Chapter 203: In A Whirlwind
“Concealment, enemy aircraft coming, concealment!”
Ding Wei led the New First Regiment, relying on superior firepower, and soon approached the edge of Heidao Morita’s stronghold.
But before Ding Wei could make a move, he saw Japanese aircraft coming from the horizon.
Ding Wei could only order the troops to conceal immediately on the spot.
The Japanese aircraft flew very fast, passing low over the New First Regiment.
“Regiment Commander, this Japanese aircraft is flying so low, should we shoot?” Seeing the Japanese aircraft enter machine gun range, someone asked Ding Wei.
“Nonsense, shoot it!” Ding Wei didn’t hesitate.
The Japanese aircraft flying low indicated that it had already spotted their own troops.
Under Ding Wei’s command, the machine guns immediately swept toward the sky.
Da-da-da!
Da-da-da!
Da-da-da!
……
The machine guns opened fire quickly, but did not hit the target.
What puzzled Ding Wei was that this Japanese aircraft, facing the attack, surprisingly did not fight back.
It seemed like it just took a low-altitude glance and then quickly flew away.
“Regiment Commander, what’s going on, why didn’t the Japanese aircraft fight back?” Someone was puzzled.
“I don’t know either.” Ding Wei scratched his scalp, completely unable to figure out what this Japanese aircraft was up to.
“Regiment Commander, since this Japanese aircraft isn’t attacking, should we continue attacking Heidao Morita’s stronghold?”
“Nonsense, we’re already here, we definitely have to capture the horse feed back, our warhorses can’t go hungry…” Ding Wei’s words were not finished.
Li Yunlong’s cavalry company commander Sun Desheng rode over on a fast horse, shouting to Ding Wei: “Regimental Commander Ding, our regiment commander says there’s urgent military situation, asking you to immediately abandon the attack on Heidao Morita stronghold and follow me to find him right away.”
“What urgent military situation?” Ding Wei was puzzled, why did this Japanese aircraft appear but not attack.
It seemed this was related to Li Yunlong’s so-called urgent military situation.
“Regiment Commander Gao from the 120th Division attacked another Japanese military train, with five cars of tungsten ore on it, we have to capture all five cars of tungsten ore, Japanese from all directions are heading for reinforcement, time is tight, Regimental Commander Ding, you need to get there at top speed.” Sun Desheng said quickly.
Ding Wei, upon hearing this, didn’t hesitate and immediately ordered: “New First Regiment, assemble immediately, prepare for forced march.”
“Regiment Commander, what about these captured supplies we’ve got?” Someone asked.
Along the way, Ding Wei had cleared outposts and sentry posts, with some captures, though not much.
But a forced march meant the troops must travel light, speed first.
“Leave them, all of it.” Ding Wei said decisively, “Leave a few people to notify the nearby civilians, let the civilians take them.”
“Yes, Regiment Commander.”
Under Ding Wei’s command, the New First Regiment quickly set off following Sun Desheng.
On the road, Ding Wei still asked: “Company Commander Sun, what is this tungsten ore?”
“I don’t know either, anyway our regiment commander said, Factory Director Li said this tungsten ore is more valuable than sugar.” Sun Desheng explained.
“No wonder the Japanese aircraft came out, they’re desperate.” Ding Wei suddenly realized.
More valuable than sugar, a full five cars, that’s two or three hundred tons.
If it were two or three hundred tons of sugar, they would be desperate too, let alone supplies more valuable than sugar.
“Regiment Commander, we’re going to capture tungsten ore, what about the horse feed for our warhorses?” Someone came up to Ding Wei and asked.
This task of seizing tungsten ore is very important, but the horse feed for the warhorses is also important.
Their warhorses would have no horse feed to eat when they got back.
“What else can we do!” Ding Wei said seriously, “We’re doing this to capture tungsten ore for the logistics side, delaying the horse feed seizure, won’t Minister Zhang compensate us later!”
What a joke!
Robbing back five cars of tungsten ore, Old Zhang would be overjoyed.
Ask him to give some of the horse feed he has, could he refuse?
Their warhorses would have horse feed to eat, then they could just borrow more horse feed from Heidao Morita later.
“That’s right, that’s right.”
……
On Cheng Xiazi’s side, they had just started dismantling the railway.
The Japanese aircraft came, but still did not attack Cheng Xiazi.
That aircraft seemed to take a low glance, then quickly flew away.
This left Cheng Xiazi completely baffled.
When Li Yunlong’s orderly arrived, Cheng Xiazi still decisively chose to cooperate with Li Yunlong.
They blew up several sections of the railway, and the troops quickly followed Li Yunlong’s orderly.
Almost at the same time, Cheng Xiazi and Ding Wei led their respective troops and joined up with the troops of Li Yunlong, Gao Liujin, and Gao Xigang.
Upon meeting, Cheng Xiazi and Ding Wei both asked at the same time: “Gao Liujin, where’s the tungsten ore?”
“It’s over on our side, just follow me.” Seeing everyone was there, Gao Liujin quickly adjusted his emotions, sharpening his knife eagerly.
“Let’s go!”
“Let’s go!”
The several regiment commanders immediately led their troops and set off at full speed.
Halfway, Ding Wei still suspiciously asked Li Yunlong: “Li Yunlong, earlier this Japanese aircraft clearly spotted us, why didn’t it attack?”
