Chapter 265: Pre‑Battle Mobilization of the 150th Division

Changde.

Xu Guozhang's command post is now also packed with people, not only several regiment commanders and staff officers from the 150th Division, but also the Independent Regiment that Jiang Anguo brought over from Lashu.

"Everyone, let me introduce you: this is the Independent Regiment commander of the th Division, Jiang Anguo." Xu Guozhang said in front of the crowd.

It can be considered a formal meeting with everyone.

Jiang Anguo rose and saluted everyone.

In fact, the 150th Division all knew Jiang Anguo; after all, this Shaancai Boy, who didn't know him? To say that after Jiang Anguo arrived in Changde, on the first day he bought off the 150th Division with a pot of red‑braised pork.

These days, the 150th Division hasn't lacked food.

Not only food, but weapons and equipment have also arrived.

The 150th Division's three regiments—448th Regiment Xie Boluan, 449th Regiment Lu Zongjing, and 450th Regiment Du Fang—each received upgraded weapons and equipment.

When deciding to attack Yichang, Jiang Anguo went far beyond the weapons and equipment he had previously gifted to Xu Guozhang.

First, the weapons and equipment issue was solved: each man got a rifle, and because Xu Guozhang came from the Sichuan Army Corps, his weapons and gear were naturally lacking.

Each regiment added eight 94‑type mountain guns on top of its original firepower.

Each battalion received six Maxim water‑cooled heavy machine guns.

That's more than the artillery Xu Guozhang originally had in a single division.

It's not that Jiang Anguo is stingy; the MG42, that thing, accustomed to a rich life, can't be cheapened. The 150th Division isn't in the Myanmar combat zone; Jiang Anguo is to return to Myanmar to fight the Little Devils, and its bullets stream out like water.

Changde, 150th Division temporary command post.

The room was filled with the smell of low‑quality tobacco, and the map on the wall bore deep creases from countless fingers.

Lin Wenbo, the chief of staff of the 150th Division, a bespectacled, refined young man, pointed at Yichang on the map, his tone tinged with barely restrained excitement: "Regiment Commander Jiang, since the higher‑ups have also approved the attack on Yichang, it's up to you to arrange it."

Everyone's gaze focused on Jiang Anguo.

He was young and calm, standing out from the dust‑caked generals in the room.

Jiang Anguo walked to the map; his finger didn't land on Yichang itself, but on Yueyang to the northeast.

Jiang Anguo's thinking was as clear as a scalpel: "My plan is a 'feint east, strike west.' When Officer Xue moves on Yueyang over in Changsha, the entire Central China expeditionary force's attention will be drawn there. That moment will be the optimal time for us to act."

His finger swept from Yueyang across the Yangtze River and pressed heavily on Yidu, on the outskirts of Yichang.

"Before the 31st, our troops must be like a spear, swiftly tearing through the Japanese defense line at Yidu on the southern bank, then forcefully crossing the river, seizing Xiao Ting, and finally reaching the foot of Yichang City!"

"At the same time, before the assault, I will have the air force coordinate with us so that before the battle begins we can eliminate the Little Devil's fire points!"

Jiang Anguo lifted his head, his gaze sweeping every person present, his tone unquestionable: "In this battle, my Independent Regiment will be the vanguard, with the 150th Division supporting my unit, responsible for flank cover and subsequent assaults."

The command post fell silent; even the man who had been smoking forgot to inhale, everyone was stunned by the bold and meticulous plan.

But chief of staff Lin Wenbo of the 150th Division felt a trace of worry.

He adjusted his glasses and whispered: "Regiment Commander Jiang, won't this plan be too rushed time‑wise? The air express from Lashu to Changde makes only one round trip per day, and so far only a little over a thousand have been transported. Your Independent Regiment is fully staffed at 3,600 men; getting them all there will take at least three days…"

Indeed, the timing is too tight.

Lin Wenbo's other implication was that if your Independent Regiment can't keep up, then the vanguard will be my 150th Division; you won't sell me out, right?

