Comrade, Your Ingredients Are Too Complicated

Chapter 138 Two Maps and Pre-War Meeting

Just in case, Commander Yang and his four regiment leaders arrived near the Jingxing Coal Mine an hour in advance. They quietly came to a commanding height near the mining area.

 The view here is wide and it is not within the range of Japanese patrols. You can carefully observe the target of this operation.

Although the sun has set, the mining area in the distance is still brightly lit. With the help of high-magnification telescopes, the situation in the mining area is clearly visible to everyone.

This time was supposed to be meal time, but the workers seemed to have nothing to eat. Adults who were forced to be busy came and went, and Ding Wei even saw some skinny children.

The entire mine is like a huge prison, and the people inside are like walking zombies who have lost their souls.

At this moment, a steaming train pulled out of the train loaded with coal. Judging from the direction it was traveling, the destination should be the oil refinery in Shimen.

 Looking at the coal truck going away, Commander Yang's face became very ugly. He punched the stone next to him and said with gritted teeth:

“All those stupid little devils deserve to die. Those coals are what our ancestors left to us. I will cut off their suction veins tonight.”

"The workers inside need to be rescued! We need to be careful when we attack! Those beasts may drive the miners to the fighting site!"

“As far as I know, there are some prisoners of war inside. If we encounter them in battle, we can fight for them. People who are familiar with the terrain will be a good help for our operation.”

Ding Wei looked at the profile of the commander-in-chief with some emotion. Before taking over the new regiment, he belonged to the Jizhong Third Division.

Although this was the first time he fought side by side with Commander Yang, the two had had brief contact before, so he was naturally very aware of the other's great achievements.

Mingming is only twenty-six years old this year, but he is already a famous general at home and abroad. At a young age, he once led a troop together with his brigade commander.

  He admired this educated and capable commander from the bottom of his heart.

After hearing what the other party said, Ding Wei also secretly made up his mind. He decided that this time he must do his best to cooperate with his brother troops to win a big victory.

 After a brief silence, Commander Yang adjusted his emotions. As a commander, you need to remain calm no matter what happens.

　　He took out the map he had prepared long ago from his clothes, and then motioned to several group leaders to gather around.

 These two hand-drawn maps are very detailed. The first one marks almost all important points around the mining area. There are even notes next to these points, describing where they are suitable for ambushes and where they are suitable for laying mines.

 During the preparation stage for the raid, the headquarters issued an order for reconnaissance.

They marched for three days in a hurry in order to reach their target in Jingxing County on time. Moreover, they also forcibly crossed the Hutuo River, so many non-combat casualties occurred.

 After arriving near the target, Commander Yang simply ordered the troops to rest nearby. He took a guard platoon of soldiers and went to Jingxing Coal Mine in disguise to investigate.

In order to ensure the safety of the retreat and the peripheral blockade, they personally visited every nearby village and mountain. This map contains the efforts of the comrades.

 At each selected location, Commander Yang and the soldiers conducted simple exercises on yesterday's rainy night, all to test the improvised tactics.

 The second picture is the Japanese defense map in the mining area. Every bunker and every turret is clearly marked on it.

The reason why such a key map is available is that before the operation began, the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region contacted the miner guerrillas and underground workers in the mining area in advance. In order to plunder the resources of Jingxing Coal Mine faster and more, the Japanese not only tricked nearby villagers into working in the coal mines, but also forced some of the child laborers.

Originally there were some prisoners of war from the Central Army and the Shanxi-Sui Army here, but after working day and night for three years, only a few dozen of these people survived.

These beasts not only do not pay corresponding wages to thousands of workers, they even do not give enough food to civilians who do heavy physical work.

 In order to prevent riots from happening, the Japanese built this place into a concentration camp. A barbed wire fence was erected outside the mining area, the power grid was pulled up, and the mine police and a group of scum traitors who had lost their integrity were dispatched.

Moreover, the equipment in the mining area actually has old items from the Weimar Republic, which were left behind by the Germans who originally developed the coal mines.

Years of lack of maintenance have resulted in serious aging of the facilities, coupled with the fact that mining workers are not fully equipped. A major accident occurred here today in March.

 A serious explosion occurred in a new well, which was caused by aging cables and leakage, electrical fires causing gas explosions, and then coal dust explosions.

In order to protect the coal mine, the Japanese immediately ordered the sealing of the mine entrance. This action resulted in the death of more than a thousand miners.

Where there is oppression, there is resistance. The common people who are suffering from disasters just lack courage, but they are not numb.

As these miners watched helplessly as their friends were being persecuted to death by the Japanese one by one, they began to silently resist using whatever they had on hand.

So there are worker guerrillas and underground parties in the mining areas, and they brought out this key information at the cost of their lives.

According to information provided by comrades, there are more than 600 Japanese soldiers responsible for defending this mining area. They are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Squadrons of the 35th Brigade of the Independent Mixed Eighth Brigade.

　　Including the mine police and traitors, there are a few thousand scattered here.

 After a brief analysis of the garrison situation in this mining area, Commander Yang watched the four regiment commanders begin to assign tasks.

“There are three mining areas in Jingxing Mine, namely the new mine in Dongwangshe and the old mines in Gangtou and Hengshan. The main attack this time will be carried out by the third regiment. Don’t forget to leave one company as a reserve.”

"Ding Wei, your regiment is responsible for blocking the attack in the direction of Weishui Town. Once the battle begins, the enemy's reinforcements are expected to arrive soon. I have only one order for you. Do not retreat even one step before receiving the news!"

“The Second Regiment and the Sixteenth Regiment are responsible for blocking enemies from Pingshan County and Jingxing County respectively. Before the Third Regiment takes over the mining area, we must hold it there!”

 After receiving the order, the four regiment leaders immediately saluted and accepted the order. Before leaving, Commander Yang stopped Commander Han. He had separate arrangements for the third regiment.

"In the coming attack, comrades in the mining area will cooperate with our work. I have made an agreement with them that once we launch an attack, they will cut off the power supply."

“At that time, I will lead a reinforced company of soldiers to blow up part of the railway. If this happens, the Japanese will definitely send people to check or even repair it. Then it will be the time for your regiment to attack.”

　　　Coming, coming, there is another chapter that will be later.

 (End of this chapter)