Liu Hu saw that the Japanese had reinforced their troops and, in response, deployed the 3rd Battalion, which served as a reserve force, to reinforce the front lines.
The 2nd Battalion, however, remained in place on the 2nd line of defense, serving as a last resort.
The soldiers of the 1st Battalion, responsible for the first line of defense, along with the defected puppet troops, successfully overwhelmed two Japanese companies in a white-blade charge, aided by the 3rd Battalion.
The soldiers of the 399th Brigade had emphasized white-blade combat training, and thanks to Xiao Yun's consistent efforts in providing the best possible food within their capabilities, the 399th Brigade soldiers were significantly stronger than those in other National Revolutionary Army units.
Combined with their unwavering bloodlust and ferocity, they were no less formidable than the Japanese in one-on-one combat.
The 812th Regiment was a regiment with an official designation, a true main force unit with a total strength of approximately 2,500 soldiers, with each battalion boasting nearly 800 soldiers.
The Japanese's two companies, outnumbered, failed to make much of an impact and were swiftly extinguished.
In fact, the soldiers were deliberately holding back their attacks to deter the Japanese from easily using their artillery.
They were afraid that if they accidentally wiped out the Japanese soldiers, the Japanese artillery below would have no reservations about opening fire.
After routing the two Japanese companies, the soldiers of the 1st and 3rd battalions wasted no time lingering on the battlefield, even neglecting to gather spoils.
They called out to the puppet troops who had joined them in fighting the Japanese, directing them to retreat to the fortified bunkers to prevent the enemy from making a desperate move.
As for the puppet troops who had remained idle and hadn't fought against the Japanese, they were left where they were.
They dared to dream of entering the bunkers without contributing? Think again!
It was considered good fortune that they were not punished for their treachery in serving the Japanese!
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"Sir, sir, how will the Eighth Route Army handle us? What will happen to us?"
Inside the bunker, a puppet battalion commander anxiously asked the 1st Battalion commander, Zhang Qing.
He had been the one who led the charge for the puppet troops to fight against the Japanese.
Zhang Qing glanced at the puppet battalion commander, noticing bloodstains on his uniform, including a gash from a Japanese bayonet.
His voice softened a bit. "The National Revolutionary Army treats prisoners of war kindly. As long as you haven't committed any heinous crimes, the Eighth Route Army won't harm you. If you behave well, you might even have the opportunity to join our ranks and fight against the Japanese! Also, officers and soldiers are equal in our Eighth Route Army. We don't use the term 'sir.' You can call me 'commander' or by my position."
"I understand, sir, I mean, commander!"
The puppet battalion commander was relieved. He had originally been a battalion commander in the Northeast Army. After crossing the Great Wall, he had fought a few battles before being coerced by his superiors into surrendering to the Japanese and joining the puppet army.
He had a conscience, however, and had never done anything harmful. He also knew how to control his men. He had simply joined the Japanese army to make a living, and now the Japanese had forced him to take drastic measures. Additionally, he had been bullied by the Japanese on many occasions and had witnessed their atrocities against the local people.
That's why he had defected and joined the Eighth Route Army to fight against the Japanese. The puppet troops who had defected were mostly under his command. It was ironic that the puppet soldiers who had been most subservient to the Japanese, who had made the greatest impression on the Japanese, were the ones who had been forced to charge at the forefront. Many of them had been killed by the Eighth Route Army or by their own Japanese artillery before this.
One wonders whether they would regret serving the Japanese when they met the King of Hell? The Japanese, already short-handed, became even weaker after losing two companies and a puppet regiment. They mounted several attacks but were stubbornly repulsed by the defenders.
This gave Liu Hu, who was initially content with just carrying out a delaying action, an opportunity. He decided to turn the delaying action into a decisive battle!
Similar delaying actions were taking place throughout the vast expanse of northern Shanxi. Under orders from headquarters, different units of the Eighth Route Army were engaging in delaying actions against Japanese reinforcements to create favorable conditions for the 399th Brigade's attack on Shuozhou.
However, other Eighth Route Army units were not as well-equipped as the 399th Brigade, and their soldier quality was slightly lower. Many of them were unable to withstand the Japanese onslaught head-on and could only resort to delaying tactics by utilizing favorable terrain or employing strategies like mine warfare and guerrilla warfare to slow the Japanese advance.
Others even went so far as to blow up roads and bridges. In short, they made sure that no Japanese soldier would pass through their defense zones!
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"Good, Liu Hu is indeed skilled in warfare! He's turning a delaying action into a decisive battle. Tell him that the Brigade headquarters approves his plan but must ensure there are no unnecessary casualties!"
At the Shuozhou campaign headquarters, Xiao Yun, having received Liu Hu's request from the 812th Regiment, couldn't help but praise him. Having studied Liu Hu's plan, he deemed it highly feasible and immediately approved his request for action.
After sending off the communications unit soldier, Xiao Yun gazed through his binoculars at the crumbling but still standing Shuozhou city walls, battered by the artillery barrage.
He thought of the other friendly units who were sacrificing their lives to fight the Japanese reinforcements. He clenched his fist, a fierce determination burning in his eyes - they had to accelerate their progress!
"This is the Brigade headquarters. Deploy the Guard Company to blow up the city wall!"