Chapter 146: Prepare For Both Possibilities
Watching Ding Wei quickly leave with his troops, Li Yunlong still cursed: “How is this Old Ding just like Old Kong, so cowardly.”
Earlier, as soon as we mentioned this matter to Old Zhang and Li Muzhi, Kong Er Lengzi got scared, stopped eating, and hurriedly left.
Now, Ding Wei also quickly left, afraid of being implicated.
Do you really think Old Li has the ability to sell the division commander’s cannons? Clearly, only headquarters logistics has that capability.
What are you all afraid of?
I’m not afraid!
Li Yunlong walked to the detention room, about to lie down and sleep, when the deputy brigade commander walked in: “No sleeping!”
Li Yunlong yawned: “Deputy Brigade Commander, this matter really wasn’t me. It was Old Zhang from logistics who did it. He must have done something improper, causing our division commander to misunderstand.”
“The brigade commander was busy all night, just got back, hasn’t even closed his eyes, and rushed straight to division headquarters.” The deputy brigade commander glared at Li Yunlong. “You caused the brigade commander to not sleep, and you think you can sleep?”
“How can’t I sleep? I can sleep right now!” Li Yunlong said, about to close his eyes.
The deputy brigade commander walked over and kicked him, pulling Li Yunlong up: “No sleeping! That’s the brigade commander’s order!”
“Deputy Brigade Commander, anyway the brigade commander isn’t here. Let me sleep a bit first. When the brigade commander comes, just wake me up in advance.” Li Yunlong yawned hugely again.
“Li Yunlong, have you not thought about going to explain to the brigade commander? If he gets badly scolded at division headquarters, when he comes back, do you think you’ll get off easy?” the deputy brigade commander cursed.
“Look how you say that. The brigade commander has already gone to division headquarters. It must be Old Zhang who did something improper. I’ve already got no good outcome. Why shouldn’t I sleep first? Even if I get beaten, I should recuperate my energy in advance…” Li Yunlong didn’t finish his words.
The deputy brigade commander kicked him again and scolded: “Explain this matter to me clearly right now!”
“This matter is simple. The arsenal there lacks machines. Just in time, Chu Yunfei’s superior is interested in our Hell Cannon. They said as long as the conditions aren’t excessive, we can name them. So we just mentioned it to the arsenal side, that’s all.” Li Yunlong explained, then cursed, “This must be Old Zhang from logistics who, when communicating with our division commander, put the whole shit pot on my head.”
“Li Yunlong, so your meaning is, what you did was actually to get machines for the arsenal side?” The deputy brigade commander paused. In that case, the nature of this matter still had room to maneuver.
“Nonsense, that’s a Hell Cannon. How could I not know the importance of cannons!” Li Yunlong said seriously. “Of course, the arsenal’s machines are even more important, so that’s why I…”
The deputy brigade commander still cursed and interrupted: “You boy, when you came back, you shouldn’t have kept this matter so tightly hidden. Aren’t you usually pretty smart? At the critical moment, how did you act stupid! If you wanted logistics to target the Hell Cannon, why did you bring out our own division commander’s Hell Cannon? Why didn’t you have logistics go ask 120 Division or 115 Division? You idiot fool!”
“Deputy Brigade Commander, there are only eleven Hell Cannons in total. Our 129 Division has six of them. 120 Division and 115 Division together don’t have as many as us.” Li Yunlong said tactfully.
It’s not that we didn’t target 120 Division or 115 Division’s Hell Cannons; they have fewer cannons there.
By the time Old Zhang operates, he’ll still target our division commander’s Hell Cannons.
Since I already know the result, why waste more words?
Of course.
Besides 115 Division and 120 Division, headquarters also has one Hell Cannon.
Even if Comrade Li had the guts of a tiger, he wouldn’t dare touch that one.
That cannon protects the safety of headquarters leaders.
Even Old Zhang would have to steer clear in his thoughts.
“That’s true.” The deputy brigade commander had nothing to say.
After all, our division commander has the most Hell Cannons.
If selling, logistics would most likely have our division commander provide them.
“Deputy Brigade Commander, can I lie down and sleep now?” Li Yunlong said, about to lie down again.
