Chapter 28: Casting a Long Line to Catch a Big Fish

The next day, after carefully collating and analyzing the intelligence provided by the district detachments and county battalions brought back by the communications squad, a complete operational plan emerged in Li Yunlong’s mind.

With new recruits for the New First Regiment arriving in succession, Li Yunlong prepared to dispatch one company of soldiers at a time. This would serve both as training and as a means to harass and disrupt the construction of enemy blockhouses. He knew that to prevent their construction projects from being sabotaged, the Japanese would inevitably station troops in advance.

"Snap!" Li Yunlong scanned the map, then slammed his palm down on the location of Xiaowang Village. "That’s the one! Heh, once the meat is in my mouth, don't even think about it getting away!"

"Huzi, go, call all three battalion commanders here," Li Yunlong immediately began arranging the mission.

Before long, the three battalion commanders arrived one after another. The last to arrive was the Second Battalion Commander, Wang Huanquan, who stood outside the regimental headquarters and called out, "Report, Commander! Second Battalion Commander Wang Huanquan has arrived. Please give your instructions!"

"Come in!" As Li Yunlong spoke, the Second Battalion Commander lifted the heavy door curtain and stepped inside.

Seeing Zhang Dabiao and the Third Battalion Commander already there, the Second Battalion Commander assumed the regiment had a combat mission and was about to embark on a major operation. He instinctively prepared to request that his battalion lead the charge.

Before the Second Battalion Commander could speak, Li Yunlong cut him off. "The higher-ups haven't assigned any combat missions!"

"However, I have a mission for the three of you!" As soon as the words left Li Yunlong’s mouth, Zhang Dabiao and the others realized that the Commander was acting on his own initiative again without reporting to headquarters. It wasn't the first time, and with no political commissar present, none of the three raised any objections.

"Look here," Li Yunlong said, pointing to the map on the wall, specifically at Xiaowang Village. "Twenty miles from here, in Xiaowang Village, the Japanese are building a new blockhouse to serve as a stronghold."

Listening to Li Yunlong’s briefing, the three commanders initially thought the Commander intended to wipe out this stronghold right under their noses.

Zhang Dabiao spoke first. "It is indeed too close to us. Once we initiate any major operation, we won't be able to hide it from those Japanese."

The Second Battalion Commander immediately stepped forward to volunteer. "Commander, leave this to my Second Battalion. I guarantee we’ll complete the mission before dark!"

Zhang Dabiao and the Third Battalion Commander grew anxious and were about to argue for the honor, but Li Yunlong waved them off impatiently. "Get out of here! I haven't even finished speaking, what are you all in such a rush for?"

"Set your sights further! I’m planning to cast a long line to catch a big fish!"

Li Yunlong’s expression turned serious. "Order! You three will take turns leading your teams. Every half-day, take one company to the Xiaowang Village stronghold to harass and attack it, while closely monitoring any movements of the Japanese garrison."

"Carry out the order!"

As the order was finalized, Zhang Dabiao and the others answered in unison, "Yes, sir! We guarantee the mission will be accomplished!"

Li Yunlong chose Xiaowang Village as his target primarily because of its proximity, allowing for support at a moment's notice should anything go wrong. Furthermore, once they mobilized an entire battalion and made a show of force to capture the stronghold, the Japanese would inevitably call for reinforcements. The closest reinforcements were at the Xinzhen stronghold, where a full company of Japanese troops was stationed.

To reinforce Xiaowang Village, they would have to dispatch at least half a company. Those troops would have to pass through a small valley—a perfect spot for an ambush. He would set a trap, block their path, and have his firepower-enhanced company launch a fierce assault. He planned to strike fast, resolve the battle in half an hour, then swing back to finish off the Xiaowang Village stronghold. In this back-and-forth, he was bound to snag at least a few officer swords.

That afternoon, Zhang Dabiao led the first detachment—a company half-filled with new recruits—on a forced march to the vicinity of Xiaowang Village, treating the journey as a training exercise.

Upon arrival, the men hid behind a ridge to recover their strength while Zhang Dabiao and the local militia scouts observed the enemy.

"Chief, there are about a platoon of puppet troops and a dozen Japanese guards here!"

"Usually, it's those 'Yellow Dogs' doing the supervising, bullying our folks while they build the blockhouse for the Japanese. The Japanese stay holed up in those buildings over there; we’ve seen them coming and going."

As the militiaman explained, Zhang Dabiao looked over the ridge. He could clearly see the half-finished blockhouse, surrounded by deep trenches and barbed wire. They were positioned to the south. To the east, a dirt road ran through the village—the only way to enter or exit the mountainous area. To the west and south, the vegetation had been cleared away, leaving a large open space, while the north faced the village itself. Several brick buildings had been erected on either side of the blockhouse, likely serving as barracks and warehouses for the Japanese.

Zhang Dabiao watched the buildings for a while. Sure enough, a few Japanese soldiers emerged, shouted at the puppet troops standing outside, and then retreated back inside.

Having formulated a plan, Zhang Dabiao turned to the militiaman. "Xiao Liu, get some people to sneak into the construction site. Tell the villagers that when they hear gunfire, they should either hide inside the blockhouse or lie flat on the ground and stay put."

"We’ll fire a volley to lure the Japanese out, and then we’ll engage them for a while."

"After that, others will come to take over in shifts, roughly every half-day. We are not going to let this blockhouse get finished!"

Once the message was sent, Zhang Dabiao began assigning tasks to his company. "Third Company Commander, take a platoon to the west. I’ll take a platoon and stay in the south. The remaining platoon will keep watch on the dirt road leading to Xinzhen in the east!"

"We’ll open fire from both sides. Let the new recruits fire two shots each—aim for those 'Yellow Dogs.' Once the Japanese are lured out, have the veterans put on a show of charging!"

"As soon as the Japanese return fire, take cover immediately. Don't get pinned down; keep them tied up for a while. About an hour later, once the Japanese reinforcements arrive, everyone is to retreat immediately!"

With the mission set, the Third Company Commander led his platoon to flank the west side of the blockhouse, while Zhang Dabiao positioned his men to guard the dirt road.

Once everyone was in position, Zhang Dabiao whispered, "New recruits, listen up! Each of you pick a target. Don't rush, stay calm. When you hear my shot, fire two rounds each!"

With that, Zhang Dabiao raised his Garand rifle and aimed at a puppet soldier holding a whip.

"Bang!" The puppet soldier, just about to lash out at a villager, fell instantly.

With that single shot, sporadic gunfire erupted from the south and west. The initial results were modest, with fewer than ten puppet soldiers who had been standing around supervising the construction falling to the ground. The rest of the puppets panicked, scrambling to lie flat or hiding behind obstacles.

"Where? Where is the shooting coming from?"

"It's the Eighth Route Army!"

"Quick, call the Japanese!"