Chapter 226: Strike First To Gain The Upper Hand
A series of 20mm machine cannon shells, like the grim reaper’s heavy hammer, smashed viciously onto the right wing and engine of the aircraft.
“Boom…”
The violent explosion accompanied by acrid thick smoke instantly filled the entire cockpit.
The fuselage trembled violently, the control stick swung wildly in his hands, losing all response.
The Lightning fighter spiraled downward toward the vast endless mountains below at an irretrievable angle, trailing long black smoke.
“Eject! Must eject!”
The instinct for survival overrode everything.
Li Xiuming exerted all his strength and, in the last moment before the plane disintegrated, pulled the ejection handle of the ejector seat.
A tremendous force ejected him from the burning cockpit, followed by the parachute popping open in the air with a “bang,” like a white flower, temporarily pulling him back from the grim reaper’s embrace.
However, the misfortune had not yet ended.
At the instant he landed, due to the chaotic mountain winds, he failed to fully control his posture. His left leg struck a protruding rock at an extremely awkward angle.
“Crack!”
A crisp, scalp-numbing sound of bone cracking rang out, followed by excruciating pain like electric current surging through his entire body! Li Xiuming let out a miserable scream,
Accompanied by the scream, Li Xiuming opened his eyes.
At this moment, he was already drenched in sweat, his whole body soaked.
“Damn it, that damn nightmare again!”
He cursed himself bitterly in his mind; that day’s air battle had become his nightmare, appearing in his dreams almost every day these past few days, nearly turning into his heart demon.
At this time, Li Xiuming was lying on a wooden bed covered with soft animal hide.
The flight suit stained with blood and oil had been removed, replaced by a coarse cloth short jacket.
His left leg was firmly fixed with two smoothly planed wooden boards, topped with a layer of dark green mud paste emitting a cool herbal scent.
He turned his head to survey the surroundings; it was a simple yet clean wooden cabin, with walls built from thick logs, gaps stuffed with dry grass and mud.
In the center of the room was a fire pit, where flames burned quietly, dispelling the mountain chill. The walls held bows and arrows, animal hides, and some dried herbs.
A graceful figure was facing away from him, busy with something by the fire pit.
It was a girl who looked only seventeen or eighteen years old.
She had two shiny black thick braids, with red cloth strips tied at the ends.
She wore an indigo pleated short skirt, with a matching collarless short top on her upper body, and a wide cloth belt around her waist that accentuated her slender yet resilient figure.
Hearing movement from the bed, the girl turned around.
Li Xiuming saw a face with a slight highland flush, delicate and charming.
She had a pair of large eyes as bright and pure as mountain springs, with a toughness like wildflowers and an indelible tenderness in her gaze.
She was a Yi girl living in these deep mountains, named A’guo.
This name comes from the Yi word “Atuo,” meaning “gold.”
In Yi culture, gold is considered a precious thing, so this name signifies the girl’s preciousness and importance.
Her parents had both perished in a mountain flood a year ago, leaving her alone to guard this wooden cabin, eking out a hard living with her father’s hunting skills.
A few days ago, while hunting, she discovered Li Xiuming who had fallen from the sky and lay unconscious in the valley.
It was she who, with her slender shoulders, dragged this man much taller and stronger than her back to the cabin, and used ancestral herbs to treat his fractured leg.
In the following half month, Li Xiuming began a long recovery in this secluded cabin cut off from the world.
A’guo could not speak Chinese, and Li Xiuming could not understand Yi language.
Their communication relied entirely on the most primitive gestures and expressions.
Every morning, A’guo would go out with bow and arrows and a machete, and by dusk, she would always bring back some wild rabbits, pheasants, or fresh wild fruits.
She would clean the game, roast it over the fire until it sizzled with oil, then tear off the tenderest meat and feed it to Li Xiuming’s mouth.
Li Xiuming’s injuries were severe, making movement difficult; eating, drinking, and bodily functions all required A’guo’s care.
At first, this pilot from modern civilization, accustomed to communal life, felt extremely embarrassed and uncomfortable. But A’guo’s eyes were always so pure and candid, without a trace of impurity.
In her eyes, he was just an injured life that needed care.
Gradually, Li Xiuming also grew accustomed to this primitive and simple life.
In this half month, what tormented Li Xiuming most, besides the pain and missing his comrades, was one unspeakable matter.
Due to prolonged bed rest, personal hygiene became a big problem. Every few days, the kind A’guo would fetch warm water and wipe his body with a clean cloth.
For a vigorous man in his prime, this intimate contact without reservation by a youthful girl was undoubtedly a sweet torment.
Especially on one cold night, as A’guo wiped his body as usual, when the warm cloth passed over his lower abdomen to the groin, Li Xiuming’s body reacted instinctively beyond control.
Finally, that night they completed the most primitive act between man and woman.
From that night on, the relationship between them underwent a qualitative change.
