Chapter 23: The Roar of the Tiger at Dawanzi Shakes the Yunnan Army

Inside the Army Corps headquarters, the kerosene lamp sputtered, casting light upon faces taut with tension and solemnity. Commander Dong Zhentang pressed a palm onto the map over the word "Zhenxiong," causing the enamel mug on the table to tremble slightly. "An Enpu’s 2nd Brigade is lodged here like a stubborn stone!" He snapped his head up, his gaze piercing as he looked at Wang Lin. "Wang Lin!"

"Present!" Wang Lin stood to attention, his uniform immaculate, his posture as straight as a pine. His eyes were bright with determination and resolve, yet a hint of calm amusement played at the corners of his mouth.

Dong Zhentang pounded his finger against the map. "Guo Jianchen’s 3rd Regiment is pinned right here! Your mission is not a frontal assault—it is to create a massive diversion, to strike him hard, throw him into chaos, and force him to retreat to Zhenxiong to fortify his position!" He stepped forward, his voice low but clear. "Remember: this is a feint! You are not being sent to chew on a hard bone! The timing for the main force’s eastward advance depends on your Tiger Regiment!"

"Understood, Commander!" Wang Lin’s neck muscles tightened as he delivered a sharp, powerful salute. "Your strategy of 'beating the grass to startle the snake' is brilliant!" His Adam's apple bobbed as his voice dropped. "I, Wang Lin, stake my life on this: within three days, I will force Guo Jianchen to retreat to Zhenxiong, so terrified that he won't even dare to step outside the city gates!" He smiled faintly, eyes burning. "If I fail this mission, punish me as you see fit!"

Dong Zhentang stared at him for a moment, then suddenly chuckled and clapped him heavily on the shoulder. "Good lad! I'm counting on you!" He turned to pick up his military overcoat. "Go! I shall await your good news!"

"Mission guaranteed!" Wang Lin saluted again, his eyes filled with focus and intensity as he turned. In his mind, he was already calculating the operational plan.

The Independent Regiment, tempered in Zhashi, moved quietly to the outskirts of Dawanzi. The mountain roads were rugged and desolate, but under Wang Lin’s expert command, they skillfully evaded all enemy detection, arriving at their attack positions right on schedule.

Wang Lin leaned over the ridge, raising his binoculars to observe. Guo Jianchen’s defenses were exceptionally tight:

On the front lines, the Yunnan Army soldiers patrolled behind earthen fortifications, with machine-gun bunkers scattered like stars, indicating a dense defensive web. At the high ground, several hilltops were deployed with Hotchkiss heavy machine guns, their dark muzzles commanding the mountain roads, with ammunition crates piled high. In the core area, mortars and anti-aircraft machine guns were concealed in the mountain hollows, and they were even equipped with gas masks—a configuration that could be considered elite in 1935.

"Guo Jianchen has set up quite the 'tortoise formation,'" Wang Lin remarked softly, a smile curling his lips. "Belgian rifles? Czech light machine guns? Hotchkiss? This haul of equipment is going to be ours!" He patted Chen Ahai on the shoulder. "Ahai, envious? It’ll all be ours soon!"

Chen Ahai rubbed his hands and laughed. "Regimental Commander, give the order! The boys are itching for a fight!"

"Right!" Wang Lin’s gaze sharpened as he mentally simulated the options:

Plan A: Full assault! A frontal charge against the machine-gun nests—estimated casualties too high, low success rate.
Plan B: Night raid! Stealthily neutralize the heavy machine-gun nests—the enemy’s fortifications were too sturdy for a surprise strike.
Plan C: Follow the Corps' orders and execute a feint—accomplishing the mission while minimizing casualties.

Wang Lin had made his decision—the feint was the superior strategy!

Although the Yunnan Army was well-equipped, they were obsessed with self-preservation; a feint would strike directly at their psychological weakness, and the mere news of the Red Army entering Yunnan would be enough to panic them.

"Liu Gensheng! Chen Dapao!"

"Present!" The two artillery commanders stepped forward.

"See those high points and the regimental headquarters in the hollow?" Wang Lin instructed. "Set up all ten mortars! First round: hit the heavy machine-gun nests and the suspected regimental headquarters hard! The louder, the better; make Guo Jianchen believe our main force has arrived!"

"Understood!" Liu Gensheng said, his fighting spirit soaring. "We’ll catch them completely off guard!"

"1st and 2nd Battalions!" Wang Lin turned to command. "Open fire as soon as the artillery strikes! All machine guns are to fire at full capacity; keep the ammunition flowing! Create the impression of a massive army—remember, this is a feint, not a fight to the death!"

