Chapter Fifty-Seven

  In the spring of 1941, the Japanese army gathered more than one million troops and launched a "spring offensive", launching fierce attacks on the Chinese garrison stationed on the north bank of the Yellow River from three directions: east, north, and west. The scale was so large and the battle was so brutal that it was rarely seen since the war began in North China. For a time, the land of southern Shanxi was darkened, and the sky lost its color!

  The Chinese army paid a heavy price for its paralysis, the defense line that had been defended several times with life and blood was easily breached, the troops suffered heavy casualties, the war situation took a sharp turn for the worse, and the people fell into a state of panic.

  Lü Jizong rushed into the hall with a telegram, his face gloomy, and slapped it on the table, saying: "The war zone commander's office sent a telegram ordering each department to take transportation lines as targets, attack the enemy, and delay the Japanese army's gathering. What kind of battle is this? How can we say we're defeated just like that?! What are these officials eating?"

  "What, Chairman remembered us? You now know what it means to be desperate for a cure! " Xiao Ming sneered, "I reminded you several times, your Commander-in-Chief's brain is filled with urine! Not even a bit of preparation?"

  "Alas, the power of words is indeed great! How could those big shots believe the words of a nobody like me!" Lin Xiuzhi's smile was quite strange, it was unclear whether she was pained or gloating.

  Lü Jizong's face was stern, and with a crisp salute, he said loudly: "Lü Jizong, Chief of the Intelligence Division of the Flying Tiger Mountain Guerrilla Column of the National Revolutionary Army, requests that the two commanders dispatch troops to join the battle!"

  "Lao Lü, this is a group battle. Even if we abandon Flying Tiger Fort, there are only about a thousand of us, which has no impact on the overall situation. It's like throwing a handful of sand into the ocean - you can't even hear a sound. Let's not get involved in this muddy water!" Xiao Ming actually knew he couldn't persuade Lü Jizong, but he had to try anyway.

  "If the commander does not dispatch troops, I will personally go, even if it means sacrificing my life!" Lü Jizong spoke with passion and determination, his eyes firm.

  Wang Jinlong sighed and said, "Old Lü, what's the point of this! You've already done your best, why must you risk your life again?! Can't you think about the brothers in the mountain stronghold for once?!"

  Lü Jizong smiled wryly: "The head of the household, can there be any intact eggs under a destroyed nest! Old Xiao, I'm entrusting you with something. I promised my sister that after we drive out the Japanese, she could finish her studies. I hope you can help me fulfill this wish, thank you!" After finishing speaking, he turned and walked away.

  "Wait!" Xiao Ming shouted loudly, "I'm going!"

  Wang Jinlong and Lin Xiucheng were startled, Lü Jizong also stopped in his tracks, staring blankly at Xiao Ming.

  "You stay here, I'll take someone else!" Xiao Ming's eyes gleamed with a cold light, his words slow and deliberate.

  "Brother, don't scare me, you really want to go?" Wang Jinlong didn't dare believe his ears.

  "Lao Xiao, you'd better think carefully about this, it's a matter of life and death! Moreover, if we provoke the Japanese army, it might bring catastrophic disaster to our mountain stronghold!" Lin Xiuying advised.

  "It's too late!" Xiao Ming said coldly, "We've killed so many devils, the Japanese will settle accounts with us sooner or later. If we let them take action, this day will come soon enough. Rather than waiting for death, it's better to take action early and kill them thoroughly!"

  "What are you waiting for, let's go together!" Wang Jinlong slapped the table and stood up suddenly, "Damn it, a big scar on my head, die early and be reborn early, fight with the little devils!"

  "Big brother, don't get excited!" Xiao Ming stood up, "I'm the second-in-command of the mountain stronghold, I have the final say in battles, right big brother?"

  "Oh, this... it seems like there's something going on. What do you mean?" Wang Jinlong scratched the back of his head, unsure why Xiao Ming was saying this.

  "Since it's a raid, we don't need to engage in a fierce battle with the devils. A small and agile team will do. It'll be easier to adapt to changing circumstances later on. Too many people would only be counterproductive! Now, I'm issuing the combat order!" Xiao Ming's face turned serious. "Wang Jinlong, Lin Xiucheng, Lü Jizong, stay behind and guard the mountain stronghold. Raise your vigilance, pay attention to air defense, and ensure the stronghold is completely safe. I'll lead the special forces company, cavalry company, as well as one platoon each from the machine gun company and artillery company, to venture out and seek battle opportunities, annihilate the Japanese army, and support the National Army's resistance! Also, assign a radio station to me, so we can report on the battlefield situation at all times! Alright, now notify the company commanders to hold a meeting and discuss our tactics!"

  "Brother, this is too dangerous, let me..."

  "Big brother, don't worry, as long as we hold on to our stronghold, the brothers will have a sense of security, and with that confidence, who will they be afraid of!"

  "Old Xiao, let me go with you instead, it's good to have someone to take care of each other!" Lü Jizong was uneasy in his heart, he knew the danger of this trip.

  "That's it, no need!" Xiao Ming suddenly smiled and said inexplicably, "Take care of your sister, I'll be back..."

  At dawn, on the open ground below the mountain stronghold, 150 warriors were ready to depart, surrounded by crowds of people who had come to see them off. For this operation, Xiao Ming had sent out Da Long's special agent team early to clear out suspicious elements in the surrounding area, and had equipped the departing troops with the best horses, and also equipped the cavalry regiment with submachine guns. After a day of meticulous preparation, they were now ready to set off!

