Chapter 188: Real and Fake Japs
"Hi, what a great place!"
After leaving the Linjiaji stronghold with Wei Dayong and others, Ding Wei took the troops that were withdrawn for ambush and began to look for a suitable place for an ambush.
Then, with the help of Wei Dayong and others, Ding Wei found a place that was very suitable for an ambush about ten miles away from the Dawangzhuang stronghold.
Lying on the ridge, after checking the surrounding terrain, Ding Wei couldn't help but sigh at the terrain in front of him.
There is no other reason, this terrain is really suitable for ambush.
There are mountains and hills all around, and the road from Linjiaji winds in an S shape through this hilly area.
Moreover, there was no place to hide on the sloping surface of the mountain close to the road.
In other words, if the Japanese passed through the road below, the Eighth Route Army ambushed on the mountain would have no place to hide when they shot at them from below.
And because of the terrain, the Eighth Route Army could attack the Japanese from three directions, especially on the several mountains next to the bends in the road. As long as a few heavy machine guns were set up on the mountains, the entire road could be directly blocked.
Unless the Japanese knew in advance that there was an ambush here and used artillery to bombard the heavy machine gun positions from a distance, there was no way they could pass this road.
"This is strange. This place is so suitable for an ambush. Why don't the Japanese send people to occupy this ambush site first?"
After looking at the terrain, Ding Wei began to have some doubts.
After observing along the way, Ding Wei found that the Japanese defense was extremely tight, with a Japanese soldier standing guard at every distance.
There were even some places suitable for ambushes where more than a dozen Japanese devils were guarding them.
But Ding Wei couldn't understand why the Japanese didn't arrange any personnel to guard the place where he was, even though it was obviously a very suitable location for an ambush.
Wei Dayong, who was standing by, listened to what Ding Wei said and muttered, "Maybe the Japanese don't have that many people anymore?"
Listening to what Wei Dayong said, Ding Wei shook his head.
"No, that's impossible. You saw it from the beginning. There were about two to three hundred Japanese soldiers rushing from the Linjiaji stronghold to Dawangzhuang.
My people also observed that there were no troops from Dawangzhuang heading towards Tongshi Town.
In other words, there are probably more than 500 Japanese devils in the Dawangzhuang stronghold.
Two or three hundred Japanese soldiers are more than enough to defend a stronghold. It is impossible that there are not enough troops to maintain the defense line. "
Ding Wei frowned when he thought of his initial guess about whether there might be puppet soldiers disguised as Japanese devils.
"But Captain Ding, the fact is this: not only are there no Japs on guard here, there are no Japs on the road below.
Captain Ding, we have checked the area several times and we are absolutely sure that there are absolutely no Japanese sentries nearby."
Wei Dayong listened to what Ding Wei said, and he didn't understand what Ding Wei was worried about.
He spoke directly to Ding Wei and told him his thoughts.
"Captain Ding, look, the New 1st Regiment needs to attack Dawangzhuang anyway. No matter how many Japanese soldiers are in Dawangzhuang, you have to take it down, right?"
"Yes, that's right. I am determined to take Dawangzhuang. Even if there is a brigade of Japanese devils in Dawangzhuang, my New 1st Regiment will be able to take Dawangzhuang down."
Listening to what the monk said, Ding Wei nodded and answered affirmatively.
The monk listened to Ding Wei's answer, and then continued: "Captain Ding, think about it, do you need to attack Dawangzhuang by force?
Since you are going to attack forcefully, why do you care so much?
Even if our ambush here is discovered, the worst result is that we won’t get the gift that the captain mentioned, and we will still have to storm Dawangzhuang in the end.”
"If we are not discovered, then we will have successfully obtained the great gift that the regiment commander mentioned. We can also lure out the Japanese soldiers in Dawangzhuang and surround them to attack their reinforcements.
If we are discovered, then at most we will not be able to get the great gift that the captain mentioned, and then we can directly attack Dawangzhuang.
