Chapter 293: This Isn’t A Dream
Temporary station of the Eighth Route Army Independent Regiment in the southern suburbs of Wutaixian County.
This place had already turned into a sea of joy.
The camp, which used to seem somewhat dull due to the lack of weapons and ammunition, was now filled everywhere with excited clamor and the crisp sounds of metal clashing.
Crate after crate of brand-new ammunition boxes were opened, rows of shiny new rifles and machine guns gleaming with a dark blue luster were neatly arranged in the open space, flashing cold yet alluring light under the sunlight.
The soldiers stroked the new guns in their hands like caressing their most beloved girls, with smiles never leaving their faces.
Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang were walking side by side through the camp, inspecting the Independent Regiment’s re-equipment situation.
Li Yunlong was carrying a brand-new Type 11 light machine gun in his hand, slapping the gun body with his palm “pa pa,” feeling its solid touch, his mouth grinning so wide that his back molars were almost visible.
He turned his head, excitedly shouting to Zhao Gang beside him: “Old Zhao, take a look, come on, take a look! After our Independent Regiment re-equips this time, it’s like trading bird guns for cannons.
No… it’s like trading bird guns for Italian cannons!
Let me tell you, if I run into that son-of-a-bitch Yamazaki Battalion again this time, I guarantee, two hours… no… one hour… one hour and I’ll wipe them all out!”
Zhao Gang looked at his smug and carried-away appearance, a smile he couldn’t suppress on his face, and said with a chuckle: “Alright, alright, stop bragging first.
If Regiment Commander Cheng’s 772nd Regiment had equipment like ours now back then, would the Division Commander have needed to send our Independent Regiment to attack Lijia Po?”
“Hey, that’s true.”
Li Yunlong unusually didn’t retort. He handed the machine gun to a soldier nearby, looked at the bustling scene before him, and said with deep emotion: “Now, our Independent Regiment can finally be considered properly prosperous. In the past, I wouldn’t have dared to dream of such a good thing.”
His gaze swept over the rows of soldiers distributing weapons, his voice filled with a dreamlike feeling.
“Look at this, crooked-handle machine guns, not only equipped to squads, but two per squad.
Damn it, even more lavish than the Japs’s Type A divisions.
One Type 92 heavy machine gun per platoon, and that’s not all, Brother Su even specially formed an artillery company for our Independent Regiment.
Six 82mm mortars, two 75mm infantry guns! Ammunition piled up like mountains, fire at will! Old Zhao… this… this is like a dream!”
By the end, Li Yunlong’s voice even trembled slightly, a shock brought by the immense joy of turning over from too many days of poverty and hardship.
He took a hard drag on his cigarette, the smoke rings he exhaled seeming to carry a taste of venting anger and holding his head high.
Just as Li Yunlong was still immersed in the great joy of “prospering,” endlessly sighing with Zhao Gang, a familiar voice rang out behind him like a thunderbolt from a clear sky.
“Li Yunlong!”
Upon suddenly hearing this voice, Li Yunlong, who had been smugly puffing on his cigarette, shuddered as if electrocuted, a conditioned reflex chill running through his body.
The cigarette in his hand dropped to the ground with a “pa da,” and his whole body instantly switched from that lazy state to a tense combat posture.
“Shua!”
He snapped to attention fiercely, heels together, body ramrod straight. Zhao Gang beside him almost simultaneously made the same motion. Both raised their hands in crisp salutes, shouting loudly toward the direction of the voice:
“Greetings, Division Commander!”
Before the words finished, the Division Commander had already appeared before them with two guards, striding forward.
Just now in the command post, he had been persuaded by Su Yaoyang and Bai Chongxi to accept the new operational arrangement.
At this moment, his face was full of the seriousness and sharpness of an imminent major battle.
“Li Yunlong.”
The Division Commander walked up to the two, his piercing gaze first sweeping over Li Yunlong, then looking at Zhao Gang beside him, and asked in a deep voice: “Li Yunlong, Zhao Gang, how is the Independent Regiment’s re-equipment going? Can the troops immediately enter combat?”
Hearing the Division Commander’s question, Li Yunlong didn’t dare slack off, chest puffed out even more, reporting loudly: “Report to Division Commander, the Independent Regiment has completed re-equipment! The whole regiment is high in morale and ready to enter combat at any time. Awaiting your orders, Division Commander!”
“Mm!”
The Division Commander nodded in satisfaction; this was exactly the kind of spirit he wanted.
He wasted no more words and directly issued the combat order, his voice resounding and powerful, echoing through the noisy camp.
“Good! Now, I order the Independent Regiment to immediately complete all combat preparations. One hour from now, the whole regiment departs on time, advancing rapidly toward Taiyuan!”
He pointed his finger toward the direction of Taiyuan.
“After reaching the outskirts of Taiyuan, you will be attached to the Shanxi Militia attack cluster.
Your mission is to follow the Shanxi Militia’s Armored 1st and 2nd Regiments, coordinating with their 1st and 6th Infantry Regiments, and thrust deep into the gap torn open by the armored forces.
Like a sharp knife, clean out all the Japanese troops on the Taiyuan outer defenses! Leave none! Understood?”
The Division Commander’s tone was resolute and ironclad, full of an unquestionable flavor.
Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang exchanged a glance, both seeing the excitement and fighting spirit in each other’s eyes.
They snapped to attention again, answering with earth-shaking roars:
“Yes! Mission guaranteed!”
After the resounding acknowledgment, Li Yunlong’s quick mind turned again. His eyes darted, and he immediately asked: “Division Commander, this assault mission shouldn’t just be our Independent Regiment going, right? For such a big operation, which other units did you send?”
