Chapter 153: The Eighth Route Army Arsenal Has A Master
Heyuan Japanese Gendarmerie
“Deputy Minister, the combat troops’ results are not good.”
Fujita Ichi walked up to Sato Jino, his tone not good: “They have Ueno no Mura and Hojo Naoki’s two tank regiments assisting them. Although they beat quite a few Jin Sui Army and Direct Line Army into complete disarray, the captured supplies are really too few, not even enough to make up for the consumed supplies.”
Fujita Ichi was also cursing in his heart. These damned Jin Sui Army and Direct Line Army must have transferred or hidden the supplies in advance, which caused the combat troops’ plan to replenish supplies through this method to fail.
Immediately after, Fujita Ichi added: “Now, their material consumption is very severe, waiting for logistics to supply them. If the supplies don’t come, this attack operation will probably have to stop. At that time, the Jin Sui Army or Direct Line Army is very likely to counterattack, and even the Eighth Route Army troops that have never shown up may come out to attack us.”
“Idiot!” Sato Jino got angry and cursed upon hearing this: “Fujita, look at you, you fool, what stupid idea did you come up with!”
This was still your idea from the beginning.
If I had known, I wouldn’t have listened to your suggestion, you fool.
Now the troops’ material consumption is severe. If they really suffer a counterattack from the Chinese people because logistics can’t replenish, although he is not responsible for combat, he would still lose face!
Fujita Ichi was scolded by Sato Jino and thought to himself: What do you mean my stupid idea? Didn’t you agree back then too?
Now that there’s a problem, you’re making me take all the blame. Truly an idiot!
Sato Jino still suppressed his emotions and said: “The railway is already being urgently repaired, and the logistics supplies are being loaded onto trains as quickly as possible. Remind the combat troops to hold on for a few more days. Once the railway is repaired and open, the supplies will be transported over by train.”
“Mm, good.” Fujita Ichi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that supplies would be transported in a few days.
As long as these supplies are supplied, the troops won’t suffer a counterattack from the Chinese people due to lack of supplies.
“Deputy Minister, how is the bait coming along?” Fujita Ichi racked his brains but couldn’t come up with answers.
“Why so hasty.” Sato Jino said calmly, “This matter can’t be rushed. The Eighth Route Army is very cunning and can’t see any flaws.”
“Yes, yes, yes.” Fujita Ichi saw that Sato Jino still wanted to keep it secret, so he didn’t ask further.
After all, logistics supplies haven’t been supplied to the combat troops yet.
If the combat troops’ supplies and combat power aren’t replenished, even if the bait is laid, there won’t be strength to close the net.
Once the logistics supplies arrive, he would definitely know what the bait is.
“Recently, there have been no traces of Eighth Route Army activity?” Sato Jino asked.
“None.” Fujita Ichi shook his head, saying suspiciously, “This time is too strange. The Eighth Route Army has made no moves at all, not even their so-called district squads or county brigades have come out to act. It’s very quiet.”
Fujita Ichi didn’t think the Eighth Route Army was being honest.
They must be brewing a bigger conspiracy.
“If there’s none, then none. Stay vigilant.” Sato Jino said, “If they come out with heavy cannons to make trouble, that would be a bit of a headache. As long as the bait is ready and their arsenal location is found, we can settle it once and for all.”
“Deputy Minister is bril…” Fujita Ichi’s words weren’t finished when someone hurried over and reported to Sato Jino: “Deputy Minister, the Eighth Route Army has come out.”
“Oh, really?” Sato Jino hadn’t expressed anything yet when Fujita Ichi on the side turned to look at the person: “What did they come out to do?”
“This is intelligence sent by a person from Watari Battalion.” The person handed over a piece of intelligence and said, “At that time, they were pursuing the Direct Lineage 217th Regiment when a Eighth Route Army squad charged out midway and wiped out one of their companies with lightning speed. That Eighth Route Army squad has now escaped without a trace.”
The Eighth Route Army quickly wiped out an Imperial Army company?
Fujita Ichi was stunned: “Did the Eighth Route Army use heavy cannons again?”
The lethality of the Eighth Route Army heavy cannons had already been deeply experienced by the Imperial Army troops.
Just now Sato Jino had said that if the Eighth Route Army came out with heavy cannons to make trouble, it would be a bit of a headache.
Now, it came true so quickly?
