Chapter 100: Restless Night at Zai An

Second Defensive Line, this is Song Mengqin's main force, or rather, a layered resistance; if all troops were placed on the First Defensive Line, we couldn't deploy here, and the Little Devil would only need a few mortars to inflict massive damage on Expeditionary Force soldiers.

The troops of the 2nd and 3rd Companies of the Four Regiments are all placed on the Second Defensive Line, about two hundred meters from the First Defensive Line.

A dispersed formation is deployed, also to guard against the Japanese Army's artillery and fighter‑bomber aircraft.

Behind it lies Song Mengqin's artillery position, equipped with 81mm mortars and 75mm infantry guns.

"Company Commander Song, I'll dispatch an Anti‑Aircraft Company to you shortly," Jiang Anguo thought that anti‑air fire was still needed; the MG42's anti‑air capability was lacking, at least a 12.7mm dual‑purpose heavy machine gun was required to damage Japanese Army fighter and bomber aircraft.

Naturally, a 20mm anti‑aircraft gun is the best weapon.

Six anti‑aircraft guns were positioned on the slope of Anbei Slope, pushed up through the night for deployment, fearing that Japanese Army fighter aircraft would bomb Zai An the next day.

Jiang Anguo also realized a mistake: the Lashu anti‑aircraft positions were set too high, wasting excessive manpower and firepower.

Anbei Slope is only a small incline, about seventy to eighty meters high with a thirty‑degree grade, so pushing the anti‑aircraft guns up was not especially difficult.

But the slope on the south side of Lashu is truly steep.

The anti‑aircraft guns are arranged, but during retreat it will be troublesome; it seems they can only be destroyed by bombing.

At this moment, there is no time for Jiang Anguo to verify his right or wrong.

"Commander, the troop strength is already sufficient; on my position, the defending force exceeds a thousand men," Song Mengqin said.

Jiang Anguo nodded; at this time, the Zai An position has more than a thousand men, plus two regiments of the Lashu Defense Force.

"Host, please note, your current troop count has reached 9,949 and is about to hit the limit; please allocate wisely," the system voice said.

Jiang Anguo realized something unfavorable; upon asking, he learned his current rank is Colonel and the maximum troop limit is ten thousand.

That means he can still exchange for 51 soldiers.

Jiang Anguo had thought he could exchange indefinitely as long as he had enough points; it seems he was mistaken.

"System, why didn't you say earlier," Jiang Anguo lamented!

"Host, you never asked!" After the system replied, it fell silent.

If he had known his limit was ten thousand, Jiang Anguo would have exchanged them in Chanda earlier; as for weapons, just bring a gun each, at least they'd have gear.

At ten thousand men, the daily Level‑1 system grants one hundred thousand points, and Level‑2 grants two hundred thousand points.

By that calculation, his points are only 370,000, meaning he has lost at least 400,000 points, possibly more, which nearly made Jiang Anguo's thigh snap.

For the final 51 soldiers, Jiang Anguo had no choice; with limited numbers, he selected the best, spending 2,550 points to exchange for 51 Special Forces Unit members.

These 51 Special Forces members all joined Jiang Anguo's Guard Company.

April 24, 22:00, at the Zai An defensive position.

"Company Commander Song, let the soldiers of the Four Regiments rest first; tomorrow's daytime defense will be theirs, and the remaining work should be given to the Lashu Defense Force," Jiang Anguo said.

The Lashu Defense Force, six regiments, were all assigned to three defensive positions—Zai An, Nammbang, and Lava—each receiving two regiments' troops to assist in trench digging.

"Yes, Commander," Song Mengqin understood that soldiers need proper rest to have energy the next day.

"The defensive position should be handed over to the Guard Company soldiers," Jiang Anguo instructed the Guard Company to take over.

In fact, Engineer Company 1 under Liu Sheng's unit was also here; regarding this terrain and position, Liu Sheng had already marked on the map how to dig and distributed it to all units.

Lashu 1st Regiment's Lu Ning and 2nd Regiment's Sun Fu also distinguished priorities clearly.

"Everyone, give it your all!"

"This is a position against the Little Devil; if we lose it, Lashu will be in danger."

"We cannot disgrace our 28th Division."

"Oh."

Everyone was full of vigor.

Jiang Anguo also pre‑briefed regiment commanders Lu Ning and Sun Fu, telling them the Four Regiments must maintain combat power, and the nighttime trench works will require the effort of two regiments.

The other side had no complaints, replying "Understood."

Upon learning that Jiang Anguo had just shot down several Japanese soldiers, morale rose further.

It was also Jiang Anguo's deliberate act; at a time when morale needed boosting, any information favorable to our troops he would broadcast widely.

Especially since both units had not seen combat, whether Jiang Anguo's troops or the Lashu Defense Force.

The Lashu Defense Force, being fresh recruits from the training center, facing crazy Japanese, you can't expect them to fight; that would be like the sun rising in the west.

This is why Jiang Anguo did not place the Lashu Defense Force at the front of the position.

Even though the Lashu Defense Force had undergone systematic upgrades, Jiang Anguo equipped them with all possible weapons and also supplied a large number of Grenade Launchers.

The newly exchanged troops all carried infantry weapons, i. e., rifles, though some soldiers were artillery or other types and did not need rifles.

These rifles were reasonably allocated to the Lashu Defense Force.

The Grenade Launcher truly is a marvel; Jiang Anguo found that in MianDianBeibu, such launchers are especially effective against guerrillas.

A rifle costs 5 points, while a Grenade Launcher costs only 3 points and comes with ten shells.

A single shell is expensive, costing 2.5 points.

It's cheaper to exchange directly for Grenade Launchers, which also include a bonus.

Conversely, a 50mm mortar costs 75 points, also with ten shells included.

Thus, the mortar is less cost‑effective than the Grenade Launcher.

As for accuracy, artillery provides fire support; Japanese veterans can indeed land three or five shells on a position.

When precision is unattainable, fire coverage is the truth.

Jiang Anguo equipped each Squad of the Lashu Defense Force with one Grenade Launcher; each Company kept at least five, and a Regiment had about 18 to 20.

The cost for this configuration was only 50 points.

Jiang Anguo now has ample resources; supplying six regiments plus some ammunition cost only 500 points.

In fact, Jiang Anguo already has ample ammunition, but since he exchanged, he did so altogether.

All soldiers keep combat ammunition, each receiving resupplies to ensure they have 120 rounds.

Seeing the superior officer place such importance on oneself, the soldiers of the 28th Division and the 29th Division also felt a sense of belonging.