Nine

  After receiving the order, Bin Kawasaki Hiroshi led a company-sized force assigned by the military department and rushed to the scene in a truck specially allocated by the 11th Army Headquarters. He even dug up the temporary trenches excavated by Yan Wei's troops for the Wuhan Garrison Brigade soldiers to conduct an investigation! After carefully examining the entire scene with flashlights and torches, he judged that the unit responsible for receiving this group of children should not have many people, and it can be confirmed that they did not continue to drive along the highway. Immediately afterwards, he telegraphed Okamura Yasuji himself, asking the headquarters to set up checkpoints and heavily guard the transportation hubs within a 100-mile radius of Hankou, with the intention of finding and thoroughly resolving the target in this area.

  But judging from the on-site environment, looking at the direction that leads directly to the depths of the dense forest, Hamaaki Hiroto was confused. It is said that this team should not dare to take a car and walk on the highway, but it should be heading west in the mountains. However, from various signs on the scene, the direction of this team's advance seems to be northwest. Is this their plan to confuse the enemy? Or perhaps the enemy already knows the ultimate goal of this action and has taken that important person away with a separate escape?

  As he was hesitating whether to split his troops to pursue the enemy at Hamazaki's far end, a loud roar of revving engines gradually reached his ears. It was so eerie and unsettling in this quiet night sky.

  Taking advantage of the dim moonlight, Hama-saki Hiro-matsu immediately identified the plane coming from the west. In fact, under this light, no matter what plane it is, it's just a black outline from the ground. But with this vague outline, Hama-saki Hiro-matsu had already made his correct judgment in his heart.

  "Captain Hama, could this be a reconnaissance plane dispatched by HQ to assist us in our scouting mission?"

  The captain of the squadron, Haruka Origuchi, who was following behind Hamao Sazaki, looked up at the sky and asked.

  Hamasaki Hiroshi shook his head and said, "Originally, this is not a reconnaissance plane of any country. No country has a reconnaissance plane with such a large body type. Secondly..." Hamasaki Hiroshi looked up at the sky and said, "Do you think that under this light, even if the reconnaissance plane is flying low, it can see the situation on the ground clearly? This is a Chinese transport plane. If I'm not mistaken, this Chinese unit didn't bring enough supplies and ammunition, they must have sent out a distress signal to their headquarters through radio, and this transport plane came to do an air drop of supplies for them."

  "Yu Jun, this transport plane of the enemy has indicated our target location. Through it, we will soon be able to confirm the specific location of our target."

  Actually, at this moment, the two pilots of the transport plane in the air were more confused than the Japanese army on the ground. Under helplessness, the two pilots had to ask for instructions from Wu Hanhui, the deputy director of the Military- Politics Bureau's Party and Government Intelligence Department in the rear cabin.

  "Report to Director Wu, now seeing a large number of fire signals on the ground, can we prepare for parachute jump?"

  Wu Hanhui, who was meditating with his eyes closed, immediately took a few steps to the cockpit after hearing the pilot's report and looked down at the ground through the glass. He was also very surprised to see the twinkling lights on the ground! Judging from these numerous lights scattered all over the place, it didn't look like the coordinates indicated by the ground troops, but rather like a large group of people were lighting torches on the ground for a hunting expedition.

  "What's our current location?" Wu Hanhuai asked the driver with a similar bad feeling.

  The co-pilot confirmed the longitude and latitude coordinates again, turned his head to Wu Hanhuai and said: "According to the coordinate display, it should be basically arrived at the designated location."

  At this time, the main driver reported to Wu Hanhuai again. "Report to Director Wu, at a distance of about 10 kilometers northwest, another firelight coordinate indicator has been found. Please instruct."

  Following the driver's hint, Wu Han also clearly saw the bright flames rising from the northwest ground. It was particularly dazzling in the pitch-black ground.

  "Get close to the firelight." Wu Hanhuai was clearly unprepared for this sudden situation.

  As the plane approached the fire in the northwest, Wu Huan-huai and two pilots thought that the bright fire on the ground was more like a pre-arranged guiding coordinate, so they considered using the radio on the plane to confirm with the ground again.

