Chapter 165: He Yuzhu Becomes a Regimental Staff Officer

A brief silence fell over the conference room; the previously calm meeting had suddenly transformed into a war council due to an urgent report.

Regimental Commander Yang tapped the table lightly, his voice not loud but carrying weight: "Regimental Commander Hu Yi, you speak your thoughts first. Should we take the initiative to meet the enemy, or retreat to Shang'aoli to hold our ground?"

Hu Yi slowly raised his head. He was about 1.75 meters tall, his bronze-colored face appearing exceptionally resolute under the glow of the kerosene lamp, with a hint of imperceptible shyness in his slender eyes. He smiled modestly, his voice low and steady: "Regimental Commander Yang, I have just arrived and am not yet familiar with the situation here. You make the arrangements, and our regiment will resolutely execute the orders."

Regimental Commander Yang's gaze swept across the room, finally settling on He Yuzhu: "He Yuzhu, although you have only just taken up the post of Staff Officer, your command in today's battle was excellent. I would like to hear your opinion?"

He Yuzhu was slightly startled. With so many experienced veteran Cadres in the regiment, why single him out? He subconsciously touched his nose, grinned, and said: "Regimental Commander, taking advantage of the enemy being new here and underestimating us, give me a few hundred men to launch an ambush and dampen their spirit."

The corners of Regimental Commander Yang's mouth lifted as he nodded in satisfaction, then turned to look at Hu Yi: "Regimental Commander Hu, your troops have just arrived; rest tonight, and we will fight this battle."

Just as Hu Yi was about to respond, a crisp voice rang out from the back.

He Yuzhu looked toward the sound and saw Chang Hongying—the seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl, her oval face featuring a pair of bright, large eyes that looked innocent and guileless, yet revealed cleverness in their depths.

"We also want to join the battle," Chang Hongying said. "I agree with this comrade's view: take advantage of the enemy before they are firmly established to strike decisively. It might just have the effect of a surprise force!"

Hu Yi glanced at her, his brows furrowing slightly, revealing a touch of displeasure.

Regimental Commander Yang looked at Second Battalion Commander Lao Cui and ordered in a deep voice: "Then send your Second Battalion and Comrade Chang Hongying's First Battalion to carry out the mission."

Chang Hongying immediately asked: "Regimental Commander, who holds the command?"

Regimental Commander Yang turned back to Hu Yi: "Regimental Commander Hu, your opinion?"

Hu Yi shook his head: "Regimental Commander, you arrange it as you see fit; we will obey."

Regimental Commander Yang pondered for a moment and said: "Very well, I will make a decision: Comrade He Yuzhu will serve as the General Commander for this operation."

In truth, this decision seemed absurd, but there were sufficient reasons behind it.

The results of the day were clear: the First and Second Battalions had participated in the fighting, each suffering hundreds of casualties, while the troops commanded by He Yuzhu had killed nearly a thousand enemies with only thirty-some losses. The lopsided casualty ratio was enough to prove that this young man possessed an innate talent for command.

Chang Hongying's expression darkened, her lips twitching slightly as a look of defiance flashed across her face.

He Yuzhu did not say much; he selected three hundred soldiers from the Second Battalion, each issued a Submachine Gun and two hundred rounds of ammunition.

He then instructed Ershuan to take a few men to unload two hundred Submachine Guns from the truck and send them to Chang Hongying: "Each of these guns comes with two hundred rounds; consider it a small token of my acquaintance, please don't refuse!"

Seeing these weapons, the previously stern-faced Chang Hongying immediately beamed, her eyes curving into crescents: "He Yuzhu, you're a good friend!"

"Sister Hongying, although Regimental Commander Yang gave me the command, I am not a man with a lust for power; when the fighting starts, we can discuss things together."

Hongying nodded and said: "You are familiar with the geography; just tell us what specifically you need us to do."

He Yuzhu pacified Hongying and then said to Second Battalion Commander Lao Cui: "Uncle Cui, you must ensure the trenches are dug well; it can save countless soldiers' lives."

Arriving at the mountain entrance three miles away, there were actually people already guarding it; they were simply there to reinforce the defense.

He Yuzhu pointed to the hillside on the left and said: "Comrade Hongying, you are responsible for the left flank defense. There are many rocks there, which is convenient for building solid fortifications. The enemy is a mechanized unit equipped with Tanks, Mountain Cannons, and Mortars. You must try your best to build the fortifications firmly; the right side is left to Battalion Commander Cui."

