Chapter 254: Put In The Wrong Place
Sato Jino arrived in the area near where the bait was placed, where a best observation point had been secretly set up.
Holding the telescope, Sato Jino only observed for a few seconds, and the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but curl up: “Yoshi, it looks like the Eighth Route Army plans to take action in the next few days.”
In Sato Jino’s view, several unfamiliar faces had appeared.
On the surface, the reasons for these unfamiliar faces coming here were all very sufficient, and the cover was also perfect.
Either they had begged their way here, or come to buy things here, or were visiting relatives, and so on.
But no matter how these Eighth Route Army underground operatives camouflaged themselves, they couldn’t escape Sato Jino’s fiery eyes.
“Remember, don’t beat the grass and startle the snake.” Sato Jino solemnly instructed, “Also don’t tail them, don’t check their residences, let everything take its natural course. After they succeed in their action, don’t chase too urgently either, let them go, and after they leave with peace of mind, then lead the military dogs to follow the scent to find their Border Region Arsenal.”
“Yes, Deputy Minister.” The assistants all nodded.
Still, one person came up to Sato Jino and said, “Deputy Minister, actually I have another suggestion, perhaps you can hear it.”
“Who is this person?” Sato Jino had never seen this person before, so he asked the assistant.
“This is one of the personnel left behind after Fujita Ichi left.” The assistant explained.
“Baka, Fujita Ichi is stupid, his people must be stupid too, quickly clear the person out!” Sato Jino said sternly and directly, he didn’t want to hear the other’s suggestion at all.
The assistant explained: “This is his home, the Eighth Route Army underground operatives are so cautious, if they discover this person is missing before the action, I’m worried it will alert the Eighth Route Army, so I left him.”
Whether Eighth Route Army underground operatives, Military Statistics Bureau scouts, or Gendarmerie intelligence officers, none of them are eating idle rice.
Any tiny difference could be a flaw.
For example, someone goes out on time every day at a certain point, whether to buy things or dump garbage, that’s a pattern.
When this pattern disappears, especially before an action, it’s very easy to alert the target.
This is this person’s home, if he disappears now, and the Eighth Route Army underground operatives notice this detail before acting, they are very likely to terminate the action.
“Couldn’t you have found another place earlier, had to choose here?” Sato Jino questioned.
“Deputy Minister, because this is the best observation point.” The assistant explained, “And I also instructed him not to participate in the action, to just do what he normally does every day.”
“He was just about to give me a suggestion.” Sato Jino still had a serious expression, “Your work is still not thorough enough. In the future, rather change to a slightly worse observation point than use a fool’s location!”
“Hai.” The assistant nodded.
“You continue monitoring here, after the Eighth Route Army acts, proceed according to plan, after they take the bait and leave, then notify me.” Sato Jino had come here quietly and couldn’t stay too long, so he still went back to wait for news.
The Eighth Route Army here was about to bite the bait, Sato Jino also planned to tell this good news to Kumamoto Division Commander.
This ghostly weather first had wind and sand, then rain, Kumamoto Division Commander’s raid was forced to terminate, he must be cursing.
Telling him the good news would be an encouragement to him.
At the same time, it would also let Kumamoto Division Commander prepare in advance for a precise strike on the Eighth Route Army Border Region Arsenal.
“Yes, Deputy Minister.” The assistant nodded, and Sato Jino quietly and quickly left.
Once Sato Jino left, his assistant still looked at Fujita Ichi’s man and asked: “What suggestion did you want to give the Deputy Minister just now?”
Although he wouldn’t listen to the other’s stupid suggestion, he was still curious what that stupid suggestion was.
This person said: “Since we already know these people are Eighth Route Army underground operatives, I say just capture them directly, torture them harshly, I don’t believe we can’t get the location of their Border Region Arsenal out of them…”
Before this person finished speaking, the assistant shook his head and interrupted: “After this action succeeds, you disappear from my sight forever, I don’t want to see you again! From now on, you are not allowed to have any involvement in the action, nor randomly give suggestions in front of me, otherwise, I don’t mind giving you a chance at jade destruction!”
The assistant thought to himself, Fujita Ichi is stupid, his subordinates are indeed extremely stupid too.
Still capture them in advance, still harsh torture, do you really think the Eighth Route Army underground operatives’ mouths are so easy to pry open?
