Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 107 Xiaoqingshan Coal Yard

"These little devils not only occupy our land, but they also plunder our resources and use them to develop and expand themselves. I wholeheartedly support the regimental commander in attacking the Japanese coal mines," Zhang Haoshan said.

"The deputy commander is right. Our objectives for this operation are twofold: first, to acquire equipment from the Japanese mines; and second, to completely destroy the coal mines occupied by the Japanese, preventing them from resuming production in the short term," Tang Weiguo added from behind.

"Now, let Sun Qiang from the intelligence department introduce the operational objectives," Tang Weiguo said to the young man sitting behind Li Qukou.

"Yes, Commander." Sun Qiang stood up and said.

"According to the commander's orders, our intelligence department investigated the situation of the mines around Wolong Mountain. Based on the final investigation results, our target was the Xiaoqingshan Coal Mine, located 200 li away from Wolong Mountain. Since the fall of Taiyuan, this place has been occupied by the Japanese."

"We chose this place mainly for the following reasons: First, the mine is relatively small, and the Japanese only stationed a company of Japanese soldiers and a company of puppet troops here. In addition, Xiaoqingshan has a gentle slope, which is conducive to our attack and quick seizure of the mine; Second, there is a highway from our Wolongshan to Xiaoqingshan, which can facilitate our timely transportation of coal mine equipment."

"Not only that, there are more than 10 vehicles stationed in this Xiaoqingshan coal mine. The regimental commander just mentioned that he wants to form a motor transport company. This mine is an opportunity for us. We can take advantage of the Japanese vehicles to transport coal mining equipment," Sun Qiang said.

"In addition, there are only two Japanese strongholds on this road. One is in Qingyun County, called Hekou Stronghold, and the other is the Japanese stronghold in Sanjiaji, which is the only way for us to return to Wolong Mountain."

"Among them, the Japanese troops stationed at the Hetou stronghold consisted of two squads of Japanese soldiers and a company of puppet troops. However, at the Sanjiaji stronghold, due to the Japanese troops in the county town being very wary of us, there is currently a company of Japanese soldiers and a battalion of puppet troops stationed at the Sanjiaji stronghold."

“Our troops can bypass the Xiaosanjiaji outpost by marching along mountain roads, but if we want to transport equipment from the coal yard, we must deal with the Japanese stronghold of Sanjiaji.”

"What is the situation of the Japanese troops near the Xiaoqingshan mine? And what is the status of Japanese support?" Long Wenying asked after listening to Sun Qiang's explanation.

"The nearest county to Xiaoqingshan is Qingyun County, about 30 li away. A battalion of Japanese soldiers and a regiment of puppet troops are stationed in the county. If the mine is attacked, the Japanese can provide support to the mine within two hours."

“However, there is a river between Xiaoqingshan and Qingyun County. If we destroy the bridge, it will greatly delay the Japanese reinforcements from Qingyun County,” Sun Qiang added.

After Sun Qiang finished his introduction, Tang Weiguo asked:

"Now that Sun Qiang has finished introducing the situation of the mine, what are your thoughts? Please share your opinions."

After hearing what Tang Weiguo said, everyone whispered among themselves. A moment later, Tang Xiaohu stood up and said:

"Commander, according to Sun Qiang's introduction, the Japanese forces defending the Xiaoqingshan Coal Mine are not many. Attacking the Xiaoqingshan Mine will not be difficult for our militia."

"But this operation was different from the previous ones. Our way of fighting the Japanese was to ambush them whenever possible, and to take mountain roads to avoid them whenever possible, rather than taking the main roads and making direct contact with them."

"Our objective in this operation is to acquire the equipment from the Japanese mines. Therefore, we must transport the equipment back to the mines via the road. It is difficult for us to predict what we will encounter on the way back."

“When we attack the Japanese mines, the surrounding Japanese troops will receive the news immediately. Once the Japanese know that we are troops from Wolong Mountain, they will mobilize troops to surround us. On the road, the Japanese have a very obvious advantage in mobility, and it is difficult for us to fight against them.”

