Chapter 38: Evacuating the County Seat and Ambushing the Japanese Reinforcements Again

Seeing the massive amount of supplies in his captured-loot space, Zhang Yun felt an overwhelming sense of joy, accompanied by a surge of confidence in ultimate victory.

As a white-collar worker from a future era, Zhang Yun possessed a "god’s-eye view" of the current war, but he knew this advantage would not last. As the conflict progressed, he would inevitably lose his precise grasp of local battlefields and would no longer be able to predict the enemy’s moves with such miraculous foresight.

War is cruel and rigorous. Without his "golden finger"—the ability to acquire sufficient, or even excessive, weaponry, ammunition, and logistical support—he truly lacked the confidence to lead his troops from one victory to the next.

However, the Loot Bonus System had granted him a new option: if he could not defeat the enemy with intellect, he would crush them with force! He would adopt the tactics of the American GIs, using overwhelming firepower to defeat the Japanese invaders. These supplies were now the vital foundation for his rise and the guarantee that his troops would continue to triumph.

Fueled by this resolve, he quickly returned to the command post with his mortar squad to coordinate follow-up operations. Upon entering, he found Kong Jie sitting there, intently studying the radio on the table. Zhang Yun smiled and remarked, "The Independent Regiment has struck gold again, Commander Kong. Surely you aren't eyeing this radio now, are you?"

Kong Jie laughed heartily. "Not at all, not at all. This radio was captured by the recruits who risked their lives to storm the command post; I wouldn't dream of coveting it." Then, unable to hide his grin, he added, "I really must thank Platoon Leader Zhang for favoring our Independent Regiment. Twice in one day, you’ve shared major captures and provided us with such abundant supplies. I am truly grateful!"

Zhang Yun waved his hand dismissively. "Commander Kong, please, no need for formalities. The most pressing matter is how to transport these supplies; the Japanese reinforcements won't be far off."

As a seasoned commander, Kong Jie was no amateur when it came to securing spoils of war, and he had already made the necessary arrangements. "Your deployment was effective, Platoon Leader Zhang. The 400-man transport team you organized is already on the road and will begin moving the goods immediately. I have also contacted the comrades from the Heshun County Committee to mobilize local cadres to help. We will store the ammunition temporarily at Wu Family Village, three kilometers away. It is not only well-hidden but also protected by our local comrades, making it quite secure."

Zhang Yun agreed that the plan was sound. "Very well. Let’s move our captured supplies there as well. We will deal with this wave of Japanese reinforcements first, and then handle the rest at our leisure."

Commander Kong, who had been thinking of further examining the radio, suddenly caught the implication. "Wait, do I hear you correctly? You aren't planning to withdraw? You intend to clash with the Japanese?"

"Precisely. On one hand, we must mobilize the townspeople to evacuate to the surrounding mountains as quickly as possible to prevent Japanese retaliation. On the other, I plan to ambush the enemy. I want to strike them hard at the outset, buying time for the transport while inflicting maximum casualties on the 105th Regiment’s combat strength."

Zhang Yun calmly explained his plan. "By taking Heshun County, we have attacked a position the enemy must rescue. Regardless of whether the Japanese in Heshun managed to send a distress signal, the 105th Regiment will be anxious about the town's safety and will undoubtedly rush to reinforce it. That makes them easy targets for an ambush. My recruit platoon now has three high-rate-of-fire mortars and one well-concealed infantry gun. We can use a 'sparrow warfare' tactic with our artillery—not focusing on capturing or holding ground, but solely on decimating the enemy's effective strength. I am confident we will achieve significant results."

Kong Jie was left speechless, yet deeply envious of Zhang Yun’s tactical approach. The recruit platoon's strategy wasn't exactly new—it was essentially "sparrow warfare" adapted for artillery. For Japanese troops desperate to reach the county seat, such an ambush would be impossible to guard against and would surely cause heavy losses.

However, typical Eighth Route Army units treated artillery as a decisive weapon for major battles, to be used only in critical moments and concentrated to break through enemy lines. In ordinary engagements, soldiers relied on rifles and grenades, and even light and heavy machine guns were used sparingly, with every bullet accounted for. The recruit platoon, by contrast, was treating mortar shells like daily consumables—a practice so extravagant it bordered on reckless.

Yet, Kong Jie couldn't help but envy them. After all, the shells were captured by Zhang Yun himself. Since the recruit platoon could fight and capture supplies, no one else could complain. Realizing that his Independent Regiment couldn't keep pace with Zhang Yun’s tactics, Kong Jie said regretfully, "In that case, the Independent Regiment won't join you in this operation. We will take responsibility for covering the civilians and helping them evacuate to the mountains."

Zhang Yun had already anticipated this. Most Eighth Route Army units simply couldn't afford such tactics; from the beginning of the war to the end, they were plagued by a lack of guns and ammunition, to say nothing of shells. "Very well, let's proceed with that plan. My troops will depart after 6:00. I also need to take a 200-man transport team to help us carry the shells. I suggest the Independent Regiment take over the town's defenses now, organize the logistics, and prepare for a swift withdrawal."

Kong Jie nodded in agreement, and they quickly finalized the details. Zhang Yun then summoned Deputy Platoon Leader Liu Changqing to issue the orders for the 6:00 departure.

He did not forget to send a few soldiers to two nearby large towns to spread their political message. (Because most towns and villages in Heshun already had local militia detachments—which the system recognized as "Allied Occupied"—the two large towns along the highway were still considered "Japanese-occupied." Only by sending soldiers to these towns could the system confirm their "capture" and grant the loot bonus.)

Liu Changqing and the soldiers were already accustomed to continuous combat. They quickly cleaned a few vacant rooms near the Japanese command post to rest, and soon, the sound of snoring filled the air.

Meanwhile, the town was buzzing with activity. The militia transport team, various local armed groups, comrades from the Heshun County Committee, and mobilized residents flooded the streets. Together, they moved the various captured supplies toward the hiding spots outside the town. The Eighth Route Army’s ability to mobilize the masses played a crucial role; the temporary guarding of the town, the transport of spoils, and the evacuation of civilians were all carried out in an orderly fashion.

At exactly 6:00 AM, though the sky was beginning to brighten, Heshun County had fallen into a somber silence. With the departure of the townspeople, the streets felt empty.

At the center of town, near the former Japanese command post, the soldiers of the recruit platoon—freshly washed and having finished a quick breakfast—were already assembled, waiting for Zhang Yun’s orders. Beside them stood the transport team led by Captain Wang.

Zhang Yun walked out of the command post, looked at the sky, and simply stated, "Comrades, let’s go. I’m taking you to fight the Japanese!"

He took the lead, followed by the recruit platoon and the militia transport team, their faces filled with confidence and a hunger for victory. Each veteran of the recruit platoon was heavily armed with ample ammunition; the new recruits carried only their rifles, a few rounds, grenades, and two extra mortar shells each. The artillerymen moved light, carrying only their mortars and the infantry gun. The transport team members, in addition to their own weapons, each carried two grenades, two mortar shells, and one infantry gun shell.

This amounted to nearly 800 mortar shells and 200 infantry gun shells—a stockpile exceeding that of the entire 129th Division in early 1938.

And Zhang Yun’s plan was to fire them all today!