Bright Sword: Flesh and Blood Military Industrial Base

Chapter 16 The Ever-Changing Battlefield

As night deepened, Changning Village did not fall completely silent.

Inside the Eighth Company's barracks, the slight sounds of soldiers wiping their weapons and checking their equipment, along with their hushed conversations, conveyed a sense of tension and excitement before a major battle.

The new recruits were placed in barracks far from the veterans' area, and were supervised and reassured by Zhao Dahu and a few veterans to prevent them from having any negative impact due to the somber atmosphere in the camp.

Yang Zheng inspected the camp to make sure that all tasks were proceeding in an orderly manner before returning to his small hut.

Instead of lying down immediately, he took out paper and pen and, by the light of the oil lamp, began to write a brief outline of the battle plan.

This isn't for reporting purposes, but to clarify my own thinking.

After writing it down, he carefully reviewed the day's reconnaissance, especially the terrain around the stronghold.

"The rocky hill... the stream... the bend in the dirt road to the south..." Details flashed through his mind, corroborating his observations during the day.

Only when the oil lamp flame flickered a few times, reminding him that the oil was running low, did Yang Zheng blow out the lamp and lie down fully clothed.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking.

The assembly whistle rang out at the Eighth Company's headquarters in Changning Village.

There was none of the usual clamor during morning exercises, only the rapid, crisp sound of footsteps and the soft clinking of weapons.

More than sixty veterans, including Luo Dashan's eight-man knife squad and Zeng Dahui's thirty-six Northeast Army soldiers, as well as the core members of the original Eighth Company led by Chen Xiaoquan, lined up in full armor on the open ground in front of the village entrance.

Yang Zheng stood at the front of the group and glanced at them. He saw that they were clearly divided into three factions because of their military uniforms.

After this battle, the military uniforms worn by Luo Dashan and his men should be bleached and dyed gray.

The thought flashed through Yang Zheng's mind, but he quickly returned to the main point, shouting, "Comrades! We all knew what we were going to do today last night. I won't go into details. I'll just emphasize three points!"

"First, follow orders! When to fire, when to retreat, when to charge—all actions must be under my command!"

"Secondly, look out for each other! We're a team, don't just focus on your own charge, pay attention to your comrades!"

"Third, and most importantly—show the might of our Eighth Company! Let the Japanese devils see that the Eighth Route Army is not to be trifled with!"

"Did you all understand?!"

"Understood!" A unified shout rose into the sky, shattering the clouds.

Morale is available.

"Set off!"

At Yang Zheng's command, the entire team immediately shouldered their weapons and ammunition, lined up, and silently turned to advance.

Zhao Dahu, along with several veterans and new recruits, stood at the village entrance to see them off until the group disappeared from sight.

"Go back, everyone. Train where you need to and be on guard where you need to be!" Zhao Dahu turned his gaze back and shouted to the people behind him, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible envy.

At the same time, Zhou Dachui tapped his cane and shouted loudly with a strong voice: "Look, look, this is the Eighth Route Army, this is the real army that fights the Japanese devils. We must support them, and they deserve our full support."

If I ever hear another bad word about the Eighth Route Army again, don't blame my walking stick for being unrecognizable. Even though I'm old, I can still beat my unfilial descendants!

"That's right, that's right. From now on, I'll keep my ears open, and if I hear anything, I'll be the first to teach them a lesson."

The villagers of Changning Village were discussing the matter, but they all expressed their support for the Eighth Route Army, and this support was the foundation upon which the Eighth Route Army was able to continue to grow stronger.

Turning our attention back to Yang Zheng, the mountain road was rugged, but the team was moving at a good pace.

Yang Zheng and Chen Xiaoquan walked in the middle of the group, exchanging a few words in hushed tones from time to time.

Zeng Dahui led several of the best marksmen from the Northeast Army at the front, acting as scouts and explorers.

Luo Dashan's knife team lagged behind the rest of the group, serving as both the rearguard and a reserve strike force for crucial moments.

After walking for about an hour and a half, the sun had risen high in the sky when the scout at the front suddenly made a hand gesture, indicating that someone was approaching.

Yang Zheng frowned slightly, quickly stepped forward, and took out his binoculars to examine the area.

At a glance, it was Lin Xiaoye. He immediately waved to signal the team to lower the alert level, indicating they were on the same side.

Then he stood in the middle of the road and waited.

Not long after, Lin Xiaoye ran up to Yang Zheng, slightly out of breath.

"Company commander, the Japanese... the Japanese reinforcements have arrived, a force of over 60 men. I also saw grenade launchers and three Type 3 light machine guns. There are also over 30 guerrillas. *Sigh*..."

Yang Zheng patted him on the shoulder and said calmly, "Don't rush, speak slowly!"

"Hoo...Yes, Company Commander!" Lin Xiaoye quickly calmed his breathing before reporting in a clear voice.

"Half an hour ago, more than 60 Japanese soldiers arrived with more than 30 henchmen. As soon as they arrived, a small Japanese squad came out of the stronghold, and at the same time, all the henchmen inside were mobilized."

There are now 150 enemies marching towards us. We should be able to see them soon.

Yang Zheng's face suddenly darkened, but his eyes sharpened. Plans can't keep up with changes, but the battlefield situation is constantly changing.

"Okay, Xiao Ye, you did a great job. Take a breather." He patted Lin Xiao Ye on the shoulder, then turned his head, his gaze sweeping over Chen Xiaoquan, Zeng Dahui, and Luo Dashan who had gathered around him. His words were quick and clear:

"The situation has changed. The Japanese and their puppet troops have mobilized in large numbers, 150 men, and are better equipped. Our little show can't go on anymore; we have to start a big show! Besides, they've come to us willingly, which might not be a bad thing!"

Chen Xiaoquan immediately realized: "Company Commander, you mean... to turn the tables and ambush them around here?"

"That's right!" Yang Zheng said decisively. "Although they have more people and better equipment, we are prepared and have the terrain! We can definitely catch them off guard."

"However, we need to choose a more advantageous and closer ambush point immediately!" he said, quickly surveying the surrounding environment.

They were currently at the foot of a relatively gentle ridge, with a steep, rocky slope to their left and sparse vegetation; to their right was a relatively dense mixed forest that stretched down to a dry ditch below.

However, a few hundred meters behind them, the mountain road they had come from had a noticeable bend.

"That bend," Yang Zheng pointed, "is a good place for an ambush because the terrain there is narrow and the field of vision is limited."

However, the enemy has a larger force, and it's unlikely they can be taken down at a single bend, plus their vanguard will certainly be on high alert.

His mind raced, and a bolder, more sophisticated ambush plan quickly took shape.