Chapter 265: Strike With Momentum
Deep in the Taihang Mountains, 129th Division headquarters station, Nanzhuang Village.
After the rain, the wet earthy scent was everywhere, mixed with the scorched smell of lingering gunpowder smoke.
The small courtyard where the division headquarters was located was lit only by an oil lamp providing dim yellow light, the air filled with a heavy atmosphere.
The Division Commander’s figure stood straight like a green pine on a cliff. To cope with Tada’s encirclement and suppression action, the Division Commander had been directing operations for days, exhaustion evident on his face.
His fingers were slowly tracing over a map spread on a worn Eight Immortals table.
This map was exceptionally precious, its edges stained with bloodstains that had solidified into dark brown, its folds telling of the peril it crossed through the line of fire.
This was exactly the intelligence brought back by that reconnaissance squad at the cost of their lives.
Li Tieniu and his team’s mission went very smoothly, but they were still discovered by patrolling Japanese during the withdrawal.
The Japanese Army supposedly had an expert in mountain warfare named Yamamoto who led a special operations squad in relentless pursuit of the Communist Party reconnaissance soldiers.
Li Tieniu’s team of over twenty men ended up with only three returning to base!
Besides this topographic map, Commander Liu also had a piece of top secret information in hand.
Even they didn’t know the source of the information; it was secretly delivered by someone from No. 50 Zengjiayan!
The room was silent. The Political Commissar sat with a cigarette burning long ashes at his fingertip, the swirling smoke unable to obscure the worry in his eyes. Speaking in Sichuan dialect: “Boss.”
“Tada Shun has invested big capital this time. ‘Cage’… have to say, it’s truly apt.”
“Railways and highways like interlocking vines, strongholds and bunkers densely packed like wolf teeth, plus rapid mobile troops assigned in depth. He wants to cut us off, nibble at us, and ultimately trap us to death in these Taihang Mountains.”
The Chief of Staff leaned close to the oil lamp. On the military map before him, the blue arrows representing Japanese Army actions and dense circles looked like man-eating venomous snakes in his eyes.
“Direct confrontation? Equipment gap is huge. Japanese devils’ infantry guns and grenade launchers are routine, airplanes watching from the sky, armored vehicles charging across the plains. If we clash head-on, we play right into their hands.”
“So, I think we need to change our approach. Here, ‘newly established stronghold near Liushu Gully, weakly defended, designated as secondary supply point.’ Boss, don’t forget our operational principle: ‘Advance when the enemy retreats.’ Avoid their sharp edges, strike when they slacken. This is the key to breaking the deadlock!”
“Advance when the enemy retreats, advance when the enemy retreats.” After a long silence, Commander Liu seemed to make a decision: “Da Zhi is absolutely right. ‘Advance when the enemy retreats’ is not passive evasion or standing still!”
“Retreat is for advance! To deliver a fatal blow on the enemy’s path forward!”
“This is the enemy’s vital point! It tells us where the enemy thinks is safe is actually a flaw on their neck! Enemy advances? Good, let them advance, but make every step into the blood pits we’ve dug!”
The Division Commander sat down again, his finger circling a mountainous area near the Liushu Gully stronghold. “Here, intelligence says the terrain is complex, crisscrossed with gullies, favorable for concealment and transfer. Japanese Army large units can’t deploy easily, and it’s a must-pass on their preset rapid reaction route.”
“We can’t waste the intelligence Iron Bull traded with his life. First step: strike at the weak point of this ‘Cage,’ knock out one of Tada Shun’s teeth, let him know the cage he drew can’t hold the tigers and wolves of the Taihang Mountains!”
“Hit, we must hit!” The Political Commissar stubbed out his cigarette butt and said decisively. “Not only hit, but hit with momentum, show the prestige of our 129th Division! Let the enemy know our troops are not those young master soldiers or bandit soldiers!”
“Da Zhi, immediately draft a detailed operation plan. Make full use of every detail on the map, precise down to the enemy’s sentry change times and patrol team compositions!”
“Yes!” The Chief of Staff immediately straightened his back, his eyes burning with the spark of battle.
“Knock knock knock.” A rapid knocking sounded.
The Chief of Staff rose to open the door and saw a familiar man standing there: “Shulin, why are you here?”
The visitor was Yang Shulin, director of the Logistics Department at the frontline command post.
Some time ago, for some reason, the old man ordered troops near the Taihang Mountains to launch a surprise attack on the Communist Party.
Under the Chief of Staff’s leadership, the Communist Party fought a five-day, four-night self-defense counterattack.
This battle resulted in heavy losses for Zhu Huaibing, Shi You san, and Lu Zhonglin’s forces…
Especially Zhu Huaibing’s force, reportedly losing ten regiments!
