Chapter 280: Scruple About Harming The Host
The Direct Lineage 217th Regiment was placed in the reserve force and not incorporated into the vanguard army, so the unit did not engage the Japanese Invaders.
Intelligence operations have much more freedom of movement.
That day, Regiment Commander Feng Zhihui of the Direct Lineage 217th Regiment sent out a scout to search for the Eighth Route Army Arsenal, and the scout returned to report, “Regimental Commander, we couldn’t enter the Eighth Route Army Base Area and found no clues about the Eighth Route Army Border Region Arsenal, but we discovered a strange target.”
“What strange target?” Feng Zhihui asked.
Unable to enter the Eighth Route Army Base Area, Feng Zhihui was not in a hurry.
Once we heavily damage this Kumamoto Division and seize the tungsten ore, our Direct Line Army can find a reason to enter their base area and forcibly search.
The scout answered, “Weren’t the Japanese Invaders’ logistics and supplies destroyed by the Eighth Route Army? I saw they actually have another team escorting a large amount of supplies withdrawing from the flank.”
Upon hearing this, Feng Zhihui confirmed, “Did you see clearly?”
“Yes.” The scout nodded, “Afraid of alerting the enemy, I didn’t dare get too close, so I’m not sure exactly what supplies their team is escorting.”
Thinking of something, Feng Zhihui immediately said, “How many troops are escorting?”
“Quite a few, looks like five or six thousand Japanese Invaders.” The scout answered.
Five or six thousand Japanese Invaders?
Feng Zhihui slapped his thigh excitedly and said, “If I’m not mistaken, this must be the tungsten ore.”
The scout also got excited: “Regimental Commander, hearing you say that, it’s very possible.”
Now, the Kumamoto Division has lost its supply logistics, and their ammunition won’t get replenishment.
Facing our Direct Line Army’s attack, the Kumamoto Division doesn’t dare to use full firepower, so it’s being gradually nibbled away by us.
The Kumamoto Division Commander must have judged that he can’t hold off our Direct Line Army, so he’s trying to sneak away with the tungsten ore in advance.
Fortunately, while we were trying to find the Eighth Route Army’s Border Region Arsenal, we stumbled upon the Japanese Invaders’ transportation team.
“Where is the location?” Feng Zhihui hurriedly asked.
“Here.” The scout immediately pointed it out on the map: Wolf Smoke Valley.
Feng Zhihui didn’t take it lightly and immediately called the Deputy Regiment Commander, instructing, “You personally take men to reconnoiter Wolf Smoke Valley again for me right away, and see if the Japanese Invaders are secretly transporting something out.”
“Yes, Regimental Commander.” The Deputy Regiment Commander left immediately.
Feng Zhihui picked up the telephone microphone and immediately called his superior.
After all, that was five or six thousand Japanese Invaders; the Direct Lineage 217th Regiment didn’t have enough men.
Feng Zhihui’s superior quickly received the report and also dispatched personnel for reconnaissance.
The final result was no surprise: intelligence officers confirmed that the Japanese Invaders were indeed sneaking away with things using five or six thousand men, so the Direct Lineage side immediately dispatched several divisions.
These several divisions soon clashed with the five or six thousand Japanese Invaders.
“Division Commander, the Direct Lineage side has taken the bait.” A staff officer walked over and reported to the Kumamoto Division Commander.
“Our tungsten ore is being robbed, and if we don’t go all out to save it, the show won’t be convincing enough.” The Kumamoto Division Commander sneered, “So, proceed immediately with the second phase of the plan.”
“Yes, Division Commander.”
Under the Kumamoto Division Commander’s orders, the Sweeping Army rapidly disengaged from combat with the Direct Line Army main force and hurried to reinforce the five or six thousand soldiers.
Seeing this, the Direct Lineage side thought the Japanese Invaders were desperate to protect their tungsten ore.
Thus, all the Direct Lineage troops immediately rushed toward that side, determined to seize the tungsten ore.
In the end, the Direct Lineage troops were slightly faster and encircled ahead of them first.
At this moment, the Kumamoto Division Commander’s large army revealed its ferocious face, forming a large encirclement around the Direct Lineage troops outside.
The Japanese Army and the Direct Lineage’s more than a dozen divisions’ troops fought in a chaotic melee, all mixed together.
……
386th Brigade Headquarters
“Brigade Commander, the Japanese Army and the Direct Lineage are fighting in a tangled mess, but the Japanese Invaders have split off more than a dozen small-scale transportation teams from different positions withdrawing separately.” The Deputy Brigade Commander reported to the Brigade Commander, “Should we send troops to intercept them?”
“Nonsense, of course we intercept.” The Brigade Commander said decisively, “These Japanese Invaders and Traitors in the transportation teams have separated from the main force; this is the opportunity to eliminate them.”
The Deputy Brigade Commander said, “These Japanese Invaders’ transportation teams definitely want to disperse our troops, worried we’ll attack their rear, right?”
“Obviously they want to disperse our troops. I can foresee that the things being transported in these transportation teams are just decoys.” The Brigade Commander nodded, hitting the nail on the head, “But the Japanese Invaders underestimated our strength; we have enough secretly developed troops.”
“That’s true.” The Deputy Brigade Commander nodded.
Although The Bald One only gave us three divisions’ establishment, we’ve secretly expanded the troops.
Now, the troop scale has exceeded one hundred regiments.