“No sleeping!” The deputy brigade commander still had a stern face. “For this operation you and Ding Wei did, dictate it to me right now. I need to make a report.”
“Can’t I do it after I wake up?”
“The brigade commander’s order is you can’t sleep until he returns!” The deputy brigade commander had an extremely serious expression.
The deputy brigade commander strictly carried out the brigade commander’s orders, and his position was higher than Li Yunlong’s. Li Yunlong had no choice but to cooperate obediently in the end.
He dictated the entire operation.
Upon learning that Li Yunlong and Ding Wei had obtained potassium nitrate and sealing paint, the deputy brigade commander was still very happy.
Earlier we sent the bullet manufacturing equipment to the arsenal, and Liu Weidong had also replenished the key parts.
Once the arsenal’s power issue is solved, they can start making bullets.
Actually!
It’s not that once the power is solved and the equipment runs normally, bullets can immediately be produced.
This still requires raw materials.
Like copper billets, gunpowder, bullets, and so on.
This potassium nitrate and sealing paint are both essential raw materials for making bullets.
Especially the sealing paint. With it, the bullets produced by the arsenal, once sealed, won’t be prone to moisture like the previous reloaded bullets, and won’t fail to shoot far.
Li Yunlong continued: “Younger Brother Li said they also want cats and military dog pups. One military dog pup can match Kong Jie digging coal for three days. When the brigade commander returns, we must hurry to collect intelligence on this.”
“Since it’s Factory Director Li’s instruction, we definitely need to hurry.” The deputy brigade commander noted this in his notebook.
“There’s another matter. I don’t know if Old Kong mentioned it to the brigade side in advance.” Li Yunlong remembered the shoulder-mounted cannon.
Logically, with Kong Jie digging coal at Li Muzhi’s side, he’s closest and should get it first.
If Li Muzhi wants to make shoulder-mounted cannons, Kong Jie should be the first to hear.
But brigade headquarters has no such rumor now. Could it be Old Kong didn’t do well on intelligence work?
“What matter?” The deputy brigade commander looked at Li Yunlong.
“At the arsenal, I heard Younger Brother Li say he’s making a kind of cannon that a single soldier can carry on the shoulder and fire, usable against the Japanese invaders’ mechanized troops…” Li Yunlong didn’t finish.
The deputy brigade commander interrupted in shock: “Li Yunlong, are you sure Factory Director Li said this himself?”
A cannon a single soldier can carry on the shoulder and fire, against Japanese invaders’ mechanized troops!
Just these two sentences let the deputy brigade commander smell the battlefield significance!
If such a weapon really exists, our soldiers won’t worry about two legs not outrunning the wheels of Japanese invaders’ mechanized troops anymore; they can fight them right on the spot!
“To get this shoulder-mounted cannon sooner, to get priority, I directly gave the bullet manufacturing equipment to Younger Brother Li.” Li Yunlong then casually revealed this.
If he directly said he gave Li Muzhi the bullet equipment, he’d definitely get scolded.
But first using the shoulder-mounted cannon to whet the deputy brigade commander’s appetite, then mentioning it this way, the other wouldn’t easily scold.
Upon hearing this, the deputy brigade commander couldn’t help asking: “Did you get that priority?”
A cannon a single soldier carries on the shoulder to deal with Japanese invaders’ mechanized troops has extraordinary significance.
Exchanging bullet manufacturing equipment for priority equipment is still a bit off.
But if it were the deputy brigade commander, he’d probably do the same.
“Of course we got it. Younger Brother Li said when this thing is produced, he’ll notify me in advance.” Li Yunlong immediately guaranteed.
“Whether you did right or wrong in this matter, I can’t say. Wait for the brigade commander to return and see how he handles it.” After fully understanding the situation from Li Yunlong, the deputy brigade commander went out.
Then he instructed the guard to watch Li Yunlong and not let him sleep.
The deputy brigade commander left, and Li Yunlong still directly fell asleep!
As for the brigade headquarters guards, how dare they disturb him.
Regimental Commander Li is someone with real ability.
After such fatigue, sleeping a bit is only right.
