The former puppet soldier asked rhetorically, and suddenly the artillery platoon commander was dumbfounded. He only learned how to use mortars from He Huizhang, but in terms of command, because there were only two mortars, from target calculation to firing, He Huizhang personally gave orders.

The role he actually played as a platoon commander was that of a senior herald officer plus a spare artillery platoon commander. And because of the insufficient number of mortars before, his artillery platoon was basically an infantry platoon. According to the meaning of He Huizhang, his three platoons are ammunition transport platoons.

Of course, because the artillery shells are very limited, plus the formation of an artillery company, there are only two mortars mixed up. Even the work of carrying ammunition, his platoon basically can't take his turn. Just a few shells, the two platoon commanders were staring at it. I can't use up my own people, and I can still take his turn as a backup platoon.

Therefore, the third platoon of this artillery company, except for one rifle per person, is no different from the infantry platoon. The only difference is that he was unwilling to let his own troops fight the world with two mortars, but he still let this platoon learn the use of mortars.

And Li Ziyuan was on the way to retreat to Ludong and join the division, and saw that this artillery platoon was deadly. He left the infantry cannon to them, and took a little time to teach them how to use it. However, at the time of departure, for the convenience of action, this 92 infantry gun was left in the division, and the platoon had nothing to do.

It was really his turn to personally command it, but his eyes were black. The ability and level of the soil method cultivated quickly are still far from reaching the level of a real artillery commander. Facing real professionals, the artillery platoon commander couldn't help but blush.

Although it was a little embarrassing, fortunately, the Eighth Route Army at this time was extremely humble and dared to learn from all opponents. In particular, there are very few grassroots cadres who generally do not know how to pretend to understand. It doesn't matter if he's a puppet army anyway, or whoever he is, as long as he can fiddle with the cannon. What's more, this guy, at least for now, is still his own person.

The platoon commander looked at the Japanese troops in front of him who were constantly launching counterattacks, gritted his teeth and said: "Don't look at me, you kid, I am also the first time to touch the mountain artillery, otherwise it will not be your turn to show off." In this way, the two of us will divide the work. The specific target is up to you, and when you see a big threat over there, you fire at that side. ”

Hearing the answer of this artillery platoon commander, this former puppet soldier almost fell headlong. If there is a big threat over there, fire at that side, what is this an order? Co-authored as your subordinate, why do you have to do it yourself? It's just that at this point, there is no way out for him to be ambiguous.

After taking a general look at the battle situation in front of him, he withdrew the grenade that the artillery platoon commander had stuffed into the breech, picked through the shell pile, and turned out another shell and stuffed it into the chamber. At present, it is somewhat inappropriate to fight the Japanese infantry who have already charged to more than 100 meters, and then use grenades. So this time, what he stuffed into the chamber of the gun was a grenade that was designed to kill and injure infantry.

Aiming the muzzle of the gun at the Japanese infantry who were counterattacking, he directly pulled the firing rope. The grenade he stuffed into the chamber of the gun was quite lethal at such close range. A grenade shot out, and the strength of the Japanese squad that counterattacked was directly knocked down by more than half of the squad.

After cooperating with the infantry to repel the Japanese counterattack, this former puppet soldier who had obviously served as an artilleryman. With accurate firepower, he gave full play to the tactics of bayonets on the cannons, and knocked out the three remaining pillboxes of the Japanese troops who were blocking the frontal troops, and knocked them out one by one.

The remaining Japanese defenders could not withstand the blows of artillery fire, and after the pillboxes were destroyed, they had to quickly retreat to a few warehouses. Just when this guy, who was also excited, was about to turn the muzzle of the gun towards several warehouses held by the Japanese army, and bombarded it with one cannon, he was stopped by Li Ziyuan, who rushed in.

After seeing Li Ziyuan, the artillery platoon commander did not take credit, and honestly made a detailed report to Li Ziyuan about the entire battle. After listening to the report of the artillery platoon commander, Li Ziyuan turned his head and looked at the puppet army uniform in front of him, but this time it was this guy who had made a great contribution.

After giving the troops the order to continue to besiege the remaining Japanese troops, and immediately release a warning in the direction of the inner city of Changzhi, and quickly occupy warehouses without Japanese troops, and prepare to resist the Japanese reinforcements. Only then did he turn his head to look at the soldier of some age in front of him and said, "You were an artilleryman?" Will this four-one mountain cannon be used? ”

As soon as Li Ziyuan asked, the former puppet soldier immediately stood upright, saluted an extremely standard military salute and said: "The artillery regiment directly under the former Jin Sui Army, the sergeant artillery squad leader Zhou Tong reported to the commander. When I was in the artillery of the Jin Sui Army, the Japanese artillery I used was an imitation of the Type 13 mountain gun, so I will use this kind of artillery. ”

"Although this kind of mountain artillery is considered a wing-level mountain artillery in the Japanese army, it is already considered a eliminated product because of its short range. But this mountain cannon is very light and suitable for use in the Shanxi battlefield. At the beginning, the Jin Sui army manufactured a considerable number of such artillery, except for a small number of other artillery, most of the artillery regiments used this kind of artillery. In our regiment, there was also a battalion that used original Japanese goods. ”

"However, the shells made by the Jin Suijun themselves are not as lethal as the devil shells because of the problem of charge. Moreover, the artillery manufactured by the Jin Suijun is not as good as the original Japanese goods because of the quality of the cannon steel. But in the use of such mountain artillery, there are absolutely no problems. ”

Hearing that this guy was actually the former artillery squad leader of the Jin Sui Army, Li Ziyuan was interested. After so many years on the battlefield in Shanxi, he also knew that the Jin Sui Army not only had a large number of artillery before the war, but also was able to produce and manufacture mountain artillery by itself. In terms of artillery strength, it was even higher than the Central Army.