  After a moment's thought, Wu Han-Huai exclaimed inwardly: "Not good!" He immediately and decisively ordered the pilot to prepare for an airborne drop at this location, and loudly shouted to the cabin crew to get ready to parachute immediately!

  At this time, Yan Wei's department on the ground had already seen the plane circling in the air, but Yan Wei, who didn't quite understand parachuting, thought it was normal for the plane to keep circling at a fixed altitude. He had no idea what kind of situation Wu Hanhua was facing in the sky and how important it was to make a correct judgment.

  "Everyone listen up!"

  "Now we have reached the parachute position, everyone prepare for airborne immediately. There's one thing I need you all to understand, about 10 kilometers away from our target on the ground, a large number of unidentified personnel are active. If my judgment is correct, it should be the Japanese army's advance assassination team searching for targets on the ground! Judging from the number of twinkling torches below, it's likely that there are no less than one company of Japanese troops! So I require you all to quickly converge on the position of the firelight seen in the air after landing! From the moment I land, I only give you 20 minutes to assemble! If late, each take care of themselves! Check equipment and prepare for parachute!"

  Watching the plane flying away in a northwest direction, Hama-saki immediately realized that his previous judgment was correct. The enemy had indeed deviated from the normal withdrawal route and advanced in a northwest direction. He immediately ordered the entire army to march at full speed in a northwest direction, ready to fight at any time!

  With the faint moonlight as a foil, gazing at the quiet starry sky that is cool like water, watching one by one the umbrella-like flowers blooming in the vast starry expanse, swaying and drifting gently with the wind. Yan Wei and his entourage are all quietly appreciating this unprecedented spectacle in this serene and pleasant mountain forest!

  Some people feel the magic of all things; some people feel the shock of the times; some people feel the greatness of humanity. And someone will simply appreciate this rare spectacle as a beautiful prose! This person is obviously Fang Lan.

  Gazing at the umbrella flowers dancing in the sky, under the moonlight, the open umbrellas seemed like eerie and charming phantoms floating in the night sky, showing a sense of mystery and elegance that evoked endless imagination. Fang Lan's intoxicated and dazed eyes were telling others that she was indulging in the appreciation of this earthly fantasy beauty.

  Looking at Fang Lan's enchanting expression, Yan Wei felt both amused and loving. He stretched out his left arm to hold her in his embrace, adding a touch of romantic sentiment to the unique emotions that only women possess! If it weren't for the fact that they were surrounded by soldiers armed with real guns and nuclear bombs, this scene would be perfect. Reciting two lines from Zhou Bangyan's poem "Yulou Chun" - "People are like the wind entering the river clouds, emotions are like the rain lingering on the ground" - would make this moment utterly complete!

  It's just that back then, Brother Zhou was revisiting the old place after losing his lover and was moved to sorrow by the scenery. But Yan Wei is now with a beauty in his arms, enjoying the gentle breeze and the moonlight. It's completely different from what Brother Zhou experienced during the Northern Song dynasty.

  At this moment, Yan Wei's timely and considerate sympathy with the beauty of nature, Fang Lan not only did not refuse but also seemed to be enjoying it with great pleasure.

  Looking across the country, it's a barbarian invasion, mountains and rivers shattered! Looking around, the four neighboring countries have fallen, and we are in a precarious situation! Looking at the present, there are many enemies behind us, pursuing and killing, with danger lurking everywhere! But even in such a desperate situation, facing such unbearable turmoil, Yan Wei can still find time to stage a romantic love affair amidst the dangers of war.

  But Wu Hanhuai, who was still in the air at this moment, did not have the same elegant and refined demeanor as Yan Wei. As early as 1932, Wu Hanhuai, who had joined the Revival Society, understood that many military generals who seemed to have experienced a hundred battles could dash through the enemy's large formation in the rolling gunsmoke, taking the commander's head without batting an eyelid! However, they were not very familiar with this kind of intelligence mission.

  In the eyes of the generals in these armies, winning a battle by defeating the enemy is the top priority! They often go to great lengths to win a victory in a siege war, regardless of the cost or loss. However, they tend to ignore important intelligence that could turn the tide of the entire battle. In contrast, Wu Han's tasks over the years have been just the opposite. He often has to disregard the outcome of winning or losing and sacrifice everything that can be sacrificed or lost in order to obtain a piece of intelligence or ensure the safety of a crucial element.