“Go, send people to intercept these transportation teams.” The Brigade Commander instructed, “Headquarters Leader just sent instructions: I don’t need to worry about the battle between the Japanese Army and the Direct Lineage divisions; Headquarters Leader will send troops to sneak attack the Kumamoto Division’s rear. My main task now is to deal with the Kawashima Brigade side.”
This little Japanese Invader Kawashima is too insidious, actually grabbing civilians to help transport supplies; this hits our soft spot.
Those are the masses after all, our roots; how can we bury jumping mines to delay them.
The Deputy Brigade Commander immediately gritted his teeth: “Brigade Commander, this little Japanese Invader Kawashima is really too despicable; how do you plan to deal with him?”
This little Japanese Invader Kawashima is using our civilians as shields; no matter what we do, we’re hesitant.
But headquarters’ orders are ironclad: no matter what, we can’t let Kawashima deliver the supplies to the Kumamoto Division; we must rescue the civilians.
“You go handle the task of intercepting the Japanese Invaders’ more than a dozen small transportation teams; I’ll go deal with Kawashima.” The Brigade Commander told the Deputy Brigade Commander not to worry about the Kawashima side.
“Yes, Brigade Commander.” The Deputy Brigade Commander left.
The Brigade Commander led the 771st Regiment and some troops supported by Headquarters Leader, and set off rapidly.
The troops arrived at a mountain hollow, where captains of more than a dozen guerrilla teams were all anxious and distraught.
Seeing the Brigade Commander arrive, they all looked like they’d seen their backbone.
“Brigade Commander Chen, our scouts report that some civilians who refused to carry grain for the Japanese Invaders were beaten to death alive by the Japanese Invaders.” The guerrilla captains’ eyes welled with tears as they looked at the Brigade Commander, “Those are our fellow villagers.”
“What is the Japanese Invaders’ marching formation like?” The Brigade Commander suppressed his inner anger and got straight to the point.
“We’ve already drawn it; take a quick look.” The guerrilla captains quickly showed the Brigade Commander a rough sketch.
Of course, due to cultural limitations, the sketch was quite crude.
However, the Brigade Commander could still understand it.
After looking for a while, the Brigade Commander called his own reconnaissance soldiers and said, “Go reconnoiter again immediately according to my instructions.”
Immediately after, the Brigade Commander gave detailed instructions, and the reconnaissance soldiers quickly left.
“Has the road ahead all been destroyed?” The Brigade Commander asked the guerrilla captains present.
“Destroyed for more than ten kilometers, and continuing to destroy further.” The guerrilla captain answered.
“Alright, no need to continue destroying the highway.” The Brigade Commander pointed, “This is Zhao Zhuang, right? Hurry and repair the destroyed highway here again.”
Repair the destroyed highway at Zhao Zhuang again?
Hearing this, the guerrilla captains were all stunned.
It was already destroyed; repairing it again would just benefit the Japanese Invaders.
With the highway repaired, the Japanese Invaders’ marching speed would be faster.
A guerrilla captain asked puzzledly, “Brigade Commander Chen, repairing the highway at Zhao Zhuang, what does that mean?”
“It’s like this…” The Brigade Commander patiently explained to the guerrilla captains.
“Brigade Commander Chen is brilliant; this way, not only can we rescue the fellow villagers, but we can also take the Japanese Invaders’ supply grain.” After hearing the Brigade Commander’s detailed description, the guerrilla captains were all greatly encouraged.
The Japanese Invaders are holding civilians hostage, making us hesitant.
This big problem, in front of the Brigade Commander, was actually turned into something magical.
As expected of one of the three aces of Whampoa’s first class!
“No bootlicking; hurry and act.” The Brigade Commander said solemnly.
“Yes, Brigade Commander Chen.”
……
Seeing the Chinese civilians carrying supplies and provisions ahead, and the so-called Eighth Route Army harassment delays no longer appearing.
Major General Kawashima immediately felt refreshed and laughed at Fujita Ichi, “Mr. Fujita, thanks to your great idea. The Eighth Route Army is strictly disciplined and not allowed to harm civilians; by pinching the Chinese civilians as their soft spot, we’re now practically advancing through uncharted territory, hahaha.”
Fujita Ichi said smugly, “Of course, don’t their Chinese Eighth Route Army always say civilians are their clothes and food parents? Pinching the civilians is pinching their soft spot; they definitely won’t dare act rashly.”
Nearby, Lieutenant General Kitano Chuji still reminded, “We’re holding the Local Eighth Route Army’s soft spot; I’m afraid they won’t give up easily and will find a way to rescue the civilians.”
“Not afraid.” Major General Kawashima said calmly, “As long as they dare come to rescue or obstruct, at the critical moment we’ll point our muzzles at the civilians; I want to see how the Local Eighth Route Army responds then.”
“Mm, that’s a good idea.” Kitano Chuji had nothing more to say.
Pointing muzzles at civilians has always been very effective against the Eighth Route Army.
During previous village massacres, when they couldn’t find the hidden Eighth Route Army Guerrillas, they wouldn’t come out.
We drove the civilians to the village entrance, set up the machine gun, and often before the trigger was even pulled, the hidden Eighth Route Army was forced to show themselves.
Right now.
As long as the Eighth Route Army wants to rescue the civilians, we’ll point our muzzles at the civilians.
Even if the Local Eighth Route Army has heaven-piercing abilities, they’ll have to stay put obediently.
“Still, let’s speed up; the Kumamoto Division Commander is already fighting the Direct Lineage army over there, so we need to hurry and link up.” Kitano Chuji then said.
“Pass the order: those walking slowly, whip them hard.” Major General Kawashima ordered cruelly.
“Yes.”
……