A’guo became even gentler toward him, and the two naturally began living together.
When Li Xiuming’s leg injury had mostly healed and he could walk, he knew he must leave. He was a soldier; he had missions, and comrades waiting for him.
He gestured to tell A’guo he was leaving, and since the journey was long and uncertain, he could not take her with him.
He pointed to the sky, then to the distance.
A’guo seemed to understand. She did not cry or make a fuss, just silently lowered her head to prepare dry rations and water for his journey.
The next morning, Li Xiuming shouldered his pack, leaned on a wooden staff, and limped out of the cabin.
He looked back; A’guo stood at the door, quietly watching him, her bright eyes full of reluctance.
Li Xiuming steeled his heart, turned away, and set off on the long road to find his unit.
He walked far, over a mountain ridge, and when he subconsciously looked back, he discovered that the slender, stubborn figure had been following him from a distance, silently.
Li Xiuming stopped and waved for her to go back.
A’guo also stopped, but just shook her head and continued following him.
He walked on, and she followed. When he walked fast, she trotted to keep up. When he rested, she sat nearby, taking dry rations from her small cloth bag and eating them in small bites.
They traveled dozens of li, crossing several mountains. That figure remained steadfast behind him like a silent shadow, stubbornly refusing to leave.
Finally, on a mountain ridge, Li Xiuming stopped.
He looked at the girl who was panting and sweating profusely from the long trek, but whose eyes remained utterly determined; the softest part of his heart was deeply touched.
This speechless mountain girl expressed all her feelings to him in the most primitive and persistent way.
Li Xiuming sighed; this iron-blooded pilot who had never feared battling enemy planes at ten thousand meters was, in this moment, completely melted by A’guo’s devotion.
He did not walk further but stood still and extended his hand to her.
A’guo was stunned for a moment, then her face bloomed with a brilliant smile. She ran over and hugged Li Xiuming tightly, pressing her small face to his chest.
When they finally parted, they smiled at each other; no words were needed, everything was unspoken.
From then on, the long road to find the troops was no longer a lonely figure, but a pair of mutually supporting companions…
Wutaixian County, Shanxi Militia General Headquarters.
This was the brain and nerve center of the entire Shanxi Militia.
The operations room had no luxurious decorations, only the cold efficiency of pragmatism.
A huge sand table and military maps hanging on the walls occupied most of the space, densely marked with red and blue arrows and symbols indicating enemy and friendly positions.
The air was thick with tobacco, ink, and telegraph oil smells; several staff officers worked heads down at their posts, with only the rustle of turning papers and the crisp “tick-tock” of the distant telegraph machine echoing in the room.
In the center of the operations room, Su Yaoyang and his chief of staff Pi Ruoyu sat facing each other, a long table covered with detailed maps between them.
Pi Ruoyu’s eye sockets were deeply sunken, bloodshot, clearly having not rested well for many days.
He tapped the spot marked “Taiyuan” on the map with his knuckles, his voice hoarse: “Commander, according to our intelligence agents in Taiyuan and the latest reports from Datong, we can confirm that the Japanese 20th Division has completed over a year’s reorganization and replenishment, restoring its strength.”
He paused, picked up a file from the table, and handed it to Su Yaoyang: “This is their latest movements. Intelligence shows the 20th Division’s main force will arrive at Tanggu by sea from Japan homeland at the earliest in half a month, then by rail back into Shanxi. Their primary goal is to bolster the offensive power of Xiao Tsukasa Yoshio’s First Army.”
Su Yaoyang took the file and scanned it quickly; his expression remained calm, but his eyes grew sharper.
Pi Ruoyu’s expression turned extremely grave; he stood and walked to the large wall map, pointing at the Shanxi-wide situation map with a pointer, continuing:
“Commander, although the 20th Division was heavily crippled by us in previous battles, it is still a Japanese Class A standing division with extremely strong combat power. Once it re-enters the Shanxi battlefield, Xiao Tsukasa Yoshio will have another sharp blade in hand.
At that time, he will inevitably use the 20th Division as the main force to launch a large-scale sweep against our base’s core area, the Wutai and Yu County line under our feet.”
His pointer drew a huge red arrow on the map, straight to Jinsha Ridge.
“Even more deadly is…” Pi Ruoyu’s tone grew more serious.
“Once the 20th Division pins down our main forces, the Japanese 24th Division entrenched to our west in Xinxian and Guoxian areas, and the Independent Mixed 4th Brigade stationed in Yangquan and Pingding line, will pounce like two hungry wolves from our flanks!
By then, we will be in a perilous three-sided encirclement; the consequences… unthinkable!”
The operations room fell silent, even breaths audible.
Pi Ruoyu’s analysis weighed like a boulder on everyone’s heart.
This was an open conspiracy, the Japanese using their troop superiority for a strategic encirclement of the Shanxi Militia.