Even if you pry them open, the Eighth Route Army has a very strict set of procedures, the lower level doesn’t know the upper level’s affairs.
And the location of the Eighth Route Army Border Region Arsenal is a secret among secrets, even if all these people in front of us are caught, they probably don’t know this intelligence.
What’s more!
Capturing them in advance would beat the grass and startle the snake.
If their superiors cut the line in time, we won’t catch a single hair by then.
“Yes, yes, yes.” Fujita Ichi’s subordinate nodded repeatedly, still a bit puzzled in his heart, his suggestion was perfect, why didn’t the other adopt it.
Capturing the Eighth Route Army’s underground operatives, prying open their mouths and following the vine to the melon, wouldn’t that also have a chance to find the Eighth Route Army Border Region Arsenal?
Scent tracking, what if something goes wrong and the Eighth Route Army notices, then it’s all over.
……
Sato Jino did not immediately return to his office, but first came to the dog kennel… oh no, more accurately, it should be the dog house.
Now it’s raining, can’t let the two precious military dogs get rained on and get sick.
So Sato Jino specially had someone house the two military dogs in a clean and refreshing brick house.
Seeing Sato Jino arrive, the two Japanese Invader military dog handlers quickly saluted: “Deputy Minister.”
“The Eighth Route Army will act in the next few days, during this period the two military dogs must not have any illness accidents.” Sato Jino checked the state of the two military dogs, they were very healthy, but his tone was still very serious.
“Deputy Minister, rest assured, we will take care of the military dogs.” The two military dog handlers nodded heavily.
Although they still didn’t understand what Sato Jino’s specific action was.
But they vaguely felt that this was probably not an ordinary important action.
If the action succeeds, perhaps both of them and the two military dogs would rise to the heavens!
“Mm.” Sato Jino hummed, looked at the two military dogs a couple more times, then returned relieved to the Radio Room for work.
Sato Jino had the radio operator get up, he personally operated the radio to send a telegram to Kumamoto Division Commander.
……
Kumamoto Division Headquarters
“Kumamoto Division Commander, come, try the fish sushi I personally made for you!”
Fujita Ichi carried a tray and walked into Kumamoto Division Commander’s command tent.
Looking at the sushi Fujita Ichi brought, Kumamoto Division Commander took a piece, tasted it, and his expression was somewhat surprised: “Mr. Fujita, I didn’t expect you to have this skill.”
“When I was idle before, I learned it casually.” Fujita Ichi explained, “Now because of the rain, logistics isn’t protecting the firewood well enough, a lot of firewood got wet, can’t make normal fires. I think eating this raw fish sushi is a good choice.”
“Yoshi, Mr. Fujita, this suggestion of yours is pretty good.” Kumamoto Division Commander nodded.
Indeed it was.
Because logistics staff didn’t do their job properly, the firewood got rained on, not enough firewood for the army to cook.
Eating raw fish sushi is actually a good idea.
However, Kumamoto Division Commander asked suspiciously: “Where did this fish come from? Is there so much?”
“It’s raining, river water rose, the fish swim upstream against the current, very easy to catch.” Fujita Ichi explained, “Of course, the food needed by the army is not a small amount, impossible to guarantee all soldiers eat raw fish, but try to ensure officers can eat it.”
“Mm, that’s acceptable too.” Kumamoto Division Commander hummed, “Fujita, you took the initiative to come help over here, I thought you wouldn’t be of help, now it seems I overthought it.”
Fujita Ichi came to Kumamoto Division not because the two were old acquaintances, but because Kumamoto Division Commander received a call from Military Headquarters.
Regarding Fujita Ichi’s reputation, Kumamoto Division Commander had of course heard about it.
He didn’t dare let Fujita Ichi participate in combat command and intelligence collection, but had him busy with logistics.
Now it seems, Fujita Ichi does have some talent in handling logistics.
China has a saying: There are no fools in this world, just placed in the wrong position.
Fujita Ichi placed in the Gendarmerie was the wrong position.
Logistics is his big stage.
Fujita Ichi received Kumamoto Division Commander’s affirmation and smiled: “Kumamoto Division Commander, regarding the firewood getting wet and not enough for the army to cook, I also thought of a way.”
“Yoshi, what way?” Kumamoto Division Commander hurriedly asked.
Man is iron, rice is steel!
