Chapter 50: Meet Movement with Stillness? Strike First!

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Fang Ligong drew a deep breath. After a moment of thought, he offered his suggestion. “Regimental Commander, the defensive positions of the Second, Third, and Fourth Battalions are showing some weaknesses. I recommend pulling the Cavalry Company out and having it patrol within our defensive lines, conducting search operations to guard against infiltration by the Japanese.”

Chu Yunfei nodded, then asked, “What are your thoughts on the support units of the First Independent Mixed Brigade, Ligong?”

Fang Ligong sighed. “Regimental Commander, I suggest that we wait and see, responding to movement with stillness. Once the Japanese make their adjustments, we can deploy our forces accordingly.”

Chu Yunfei shook his head, somewhat disappointed by Fang Ligong’s excessive caution.

Yet in his heart, he understood Fang Ligong perfectly.

If everyone in the unit were as aggressive as Chu Yunfei, that would truly be troublesome.

Risky flank attacks, encirclements, and annihilation.

Or waiting for developments and continuing to hold the line according to the original battle plan.

In the end, it was simply a matter of weighing the advantages and disadvantages.

If the 386th Brigade were providing support, Fang Ligong would naturally agree to send the Third Battalion around the enemy’s flank.

Chu Yunfei immediately waved to Sun Ming, who had just approached. “Send someone to deliver orders to Ma Keying. Pull the Cavalry Company out of the defensive line and have it patrol within our positions to guard against Japanese infiltration. Tell him to organize the units properly for combat. No mistakes!”

“Yes, sir!”

After issuing the order, Chu Yunfei strode toward the communications office.

“Regimental Commander, where are you going?”

“To send an encrypted telegram to my old schoolmate and see what he thinks.”

“Regimental Commander?”

Fang Ligong pushed up his glasses, puzzled. “Are you planning to join forces with the 386th Brigade and wipe out these Japanese?”

Chu Yunfei nodded without explanation and continued into the communications office.

Fang Ligong stopped and silently watched his retreating back.

Regimental Commander, Regimental Commander...

Though we are cooperating for the moment, getting too close to the Eighth Route Army will inevitably bring trouble.

Why can’t you understand that?

Fang Ligong sighed inwardly before turning back to the operations map.

................

The 386th Brigade.

Brigade headquarters.

Chu Yunfei’s telegram was extremely direct, without even the customary formalities.

In just a few words, it outlined his battle plan and clearly expressed his hope that Brigade Commander Chen could provide assistance.

After receiving the telegram, Brigade Commander Chen hesitated.

He immediately sent a telegram to Eighth Route Army headquarters, asking the senior commanders for their opinion.

Wutai Region.

Eighth Route Army headquarters.

The Deputy Chief of Staff, telegram in hand, walked over to the Deputy Commander-in-Chief.

“A telegram from Brigade Commander Chen. Chu Yunfei of the 358th Regiment sent it to him, hoping that he can assist their Third Battalion in launching a flank attack against the Japanese First Independent Mixed Brigade along the Zhuanshui Village line, thereby easing the pressure on them.”

“Oh?”

The Deputy Commander-in-Chief took the telegram, then turned to the Deputy Chief of Staff. “If I remember correctly, that young man is a graduate of the fifth class of Whampoa. By reckoning, he is your junior, isn’t he?”

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The Deputy Chief of Staff chuckled. “That’s why he thought of Brigade Commander Chen first instead of anyone else.”

“Other than Chen Changjie’s Sixty-First Army, the only friendly force nearby is the 386th Brigade.”

The Deputy Commander-in-Chief still could not make up his mind.

Since crossing to the eastern bank to join the war against Japan, the total casualties suffered by the various units had already exceeded eight thousand.

The number killed had surpassed four thousand five hundred.

In other words, the Eighth Route Army had suffered extremely heavy losses.

After a succession of battles, the troops were exhausted and their combat effectiveness had declined.

The 386th Brigade alone had paid the price of more than a thousand casualties merely to ambush a Japanese transport column.

Should they fight or not?