Yang Shulin entered the meeting room, brushed the dust off himself, took the cigarette from Political Commissar Deng, and took a satisfying puff.
“Of course I came with good news.” Yang Shulin took out the document approved by Left Chief of Staff: “The frontline command post knows you’re preparing for a tough battle.”
“This time, comrades from Shanghai got a batch of important materials. The Chief of Staff specially reserved some for you.”
The Division Commander and Political Commissar stared at the ammunition, weapons, and various supply materials listed in the document, jaws dropping.
Especially seeing the twelve mortars and several heavy machine guns recorded in the document—twelve mortars!
When had our 129th Division ever fought such a well-supplied battle?
Chief of Staff Li hurriedly called a guard: “Go call Old Zhang Tou. See what good food we have left. Today we must treat Director Yang well.”
A few days later, one clear morning, sunlight pierced the thin mist, illuminating an unnamed high ground on the east side of Liushu Gully crystal clear.
The high ground had an open view, with a winding dirt road at the mountain foot—the Japanese Army patrol main route marked on the map, leading to the newly established Liushu Gully stronghold.
“Clang! Clang!” Crisp axing sounds abruptly broke the silence of the mountain forest.
Geng Dazhuang, platoon leader of the 1st Platoon, Special Agent Company, 129th Division—a lean, muscular man with angular face—was swinging a large axe, vigorously chopping several bowl-thick miscellaneous trees.
The warriors beside him moved nimbly, dragging the felled trunks to conspicuous positions, while others piled up the cut branches and dry grass.
“Platoon leader, the noise is loud enough, right? This sound can be heard five li away!” New recruit Wang Xiaogen asked nervously while struggling to drag branches.
It was his first time on such a “lure the snake out of its hole” mission.
Geng Dazhuang wiped the sweat from his face, grinned to reveal white teeth, but his eyes sharply scanned downhill: “Xiaogenzi, this noise isn’t enough! We want the ‘guests’ to hear it!”
“Everyone stay alert! The map marks clear: this small high ground is right under their patrol line’s nose. We’re chopping trees in their designated ‘clearance zone’! These Japanese devils value this surface order most! Light the smoke!”
Two warriors immediately lit the pile of dry branches and grass. Thick smoke billowed like beacon fire, rising straight in the clear morning air, exceptionally visible, probably seen from ten li away.
“Withdraw, stay concealed!” Geng Dazhuang waved his big hand.
Over twenty warriors moved like civet cats, swift and silent, grabbing gear and vanishing into the preset ambush point.
According to the map details, this position not only avoided most direct fire from below but also overlooked the patrol road and the valley entrance soon to be a slaughterhouse.
Geng Dazhuang himself crouched behind a huge rolling boulder, setting up his newly issued sniper rifle.
Time flowed in silence, every second feeling extraordinarily long.
Sweat slid down Wang Xiaogen’s temples, his palms sticky gripping the old bolt-action rifle.
Just as tension was about to solidify, the warrior at the cliff-top observation post yanked the pre-tied grass rope—danger signal!
“They’re coming!” Geng Dazhuang’s voice was low and deep, clearly transmitted to every concealed warrior’s ear.
Through the sniper scope, he saw dust rising on the patrol road marked on the map.
Three sidecar motorcycles flying Japanese flags and mounted with Type 92 heavy machine guns charged ahead like arrogant insects, throttle wide open.
Behind followed a full platoon, about fifty Japanese infantry in combat formation, khaki uniforms faintly visible in the dust, bayonets glinting coldly in the sun, speeding toward the high ground.
“Platoon leader, so many came? The map says patrols are usually around thirty… today a bit more… could it be?” Squad deputy Chen Shi, lurking beside Geng Dazhuang, reminded in a low voice with a hint of worry.
“Don’t fear!” A cold gleam flashed in Geng Dazhuang’s eyes. “The map marks this as the key route to Liushu Gully. Nearby strongholds have rapid mobile companies on standby for reinforcement.
This force shows their reaction is fast, following the ‘standard process’ on the map exactly! Perfect, let them all taste our hard dishes! Pass the word: three motorcycles! Take out their eyes first! Watch my signal!”
He gently steadied the scope on the helmet of the Japanese machine gunner lookout on the first motorcycle.
The Japanese Army motorcycles’ roar grew louder, engine growls echoing in the valley.
Over fifty Japanese devils, under Second Lieutenant Yoshida’s command, surged into the valley bottom along the “patrol standard route” marked on the map without hesitation.
This valley was the perfect ambush spot: steep sides favorable for hiding, narrow exit—once blocked, it was a turtle in a jar…
“Fire!” Geng Dazhuang’s roar thundered like lightning through the valley!
