, don't chase too closely, just keep them at bay!"

Liu Dali accepted the order and led the 3rd Company to follow closely behind the retreating 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 1st Regiment, firing sniper shots from time to time to create panic and taking the opportunity to capture more than twenty straggling prisoners.

When they reached the hastily established blocking position of the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Regiment, Liu Dali wisely did not charge head-on. After a probing exchange of fire, he retreated 300 meters and ordered two platoons to dig field fortifications on the spot, while one platoon was on guard. At the same time, he reported the situation to Zhao Dongliang via his individual walkie-talkie.