Chapter 89

As the Independent Division surrounded Zhou Hunyuan's main force in the Douding area, ... far away in Guiyang, Xue Yue seemed somewhat worried, and even more infuriated by the Guizhou Army's reorganized division, which was executing the support order in a duplicitous manner.

Though they arrived on schedule and joined forces with Zhou Hunyuan in Douding, apart from the firearms and ammunition they carried, the 6,000-strong force did not bring any food supplies. Such reinforcements would only be a burden to Zhou Hunyuan.

Thinking of the air-dropped supplies already prepared, the Guizhou Army ultimately ordered that less weapons and ammunition be dropped and more food be delivered. In a remote and impoverished place like Douding, it would be very difficult for the troops to obtain supplies locally.

If that didn't work, they would have to let the Air Force transport units make a few more trips. No matter what, Xue Yue hoped that Zhou Hunyuan could hold out in the Douding area for a few more days. As long as they could hold that place, the Independent Division would not be able to escape their encirclement.

What he did not know was that before the Air Force in Guiyang had even taken off, nearly 500 uninvited guests dressed in Central Army uniforms had already arrived at the outskirts of Douding town at dawn. These people were the reconnaissance battalion of the Independent Division, who had risen early.

Looking at the patrol team on guard ahead, He Zhengdao, who personally led the reconnaissance battalion, waved to the rear and said, "Li Xiangdong, from now on, start clearing the patrol teams ahead, and try to capture a prisoner!"

"Yes, Commander!"

For such tasks as infiltrating and capturing prisoners, Li Xiangdong was already very skilled. Soon, a crack reconnaissance squad moved stealthily toward the Central Army patrol team ahead.

Every soldier who joined the reconnaissance battalion did not start by learning combat skills, but by learning the unique combat hand signals of the reconnaissance battalion. These hand signals were personally taught by He Zhengdao.

During operations, no words needed to be spoken; a few gestures were enough to convey orders. This kind of combat made every soldier in the reconnaissance battalion feel very fresh and mysterious.

As the team leader of the action squad tightened his fist, the reconnaissance soldiers equipped with crossbows almost simultaneously shot their arrows at the designated targets. The leading squad leader pounced on the patrol soldier at the front.

The sudden attack left the patrol soldier, who had been knocked to the ground, stunned and terrified. Seeing the black arrows piercing the foreheads and throats of his comrades behind him, he felt all his strength drained away.

After covering the prisoner's mouth and quickly dragging him into the bushes, a squad pretending to be the patrol team also swiftly dragged the bodies of those they had shot into the dense bushes and quickly continued the patrol.

Many new soldiers in the reconnaissance battalion also felt that the veterans of the reconnaissance battalion executed their killings with great efficiency. This period of combat indeed made them feel very lucky to have joined the reconnaissance battalion.

The prisoner, who had been dragged to He Zhengdao's side, was now so frightened that his legs were trembling as he pleaded, "Spare my life! I don't want to die!"

Seeing the prisoner, who was crying in fear, He Zhengdao said fiercely, "Shut up! If you dare to talk nonsense, I'll take your life right now!"

One sentence made the prisoner instantly shut up. The other reconnaissance soldiers hiding in the bushes also felt that the quality of these Central Army soldiers was not as strong as they had imagined.

"Now, there's no need for me to introduce myself to you! Tell me everything you know. If you dare to omit even a single detail, I guarantee that next year's today will be your memorial day."

"I'll talk, I'll talk! I'll tell you everything I know!"

Before long, the prisoner, as he had promised, recounted everything he knew to He Zhengdao. After confirming that the prisoner had indeed told him everything, He Zhengdao gave him a chop to the neck.

He turned and said, "Find a tree, tie him up, and gag him! Wait until the battle is over to deal with him!"

Following He Zhengdao's orders, the unconscious prisoner was quickly dragged away and tied up by the reconnaissance battalion. Based on the information provided by the prisoner, He Zhengdao began to assign combat tasks to the four company commanders of the reconnaissance battalion.

The reconnaissance battalion, which had already infiltrated the town, was now ready to implement a central attack. Once the reconnaissance battalion took action, causing chaos among the Central Army defending Douding, the three main regiments, which were prepared for a general attack, would encircle them from three sides.

Looking up at the sky, He Zhengdao quickly said, "Brothers, this battle must be quick! The 1st and 2nd companies will act with me. The submachine guns of the other two companies will be concentrated in the hands of the 1st and 2nd companies.