……
Heyuan Japanese Gendarmerie
Slap!
Slap!
Slap!
Sato Jino grabbed Fujita Ichi’s hair and unleashed a barrage of slaps.
Beating Fujita Ichi until his face swelled like a pig’s head, teeth flying everywhere.
Sato Jino cursed while beating: “Idiot, you damned stupid pig. The bullet manufacturing equipment was lost, yet you still replenished parts for the enemy. You even put the parts in our important secret military supplies warehouse, guiding the enemy to our secret military supplies warehouse location. There’s no bigger fool in the world than you. Idiot, idiot, idiot!”
Sato Jino slapped once with every “idiot.”
Finally, his palm hurt and his arm ached before he let go of Fujita Ichi, who was beaten beyond recognition even by his own parents.
“Yes!” Fujita Ichi swayed unsteadily, steadying himself on the table, bowing his head before Sato Jino.
Sato Jino was the deputy minister of gendarmerie headquarters, with much greater authority than Fujita Ichi, the gendarmerie captain.
Sato Jino also served as a secret intelligence officer at First Army Headquarters.
Not long ago, Sato Jino helped Special Agent Captain Colonel Yamamoto find the Eighth Route Army Headquarters at Daxia Bay.
Unfortunately, Colonel Yamamoto’s special operations team failed in the sneak attack on Eighth Route Army Headquarters.
Still, this proved Sato Jino’s intelligence capabilities.
This time, with Fujita Ichi’s major blunder, Sato Jino came specifically to take over for him.
As for Fujita Ichi, he should have been shot.
But with some connections, he barely saved his life and stayed by Sato Jino’s side to make up for his mistakes with meritorious service.
“Now, the combat troops are in chaos, supplies in various jurisdictions are heavily attacked by Chinese troops, the railway line isn’t restored, logistics pressure is enormous. Do you have any suggestions?” Sato Jino actually didn’t want to hear suggestions from this fool Fujita Ichi.
He didn’t want to keep him around to make up for mistakes either.
But no choice; Sato Jino was new here, not familiar with various situations, and needed Fujita Ichi.
Once familiar, he could kick this bastard out.
“The old lady picks the soft persimmon to pinch. How about that?” Fujita Ichi said.
“What do you mean?” Sato Jino asked.
“We lack supplies, but Jin Sui Army and Direct Line Army have supplies. I suggest immediately organizing troops to attack their jurisdictions and rob their supplies for replenishment.” Fujita Ichi thought and said.
“Our supplies mostly fell into Eighth Route hands, yet we rob Jin Sui Army and Direct Line Army?” Sato Jino questioned. “Don’t you know my main task sent here is to deal with Eighth Route, and find their arsenal.”
Eighth Route now dares to use heavy cannons to attack railways and our military trains, even disassembling military trains.
In combat, Eighth Route heavy cannon ammunition is very ample!
This proves their arsenal can produce cannonballs.
This is a major hidden danger that must be found and quickly destroyed as much as possible.
Make Eighth Route completely lose heavy firepower.
So, although Jin Sui Army and Direct Line Army caused big trouble for Imperial Army in this battle, they aren’t Sato Jino’s primary target. He didn’t want to waste too much energy on them.
After solving the main target, then turn back to deal with them one by one.
“To deal with Eighth Route, first we need to restore our army’s logistics and organize the troops.” Fujita Ichi explained. “Jin Sui Army and Direct Line Army are like lice on a bald head, obvious targets. We attack directly, they fight us in position warfare. If we beat them, don’t we seize their supplies? Then our army’s logistical supplies are secured. With logistical supplies, troops organized, then turn back to deal with Eighth Route.”
Fujita Ichi’s meaning was, to deal with Eighth Route, at least we need to get our army up first.
“Sounds somewhat reasonable.” Sato Jino nodded slightly, then changed tone and cursed: “Why can’t I just target Eighth Route directly and take back what they robbed from us?”
“Can’t find Eighth Route.” Fujita Ichi answered. If we could find them, we’d prioritize Eighth Route; it’s just we can’t find them.
