Chapter 10: Lei Jiang's Downfall

  In the first half of 1938, bad news came one after another: Lu state fell, Chizhou fell, and the war clouds were getting closer and closer to Leijiang. What made people in Leijiang feel desperate was that the Yangtze River, the golden waterway, had been firmly controlled by the Japanese army. After the Battle of Shanghai, the Chinese Navy and Air Force's meager forces were exhausted, and the Yangtze River, which had lost air power, was completely under Japanese control. Japanese planes with the Rising Sun flag on their wings bombed and strafed Chinese ships on the Yangtze River at will, causing heavy civilian casualties and property losses, and also cutting off the idea of Leijiang people trying to escape.

  In 1938, during the plum rain season in Huangmei, amidst the lingering and overcast rain, the people of Leijiang anxiously spent day after day waiting for war.

  Finally—

  July 10, 1938.

  When the people of Leijiang had just woken up from the scorching summer sun, the streets were still echoing with the cries of "mung bean pancake wrapped in oil strip" vendors and the calls of "jasmine flowers, fragrant jasmine flowers" flower sellers. Suddenly, a low-frequency humming noise came from afar, like the buzzing of mosquitoes on a summer night that made people feel annoyed and disordered. When the people of Leijiang rushed out to watch, they saw more than 20 planes with red medicinal flags painted on their wings roaring overhead. Immediately afterwards, intense explosions were heard coming from the direction of Old Dragon Head.

  The war fire that the people of Leijiang had been worried about for a long time finally fell on their heads!

  It's been a whole day! The sound of gunfire from the direction of Lao Longtou has not stopped, like popping beans. The hearts of the people of Lei Jiang have not been calm either, especially Fang Furen, who is like an ant on a hot pot, restless and unable to eat or sleep, constantly worrying about Fang Tianjue in the front lines. Rui Hui doesn't know how to comfort her, so she just orders the servants not to discuss the war situation, personally makes osmanthus lotus seed paste and lotus root soup, and quietly accompanies Fang Furen.

  The sky darkened, and the distant gunfire also became less frequent. At dusk, the watchman beat a bamboo tube and shouted everywhere: "The National Army has won a great victory! The Japanese army did not take half a step beyond Lao Longtou!" The news of the victory brought some comfort to the people of Leijiang. But this night, the people of Leijiang basically didn't sleep, worrying about the fate of tomorrow's front-line troops and their own destiny.

  Midnight. County government.

  The county magistrate, the director of the council, and the directors of the financial bureau, construction bureau, and social bureau were still in a meeting, discussing how to comfort the soldiers and the people of Leijiang tomorrow, and maintain social order. A member of the county self-defense team stood guard at the gate of the county government with a gun.

  A few muffled sounds came from afar. The militia member immediately became alert, and suddenly he found that a group of people were quickly approaching the county government in the dark. Although they couldn't be seen clearly, their movements were swift and well-trained. He pulled the bolt, loaded the bullet, and shouted loudly: "Who are you? Halt!"

  The other party did not respond. The self-defense team member held the gun and was about to issue a final warning, but before he could speak, he felt a black shadow flash by his side, his throat cooled down, and he completely lost consciousness. In the last moment, he pulled the trigger, fulfilling the sentinel's last duty.

  A shrill gunshot pierced through the quiet night sky of Lei Jiang!

  The people in the meeting room heard the gunshot and knew something was wrong, so they quickly pulled out their guns and prepared to rush out. However, it was too late. As soon as they reached the door, they saw several flashes of light coming from the opposite side, and those at the door felt a numbness in their legs and fell to the ground one after another.

  The sentinel's gunshot also startled the county public security bureau and the militia barracks.

  The director of the Public Security Bureau heard the alarm and immediately led the self-defense team members, just preparing to go out and search. But as soon as they left the gate of the Public Security Bureau, the first few self-defense team members who rushed forward only let out a brief "ah" cry, and then fell to the ground with a loud noise. No gunshots were heard, only continuous flashes of light were seen on the wall opposite. The director of the Public Security Bureau was an old soldier, knowing that the other side had used automatic silent weapons, which should be the special attack team of the devils! He knew that the county's self-defense team of one hundred and eighty people and dozens of broken guns were not a match for this group of elite devils. He immediately ordered fire cover, closed the gate of the Public Security Bureau tightly, commanded the troops to retreat into the underground tunnels of the Public Security Bureau, took advantage of the night, escaped from the north gate, and fled towards the back mountain.

  Leijiang fell at this point ~

  But the Leijiang Self-Defense Corps did not stop resisting, after withdrawing from Leijiang, the self-defense corps found its superior organization and was reorganized as the Leijiang Guerrilla Battalion of the Eleventh Guerrilla Column, with Bohu as its base, continuing to engage in anti-Japanese struggle and achieving significant results.

  The sky is a deep crimson in the morning. The sun just rises and only half of its face is exposed, with a bloody dark red color appearing along the entire horizon.

  When Lei Jiang woke up again, he found that the ancient town was dead silent. There were no more hawkers shouting, no more flower sellers calling out, only the broadcast car with a sharp flag playing Li Xianglan's eerie and seductive "What Day Will You Come Again", as well as stiff Chinese announcements: "The Imperial Japanese Army announces to all residents of Lei Jiang that Lei Jiang has been bravely occupied by the Great Japanese Imperial Army. The imperial army is here for Sino-Japanese friendship and East Asian prosperity. Orders from the imperial army: All residents of Lei Jiang must abandon all resistance, otherwise they will be regarded as enemies and severely punished! The newly appointed commander of the Imperial Japanese Army's Lei Jiang Garrison will give a speech at 10 o'clock in the Lei Jiang Academy Square, every household must participate, doors cannot be closed. If anyone is found not to go to the square, they will be treated as contempt for the imperial army, and killed without mercy!"

  The sun rises on a summer day, shining brightly like fire.

  When the residents of Leijiang collectively came to the Leijiang Academy Square from their respective homes, they saw that all around were a circle of gleaming bayonets. In the center of the venue hung a banner reading "Establishment Ceremony of Leijiang Garrison and Pacification Team" and a large Japanese Rising Sun flag. The blood-red flag was particularly eye-catching under the scorching sunlight.

  The phonograph played a discontinuous and intermittent tune of "Kimigayo". This song, which praises the emperor's eternal reign, was once the theme song and background music for Japan's militaristic iron hoof trampling Asia. The devils in the field were all solemn, following the rhythm and singing: "My emperor is prosperous, thousands of autumns and ten thousand generations; sand and gravel become rocks, covered with green moss; long-term stability and peace, national prosperity and people's peace." The music was low and slow, like China's mournful tune.