Wandering the Heavens

Chapter 309: Sword 12

Zhao Gang led his company and rushed all the way to the place where Li Yunlong and the regiment headquarters were separated. They then searched forward following the traces left by Wei Dayong. Soon they heard gunshots. Everyone hurriedly chased in the direction of the gunshots, eliminated the Japanese and puppet troops who wanted to capture the Eighth Route Army officials, and rescued Li Yunlong.

At this time, Li Yunlong was already unconscious. Wei Dayong took the responsibility for going in the wrong direction on himself and insisted on carrying him to Zhaojiayu without letting anyone else touch him. Zhao Gang had no choice but to follow his wishes.

After rescuing Li Yunlong, the company rested in Zhaojiayu for three days. During this period, the independent regiment contacted the brigade headquarters, and other companies that broke out of the siege also returned one after another. Zhao Gang temporarily took charge of the work of the independent regiment when Li Yunlong fell ill. He prepared to call a meeting of the surviving officers to inform them of the spirit of the top leaders, the headquarters and the brigade headquarters and let them go to the new station according to the plan, take various measures to develop their strength and continue to fight against the devils, the second devils and the stubborn forces.

Given the current situation, almost all of the garrisons are in villages with mature organizational development, where everyone can rest and train for a while. However, Yu Xian's company is a little special. He reported to Zhao Gang alone before the meeting that he was going to a place that no one expected to develop strength and fight against the devils.

"You mean to say that we want to establish a special operations team and base similar to that of the Japanese army, and the location of the base is Heiyun Village, the lair of Xie Baoqing, the fierce bandit in northwestern Shanxi?"

Zhao Gang didn't expect Yu Xian to propose the idea of establishing a special operations team at this time. After all, although everyone has completed the breakout, the army has suffered heavy losses, with more than half of the officers killed. Yu Xian wanted to stir up trouble at this time, and Zhao Gang was not very confident about it.

"Reporting to the political commissar, my company and I are confident that we can take over Heiyun Village. As long as we control that place, we can monitor the movements of the Japanese, the Central Army and the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army." Yu Xian did not hide anything at this moment.

"Monitor the Central Army and the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army? Now we are in a war of resistance against Japan. What do you want to do?" Zhao Gang suddenly became serious.

"Report to the political commissar, I don't want to do anything, I just want to know what the Shanxi Suiyuan Army wants to do? In this world, I don't believe in anything else except the organization and faith."

Yu Xian believed that Zhao Gang was not a pedantic and dogmatic person, because such a person would never be in Li Yunlong's eyes.

"Go and prepare! I will announce it at the military meeting later."

Zhao Gang was convinced. Although it was a united front, it was not uncommon for those diehards to stab him in the back. The most influential one was the "Southern Anhui Incident" that broke out in January last year. The headquarters of the Southern Anti-Japanese Armed Forces under the organization's leadership was surrounded by diehard armed forces, more than 7000 people died heroically, the army commander was captured, and the director of the political department, deputy army commander, and deputy chief of staff died.

The military meeting was held in a large courtyard. The first company, which was still well-organized, cooperated with the regiment headquarters to undertake the tasks of vigilance and protection. Zhao Gang first reported the number and organization of the independent regiment after the breakout. At the same time, considering that the current head of the regiment, Li Yunlong, was seriously ill, Zhao Gang decided not to adjust the organization of the independent regiment for the time being. Everyone went to the garrison according to the assigned defense zone to rest and develop anti-Japanese armed forces.

The adjustments to personnel and establishment will be made after Li Yunlong recovers from his illness and the deputy regiment commander appointed by the headquarters takes office, and an organizational work meeting is held to decide on them, which will then be submitted to the brigade for approval before implementation.

The meeting lasted from two o'clock to six o'clock. Zhao Gang spent a lot of time and space explaining to everyone the current domestic and international war situation and emphasizing organizational discipline. He also listened fully to everyone's ideas, opinions and suggestions on future development ideas before the meeting ended.

As soon as the meeting ended, Yu Xian left Zhaojiayu with his company and a few dry food supplies. He wanted to take over Heiyun Village before the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army and the Japanese reacted.

In addition to the first company, the second battalion led by Chief of Staff Zhang Dabiao also accompanied them. Yu Xian looked down on the bandits in Heiyun Village and would not accept them no matter how innocent they were. So after the battle, Zhang Dabiao's second battalion took the people away. Those who committed serious crimes and murders were publicly tried and shot, while those who had not committed serious crimes were reformed.

After marching for a day and a half, the two teams arrived near Heiyun Village at three o'clock in the afternoon. They destroyed one of their information points and pretended to let a bandit escape on purpose. Then Yu Xian asked everyone to take a rest and wait for the attack after dark.