“How impossible to find Eighth Route? Even a fool like you fished them out. How can’t we find them!” Sato Jino cursed.
Though Fujita Ichi’s fishing operation was stupid, he did fish out Eighth Route; that’s undeniable fact.
Just the handling method was wrong, and he got completely crushed by Eighth Route in return.
“Even if Eighth Route is lured out, without troops organized in advance, we can’t eliminate them.” Fujita Ichi raised doubt.
Their heavy cannons’ power is no bluff.
One shot can kill and wound over a hundred of ours; Hirata Ichiro already experienced it.
“Then prepare on two fronts.” Sato Jino said. “Suggest to the army side to quickly replenish supplies from Jin Sui Army and Direct Line Army jurisdictions. We’ll handle finding Eighth Route.”
“How to find?”
“Simple. Use a batch of things as bait, keep it appropriately secret, not like you directly exposing it, or the fishing operation is too obvious. Sprinkle special powder on this batch, let Eighth Route seize the bait when they get the chance, then we use military dogs to track the scent. Isn’t that finding their base undetected?” Sato Jino said calmly.
This trick, Sato Jino had used it to death.
Earlier, helping Yamamoto Ichiki find Eighth Route Army Headquarters location also used this.
Though the move was old, it worked.
Fujita Ichi listened, eyes lighting up, very admiring: “Yes, why didn’t I think of this earlier? Sprinkle special powder on things, track with military dogs by scent. That bullet manufacturing equipment and parts must be in Eighth Route Arsenal. I really missed a golden opportunity to find the arsenal!”
Saying this, Fujita Ichi pounded his chest.
If he could find Eighth Route Arsenal, initiative would be ours; the situation couldn’t be this messy.
“Mr. Fujita, don’t regret. As long as my trick finds Eighth Route bases and arsenal, all the things you lost can be fully recovered.” Sato Jino’s tone remained calm.
In his view, though the Heyuan County Town mess was bad, cleaning it up wasn’t hard.
“Yes.” Fujita Ichi nodded heavily, hope surging in his eyes.
Once things are recovered, he’ll have made up for his mistakes with meritorious service.
“Then what do we use as bait?” Fujita Ichi asked.
“Think, what supplies would Eighth Route, upon capturing, move straight to their arsenal?”
“Need I say? Definitely military industrial supplies.” Fujita Ichi blurted out.
“Idiot, you fool, do you have to make the same mistake a third time!” Sato Jino roared.
First lost equipment, then key parts; now again military industrial supplies.
Doesn’t your pig brain learn lessons!
“Yes, yes, my stupidity.” Fujita Ichi nodded repeatedly, then looked suspiciously at Sato Jino. “Then what supplies to use as bait?”
If not military industrial supplies as bait, Fujita Ichi really couldn’t think of anything else that would make Eighth Route move straight to their arsenal.
“Think slowly yourself.” Sato Jino waved him off.
He’d handle this personally throughout, not letting Fujita Ichi touch it at all.
So, telling him now or not didn’t matter.
“Yes, I’ll think slowly myself.” Seeing the other wouldn’t say, Fujita Ichi suppressed his curiosity.
If I can’t think of it, no problem; I have eyes to watch.
“Go, tell your ideas to Kuroshima Morita and them. Have them hurry to sort out logistics.” Sato Jino waved at Fujita Ichi. He didn’t understand fighting wars and didn’t want to interfere with army side matters, just provide suggestions.
What he mainly handled was finding and locking Eighth Route Arsenal position through means.
As long as Eighth Route Arsenal position is found and locked, whether other Eighth Route troops positions are found isn’t a big issue.
Because, once we heavily attack their arsenal, all Eighth Route troops will definitely jump out to defend to the death.
Note, this is the arsenal that makes heavy cannons and heavy cannon cannonballs, Eighth Route’s vital point and weakness. So all Eighth Route will show themselves.
Thus, pulling out all Eighth Route, forcing them to decisive battle with us.
Of course, Sato Jino was still very curious.
With Eighth Route’s such poor conditions, yet able to make heavy cannons; he’d see what tricks are inside when the time comes.
“Yes.” Fujita Ichi nodded and withdrew under orders.