At that moment, Xu Guozhang, who had been stewing, sprang up with a "whoosh"; his dark, square‑jawed face flushed bright red, his palm the size of a palm‑fan clapped the table with a loud "crack", shaking the teacups so they jumped, spilling tea everywhere.

"Damn it!" he glared with eyes as big as cowbells, pointing at Jiang Anguo, his thick Sichuan accent booming in the room: "Brother Jiang! Are you looking down on me, Xu Guozhang?"

He stepped forward, almost pressing his chest to Jiang Anguo's, spitting droplets that nearly hit his face: "You've given us rifles and artillery, arming our 150th Division to the teeth, and now you want to ditch us and play hero? Where do you expect my brother's face to go?"

Xu Guozhang pounded his chest, "bang‑bang", a sound like a temple bell, shaking dust off the beams.

"We'll take this vanguard, the 150th Division! Whoever dares to contest me, I'll fight them! Don't be polite with me, got it!"

Jiang Anguo patted Xu Guozhang's shoulder, signaling him to calm down, then said: "Old Xu, how could I ever look down on you!"

"Here's the situation," Jiang Anguo said, stepping onto the map and pointing at Yichang: "The Little Devils have a division‑sized force in Yichang, namely the Little Devils' 13th Division, which is a Class A Division. Yichang also enjoys favorable terrain; I worry that assigning the 150th Division as the main assault will incur heavy losses. Moreover, my Independent Regiment's deputy commander Yao Quanyi excels at mountain warfare."

Yao Quanyi stood up, introducing himself as the Independent Regiment's 'deputy' commander; in fact, Yao Quanyi is the actual commander of Independent Regiment 1, but Jiang Anguo, in front of the 150th Division, could not state it that way, lest Yao Quanyi be considered the commander, leaving him without a title.

Yao Quanyi had originally been the company commander of Jiang Anguo's Supplement Battalion; later Jiang Anguo spent 1,000 points to give Yao Quanyi a full promotion.

Yao Quanyi, commander of Independent Regiment 1, specialty: urban combat.

Jiang Anguo looked at the fiery‑haired Sichuan man before him and, rather than getting angry, smiled.

He stepped forward, gently pressing Xu Guozhang's shoulder, his tone sincere: "Old Xu, you've misunderstood. I ask you to cooperate, not to be a spectator. Your 150th Division is the war‑zone's hilt, the fist! My Independent Regiment is the spear, the dagger! There must be a fist behind to support the dagger, so I can thrust into the enemy's heart!"

Hearing this, Xu Guozhang finally relaxed; his dark face broke into a sincere smile, he nodded vigorously, his voice still booming: "Alright! Brother, now I understand! Among the brotherhood we value stabbing each other's ribs! Whatever you say we'll do!"

Jiang Anguo also nodded, his eyes now bearing added approval and gravity: "Don't worry, Old Xu, you'll be the one to fight this battle!"

He withdrew his hand, spun sharply, and stood upright. The command post, which had been a bit noisy, fell silent in an instant, as if the air itself had solidified. Everyone present, including Xu Guozhang, instinctively snapped to attention with a "whoosh", eyes fixed on Jiang Anguo.

Jiang Anguo's gaze swept over each person like a hawk, his voice low yet unmistakably penetrating:

"Now, I issue the following orders!"

"First, the 448th, 449th, and 450th Regiments of the 150th Division, together with the first battalion of my Independent Regiment, must complete assembly before 5 a. m. tomorrow and deploy to the pre‑set positions on Wufeng Mountain!"

He paused, then drew his command baton across the map with a heavy stroke, his tone becoming especially severe:

"Remember, avoid all main roads and towns the whole way; tunnel through mountain gullies and take the small paths! Slip in under the gods' and Little Devils' radar, and reach beneath Yidu City! Anyone who exposes their position will face military law!"

Everyone stiffened.

"Yes!"