It took more than an hour to walk down the mountain, covering a distance of more than ten miles.
Back at the regiment headquarters, the cooking team just delivered breakfast.
After traveling for more than ten miles, Shanzi was really hungry. He picked up the hot steamed buns without washing his hands.
He took a big bite. Shanzi asked while chewing: "There hasn't been a call from the Fourth Battalion yet."
Zhao Danian sighed: "I sent a telegram not long ago. The instructor called back and said that the sharp knife team has not returned yet."
Yumei also sighed: "Zikai, after all, we are outnumbered and outnumbered. Deputy leader Zhao and I have been worried about whether the sharp knife team will encounter something unexpected."
When Shanzi heard this, he suddenly stopped chewing: "Don't say such depressing words in the future. Good people have their own destiny. What can the little devil do?"
Yumei's cheeks turned red, and she felt ashamed.
Seeing Yumei's embarrassment, Zhao Danian deliberately made a joke: "Political Commissar Jiang said something worrying in front of Commander Wang. It would be better to give him a slap in the face. Let's eat quickly."
Just as Yumei picked up the steamed buns, the phone rang rapidly.
Shanzi reached out and grabbed the microphone and asked without hesitation: "The fourth camp?"
After listening to Shanzi's inquiry, Yumei couldn't help but burst into laughter. She choked on her food because of her laughter, and covered her mouth with her right hand and kept coughing.
Xiaohu's voice came from the microphone: "Captain, you didn't drink. Why are you talking drunkenly? When did the Fourth Battalion install a phone?"
Shanzi was angry. He tapped the edge of the bowl with his chopsticks: "If you have something to say, please tell me quickly. Don't be wordy."
Xiaohu said: "The Japs came with twenty carriages from the south. They set up two big tents and three small tents opposite me. More than twenty Japs lived in them. It looks like a headquarters."
Shanzi said coldly: "Is everything okay?"
Xiaohu scolded: "His grandma is a bear. These harried gangs unloaded a lot of things from the carriage. Ammunition boxes were piled up in mountains. There were also people setting up pots and stoves and pulling telephone wires. That's all. It's okay."
Shanzi hung up the phone with a click. Shanzi frowned and said nothing, biting the steamed buns carelessly.
Zhao Danian saw through Shanzi's thoughts and said: "Captain Wang, I believe what you said. Ji people have their own destiny. I also believe that Commander Gao has the wisdom and ability to lead everyone back to Huanglang Mountain smoothly."
Sure enough, I heard Zhao Danian's consolation. Shanzi smiled and said, "Brother Zhao, please tell me again. The Japanese have completed the supply of ammunition. Will they launch an attack after breakfast?"
Yumei was the first to answer: "The Japanese must be exhausted after traveling a long distance all night. I think at least they won't launch an attack this morning."
Shanzi turned his attention to Yumei again: "You are right this time."
Zhao Danian said: "In my opinion, it doesn't matter when the enemy launches a ground attack. From a defensive perspective, our soldiers are ready. From a defensive perspective, my position is iron-clad and iron-clad. The only thing I worry about is..."
Speaking of this, Zhao Danian kept his mouth shut and held rice porridge in his hand. He glanced at Shan Zi subconsciously.
Xiaoru blurted out: "The only thing I'm worried about is that the enemy will send planes to bomb again."
Zhao Danian smiled bitterly: "Although we have already prepared air defense plans, it is an airplane after all. We destroyed one of them. I don't know how many soldiers' blood and lives it cost. It's really heartbreaking to think about it."
Xiaoru continued: "In my opinion, the Japanese rely on 20 tanks. They will not send out planes for the time being. But if the tanks are scrapped and the attack fails, they will definitely make more ruthless moves and send planes to perform surgical operations."
Zhao Danian smiled bitterly again: "What I'm worried about is this if and for sure."
Shanzi's expression was arrogant. He slowly swallowed a mouthful of steamed buns and said, "I'm worried that I can't stop the Japs from sending planes. I can only show the majesty of the independent group at all costs. Otherwise, they will fly over to harass you every day."
Yumei said: "Zikai, you are not the only one who has this belief. Everyone from top to bottom believes in the Independence Regiment. Everyone is holding back their enthusiasm. But when you face your dead comrades, your heart is sadder than anyone else's."
Shan Zi suddenly changed the subject: "Deputy Commander Zhao. I guess the old thief Ishii will be in charge of attacking the Independent Regiment this time. What do you think?"
