Chapter 144: 143, Airborne Behind Enemy Lines, Target: 6th Division Hiraga Brigade
May 8, 1933, at night.
Sun Debiao began the greatest adventure of his life.
Even when he was a bandit, it had never been as stimulating as today.
Artillery fire boomed below.
Yet he circled in the high sky.
If he landed on the position, whether Japanese Army or National Army, he would be riddled with bullets.
He carefully circled, drifting toward a place away from the theater of operations.
A northwest wind blowing from Bohai Bay helped him greatly.
Driven by the wind, he landed on a mountain ridge.
Where the hell is this place?!
Eerie winds whistled, and Sun Debiao felt he was in a very dangerous place.
He carefully packed up the parachute but didn’t dare move around.
He waited until dawn before getting up to observe and move.
It turned out to be on a barren mountain with steep slopes.
Sun Debiao, who often roamed the mountains, felt a bit panicked.
He was more worried about being trapped on the mountain and unable to complete the mission on time.
With this mood, Sun Debiao walked along the mountain ridge to the other side.
From there, he saw a different scene.
The Great Wall, the winding and continuous Great Wall.
He immediately took out the map and compared.
This should be the Great Wall section near Lengkou Pass. From here to Shanhaiguan, it had already fallen according to known intelligence.
The Japanese army had entered inside the passes through this passage.
It could be said that this was already in the Japanese army’s control area, so he needed to quickly find the Japanese army’s large troop assembly area.
Sun Debiao perked up, moved stones to bury the parachute on the spot, then followed the mountain ridge to find a way down the mountain.
This area belonged to the Great Wall region, and there were also abandoned wild Great Wall sections, which were the way down.
He walked down from the wild Great Wall section but didn’t spot defending troops from either side. After all, the Great Wall was too long, and not every section needed heavy guards. A place like this had no road, so how could there be a garrison.
Thinking this way, Sun Debiao grew more anxious.
He made his way to the foot of the mountain and discovered a village.
The people in the village had long fled completely, with not even a shadow of a person.
He planned to rest briefly before leaving.
At this moment, barking came from outside.
Village dogs in the countryside usually only barked loudly at outsiders. Sun Debiao immediately became vigilant, put down his backpack, drew his pistol, and hid behind a mud wall to stay alert.
He saw two Japanese soldiers escorting a man covered in blood on his head into the village.
The man cried and shouted: “Soldier, please let me go. I have parents, wife, and children at home to support, and I’m the only able-bodied laborer.”
The two Japanese soldiers ignored him, tied him to a wooden post, and went into the village to loot.
Seeing the Japanese soldiers leave, he struggled fiercely but couldn’t break free from the bindings.
At this time, Sun Debiao quietly approached from behind and covered his mouth with his hand.
“Don’t shout, be careful not to alert the Japanese. What happened to you?”
The man hurriedly whispered: “Good man, save me. I’m from this village. Everyone in the village fled, I came back to get some things, and ran into these two East Ocean devils.”
With a local to help, his actions would be much easier. Sun Debiao decided to rescue him.
But he had no intention of letting the two Japanese soldiers go.
“Wait here, don’t shout or make noise. I’ll deal with those two bastards and then come save you.”
After saying that, he held the pistol in his right hand and the sharp engineer shovel designed by the general manager in his left, and quietly moved closer.
The two Japanese soldiers were rummaging through boxes and cabinets in the village but found nothing, so they turned their attention to the dog.
Just as Sun Debiao approached, a gunshot rang out. The dog howled in agony and gradually fell silent, followed by the two Japanese soldiers talking loudly in Japanese, apparently discussing dog meat dishes.
Sun Debiao peeked out. The two in the courtyard had their backs to him—this was an opportunity.
He raised his gun and fired, emptying the magazine.
The two Japanese soldiers were hit by several bullets in the back and fell to the ground, joining the dog in burial.
Confirming the two were dead, Sun Debiao stepped forward and took their two spears and bullet belts.
He returned to the village entrance, untied the man, and got straight to the point:
“I’ve dealt with the Japanese. If you don’t want to be implicated, you have to bury them.”
“I know where there are tools.”
The man led Sun Debiao into the village, found a shovel and hoe, dug a pit in the fields outside the village, and buried the two Japanese soldiers along with the dog.
After finishing, both were sweating profusely and sat on the field ridge to rest.
Perhaps due to the lifesaving grace or burying Japanese soldiers together, the man became much warmer.
“You’re a scattered National Army soldier, right?”
“No, this place is already occupied by the Japanese. The National Army has retreated south of the Luan River.”
The man turned pale with shock: “The Japanese have reached the Luan River side! What do we do?”
