Chapter 54: A Fraction of a Second Between Life and Death

Until everyone had completely left, Chu Yunfei finally lowered his right hand, which had been raised in a military salute.

"Commander, aren't you returning to regimental headquarters?"

"I said I would wait here for their triumphant return, and so I will wait right here."

Chu Yunfei strode forward, leading his guard, Xiao Li, toward the direction of the 1st Battalion headquarters.

At that moment, Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang Fugui was still tabulating the casualty reports for each company.

Hearing footsteps outside the battalion office, he turned his head and looked over. "Commander, why are you here?"

Chu Yunfei glanced briefly at the report on the desk, then asked, "What is the current casualty situation in the 1st Battalion?"

"It is not optimistic. Total casualties have already exceeded one-third, and our consumption of ammunition and grenades has been exceptionally high."

Zhang Fugui looked deeply worried. "If logistical supplies fail to arrive soon... we can hold out for two days at most before our ammunition runs completely dry."

Chu Yunfei's brow furrowed tightly at these words. He picked up the nearby field telephone. "This is Chu Yunfei. Connect me to regimental headquarters."

On the other end.

Fang Ligong, who was on duty, put down the telegram in his hand and walked quickly to the telephone. "I am Fang Ligong. Please speak."

[Brother Ligong, is there a reply from the commander's headquarters? Where have our supplies and provisions reached?]

Fang Ligong sighed, then replied, "Commander, General Yan has ordered the supplies to be placed in a warehouse outside Taiyuan city. We can collect them directly when we retreat. Furthermore, there are vast quantities of supplies inside Yangquan city..."

[Is there any word regarding the replenishment of troops?]

[General Yan intends to break up the newly formed 3rd Regiment and distribute its personnel among the various units... Our 358th Regiment is part of that plan.]

[Is there any new news from General Wei's side?]

[No new news has arrived yet.]

After hanging up the phone, Chu Yunfei's consciousness rapidly sank into the tactical map.

The moment he attempted to switch perspectives, he felt a splitting headache and a deep sense of unease.

Resisting the physical discomfort and confirming multiple times that the defense line was secure, he finally lay down on the command post's cot and closed his eyes for a brief rest.

......

Zhuanshui Village.

Luo Weiguo, commander of the 3rd Battalion of the 358th Regiment, successfully arrived with all units under his command.

There, he encountered Commander Cheng of the 772nd Regiment, with whom he had a brief acquaintance in the past.

Luo Weiguo saluted first. "Commander Cheng, hello! I am Luo Weiguo, commander of the 3rd Battalion of the 358th Regiment!"

Commander Cheng returned the salute and welcomed Luo Weiguo into the joint command post.

"This is Commander Xu of the 771st Regiment of the 386th Brigade!"

Luo Weiguo saluted again. "Commander Xu, hello. I am Luo Weiguo, commander of the 3rd Battalion of the 358th Regiment."

Commander Xu chuckled. "Battalion Commander Luo, how many men does your unit have, and what is your equipment status?"

"My battalion has about nine hundred and thirty combatants. We are equipped with twenty-two light and heavy machine guns, thirty submachine guns, and no heavy weapons."

Commander Xu nodded, having already formed a clear picture in his mind.

Not long after.

The sound of hoofbeats echoed.

Commander Chen had personally traveled to the front lines to direct the operation.

To ensure this battle was fought successfully, the 386th Brigade had mobilized virtually all of its main forces.

The 771st and 772nd Regiments, two designated regiments totaling over four thousand five hundred men, were deployed.

They brought along all of their heavy weapons.

Five mortars, thirteen grenade launchers, and more than fifty light and heavy machine guns, with an ammunition supply that was considered barely adequate.

Seeing Commander Chen step into the command post, everyone stood at attention and offered their respects.

Placing his pistol belt aside, Commander Chen walked over to Luo Weiguo, the 3rd Battalion commander. "You must be Battalion Commander Luo Weiguo, right?"

Guessing the man's identity, Luo Weiguo nodded respectfully. "Yes, sir!"

"Very well, everyone, sit down."

Commander Chen glanced at the marching route already plotted on the map.

The main force of the Japanese invaders was still about ten kilometers away from Zhuanshui Village.

Before noon tomorrow, they would undoubtedly pass through this vicinity.

However, this terrain lacked any suitable locations for an ambush.

To deal with these thousand-plus Japanese devils, they would simply have to seize favorable terrain, exhaust the enemy's living forces, and eliminate them through mobile warfare.

After confirming multiple times that their respective deployments were flawless, Commander Chen spoke with emphasis: "Battalion Commander Luo, the primary assault mission this time will still fall upon your unit..."

Luo Weiguo nodded. "Please rest assured, Commander Chen. For this operation, I have received instructions from our regiment commander. When it comes to the primary assault, my 3rd Battalion will not step aside."

"Good!"

Commander Chen had been worried that this matter might cause haggling.

Although leading the main assault was the greatest merit, the casualties would likewise be anything but small.

It required the unit with the strongest combat capability to shoulder the responsibility.

He had not expected both Chu Yunfei and Luo Weiguo to be so decisive and willingly take on the heavy burden of the main assault.

According to the plan, the 771st and 772nd Regiments would launch proactive attacks to harass and constrain the marching speed of the Japanese troops.

The Independent Mixed 1st Brigade no longer had the time to alter its route.

Only two choices remained before them.

First, to retreat toward the Fanshi line, where their supply lines would naturally not suffer a significant impact, but at the same time, they would be unable to support the main force of the 5th Division attacking Yuanping.

Second, naturally, to bite the bullet and continue the advance, smashing the harassing Eighth Route Army units.

Regardless of the choice made by the Japanese invaders, ever since the 358th Regiment's 3rd Battalion and the Eighth Route Army's 386th Brigade completed their deployment, they had exerted a profoundly positive influence on the entire Yuanping campaign.

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

Outside the garrison of the Japanese Shibuya Regiment.

Bian Fucheng and Sun Ming gathered together.

"According to the reconnaissance, the little devils' defenses are, exactly as the regiment commander anticipated, utterly lax."

"At least a company of little devils is garrisoned in this village. As long as we can successfully slip inside, we can slaughter them thoroughly!"

"What if something goes wrong?"

Bian Fucheng was utterly resolute. "Then we launch a frontal assault!"

Sun Ming nodded and asked, "Are you handling the sentry removal, or are we?"

"I will lead the team personally."

Bian Fucheng gestured to the men behind him, and several prepared soldiers stepped forward quickly.

Under the cover of night, the soldiers moved with extreme caution, gripping their daggers tightly.

Crawling up behind the Japanese sentry, they suddenly lunged forward, instantly driving their blades through the sentry's chest.

After easily dispatching the two sentries at the village entrance, the soldiers, at Bian Fucheng's signal, leaped forward to advance further.

"Woof~~~!"

"Woof~!"

"Woof~!"

The sudden barking of dogs caused Bian Fucheng's heart to tighten.

Damn it all!

To facilitate military operations, the civilians in Datong, Fanshi, Guoxian, Yuanping, Xinxian, and other regions had essentially been completely evacuated.

Naturally, there should be no living creatures like dogs or chickens within the village.

No wonder these goddamn little devils were so fearless.

It turned out they had brought military dogs along.

Sun Ming immediately issued an order: "Charge in and cover Battalion Commander Bian and the others as they withdraw!"

"Understood!"

Hearing the commotion, the Japanese soldiers tumbled rapidly out of bed.

Without even putting on their clothes, they strapped on their steel helmets, seized their rifles, and rushed out of the barracks.

What was originally intended to be a night raid transformed into a fierce, frontal assault in the span of a single instant!