Chapter 64: Beheading the General at the Pass

  The formation of Jiajia Wang's soul array and life-taking array was completed, and Ye Tu Fei led the team towards Linyi.

  Due to the large number of wounded soldiers in the team, the team's marching speed was not very fast. After walking for about four hours, near sunset, Ye Tufei's troops had only walked a little over 100 miles.

  At this time, they encountered the first blockade line of the Japanese army in Linyi.

  "To the east, take your brother, and conduct a firepower reconnaissance on the Japanese army. Remember, only use rifles and hand grenades, absolutely do not use machine guns." Wei Dong accepted the order, but he had a question he didn't understand, so he asked: "Why can't we use machine guns? Also, if we use hand grenades, then we have to get close to the enemy, which is no different from charging directly."

  Ye Tu Fei smiled and explained: "We have to show weakness to the little Japanese, brother, let you use hand grenades, but didn't let you throw the hand grenades into the little Japanese trenches? Being able to throw them to a place where they can see is enough."

  Wei Dong still didn't understand and carried out the order in a muddled way.

  The Japanese army was in high spirits on the blockade line, and as soon as Wei Dong's side fired a shot, before they could even throw hand grenades, the little devils' firepower opened up fully, with rifles, machine guns, and mortars.

  "Four light machine guns, over a hundred rifles, four mortars, no heavy machine guns." Ye Tufei made the judgment based solely on his sense of hearing.

  He quickly gathered the leaders of several combat units, and on the ground, he arranged a few positions with stones, saying: "The little Japanese firepower is not weak, we want to break through this defensive line smoothly, can't attack strongly, only cleverly."

  Ye Tu Fei drew a diagram on the ground and said, "This is where the little Japanese mortar is located. As long as we can take down the little Japanese mortar, we will have an 80% chance of winning. Old Huang, you're in charge of this task, how's it going?"

  The team leader of the Yellow River Team of the 2nd Korean Travel Corps responded loudly: "No problem, guaranteed to take it down!"

  Ye Tu Fei pointed to the stones on the ground and said, "Old Huang, take your brothers and suffer a bit more, walk a few more steps, and go around from here." He stood up, pointing out the route to the Yellow River, "Go around this rocky ridge, there's a small river over there, choose some with good water quality, hope the Japanese artillery emplacement is lightly defended."

  The Yellow River followed the route pointed out by Ye Liu's finger and said, "Don't worry, Ye Liu, even if the little devils have defenses, I'll definitely take down those mortars."

  Ye Tu Fei nodded and said to Wei Xiang Dong: "You lead the brothers as before, shoot guns and throw grenades, don't be stingy, make a big noise, provide cover for Huang Tuan Zhang and his men."

  Wei Dong nodded, indicating understanding and acceptance of the order.

  Ye Tufei turned to Luo Zhonggang and said, "You lead the brothers to quickly make a few catapults, then go with Xiang Dong and the others. Not only must you make a big noise, but also let the little Japanese suffer some losses."

  Luo Zhonggang replied: "We already have more than a dozen launchers, Sixth Master, do you think we need to make a few more?"

  Ye Tu Fei was taken aback and asked: "When did you make more than a dozen launchers? How come I didn't know?"

  Lu Zhonggang scratched his head and said, "Isn't this what happened at the Jia family's place a while ago? We brothers found some bamboo materials, it would be a pity to throw them away, but it was troublesome to bring them along. Fortunately, we were lazy and didn't complete the task assigned by Sixth Master, so we secretly made some catapults."

  Yue Tui Fei burst out laughing and said, "Alright! You're a great lazy thief, you've disobeyed orders in the best way possible. These ten or so are enough for use. Now go follow Brother Xiang Dong."

  Instead, he ordered Li Zhongyun: "Choose a few of the best shooters from your men, don't choose too many, five or six is enough. When Wei Xiangdong and Luo Zhonggang are making a ruckus, you secretly fire some blank shots to scare the little devils."

  Li Zhongyun asked: "Why don't we have more people? That way, we can wipe out more of those little Japanese."

  Ye Tu Fei gave Li Zhongyun a white eye and said, "The highest state of shooting black guns is to shoot the enemy without letting them notice. If you have too many people arranged, wouldn't the little Japanese have noticed it all at once?"

  Li Zhongyun smiled and scratched his head as he went off to make arrangements.

  According to Ye Tufei's plan, he first wanted to use the joint action of Wei Xiangdong, Luo Zhonggang and Li Zhongyun to attract the attention of the Japanese army, thereby creating an opportunity for Huang He and others to attack the Japanese mortar position. Once the Japanese lost the support of artillery fire, he immediately organized a charge. Ye Tufei believed that with his own strength, he could completely silence the four machine guns of the little devils.

  However, the process of the battle was beyond Ye Tufei's expectations.

  The Japanese squadron leader was an arrogant and ruthless person. Wei Xiangdong and Luo Zhonggang's provocative but non-aggressive behavior annoyed this battlefield commander, who disdained the enemy army he faced, swung his command knife, and led more than 50 Japanese soldiers to jump out of the trenches and launch a counterattack against Ye Tufei's troops.

  Can Li Zhongyun let go of this opportunity?

  He smiled and picked up the gun, gently pulling the trigger.