Normally, the Japanese should know we’re going to capture tungsten ore, spotting our troops, how could they not attack?
“I’ve thought about the reason, most likely Gao Liujin already robbed some tungsten ore, the Japanese aircraft should be searching for that.” Li Yunlong said.
Although the Japanese aircraft came out, their numbers weren’t many.
They didn’t attack ground troops, definitely still desperately searching for the robbed tungsten ore.
Once they find the robbed tungsten ore, they can follow it to find our arsenal.
So that’s why the Japanese aircraft had no time to attack.
Immediately after, Li Yunlong said: “But now we have to be careful, we’re heading for the remaining Japanese tungsten ore, once the Japanese aircraft spot us, they’ll definitely attack, everyone be careful.”
Ding Wei calmly said: “No problem, it’s almost dark, Japanese aircraft can’t fly at night, we can march full speed.”
Cheng Xiazi also nodded, laughing: “Robbing five cars of tungsten ore, and conveniently taking out a Japanese warehouse, wonder what’s in that Japanese warehouse, Gao Liujin, do you know?”
Cheng Xiazi’s last words were directed at Gao Liujin.
“How would I know what’s in that warehouse, I only discovered today that the Japanese have a warehouse there.” Gao Liujin said, “But with us teaming up, we have four Hell Cannons, taking it down will be no problem.”
“Gao Liujin, this time, you won’t say we’re overstepping again, right?” Li Yunlong said.
“Did I say that now?” Gao Liujin glared.
“Haha, just confirming.” Li Yunlong laughed, “When the time comes, these profits we get, we five regiments split equally, no objections?”
“Li Yunlong, look at you, this is tungsten ore, split among five regiments!” Gao Liujin glared again, “Once we bring it back, Factory Director Li of the Border Region Arsenal will probably worry about what good stuff to give us.”
Of course, though Gao Liujin said this, he was still very expectant in his heart.
Their five regiments working together, taking the remaining tungsten ore is no problem.
At that time, who knows how Factory Director Li Muzhi of the Border Region Arsenal will treat them.
“No need to say, rocket launchers, one hundred per regiment.” The new regiment commander of the 28th Regiment, Gao Xigang, was overjoyed.
They could finally get in on this.
Seeing the 28th Regiment’s old regiment commander Ding Wei thriving in the 386th Brigade’s mixed forces, and Gao Liujin doing well too, their 28th Regiment’s three thousand troops still lagging behind, it was a loss of face.
Now it’s good, they could get in on it.
Chance for rockets, and they could get some Hell Cannons too.
“Everyone, better not think about the split later, focus on the present.” Ding Wei’s tone was serious, “This operation, we can only succeed, cannot fail.”
Ding Wei’s words made the several regiment commanders all look serious.
Reconnaissance vanguards were sent out in more batches, and the troops’ marching speed increased a bit more.
It was almost dark, best to attack at dusk, no Japanese aircraft reinforcement then, they had a whole night, definitely enough time.
Behind them, Zhang Wanhe led the transportation team hurrying along energetically.
“Faster.” Zhang Wanhe urged the team’s speed, “Once the combat troops take the Japanese warehouse, the sooner we arrive, the sooner we can transport the things back.”
“Yes, Minister Zhang.”
……
At a certain Japanese warehouse.
“Regimental Commander Okamoto, thanks to your timely dispatch of troops, the remaining tungsten ore was all moved into the warehouse.” The warehouse garrison officer was very grateful for Regimental Commander Okamoto’s support.
Regimental Commander Okamoto was originally the garrison at Yuehua Station, after the military train here was attacked, the 16th Brigade Commander Muto Gangyi at Yuehua Station sent Okamoto Regiment to reinforce, and also brought over the porters and transportation tools from Yuehua Station.
They hurried with time, and only then moved all the remaining tungsten ore into the warehouse.
“Tian Jing, we still shouldn’t be careless.” Regimental Commander Okamoto’s expression was extremely solemn, “Now, except for me, all other reinforcements are contained, this clearly shows the Chinese people know the importance of tungsten ore, our garrison task is still very arduous.”
“Okamoto, you’re right, our garrison task is very arduous.” The garrison officer’s expression was solemn.
If it were before, with the warehouse’s fortified defenses, they wouldn’t fear the Chinese people at all.
But now the Chinese people have Hell Cannons, this heavy firepower specifically counters fortified defenses.
Although the warehouse garrison troops numbered a full eight hundred, plus Okamoto Regiment, the troops nearly four thousand.
But the Chinese people realizing the importance of tungsten ore, the troops they send definitely won’t be few.
Reinforcements all contained, the Chinese people will definitely go all out tonight.
This fierce battle will be extremely intense and hard-fought, but as long as they hold until dawn, when aircraft can come to assist, it’ll be secure.
The Chinese people have no anti-aircraft weapons, facing the aircraft’s fierce bombardment, they can only tuck tail.
Then, the garrison officer still looked pained and sighed: “It’s just a pity, to fully move the tungsten ore, the remaining supplies on that military train weren’t moved in time.”
That military train still had cotton, coal, and such.
These were all supplies needed for Empire logistics.
“Tian Jing, tungsten ore is far more important than these!” Regimental Commander Okamoto’s tone was serious, “We clearly knew the Chinese people would come back strong, you and I shouldn’t be distracted by this.”
“Yes, Okamoto.”
