Chapter 129: Brigade Commander Personally Oversees
“Brigade Commander, if you’re not at ease, just give Younger Brother Li a call and ask.”
Li Yunlong was using the strategy of letting the enemy relax their guard. He knew that if he said this, the Brigade Commander definitely wouldn’t call.
Younger Brother Li was such a busy man; the Brigade Commander wouldn’t casually disturb him.
Sure enough, the Brigade Commander shook his head: “Forget it, forget it. I won’t call Xiao Li’s side. As long as you haven’t caused trouble for me, that’s fine.”
Little did the Brigade Commander know, Li Yunlong hadn’t just caused trouble—he had caused a colossal disaster.
He actually dared to instigate Li Muzhi’s side to sell the Division Commander’s cannon. Wasn’t that doomed?
Even now, this kid was still concealing it and not reporting.
As a result, when the Division Commander later furiously pursued the matter, the Brigade Commander was still in the dark and cluelessly got a scolding from the Division Commander.
Of course, that was all later.
“Of course, how could I possibly cause trouble for you, Brigade Commander.” Li Yunlong immediately went along with it.
“Alright, cut the crap.” The Brigade Commander cut off the topic and decisively turned to the Deputy Brigade Commander, saying, “Since the cannonballs have been delivered, immediately summon the other three Regiment Commanders besides Kong Jie for a meeting.”
Although this combat plan had already been set in advance, a pre-battle meeting still needed to be held.
“Got it.” The Deputy Brigade Commander nodded and immediately sent someone to notify them.
Li Yunlong asked with a grin: “Brigade Commander, from what you’re saying, we’re making our move tonight. How much profit is on the Japanese military train?”
“Bad luck.” The Brigade Commander cursed, “These Japanese invaders don’t know how to do things right. Recently, there haven’t been any good supplies transported by military train. Tonight, we’ll barely grab a grain transport vehicle.”
Li Yunlong was stunned upon hearing this: “Brigade Commander, you’re not joking with me, are you? Grabbing a grain transport vehicle—isn’t that a bit too small-scale?”
“What can we do? Unless you, Li Yunlong, have the ability to make the Japanese invaders load good stuff onto the military train!” the Brigade Commander said.
“Brigade Commander, why don’t you change your thinking.” Li Yunlong leaned close to the Brigade Commander and said, “There’s something I’ve actually been pondering for several days.”
“What is it? You damn dog, you want to cause trouble for me again!” The Brigade Commander glared and said solemnly: “Our most important task now is to successfully seize the Japanese military train and have the arsenal side disassemble the locomotive to modify the power. Don’t cause trouble for me. I tell you, for this operation, I’m going personally. If you dare slip away from me, I’ll shoot you!”
As soon as Li Yunlong this kid pursed his buttocks, the Brigade Commander knew what kind of shit he was about to pull.
For this operation, as long as the locomotive could be smoothly transported back, everything else was secondary.
We couldn’t confuse priorities.
So, the Brigade Commander had to personally oversee it!
“Brigade Commander, I…” Li Yunlong still wanted to say something.
The Brigade Commander interrupted: “Shut your mouth!”
“Yes, Brigade Commander.” Li Yunlong shut up, thinking to himself: You’re not letting me speak now, but once we seize the Japanese locomotive and bring it back, I’ll get to say it then.
You always say I, Li Yunlong, love to slip away. I don’t believe you won’t slip away at that time!
“Right, also send someone to the arsenal side to give them a heads-up. Tell Old Zhang that tonight my side is getting to work, and have him bring the transportation team over.” The Brigade Commander remembered this and sent someone to contact the arsenal side.
“Yes.”
“Li Yunlong, go obediently wait in the meeting room now. Once the other three Regiment Commanders arrive, I’ll hold a meeting for you all.”
“Yes, Brigade Commander.” Li Yunlong went to the meeting room, and sleepiness hit him. He simply lay down and fell fast asleep.
