pappabearbooks Chapter 98 Deploying Troops to Touling
Chapter 98 Deploying Troops to Touling
In other words, this means disobeying military orders.
Just like Li Yunlong's slick tactics, but as long as he masters the techniques and fully utilizes his golden touch, Wang Yousheng believes he can also become as outstanding as Li Yunlong.
Taking on missions that "go against the grain" is very risky, but if done properly, it can always bring unexpected rewards.
Enough of the small talk. The troops marched for more than three hours before reaching their designated defense position.
Baitouling, south of Wanjia Town!
This is a series of rolling hills with varying elevations. The hilltops are like children peeking out, jostling together in a haphazard way.
The highest peaks reach an altitude of two hundred meters, shrouded in a light veil, appearing and disappearing in the misty clouds, sometimes near, sometimes far, like a few strokes of light ink on the blue horizon.
There is a horse trail at the bottom of the slope, which is more than ten meters wide and leads directly to the Taihang Mountains.
When the enemy launches a sweep, armored vehicles and tanks with mobile machine guns will come from here.
Of course, this is not the only road leading to the heart of the Taihang Mountains; other entrances are also defended by friendly forces.
Baitouling was naturally the blocking position of the Fifth Battalion.
The fifth battalion quickly assembled on the road.
At this moment, Wang Yousheng also opened the remote sensing system to observe the large map.
The Japanese troops have all come out, and they have split into three routes, centered on Yangquan County, and are approaching the Taihang Mountains. Meanwhile, a regiment has arrived at Baitouling! And it is the Second Regiment of the Fourth Brigade, which is very familiar to us.
In the Battle of Liuchen Village, the 771st Regiment, 772nd Regiment, and Independent Regiment of the Eighth Route Army all fought against this regiment.
Although the Independent Regiment wiped out the cavalry squadron of the 2nd Regiment and killed the cavalry captain, it was also heavily surrounded by three infantry battalions of the 2nd Regiment. The three regiments suffered heavy casualties before they were able to withdraw.
Therefore, the Second Regiment was an old rival of the Independent Regiment.
Wang Yousheng shut down the remote sensing system and looked at the new recruits of the Fifth Battalion. He couldn't help but feel sorry for them, as they were facing such a formidable opponent in their first battle.
"Wang Xikui, Wang Gensheng."
Wang Yousheng shouted.
Immediately, two company commanders stepped forward.
Wang Yousheng then took out a hand-drawn map and pointed it out to them.
Wang Yousheng said, "This is a map of Baitouling. I've drawn the elevation lines."
As he spoke, he pointed to the hillsides on both sides of the road and ordered, "See these? There are several hillsides around here, but the only high points are Hill 214 on the left and Hill 259 on the right. Your two companies will set up defenses around these two hills, dig trenches, and deploy them in tiers."
The two company commanders nodded vigorously: "Yes, sir!"
At the same time, Wang Gensheng glanced at the map and asked in surprise, "Battalion Commander, who drew this? They even marked the altitude."
Wang Yousheng smiled faintly and said calmly, "Of course it's me. What do you think I've been doing these past few days? I've been surveying the terrain of our defense zone."
Wang Yousheng never fights a battle he's not confident of winning. As a commander, if he doesn't even know the situation in his own defense zone, then he shouldn't be doing the job.
Generally speaking, contour lines are not marked on many maps. For example, some friendly forces, due to a lack of experience in mapmaking, simply draw the shape of a mountain on their maps, which is not detailed enough.
Zhang Shan gave a thumbs-up from behind and laughed, "Battalion Commander Wang is indeed impressive."
"Alright, alright, stop flattering me. I'll just ignore what you say." Wang Yousheng changed the subject and continued, "Have the troops' weapons been distributed?"
"Yes! We followed your instructions and only brought three light machine guns."
"Where are the bullets? Where are the grenades?"
"As per your orders, Battalion Commander, each infantryman will receive 30 rounds of ammunition, each machine gun team 1000 rounds, and ten boxes of hand grenades!"
When Zhang Shan spoke, he was very assertive. After all, such a configuration was rare, even among the main forces of the Eighth Route Army, let alone the fact that the Fifth Battalion consisted of new recruits!
If it weren't for the several victories they had won recently, the Independent Regiment wouldn't have had such a good supply of weapons and ammunition.
"Yes, very good."
Wang Yousheng nodded.
Zhang Shan immediately pressed on, "Battalion Commander, before our Fifth Battalion and First Battalion split up, the regimental commander allocated twenty boxes of ammunition to our Fifth Battalion."
"Each box contains 1400 rounds of ammunition, including five boxes of machine gun ammunition and fifteen boxes of rifle ammunition. Distributed among three infantry companies, each infantryman should have 70 rounds of rifle ammunition. Isn't the number of infantrymen in the first company a bit insufficient?"
Wang Xikui and Wang Gensheng also found it strange. Although their two companies could get more bullets, Wang Yousheng was going to do an extremely risky mission. He should have brought enough bullets, or at least balance the bullets among the companies.
Wang Yousheng replied, "You still don't understand what I mean. This time, we're doing a surprise attack mission, not a positional assault. If we really encounter danger, even a thousand bullets for each soldier wouldn't be enough."
"Also, we need to have plenty of ammunition for the battle at Baitouling, since we need to hold off the Japanese for five hours!"
"..."
The three company commanders were speechless for a moment, because what they said was indeed true.
Knowing they still didn't understand, Wang Yousheng continued, "Alright, now that things have come to this, I'll just tell you the truth."
"This time, we are carrying out infiltration tactics, going behind enemy lines to fight. We emphasize flexible tactics, light equipment, and do not need too much gear."
"Then... let me carry out this mission. You're the battalion commander, it's too risky," Zhang Shan hurriedly suggested.
Wang Yousheng disagreed, saying, "No, I must participate in the battle myself."
"..."
Zhang Shan didn't dare to continue, otherwise Wang Yousheng would bring up the military order again.
Wang Yousheng explained the battle plan to the two company commanders, and the troops quickly divided into groups. The soldiers began earthwork on the high ground around Baitouling, digging defensive trenches.
Wang Yousheng, on the other hand, led his company lightly equipped and headed towards Daxia Village.
Not long after Wang Yousheng and his company left, a group of people arrived from the rear of the base, led by Zhao Gang.
Zhao Gang arrived with several soldiers from the regimental headquarters to inspect the Fifth Battalion's position.
The Japanese were about to approach the base area, and the political commissar insisted on going to the front lines to boost the morale of his comrades.
"Political Commissar Zhao!"
Wang Xikui and Wang Gensheng came before Zhao Gang to await instructions.
Zhao Gang glanced at the soldiers digging trenches on the hillsides on both sides, frowned, and asked in a stern voice, "Where is Battalion Commander Wang?"
"Battalion Commander Wang..."
Wang Xikui and Wang Gensheng exchanged a glance; they really didn't know how to answer.
Zhao Gang couldn't hold back his anger and yelled, "What's going on? Why isn't anyone saying anything? Don't you respect me as the political commissar?"
"Is your Commander Li trying to establish a faction, or what?"
Wang Xikui and Wang Gensheng exchanged glances, wondering what was wrong with Political Commissar Zhao, why did he get angry right away?