Su Yaoyang set down the file, crossed his fingers on the table, silent for a moment. He slowly raised his head, eyes piercing, looking at Pi Ruoyu: “We cannot sit and wait for the enemy to tighten the noose around our necks. Ruoyu, what are your thoughts?”
Pi Ruoyu took a deep breath, a fierce glint in his eyes: “My idea is to strike first while the 20th Division is still en route! Launch a preemptive attack, break one of their fingers!”
His pointer slammed down on the “Xinxian” and “Guoxian” positions on the map!
“Our target… the Japanese 24th Division!”
A cold arc hooked at Su Yaoyang’s mouth. It matched his own thinking perfectly.
“Tell me your specific plan.”
“Yes!” Pi Ruoyu’s spirits lifted; he quickly returned to the table and unrolled a pre-prepared operations plan map with detailed attack routes.
“Commander, look… The 24th Division, commanded by Lieutenant General Kuroiwa Yoshikatsu, includes Infantry Regiments 22, 32, 89, and Field Artillery Regiment 24, etc., total strength about 15,000 men.
Its main force is currently entrenched in Xinxian, Guoxian, and surrounding areas, having built numerous solid defensive works, intending long-term confrontation with us.”
“But they have a fatal weakness—arrogance and complacency! After nearly a year of standoff, they’ve grown accustomed to our defensive posture and absolutely won’t expect us to launch a large-scale offensive against them!”
Pi Ruoyu’s finger moved swiftly on the map as a bold and meticulous battle plan took shape in his words.
“My plan is to strike the 24th Division with thunderous force for a devastating blow! Concentrate absolute superior forces to cripple their main force in the shortest time, rendering them unable to attack short-term!”
“Troop deployment as follows!”
His voice grew resolute and powerful: “First, deploy our sharpest iron fists—the 1st Armored Regiment and 2nd Armored Regiment! Use these two armored regiments as the spearhead for a central breakthrough from the seam in the enemy lines, north of Xinxian in this sector!”
“After the armor tears open the enemy lines, our four main infantry regiments—1st, 4th, 5th, 6th—will follow in two echelons, rapidly wedging into enemy depth!
1st and 4th Regiments expand results to the flanks, securing the breach; 5th and 6th boldly infiltrate to the enemy rear flank, aiming to sever links between Xinxian and Guoxian, splitting and encircling the enemy!”
“Simultaneously, our two artillery regiments provide full fire support! Pre-battle carpet bombardment of enemy forward positions! Post-assault, suppressive strikes on enemy artillery, command posts, and reserve assembly points!”
“For this campaign, we commit two armored regiments, four main infantry regiments, two artillery regiments, total over 20,000 men! Achieving over 3:2 local troop superiority and absolute firepower superiority!”
Pi Ruoyu looked up, eyes blazing at Su Yaoyang, summarizing: “Our core tactical concept is ‘fast’ and ‘ruthless’! Hit them unprepared with our strongest tanks, fiercest artillery, elite infantry!
Smash the 24th Division’s turtle shell in one stroke; even if not annihilated, at least cripple and terrify them! Buy precious time and strategic initiative against the incoming 20th Division!”
After hearing Pi Ruoyu’s detailed report, Su Yaoyang slowly stood and walked to the large map, gazing long at the area soon to be ignited by war.
Pi Ruoyu’s plan was bold, meticulous, feasible.
But he still had one concern.
“Ruoyu, if we open hostilities first, might it cause misunderstandings among the various units, sparking chaos across Shanxi?”
“Misunderstandings? What misunderstandings?” Pi Ruoyu’s mouth curled in sarcasm.
“Aren’t the Jin-Sui Army, Central Army, and others always shouting about fighting the Japanese?
But what have they been doing this past year-plus? They don’t fight the Japanese—does that mean we can’t? Or do we get it wrong when we fight them?
You know, their comfortable days this past year-plus are all thanks to us holding back a third or even half of Japan’s pressure; now sharing some burden offends them?”
They say money is a man’s courage; power is the same.
Once a man has money and power, even his voice changes; he dares confront even Jin-Sui and Central Army.
“You!” Su Yaoyang chuckled helplessly, “I can’t imagine how many people your foul mouth offended back in the day.”
Pi Ruoyu also chuckled, “Commander is right; my mouth offended too many, that’s why life was so miserable before. Without Commander taking me in, our whole family would have starved.”
“Eh… I sought you out because you have talent; otherwise, I wouldn’t have made you my chief of staff.”
He turned to his chief of staff, said gravely: “Execute this plan! Order all units to begin pre-battle preparations immediately! General assault in three days!”
“Yes!” Pi Ruoyu snapped to attention.
Orders, like electric currents, swiftly issued from this small headquarters to all units.
The Shanxi land, silent for over a year, stirred again; an unprecedented counteroffensive campaign was about to unfold…
