Chapter 135: If China Is To Perish, The People Of Hunan Will Die First
The dim light in the basement outlined the visitor’s lean profile, with high cheekbones, deep-set eyes, yet an unusually calm gaze, like two bottomless ancient wells, undisturbed.
Shan Que clearly saw the visitor’s face and was immediately filled with surprise and joy: “Director Lin, it’s you.”
“Everyone, quickly put away your guns.”
“This is Colonel Lin Zhao, Director of the Military Statistics Bureau Special Tactics Research Section and Director of the Fourth Section.”
Hearing Shan Que’s words, everyone was shocked. This Director Lin was renowned and no weaker than Boss Dai’s Four Great Vajras.
Within the Military Statistics Bureau, there were titles like the Four Great Vajras and the Two Great Kill Gods.
The Four Great Vajras were Wan Tianmu, Zhao Lijun, Chen Gongshu, and Shen Shuyi.
One of the Two Great Kill Gods was called Jensen, whose real name was Yin Maoxuan.
The other was Lin Zhao, whose real name was Lin Shixian, from Huangpi Pit Village, Yongtian Township, Pan’an County, Zhejiang Province.
In his youth, he studied in Wucheng. At nineteen, he gave up his studies to join the military, went to the Jianqiao Air Force Base in Hangcheng to apply for the air force but failed. He was discovered by Guo Cong, one of the core members of the Revival Society at the time, and joined the Revival Society special training group.
He was proficient in close combat, drugs, demolition, and other special skills.
In the twenty-fourth year of the Republic, he assassinated the Beiping traitor Wang Fucheng, installing explosives under his car and blowing him up on the spot.
Afterward, Lin Zhao was heavily favored by Boss Dai and was put in charge of establishing the Special Tactics Research Section.
This section specialized in researching weapons for killing, poisons, and various deadly devices.
After the Blue Camp retreated to Chongqing, Boss Dai was ordered to establish the Military Statistics Bureau. Lin Zhao served as Director of the Fourth Section of the Military Statistics Bureau, that is, the Special Affairs Office, with Colonel Xie Yuanzhi as Deputy Director.
Everyone put away their guns and saluted the visitor: “Good day, Director Lin.”
Lin Zhao returned the gun to Shan Que, scanned the crowd, and said: “No need to stand on ceremony, gentlemen. I’ve come this time with a special mission.”
“By the way, what were you discussing just now?”
Shan Que quickly invited Lin Zhao to sit down and recounted the earlier dispute among the group to him.
“Team Leader Iron Anvil’s idea is correct in direction—cutting off the water supply line is indeed drawing fuel from under the cauldron.”
Lin Zhao nodded slightly and said: “Team Leader Shan Que’s concerns are not unfounded. A strong assault and hard bombing would cost too much and carry even higher risk.”
“The key lies in intelligence and timing.” He raised his head, his calm gaze looking at Shan Que and the others, and slowly said, “Headquarters has just received intelligence.”
“A fleet transporting special materials has set sail from Huishan Wharf in Shanghai, destination Tianjia Town front line.”
“Besides a batch of medicine and materials on the ships, there’s also a batch of ammunition just shipped from Japan homeland, specifically allocated to the 106th Division’s Type 92 infantry gun shells, and a batch of newly arrived engineer demolition equipment.”
“The 106th Division is fiercely attacking Ruichang. Officer Xue is under immense pressure there. The Japanese are now counting on this batch of shells to tear open a gap.”
“To relieve pressure on Officer Xue, Headquarters hopes the Wuhan District Military Statistics Bureau personnel will do everything to destroy this batch of explosives and materials.”
“This mission allows only success, no failure.”
Hearing this, Shan Que perked up, narrowed his eyes, and slowly traced his fingertip over the blue line representing the Yangtze River Waterway on the map, as if confirming the opponent’s shipping route.
“Director Lin, is this intelligence reliable?”
Lin Zhao said gravely: “After the intelligence was sent back to Headquarters, it was again handed to the Shanghai Military Statistics Bureau Station for detailed reconnaissance. After repeated confirmation by agents of the Shanghai Military Statistics Bureau Station, the intelligence is confirmed. This transport fleet is not large—two medium cargo ships, Jiang Jin Maru and Tsuna Wa, escorted by two river gunboats.”
“By voyage calculation, around midnight tomorrow, they will pass here.” Lin Zhao’s fingertip precisely pointed at the spot on the map where Shan Que had just traced, an unremarkable bend: “Niu Gu Tan.”
“Niu Gu Tan,” Shan Que’s eyes inexplicably brightened: “I’ve heard of this place. The water flow here is complex, the channel narrower and more dangerous than Wild Cat Shoal. At night, even the Japanese devils’ gunboat searchlights can’t cover all the blind spots.”
“Exactly.” Lin Zhao nodded slightly: “More importantly, the intelligence from the Shanghai Military Statistics Bureau Station included a key detail. The captain of the Japanese Navy Transportation Department Third Transport Squadron responsible for this escort, Captain Matsumoto Koji, is a notorious drunkard.”
“The fleet will probably arrive in Jiujiang around six p.m. the day after tomorrow. Afterward, they will unload some materials and medicine. During resupply berthing, I believe Matsumoto, not having drunk for two days, won’t be able to resist. He will definitely sneak ashore to find sake.”
“There’s only one sake house near Jiujiang Port, and its boss is already under our control.”
“At that time, we will arrange a female sake fairy who can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk to approach him and confirm his itinerary, to guarantee the final plan has no deviations.”
“If there’s a problem, she will notify us to immediately cancel the action.”
Intelligence Group Team Leader Bat heard the name Matsumoto Koji, and a gleam flashed in his eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses. The corner of his mouth curved up for the first time: “Matsumoto Koji?”
