“Old Xiao, are you going to hit the Japanese transport convoy?”
Political Commissar Wang Yan said in a deep voice.
“Yes, defending our land and fighting against the Japanese is the responsibility of our generation of soldiers, not to mention this transport convoy is going through our defense zone. It's a provocation to our 399th Brigade!”
“If we don't teach them a lesson, any Tom, Dick, and Harry will dare to jump in front of us.”
“Moreover, our brigade just arrived in the Jinbei region to open up a base area. We are short of supplies, and many of the troops below don't even have a rifle per person.
Taking down the Japanese transport convoy not only weakens their logistics, but also helps us grow stronger. It's essential.
That's decided, I'll lead the charge myself!”
Xiao Yun nodded, his gaze firm.
“Okay, okay, Old Xiao, be careful, if the situation is not right, retreat immediately!”
“Understood, Lao Wang, the Special Operations Company will stay behind to guard the house, you pay more attention!”
“Understood!”
...........................
Soon, the brigade headquarters' direct guard company and the artillery company gathered at the threshing ground at the entrance of Yan'ao Village.
Xiao Yun stood in front of the valiant soldiers, nodding slightly.
The brigade headquarters' guard company was a crack unit he had painstakingly built up.
The entire company had three platoons, two of which were infantry platoons, fully equipped with Japanese Type 38 rifles, plus a Czech ZB-26 light machine gun for fire support.
The other was an assault platoon, equipped with 20 Mauser C96 pistols and 10 Jin-made Thompson submachine guns, rewards from Xiao Yun's previous "Happy Lucky" (robbery).
The entire company had 112 men, all of them experienced veterans with excellent combat skills.
Company Commander Huang Yun had been Xiao Yun's bodyguard during the Long March, loyal and capable.
The artillery company had 4 x 60mm mortars and 2 x 80mm mortars.
Company Commander Zhang Jixian was an artillery talent trained by Xiao Yun.
“Comrades, there's a group of Japanese transport troops who are going to pass through our defense zone. This is a blatant challenge to the 399th Brigade. Can you stand for this?”
The soldiers were excited, their hands gripping their steel rifles, "No! No! No!"
“Good, let's go!”
...........................................
Xiao Wangzhuang was located on the edge of the 399th Brigade's defense zone, at the junction of the plain and the Luliang Mountains. A road snaked through the area near Xiao Wangzhuang, leading to Suizhou, a large city in Jinbei (to avoid censorship).
At this moment, Xiao Yun had led the guard company and the artillery company to the slopes on both sides of the road, preparing to set up an ambush.
“Zhang Jixian, take the artillery company to seize that high ground across the road, set up artillery positions.
Observe and calibrate the artillery firing parameters beforehand. When the gunshots ring out, fire three rounds rapidly, targeting the front and rear trucks, don't let them escape!”
“Yes, Brigade Commander, the artillery company is with me!” Zhang Jixian nodded in response.
“Huang Yun, the 1st Platoon of the guard company on this side of the road, the 2nd Platoon on the other side, set up ambush positions, hit them hard, don't save ammunition, the Japanese have plenty of it!”
“The assault platoon provides fire support, after wiping out most of the Japanese, charge down and use automatic firepower to wipe out the entire group!”
No troops were assigned for the reinforcement blocking, the nearest Japanese outpost was more than 20 kilometers away from Xiao Wangzhuang and was not equipped with trucks, motorcycles, etc.
It would take at least a few hours for reinforcements to arrive, enough time for the Japanese transport convoy to die several times over.
“Yes, Brigade Commander!”
This small ambush was a tactical command that Xiao Yun would have handled easily in the past, not to mention his current tactical command ability, which had been enhanced to 90 points, reaching the level of a super-first-class commander.
According to Xiao Yun's instructions, the soldiers dispersed and set up ambush positions and artillery positions, quietly waiting for the Japanese to enter their ambush circle.
................................
Tabuchi Ichiro was the squad leader of the Japanese transport squad, responsible for this transport mission.
At this time, he was sitting in the co-pilot seat of the lead truck, his body swaying with the movement of the truck, his gaze through the driver's cab window enjoying the scenery outside.
“What beautiful land, it should be occupied by the great Japanese nation. The Chinese are all scum, lowly pigs, unworthy of living on this land!”
“When they completely occupy China, he will bring Sakurako, his wife back home, who is waiting for him, and become a superior person in China!”
Tabuchi Ichiro thought about it with a sense of longing, missing his wife at home.
.......................
“Brigade Commander, the Japanese are in the encirclement!”
Guard Company Commander Huang Yun looked at the six trucks that had completely entered the encirclement, his eyes almost lit up.
My goodness, six trucks, how much material can we capture?
“Tell the soldiers, aim and shoot, try to wipe out most of the Japanese with the first wave of fire!”
“Yes, Brigade Commander!”
The soldiers had their fingers on the triggers, each aiming at a Japanese soldier.
Xiao Yun also pulled out his sidearm—a pistol captured from a Kuomintang division commander during the Long March, the Colt M1911, the gun of the King of Guns.
He switched on the safety, aimed at the Japanese captain in the co-pilot seat of the lead truck.
Bang～
A gunshot rang out, Tabuchi Ichiro, who was still immersed in his daydream, had a bloody hole in his forehead, blood pouring out of it, mixed with white brain matter.
“Ambush, ambush!”
“Get out of the car, counterattack!”
“Mosi Moshi, this is the Tabuchi Transport Squad, under attack by the Chinese army in the Xiao Wangzhuang area, they have heavy weapons! Request support!”
In the early days of the war, the Japanese had good soldier quality, often beating several Kuomintang divisions with a single regiment.
For a normal Chinese army to have a 1:3 kill ratio against the Japanese was considered elite.
Even though it was only a second-line transport team, they still reacted as quickly as possible the moment they were attacked.