The worst-case scenario is that your original plan is the same.”
Ding Wei listened to what Wei Dayong said and instantly understood what Wei Dayong meant.
It turned out that Wei Dayong was worried about what to do if he was discovered by the Japanese while ambushing here.
Thinking of this, Ding Wei explained to Wei Dayong in a low voice.
"Monk, I'm not worried about being discovered by the Japanese while we're ambushing here, I'm worried about something else.
Think about it, the first group of Japs you met and the next group of Japs we met after we got there.
It was obvious that something was wrong with the two groups of Japanese devils.
Monk, you are also a veteran, tell me, in your impression, what should the Japanese be like?"
Wei Dayong listened to Ding Wei asking him to describe what the Japanese looked like.
Wei Dayong thought for a moment and then spoke.
"I think the Japanese are good at shooting and bayonet fighting. Even if there are only a few people left, they can quickly organize and rely on each other. They have strict discipline, and even their weapons and equipment are not worse than our independent regiment."
Hearing Wei Dayong's answer, Ding Wei looked at Wei Dayong strangely.
As for Wei Dayong's description of the Japs, there is nothing wrong with the rest of what he said. The Japs are good at shooting, good at bayonet fighting, and the grassroots soldiers have a high degree of cooperation. This is correct.
But, Wei Dayong's last comment... the weapons and equipment of the Japanese were no worse than those of the independent regiment...
Thinking of this, Ding Wei turned his gaze to the submachine gun and sniper rifle carried by Wei Dayong.
"Hiss, how many goodies did this kid Li Yunlong get from Qin Yangming?
This monk Wei can even say that the Japanese equipment is not worse than that of the independent regiment. It seems that in Wei Dayong's impression, the equipment of the independent regiment is stronger than that of the Japanese at the same level.
It seems that I have to go to the Vanguard Regiment when I have time. After all, the New 1st Regiment is Qin Yangming’s old unit, and it is also his Qin Yangming’s mother’s family. They also took away a cavalry battalion from me. "
Ding Wei thought about it and decided that after this battle he would bring a few bottles of good wine to Qin Yangming to have a chat.
While thinking about other things, Ding Wei was still explaining to Wei Dayong what he was worried about.
"Monk, you know that the Japanese are so strong, so are your first batch of Japanese soldiers like the Japanese troops?"
“Being lazy, chatting while on sentry duty, barbecuing, and more importantly, drinking during combat?
Your regiment commander Li Yunlong didn't have the courage to drink during combat, do you think the ordinary Japanese soldiers have the courage to do so?"
Wei Dayong listened to Ding Wei's explanation, scratched his head, and figured out what Ding Wei wanted to say.
"Captain Ding, do you suspect that the first batch of Japanese soldiers were puppet troops in disguise?"
Wei Dayong directly expressed Ding Wei’s inner concerns.
There is no way. Those who are so lazy and dare to drink during the battle can only be scoundrels who were brought from some county to serve as soldiers, or bandits who were brought from some mountain and turned into puppet soldiers. The military discipline of these soldiers can be so poor.
Wei Dayong really couldn't imagine any nearby troops whose military discipline could be so poor.
Even the troops of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army did not dare to drink alcohol during combat.
Only those puppet troops who are composed of scoundrels or bandits have the courage to do so.
After all, what this kind of puppet army believes in is to hide if they can win, run if they can't win, and surrender if they can't run away. Those people don't care whether you, the Japanese, win or lose the battle.
Those people joined the puppet army just for the money from the Japanese and to have a meal. If they were asked to fight on the battlefield, they would run away faster than anyone else.
So after listening to what Ding Wei said, Wei Dayong immediately thought of the puppet army.
Ding Wei nodded after listening to Wei Dayong's answer. "Well, I am a little worried that the Japanese actually mobilized the puppet army, but just let the puppet army disguise as their troops, and then disguised their troops as puppet troops, or simply did not disguise.
If the large force of the Japanese Fourth Brigade that we surrounded was actually puppet troops in disguise, then we would be in big trouble.
