Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 167 Encountering an Airplane

"Report."

"Enter."

Tang Weiguo looked up and saw Tang Xiaohu walking towards him with a stranger.

"You're back. When did you get back?" Tang Weiguo asked Tang Xiaohu.

"I came to report to you, Commander, first thing this morning."

"This trip seems to have gone very smoothly."

"This time it went so smoothly, not a single soldier in the battalion was injured, and we took down the Loyal and Brave National Salvation Corps at Erdaoling." Tang Xiaohu said with a proud look on his face.

"Haha, that's something to congratulate you on."

"Just as the regimental commander said, the Loyal and Brave Patriotic Army on Erdao Ridge has indeed colluded with the Japanese and is preparing to defect to them."

"Hehehe, damn it, have you taken care of all the Japanese devils?"

"They've all been taken care of. Battalion Commander Cao, who's right next to me, killed them all," Tang Xiaohu replied.

"This must be the Battalion Commander Cao Yingjie you mentioned in the telegram," Tang Weiguo asked again.

"Reporting to Commander Tang, I am Cao Yingjie." Cao Yingjie answered Tang Weiguo's question without waiting for Tang Xiaohu to introduce him.

"Hmm, very good. He didn't defect to the Japanese with your regimental commander. He's a man of great principle and unwavering integrity. Tang Xiaohu said you personally led men to tie up your regimental commander with the Japanese?"

"Yes, Commander Tang, I, Cao Yingjie, would never be a traitor. Since our commander wants to be a traitor, don't blame me for sacrificing my own family for the greater good."

"Commander Tang, I've heard a lot about your militia in Erdaoling. You're a team that dares to fight the Japanese. I wanted to join your militia. It's just that my damn commander wouldn't agree."

"Look, my damn regimental commander still wanted to defect to the Japanese. I seized the opportunity and without saying a word, I led my men to tie up our regimental commander and the Japanese, intending to take him to the militia as a gift for my defection to our militia."

"Sigh, I never expected my commander's confidant to be so loyal, leading a forceful attack on us. If Battalion Commander Tang hadn't come to our aid, I would have been prepared to die with them!"

"I never expected that I would be saved by our militia even though I hadn't joined it. I can never repay this life-saving grace!" Cao Yingjie said.

"Battalion Commander Cao, you're too kind. China needs people like you to drive the Japanese out of China. Welcome to join our militia." Tang Weiguo extended his right hand with a smile.

"Thank you, Commander, for accepting our unit."

"I'd be scrambling to have soldiers like you with such a strong sense of patriotism, especially since you've practically delivered yourself to my doorstep!" Tang Weiguo said with a smile.

"Since you were a battalion commander in your original unit, I, Tang Weiguo, cannot be stingy. I hereby appoint you as the battalion commander of the Sixth Battalion. With your current troops as the backbone, we will expand into an anti-Japanese force that dares to fight and struggle!"

"Yes, Commander, I guarantee I'll complete the mission!" Cao Yingjie said excitedly. Cao Yingjie hadn't expected to be appointed battalion commander so quickly; he had originally planned to be content with just a company commander. He was deeply moved by Tang Weiguo's magnanimity.

"As for the lack of troops, let Tang Xiaohu help you solve it," Tang Weiguo continued.

"Yes."

"Okay, you two go back first and rest for a bit."

"Yes." After saying that, Tang Xiaohu and the other person left.

"I didn't expect such a pleasant surprise; this has expanded the size of the army again," Tang Weiguo thought.

"If the army is in good shape, recruitment will still be a problem in the future. Why not set up a recruitment office to be specifically responsible for recruiting and training new recruits? Let Zhao Zhu serve as the director of the recruitment office. He has been in charge for the past two years."

Tang Weiguo immediately began drafting a plan to establish a conscription office.

.....

While Tang Weiguo was drafting the plan, Zhang Haoshan, Bi Shoucai, and their group encountered an unexpected incident.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz."

"Hurry and take cover!"

Upon hearing the sound from afar, Niu Dali hurriedly told everyone to take cover.

"What's going on?" Bi Shoucai asked, puzzled.

"We hear Japanese planes! Everyone, get into the woods!" Niu Dali hurriedly directed the new recruits to hide in the woods, while the reconnaissance battalion soldiers had already taken cover. Meanwhile, Artillery Company Commander Wu began searching for suitable firing positions to set up anti-aircraft machine guns.

