Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 114 End of the battle

"Report, Regiment Commander, Battalion Commander Zhou has successfully captured the Hekou stronghold and is currently cleaning up the battlefield."

"That's great." Li Yunfei finally felt relieved.

"Tell Battalion Commander Zhou that the brigade headquarters has issued an order saying that the Second Regiment, which is stationed in the Xiaoqingshan area, has been attacked by the Japanese recently and is trapped on the mountain. They are short of supplies and urgently need to replenish their supplies. The Independent Regiment is to provide support to the Second Regiment this time. The district squad has already led the Second Regiment on the mountain toward the Hekou stronghold. Tell him to meet them at any time and replenish their supplies."

"Yes, Commander." Upon receiving the order, the communications officer of the First Battalion returned to the river mouth stronghold.

"Communicator, immediately inform Battalion Commander Tang and tell him to rest assured that the Hekou outpost has been captured by our side and the battlefield is currently being cleared," Li Yunfei ordered the communications officer beside him.

"Yes, Captain."

After explaining these matters, Li Yunfei checked the battlefield situation again.

"Second Battalion Commander, what the hell are you doing? The encirclement is closing so slowly. If even one of those Japanese soldiers manages to escape, I'll hold you accountable."

"Commander, the Japanese firepower is too fierce. Our soldiers lack combat experience, and this is already the best we can do," the Second Battalion Commander said, feeling aggrieved.

"Alright, alright, what's with all the grievances a grown man like you has to make?"

Li Yunfei also understood the difficulties of the Second Battalion. After all, the Second Battalion had too many new recruits and could not be as capable of charging and fighting as the First Battalion.

"In that case, order the soldiers to slow down their offensive pace and focus on defense. As for the task of mopping up the Japanese, leave it to Battalion Commander Tang on the other side."

"Let the soldiers open their eyes and see how the militia on the other side fight. From now on, the militia will be our role models and our role models."

"Yes, Commander, all actions should align with the militia."

"Take your men to the exit and strengthen the defenses. Don't let the Japanese escape through the exit. If they get out, Old Li will have nowhere to hide his face."

"Commander, don't worry. If the Japanese escape through the exit, I'll offer my head to you." The second battalion commander also looked furious.

"Alright, I'll leave export defense to you."

"Yes, Commander." After saying that, the Second Battalion Commander led a platoon to reinforce the defenses at the exit.

"Luckily, I, Old Li, was quick-witted and brought the militia along. If the Independent Regiment had acted alone, it wouldn't have been able to take down these little devils," Li Yunfei remarked.

Compared to the arduous battle fought by the Independent Regiment, Tang Xiaohu's side seemed to be having a much easier time. Tang Xiaohu led the First and Second Companies in alternating attacks, tightening the encirclement of the Japanese. The mortar company in the rear constantly adjusted its firing angles to provide artillery support for the troops at the front.

At the entrance to Luofengpo, Tang Xiaohu deployed a heavy machine gun platoon and a combat platoon for defense. Due to the narrowness of the mountain pass, one heavy machine gun was sufficient to provide fire coverage. Moreover, Tang Xiaohu ordered the combat platoon to advance in echelons to promptly locate the Japanese grenade launcher operators and prevent the Japanese grenade launchers from threatening the heavy machine gun positions.

As the encirclement tightened, the remaining Japanese soldiers knew they couldn't escape and began to fight like cornered beasts.

"Warriors of the Heavenly Emperor, the time has come to serve His Majesty! Kill the chickens!" Staff Officer Miyamoto led the remaining 30-odd Japanese soldiers in a charge towards Tang Xiaohu and his group.

"Oh dear, those little devils have gotten quite capable. Order the machine guns on both sides to suppress these little devils towards the center, and order the mortar company to be ready to fire at any time. I want to show these little devils why flowers are so red." Tang Xiaohu decisively changed tactics.

As Tang Xiaohu gave the order, the light machine guns on both sides opened fire at the same time, forcing the Japanese soldiers who were charging back toward the center. Just as the Japanese soldiers were suppressed by the firepower and grouped together, the artillery company decisively opened fire and bombarded the Japanese soldiers in the middle.

As the smoke cleared, the spot where the Japanese soldiers had stood was now empty.

"It's finally over." Tang Xiaohu stretched his body.

"I wonder if the Hekou stronghold has been successfully captured." Tang Xiaohu hadn't received any news from the Independent Regiment and was somewhat worried. If the Hekou stronghold hadn't fallen yet, then he would have to lead his men into battle himself.

"Report, Battalion Commander Tang." Just as Tang Xiaohu was thinking, a communications officer from the Independent Regiment ran over from a distance. Tang Xiaohu immediately recognized him as the communications officer who was with Li Yunfei.

"speak."

"Battalion Commander Tang, our regimental commander said that the First Battalion has successfully captured the Hekou stronghold and is currently cleaning up the battlefield." Hearing this from the communications officer, Tang Xiaohu breathed a sigh of relief; the objective of this operation had finally been achieved.

"Alright, tell your regimental commander that the puppet army prisoners are yours to handle," Tang Xiaohu said.

"Yes, Battalion Commander Tang." After saying that, he returned to prepare to restore his sight.

"Company commander, company commander, quickly clean up the battlefield. Remember to finish off the Japanese soldiers' corpses one by one. The Eighth Route Army has a policy of treating prisoners of war well, but we don't. As long as they are Japanese soldiers, leave no one alive."