“No.” The person shook his head and said, “Watari Battalion said it seems the Eighth Route Army Arsenal developed a new landmine. This new landmine can jump into mid-air and explode by itself, and it can’t be disassembled…”
Fujita Ichi had no mind to listen to what the person said afterward. He quickly took the intelligence and looked at it right in front of his eyes.
Sato Jino on the side had a slightly surprised expression.
A landmine that jumps into mid-air and explodes—this idea from the Eighth Route Army Arsenal is truly brilliant.
Conventional landmines buried in the soil explode on the ground, with some of the lethality wasted on the soil.
But exploding in mid-air maximizes the lethality, 360 degrees with no blind spots.
Sato Jino’s thinking was very sharp, and he immediately judged it.
There must be an expert in this Eighth Route Army Arsenal.
When the Eighth Route Army Arsenal is found, he must try his best to capture this person alive.
Sato Jino had a premonition that if this person could be captured alive and made to serve the Empire, the military industry significance to his Empire would be extraordinary.
This is truly an unexpected surprise.
Catching a golden phoenix from these mountain gullies would allow his position to be straightened out.
“Idiot, this is a very dangerous signal!” After reading the intelligence, Fujita Ichi was shocked and said to Sato Jino, “Deputy Minister, the Eighth Route Army already has heavy cannons, which is a big threat. Now they’ve made this landmine that jumps up and explodes by itself with enormous lethality. It’s specifically designed against our troops’ group charges. Deputy Minister, the Eighth Route Army hasn’t come out to make trouble for this period because they were waiting for this landmine’s production. Now this landmine should have been successfully tested, and their arsenal is definitely rushing to produce this kind of landmine. If we can’t take down the Eighth Route Army Arsenal soon, the consequences will be endless.”
“Let me see.” Sato Jino reached out to Fujita Ichi.
The more critical the moment, the more one must stay sufficiently calm.
Yes!
The Eighth Route Army’s landmine that jumps up and explodes by itself seems to have been successfully tested, and they will soon mass-produce it at full speed.
We should indeed curb them immediately.
But haste makes waste.
The railway hasn’t been repaired yet, and supplies haven’t reached the combat troops.
His bait hasn’t been laid for the Eighth Route Army yet; it can’t be rushed.
Of course!
From another angle, this may not be a bad thing!
When the time comes, with this Eighth Route Army jumping mine posing a big threat to the troops, capturing the Eighth Route Army Arsenal under this background would make the merit even more significant.
It might even allow him to be ennobled!
“Here, take a look.” Fujita Ichi quickly handed the intelligence to Sato Jino.
Sato Jino looked at it, still a bit shocked.
This jumping mine that jumps up and explodes by itself actually can’t be disassembled!
Any attempt to disassemble it causes it to explode.
Even trying to dig it up causes it to explode.
To achieve this level is not easy… Our arsenal experts can’t do it.
It seems the talent in the Eighth Route Army Arsenal is even more valuable than imagined.
Of course, the person who can make heavy cannons under the rudimentary conditions of the Eighth Route Army Arsenal is no ordinary person!
He really didn’t understand how such a backward country could cultivate such an amazing military industry genius.
“Deputy Minister, I think you should lay your bait as soon as possible.” Seeing Sato Jino’s shocked expression, Fujita Ichi immediately said, “This jumping mine from the Eighth Route Army Arsenal is a huge threat and must be nipped in the cradle as soon as possible. Report to Taiyuan immediately, have them send more troops, and transport supplies by automobile. We need to hurry.”
“Fool!” Sato Jino cursed, “Being so hasty will only alert the enemy prematurely!”
Is the Eighth Route Army stupid?
When they see us deploying troops and transporting supplies by automobile, and they get the news, they will be on high alert and judge our intentions.
At that time, if his fishing operation is affected, it would be bad.
The threat from the Eighth Route Army Arsenal is big.
But now he must hold back. As long as he can find the Eighth Route Army Arsenal later and capture this military industry talent alive, that would be the greatest gain.
If something goes wrong midway, even if the Eighth Route Army Arsenal is destroyed or all their troops are wiped out, but this military industry genius isn’t captured alive, Sato Jino would consider it a colossal failure!
His sharp intuition told him that the value of this top military industry genius from the Eighth Route Army could easily match two Class A divisions of the Army.
The more critical the moment, the less he could listen to this fool Fujita Ichi’s suggestions.
He had already been fooled by him once and absolutely could not have a second time.