Skip a meal and you’ll be hungry!
Don’t underestimate this firewood shortage issue.
If the army can’t eat, they won’t have strength to fight wars.
Kumamoto Division Commander was actually worried about it.
This rain looks like it will last two or three days, existing dry firewood is only enough for one day.
When there’s no dry firewood then, how to solve the army’s food problem.
Roads are muddy, dry firewood from the rear can’t be transported in.
As for local materials, don’t even think about it.
It’s raining, all dry wood is soaked.
Didn’t expect Fujita Ichi actually had a way, how could this not surprise Kumamoto Division Commander.
“Not far from here, there’s a coal mine.” Fujita Ichi said, “Go to the coal mine to dig coal and pull it over, this coal can be burned as firewood.”
“Really, is there a coal mine nearby?” Kumamoto Division Commander was suspicious.
If there was a coal mine here, he would have had people do it long ago.
“Yes, when I was in the Gendarmerie, I saw some information, there’s a coal mine nearby that was blown up by Chinese People.” Fujita Ichi said, “Have the engineers hurry to dig, should be no problem.”
“Alright, no problem.” Kumamoto Division Commander nodded quickly, immediately called the engineer battalion, had them follow Fujita Ichi to dig coal.
The engineers followed Fujita Ichi and went, not long after, coal was really dug and brought over.
The engineer battalion commander replied that the coal there was buried shallow, easy to dig.
Supplying the army’s cooking, this was no problem now.
This greatly relieved Kumamoto Division Commander, perhaps Fujita Ichi really was in the wrong place.
Kumamoto Division Commander satisfiedly patted Fujita Ichi’s shoulder: “Fujita, do well, when there’s opportunity, I will definitely recommend you to Military Headquarters.”
“Thank you Kumamoto Division Commander, thank you, I will definitely do well, definitely do well.” Fujita Ichi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Having received Kumamoto Division Commander’s affirmation, he had now stood firm.
……
“Division Commander, Deputy Minister Sato sent a secret telegram.” A staff officer came over and handed the newly arrived telegram to Kumamoto Division Commander.
Sato Jino’s secret telegram?
Upon hearing this, Kumamoto Division Commander quickly took it.
Kumamoto Division Commander’s current raid wasn’t going smoothly, he still placed some hope on Sato Jino.
Now Sato Jino sent a secret telegram, could it be he had clues on the Eighth Route Army Border Region Arsenal he was tracking?
Impatiently lowering his head to look, after reading the content, Kumamoto Division Commander’s expression lit up with joy: “Yoshi, the Eighth Route Army is about to bite Sato Jino’s bait, this is good news.”
“Go call Brigade Commander Muto and Brigade Commander Miyai as well as all combat staff officers, I want to hold an emergency meeting.” Since Sato Jino’s side would soon see results, Kumamoto Division Commander naturally also needed to prepare in advance for striking the Eighth Route Army Border Region Arsenal.
“Hai!”
Soon, Muto Juichi and Major General Miyai along with other combat staff officers all arrived, asking: “Division Commander, is there some urgent military situation?”
“You all take a look.” Kumamoto Division Commander passed the secret telegram over.
After Muto Juichi, Major General Miyai and others looked, each showed expectant expressions: “Great, as long as Deputy Minister Sato can lock the Eighth Route Army Border Region Arsenal’s location, we go straight for the Eighth Route Army’s arsenal, this is hitting straight at the Eighth Route Army’s vital point.”
“Yes, if we do it right, we can directly uproot the Eighth Route Army, recover our seized tungsten ore and equipment!” Kumamoto Division Commander had a serious expression, “Of course, the most important is still the sakura tree, must rescue it back intact.”
Kumamoto Division Commander had already received Shinozuka Yoshio’s telegram, the sakura tree was still alive, currently most likely in the Eighth Route Army’s lair.
“The sakura tree is still alive?” Upon hearing this, Muto Juichi and Major General Miyai both immediately rejoiced.
“Yes.” Kumamoto Division Commander nodded, “Unit 731 did corpse examination over there, proving that corpse wasn’t the sakura tree.”
Immediately after, Kumamoto Division Commander said seriously: “But now is not the time to celebrate, the rescue mission and exterminating the Eighth Route Army are still very arduous, I’ll first talk about some detail points we need to pay attention to.”
……