……
Border Region Arsenal
“Minister Zhang, our Brigade Commander sent me to notify you that our Brigade Commander will intercept the 7:30 Japanese military train tonight and asks your transportation team to cooperate in advance.” The Brigade Commander’s man arrived on a fast horse to logistics and reported to Zhang Wanhe.
This matter was too big; it could only be notified in person, not over the telephone.
“Making the move tonight, so soon?” Zhang Wanhe was stunned.
The cannonballs had just been delivered to the 386th Brigade, and they were already starting work. What efficiency!
“Yes.” The person nodded, looking at Zhang Wanhe. “Minister Zhang, could it be that your transportation team isn’t prepared yet?”
“It’s prepared. The transportation team was fully assembled this morning.” Zhang Wanhe nodded quickly and said to the person, “Go back and tell your Brigade Commander that I’ll bring the transportation team over on time. By the way…”
Zhang Wanhe paused here and asked: “Has your brigade figured out what this Japanese military train is carrying?”
“Our Brigade Commander didn’t say.” The person answered.
“Alright, alright, go back and report your mission.” Zhang Wanhe nodded.
Since the other side didn’t say, perhaps they hadn’t figured out what the Japanese military train was carrying either.
When the time came, it would depend on luck.
“Yes, Minister Zhang.” The person left.
Zhang Wanhe went to Li Muzhi’s side: “Xiao Li, the 386th Brigade just sent someone to notify us. Tonight, they’ll grab the locomotive for you.”
“Minister Zhang, for safety, you should still bring all the cannonballs produced here at the arsenal.” Li Muzhi instructed, “What if the 386th Brigade runs out of cannonballs and drops the ball at a critical moment? That would be trouble.”
“Of course, of course.” Zhang Wanhe nodded emphatically. “Not just cannonballs—all the grenades we’ve made will be brought too.”
Although Comrade Old Zhang was a bit stingy on weekdays, he still had an overall perspective.
This concerned the arsenal’s future power source; at this critical juncture, there could be no stinginess.
“Minister Zhang, although I won’t be going, I still think you should bring Old Qi. If disassembly of the locomotive encounters any technical difficulties, Old Qi can help solve them.” For such an important operation, Li Muzhi should really go by rights.
Disassembling the Japanese locomotive, though there were advance diagrams to familiarize with, was still not actual hands-on practice.
If any technical difficulties arose, Li Muzhi’s presence could quickly figure out solutions.
But there was no way; that was a combat zone, too dangerous.
Li Muzhi wasn’t suited to go there. Moreover, not only Zhang Wanhe, but even Headquarters leaders had ordered it.
Without Headquarters’ permission, Li Muzhi was not allowed to go to any frontline battlefield.
So, Li Muzhi suggested Zhang Wanhe bring Old Qi.
Old Qi was a senior technician from the original Taiyuan Arsenal, with the most experience.
If any difficulties arose, he could definitely solve them in time.
“For this, I still need to request instructions from the Headquarters leader.” Zhang Wanhe understood what Li Muzhi meant.
Old Qi was the treasure of the Huangyadong Arsenal; he couldn’t be allowed to get hurt.
But for the locomotive disassembly, if real difficulties arose without a senior technician overseeing, the skilled workers below would just randomly disassemble.
If they accidentally damaged some key parts, that would be a headache.
“Mm.” Li Muzhi acknowledged. For such a big matter, of course, they needed to urgently request instructions from Headquarters.
Thinking of something, Li Muzhi continued: “The last Hell Cannon has been made. The arsenal’s cutting machine and generator are idle for now—bring them too. If time is short then, we’ll use the cutting machine.”
“That works, that works, but still need to apply to the Headquarters leader.” Zhang Wanhe nodded.
Right now, they only had this one cutting machine and generator in total—treasures among treasures.
Without the Headquarters leader’s permission, how could they casually take them out of the arsenal?
“Minister Zhang, then you go get busy. I’ll stay at the arsenal and wait for news; I’m not going anywhere.” Li Muzhi said.
“Good.” Zhang Wanhe quickly went off to get busy.
Li Muzhi could foresee that the Headquarters leader would approve letting Old Qi go.
