Chapter 25: A Brief Respite Before Setting Out Again

Zhang Yun had actually been hesitant about this military expedition.

Although the enemy's 105th Regiment had suffered heavy losses and was battered, it still boasted nearly two thousand men. It was equipped with three 75mm mountain guns, six Type 92 infantry guns, twenty-four heavy machine guns, and nearly a hundred grenade launchers. While some heavy weaponry had been lost due to repeated ambushes by the Eighth Route Army, Zhang Yun was uncertain of the exact extent of these losses. In warfare, nothing is more dangerous than launching a reckless attack without clear intelligence on the enemy.

However, after the Battle of Changle Village, the overall strategic situation shifted in favor of the Eighth Route Army. The regiment, having penetrated deep into hostile territory, was suffering from poor logistics and exhaustion after being ambushed by the main force and harassed by guerrilla units. The Japanese intended to defend the county seat, but finding themselves short of food and ammunition, they would soon be forced to withdraw in accordance with orders from the Taiyuan Command.

Given this situation, Zhang Yun could exploit the enemy’s desperate need to retreat. By leveraging the rugged, mountainous terrain of Shanxi and focusing his attacks around three mortars, he could employ a "sparrow warfare" tactic—a hit-and-run approach of constant, small-scale ambushes.

Other units could not afford such a lavish style of "sparrow warfare." The Eighth Route Army had yet to establish its own arsenals, making mortar shell replenishment difficult; every shot fired was one less in the inventory. The Nationalist forces were even more stingy, often doing the bare minimum while ostensibly cooperating with the Eighth Route Army, preferring to sell their shells for profit rather than use them.

For Zhang Yun, however, his "Capture Bonus System" meant that every kill yielded rewards; as long as he could eliminate some enemies, he would break even. If he managed to destroy the enemy’s artillery units, he would reap a massive profit. Different goals dictate different tactics.

Seeing the suffering of the villagers in Xiaohuo Village and witnessing how his compatriots, despite their deep poverty, actively supported the anti-Japanese effort, Zhang Yun felt the risks were worth taking.

On the evening of April 16, as the main force of the Eighth Route Army was encircling the enemy at Changle Village, the New Recruit Platoon held a meeting to discuss their next move. Zhang Yun relayed the orders from the Eighth Route Army headquarters and shared his own reasoning. Naturally, he did not mention his knowledge of "history," but instead argued that since the main Japanese force was currently besieging the core base of the Eighth Route Army headquarters south of Heshun, the Heshun county seat served as a vital logistics hub. He intended to lead his unit to the outskirts of Heshun to harass enemy supply lines and support the main force.

The deputy platoon leader and the squad leaders, all veteran Red Army soldiers, understood the bigger picture. They were obedient and fearless, having long desired to fight the Japanese alongside the main force. They eagerly requested to join the mission.

Zhang Yun raised his hand to quiet the room. While he was pleased by their fighting spirit, he said calmly, "Have you forgotten how much supplies and ammunition we currently have at our base? We are a 'large family' now; we must leave people behind to defend it." Old Tang added, "Indeed, we have recruited so many new soldiers; we need to leave some veterans behind to train and instruct them."

"No, I intend to take most of these new recruits to Heshun," Zhang Yun stated firmly.

Everyone stared at him in surprise. The recruits could barely aim their rifles, let alone fight. Zhang Yun, who had spent so much ammunition and grain to train his men, surely understood this. He explained his mortar-based "sparrow warfare" tactic: the artillery would be the core, veterans would provide cover, and the new recruits would only need to carry shells and bolster their numbers.

Zhang Yun planned to unleash a "rain of shells" on the Japanese regiment. The artillery squads would provide concentrated fire, while also firing sporadically from different positions to prevent Japanese counter-battery fire. "The battlefield is too far from our base. A mortar shell weighs seven or eight pounds. To hit our targets, we must rely on the recruits to carry supplies and shells, while the veterans handle security and intercept small enemy detachments. This operation requires extreme mobility, and bringing the recruits along is the only way to ensure it!"

The others were stunned, but they agreed the tactic was effective and logical, even if it seemed a bit wasteful of shells. However, having captured so many yesterday, they were confident in their ability to seize more in the future.

With their approval, Zhang Yun issued his orders. "Deputy Platoon Leader, give us a report on our new recruits and equipment."

Liu Changqing, the reliable deputy, checked his notebook. "Platoon Leader, we recruited 307 new soldiers at Xiaohuo Village, and another 110 at Yujiakou and Liujia towns, totaling 417. As for veterans, we have 167 present out of an establishment of 171, following our losses from the day before yesterday. We have 412 rifles, 13 light machine guns, 4 heavy machine guns, and 3 mortars, with ample ammunition."

Everyone felt invigorated; such firepower rivaled that of a Central Army unit. Zhang Yun ordered the squads to be reorganized, dispersing the recruits among them. The 1st and 2nd squads would be reinforced with new soldiers at a 2:1 ratio, while the 3rd squad would focus on training the remaining recruits and guarding the base.

When the 3rd Squad Leader, Qin Sheng, complained about being left behind, Zhang Yun comforted him, emphasizing the importance of discipline and duty. "The Eighth Route Army requires absolute obedience. We have too many supplies to leave them unprotected. We will rotate defensive duties. If you cannot hold the fort, don't blame the platoon for being unfair."

"Understood!" Qin Sheng saluted. "The 3rd Squad has no cowards. If we must guard, we will hold!"

Zhang Yun and the others laughed. He instructed Old Tang to assist the 3rd squad, while the 1st and 2nd squads spent the 17th and 18th training the recruits on drill, marksmanship, and weapon maintenance.

"Have the recruits take the older rifles, with 30 rounds each; we'll upgrade their gear after the battle. Each of the first two squads will carry five light machine guns, preferably Czech models, with 500 rounds each. Artillerymen will carry Mauser pistols for self-defense. On the 19th, after breakfast, we march. Each soldier carries four days of rations and three mortar shells."

Zhang Yun calculated: 15 artillerymen, 288 infantrymen, himself, the deputy, and 3 messengers—308 men total. He ordered a scout team to depart early to survey the road.

On the morning of the 17th, the threshing floor was bustling. The platoon leaders led their teams in training. Thanks to the cloth they had captured and purchased, the new recruits were already wearing fresh uniforms. They might not be sharpshooters, but they could at least handle their rifles. Knowing they were heading to a neighboring county, the recruits remained calm and were eager to learn combat skills from the battle-hardened veterans. A strong atmosphere of learning filled the entire unit.