After another week of training, I stopped the physical rolling of the men and focused on teaching them counter-insurgency operations.
"Remember the basis of counter-guerrilla warfare is local cooperation."
"I have a question sir."
"What is it Captain Yamashita?"
"Wouldn't a liquidation strategy be more efficient in the short-term? If we simply evict locals who collaborate or arrest them we can get rid of what you call their base of support."
"This is not effective in the long-term Captain, you must understand that this civil war is different from the last Great War or previous wars. This is a war of ideology! The communists call us oppressors and tyrants, if we use the 'standard' method, we'll only be feeding the reds supporters."
"In the long-term what we must show is goodwill towards the inhabitants. 'Breaking the shackles of oppression' this is a very sweet claim that is infectious to the weary Russians."
"How do you think the locals will see us if we build bridges, pave roads and protect them? Meanwhile what if the partisans only 'ask' for food and shout their words. The locals will prioritize us since we give them practical benefits compared to the promises of the Bolsheviks."
"Understood sir."
Anyways this Yamashita guy, he's not yet the 'Tiger of Malaya' and seems to be more of a hardliner prior to his reformation. He's supposed to join the radical Kōdōha faction in the future, but I'm still glad that he listens to my words, I'll make sure to make him a tolerant man through results of our actions.
"Now we'll talk more about how to directly combat the insurgents."
"Aggressive mobility will be key in future engagements. Small-unit action not heavy formations, each platoon will be assigned separate sectors in the future, and I expect each sub-commander to further delegate their commands into sections (12-15 men)."
"Aggressive patrols, raids, ambushes, sweeps, cordons, roadblocks, prisoner snatches, etc. Besides our goodwill missions we'll be doing actions like this, make sure to take into account the necessities of your respective sectors, you don't have to do all of them simultaneously. I'll delegate authority to each of you to choose which methods to use."
The last days before the operation I held seminars like this to the sub-commanders and NCO's to make sure they all understood.
***
One week after since the start of the operation.
None of the sub-units have engaged partisans so far, and are busy with labor. My men and I are paving roads and helping chop firewood in the village of Orkhon. Meanwhile I'm busy training my swordsmanship.
"Gazuaaa!!!"
"Khum. Commander please stop with the nonsense."
"Hahaha! Don't worry about it Yamashita. When we engage the enemy later you should try it. Think of it as a way to boost individual courage hahaha!"
"I don't think the commander should charge recklessly, what would happen if you get hit by a stray bullet."
"Don't worry about it. Wanna know why I haven't been shot yet?"
"???"
I smirk and say loudly.
"Cause I'm the main character! I have plot-armor so the bullets always miss!"
"!?!?!?"
"Captain Yamashita you should just ignore the commander, he tends to say weird things all the time."
"Alright. Thank you Satō."
"By the way sir. Lt. Sawamura reported that his platoon found a rebel cell."
"How many?"
"34 and a few kilometers further is a cell with approx. 60."
"Hmmm... gather the men, and tell Lt. Suzuki platoon to join us as well."
***
"Is that it Sawamura?"
"Yes."
"You said around 60 right? Either the 2 cells concentrated or there were even more nearby."
"Sorry!"
"Its alright. Split up into sections and encircle the camp. Make sure not to be spotted. We attack at sundown. I'll shoot first to signal the attack."
"Understood!"
My troops split up into sections. We slowly approached the vicinity of the camp in a crescent formation.
With the day getting darker I borrow a rifle from a nearby soldier and take aim at what look to be their commander. I look at the nearby soldiers and send hand signals to inform them to attack after I've fired.
I slowly hold my breath, aiming for the head.
Bang!
Plop.
Seeing their commander dead the Bolsheviks begin to get into disarray. But before they get back into order my men start firing.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Taang!
Bang! Taang! Bang!
[Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Get to-]
While the deputy commander became fertilizer for the Siberian wasteland. I slowly unsheate my trusty sabre and kiss the blade for good luck.
"Yamashita, now I'll show you why they call me a tiger."
"Ummm... commander please stop any reckle-"
"Let's show these bastards some hell!!!"
"Banzai!!!"
After shouting at my men to charge, I blitz towards the enemy camp. My old platoon, knowing my style, follow immediately. While the rest belatedly join the charge, meanwhile Yamashita is left bewildered by the events and starts shooting his pistol while trying to catch up to me.
"""Banzai!!!"""
"Die commies!"
Bang! Taang! Bang!
I soon reach a nearby insurgent and stab him in the belly.
"Hahahaha!!! I'm back baby!!!"
Bang!
It seems my plot-armor was cancelled. My shoulder got grazed by a bullet, but the pain is nonexistent thanks to the adrenaline. But the shooter soon gets bayoneted by Pvt. Takahashi.
"Are you okay commander!?"
"Its fine! I'm the main character after all!"
Ignoring the injury, I continue to charge in a hail of bullets while pumping myself up.
"Gazuaaaa!!!"
I slash an insurgent.
Bang!
Shoot an approaching Ivan.
Run and decapitate redneck.
"Come on you commies!!! My blade wants more blood!!!"
[Mo... monster!!]
[Run away! Kyaaaghh!!]
I continue my rampage ignoring the fear stricken Bolsheviks.
"Come on boys! Kill them and show them the power of the Empire! For the Emperor!!!"
"""Woahhhh!!!"""