"The two 60mm mortars sent by Li Yunlong and the six 80mm mortars newly captured yesterday will be assigned to your artillery company.
Along with the four 60mm mortars and two 80mm mortars that the artillery company originally had, that makes a total of twelve mortars.
I plan to divide the artillery company into three platoons: one light mortar platoon and two medium mortar platoons.
The light mortar platoon will be equipped with six 60mm mortars, while the medium mortar platoons will each have four 80mm mortars.
Zhang Jixian, your task is heavy; you need to train enough skilled gunners in the shortest time possible. I will allocate you 50 rounds of ammunition for training. Is there any problem?"
Xiao Yun's expression was serious.
"No problem, Brigade Commander! I guarantee I will complete the task!"
Zhang Jixian said excitedly. With 50 rounds for training, if he couldn't train a sufficient number of excellent artillerymen, he would twist his own head off and give it to Xiao Yun to kick like a ball.
Xiao Yun nodded and patted Zhang Jixian on the shoulder, "Keep it up, train well. When the time is right, I plan to expand the artillery company into an artillery battalion, and you, my boy, will be the battalion commander!
But don't get cocky; if you fail to complete the task and your abilities aren't enough, that battalion commander position won't be yours. I'll directly apply to headquarters to send someone over!"
"Just watch, Brigade Commander! I will definitely not embarrass you!"
Zhang Jixian's enthusiasm surged. As a talented artilleryman trained by Xiao Yun himself, he was determined not just for promotion, but simply to avoid embarrassing Xiao Yun.
He also didn't want the position of battalion commander to be snatched away by someone from outside.
Squad Leader Huang Yun of the guard company looked at Zhang Jixian with some envy. Wow, battalion commander of the artillery, that position is worth more than a regiment commander!
...........................
Shuo Prefecture, a major town in northwestern Shanxi, is garrisoned by the 222nd Infantry Regiment, which is part of the 36th Division.
Upon learning that the transport team had been completely wiped out at Xiaowangzhuang, Regiment Commander Nakamura Ichiro was furious, even smashing several of his favorite porcelain items.
The communications soldier who came to report the situation was slapped more than ten times, both cheeks swollen like a pig's head.
"Baka! There were only a bunch of newly arrived local bandits near Xiaowangzhuang. How dare these damned bandits attack the Imperial Army's transport team? They all deserve to die!"
"Hai!"
The communications soldier, whose face was swollen like a pig's head, dared not refute and just kept agreeing.
"Order, the Second Battalion will dispatch two companies, reinforcing one artillery team, to root out and eliminate that group of local bandits lurking near Xiaowangzhuang!"
After venting his anger, Colonel Nakamura Ichiro finally let the poor communications soldier go and issued the sweep order.
He wanted the local bandits to understand that the supplies of his 222nd Regiment were not so easily taken.
As for the possibility of a failed sweep, he hadn't even considered it.
During this period, the Japanese were extremely arrogant, often daring to chase after several divisions of the National Revolutionary Army with just one regiment.
In his view, sending two infantry companies and reinforcing one artillery team was enough to face a division of the National Revolutionary Army head-on.
Let alone the local bandits who couldn't even get three bullets each.
"Hai, Regiment Commander!"
Not long after, the two companies and one artillery team of Japanese soldiers set out from Shuo Prefecture City, heading straight for Xiaowangzhuang on the edge of the 399th Brigade's defense zone.
.................................
"Brigade Commander, Political Commissar, we've received intelligence that a large number of Japanese soldiers are coming from the direction of Shuo Prefecture, approximately two companies, and they are also carrying heavy weapons like infantry guns!"
At the headquarters of the 399th Brigade, Deputy Brigade Commander Liu Zhixuan hurriedly arrived with a telegram in hand.
"It seems this group of Japanese soldiers doesn't take us seriously; they dare to launch a sweep against our 399th Brigade with just two companies!"
Xiao Yun's expression immediately turned cold. He hadn't settled the score with the Japanese for burning Xiaowangzhuang last time, and now they had delivered themselves right to his doorstep.
To be honest, he had his eyes on the lives of the Japanese soldiers, as well as their infantry guns.
"Old Xiao, our 399th Brigade has only recently arrived in the northwestern Shanxi region to establish a base. It's understandable that these Japanese soldiers don't know much about us; they probably think we're just some guerrilla forces and local regiments!"
Political Commissar Wang Yan said with a smile.
"Hmph, let's show these Japanese soldiers that our 399th Brigade is not to be trifled with. I plan to use this group of Japanese soldiers as bait to conduct a surrounding attack, giving them a severe lesson.
Let them know that the 399th Brigade has come to northwestern Shanxi not to be subservient, but to be their masters!"
Xiao Yun took a sip of tea and said in a deep voice.
With a tactical command ability reaching ninety points, and having been promoted to elite status, he hadn't had a proper battle yet.
The last ambush at Xiaowangzhuang was just a minor skirmish, and he hadn't had the chance to fully unleash his capabilities. This time, he would make the Japanese soldiers drink a good cup of tea!