Soon after, just as Niu Dali had said, two Japanese planes flew in from the east and were loitering and scouting nearby.

"Dali, have we been discovered by the Japanese? Why are their planes circling overhead?" Bi Shoucai asked.

"Probably not. We've been traveling along remote mountain paths, so there's no chance we'll be discovered by the Japanese. Besides, we're less than 100 li from Wolong Mountain now. If the Japanese wanted to find us, they would have already done so."

"It's too late for them to realize this now. Even if they find us and send troops to intercept us, by then we'll have already returned to Wolong Mountain. What good will it do for them to chase us then?"

"What are those Japanese devils up to?" Bi Shoucai asked, puzzled.

"Who cares? Those Japanese devils are probably out of their minds."

“Battalion Commander Niu, look at that kid, he’s been lingering around nearby, flying so low. It’s an opportunity for us,” Zhang Haoshan suddenly said.

"Deputy Commander Zhang, do you mean we should take him down?" Niu Dali asked.

“Yes, since we bought this Medellin machine gun, this is a good opportunity to test its power, even if we don’t know if Company Commander Wu can do it,” Zhang Haoshan replied.

“Deputy Regiment Commander Zhang is right. It would be a waste if we didn’t take advantage of this opportunity to mess with the Japanese. As for Company Commander Wu, I’ll call him over and ask him about it,” Niu Dali said confidently.

"Correspondent, notify Company Commander Wu to come over."

"Yes."

Soon after, Company Commander Wu ran over.

"Company Commander Wu, how's that machine gun going? Do you think you can take down those Japanese planes circling overhead?"

"Battalion Commander, I've figured it out pretty well. I've just figured out where to set up the anti-aircraft gun positions, and I'd like to ask you for instructions on how to deal with those little devils' planes."

"Alright, you've come to the same conclusion as Deputy Regiment Commander Zhang. In that case, let's give the Japanese a run for their money."

"Company Commander Wu, don't feel pressured. It's not a big deal if we don't shoot down the Japanese planes. Just treat it as practice against them," Zhang Haoshan said.

"Yes, Deputy Commander Zhang is right. You can fight with peace of mind. Even if we are exposed, it won't be a problem. Once we reach Wolong Mountain, we'll be in our territory."

"Yes, Battalion Commander, Deputy Regiment Commander Zhang." With the support of the Battalion Commander and Deputy Regiment Commander Zhang, Company Commander Wu dared to act boldly.

"First platoon, quickly dig the anti-aircraft positions for me. Second platoon, prepare to install anti-aircraft machine guns."

"Yes, Captain."

Before long, Company Commander Wu led the mortar company to set up anti-aircraft gun positions.

Company Commander Wu personally operated the machine, with soldiers standing by, ready to change the magazine at any moment. The Japanese reconnaissance planes hovering overhead had no idea that a machine gun was aimed at them from the forest.

Company Commander Wu was like a patient hunter, ready to capture his prey. He kept a close eye on the two Japanese planes, and when he saw them getting very close, he decisively opened fire.

"Thump, thump, thump." Company Commander Wu unleashed a torrent of machine gun fire at the Japanese planes. In just a few seconds, a 60-round magazine was emptied, and a nearby soldier quickly replaced it. Company Commander Wu then resumed firing at the Japanese.

"Baka yarou, I've been hit!" A Japanese reconnaissance plane was the first to be hit by a sudden burst of machine gun fire and crashed towards the ground.

"Jump!" The Japanese pilot, who had been hit, decisively jumped out of the air.

Another Japanese plane was desperately dodging the shells from the sky, but Company Commander Wu was not about to let this opportunity slip by. He kept firing his machine gun at the Japanese plane.

"Baka yarou, bad!" The Japanese plane flying in the sky was hit by a barrage of machine gun fire, and it crashed to the ground, trailing thick black smoke.

"Well done!" Niu Dali shouted.

"Company Commander Wu, well done! I didn't expect that two Japanese planes would be shot down!" Zhang Haoshan shouted excitedly.

"Well done! We made the right choice buying this machine gun." Bi Shoucai said with a smug look on his face.