The car started and headed towards Yongzhou. Chu Wanwan sat in the car and talked a lot with Division Commander Zhang about the battlefield in Yongzhou.
"The Battle of Yongzhou was the first and largest counter-offensive launched by the Eighth Route Army against the Japanese invaders. This battle was very important. If we had won, the morale of the entire Chinese nation would have been boosted, which would have been crucial to the final victory in the War of Resistance."
But if we lose, it will be a huge blow to the soldiers' morale, and could even affect the entire course of the war.” Commander Zhang said, looking gratefully at Chu Wanwan.
"Wanwan! You have no idea what a great contribution it was to the Eighth Route Army and to the Chinese nation for you to help the 131st Regiment capture the armory!"
"Commander Zhang, do we still have any large-scale Japanese arsenals in China? If so, could we shift our focus to looting them?"
Chu Wanwan said with a smile.
"Yes, there are some, but most of them are in military fortresses in the Northeast, which have already been captured, making it difficult for our Eighth Route Army to enter. There are also scattered armories hidden in the mountains. Most of these weapons are hidden by the Japanese soldiers deep in the mountains, which are easier to attack, but difficult to discover."
Commander Zhang knew Chu Wanwan's thoughts. She wanted to attack more armories and arm the Eighth Route Army into a force as advanced as the Japanese, which would make winning the final victory much easier. But it was not that easy!
"Hidden deep in the mountains?" Chu Wanwan's eyes suddenly lit up. She knew how to control beasts. Even though her beast-controlling skills might not be as effective now because she didn't have spiritual power, she might be able to communicate with small animals and give them some benefits. Maybe they could become her beast soldiers and help her find where the enemy hid weapons in the mountains.
The more Chu Wanwan thought about it, the more feasible it seemed, and her smile grew brighter and brighter.
"It's hidden deep in the mountains, but what are you laughing at?" Commander Zhang asked, puzzled.
"It's nothing, I just thought of something happy!" Chu Wanwan didn't reveal her thoughts. After all, she hadn't communicated with animals since she came into this world, so she had to try first.
...
The main force arrived in Yongzhou ten days later. By then, the Battle of Yongzhou had already begun.
As darkness fell, the bright moonlight spilled across the land. The sounds of artillery fire and gunfire echoed in the distant sky, reflecting the chaos and smoke of battle. Chu Wanwan and Commander Zhang alighted from their vehicle, gazing at the war-torn land, their hearts heavy with sorrow.
Commander Zhang's well-equipped troops took over the positions of the 128th and 136th Divisions, sending them to the rear to replace their weapons and equipment. The weapons they brought back were mostly firearms and ammunition, enough to replace the weapons and equipment of the two divisions.
When they returned, the Eighth Route Army's fighting strength increased significantly, forcing the Japanese defensive lines to retreat step by step.
The battle seemed certain to be won, but then a large number of Japanese warplanes appeared in the sky and began to bombard the Eighth Route Army's assault troops.
Amidst the roar of artillery and billowing smoke, Japanese warplanes, like merciless reapers, darted through the low sky, dropping deadly bombs. Explosions echoed incessantly, deafeningly loud, as if the earth itself trembled.
Although the Eighth Route Army soldiers received orders to retreat, the retreat became extremely difficult under such intense bombing. They ran and crawled, trying their best to escape this land of death.
However, the Japanese warplanes seemed tireless, relentlessly pursuing them.
Where the bombs fell, flames soared into the sky, dust flew everywhere, the soldiers' bodies were blown to pieces, and their blood stained the earth red.
However, even in such dire straits, the Eighth Route Army soldiers did not give up the fight. Some of them picked up their weapons and fired at the warplanes in the sky, even though they knew that such a counterattack was almost futile.
Along the retreat route, the bodies of soldiers lay everywhere, their sacrifices causing immense grief to everyone. However, the Eighth Route Army soldiers knew they could not stop, could not give up, because behind them lay even more comrades and innocent civilians who needed their protection.
The bombing lasted for a full hour, and when the Japanese warplanes finally left, the battlefield was a complete mess.
Inside the Eighth Route Army headquarters, the division commanders of the fourteen corps gathered together to discuss tactics.
"If we want to retake Yongzhou, we must first destroy the Japanese air force. Otherwise, this unequal war will result in even greater casualties!" Commander Zhu stood up and said.
Si Mingye and Chu Wanwan sat behind him.
"Commander Zhu is right. The Japanese warplanes pose a great threat to us, making our charge extremely difficult." A division commander nodded in agreement, his brow furrowed, clearly also troubled by this problem.
“But we only have three fighter jets, while they have far more than us. Our fighter jets might be shot down by the Japanese planes as soon as they get into the air. How can we fight this battle?” Another division commander spread his hands helplessly, his tone full of anxiety.
Upon hearing this, Chu Wanwan had a sudden thought; perhaps she had a way to solve this problem. She looked at Commander Zhu, who was also looking at her with questioning and expectation in his eyes.
"I do have a method, but I don't know if it will succeed." Chu Wanwan stepped forward. Although her voice was not loud, it attracted the attention of the commander-in-chief and the division commanders.
This is a meeting between division commanders. The reason why Chu Wanwan and Si Mingye were brought along is entirely because of their talents.
Si Mingye is a rare military talent. In the battles these days, the 15th Regiment of the 131st Division, which he led, is the most powerful unit and also the one with the fewest casualties.
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