The Deputy Commander-in-Chief hesitated.

If they fought, the 386th Brigade’s losses would certainly be considerable.

They might even jeopardize the subsequent plan to establish an anti-Japanese base area.

But if they did not fight—

The battle at Yuanping concerned the entire campaign.

This was an opportunity not to be missed.

If they could further destroy the Japanese army’s effective strength, they would gain several more chances of victory in the Battle of Xinkou. With that, Shanxi might be preserved.

After a moment of thought, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief said, “I lean toward taking the initiative, but we should still consult Yan’an and hear their opinion.”

“Yes, sir!”

Less than an hour later, the Deputy Chief of Staff once again stood before the Deputy Commander-in-Chief.

“A reply has come from Yan’an.”

“What did they say?”

The Deputy Commander-in-Chief raised his eyebrows and accepted the telegram handed over by the Deputy Chief of Staff.

There was only one word on it.

“Fight.”

.....

The 386th Brigade headquarters.

After receiving the order from army headquarters, Brigade Commander Chen immediately unfolded the operations map and began making the necessary arrangements.

Zhuanshui Village was indeed the most suitable location for a flank attack, but it could not accommodate the full deployment of their forces.

Brigade Commander Chen and the others soon reached a decision.

“Order the 771st and 772nd Regiments to assemble immediately and move at top speed to the Zhuanshui Village, Zhangjiayuan, Guojiadu, and Chenjiaba lines.”

“The New First Regiment will remain in reserve and proceed to the Chenjiaba line, where it will await further orders.”

“Yes, sir!”

Brigade Commander Chen looked up at the chief of staff beside him. “Send a reply to Chu Yunfei. The 386th Brigade will coordinate with them in the operation.”

Communication was relatively slow in those days.

Even urgent telegrams commonly took an hour or two to arrive.

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It was not until the afternoon that Chu Yunfei received Brigade Commander Chen’s reply.

Upon learning that the 386th Brigade had agreed to cooperate, Chu Yunfei finally relaxed.

He immediately left the duty office and went to the telephone.

“This is Chu Yunfei. Connect me to the Third Battalion headquarters.”

[Regimental Commander, go ahead.]

“Immediately move the main body of your battalion to the Zhuanshui Village line. The Eighth Route Army’s 386th Brigade will coordinate with you in the operation!”

[Yes, sir. Thank you, Regimental Commander!]

“Perform well and annihilate the Japanese. After the battle, I will personally submit a commendation on your behalf.”

[Yes, sir. Thank you for your guidance and support!]

He hung up the phone.

Luo Weiguo let out a long breath, his excitement impossible to conceal.

After waiting so long, he had finally been given a chance to earn distinction.

“Battalion Commander...”

“Pass the order. Carry out the battle plan and move quickly to Zhuanshui Village!”

“Yes, sir!”

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The 358th Regiment was shifting its forces constantly.

The Japanese breakout force had exchanged fire with the ambush units of the Second Battalion along the Shuigouzi line.

After attempting to attack twice, they withdrew as expected.

The Japanese advanced quickly, but they retreated even faster.

Once the gunfire stopped, they had run several hundred meters away within minutes.

Wu Ziqiang had just begun preparing to order a counterattack when the Japanese had already vanished without a trace.

Highly disciplined troops probably meant exactly this.

Less than three kilometers east of Shuigouzi lay a river valley.

After confirming that a large number of Jin-Sui Army troops were blocking the route at Shuigouzi, part of the Fifteenth Independent Mixed Brigade immediately decided to break out along the river channel inside the valley.

After the reconnaissance units repeatedly confirmed that the route was safe, the breakout force plunged straight into the encirclement painstakingly prepared by the Second Battalion.

At the command of Company Commander Wu Dabao—

“Rat-a-tat-tat!”

Light machine guns, heavy machine guns, and submachine guns opened fire simultaneously.

Bullets swept across the area in a dense rain.

Within only a few seconds, more than half of the Japanese trapped inside the encirclement had been cut down.

Roars, screams, and explosions rang out without end...