The two nodded.

He Yuzhu continued: "The guard mission is left to you; I don't care about that. My mission is to deal with the Tanks and artillery. Whoever loses their position will be held responsible."

Hongying blinked her large eyes and asked: "You're going to fight the Tanks all by yourself? Are you crazy?"

He Yuzhu took the Bazooka M9A1 Rocket Launcher off the truck and skillfully shouldered it to demonstrate: "Within 200 meters, 'Boom'—" he imitated the sound of an explosion, "this is the nightmare of Tanks. It is also where my confidence lies."

Ershuan, standing to the side, boasted: "Battalion Commander Chang, you don't know, but during the day, the two of us took out four Tanks."

"Are you just bragging?" Hongying curled her lip, full of disbelief.

"You'll know in a while," He Yuzhu said, his eyes shining with confidence.

Battalion Commander Cui and Hongying each led their troops up the mountain to dig trenches.

He Yuzhu asked Battalion Commander Cui for forty men to dig anti-tank ditches on the road and laid dense Landmine fields in the surrounding area to ensure that once the enemy stepped in, they would have no hope of escape.

Just as He Yuzhu finished laying the Landmines, someone from Hongying's side came to invite him over.

He Yuzhu arrived at the left position and found that Regimental Commander Hu Yi had also come to inspect.

He Yuzhu discovered that the layout of Hongying's troops' positions was quite professional, with many details superior to his own theoretical approach.

The trenches used a front-high, rear-low design so that if a grenade fell in, it would roll into a small ditch at the back and explode, effectively reducing the lethality.

The Communication Trench was winding and circuitous to prevent the entire line from collapsing if the enemy broke through.

Hu Yi smiled at He Yuzhu and said: "The little brother isn't very old, is he?"

He Yuzhu nodded: "Yes, but I still have quite a bit of experience; I've fought the Japanese."

Hu Yi nodded.

Hongying walked over and asked curiously: "What was that thing you said could fight Tanks? What was it called? Archaeopteryx? Li Xiang, do you know?"

Li Xiang, whose face was half-burned, eyes lit up: "It should be the Bazooka M9A1, the tank killer. During the Battle of Midway Atoll, the Japanese suffered quite a bit from it..."

Hongying excitedly grabbed He Yuzhu: "Zhuzi, get us a few of those too!"

He Yuzhu thought for a moment: "I don't have that many, but if you want them, I can spare one for you, but there aren't many Rockets; I can only give you fifty, and once they're gone, they're gone."

Hongying grinned: "That works too; after the battle, I'll treat you to a meal!"

"I should treat you instead; my family has been cooks for generations," He Yuzhu laughed.

"Alright then, you take me to Si Jiu Cheng to eat duck; I hear the roast duck there is especially fragrant."

"Then we'll go to Quanjude," He Yuzhu readily agreed.

At this moment, a scout galloped over to report: "The enemy is five miles away!"

He Yuzhu immediately ordered people to bring over the Bazooka Rocket Launcher and instructed Li Xiang on the spot on how to disassemble, load, and aim it.

Li Xiang quickly grasped the essentials, his eyes shining with excitement: "With this, fighting Tanks will be like adding wings to a tiger."

The roar of vehicles came from afar; the enemy was not far off.

He Yuzhu checked his watch; it was four in the morning, and he hurried back to his own position.

He Yuzhu handed a piece of chocolate to Ershuan: "Are you afraid?"

Ershuan put the chocolate in his mouth and smacked his lips hard, enjoying the delicacy: "Afraid, but as long as I'm with you, I'm not."

"Remember, we fire one shot, then we must change locations. Otherwise, you won't be able to eat such delicious chocolate anymore."

"I'll remember!" Ershuan said, then wiped his nose and rubbed his hand on the dirt.

"Can't you be a bit more hygienic, kid? Why didn't you use the paper I gave you to wipe your snot?"

Ershuan chuckled foolishly, "That paper is too white, I couldn't bear to use it!"

"Practice loading again!" He Yuzhu ordered.

Ershuan put his hands inside his trousers to warm them up, then began to skillfully load the Rocket.

Just at this moment, three Stuart Light Tanks appeared before He Yuzhu's eyes, roaring.