Chapter 10: The Conspiracy Set Up by the National Army

  "What are you doing?" Just at this time, an officer appeared on the machine gun position, and when he saw Jiang Butou ordering his soldiers to drag down Murong Wudi and execute him by firing squad, he immediately asked and said.

  "Report to the commander, this kid on the battlefield instigated soldiers to disobey orders, privately disassembled the Maxim machine gun and used it as an anti-aircraft gun to counter air raids. I had to kill one to warn a hundred to maintain discipline on the battlefield!"

  Chiang Notao saw the officer, immediately stood at attention, then jogged towards him, gave him a military salute and said, "It seems that he is extremely respectful to the officer, not daring to be even slightly slow."

  It was from Jiang Butao that he learned the officer was the commander of the 317th Regiment, and it wasn't until then that Murong Wudi saw the lieutenant colonel insignia on the officer's collar, and naturally understood why Jiang Butao had been so respectful in front of him.

  "I've already seen the battle earlier, well done! Although it's a bit disobedient on the battlefield, shooting down an enemy plane is already a great achievement, no need to pursue it further!" The regiment commander learned from Jiang Bote that the major officer who dismantled the Maxim machine gun to deal with the Japanese planes was the one in front of him. He looked up and down at Murong Wudi and said, "It seems like you have a mind that values talent and doesn't want such a talented battlefield hero to die at the hands of the enemy, but instead be executed by our own people. This would be a pleasure for the enemy, and I don't want to satisfy their demands."

  "Yes!" Jiang Butao saw the captain speaking like this, and naturally didn't dare to have any other meaning. He immediately responded with a respectful salute in front of the captain.

  "I am Ma Longfei, the commander of the 317th Brigade. Who are you? Why have you appeared on my position?" After introducing himself, Ma Longfei asked Murong Wudi. There were not many lieutenant colonel-level officers on this position, and they were all his subordinates, so he couldn't help but ask about the other's background, trying to figure out who this person was.

  "I am Murong Wudi, the commander of the Yunyang Mountain Anti-Japanese Column. I have come to your camp this time to discuss with Commander Ma about jointly defending against our common enemy, the Itagaki Brigade. The enemy is superior to us in both equipment and personnel, so I think we must cooperate in defense to prevent the devils from entering the Yunyang Mountain area and ensure that the local people are not persecuted by the devils."

  "Who are you?" Ma Longfei muttered, with a hint of disappointment in his eyes, probably because his own guess made him feel that he had no chance to get close to this person.

  "No, I'm just a patriot temporarily residing in Yunyang Mountain's Tianzai Village, who spontaneously organized a team to fight against the Japanese invaders and defend the peace of this land! " Murong Wudei immediately explained, trying to maintain his military strategic perspective while not losing face.

  "Murong Xian's words are not wrong, at this time the country really needs more patriots like Murong Xian. However, the Tiantang Fort is just a bandit army after all, with outdated equipment and incomplete personnel. It's unlikely that such a group of people can compete with the Japanese army's elite Ito Division on the front lines. If you have the ambition to serve the country, why not join me and stand together with the leader? Accept the government's changes, receive military pay, take these weapons and go fight. I guarantee you will be promoted to deputy commander of a regiment, and in the future, you will definitely have a bright future and make great achievements." As soon as Ma Longfeng heard Murong Wudi mention Tiantang Fort, he naturally understood what it represented. He felt that with Murong Wudi's talent commanding a group of bandit troops was a waste, and thus had the idea to recruit Murong Wudi for himself.

  "The conditions mentioned by Commander Ma are indeed tempting, but I, Murong Wudi, am not fighting the Japanese devils for my own future. So, no matter what, I won't follow Commander Ma's orders. However, if Commander Ma is willing to cooperate with us and defend together, then our Yunyang Mountain Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Troop will lead the new first brigade brothers to come and garrison!" Murong Wudi had no intention of accepting Ma Longfei's conditions, but instead felt it necessary to have a good discussion with Ma Longfei about garrisoning this nameless mountain pass.

  He had originally planned to ambush the devils at this unnamed pass, but now that the 317th Regiment has arrived ahead of schedule and made such a big commotion, the surprise attack strategy can no longer be implemented. Moreover, after the sneak attack by those planes earlier, it is clear that the devils have already taken notice of the troops stationed at the pass. What will follow naturally is a fierce battle with smoke filling the air. Therefore, in order to resist the Japanese army's all-out attack, he can only request to defend the unnamed pass together with Ma Longfei, to ensure that this sole passage into Yunyang Mountain is not occupied by the devils.

  "Are you saying that your Yunyang Mountain Anti-Japanese Guerrilla Force has reorganized into the First Brigade?" Jiang Butao asked doubtfully at this time, "Do you have so many people?"

  "My troops may not be comparable to your regular army, but I dare say that my troops far outnumber yours! If you don't believe me, just wait until my troops arrive and you'll see for yourself." Murong Wudi argued, seemingly still resentful of Jiang Nuo's questioning, and insisted on making his point clear in front of the other man, determined to make him understand that he was not someone to be underestimated.

  "Alright, I believe in your numbers and the combat capabilities of your newly formed First Brigade. So, I'll hand over the right flank at Shimenxia to you for defense. Don't lose it for me, or else Brother will be wrapped up by the devils! Ma Longfeng saw that Murong Wudi was so confident and assertive, and he had already begun to move in this direction. In order to make Murong Wudi know that what he said was right, and to use the war to force Murong Wudi to surrender to him, he deliberately handed over the most difficult place to defend at Shimenxia to Murong Wudi's newly formed First Brigade. He actually wanted to see if Murong Wudi really had any skills or was just a little clever earlier."

  "Don't worry, the devils will never break through from the Shimenxia side!" Murong Wudei replied very affirmatively, then turned around and walked towards the right side of the position, planning to take a look at the situation first. After all, geographical environment is the key to determining the outcome of war, he didn't dare to let himself have any negligence.

  "General, how can you entrust the right flank of our army to a motley crew for defense? If the enemy breaks through our right flank, our situation will be precarious!" Jiang Nuo said to Ma Longfei as soon as Murong Wudi left, seemingly dissatisfied with Ma's high regard for Murong.

  "You think I really believe in that mob? I think Murong Wu is quite talented, and I want to see how he commands his troops. If he can really hold onto Shimenxia, it proves that he's a useful talent, and I'll make sure to recruit him later. But if he only has a bit of cleverness and no real military talent, then let those people be our cannon fodder, consuming the enemy's ammunition. You prepare to attack from behind them at any moment, which is a win-win situation for us. Why wouldn't I do it?" Ma Longfeng said to Jiang Butao without hiding anything, with an air of having everything under control.

  "General, I'll arrange for the three battalions to ambush at Shiyingkou behind Shimenxia. As soon as the devils arrive, we'll give them a warm welcome!" Jiang Butao immediately went to prepare. The terrain of Shimenxia is open and suitable for the enemy's artillery attack, while Shiyingkou is not suitable for large-scale deployment. It can be said that he and the three battalions are waiting in ambush, ready to launch a pincer attack on the devils, which will achieve the goal of completely eliminating them. The decoy troops that lured the devils into Shiyingkou have become Murong Wudi's team, so they don't need to bear any losses.