  At this moment, Wu Hanhuai is worried that the highest commanding officer of this unit has already abandoned some young, weak and injured children. If there are still his targets here, it would be a disaster! Because he thinks only their intelligence agents can understand the huge role played by an intelligence agent, a key figure in the entire war situation!

  Wu Hanhuai went through more than 20 seconds of airborne drifting, and as soon as his feet touched the ground, he immediately removed the parachute pack from his body and rushed towards the fire coordinate position that had been determined in the air earlier. He wanted to confirm the existence and safety of the target at the first time.

  However, the first to arrive at the destination was not Wu Hanhua. When Wu Hanhua saw Yan Wei's department in the distance where the fire light was located, his subordinates had already gathered here, and there were about a few! Apparently, in terms of combat quality and personal physical quality alone, Wu Hanhua is not the best in this team.

  When Wu Han approached, Yan Wei and Wu both noticed the lieutenant colonel insignia on each other's uniform collars at the same time, and both felt a sense of astonishment.

  Wu Anxi was delighted that General Guan Linzheng attached such importance to this matter, and had even sent a lieutenant colonel from his own staff to carry out the task. And Yan Wei, looking at the Military Affairs Bureau lieutenant colonel who had quickly rushed up to him, became increasingly certain that there must be an important figure among his targets.

  "The brothers of the 32nd Army have worked hard. On behalf of the party and state, Wu Hanhui, deputy director of the Party and State Affairs Intelligence Bureau of the Lower Military Command, thanked the brothers of the 32nd Army for their contributions to the party and state." Almost simultaneously with Yan Wei's salute, Wu Hanhui immediately identified himself and paid his respects first as soon as he approached.

  Yan Wei saw that Wu Hanhui, although an important figure in the Military Bureau, was sincere and courteous to others, completely unlike some of the arrogant styles of the past Revival Society. He secretly felt a sense of closeness to him. Looking at Wu Hanhui again, he seemed to be even older than himself, although he was well-preserved but his face already showed signs of fatigue from traveling. However, after greeting Yan Wei, he immediately scanned the surroundings with an almost imperceptible gaze, apparently searching for the target of his long journey.

  "Commander Yan Wei of the 32nd Division's Guard Regiment. Following the orders of Commander Jiang himself, we arrived at the designated location at 4 pm today and engaged in a fierce battle with a Japanese battalion, annihilating them completely. We have officially taken over the escort mission from the Wuhan Garrison Brigade and arrived here at 6 pm to make contact with your bureau. Please instruct us on our next task, Director Wu."

  Yan Wei immediately gave him a brief report on the situation after sensing Wu Han's urgency.

  I thought this unit had successfully shaken off the Japanese army's pursuit after a brief engagement and relocated here. But according to what the commander of the 32nd Army Corps' guard battalion said, it was actually after annihilating an entire Japanese company in a battle that they brought the children here! Upon hearing this, I couldn't help but feel greatly shocked! And this shock contained two layers of meaning.

  "Commander Yan, you said that this afternoon your troops annihilated the entire Japanese army's sniper squad?" Wu Hanhuai asked in surprise and puzzlement.

  "Not bad. No captives were left behind, and the enemy was annihilated in battle." Yan Wei told Wu Huan with a affirmative gaze not to question his ability.

  Wu Hanhuai must readjust his plan. According to the original plan, after receiving intelligence, he would find the rescue team and immediately identify the target among the children, then hand over the target to the team separately. Then, Wu's action team would escort the target safely to Chongqing alone. But apparently, the current situation requires Wu Hanhuai to reconsider his established plan!

  "Commander Yan, how many troops do you have here to carry out this mission?" Wu Hanhuai asked.

  "The entire team has thirty-four people below itself." Yan Wei used his eyes to tell Wu Hanhuai that he thought the most important issue at present should not be these.

  After listening, Wu Hanhua once again firmly believed that he must change the established plan. With only 35 people, an entire Japanese squadron could be annihilated! Wu Hanhua understood that his 20 handpicked subordinates from the bureau were absolutely incapable of such a feat! Even if they doubled their efforts, it was still impossible to achieve!