“Deputy Minister, are we just going to sit and watch the Eighth Route Army Arsenal produce jumping mines? We…” Fujita Ichi didn’t change his attitude after being scolded and even seemed a bit uncomprehending.
Are you really going to watch the Eighth Route Army Arsenal produce more jumping mines and let our Emperor’s Army pay a heavy price!
“Shut up!” Sato Jino originally didn’t want to explain too much to this Fujita Ichi, but if this fool didn’t understand his true intentions, he might act on his own and ruin his plan. So Sato Jino looked solemnly at Fujita Ichi: “Fujita, let me ask you. The Eighth Route Army Arsenal made heavy cannons under rudimentary military industry conditions, and now they’ve made a landmine that jumps into mid-air and explodes by itself, and it can’t be disassembled. Do you know what this means?”
“It means if we don’t remove the Eighth Route Army Arsenal quickly, every day delayed will cost our Emperor’s Army.” Fujita Ichi answered.
“Do you know why you’re so stupid!” Sato Jino cursed loudly, “You only see the surface of the problem, not the essence.”
“The essence?” Fujita Ichi was stunned and looked at Sato Jino, “Isn’t the Eighth Route Army Arsenal the essence?”
“The essence is that the Eighth Route Army Arsenal has an expert.” Sato Jino rebuked angrily, “This expert is the soul of the Eighth Route Army Arsenal. His value is more important than the entire Eighth Route Army Arsenal. Do you understand now, you fool!”
“Oh, Deputy Minister, please forgive my intelligence quotient.” After Sato Jino roared it so clearly, Fujita Ichi finally understood.
Yes!
The Deputy Minister sees problems most accurately.
The Eighth Route Army Arsenal conditions are so poor; making handmade bullets and grenades is a joke in front of us.
Even the bullets and grenades eliminated by our arsenal are better quality.
Yet under such poor conditions at the Eighth Route Army Arsenal, someone can make heavy cannons and jumping mines that can’t be disassembled.
So this person’s value is truly extraordinary.
Rashly charging over and accidentally killing him would be the biggest stupidity.
“Without my orders, you are not allowed any private actions, understand!” Seeing that Fujita Ichi finally understood, Sato Jino warned sternly, “Otherwise, no matter how hard your connections are, I won’t keep you.”
“Deputy Minister, rest assured. From now on, I won’t say anything in front of you. Whatever you say, I’ll do, and I’ll definitely cooperate well with you.” Fujita Ichi nodded heavily.
Although Fujita Ichi’s brain wasn’t as sharp as Hirata Ichiro’s, it wasn’t all mush.
The Deputy Minister’s ability was much greater than his. If he relied on the Deputy Minister to capture that expert from the Eighth Route Army Arsenal alive, he would also share the merit, and it wouldn’t be a small merit.
If things went well, he might even be promoted to Deputy Minister.
“You can go down now. Don’t disturb my train of thought.” Sato Jino waved his hand.
“Yes.” Fujita Ichi immediately took his leave.
“You go down too.” Sato Jino said to the person who delivered the intelligence, “However, go call all the Gendarmerie’s intelligence elite personnel to the meeting room for me. I want to hold a meeting.”
“Yes.” The person withdrew.
Sato Jino took several deep breaths, then slowly stood up and organized his thoughts.
The meeting was mainly to see if he could think of a way in advance to find the Eighth Route Army Arsenal expert before the Eighth Route Army swallows the bait and returns.
Of course.
The capture operation also needed careful consideration.
Sato Jino couldn’t help but think of Yamamoto Ichiki’s special operations team.
The special operations team had undergone special training, each able to fight ten.
Although the previous attack on Daxia Bay failed, they gave a Eighth Route Army main regiment a 200 to 0 bald one, and the special operations team withdrew unscathed.
This was enough to prove the special operations team’s combat capability.
A small unit infiltrating wouldn’t be obvious and wouldn’t easily expose them.
First raid the Eighth Route Army Arsenal, capture the person, then main force covers. If successful, his ennoblement would be settled.
It’s just that Yamamoto Ichiki is a proud guy.
He said his special operations team in the Second War Zone had only two targets: one was the 18th Army Group Headquarters, the other was Second War Zone Officer Yan’s command post.
Having him handle the Eighth Route Army Arsenal, this guy probably wouldn’t… So this matter still needed careful staff consideration.