Zhao Danian replied: "The old horse knows the way. If I were to choose a general, of course I would also need Shi Jing."
Shanzi was thoughtful. He said nothing next.
14
Xiaohu guessed correctly. The tent opposite him was the Japanese Army General Headquarters. It was more than 20 meters outside the eastern front encirclement. The big tent in the middle was the command center.
As soon as the orderlies put all the facilities in place, Ishii ordered the executive to call Tahara and Ando.
Ishii's face was full of anger. He went straight to the point: "Ando-kun, this time the artillery positions are set up. It is still up to your troops to reconsider the terrain in advance and finally determine the position. Besides, it is far away from the independent regiment. Why was it attacked again?"
Ando said: "Reporting to the major general, I thought that after the first attack on the independent regiment, Tuba Road set up a constant alert at least five kilometers away from the surrounding area. This is the only reason why the artillery was attacked."
After listening to Ando's analysis, Tahara said: "What Ando-kun said is absolutely correct."
Ishii thought for a long time and then nodded gloomily.
Ando continued: "Major General, even though the artillery position has been destroyed, we still have twenty tanks. Based on the current equipment of Tubal Road, they are helpless. They will have to be wiped out by us."
Ishii nodded again, and then instructed the executive officer to notify all commanders to come to the headquarters to hold a meeting.
About half an hour later, various commanders entered the command center one after another.
At this time, Xiaohu put away the telescope and slipped into the cat's ear hole behind him.
The call from the regiment headquarters was answered through the cat's ear hole. Xiaohu reported...
All the Japanese superiors went to the headquarters for a meeting. It looked like they were going to take action.
Shanzi said he understood and then pressed the microphone.
Zhao Danian glanced at his watch and said: "It was just 8:13. The Japanese will launch an attack in the morning. This is not impossible."
Yumei seemed to be saying to herself: "Did I guess wrong?"
Shanzi said: "It's not that you guessed wrong. It's Xiaohu and Deputy Commander Zhao who said it wrong."
Yumei asked again: "What do you mean?"
Shanzi smiled coldly and replied: "What I mean is, I hope the little devils will attack as soon as possible. We can beat them away as soon as possible, so as not to be accompanied by a pack of wolves day and night, which will make people uneasy."
Taking a sip of tea, Shanzi continued: "But I believe what Xiaoru said. Once the Japanese attack fails, they will definitely send planes to bomb. Like Deputy Commander Zhao, I am most worried about this thing."
Speaking of this, Shanzi stood up involuntarily.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, a confidential officer hurried into the regiment headquarters holding a telegram: "Report. Call from the Fourth Battalion."
Shanzi shouted quickly: "Read it."
Confidential personnel read...
Regiment Headquarters and the Sharp Knife Team completed their mission and took a detour back to Huanglang Mountain. Due to the emergency, thirty-two martyrs had to be abandoned. Sixteen more comrades were seriously injured. Gao Yufeng.
After listening to the telegram, Shanzi's expression was solemn. His mouth was tightly closed. He pressed his hands on the desk and remained silent.
Zhao Danian instructed the confidential personnel to call back to Battalion Commander Gao and go to Sheling at night to collect the remains of the martyrs and bury them near Huanglang Mountain.
The confidential personnel left. Yumei then turned her attention to Zhao Danian: "Deputy Commander Zhao. The doctors sent to the Fourth Battalion the day before yesterday. They are all students led by Dr. Han and Dr. Fan. Can they complete the operation independently?"
Zhao Danian replied: "Mr. Han and Dr. Fan brought a total of six students. Among them, two girls, Xiao Huang and Xiao Sun, were the best. So Dean Han assigned them to temporarily station in Huanglang Mountain."
Yumei nodded lightly. Shanzi still stood, but said: "I just remembered something. The last time the Japs dispatched planes from Weilai, three of them were damaged. Will they fly from Weilai this time?"
Yumei said: "I think it doesn't matter where we dispatch from. The key is quantity."
Shanzi sat down on the chair. Shanzi continued: "That's exactly what I want to say. The Weilai Aviation Mixed Squadron is affiliated to the Qingdao Aviation Group. If it takes off from the group this time, will it still be nine?"
Zhao Danian said: "It's the same whether it comes more or less. It's just one word: hit."
Although Shanzi didn't respond verbally, he squeezed his hands hard.