“I know this guy—the idiot who lost the escorted documents while drinking in Nanjing?”
Iron Anvil’s eyes lit up: “Director Lin, give me this job. I’m familiar with that devilish place Niu Gu Tan!”
“Don’t need too many people. Give me a few brothers who are good swimmers with big guts. Bring mines. As soon as the Japanese devils’ gunboat searchlights go blind and the ship speed gets chaotic, I guarantee those treasures all sink to the river bottom to feed the turtles!”
Lin Zhao was slightly stunned and looked toward Shan Que beside him.
After pondering for a moment, Shan Que nodded firmly: “Iron Anvil, pick the men yourself.”
“They must be absolutely reliable, top swimmers, willing to risk their lives. For equipment, I’ll arrange priority supply.”
“But one rule: for this action plan, I want to see the details before midnight tonight.”
“Remember.” His voice suddenly lowered, carrying a chilling intent that made hearts palpitate. “Only success is allowed. The ships must sink in Niu Gu Tan’s main channel. If it fails… you know our rules.”
Iron Anvil suddenly stood straight, chest puffed out, eyes burning with fanatical flame and desperate resolve: “Please rest assured, Director Lin and Officer. If the ships don’t sink, Iron Anvil and the brothers will sink ourselves into the river bottom!”
Lin Zhao glanced at Niu Gu Tan bend on the map, like the throat of a giant beast, and the dense military symbols around it representing countless lives and the fate of a city.
“Gentlemen brothers, this action concerns the Party and Country’s fate and future. Everyone must cooperate with Iron Anvil to complete the mission no matter what.”
“Please rest assured, Director Lin. We will definitely assist Brother Iron Anvil to complete the mission.”
“Good, everyone disperse and make all preparations, await the final order.”
Under the eerie green light, four shadows stood up silently, quickly merging into the basement shadows, like water drops into a deep pool, leaving only that scorched map on the desktop, silently telling of the coming storm and inferno in the dead, stifling heat.
After everyone left, Lin Zhao also stood and walked out of the Western-style small building. Rumble, a muffled thunder faintly sounded overhead, the rolling sound waves crushing over the pitch-black night sky of Wuhan Three Towns.
The next day, afternoon.
Niu Gu Tan’s sky was heavily pressed by low-hanging lead-gray clouds. Only occasional Japanese Army reconnaissance aircraft passing by, with shrill whistles like tearing cloth, briefly broke the suffocating dead silence.
Iron Anvil lay prone at the edge of a dense reed marsh on the north bank of Niu Gu Tan, body pressed tight against the wet mud scorched hot by the blazing sun.
The heaviness in his code name now seemed to have substantial weight, pressing heavily on his shoulders.
Sweat trickled into the corner of his eye, bringing sharp stinging pain. He didn’t blink, staring dead-on through the crisscross gaps of the reed stalks at the turbid water surface downstream.
Niu Gu Tan, this stretch of water known as the “Ghost Gate Pass,” now revealed its gaunt skeleton in the dry season.
Vast clusters of jagged dark brown rocks like a giant beast’s fangs pierced the turbid river water, exposed in the scorching air.
The river’s main channel was squeezed extremely narrow, turbulent waters surging left and right between the rocks, swirling up murky, death-laden vortices.
From deeper in the reed marsh behind came extremely faint rustling sounds.
Those were the demolition team he personally selected: “Wrench,” “Hammer,” “Wedge,” “Rivet.”
These people’s code names plus Team Leader Iron Anvil made a proper repairman professional setup.
The entire demolition team lay dormant like mud sculptures.
Their faces were coated thickly with camouflage mixed of mud and grass juice. Sweat carved gullies through it, only pairs of eyes gleaming startlingly in the shadows.
The aircraft in the sky completed its patrol and slowly left. After confirming the aircraft was far away, Iron Anvil raised his hand, and everyone crawled together in the reed marsh.
“Brothers, everyone clear on today’s mission, right?”
Iron Anvil slowly said: “The target of our action this time is the Japanese Navy transport ships Jiang Jin Maru and Tsuna Wa.”
“Loaded on the ships is medicine and materials provided by the Navy to the Seventh Fleet, plus ammunition and heavy weapons supplies urgently needed by the 106th Division. Destination is the Wuhan front line.”
“Everyone knows the Wuhan front line is under great pressure. The higher-ups have successively executed the Shandong Province Chairman Han Fuqu for fleeing and Xue Weiying for fearing battle.”
“Now, Second War Zone Commander Zhang has also withdrawn. Only Officer Xue disregards life and death, building defenses around Mount Lu, fighting the Japanese Army to the death.”
“The Hata Detachment’s water ghosts are eyeing Officer Xue covetously. To buy Officer Xue a little time to build the Mount Lu defense line, we must complete the mission, even if it costs our lives—we have to blow up the Japanese devils’ supply ships.”
Hammer spoke in authentic Hunan dialect: “Team Leader, if China is to perish, us Hunan people die first.”
“As long as us Hunan have people left, they won’t occupy China.”
“Don’t any of you fight with me. Tonight’s demolition mission, I’ll handle it.”
“Hammer, you turtle son, what do you mean?” Wedge growled: “You want to be a hero, but I ain’t willing.”
“Give the demolition mission to me. I guarantee I can flip the little Japanese devils’ transport ships.”
Iron Anvil watched them arguing, a tear glistening at the corner of his eye: “My brothers aren’t afraid to die, but if dying, it won’t be you.”
“This demolition mission I’ll still handle. Hammer, Wedge, Wrench, you three install the mines.”
“Rivet, you handle security, action