There is a huge difference between the combat effectiveness of the puppet army and the Japanese devils.”
“If the large force of the Fourth Brigade of the Japanese army currently in Tongshi Town is disguised as puppet troops, or if most of the troops are disguised as puppet troops, then we are in danger.
Since they were puppet soldiers pretending to be Japanese soldiers, the real Japanese soldiers must still be waiting outside Shiquan County.
By then, the Japanese from three brigades will attack Linyuan County and Shiquan County at the same time, and our defensive troops may not be able to stop them.
Once Linyuan County and Shiquan County are reoccupied by the Japanese, the Shangdang area may be taken away by the Japanese again."
Thinking of this, Ding Wei was filled with worry.
But no matter how much Ding Wei worried, it was useless at this moment because dawn was about to come.
According to the intelligence from the brigade, the other two brigades of the Japanese army would arrive at the attack position in the morning and launch an attack on Linyuan County and Shiquan County.
And in another hour, the Eighth Route Army will launch an attack on the Japanese Fourth Brigade.
Even if this news was reported to the brigade headquarters at this time, it would be too late and there would not be enough time to mobilize troops to strengthen the defense.
After all, that night, both the Eighth Route Army and the Japanese were mobilizing their troops.
It is almost dawn now, and all the troops have been deployed to their reserve positions. If they are changed again, big problems will arise.
It would be better to keep things as they are. As long as they can speed up and eliminate the enemy forces in Tongshi Town before Linyuan County and Shiquan County are breached by other Japanese troops, there is still hope.
Moreover, if the large force of the Fourth Brigade of the Japanese devils in Tongshi Town were really puppet troops in disguise, then it would be much easier to deal with the puppet troops than to deal with the Japanese devils.
"Forget it. No matter whether they are the Japs or puppet troops, as long as we destroy the Fourth Brigade as quickly as possible, there will be no problem!
As long as we get rid of the 4th Brigade before Linyuan County and Shiquan County are breached by the Japanese, we can free up enough troops for defense. By then, even if there are three brigades of Japanese, what can they do?"
Ding Wei shook his head and decided not to think about it anymore. Even if his guess was correct, it was too late.
Instead of continuing to worry, it is better to think about how to get rid of the Japanese Fourth Brigade as quickly as possible.
What's more, his guess might not be correct. If they were really puppet soldiers disguised as Japanese devils, the appearance of the first batch of Japanese devils was completely different from those puppet soldiers with extremely poor discipline except for the disciplinary problems.
And Wei Dayong continued at this time.
"But Captain Ding, that's not right. If they were really puppet soldiers disguised as Japanese soldiers, with so many puppet soldiers mobilized, it's impossible for us to not have intelligence.
Moreover, if the first batch of Japanese devils were puppet troops in disguise, their performance did not seem like that of puppet troops with such poor military discipline.
Captain Ding, think about it, if the puppet soldiers dared to drink during the battle, would they not have the courage to just run away with their guns?
How could such a poorly disciplined puppet army stay where they are?
What's more, even if they were puppet troops, they could see that a big battle was about to break out here.
Generally speaking, puppet soldiers with such poor discipline would definitely prioritize saving their lives. If I were such a puppet soldier, I would definitely not stand guard honestly and would definitely find an opportunity to run away with my gun.
If it really doesn't work, you can just throw away your gun and run to the Shangdang area to hide.
In addition, given how greedy these puppet troops are, how could they possibly conduct such intensive fire reconnaissance?
Our commando team has observed that at least 10,000 bullets were fired during fire reconnaissance alone, and there were also many small grenades fired from grenade launchers.
If I were a puppet soldier, I would never do this. Instead of wasting bullets on fire reconnaissance, I might as well take the bullets and sell them for some money.
A Type 38 rifle bullet could be exchanged for one or two kilograms of flour. Even if it was sold, it could be sold for two or three cents each. What's more, it was a bullet produced by the Japanese, whose bullets could be sold for at least three cents.