  Luo Zhonggang and others were unwilling to let go of this opportunity. At first, they just used two or three launchers to cover the Yellow River, and when using them, they only fired single shots. When more than 50 little Japanese devils rushed out of the trenches, these brothers suddenly gained morale, and in the blink of an eye, they launched over a hundred hand grenades.

  The little Japan can enjoy two hand grenades per capita on average, how can this be endured!

  By the time Wei Dong and others moved in with machine guns, only a dozen or so little Japanese were left, fleeing with their tails between their legs.

  Can you still run away?

  Yes!

  Because Ye Tufei took advantage of the situation and made an instant decision to follow the retreating Japanese army and launch a charge.

  At the same time, Huang He and his men also succeeded. The Japanese mortar and the National Army's mortar were not much different, and the brothers adjusted the muzzle in three or five minutes, adjusted the shooting parameters, and returned the Japanese shells to the Japanese.

  Wei Dong led his brothers in a fierce charge onto the Japanese position.

  The Japanese army that lost its highest commander would not be in a panic, the Japanese army that suffered from its own artillery fire would not be in a panic, and the Japanese army facing a forest of enemy bayonets would not be in a panic. However, having first lost their highest commander, then being hit by their own artillery, and before they could catch their breath, encountering a forest of glittering bayonets, the little Japanese finally panicked.

  If there is a first escapee, there will be a second and third one following.

  If there is a first surrender, there will be a second and third one following.

  The battle ended quickly, and except for a dozen or so little Japanese who ran away and seven little Japanese who were captured, the rest were directly packed up and sent back to that shrine in mainland Japan.

  The war was won, which should have been a joyful thing, but unexpectedly this victory caused a fierce quarrel among several important figures.

  The quarrel split into two camps, with Peng Youming fighting alone against Ye Tufa, Han Hongxun and Wei Xiangdong.

  Peng Youming, being a solitary figure, had the loudest voice: "I just don't agree with killing prisoners of war! This is against our military discipline. Han Hongxun, you tell me, does your National Army allow the killing of prisoners of war?"

  Han Hongxun also loudly shouted at Peng Youming: "Don't mention discipline to me, now I am the highest commander of the National Army, what I say is the National Army's discipline."

  "Are you or are you not a soldier? Do you still have military discipline and regulations in your heart? Are you not afraid that this matter will be spread out? I'm telling you, Han Hongxun, this kind of behavior is going to take you to the military court!"

  Ye Tufei joined the battle and said, "Old Peng, what's wrong with you? Have you eaten gunpowder? We are sworn brothers in life and death, why do we need to be so rigid? Alright, both of you have discipline and organization, but I, Ye Tufei, am just a bandit. I don't care about military rules or regulations. All I know is that this little Japanese devil is too much trouble to carry around. Either kill him or let him go, Old Peng, choose one!"

  Wei Dong also spoke up, saying: "When the little Japanese killed our brothers, did they hesitate? No! Did they talk about military discipline and rules? No! Did they mention the Geneva Convention? No! They kill prisoners of war like killing chickens, why can't we kill them?"

  Peng Youming pointed at Wei Xiangdong and roared: "Are you or are you not a Communist Party member? How can you say such an unconscious thing? Little Japan is a beast! Then we follow the beast to learn? What do we become? Are we also beasts?"

  Ye Tufei suddenly burst out laughing, leaving Peng Youming stunned. Ye Tufei stopped laughing and said: "Secretary Peng, why does your words sound so familiar to me? Let me answer you, the little Japanese are indeed beasts, but we killing prisoners of war is not emulating them. Didn't I just say that? Either kill or release! In any case, we can't bring them along!"

  Peng Youming wanted to argue, but was shut down by Ye Tufei's glare and wave of the hand. Ye Tufei pressed on, "Taking prisoners on the road is making a joke of our brothers' lives! Secretary Peng, I'm asking you for the last time, kill or release?"

  Peng Youming was suddenly speechless.

  "Now that Secretary Peng has given up his right to decide, I'll take charge." Ye Tufei smiled and made a decision that shocked everyone: "Let them all go!"

  "No way!" Peng Youming was the first to jump out, "Absolutely can't let them go back!"

  Ye Tufei immediately followed up and said to Wei Xiangdong: "Secretary Peng's order, kill these prisoners immediately. Wei Xiangdong, what are you still dazing about? Why don't you hurry up and execute the order?"

  "Hey, hey, hey, I didn't say I wanted to kill the prisoners of war!" Peng Youming loudly protested his innocence.

  Ye Tufei smiled and said: "I say let go, you don't agree, if you don't agree to let go, isn't that the same as wanting to kill? Is there anything wrong with that?"

  Peng Youming was surrounded by Ye Tufei, and he knew it was wrong, but he couldn't say where the mistake was. He was stifled for half a day, and finally threw out a sentence: "Let's just pretend I don't know anything!"

  Peng Youming walked away with a proud smile, while Han Hongxun gave Ye Tufei a thumbs up and said: "I didn't know Brother Ye had this trick!"

  Ye Tufei pretended to be confused and said, "What's wrong with me? I just respected Comrade Peng's opinion. To tell the truth, I'm not a person who likes killing."