  "Everyone should already know the mission of this trip!" Xiao Ming said with a gloomy face, "Let me say it one last time, those who are the only sons in their families and have wives and children, step aside!" In the past, most of the mountain stronghold's people were unemployed vagrants, but now they were referring to the Nationalist soldiers.

  The warriors were silent, and no one came forward. Xiao Ming whispered a sentence "Mount up, depart!" Turned around to smile at Wang Jinlong and others: "Everyone, don't be so tense, it's like Yi Shui sending off! Alright, let's go, I'll drink with you when I come back!" Mounted the horse, waved his hand to the crowd, and led the troops into Hu Lu Valley.

  In the distance, Lyu Jiying was silently watching them, with a faint mist in her eyes.

  "Lü sister, since you've come all the way here, why don't you go and say a few words to him?" asked Xiaoyue softly. The little girl was unusually quiet without her usual chattering.

  Lü Jiying's gaze turned gentle and ardent, and she sighed softly: "I didn't come to see him off, but to see them off..."

  After leaving the Gourd Valley, they walked south along the mountain road for nearly 200 miles. The situation became complicated, and the night cat and Ma Liu, who were scouting ahead, reported that a large number of Japanese cavalry appeared in the southwest direction, seemingly searching for Chinese troops, while the situation to the east was unclear.

  As the sky was already late, he ordered to find a small forest to camp and rest. Xiao Ming called Ye Maozi and Ma Liu to one side and said in a low voice: "It seems that we are close to the Japanese army's garrison now. Lao Mao will go to explore the Japanese army's movement after dark. Ma Liu, take your men to surround and be vigilant, don't be careless, it seems like someone is staring at us on this road, the situation here is too complicated!"

  "What kind of person is he? Should we go and take care of him?" Ma Liu's interest was piqued.

  "I don't know, I'm just guessing, maybe it's a friendly army. I heard that the national army and the devils had a battle here last time, and it's not surprising to have scattered soldiers nearby. Tell your people to be prepared, once Lao Mao has clear news, we'll take care of him tonight!"

  The tomcat didn't return until midnight, and upon seeing Xiao Ming, shook his head and said: "Boss, this time it's going to be a bother! The Japanese command center is in a village twenty miles away, with over a thousand cavalrymen alone, the defense is extremely tight, can't even get close. To the south seems to be a puppet army unit, however, the devils' cavalry are constantly patrolling, if we make our move from there, running will also be a problem!

  "Alright, you go rest first, let me think about it." Xiao Ming suddenly found himself in a difficult situation. He had thought that the Japanese army would launch a large-scale attack to the south, and the defensive forces in the rear would definitely not be too many. But now... Had the little devils made a comeback? Xiao Ming didn't know that beside him was a cavalry brigade of the Japanese army, otherwise they wouldn't have camped here.

  Ma Liu leaned over quietly and whispered, "Master, there's a group of Japanese cavalry to the west. They've been wandering around for a while and have stopped moving. Could they be heading our way?"

  Has their whereabouts been exposed? "Go, take a look!" Xiao Ming didn't dare to be careless and followed Ma Liu to a small hill. Under the moonlight, they looked down and indeed saw about 100 people standing in an open area, seemingly wanting to enter the mountain but hesitating.

  "When at home, we might as well give it to him. Anyway, being idle is also a waste of time!" Ma Liu was a fearless and daring fellow who had never known what danger was.

  Xiao Ming thought for a moment and said, "Alright, after we're done, let's retreat eastward. Tell your people to lay explosives on the road, if we're going to do it, let's do it thoroughly, and get them all at once, saves trouble!" Since they couldn't figure out the situation, might as well fight first and see what happens, if they can't win then run, anyway this is in the mountains, their mobility is strong enough.

  "Wake up everyone, Xiao Ming began to assign tasks: 'Artillery company, go to the ridge and fire five rounds of rapid-fire artillery, then quickly retreat eastward. Assault team, ambush in the small valley ahead, each person fires a full magazine before retreating eastward as well. Special operations company, when the Japanese army enters the valley, detonate the explosives, be sure to bury the explosives on the stone wall, give them a 'Goddess scattering flowers'..."

  The words had hardly been spoken when a soldier reported: "Commander, Japanese cavalry has been spotted in the north, about one squadron, and they are heading towards us!"

  "We've been exposed!" Xiao Ming was shocked, realizing that something was wrong. There must have been Japanese scouts during the day, and now they had tracked them down. It would be a hassle if they were caught, so it's better to take care of them first before dawn and move to another location.

  "Order everyone to retreat from the forest and lay landmines. The cavalry unit will hide in the valley behind the mountain. If the devils dare to chase us, we'll attack their rear. Remember not to engage in a prolonged battle. Hurry up and get ready!"

  A company of twenty people arrived, bringing two 82-type and four 60-type mortars. After receiving the order, they quickly came to that small hill, made preparations, and waited for Xiao Ming's command.

  The nearby Japanese army received a secret report that an unidentified armed force of over 100 people was approaching itself and camping in the mountains at night. The commander ordered Lieutenant Colonel Kuroda to take two cavalry squadrons to search for this armed force.

  Kuroda divided his troops into two routes, north and south, to encircle the mountain. This is the only exit from east to west, and Kuroda is not in a hurry now, waiting for news from the other route.

  Before long, another team reported: They are deploying a search in the north and will be able to rush over soon. Kuroda breathed a sigh of relief and ordered his soldiers to rest for a while, and then search the mountain after the teams merged.

  He didn't expect that on the small hill opposite them, someone had already set their sights on them!