Heavy artillery and field artillery are not much, though. But the number of mountain artillery is still quite large. It turned out that the artillery regiment to which the headquarters belonged started with the mountain artillery abandoned by the Jin Sui Army in the Hutuo River. That time when he went down to the river to touch the artillery, Li Ziyuan, who was still a platoon commander at the time, also participated.

Although the quality of the Jin mountain artillery is not high, it is after all the local force with the strongest artillery strength before the war. Moreover, because their artillery participated in the Central Plains War, they have extremely rich experience in actual combat. In the early stage of the Anti-Japanese War, the Jin Sui army suffered heavy losses, and the artillery losses were also quite large, and it was not uncommon for the artillery personnel to be scattered.

It's just that this kind of person, if the Eighth Route Army knew about it, he would have been mobilized to join the army a long time ago. The Eighth Route Army itself lacked artillery, and it was eager for the former artillery of any force. is to go to Jinxi to return to the team, and it is also a rare talent after the war there. But how could such a person who would be reused there become a puppet army?

Perhaps seeing the puzzlement on Li Ziyuan's face, the former puppet army hesitated for a moment but explained: "Sir, my regiment originally lost most of its artillery in the Battle of Xinkou. When retreating, they participated in the war, because most of the troops that participated in the war were either disabled by the devils, or they had been disrupted.

"In addition to the constant butt bombing by the planes of the devils, our regiment fell behind when it was evacuated, because there was no infantry cover and was bitten by the Japanese army. The troops were scattered by the Japanese army, and the horses that pulled the artillery were either killed, or they were frightened and ran away. The remaining few artillery pieces can only be pushed into the river. ”

"I was a native of Hubei before I became a soldier, and after the army was dispersed, I was worried about the old man in the family and ran back. The expansion of the garrison forced people to serve as soldiers, and forced conscription everywhere. Especially people like me who have worked in the Jin Sui Army and have also served as squad and platoon commanders are their preferred people, and they have to do it whether they want to or not. ”

"Last year, Lao Tzu Niang was gone, and I never got married, and I was a single person everywhere I went. Originally, I still wanted to finish wearing filial piety for my mother, so I went to Jinxi to find the old army to continue to fight with the devil. But there is such a thing, I can't let my younger brother who has a family and a mouth do this immoral thing. But the devil pressed hard again, threatening the lives of my brother's family, so I put on this black skin without any choice. ”

"I was the squad leader when I was in the Jin Sui Army, and I was asked to be the squad leader when I got here. But from the day I was forced to serve as a guard, I didn't plan to do it for them. On the battlefield of Donglinkou, I was the first to put down my gun. He also took some of my brethren with him, and they were all disarmed. I don't work for devils, and the Chinese don't fight the Chinese. ”

Regarding the answer of this former Jin Suijun artilleryman, Li Ziyuan patted him on the shoulder and said, "From now on, your official will be reinstated." No, Lao Tzu is giving you a promotion, and now he is the mountain artillery platoon commander of our artillery company. From now on, this mountain cannon will be under your command and use. ”

"As for the artillery, it's up to you. If you bring out a platoon for Lao Tzu, you will continue to be your platoon leader. If I can bring out a mountain artillery company, I will then give you a promotion and make you the commander of the mountain artillery company. Although there is only one cannon now, a good meal is not afraid of being late. ”

"As long as you bring me a mountain artillery company, I'll make you the company commander. Take out an artillery battalion and let you be the battalion commander. I can't guarantee how long you'll have to wait, but I promise to get you a few more cannons. As long as I am here, the little devils and the puppet army are our arsenal. After fighting well, the equipment that his little devil has, we will have sooner or later. ”

Speaking of this, Li Ziyuan said to the platoon commander of the artillery company beside him: "You guys pack up and withdraw first, you don't need you here now." Also, when you go out, take all the shells you can find with Lao Tzu, and don't leave a single shot. The dozen or so pack horses and mules of the devils seized this time have all been allocated to you. Especially this mountain cannon, you must bring it out for me. ”

After receiving the order, the platoon commander did not hesitate and immediately packed up his stall and left. Not only on this artillery position, everything was taken away. They also took away one of the captured rifles. He knew that as long as he didn't fight a tough battle, the next battle would not be his turn.

And no matter what kind of artillery, even if it is equipped with mortars, it is much more cumbersome than infantry weapons. The retraction was slow, and the speed of the march was not fast. Since the superiors have given orders, what are you waiting for if you don't leave? Don't wait until the devil's reinforcements come up, and the three cannons that you finally got are being sent back to the devils.

Looking at the artillery platoon commander, he ran quite fast. Li Ziyuan shook his head, but didn't say anything. Instead, he looked at the railway yard in front of him, with several rows of huge warehouses neatly arranged along the railway line, and a few stuffy tank cars pulled by a locomotive parked on the railway line.

He ignored the warehouses where the Japanese troops retreated, and just blocked the route they rushed out with firepower. In addition to leaving one company on guard, the doors of the other warehouses were smashed open. After smashing open the door of the warehouse, I saw stacks of neat stacks of grain, as well as Japanese winter clothes in huge packages.