"3rd Battalion, Reconnaissance Company, and Guard Company!" He gestured. "You are responsible for supporting the feint. Once the artillery barrage extends, move up and shout to harass the enemy, focusing on intimidation! If you encounter stiff resistance, pull back immediately; do not get bogged down!"

"Yes!" the men shouted in unison, their morale surging.

The morning mist had not yet dissipated, and Dawanzi was silent. Guo Jianchen was in his headquarters sipping tea—

"Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!!!"

Ten mortar shells dropped with deadly precision into the heavy machine-gun nests!

"Boom—!!!"

Flames soared into the sky, earthen fortifications were instantly obliterated, parts of Hotchkiss machine guns flew in all directions, and ammunition crates erupted in a chain reaction. The tea cup slipped from Guo Jianchen’s hand, shattering on the floor, and his face turned deathly pale.

Before he could react, a second volley roared in, slamming into the hollow near the headquarters—the building shook violently, and the radio antenna snapped!

"Rat-tat-tat-tat!"

"Bang-bang-bang-bang!"

The machine-gun groups of the 1st and 2nd Battalions opened fire! Nine heavy machine guns and dozens of light machine guns unleashed a rain of lead, riddling the Yunnan Army's front line. The bunkers' firing slits were suppressed, and soldiers in gray-blue uniforms fell in rows.

"Charge—!!!"

The thunderous shouts sounded as if the main force of the Red Army had descended from the heavens!

"Sir! It’s a disaster!" A Yunnan Army battalion commander rushed in, stumbling and losing his cap. "It’s the main force of the Red bandits! The firepower is too heavy! The heavy machine guns are all gone! The front line cannot hold!"

Guo Jianchen’s mind went blank: with this density of firepower, how could it be anything but the main Red Army force coming for them? He slapped his thigh. "Retreat! Retreat quickly! Leave the heavy weapons! Travel light! It’ll be too late if we wait!" The lessons of Wang Jialie’s troops were fresh in his memory, and his superiors had specifically ordered him to preserve his strength. He grabbed his pistol and bolted, not even bothering with his overcoat.

As the order spread, the Yunnan Army fell into total chaos:

Front-line soldiers tossed their rifles and fled; machine gunners wept as they looked at their destroyed weapons; the mortar battery commander shouted, "Forget the cannons! Save your lives!" as he ran with ammunition crates. Anti-aircraft guns, more crates, grain... everything was abandoned.

In just one hour! The 2,500 men of the Yunnan Army's 3rd Regiment were in full rout, fleeing toward Zhenxiong in a disorderly mess, shedding their armor and weapons. Aside from the soldiers killed by artillery and machine-gun fire, not even the wounded were left behind. By the time Guo Jianchen retreated to Zhenxiong to take roll call, his men had returned, but all heavy weapons had been lost—this retreat would go down as one of the most severe losses of equipment in 1935.

Wang Lin watched through his binoculars and couldn't help but laugh. "They’re running already? Guo Jianchen, you’re not much of a fighter!" Chen Ahai was stunned. "Regimental Commander, the enemy... they all fled?"

"Quick! Cease fire!" Wang Lin ordered immediately. "Reconnaissance and Guard companies, move out and clear the battlefield! 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Battalions—advance! Collect the weapons! We are taking all of this equipment!"

The soldiers rushed into the positions and were shocked by what they saw:

Twelve Hotchkiss heavy machine guns, brand new and gleaming; ammunition crates piled like mountains; four French-made mortars with their pack horses still intact and shells in abundance; two 13.2mm anti-aircraft guns shining in the light, complete with sights; and hidden in the civilian houses, six cases of brand-new Czech light machine guns! The oil paper was still intact, the barrels polished and bright; bullets, grenades, and grain—piled mountain-high!

"We’re rich! We are truly rich!" Wang Lin hoisted a Czech light machine gun, beaming with joy. "Guo Jianchen! You’ve been a more efficient 'transport captain' than Chiang Kai-shek himself!" He grabbed Zhong Guangbang. "Guangbang! Inventory the spoils! Heavy guns, mortars, new machine guns—don't miss a single item! This battle has truly traded our bird guns for cannons for the Tiger Regiment!"

"Old Zhang, wire the Corps headquarters: We have captured Dawanzi, and the enemy has fled to Zhenxiong in a panic. We are currently inventorying the haul, holding Dawanzi, and requesting further instructions."

***

5th Army Corps Headquarters at Zhashi:

"Good, the Yunnan Army has been startled back to Zhenxiong, and our southwestern flank is secure. Report to the Central Committee immediately; the diversion mission is complete," Commander Dong said with a satisfied smile as he read the telegram.

"Wire Wang Lin: Congratulations on taking Dawanzi. Retain the captured equipment, advance eastward at the opportune moment, and maintain radio contact."