“You kid, your brain turns fast.”
The Division Commander looked at his shrewd appearance and couldn’t help laughing, the earlier serious atmosphere easing considerably.
“There’s also Ding Wei’s New 1st Regiment. Your two regiments, as the fists of our 386th Brigade, are responsible for coordinating with friendly forces in attacking and clearing the Japanese outer positions.”
At this point, the Division Commander’s expression turned solemn again. He patted Li Yunlong’s shoulder earnestly and said:
“This time, you have to fight like hell for me, show the prestige of our 386th Brigade! You know, to fight for this mission for you, I didn’t hold back in arguing with Commander Bai and Regiment Commander Su.”
“What? There’s such a thing?”
Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang were both shocked. In their view, having a battle to fight was only natural, but from the Division Commander’s tone, it seemed this battle was begged for?
“Nonsense, would I lie to you?”
The Division Commander snorted lightly, a trace of displeasure on his face, as if recalling the scene in the command post.
“Originally, for this assault, they had no intention of letting us participate at all. It was only after I pleaded and guaranteed with my chest out that I fought for this task of following behind to expand the victories.
So, if you don’t perform outstandingly this time and disgrace the Eighth Route Army, see how I deal with you when you get back!”
“No…”
Li Yunlong was truly angered this time. His stubborn temper flared up, neck stiffening, shouting indignantly:
“What right do they have to look down on us! Has our Independent Regiment fought few tough battles? What makes them so great that they dare despise us!”
“Because we don’t understand infantry-tank coordination, don’t understand infantry-artillery coordination! Because they’re afraid we’ll charge ahead and get hit by their own tanks and heavy artillery!”
The Division Commander shot back with one sentence, his expression instantly turning extremely serious, eyes sharp as knives piercing into Li Yunlong’s eyes.
“Do you know, when Regiment Commander Su said this in front of me and Commander Bai, I found myself speechless!”
The Division Commander’s voice carried a trace of heaviness and unwillingness. “Who made us poor, who made us inexperienced, never exposed to these modern things.
What they said is fact; what can I use to refute?”
Looking at the dumbfounded Li Yunlong, the Division Commander’s tone softened slightly, but the content was even more thought-provoking.
“So, Li Yunlong, Zhao Gang! This time letting you fight alongside the Shanxi Militia is not just to fight the Japanese.
It’s also to let you learn, open your eyes wide, perk up your ears, and see how their modern army fights!
Not only perform well and show our momentum, but also learn all their excellent combat experiences for me! Understood?”
These words hit Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang like a heavy hammer. They instantly understood the Division Commander’s good intentions. This was not just a battle, but a precious learning opportunity.
Their expressions turned serious, chests puffed out again, roaring with all their might:
“Yes! Mission guaranteed!”
Seeing Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang’s solemn expressions, the Division Commander knew his words had sunk in.
He nodded in satisfaction: “Good that you know. Then I won’t say more. Remember your mission: show prestige, learn something!”
He turned to leave, saying as he walked: “I still need to go to the New 1st Regiment and instruct that kid Ding Wei.
That kid has many tricks and isn’t easy to handle.”
“Hehe…”
Hearing the Division Commander was going to “discipline” his old comrade Ding Wei, Li Yunlong immediately showed a schadenfreude smile, the earlier seriousness vanishing instantly, as if he could already imagine Ding Wei being scolded gray-faced by the Division Commander.
Watching the Division Commander and guards hurriedly departing, Li Yunlong’s smile quickly faded, turning resolute. He took a deep breath and roared to the messenger beside him:
“Assembly horn! Whole regiment emergency assembly!
Five minutes! In five minutes, I want to see everyone lined up on the parade ground… quick!”
The sharp assembly horn immediately rang through the entire Independent Regiment station. The soldiers, who had been familiarizing themselves with weapons and sorting gear, dropped what they were doing upon hearing it, grabbed their weapons, and rushed to the parade ground at top speed.
The entire camp instantly shifted from earlier clamor to tense orderliness, filled with the footsteps of running soldiers and officers’ commands.
In less than five minutes, the Independent Regiment’s over a thousand men had assembled on the parade ground by battalion, company, and platoon, standing ramrod straight, silent, awaiting the regiment commander’s instructions.
Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang strode onto the temporary rostrum. Just as Li Yunlong cleared his throat to begin pre-battle mobilization, a sentry on alert duty ran over quickly.
“Report to Regiment Commander! Commissar!”
The sentry saluted, panting as he reported: “Many trucks have arrived outside the camp! A huge black mass blocking the road! An officer from the Shanxi Militia got off, saying he has urgent business and requests to see you!”
“Trucks?”
Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang exchanged a glance, both puzzled.
Before they could think further, the militia officer, led by the gate sentry, hurried over. He stopped below the rostrum, saluted Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang crisply, and reported in a loud voice:
“Report to Regiment Commander Li, Commissar Zhao!
Shanxi Militia Motor Transport Regiment 1st Battalion Commander Zhang You Shan, under orders from Commander Su, here to coordinate with your unit! My battalion is ordered to transport the entire Independent Regiment personnel and all equipment to the designated attack position on the Taiyuan front line at the fastest speed!”
“What? Trucks… taking us to the front line?”
Li Yunlong was stunned on the spot. He dug in his ear, suspecting he’d misheard.
In the past, battles were fought on two legs; covering a hundred or eighty li in a day was forced march. Now, going to battle by truck? This treatment, Li Yunlong hadn’t even dared to imagine before!
Zhao Gang beside him was also shocked and delighted. He looked at the equally dumbfounded soldiers around, then at the officer’s confident expression, finally confirming this wasn’t a dream.
