41: Chapter 41 Zhao Gang: Li Yunlong, be serious!
"Regimental Commander Li, listen to my analysis."
Shen Wang continued, "We made such a big scene yesterday that the Japanese high command must have received the news."
"If they continue to disperse their forces to defend these isolated strongholds, it would be no different than serving themselves up to us one by one."
The incredible results achieved yesterday were mainly because the Japanese forces were too scattered.
If they were to assemble, two or three thousand Japanese Soldier and Puppet Army, even if they couldn't do anything about the 99A, could at least cripple the Cavalry Company.
Li Yunlong understood immediately and suddenly realized: "That's right! These animals must have pulled their forces back! They've concentrated them in the county seat or some large stronghold!"
"Damn it, they want to play the turtle hiding in its shell!"
The facts were just as they had expected.
After Tada Shun vomited blood and fell into a coma last night, the high command of the North China Japanese Army made the most "pragmatic" decision in their panic:
They immediately ordered all garrison troops at small and medium-sized strongholds along the Ping-Shi Line to abandon their original positions, carry important supplies, and assemble at the nearest county seat or large stronghold!
They realized that in the face of that invincible tank, dispersed defense was suicide!
Only by concentrating their forces could they perhaps maneuver, at least... allowing the other side to retreat in the face of difficulties and quickly leave North China, this "place of trouble."
That's right, the biggest wish of the Japanese high command now is: Big brother, please just leave quickly!
We won't chase you anymore, and we won't block you either, just hurry up and go to Shanxi Province!
In reality, they were just admitting defeat!
It couldn't be said that the Japanese were completely helpless against the 99A; if they really mobilized tens of thousands of troops to encircle and annihilate it, they could wear it down to death.
But the problem was that Tada Shun had vomited blood and was in a coma, and the other Japanese officers didn't want to take the blame.
What if another accident happened?
Do more, err more; do nothing, err nothing. Thus, with the Commander of the North China Army in a coma, the Japanese made the most conservative decision.
Figuring this out, Li Yunlong couldn't help but curse: "Those damn Japanese Soldier, they're like loaches, slipping away so fast!"
"If they shrink back into the county seat, with our few men, it would be really hard to chew through them."
Shen Wang nodded.
Although the 99A is strong, once it enters a complex urban warfare environment, its advantages would be greatly reduced, and it would be very susceptible to close-range ambushes by infantry.
The Cavalry Company is even more so; having lost the space for mobile combat, they would just be sitting ducks in urban warfare.
"Since that's the case," Shen Wang thought for a moment and made a decision, "then we won't waste time with them here."
"Since the Japanese have cleared the way, we might as well take this opportunity to go straight back!"
The system mission was still pending: escort Ding Zhijian and the other two back to the Shanxi Province base, with a reward of a Golden Ten-Draw, guaranteed SSR.
Moreover, having taken eighteen strongholds yesterday, he had gained quite a few military merit points.
Shen Wang looked at the data panel:
【Host direct kill data:
★ Ordinary Japanese Soldier: 416, military merit points + 4160;
★ Japanese officer: 11, military merit points + 850;
★ Ordinary Puppet Army: 372, military merit points + 1860;
★ Collaborator officer: 8, military merit points + 300;
Subtotal: Host directly killed 807 Japanese and Collaborators, military merit points + 7170】
【Indirect kill data (killed by friendly forces using equipment provided by the Host, reward is one-tenth):
★ Ordinary Japanese Soldier: 666, military merit points + 666;
★ Japanese officer: 7, military merit points + 35;
★ Ordinary Puppet Army: 1026, military merit points + 513;
★ Puppet Army officer: 4, military merit points + 18;
Subtotal: Host indirectly killed 1703 Japanese, military merit points + 1232】
Another 8000+ military merit points in hand, and the military merit points total officially broke the 30,000 mark!
He could perform three division/brigade-level draws!
Golden Ten-Draw, guaranteed SSR...
Shen Wang really wanted to hurry back to Shanxi Province.
"Right! Back to Shanxi Province!"
Li Yunlong immediately agreed.
"There are plenty of Japanese in Shanxi Province too. Once we get there, we can still turn everything upside down!"
A company plus the 99A couldn't take a county seat, but what if it was a regiment plus the 99A?
Li Yunlong was also looking forward to it.
With the goal clear, the troops quickly adjusted their direction and advanced rapidly towards the Shanxi Province base.
However, just as the troops had crossed the border of Shixian Province, the cavalry responsible for reconnaissance galloped back to report:
"Report to the Regimental Commander! Political Commissar Zhao... Political Commissar Zhao has arrived!"
"What? Old Zhao is here?"
Li Yunlong was just pondering how to brag to the Brigade Commander upon his return, and was stunned to hear that Zhao Gang had come.
What's going on?
The Regimental Commander and the Political Commissar are both gone, so who is running the Independent Regiment?
Before he could sort out his thoughts, he saw Zhao Gang leading a guard squad, arriving on horseback, dusty and travel-worn.
"Old Li, I finally caught up with you."
Zhao Gang looked exhausted; he had clearly traveled all night just to catch up with Li Yunlong.
"Old Zhao, why are you here?"
Li Yunlong dismounted and went up to meet him, looking puzzled.
"You, the Political Commissar, are not there, and I, the Regimental Commander, am not there. Who is watching over the Independent Regiment back home? Does the Brigade Commander know?"
Zhao Gang also jumped off his horse and said with a serious expression, "It was a direct order from the Brigade Commander and the Headquarters Leaders! They told me to drop everything and rush to rendezvous with you!"
Now Old Li was even more confused.
He heard Zhao Gang continue, "Old Li, the situation has changed!"
"According to the intelligence we intercepted and confirmed from multiple sources, that mysterious force that caused such a huge scene in Beijing and rescued comrade Ding Zhijian and the others is heading west along the Ping-Shi Line!"
"Their goal is very likely to enter Shanxi Province, and it is highly possible they will run into you!"
Li Yunlong blinked.
That's right, they did run into each other, but why did you come, Old Zhao?
Zhao Gang didn't notice Li Yunlong's strange expression and continued to convey the instructions from Headquarters: "The Headquarters Leaders emphasized repeatedly that this force is of great significance!"
"According to the latest intelligence, the other side has at least crippled two battalions of Japanese Soldiers and completely annihilated ten type 95 heavy tanks!"
"Old Li! The Headquarters Leaders know your stubborn mule temper and are afraid that if you don't get along with them, you might clash with them, which is why they had me rush to rendezvous with you!"
"Later, if we meet them, you must, absolutely must not act recklessly. We must show our greatest sincerity and respect as the Eighth Route Army! Understand?"
Zhao Gang spoke earnestly, conveying the worries and instructions of Headquarters exactly as they were, fearing that this "reckless fool" Li Yunlong might, without knowing the situation, turn the world upside down.
Now, Li Yunlong finally understood completely.
The previous mission was to provide support, so they sent him, this sharp blade.
Later, they realized the other side was too important and worried that his sharp blade might accidentally cut them, so they sent Zhao Gang, this scabbard.
However, Li Yunlong was not angry; instead, he grinned widely and started laughing.
"Hahaha! Old Zhao, oh Old Zhao! My good Political Commissar! You've cracked me up! Hahaha!"
Zhao Gang was baffled by his laughter and frowned, "Old Li! Be serious! I'm talking to you about serious business!"
"This concerns whether we can win over a crucial ally; this is no time for joking!"
"Serious business! Of course it's serious business!"
Li Yunlong reined in his laughter, then put on a playful expression and pointed to a large iron hunk in the distance.
"Old Zhao, look at what that is..."