“Bang!” Almost simultaneous with the roar, flames spat from Geng Dazhuang’s rifle muzzle!
The machine gunner’s helmet on the first motorcycle was precisely pierced with a bloody hole; he toppled without a sound.
The uncontrolled motorcycle roared into nearby rocks, fuel tank erupting in fierce fire amid the violent impact, sparks flying!
Immediately after, two precise bursts downed the driver and machine gunner on the third motorcycle. The out-of-control bike rolled, crushing several dodging Japanese soldiers under its wheels amid screams!
“Da da da!” “Bang! Bang! Bang!” Fire from warriors ambushed on both cliff walls and in rock crevices poured like floodgates toward the Japanese in the valley.
Old bolt-action rifles, Hanyang rifles, Type 38 rifles roared together, bullets sweeping the Japanese ranks like rain.
Several Japanese devils just raising guns to seek targets were dropped by cold shots from tricky angles.
The Japanese Army was instantly stunned into chaos, cries and curses filling the air.
“Baka! Counterattack! Machine gunners! Suppress the flanks!” Second Lieutenant Yamada drew his military saber, shouting hoarsely to steady the line.
Surviving Japanese soldiers hit the dirt, hastily returning fire using the second motorcycle and limited cover.
Type 92 heavy machine guns blindly swept toward the cliff walls, sparking and sending gravel flying. Several Japanese grenade launcher operators frantically loaded.
But this chaos was exactly what Geng Dazhuang wanted!
At that moment, “Boom! Boom!” Two dull, massive explosions tore through the valley!
Not grenades, but pre-buried at the map’s “optimal blocking point”—anti-tank mines and bundled grenades designed for Japanese light armored vehicles and personnel!
They detonated precisely between the second motorcycle and the clustered prone Japanese squad!
The violent blasts hurled the second motorcycle and three or four Japanese devils behind it skyward!
Shattered parts and limb fragments flew everywhere, searing flames carrying lethal shrapnel sweeping down!
Thick smoke and fierce fire instantly engulfed the area near the valley entrance.
Screams rose and fell; Second Lieutenant Yamada managed only half a desperate yell before a huge explosion fragment sheared off half his head!
This sudden massive kill pushed Japanese chaos and panic to the peak! Surviving soldiers scurried headless, finding no safe direction.
“Woo woo…” Then, shrill piercing whistles came from outside the valley, followed by the heavy rumble of armored vehicle tracks crushing the ground!
“Platoon leader! Enemy reinforcements! Armored vehicles!” The soldier signaled enemy movements again via grass rope.
“Good! Right on time, that’s what we want to hook out!” No panic in Geng Dazhuang’s eyes, a cold smile at his mouth corner. “All hands, as planned! Alternating cover, withdraw!”
Signal given, cliff fire became sparse and precise, downing several exposed Japanese.
The valley mouth explosion point timely erupted with smoke grenade clouds, blocking Japanese pursuit sight.
Warriors like trained shadows swiftly slung rifles, grabbed gear, moved fast and silent, splitting into three groups along pre-cleared hidden small roads for rearward withdrawal.
Chen Shi and two warriors crouched low, quickly climbing to key positions preset at the valley mouth.
Booby traps were long buried there.
They expertly set tripwires and pressure devices, carefully camouflaging with loose soil and dry grass.
To further confuse the enemy, they deliberately left obvious withdrawal traces at the main fork leading south to another small village!
Scattered cloth strips, a few empty shell casings, even a “accidentally” dropped wooden handle from a border region grenade.
This was the “Earth Eight Route” gear intelligence showed Japanese most familiar with. That direction was marked on the map as “open terrain, suitable for mechanized pursuit,” and indeed had a vehicle-friendly main road—but its end was another preset deathtrap.
As thick smoke slightly cleared, reinforcing Japanese troops arrived at the valley mouth.
Leading was an Type 89 light tank, clumsy turret turning, machine gun muzzle warily scanning. Behind followed seven or eight trucks full of soldiers and more infantry.
Company Commander Shibazaki jumped off the truck, gasping at the scene!
The valley was a mess: three motorcycles twisted and burning, over twenty Japanese corpses sprawled everywhere.
Most deaths gruesome, air thick with blood and scorched stench. The enemy had long vanished!
“Baka yaro!” Company Commander Shibazaki’s face purpled, neck veins bulging, kicking hard at the charred motorcycle wreckage.
“Useless bunch! Can’t even stop a few Earth Eight Routes!”
Words barely out, he drew his command saber, wildly pointing at the “deliberate” traces at the south fork: “They fled south! With armored vehicle support, what to fear! Chase! Crush them with wheels! Avenge the fallen Empire warriors!”
“Hai…”
