April 25, 1930.
Liu Shiying's 66th Division, with more than 17,000 men, set off from various parts of southern Shanxi and swept towards Wu'an Township.
At the same time, Lin Feng also set up a trap in Wu'an Township, just waiting for Liu Shiying to take the bait.
Outside Wu'an Township, Liu Shiying, riding his horse, saw a group of elite troops galloping towards them from afar and sneered repeatedly.
That damned Chen Ergou is still too green. He jumped out so hastily, he doesn't even know what bluffing is.
What they didn't know was that bluffing actually requires skill!
"Reporting to the division commander, a telegram from the 171st Brigade!"
Chief of Staff Huang Zhongchang hurriedly stepped forward to report, "The 171st Brigade reports that they have arrived at the west side of Wu'an Township, and Chen Ergou's Independent Regiment is lying in ambush in the mountains to the southwest."
"Um!"
Liu Shiying nodded slightly, then turned to Huang Zhongchang and said, "Immediately send telegrams to the 172nd and 173rd Brigades, instructing them to advance at full speed to Wu'an Township to cooperate with the main force of the 171st Brigade in constructing defensive fortifications!"
"yes!"
Liu Shiying shifted his gaze back to Wu'an Township and sneered, "Chen Ergou, you think you're so tough? Well tonight, I'll play with you properly."
At 6 p.m. on April 25, three brigades of the 66th Division were constructing fortifications on a clearing in the mountains of Wu'an Township.
The fortifications were simple in scale, consisting of a defensive system made of earthen walls and wooden planks, except that the planks were thickened, with two additional layers, making the defensive system extremely well protected.
Observation posts were set up outside the defense system.
Besides the observation post, behind the position was the 66th Division's prized possession—the artillery regiment.
The artillery regiment consists of three battalions, each equipped with 12 75mm mountain guns and 15 mortars.
Such firepower is unmatched by any Eighth Route Army infantry regiment. Even the artillery regiment directly under the Second War Zone Command might not have 36 75mm mountain guns!
"Commander, the three brigades are ready," Huang Zhongchang said, stepping forward. "They await your orders."
"Good!" Liu Shiying nodded. "Tell Chen Ergou that I have surrounded his Independent Regiment. As long as he lays down his weapons and submits to my 66th Division, I will let bygones be bygones. Otherwise, I will not hesitate to make the Independent Regiment disappear completely here!"
"I'm only giving him one hour to consider it; there will be no waiting after that!"
"Yes!" Huang Zhongchang replied and quickly left.
Before long, Huang Zhongchang returned, covered in dust, and handed a telegram to Liu Shiying.
Liu Shiying opened the letter and saw only two sentences:
I'll give you ten minutes to think it over!
If you want to live, get out of here right now!
"Damn it!"
Liu Shiying immediately flew into a rage, "You won't listen to reason, so you'll have to drink the penalty cup? Fine, I'll grant your wish!"
"Pass on my order!" Liu Shiying stood up abruptly, gritting his teeth, "All artillery, aim at the Independent Regiment's positions and fire!"
"Yes!" Huang Zhongchang replied and immediately ran away.
Moments later, 32 75mm mountain guns and 45 mortars began to adjust their angles.
Target – the mountains and forests southwest of Wu'an Township.
In less than a minute, the artillery was ready.
"Boom boom boom boom boom boom!"
With a few muffled thuds, dozens of shells roared out, trailing dazzling flames, and crashed heavily onto the mountain ridges northwest of Wu'an Township. In an instant, smoke and dust obscured the sun, the forest was charred black, and grass clippings flew everywhere.
"Hahaha, that's great, really great!" Looking at the scene before him, Liu Shiying felt a surge of pride and satisfaction.
"Commander is wise. Chen Ergou is just a greenhorn after all. When he encounters a tough opponent, he only knows how to hide."
Huang Zhongchang, standing beside him, chimed in with a fawning expression, "Now we've cornered him, haven't we?"
"Ha ha ha ha……"
Hearing Huang Zhongchang's flattery, Liu Shiying couldn't help but burst into laughter.
...
At the top of the mountain, Lin Feng was gazing into the distance.
"Political Commissar, send a telegram to the Second War Zone Command: The 66th Division of the Jin-Sui Army maliciously attacked our Independent Regiment, seriously undermining the united front against Japan. Requesting instructions!"
"Yes!" Li Chenggang replied and turned to go to the operations room.
Before long, the telegram reached Commander Yan of the Second War Zone.
Old Yan took the telegram, read it carefully, and then asked Zheng Ziming, the office director beside him, "Director Zheng, what do you think?"
"In my opinion, the 66th Division of the Jin-Sui Army's operation this time was all because the Independent Regiment poached several thousand of his men, and Commander Liu couldn't swallow this insult."
Zheng Ziming frowned and said, "As for the Independent Regiment..."
After a slight pause, he continued, "If I remember correctly, the 129th Division has never recognized this independent regiment. In other words, the independent regiment is not our friendly force, nor is it a unit under the jurisdiction of our Second War Zone. Their life or death is none of our business."
Old Yan nodded in deep agreement, "Director Zheng is right."
"Recently, the Eighth Route Army has been making more and more frequent small moves. The Supreme Commander only gave them the organization of three divisions, but they expanded their troops on their own. One of their battalions is stronger than an entire regiment of ours!"
"It's time to teach them a lesson. Let's start with this independent regiment."
After Old Yan finished speaking, he pondered for a moment and then turned his gaze to Zheng Ziming, saying in a deep voice, "You send a telegram back to Chen Ergou, telling him to disarm and surrender, otherwise, the Independent Regiment will surely be stained with blood and littered with corpses!"
Zheng Ziming nodded, then picked up the pen on the table, wrote down the reply, and handed it to the guard beside him.
"Send it to the Independent Regiment."
"yes."
......
"Bang—bang—bang—!"
The sound of cannons continued to ring out.
The soldiers of the Independent Regiment were already lying prone in hidden gullies or hollows, nervously watching the changes in the enemy situation on the distant mountain ridges.
Although the artillery fire from the Jin-Sui Army had not yet reached them, the officers and soldiers of the Independent Regiment could feel a strong sense of oppression, and even breathing was difficult, as if they were carrying a huge boulder on their backs.
"Commander, the Second War Zone Command has replied."
Li Chenggang walked into the front line and said solemnly, "Old Yan wants us to surrender, otherwise, the Independent Regiment will surely be stained with blood and littered with corpses!"
"Oh?"
"Is this a refusal to acknowledge the existence of our Independent Regiment?"
Lin Feng's lips were practically splitting open in a grin; he had long anticipated this day would come.
"That old Yan is quite cunning."
"They probably want to use our Independent Regiment as a scapegoat, and also give the Eighth Route Army a warning."
"Since that's how it is, then I'm not going to put up with you anymore!"
Lin Feng's cold gaze swept across the faces of Li Chenggang, Chen Dahu, and the others, and he shouted, "Communications Platoon!"
"arrive!"
Chen Sanyuan, the platoon leader of the regiment's communications platoon, immediately stood at attention.
"Send a telegram to Zhao Laogen and tell him to smash through the 66th Division's artillery positions! Let those Jin-Sui troops know what true abundance means!!!"
Chen Sanyuan snapped to attention and replied, "Yes, sir!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
