After the garrison regiment captured Cao Ziling, the original Japanese military headquarters was transformed into a temporary regiment headquarters by the guard company.
He Jun, the commander of the Hunyuan Independent Battalion, was called here by the guards as soon as he woke up after sleeping for a whole day. He looked at the regimental commander and chief of staff who looked tired but had hot eyes, and looked puzzled.
"Comrade He Jun, have you rested?" Li Hao spoke first.
A soldier's sixth sense is very accurate. He had a hunch that the following conversation would be extraordinary, so he quickly answered.
"Reporting to the captain, I slept all day long and am well rested. Are you calling me here in such a hurry? Do you have any new tasks?"
Li Hao did not deny it: "I have a task for you."
"After the garrison captured Caoziling, Hunyuan became the hinterland of the base. Without the threat of the Japanese and puppet troops, the Hunyuan Independent Battalion also lost its meaning of existence to a certain extent!"
The Hunyuan Independent Battalion was established and then developed by He Jun.
After listening to Li Hao's words, He Jun thought that the regiment headquarters was going to disband the independent battalion, and he became anxious at that time.
Staring at Li Hao, he immediately replied: "Captain, the Hunyuan Independent Battalion still has meaning for its existence and must not be disbanded."
"We can garrison Caoziling and keep an eye on the Japanese and puppet troops in the direction of Datong to prevent them from invading our base area."
Hong Linfeng knew that He Jun had misunderstood, and quickly explained: "Captain He, the regiment commander did not say that he would disband the Hunyuan Independent Battalion, and the regiment headquarters did not intend to disband the Hunyuan Independent Battalion, so don't think too much about it."
"After we occupied the Caoziling position, the Hunyuan Independent Battalion really had no meaning for its existence."
"If the troops continue to operate in Hunyuan, there will be no development."
"I discussed it with the regiment leader and decided to reorganize the Hunyuan Independent Battalion into the Datong Independent Battalion, and you should be the battalion commander."
"Before I tell you the specific mission, please tell us the specific situation of the independent camp."
"The more real the better, don't hide or exaggerate your strength. Only in this way can we know ourselves and our enemies, and assign tasks to you more realistically."
Commander He breathed a sigh of relief.
His face quickly returned to seriousness, and he looked at the two men and replied: "Report to the regimental commander and chief of staff, there are more than 240 people left in the four main companies, with an average of 60 people in each main company."
"The firepower company, reconnaissance platoon, guard platoon, and baggage platoon have suffered minor losses. There are still nearly two hundred people in total."
"Five heavy machine guns were lost, and three are left. Six mortars were lost, and two are left. Two mountain guns and three large-caliber mortars directly under the battalion headquarters were not lost."
"One third of the rifle machine gun was lost."
"All the ammunition in stock has been used up. The ammunition used by the soldiers now is all seized from the little devils on the battlefield."
Li Hao's face clearly flashed with solemnity.
The losses of the Yuxian Independent Battalion were greater than he expected, not only in terms of troop strength, but also in weapons and ammunition.
With their current strength and equipment, even if they stay in Datong, they will not be able to develop much in a short period of time.
The Japanese and puppet troops in Datong City cannot always be short of troops.
Given the importance the Japanese attach to Datong, they will definitely send troops to reinforce it soon.
Therefore, the Japanese army did not leave much time for the independent battalion to develop.
How can I allow others to sleep soundly on my couch?
Once they are made aware of the existence of the independent battalion, heavy troops will definitely be dispatched to encircle and suppress it.
If the independent battalion had not yet established a firm foothold and developed in Datong at that time,
They were either wiped out by the Japanese or driven out of Datong.
Thinking of this, Li Hao made a decision immediately: "I will give you five hundred captive soldiers. How many people can be mobilized to join your independent battalion in the end depends on your own level."
"In addition, I will give you five heavy machine guns, five mortars, fifteen light machine guns, and three hundred rifles. All weapons are equipped with three base amounts of ammunition."
He Jun became happy at that time, and the serious expression on his face disappeared instantly, and was then covered by a smile.
Five hundred prisoners of war, based on past experience, it would definitely be no problem to mobilize 350 to 400 people to join the Eighth Route Army.
There are more than 400 people left in the Independent Battalion, and if they are included, the number will be 800. With the weapons and ammunition supported by the regiment headquarters, the Independent Battalion can be restored to full strength immediately and become a solid reinforced battalion.
He Jun was worried about how to restore the strength of the independent battalion. Li Hao's order was like pie in the sky, and it was hard not to be happy about it.
Li Hao interrupted at the right time: "Don't be happy too early."
"I can give you soldiers and equipment, but the mission given to you by the regiment must be completed."
"Chief of Staff, please introduce their mission to Battalion Commander He."
Hong Linfeng nodded, pointed at the map and ordered: "The regiment headquarters requires the reorganized independent battalion to go deep into Datong territory, establish guerrilla zones in enemy-occupied areas, and develop our own anti-Japanese armed forces."
"We don't care how you attack them specifically, but there are a few requirements."
"First, establish a firm foothold in Datong within half a year. First establish a guerrilla zone. If possible, it is best to build a few base areas. Then, find out all the forces and distribution of the Japanese puppet troops in Datong and report it to the regiment headquarters.
."
"The second request is to expand the force to 1,000 men within half a year."
"This is the most important thing. These one thousand people must be elite veterans with real combat effectiveness, and they cannot be used as recruits."
"The third requirement is that every large-scale coal mine controlled by the Japanese in Datong must have our own people plugged in."
"If the conditions are ripe and the attack order is received, the independent battalion must seize these mines in the shortest possible time, annihilate all the little devils inside, and prevent them from entering Datong City."
He Jun couldn't laugh anymore, and his face became more and more serious.
The territory of Datong is the hinterland of the Japs. It goes without saying that establishing a base in their hinterland and developing anti-Japanese armed forces is a difficult task.
At this time, Li Hao interrupted again: "I will add another request to you."
"If possible, move the troops into Datong City and establish an armed force of our own in Datong City. The stronger the better."
"You can form a military team, or you can find a way to contact the puppet troops in the city, instigate them to rebel, put our own people inside, and find a way to control one or two troops. Of course, you can also choose to go hand in hand, and do both methods at the same time."
The expression on He Jun's face became more serious.
If the whole of Datong is compared to the body of a little devil, the area where the independent battalion outside the city wants to operate is their belly, and Datong City is their heart.
Building an armed force belonging to the Eighth Route Army in their heart is an almost impossible task.
He Jun wanted to refuse, but he couldn't.
The military orders are overwhelming, and the regimental commander has given him all the support he can, so logically he should take on this task.
After thinking for a long time, he looked at Li Hao and asked: "Captain, may I know the purpose of the regiment's doing this?"
Li Hao did not hide anything: "I can tell you."
"The Jinsui Army can defeat Datong twice, and so can our Eighth Route Army."
"And your independent battalion is the key to this battle. Whether our garrison has a chance to attack Datong a second time depends on you."
"If we develop well in Datong and our mission is accomplished, we will have a second chance to attack Datong."
"Otherwise we wouldn't have this opportunity."
He Jun's face showed an expression of sudden realization. After thinking for half a minute, he replied seriously: "Captain, I have accepted this task."
"But there is one request. I hope the regiment headquarters can support us with some mines. The ones with stone shells are the best."
"If possible, support us with some thunder cannons."
Li Hao didn't even think about it and blurted out: "That's no problem. I'll contact the political commissar to send you 500 stone shell mines, 200 iron shell mines, five flying thunder cannons, and 100 explosive packets."
