Chapter 90: Kong Er Lengzi Can Still Be Saved
Independent Regiment of the 386th Brigade
“Old Ding, why are you so slow?”
Li Yunlong said this as Ding Wei arrived, but his tone held no negativity.
Li Yunlong quickly pulled Ding Wei to sit down, pointing at the map in front of them: “Old Ding, you scheming advisor, quickly help me strategize. What do you think of our plan?”
“Li Yunlong, I knew you’d call me over in such a rush, you’re definitely up to something again.” Ding Wei cursed as he sat down to look at the map.
Originally, Ding Wei thought the map would be for clearing the path for the transportation team, but he didn’t expect the target to be a Japanese concentration camp.
Ding Wei couldn’t help but look at Li Yunlong: “Li Yunlong, the Brigade Commander ordered us to prepare to clear the path for the transportation team. Why did you unilaterally change the objective?”
“Old Ding, clearing the path for the transportation team. Once the Hell Cannon shells arrive, these strongholds and sentry posts are nothing to worry about.” Li Yunlong pouted, implying that if the Brigade Commander hadn’t given the order, he wouldn’t even bother with these minor obstacles; they’d all be yours, Old Ding.
“Even so, you can’t…” Ding Wei’s words were cut short.
Li Yunlong interrupted: “Do you want to replenish troops?”
Replenish troops?
Upon hearing this, Ding Wei blurted out: “Is that even a question? After fighting in several county towns with you, Li Yunlong, my New First Regiment now only has a little over six hundred fighters who can fight.”
Although these recent attacks on county towns yielded substantial gains, the casualties were also not small.
Li Yunlong also said: “My Independent Regiment can barely muster four hundred soldiers who can fight. Look, your regiment and mine combined barely make up one regiment. The Brigade Commander gave us the main attack mission for the Zhengtai Line, but our troops are still a bit insufficient.”
“So, you thought of replenishing troops from the Japanese concentration camp?” Ding Wei’s gaze fell back on the map.
The penetration line Li Yunlong drew on the map was truly beautiful.
The troops would quietly take the Japanese concentration camp, and on the way back, they would sweep through the strongholds and sentry posts, clearing the transportation route without any problems.
This would both complete the Brigade Commander’s assigned mission and allow the troops to replenish their soldiers… No, this isn’t right!
Ding Wei immediately questioned Li Yunlong: “The people held in this concentration camp are not ours; they are from the Jin Sui Army or the Direct Lineage forces. Even if we rescue them, they might not be willing to join our Eighth Route Army, right?”
Whether it’s the Jin Sui Army or the Direct Line Army, they all look down on us Eighth Route Army soldiers.
Especially the Direct Line Army; they are the elite under Commander Chiang Kai-shek, they eat government rations, and they use standard weapons.
They truly wouldn’t even bat an eye at us Eighth Route Army.
“Yes, you are right. The Jin Sui Army and the Direct Line Army indeed look down on us Eighth Route Army. Even if we save them, they may not be willing to join us, but…” Li Yunlong paused here and continued, “Have you heard of the Direct Line 27th Division and the Direct Line 72nd Division?”
“Of course, I have.” Ding Wei nodded. “During the Xinkou Battle, the Sakada Regiment managed to defeat two divisions, namely the Direct Line 27th Division and the Direct Line 72nd Division.”
“Wei Dayong, get over here!” Li Yunlong shouted to the outside.
Wei Dayong hurried in: “Regimental Commander, you called for me?”
“Tell Regimental Commander Ding which Direct Line unit you were originally from,” Li Yunlong said to Wei Dayong.
Wei Dayong replied to Ding Wei: “Regimental Commander Ding, I was originally from the Direct Line 72nd Division.”
Ding Wei, hearing this, asked suspiciously: “Then why did you choose to join the Eighth Route Army?”
“Because Regimental Commander Li defeated the Sakada Regiment in the Battle of Cangyun Ridge, and even killed the Regimental Commander Sakada.” Wei Dayong said with admiration, “I heard about it when I was in the concentration camp. Many people were discussing that if they had the chance to get out, they would definitely follow Regimental Commander Li to fight the Japanese.”
“Hahaha.” Li Yunlong laughed heartily and turned to Ding Wei: “Old Ding, the concentration camp is mostly filled with prisoners of war from the Direct Line 72nd Division and the Direct Line 27th Division. Do you understand now?”
“Old Li, your move is truly brilliant,” Ding Wei said, completely convinced.
If they were to replenish troops using the old methods, they would have to rely on the logistics department for new recruits or select from district squads, county brigades, and militia.
Regarding new recruits from logistics, there’s no need to say more. New recruits need training, and after training, they need to experience combat. The assimilation period is too long.
As for selecting soldiers from district squads, county brigades, and militia, that’s also not ideal.
Because the Independent Regiment and the New First Regiment are garrison regiments, the good soldiers from the district squads and county brigades are prioritized for the main force regiments with established designations; only the remainder are available for the garrison regiments.
In other words, selecting soldiers from the remainder after the main force regiments have chosen still requires training and battlefield assimilation, which takes time.
However, if they could directly recruit battle-hardened veterans, that would be a shortcut!
The Direct Line 27th Division and the Direct Line 72nd Division were defeated by the Sakada Regiment during the Xinkou Battle, and Li Yunlong’s actions at Cangyun Ridge effectively crushed the Sakada Regiment’s prestige. This had a significant impact on the prisoners of war from the Direct Line 27th Division and the Direct Line 72nd Division.
If Li Yunlong were to genuinely rescue them, and then Li Yunlong were to sway them with a few words on the spot… cough cough, persuade them with a few words… it’s possible these prisoners of war might actually become our soldiers.
They could be directly used on the battlefield.
“Of course. If we don’t do something impressive, are we supposed to pick up the leftovers from Cheng Xiazi and the others? I’d be too embarrassed for that,” Li Yunlong boasted, then looked at Wei Dayong: “Wei Dayong, tell Ding Wei how many people are still in that concentration camp.”
“When I was transferred from the concentration camp to the training camp, there were still over a thousand people,” Wei Dayong replied.
Wei Dayong and a group of prisoners of war were selected and taken from the concentration camp to Yamamoto Ichiki’s special operations training camp. Wei Dayong escaped from the training camp.
“My goodness, over a thousand people.” Ding Wei’s eyes shone brightly. “Old Li, there’s no question, this operation is worth doing.”
With over a thousand reinforcements, the New First Regiment and the Independent Regiment would be at full strength.
When they attack the Zhengtai Line Railway later, they would have ample troops and a greater chance of success.
“Haha.” Li Yunlong laughed heartily. “Old Ding, you scheming advisor, you really are to my liking, decisive and not procrastinating. Once these Hell Cannon shells arrive, we’ll start immediately…”
Li Yunlong’s words were cut short as someone ran in to report: “Report, Regimental Commander, Regimental Commander Kong from the New Second Regiment is here.”
Kong Jie is here?
Upon hearing this, both Li Yunlong and Ding Wei found it quite unusual.
Li Yunlong was curious: “Isn’t this Kong Er Lengzi dead set on being a coal miner? How did he manage to get out?”
“Could it be that Old Kong found out you actually got that Hell Cannon from the Brigade Commander and gave it to me, so he’s no longer content with mining coal?” Ding Wei was suspicious.
“Hahaha.” Li Yunlong laughed heartily. “If that’s the case, then this stubborn fellow is somewhat redeemable. Let’s go see.”
