Chapter 303: Natural Gas Factory Smoking
“Brigade Commander Chen, a strange target has been spotted ahead.”
A guerrilla captain hurriedly ran over and reported to the brigade commander.
“What strange target?” the brigade commander asked.
Kitano Chuji and Major General Kawashima’s troops were out of food, and the brigade commander had been constantly harassing them along the way.
But Kitano Chuji and Major General Kawashima’s troops numbered over twenty thousand after all, so the brigade commander could only delay them and was unable to completely stop their advance.
Now, following Kitano Chuji and Major General Kawashima’s troops, the guerrilla captain had spotted a strange target, which naturally left the brigade commander puzzled as well.
Under normal circumstances, with Kitano Chuji and Major General Kawashima out of supplies, they should head to the county town for emergency replenishment.
But along the way, they had not gone to the county town.
Now that the guerrilla captain had spotted a strange target, it was most likely the destination of these Japanese invaders.
“I can’t make sense of it either. You’d better go take a look.” the guerrilla captain said.
“Alright, then I’ll go check it out.” The brigade commander nodded and quickly set off with the guerrilla captain.
An hour later, the brigade commander stared at the natural gas factory in front of him, still a bit dazed.
Of course, the brigade commander did not recognize the natural gas factory, but looking at the strange equipment, he could tell that it was definitely an important factory of the Japanese invaders.
With that, the brigade commander was extremely puzzled.
Kitano Chuji and Major General Kawashima did not seem like fools either.
Despite being constantly delayed along the way by my guerrilla team, instead of going to the county town for supplies, they were heading toward this important factory, which was practically showing the Eighth Route Army a path to get rich.
That’s right. Although the brigade commander did not know exactly what this factory did, it was definitely full of profits.
A factory this important was not even marked on the map, which further highlighted its value.
Under normal circumstances, wouldn’t the Japanese invaders go to great lengths to keep it secret? Were they voluntarily exposing it to us?
The guerrilla captain looked at the brigade commander in bewilderment: “Brigade Commander Chen, it looks like these Japanese invaders probably want to replenish supplies here, so they had no choice but to expose this place.”
The brigade commander pointed: “This factory doesn’t look like it has a strategic warehouse. Are there supplies and provisions here?”
“I reckon there definitely are.” the guerrilla captain judged, “Otherwise, have these Japanese invaders lost their minds? Why would such a large army head here.”
“Hmm, that makes some sense.” the brigade commander mused.
Any normal person would not easily expose such an important factory.
Yet Kitano Chuji and Major General Kawashima’s over twenty thousand men had exposed it, which on the surface was an utterly stupid move.
In reality, they must have been forced into it with no other choice.
They surely knew that even replenishing in the county town would only be a drop in the bucket, after all, it was over twenty thousand men, and the supplies and provisions needed were no small amount.
So they had chosen this important factory.
“Get a camera and quickly take photos of this factory.” the brigade commander ordered the guerrilla captain, “Once the photos are developed, send them to our rear at top speed and have someone check what kind of factory this is.”
The guerrilla captain sent someone to fetch a camera and still said to the brigade commander: “Brigade Commander Chen, if we take this factory, we can grab the equipment…”
“It’s not as simple as you think.” The brigade commander shook his head, “Kitano Chuji and Major General Kawashima’s over twenty thousand men are right nearby. We have no opportunity to act. Wait until they replenish and leave, then we’ll consider making a move. Anyway, the factory is here; it’s not going anywhere.”
Once they figured out exactly what kind of factory it was, when the time came to disassemble the equipment, they could also have professionals from the arsenal come over.
Otherwise, blindly messing around could damage the equipment, or some accident could happen during disassembly, and there would be no medicine for regret.
“I’m just afraid they’ll replenish fully and then come attack us.” the guerrilla captain worried.
“We have two legs; can’t we run?” the brigade commander said seriously, “Worst case, we’ll fight as guerrillas.”
“You’re right, you’re right.”
The camera was brought over, and the brigade commander personally took photos of this important factory.
Just as the film was sent off, Kitano Chuji and Major General Kawashima’s troops arrived.
The brigade commander did not linger, leaving men to secretly monitor while the rest quickly withdrew.
Kitano Chuji and Major General Kawashima arrived at the outskirts of the natural gas factory and looked at the large pipes and huge tanks; both men’s expressions were a bit off.
The Eighth Route Army Guerrillas had followed them here, so they must have discovered this place too.
But the Eighth Route Army Guerrillas had not attacked here, clearly intending to take it for themselves.
In other words, the location of this natural gas factory had been exposed.
Their actions were, to some extent, utterly stupid.
Kitano Chuji and Major General Kawashima looked at each other, their expressions also a bit off.
If we had supplies and provisions, we wouldn’t have been forced into this.
Both men’s gazes turned to Fujita Ichi: “Mr. Fujita, where are the supplies?”
“Wait here a moment; I’ll go in and communicate first.” Fujita Ichi had Kitano Chuji and Major General Kawashima wait here.