How could the puppet army be willing to just fire the bullets like that?
In addition, most of the Japanese soldiers in the first batch rode in trucks, while many of the Japanese soldiers in the second batch did not have trucks to ride in.
If the first batch of Japanese soldiers were disguised as puppet soldiers, given the Japanese's temperament, how could they let the puppet soldiers ride in trucks while they walked? "
Ding Wei nodded, and then gave a signal, asking the third battalion, which was preparing in the back, to start going up the mountain to prepare for the ambush.
After receiving Ding Wei's order, many Eighth Route Army soldiers from the New 1st Regiment began to climb the mountains with weapons and equipment.
On a mountain near Dawangzhuang, after learning that the Third Battalion had begun preparations, the First Battalion of the New First Regiment also sent out a company to prepare an ambush position on a mountain leading to the Third Battalion.
When the battle in the third battalion starts, once the Japanese soldiers in Dawangzhuang come out, we will attack them coming out of Dawangzhuang on the road.
Then the rest of the troops launched a strong attack on the Dawangzhuang stronghold.
At the ambush position of the Third Battalion, after Ding Wei arranged all matters, he began to wait for the great gift that Li Yunlong had mentioned to arrive.
"Li Yunlong's speculations are always accurate. It depends on whether the 772nd Regiment gets this great gift or my New 1st Regiment gets this great gift."
After seeing that most of the troops had climbed the mountain, Ding Wei muttered to himself and looked towards the direction of Linjiaji.
According to the division of combat areas of each unit, the Linjiaji stronghold was attacked by the 772nd Regiment.
Therefore, the 772nd Regiment also has the opportunity to intercept the great gift that Li Yunlong mentioned.
It depends on whether the 772nd Regiment is luckier or his new 1st Regiment is luckier.
"Third Battalion Commander, pass on my order. No one is allowed to make a sound or move. Even if you have to poop, you have to poop in my pants.
Remember, smoking is absolutely not allowed!
If anyone dares to smoke at this time, I will rip his skin off!"
Ding Wei looked at the Third Battalion Commander who was touching his side, and hurriedly spoke to him to give instructions.
"Yes!"
After the third battalion commander responded to Ding Wei in a low voice, he quickly retreated and passed on Ding Wei's order.
"Mount the heavy machine gun better and pull the muzzle back. Are you afraid that the Japanese won't see that there is a heavy machine gun here?
Pull some grass and put it in front of the muzzle of the gun to block it, so that the Japanese won't find out."
Ding Wei looked at the soldier who was setting up a heavy machine gun beside him and quickly reminded him not to set up the machine gun so far forward to avoid being discovered by the Japanese.
The blocking position chosen by Ding Wei was very clever, as it was located in the east.
In a little while, the sun will rise from the east.
Looking down from the top of the mountain, you can see it clearly.
But when they looked up from the bottom of the mountain, what greeted them was the dazzling sunlight.
Especially several machine gun positions, because of the terrain, several machine gun positions can perfectly cover the entire area below.
No matter what angle, they would have to face fire from at least two heavy machine guns.
Watching the soldiers re-setting up the Type 92 heavy machine gun, Ding Wei couldn't help but think of the heavy machine gun with two wheels that Qin Yangming's vanguard regiment had once used.
"I really don't know where Qin Yangming got that heavy machine gun from.
Tsk tsk tsk, that heavy machine gun is much more user-friendly than the Type 92. It is belt-fed, and you can directly replace the barrel when it gets hot. When the gun mount is inverted, it can also act as an anti-aircraft machine gun to shoot down planes...
Let's see if we can get a few of them over here... and anti-aircraft machine guns... they're much more useful than rapid-fire cannons, and one burst of fire can knock down the turret."
Just as Ding Wei was constantly thinking about how to exchange a batch of equipment from Qin Yangming after the battle was over, the sky gradually brightened.
The sound of trucks also began to come from the direction of Linjiaji.
(End of this chapter)