Li Muzhi found Old Qi: “Old Qi, you should go with the transportation team to disassemble the locomotive. Let me supplement a few points here. If you hit a critical difficulty and can’t disassemble the Japanese locomotive, then use the cutting machine. Here’s how to cut with this cutting machine…”
Before Li Muzhi finished speaking, Old Qi interrupted: “Factory Director Li, using the cutting machine—that would ruin the thing, wouldn’t it? Even if we can reweld it with a welding machine afterward, it definitely won’t be as good as the original. I won’t use this thing!”
“Old Qi, of course I don’t want the cutting machine to be needed, but better safe than sorry.” Li Muzhi said seriously, “At that time, if the combat troops can’t hold the pressure, won’t you need to race against time? Still, prepare for the worst case.”
Although the 386th Brigade was formidable in battle and bringing plenty of cannonballs.
But on the battlefield, who could have 100% certainty?
So, preparing for the worst was always right.
If it wasn’t needed, that was best; no one hoped to end up using the cutting machine.
“True, true. Then explain it to me properly.” Old Qi nodded.
……
Heyuan Japanese Gendarmerie
“Captain, Regimental Commander Kuroshima called to say that the cavalry regiment has basically restored its combat power, Regimental Commander Kasahara’s infantry regiment has been replenished with soldiers, but Regimental Commander Ueno’s tank regiment has no war vehicles replenished and is still resting, unable to enter combat.” The confidant walked over and reported to Captain Fujita.
Kuroshima Morita’s cavalry had suffered significant losses, but logistics had warhorses for replenishment, and Kuroshima Morita used connections to get some cavalry from other cavalry regiments.
So, Kuroshima Morita’s cavalry regiment had basically restored its combat power and organization.
As for Kasahara Koizumi’s infantry, a batch of soldiers had just arrived at the Fourth Brigade.
This batch was originally intended to replenish the Third Regiment.
But the Third Regiment’s new Regimental Commander Mita Taro was gone, and it had suffered considerable losses.
Plus the loss of the iron smelting plant, so the Fourth Brigade’s Brigade Commander Hiraku Yufu replenished this batch to Kasahara Koizumi’s 22nd Regiment.
In other words, the 22nd Regiment’s organization and combat power were also restored.
“With one infantry regiment and one cavalry regiment, it’s barely enough.” Captain Fujita said to the confidant, “Immediately cast the bait.”
“Captain, aren’t these two regiments insufficient?” The confidant was worried.
Last time, three regiments failed to watch the bait.
Now without Ueno no Mura’s mechanized regiment, the chance of losing the bait this time was even greater.
“General Shinozuka has called me again.” Captain Fujita said confidently, “He’s already mobilizing troops and supplies over there; two battalions will be transported over by military train tonight.”
The Eighth Route Army had seized the iron smelting plant; the heavy cannon threat was too great.
So, the calmed General Shinozuka still urgently allocated soldiers and supplies to Captain Fujita’s side.
“Yoshi, this way, the troops are sufficient.” The confidant relaxed upon hearing this and couldn’t help saying: “I wonder if the Eighth Route Army will take the bait this time? If they don’t and pull the lure the tiger away from the mountain stratagem again like last time…”
Before the confidant finished, Captain Fujita interrupted: “No matter how the Eighth Route Army uses the lure the tiger away from the mountain stratagem, my encirclement troops won’t move. I don’t believe that if I don’t fall for the lure the tiger away from the mountain stratagem, the Eighth Route Army can hold back!”
Captain Fujita had thoroughly sworn in his heart that no matter what lure the tiger away from the mountain stratagem the Eighth Route Army played this time, he would remain unmoved like Mount Tai and ignore it.
Of course, when he learned the Eighth Route Army was attacking the Jingtai Line to seize trains, this confident Captain Fujita immediately forgot his oath clean, cluelessly losing the bait again—that was all later.
“Right, no matter how the Eighth Route Army plays the lure the tiger away from the mountain stratagem, we won’t move. Let’s see how they continue their spell.” The confidant nodded along.
……