Kitano Chuji and Major General Kawashima waited, letting Fujita Ichi go ahead first.
“Y-you, you’re Deputy Factory Director Fujita?” The Japanese officer guarding here quickly recognized Fujita Ichi’s identity, and his tone instantly became tense.
Back then, when this Fujita Ichi was deputy factory director, he had nearly caused a huge disaster.
He had secretly smoked in the natural gas factory.
The patrol team smelled the smoke on his breath, but he denied it.
Later, the cigarette butt he discarded ignited the bedding, causing a fire.
Fortunately, it rained heavily at the time, and the heavy rain timely prevented the disaster.
Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
After the incident, Fujita Ichi was removed from his position and sent to the intelligence department.
Unexpectedly, not long after, this Fujita Ichi had returned. How could this not make the guarding Japanese officer tense?
“Yes, I’m Fujita.” Fujita Ichi nodded to the guard officer in front of him, “Take me to see Factory Director Hojo right away. I have urgent business with him!”
The guard officer flatly refused: “Factory Director Hojo is not here. Come back another day if you have business.”
The disaster Fujita Ichi had caused had implicated even Factory Director Hojo, who received punishment.
Factory Director Hojo had already given the order: he never wanted to see Fujita Ichi again.
Moreover!
For a fool like Fujita Ichi, not just Factory Director Hojo, no one in the entire natural gas factory wanted to see him again, let alone let him in easily.
“I really have urgent business, I need…” Fujita Ichi’s words were cut off.
The guard officer resorted to force: “Come on, throw him out!”
Several Japanese soldiers came over like hungry wolves and unceremoniously dragged Fujita Ichi out.
Kitano Chuji and Major General Kawashima saw Fujita Ichi being dragged up, and Major General Kawashima quickly stepped forward to demand: “Baka, what’s going on?”
These Japanese soldiers did not recognize Major General Kawashima, but they recognized the general’s star on his shoulder.
The Japanese Army had strict hierarchy; one rank higher could crush many below.
This was a major general right here.
The several Japanese soldiers hurriedly released Fujita Ichi and saluted Major General Kawashima in fear: “General!”
Major General Kawashima ignored these Japanese soldiers and sternly looked at Fujita Ichi: “Mr. Fujita, what’s going on? Why were you directly thrown out? Where are the supplies?”
“Brigade Commander Kawashima, I stayed here for a few days before and caused a little trouble.” Fujita Ichi explained, “They’re misunderstanding me…”
Before Fujita Ichi could finish, the several Japanese soldiers interrupted: “Fujita, stop talking nonsense. Was that a little trouble? Was that a misunderstanding! You smoked in the natural gas factory, caused a fire, and nearly destroyed the place. If Amaterasu hadn’t sent rain in time, you’d have gone to meet Amaterasu already.”
Upon hearing this, Major General Kawashima and Kitano Chuji both looked stunned.
Smoking in a natural gas factory—my god, this Fujita Ichi was no ordinary fool. No wonder the soldiers here didn’t want to see him.
However, Fujita Ichi said there were supplies here. Even if they didn’t want to see him, their large army still needed to replenish supplies.
Thus, Major General Kawashima said to these several Japanese soldiers: “I am Brigade Commander Makoto Kawashima of the Twenty-ninth Brigade. I have important business and wish to see your factory director. Please make the introduction.”
“Yes, yes, General, follow us.” The several Japanese soldiers didn’t dare show any neglect and hurriedly led the way ahead.
Fujita Ichi tried to follow in, but Kitano Chuji grabbed him: “Mr. Fujita, you’d better stay here. Don’t go in.”
Smoking in a natural gas factory—how could you do something so stupid.
What would you go in for again? To do more stupid things?!!
“Alright.” Fujita Ichi nodded cooperatively.
In reality, he wanted to go in to retrieve something.
When he caused trouble earlier and was kicked out of the natural gas factory, he had hidden something important here and hadn’t had time to get it then.
Now he wanted to retrieve it… well, it seemed he’d have to wait for later.
Under the guard’s introduction, Major General Kawashima soon met Factory Director Hojo.
After hearing Major General Kawashima’s purpose, Factory Director Hojo looked somewhat helpless: “Sorry, General, most of the supplies have been requisitioned; not much is left.”
The Kumamoto Division’s raid had taken most of the supplies here too.
“How much is left approximately?” Major General Kawashima felt a bit relieved upon hearing this—some was left, better than none.
“Your troops number over twenty thousand; these supplies are only enough food for three or four days.” Factory Director Hojo said.
“Three or four days is enough.” Major General Kawashima said, “Give me these supplies first, then I’ll replenish in Jin Sui Army and Direct Line Army territory.”
“May I ask what happened on your end?” Factory Director Hojo looked at Major General Kawashima, “If I’m to give you these supplies, I still need to report to headquarters first.”
Factory Director Hojo was busy with natural gas factory affairs and knew little about the fighting outside.