Sun Debiao thought, “Tough luck.”
But he comforted: “Maybe it won’t be long before the National Army fights back. By the way, where did those two Japanese come from?”
Hearing this, the man panicked. “Yeah, now that you mention it, I realize they came from the south. Our villagers all hid south—hope the Japanese didn’t find them.”
“What are you waiting for? Let’s go check.” Sun Debiao tossed a spear to the man, shouldered the other, then went to the hiding spot and retrieved the two backpacks.
Now with a helper, it was perfect for carrying more things.
The two headed south from the mountainous area near the Great Wall.
The man knew the roads and, fearing discovery by Japanese, stuck to small paths.
They surprisingly didn’t encounter a single Japanese soldier along the way.
Until they reached a town.
The rising sun flag was raised there, and a large force of soldiers had the town encircled.
Seeing the scene from afar, the man showed fear but tried to go forward. Sun Debiao immediately pulled him to the ground.
“Are you trying to get yourself killed? So many Japanese soldiers—if they spot you, you’re dead.”
“My dad, my mom, my wife and kid are all in the town.” The man cried.
Sun Debiao softened: “Wait and see. The Japanese soldiers might just loot some things and leave. They still have battles to fight.”
Hearing this, the man thought it made sense and gradually calmed down.
After a while, two elders came out of the town, were taken by Japanese soldiers to a military vehicle, and then the large force left.
Seeing the Japanese soldiers gone, Sun Debiao released his grip. The man scrambled up and rushed to the town.
Sun Debiao followed behind.
In the town, it was a scene of survival after disaster. The local people and refugees were all relieved.
The man hugged his wife and child but didn’t see his father.
“Where’s my dad?”
His mother tearfully said: “Your dad loves to meddle. He went with the town chief to see the Japanese officer, saying he wanted to reason with them.”
Sun Debiao, listening nearby, was stunned: “Reason what?”
The man’s mother looked up, surprised at Sun Debiao. The man quickly explained: “He’s my benefactor, Mom. What exactly did my dad go do?”
“He and the town chief studied at the same private school. He said the Fusang land also learned our Chinese culture, so now that they’re developed, they must know etiquette and reason. He wanted to go reason with their officer.” The man’s mother explained.
Sun Debiao couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Haven’t you heard that old saying? When a scholar meets soldiers, reason can’t be explained. Even their own soldiers won’t listen, and you’re going to reason with foreign devil soldiers. It’s good if he comes back.”
His words panicked the whole family.
But they didn’t know what to do.
The man turned and glared angrily at Sun Debiao: “Even if you saved my life, you can’t talk about my dad like that.”
“Look at my mouth, always saying unpleasant things. Don’t mind me. Alright, we’re even, farewell.”
Sun Debiao cupped his fists and left openly.
Watching his back, the man hesitated, then said to his wife and mother: “Mom, Cui’er, I’m going to check on Dad. You stay here and wait for me to return.”
Sun Debiao, leaving the town, carried a large bag on his back and a small bag in hand, struggling under the weight.
Suddenly, the weight lightened from his back, and he alertly turned around.
It was that kid.
“What are you doing here?”
The man smiled: “I’m going to check on my dad. If it’s on the way, I’ll help carry some things for you.”
“You’re a good guy.” Sun Debiao smiled, unloaded the large bag, and let the man carry it.
As a mountaineer used to farm work, the man didn’t look strong but had great strength, carrying the dozens of kilograms large bag effortlessly.
Sun Debiao opened the large bag behind him, took out steamed buns and beef jerky, and shared with the man.
The two headed toward the Luan River.
Before reaching the Luan River, they spotted a Japanese barracks.
Sun Debiao quickly pulled the man back.
“Don’t go further. In battle between two armies, anyone suspicious will be shot.” He looked to the nearby mountain ridge. “Let’s go up the mountain.”
Then, the two climbed the nearby mountain ridge.
On the mountain ridge, Sun Debiao took out camouflage cloth and set up the tent.
Once set up, among the grass, trees, and stones, it blended into the environment, showing no abnormality.
After finishing, Sun Debiao took out binoculars and observed the distant barracks.
After looking, his face grew serious, and he turned to the man.
“It’s dangerous here. Why don’t you go back.”
“What did you see?” The man sensed something wrong.
He snatched Sun Debiao’s binoculars but didn’t know how to use them.
Fearing he’d damage his tools, Sun Debiao quickly said: “Don’t break it. I’ll teach you how to use it.”
After teaching the man to use the binoculars, he saw a scene.
In the barracks, two elders were being beaten by soldiers.