Xie Baoqing was born in a poor family. After becoming a bandit, he earned a good reputation in northwestern Shanxi by not robbing the poor. However, this cannot cover up the fact that he is a bandit. If he doesn't rob the poor, does that mean all non-poor people deserve to be robbed?

"Yu Xian, I learned on the way that the Black Cloud Village is easy to defend but difficult to attack. Before the Japanese came, the local security corps, the Shanxi Suiyuan Army and the Japanese all tried to encircle and suppress it, but each time they suffered heavy losses and returned empty-handed." Zhang Dabiao put down the telescope in his hand and sighed.

"That was before they met me. Chief of Staff, just wait to receive the prisoners!" Yu Xian said as he glanced at the sky and continued to observe the direction of the mountain.

"If we use force, it will make too much noise and we will surely suffer heavy casualties."

Zhang Dabiao asked Yu Xian how he wanted to fight, implicitly implying that if Yu Xian chose to attack by force he would cancel the operation. More than half of the independent regiment had been killed, and the lives of the soldiers could not be sacrificed in such an operation.

"The bandits who just escaped will definitely come back to the mountain stronghold to report to Xie Baoqing. By then, all his attention will be on the large force on the main road. I will personally lead the team to climb up the cliff at the back mountain and sneak into the mountain stronghold to coordinate with the forces from inside and outside. They are just a group of rabble and will not be able to make any waves if they are attacked from both sides." Yu Xian glanced at the height of the sun and explained slowly.

"How can you find the route to the back mountain if you are not familiar with the terrain here?" Zhang Dabiao was skeptical about Yu Xian's plan, and what he said was true.

"Chief of Staff, my hometown is full of mountains, and I have been able to observe them since I was a child. Later, I participated in the Long March and came to the Second War Zone for several years. This is not a difficult task for me." Yu Xian shook his head.

"Okay, I'll gather the cadres and guides to discuss the details, and then you can set off." Zhang Dabiao agreed to the plan.

The soldiers were resting, while the cadres were in a meeting. After half an hour of meeting, they decided to take action when the sun sets. Yu Xian took a look at the height of the sun, and left the main force with the selected soldiers and climbing equipment and headed to the back mountain.

Zhang Dabiao ordered his troops to get into formation and move towards Heiyun Village in a combat posture and formation.

At this time, Xie Baoqing had just received the news, and then he saw more than 200 Eighth Route Army soldiers blocking the entrance of the village.

Xie Baoqing felt that he was wronged. During the years when the Eighth Route Army was active in the Second War Zone, he had heard about this group of poor people, and was glad that he and his brothers had never robbed the poor. But now they were still found, and Dou E in the opera was not so wronged.

"Brother, tell me how to beat me!" The second in command, Shanmaozi, was eager to try.

There are more than a hundred brothers in the mountain stronghold, and we are in such a high terrain, with machine guns, cannons and grenade launchers. It is true that there are many Eighth Route Army soldiers outside, but how can they fight us without heavy weapons? No matter how you calculate it, the advantage is on me!

"How do you think we should fight?" Xie Baoqing glared at Shanmaozi.

"I...I'll listen to you, big brother!"

Shanmaozi was determined not to take the blame. The other party was blocking his doorstep and it was obvious that they had no good intentions. No matter whether he fought or not, the road ahead would be more difficult. If he lost, he could just surrender, but if he won, he would be dead.

"No, we have food and water in our stronghold, so we can hold out. But it's different for the Eighth Route Army. Judging from their appearance, they must have just broken out of the Japanese raid. They don't have enough food and ammunition. When they find they can't win, they will retreat. Then we can send some supplies to them and make good friends with them." Xie Baoqing thought for a long time before announcing his decision to the leaders.

"Brother, we are the ones who always rob others, why are we the ones who are robbed instead?" Shanmaozi was unhappy when he heard this.

"That's right! Big brother, these food, clothes and daily necessities were all obtained by our brothers at the risk of their lives. We will not agree to give them away so easily."

"Brother, these Eighth Route Army soldiers have just broken out of the Japanese encirclement and are now exhausted. Can't we take them down?"

"Brother, we..."

As soon as he came out, several leaders started to make a fuss. First, Xie Baoqing was a coward, which made them feel that the thing under his crotch was useless; second, Xie Baoqing said he wanted to give gifts to curry favor with the Eighth Route Army at his doorstep, but what was the basis for that? Besides, everyone had a head on their shoulders, so what would happen if they fought a war?

If Xie Baoqing had read some books, he would probably be hunted down to the ends of the earth.