"The most crucial point is the Sanjiaji stronghold. As long as we attack the Hekou stronghold, the Japanese will realize that our next direction of advance is Sanjiaji. Once the Japanese in the county town reinforce Sanjiaji and form a pincer movement against us, we will be in danger. We will have no choice but to abandon our equipment and retreat back into the mountains. But then we will not achieve our operational objectives, and the significance of launching this operation against the Japanese will be greatly diminished," Tang Xiaohu analyzed.

"Commander Tang, your analysis is spot on," Long Wenying continued.

"Therefore, we need to solve two problems in this operation. First, how to hide our troop information so that the Japanese don't realize our intention to head south back to Wolong Mountain; second, how to eliminate the Japanese at the Hetou stronghold without alerting the garrison at the Sanjiaji stronghold." Long Wenying, who had just joined the militia, wanted to show off her abilities, so she shared her thoughts.

"Staff Officer Long mentioned that these two issues are crucial. We must solve these two problems if we want to successfully transport the coal mine equipment back," Zhang Haoshan asked.

"Actually, the core of this operation is the river mouth stronghold," Tang Xiaohu suddenly said.

"Oh, Xiao Hu, what are your thoughts?" Tang Weiguo gestured for Tang Xiao Hu to continue.

"According to our battle plan, once we capture the Hekou stronghold, the Japanese troops at the Sanjiaji stronghold will definitely be on guard, making it difficult for us to capture Sanjiaji. But what if we take down the Hekou stronghold before the battle even begins?"

"At that time, we can send a portion of our personnel to retreat to the north to draw the Japanese attention, while the main force of the militia will return to Wolong Mountain to the south. Since the Hekou stronghold has been destroyed, the Japanese will not discover our intention to retreat to the south in a short period of time."

"Once we return to the vicinity of Sanjiaji, even if the Japanese discover our whereabouts, it will be too late. Our main force of the militia, together with the troops remaining at Wolong Mountain, will attack the Sanjiaji stronghold from both the front and the rear. We can finish the battle within two hours."

"By then, even if the Japanese from the county town come to our aid, we'll have already made our escape," Tang Xiaohu said, revealing his thoughts.

After listening to Tang Xiaohu's analysis, the others whispered a few words and then all agreed with Tang Xiaohu's analysis.

"Tang Xiaohu's analysis is absolutely correct. After discussion, we've determined that the core of this mission is how to destroy the Japanese stronghold at the river mouth without revealing our operational intentions," Tang Weiguo said.

“Commander, this is easy to solve. I’ll lead my men to take down the Japanese stronghold,” Niu Dali said volunteered.

"No, if you lead your men to attack the river mouth stronghold, the Japanese will easily figure out that you are from Wolong Mountain. Even if the Japanese don't know what our intentions are, they will still increase the defensive strength of Sanjiaji." Tang Weiguo rejected Niu Dali's suggestion.

"Commander, what if we disguise ourselves as Eighth Route Army soldiers?" Zhang Haoshan suggested.

"Currently, the area behind enemy lines is mainly the area of ​​activity for the Eighth Route Army. It is unlikely that the Japanese will discover that we are impersonating the Eighth Route Army to attack strongholds," Zhang Haoshan analyzed.

“Commander, since that’s the case, why don’t we join forces with the Eighth Route Army? The Eighth Route Army is now part of the Nationalist government’s army. We can request the Second War Zone to allow the Eighth Route Army to support our operations,” Long Wenying said.

"No, not only that, but no one can report our operational plan to the war zone command without my permission. I don't want our operational plan to end up on the Japanese commander's desk the moment I report it." Tang Weiguo didn't believe in the Second War Zone Command's ability to keep secrets.

“I agree.” Zhang Haoshan, who was standing to the side, nodded in agreement.

"Officer Long, please don't say things like that again. Some things can't be said openly," Tang Weiguo reminded him. Tang Weiguo knew that Long Wenying was out of touch with politics at this point.

"Yes, Commander." Long Wenying didn't understand what Tang Weiguo was saying, but seeing that no one else seemed to care, she chose to obey orders. After all, it wouldn't be good for her to disobey orders so soon after arriving, and she understood this basic social etiquette.

"Let me think about this suggestion about disguising ourselves as Eighth Route Army soldiers."

Tang Weiguo did not answer on the spot, but he had already made up his mind. He could not come forward himself, but he could let the Independent Regiment do it. At worst, he could provide them with another batch of supplies and equipment.