Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 176 Intelligence Research

After a short while, everyone else left the meeting room. Only frontline personnel remained, and the room was filled with a tense atmosphere.

"Commander, are the Japanese about to make their move?" Tang Xiaohu asked.

"Well, although I hope we can develop peacefully for a while longer, the Japanese won't give us that chance. According to intelligence, the Japanese are planning to reinforce the counties around Wolong Mountain. Li Qukou will inform everyone of the specific information."

"Yes, Captain."

"According to our own militia's intelligence reconnaissance and information from the Second War Zone, the Japanese are currently planning to secretly reinforce Wolongshan County with one battalion of troops. Combined with the troops the Japanese reinforced last month, there will be two Japanese battalions in Wolongshan County!"

"In addition, a battalion of Japanese soldiers is heading towards Qingshan County, north of Wolong Mountain."

"According to intelligence from the Second War Zone, a large number of Japanese troops are being moved to the southeastern region. It seems that the Japanese are preparing to eliminate the resistance forces in the occupied areas."

Upon hearing Li Qukou's introduction, Tang Weiguo's first reaction was the historical "Nine-Route Encirclement." The Japanese army had assembled more than 3 troops to suppress the resistance forces in southeastern Shanxi.

"Why would the Japanese send such a large force to the area around Wolong Mountain? It seems that my time travel has had an impact on historical events," Tang Weiguo wondered to himself.

"Commander, the Japanese troop deployment clearly indicates they're going to attack Wolong Mountain. They really look down on us, sending three battalions to surround and annihilate us," Tang Xiaohu said with a sneer.

"The Japanese devils have suffered several heavy losses against our militia before, so they won't dare to underestimate us this time. However, this means our militia will face greater combat pressure."

"This time, our militia will need to fight on two fronts. On one hand, we need to deal with the Japanese troops in Wolong Mountain, and on the other hand, we need to be wary of the Japanese troops in Qingshan County."

"Moreover, although our troops have expanded in size, new recruits make up a large proportion of them, so the situation our militia is facing this time is quite dangerous."

"I think we should implement a scorched-earth policy and use the terrain to slowly wear down the Japanese," Zhang Haoshan said. The underground fortress at Wolong Mountain has taken shape in the past month and should be able to support small-scale defensive operations.

Despite the fact that the militia was about to face more than 4000 Japanese and puppet troops, Zhang Haoshan felt no panic whatsoever.

"Speaking of which, since the Japanese have prepared so many troops, why don't they launch an attack now?" Tang Dazhuang asked in confusion.

"The Japanese probably think that these troops can't completely wipe us out, so they're waiting."

"No, it should be that they are worried that if they attack us now and other troops come to our aid, their efforts will be in vain."

"What are they waiting for?" Tang Dazhuang asked.

"Wait until the other Japanese troops have finished deploying."

"According to Director Li's intelligence, the Japanese are making a large-scale troop movement in the southeast region. Their purpose is obvious: to take action against the Nationalist government troops and the Eighth Route Army troops in the southeast."

“Once a large-scale battle breaks out in the southeast region, even if the Nationalist government and the Eighth Route Army want to support us, they will not have enough troops to provide that support.”

"This way, the Japanese can easily encircle and annihilate us," Tang Xiaohu analyzed.

“Although the Japanese are our enemies, their battle plans are still worth learning from,” Long Wenying added from the side.

"The Japanese won't be that simple; they'll definitely have a backup plan," Tang Weiguo said after thinking for a while.

"What did the commander say?" Tang Xiaohu asked.

"Qu Kou, tell me about the other intelligence."

"Yes, according to intelligence personnel in Wolong Mountain, the Japanese have been stockpiling military supplies in Wolong Mountain County recently, and the amount of military supplies they have stockpiled far exceeds their needs."

"Commander, are you saying the Japanese have more than just this many troops attacking us?"

Tang Xiaohu was immediately startled. He thought that the Japanese had already taken their militia seriously by sending so many troops, but he hadn't expected them to have another trick up their sleeve.

"I ask you, how do you hide the tree so that it won't be discovered?" Tang Weiguo asked the others.

"Hidden in the forest." Tang Xiaohu realized instantly.

Upon hearing Tang Xiaohu's answer, Tang Weiguo nodded in satisfaction. Tang Xiaohu truly deserved to be called a great general.

"Commander, do you mean that the Japanese will allocate a portion of their forces to the attack on southeastern Shanxi?"

"Nine times out of ten, once they pretend to attack the southeast region and then turn north, given the speed of the Japanese army's advance, they will reach the Wolong Mountain area in less than a day."

"If that happens, we will be surrounded on three sides. If we are not prepared in advance, we will suffer a great loss!"

"Those Japanese devils are so damn cunning!" Tang Xiaohu said with lingering fear. If it weren't for the regimental commander's vigilance, he could have easily been tricked by the Japanese.

"If the Japanese devils weren't really capable, they wouldn't have been able to occupy so much of our territory so quickly."

"Commander, how many Japanese troops do you think will ultimately be able to encircle and annihilate us?" Tang Xiaohu asked.

"No fewer than five Japanese battalions! This does not include the puppet troops. I estimate that the final total number of Japanese and puppet troops will exceed 7,000."

"Wow, those little devils really think highly of us."

"Commander, what are your plans? Should we retreat to Wolong Mountain and use the fortifications currently under construction there for combat?" Deputy Commander Zhang suggested.

"I don't want to reveal the military fortification of Wolong Mountain because of the number of these Japanese soldiers. So let's brainstorm ideas and see how we should fight this battle!"

"Commander, judging from the current situation, the Japanese's first target is Sanjiaji. Once they retake Sanjiaji, the Japanese troops in Wolongshan County will join forces with those in Qingyunshan County."

"Commander, after a month of construction, our battalion has built a complete defensive system on Wolong Mountain. Relying on this system, we can withstand the attack of three battalions of the Japanese in a short time."

"While we have this opportunity, we can move a portion of our troops outside and launch an attack from behind on the Japanese troops besieging Sanjiaji."

"Zhou Liansheng, your fourth battalion will go to the outer line and find a way to launch a surprise attack on the Japanese troops coming from Qingshan County."

"Li Debao and Tang Dazhuang's two battalions are on the southern front to carry out defensive missions to prevent the Japanese from launching surprise attacks on us from the south."

"As for holding the Sanjiaji position, it's possible for us, but the chances of winning are slim. The Japanese will definitely have corresponding countermeasures."

"It would be such a waste for us to give up the Sanjiaji position!" Tang Xiaohu said somewhat unwillingly.

"We cannot give up right away; we must make it look like we are ready to fight the Japanese to the death. But in reality, our main defensive focus is on Tangjia Town and the only road leading to Wolong Mountain!"

"Commander, will the Japanese go to Tangjia Town?"

"We must go. That's my hometown. How could the Japanese give it up so easily?" Tang Weiguo sneered.

"We didn't dig these tunnels in Tangjia Town for nothing. It's time to put them to use and teach those Japanese devils a lesson!"

"Yes."