  Wu Han thought to himself: "I've long known that General Guan Zhen's bravery and military prowess are unmatched! His subordinates are all talented and shine in the military world! Among them, Du Yuming, Zheng Guodong, Zhang Yaoming and others have achieved great merits and hold high positions of power. Especially during his early years as commander of the 25th Division of the 17th Army, he had a remarkable subordinate named Yang Ju who was exceptionally talented and renowned throughout the military world! For many years, his legend has endured within and outside the military! It's widely spread among soldiers that even if they were to fight against an entire Japanese division, they would pray for good fortune and hope not to encounter that Taiyuan Yang Ju on the battlefield!"

  "Now it seems that the commander of the guard at this pass, has a bit of the style of Yang Jiyu, who was under his command in the past! No wonder General Guan Linzheng has never lost a battle on the battlefield after many years of fighting! His subordinates are indeed talented and capable! At the same time, I deeply feel that Commander Xue Yue's vision is unique and far-sighted! He knew that at this critical moment, only General Guan Linzheng's ability could turn the tide! Judging from the situation, if it were not General Guan Linzheng who was appointed by Commander Xue Yue at the critical moment, but someone else, I'm afraid that now everyone would have been wiped out by the Japanese army in the afternoon! The 35 men held off an entire Japanese company until I arrived with my troops! Ha ha, it's even more unimaginable!"

  Wu Han obviously realized Yan Wei's dissatisfaction and understood that he had neglected everyone while making his own decision, which was not right. So he immediately looked at Yan Wei and said: "Commander Yan, I don't know if the children are all safe now? Has your unit suffered any losses?"

  Yan Wei greatly appreciated Wu Han's way of dealing with the world. He immediately smiled and said, "Please don't worry, Director Wu, thank you for your concern. The children and my troops are all safe. However..." After saying that, he looked up and said, "When we arrived at the battlefield in the afternoon and clashed with the Japanese army, three of the children had already encountered difficulties."

  Wu Hanhuai was actually more joyful than disappointed when he heard this! Originally, with a platoon of soldiers from the Wuhan Garrison Brigade escorting them, they were ambushed by a Japanese army company and it was already fortunate that not all of them were killed. Now, however, he heard Yan Weidao say that only three children had encountered difficulties! Wu Hanhuai couldn't help but reveal his inner joy and his face lit up with delight! At the same time, he became even more certain that the Japanese army had taken a step ahead, obtaining accurate intelligence that Hua Ming's son was among the children in this group! He also deeply felt that heaven was showing him mercy, and that he would definitely not return empty-handed on this trip! But when he looked up, he noticed Yan Wei's unusual gaze, immediately realizing his own mistake, and quickly said to Yan Wei:

  "Oh, Captain Yan was able to lead his troops to arrive just in time when the enemy was about to launch a massive attack, minimizing the children's losses! Wu is truly impressed by Captain Yan's leadership!"

  As soon as he finished speaking, Yan Wei didn't wait for Yan to open his mouth and said: "Captain Yan, where are the children now? I want to see them immediately."

  Yan Wei looked at Wu Hanhuai and said, "Director Wu, the children are now sleeping in an old villager's wooden house on this mountain. They're all under eleven or twelve years old, and they've been following the troops on a long journey to escape with their lives for a whole day! They're all exhausted! I think we should let the children rest first, can't whatever it is be discussed tomorrow?"

  Wu Han looked at Yan Wei and said, "Commander Yan is unaware that just now in the sky, I almost chose the wrong place to parachute! From the air, it seems that about ten kilometers away from here, there are hundreds of torches densely packed, probably no less than two hundred people! Judging from the formation, they are obviously conducting a search and push operation! Moreover, the people on the ground should have seen the plane we took earlier! Commander Yan, if these people are the second batch of Japanese troops, then following our plane's guidance is likely..."

  He said, borrowing the light of the bonfire to glance at his watch: "I estimate that if we don't take a wrong turn, in about an hour or so, we should be arriving here. Captain Yan, it seems that we and the children are destined for a sleepless night tonight."