The two lay motionless, apparently unable to endure.
Who these two were went without saying.
The man clenched his teeth but didn’t act rashly.
After all, everyone in the barracks below was armed—what could he do.
But next, a team of soldiers led by a military vehicle left the barracks, heading toward that town.
At this moment, the man couldn’t hold back.
He picked up a spear and seriously asked: “Benefactor, I have to go back to save my mom and my wife. Teach me how to use this gun.”
“What can you do if you go?” Sun Debiao sighed helplessly.
“If I don’t go, am I still a man?” the man replied.
Yes, in this situation, a man should protect his family. Sun Debiao nodded in agreement and carefully taught how to use the spear for shooting.
Though not very proficient, at least he knew how to fire and aim at enemies.
He gave both guns to the man and bid him farewell.
After he left, he adjusted the hiding spot and observed the barracks from another angle.
Time passed bit by bit, and the sun was about to set.
The team of Japanese soldiers that went out returned.
They returned fully loaded, with a large group of people behind the team, driven to dig communal works in front of the barracks.
But among these people was not the one Sun Debiao hoped to see.
Even his mother, wife, and child were not there.
Sun Debiao slammed his fist on a stone; the sharp edge cut his palm, but he felt nothing.
In just one short day, he witnessed a family destroyed.
And that day, the crimes were not just this one.
He decided the first target to destroy would be this barracks.
Then, he locked on and launched the signal.
Followed by sending a telegram southward.
May 9, 1933.
Fang Wen, who had completed the night airdrop and parked F.220 at Shanghai Airport, got up early.
Since learning yesterday that the Japanese army had launched a full-scale offensive on the Great Wall Defense Line, he was very concerned about the battle situation.
To get timely updates, he was willing to pay a high price for more information from the concession’s intelligence trading network.
At this time, Shanghai was the Far East intelligence trading center, with countless intelligence dealers trading here.
As long as you could pay, you could indeed get the intelligence you wanted.
And intelligence on the Great Wall Campaign was among it.
After calling Zhao Jiu, not long after, someone delivered the items.
Chun Cao knocked and reported:
“General Manager, a Mr. Zhao sent someone with a package for you.”
“Give it to me.”
Fang Wen took the package and opened it.
This was an intelligence package worth 500 silver dollars, a collection of what that intelligence dealer currently had.
The first piece of intelligence was marked as the latest.
【Kwantung Army Headquarters issued a statement on the invasion of North China, falsely claiming that due to “the stubborn challenge of the Chinese army” and “threatening Chengde,” the Japanese army “could no longer tolerate the Chinese army’s challenges and decided to strike back hard.”】
Outrageous. Fang Wen tossed this intelligence aside.
He looked at the second one.
【Reportedly, the Japanese army advancing into east of the Luan River is the Hiraga Brigade of the 6th Division.】
So his bombing target was it.
The third piece of intelligence.
【National Government internal meeting minutes】
He even got internal meeting minutes.
Fang Wen flipped it open and looked.
【Recently, the President delivered a long speech to anti-communist officers at various levels at General Command Chongren:（1）As long as bandit suppression succeeds, repelling the foreigners will be assured.（2）Japan’s invasion was provoked by the red bandits.（3）The more setbacks now, the faster the success later.（4）The fearless revolutionary spirit can defeat all enemies.（5）The President said, he lives for the revolution, and dies for the revolution.（6）The more extraordinary the times, the more careful and cautious, emphasizing strategy.】
So this is it. Fang Wen tossed it together with the first intelligence.
After reading the latest intelligence collection, his mind was fully on how to deal with the 6th Division’s Hiraga Brigade.
How was Sun Debiao progressing now?
Fang Wen checked his watch; it was already 2 p.m.
He didn’t know when Sun Debiao would call.
To wait for Sun Debiao’s call, the usually idle Shao Sishen voluntarily requested to monitor the telegrams, but half a day had passed with no word from Sun Debiao.
Just as Fang Wen worried about Sun Debiao, the phone rang: “General Manager, Sun Debiao is on the line. You need to come over.”
Fang Wen was delighted and hurried downstairs to the flight training center where Shao Sishen was.
There, Shao Sishen had already recorded Sun Debiao’s telegram.
Fang Wen took the paper and read.
【Five kilometers north of the Luan River, there is a large-scale army assembly.】
【Exact numbers unknown, probably between 4000 and 8000.】
【They have established three temporary camps facing the Luan River, each camp 500 meters apart.】
【They are currently capturing locals to dig works, facing off across the river from the National Army.】
Fang Wen sketched the scene described by Sun Debiao on the paper, thinking how to maximize the bombing effect.
