"Sir, bullets don't have eyes on the battlefield. When brothers put on these clothes, they didn't think about going back alive. Kill one and count one, kill two and earn one. This time, we killed more Japanese than our brothers who died in battle. This
We don’t lose money when buying and selling.”
Seeing that the atmosphere in the room was a bit solemn, Zheng Gang, the commander of the 1st Preparatory Battalion, spoke sarcastically in an attempt to lighten the atmosphere.
"Yes, sir, we have seized so many weapons and ammunition this time. In less than a month, we will be able to raise a reinforced battalion!" Deputy battalion commander "Daozi" also echoed.
"We soldiers will always have a day when we are buried in horse leather. It is an expected thing. The families of the brothers who died in the battle can also receive double the pension. I think the brothers can rest in peace under the circumstances."
The officers at the battalion and company level in the room spoke one after another. In their opinion, although the two main battalions suffered heavy losses this time, it was nothing to make a fuss about.
After all, there is a huge gap in military literacy and weapons and equipment between the Chinese *** and the Japanese. In the bloody battles in Shanghai and Nanjing, the Chinese *** would only kill one Japanese for every seven or eight people killed.
But now they have killed more than a thousand Japanese at the cost of 600 people. Compared with the bloody battles in the past, it is much better.
"Do you think this battle is won?"
Looking at the officers who were whispering to each other nonchalantly, Yang Ling's face became extremely serious and he stared at them and asked.
"This can't be considered a complete victory, it can only be considered a tragic victory..." Intelligence staff officer Liu Sheng paused and then replied.
Yang Ling glanced around at the officers and then continued to ask: "You think so too?"
Except for the second battalion commander Wu Changqing, the other officers nodded one after another and agreed with the intelligence staff officer Liu Sheng's statement.
"Bullshit!" Yang Ling couldn't help but swore when he saw that they all thought they had won a battle.
"Those of our brothers who died in battle are our robes. Those are brothers who can give their backs to each other on the battlefield. They are our relatives! Use the lives of our brothers in exchange for the lives of little Japs, let alone
More than 600, even if I want one, I would not like it, I would feel at a loss!"
"This time we used so many civilians, renovated so many ditches and rivers, dug out so many fields, and built so many fortifications. What is the purpose? We don't want to use the terrain to restrict the actions of the Japanese and preserve the lives of our brothers.
situation, and then gnaw them away bit by bit!”
"But what happened in the end? We actually didn't use most of the fortifications and bunkers, and we rushed forward to fight the Japanese with bayonets! We killed a thousand enemies and suffered six hundred losses! In my opinion, we can obviously win with minimal losses.
Now that we have suffered such huge losses, this is not a victory, it is a defeat!"
"Not to mention our fallen brothers, you know how much farmland we dug up for this battle. You also know how many people we evacuated in order to lay out this preset battlefield.
It’s a home battle. All these combined, it’s time-consuming, labor-intensive and a heavy price paid. Compared with our results, this is a big loss——”
The officers who had previously thought that this battle was a victory were now silent. According to this calculation, this battle was indeed a loss.
They often only see who is winning on the battlefield, but they ignore what they pay outside the battlefield.
Just digging up people's fields to build field fortifications is a huge loss. After all, spring plowing is about to begin, and restoration has to be done because people still have to grow food.
"It seems like we have indeed lost this battle..."
Under Yang Ling's analysis, the battalion commander Zheng Gang, who had just said that he felt the battle was won, had to admit that the investment and gain were disproportionate, because they only saw the victory on the battlefield, but ignored the manpower and material resources outside the battlefield.
Waiting investment.
"Well, if we relied on those well-built field fortifications to block and wear down the Japanese, maybe the casualties would be less." Some brothers were very upset, and now regret that they were so hot-headed and impulsive.
If we can really consume the enemy's vitality step by step according to the original plan, and wear down the enemy, and then encircle and annihilate them, we may be able to achieve a real victory.
Seeing that the brothers began to reflect seriously, Yang Ling's expression also softened, and he slowly asked: "There is clearly a battle plan, why do you still rush forward to fight the Japanese in hand-to-hand combat?"
"At that time, I wanted to launch a defensive counterattack, but the counterattack immediately overwhelmed the attacking Japanese, so I didn't even think about it. I just rushed to the end and defeated the Japanese. However, I encountered a Japanese counterattack halfway and it was too late to retreat.
Already..."
"Yes, the same is true for us. Many brothers have a blood feud with the Japs. When they see the Japs, their eyes turn red and they can't hold them back."
"Furthermore, our weapons and equipment are almost the same as those of the Japs. It seems that the Japs are unable to attack, but who knew that they would still have such strong fighting power once they come into contact."
…
The brothers started talking at once, and they all talked about the situation they were facing at that time.
After the brothers finished speaking, Yang Ling tapped his fingers on the table and said, "I don't think these are the most important reasons for the heavy losses this time."
The brothers all turned their attention to Yang Ling. Their faces were full of doubts and they were waiting for Yang Ling to answer their questions. They really couldn't figure out what more important reason caused this heavy loss.
"What did I see? The Japs' eyes were red, their heads were hot, and the Japs' counterattack were all secondary reasons. The most important reason for us is the mentality——"
"Mindset?" The brothers were even more confused. What does this have to do with mentality?
"Our Northern Jiangsu Corps has fought many battles from its establishment to the present, from Huaiyin to Gaoyou, raids, guerrilla warfare, fortified warfare, street fighting... We have all fought against the Japs, and we have won all of them without losing any of them.
.”
Hearing Yang Ling's words, the brothers raised their heads involuntarily, and a sense of pride arose in their hearts. When fighting in the military, there were not many who won consecutive battles like this.
Seeing the proud brothers, Yang Ling shook his head helplessly and continued to add: "It is precisely because we have won so many battles and beat the crap out of the little devils that our brothers are proud and arrogant.
, I felt that I was invincible and that the little Japs only had a few skills. I already looked down on the Japs, so I dared to ignore military orders, modify the battle plan without authorization, and engage in large-scale hand-to-hand combat with the Japs regardless of the consequences, causing heavy losses to my brothers!
"
"You are now a group of proud soldiers!"
Yang Ling's voice became louder and louder as he spoke, causing dust to fall from the shaking roof beams, but also made these officers who held their heads high feel ashamed.
"He tampered with military orders and caused heavy losses to our brothers! According to military law, he should be shot!"
Yang Ling's words hit the hearts of the brothers like a heavy hammer, making them realize the seriousness of the problem.
"Sir, I was wrong. Please give me a chance. I will never underestimate the enemy again."
"This was all because I was hot-headed at the time. If the commander wants to punish me, just punish me. It has nothing to do with other brothers."
"I'm sorry for those brothers who died in battle. I'm guilty."
…
Hearing Yang Ling's words, the officers were all upset, even if they were still arrogant.
"Lesson, this is a bloody lesson -"
Yang Ling didn't really want to pursue the responsibility, but he had to let his brothers understand why the losses were so huge.
He must curb the arrogance in the troops, otherwise he will suffer heavy losses in the future. This is why Yang Ling did not mention the victory in the meeting after the victory, but instead focused on the defeat.
Because the consecutive victories have turned the Jiangsu North Corps into a group of proud and powerful soldiers. If they don't adjust their mentality in time, failure is not far away from them.