"As for the puppet troops, although they are a bunch of people who have forgotten their ancestors, they are still Chinese after all. They should be handed over to the Eighth Route Army to deal with. We will not deal with them."

"Yes, Battalion Commander, don't worry. Our militia's old rule is to leave no Japanese soldier alive."

"Alright, let's hurry up and clean up the battlefield. We need to leave before dawn."

"Yes, battalion commander."

"Commander, the battle is over, and the militia are cleaning up the battlefield," the second battalion commander said as he ran over.

“I know, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and clean up the battlefield. Let the militia pick the Japanese weapons first. The militia don’t care about the puppet troops’ weapons. They are all treasures to us.”

"Tell the soldiers to keep a close eye on things and make sure I don't miss anything."

"Yes, Captain."

"Commander, what should we do with those puppet troops prisoners?"

"If only the political commissar were here, he would have been experienced in dealing with these prisoners," the second battalion commander muttered.

"The political commissar is staying home to guard the house; he doesn't have time to deal with such a trivial matter."

"How about this, take these prisoners to the river mouth stronghold and let Ran from the Second Regiment handle them. We'll do them a favor."

"Yes, Commander, I'll take care of it right away." After saying that, the Second Battalion Commander ran towards the battlefield.

After cleaning up the battlefield, it was almost dawn. Li Yunfei and Tang Xiaohu led their team towards the river mouth stronghold to prepare for the next operation.

As the Japanese supplies clearing operation at the Hekou stronghold neared completion, a large batch of supplies that the Japanese had just transported were hardly used and all went to the Eighth Route Army.

The Second Regiment is busy transporting grain. With this batch of grain, the soldiers on the mountain will be able to get through the year.

Before long, Li Yunfei arrived with his team. The commander of the Second Regiment ran over to Li Yunfei enthusiastically and said:

"Thank you, Commander Li. If it weren't for you, our regiment would have had a hard time this year."

"Hey Lao Kong, this is the first time I've seen you so polite. It's been a year since we last met at the brigade headquarters," Li Yunfei said.

"That's right, Lao Li, you have no idea. This year, my Second Regiment was repeatedly besieged and attacked by the Japanese, and suffered heavy losses. If it weren't for your help this time, I would have been prepared to fight the Japanese before the end of the year."

"Hey, Lao Li, it's been a year, and you've done pretty well. You're fully equipped with Japanese gear. Damn, Type 92 rifles, Type 92 light machine guns, Czech-made ones—you've got so many! Even the Central Army isn't as rich as you," Kong Yue said, looking at Tang Xiaohu's troops.

"I knew you had a sharp eye, Lao Kong. I'm really drooling over all that equipment you're talking about. But this isn't our Eighth Route Army's equipment. Let me introduce you to this one next to me."

"Tang Xiaohu, battalion commander of the First Battalion of the Anti-Japanese Independent Militia of the Jin-Sui Army. The unit you are looking at belongs to them," Li Yunfei introduced.

"I knew it! How did you, Old Li, manage to get ahead so quickly? Turns out you've latched onto a powerful backer." Kong Yue looked like he'd just realized something. No wonder Li Yunfei had gotten into a mortar company; now he understood.

"Battalion Commander Tang, hello. I am Kong Yue, the commander of the Second Regiment."

"Commander Kong, hello."

"Heroes emerge from among the young! Battalion Commander Tang is so young," Kong Yue praised.

"Thank you for the compliment, Commander Kong."

"Old Kong, let me tell you a secret, their regimental commander is the same age as him," Li Yunfei introduced.

"My goodness, this is incredible!" Kong Yue was stunned. Even just looking at the troops led by Tang Xiaohu, one could guess the fighting strength of this anti-Japanese militia behind enemy lines. No wonder Li Yunfei, who usually looked down on everyone, was so low-key at this moment.

"Battalion Commander Tang, I hope we can cooperate in fighting the Japanese." Kong Yue tried to get closer to him at this point.

"I'm telling you, Lao Kong, you're not being fair either, poaching people right in front of me." Li Yunfei looked displeased.

"It's not like it's your family's, right, Battalion Commander Tang?" Kong Yue retorted bluntly.

"Commander Kong, you're too kind. Our commander said that he will definitely participate in anything related to fighting the Japanese."

"Old Li, look at that regimental commander's charisma, I can only say he's awesome."

"Alright, alright, let's stop arguing. Let's leave as soon as we've handed over the supplies," Li Yunfei said at the right moment.

"it is good."

"Hey Lao Li, can you give me some more ammunition? I'm running low on supplies."

"Okay, I'll give you another 100 guns."

"I'll remember this favor."

"We're like family," Li Yunfei said, finishing the conversation about supplies while chatting with Kong Yue.

In addition, Li Yunfei thoughtfully collected the Japanese supplies and sent them to Tang Xiaohu, while Tang Xiaohu only took the supplies meant to reinforce the Japanese. As for the supplies for the Japanese at the Hekou stronghold, Tang Xiaohu left them all with Li Yunfei.

After all, the regimental commander had previously promised that the supplies at the stronghold would be the Independent Regiment's reward for their cooperation in this operation.

Another hour later, after everyone had distributed the supplies, they withdrew from the Hekou stronghold. Before leaving, Tang Xiaohu blew up the Japanese pillbox at the Hekou stronghold to pieces, and then ordered the First Company to lie in ambush nearby to monitor the roads around the Hekou stronghold.

"Commander Li, Battalion Commander Tang, we'll meet again someday."

"Commander Kong, until we meet again."

After they finished speaking, the two groups left their respective strongholds at the river mouth.