Next, the 3rd and 4th companies will launch a surprise attack on the town's defenders. Remember, first attack the Guizhou Army resting in the town. Your job is to create chaos in the town, creating an opportunity for us to raid Zhou Hunyuan's command post."

"Yes, Commander!"

"Action!"

With the order to act, the patrol teams on the road to the town were also eliminated by the reconnaissance battalion's clearance team. As He Zhengdao and his team began to split up, the attack quickly began.

The reconnaissance company equipped with mortars, seeing the still quiet military camp ahead, immediately launched a sudden artillery attack. They did not aim to kill many people, but to create chaos in the town.

The deafening explosions woke all the resting defenders in the town. The reorganized Guizhou Army, which was also resting, was completely stunned by the sudden artillery attack.

"The Red Army has invaded! Run!"

As this cry spread, the Guizhou Army, like headless flies, turned into a herd of wild horses. They only wanted to escape from the artillery-ridden military camp. Many did not even have time to put on their uniforms before fleeing in all directions.

At the same time, the Central Army's camp in the town also suffered a sudden artillery attack from above. Seeing the thoroughly chaotic town, He Zhengdao signaled, "Brothers, it's our turn to act!"

In this chaotic situation, the two reconnaissance companies led by He Zhengdao quickly launched a surprise attack on Zhou Hunyuan's command post. Many of the disoriented soldiers, who were wearing the same uniforms, were killed.

At this moment, many of the Guizhou Army soldiers who had fled the camp heard someone shouting, "The Central Army has no food and wants to kill us to save food. Fight them! Otherwise, we will die anyway!"

"The Red Army has invaded! Someone has infiltrated the town!"

These intermittent messages made the already chaotic town defenders even more confused. They knew that the town was under attack and that someone had infiltrated the town.

Awakened by the explosions, Zhou Hunyuan's first reaction was, "Oh no!" He knew that a small, elite Red Army force must have infiltrated the town to create chaos and destruction. To ensure safety, he had to restore order in the town.

Central Army units began to search for the infiltrated Red Army. However, in the chaotic situation, they could not distinguish between the infiltrators and their own men.

Especially for the Guizhou Army soldiers who had fled the camp, seeing the Central Army soldiers who had ordered them to flee, they felt somewhat afraid. But everyone knew that if they could escape into the nearby mountains, they might save their lives.

Given this situation, the Guizhou Army soldiers, who had survived the artillery attack, naturally wanted to escape. The Central Army soldiers responsible for suppressing them naturally hoped they would accept reorganization. This led to a fierce battle.

Naturally, seeing the Guizhou Army soldiers not following orders and even attacking them, the Central Army soldiers did not back down and launched a counterattack. As a result, the entire town turned into a chaotic battlefield.

Seeing this situation, He Zhengdao timely ordered, "Fire the signal flares! Command the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd regiments to launch the general attack!"

Three signal flares were fired into the sky from a secluded corner of the town. The Independent Division, which was already prepared, immediately launched an attack on the front-line defense positions. Especially the 1st Regiment, which launched even more intense artillery fire.

The defenders, who had been tormented by the 1st Regiment's artillery fire the previous night, saw the overwhelming artillery shells and lost their will to resist. Many soldiers knew that it would be very difficult to hold the position.

The well-rested 1st Regiment soldiers, after the artillery fire extended, launched a real attack on the defense position they had feigned attacking the previous day. They almost did not encounter any significant resistance and smoothly captured the position.

"Good! Order the 1st Regiment to accelerate the pursuit! Follow the fleeing troops and charge into Douding!"

Seeing the 1st Regiment capture the Central Army's defense position with a single charge, Wang Tianlin also felt somewhat incredulous. But recalling the artillery attacks and feigned attacks launched every hour the previous night, he realized that the enemy must have been severely tormented.

When the news of the Red Army capturing the front-line position reached Zhou Hunyuan, he angrily said, "What's going on? A regiment defending a position, and the Red Army captures it so easily. What kind of battle is this?"

Unfortunately, before Zhou Hunyuan could take any remedial action, intense gunfire had already erupted outside his command post. Hearing the gunfire getting closer, the officers in the command post felt that things were not looking good.

Sure enough, the commander of the guard battalion, who was responsible for the security of the division headquarters, rushed in with a disheveled face, saying, "Commander, we need to retreat! A crack Red Army assault team is heading for our command post. Their firepower is too strong, and our men can't hold them off!"

With an internal surprise attack and an external strong attack!

In such an unfavorable situation, Zhou Hunyuan began to realize that his division might not survive!