Chapter 878: Assassination of the Emperor’s Special Envoy
Aihara Takahiro, 34 years old, is a retainer of Emperor Hirohito of Japan. He rarely appears in public. He has been reading to Hirohito since he was a child. The two have a close relationship. His mother is Hirohito's wet nurse.
Takayuki Morii, the garrison commander of the Japanese army stationed in Haizhou, with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
After the reconnaissance company arrived in Haeju, they obtained a file at the designated location where they met with local Xingilhui members. In addition to the above information, there was also a black-and-white photo, a port security deployment map, a road map, and a naval club structure map.
Cao Dabao looked at the black and white photo in his hand. At first glance, Aihara Takahiro's photo was taken secretly from a distance. His face was blurry and there were only general outlines.
Although the previous special envoys claimed to be the emperor's special envoys, they either served in the Japanese government or the military. In fact, they had no relationship with the Japanese emperor and only used the name of the Japanese emperor.
Aihara Takahiro did not hold any actual position, but this trip was indeed of great significance as the personal representative of the Emperor of Japan.
Cao Dabao had expected the difficulty of this mission, and Zhou Weihan also mentioned it in advance, but when he saw the photo, he couldn't help but said: "If we can't determine the true appearance, how can we choose the target? Do we have to rely on luck?"
"Your Excellency, please be patient. According to our investigation, because this person is a retainer and is only responsible for the emperor's personal affairs and never participates in national affairs, no one paid attention to him before, whether it was the military stationed abroad or the domestic politicians.
Very few people know he exists!"
"So we won't be able to get more identity information in a short period of time. This photo was secretly taken during a dinner party in Tianjin, but one thing can be confirmed. He must be the core of the crowd and wearing regular clothes. This way he can
Lock the target!"
The speaker was a member of the Xingilhui stationed in Haizhou, and the other identity was the senior staff officer of the Japanese Navy stationed in Haizhou.
When the two parties met for the first time, although they had the same purpose, they both remained wary and did not disclose their identities. Cao Dabao also came alone when he came to meet.
"According to the itinerary, Aihara Takahiro's arrival in Haizhou should be three days later. You should not be the only one carrying out this mission. You can familiarize yourself with the terrain of the houses around the route map in advance and choose a suitable location and retreat route.
!”
"I would like to remind you that the security was the tightest when Takahiro Aihara disembarked. Not only the navy was involved in the security work, but the local army in Haizhou was also involved, so don't choose the port and let the army's red deer take responsibility!
"
After this person finished speaking, he originally planned to go out directly, but turned around and said: "If there is no other place to live, this can serve as your temporary safe house. Don't worry, no one will come to check before Aihara Takadai dies!"
The identity of the reconnaissance company was the Japanese army in charge of escorting the vehicle. After the meeting, they returned to Haizhou Railway Station. That night, the main leaders of the second and third groups gathered together to discuss the details of the operation.
In this operation, one group and three groups each had twelve people, each equipped with a radio. These two groups did not participate in the assassination operation and were only responsible for the response. The real person responsible for the assassination was the second group, with a total of five people, including Cao.
Dabao, thirty people in total.
"Company Commander, I met with my comrades from northern Jiangsu in the afternoon. They gave us a topographic map of Haizhou's surroundings and gave us clear suggestions to evacuate to the Taohuajian Mountain Area in the southwest of Haizhou after we succeed. Troops will be available to respond at that time.
Let’s!” Li Dongsheng, leader of the third group, said.
Cao Dabao hummed and placed all the information and drawings provided by the Japanese Army and the New Fourth Army on the table, especially comparing the road map provided by the Japanese Army with the terrain map provided by the New Fourth Army.
"The two maps are slightly different in subtle ways, but the accuracy is still guaranteed. Oura Station is a full 28 kilometers away from Haizhou. Except for the port where there are dual escorts of the Japanese Army and Navy, the rest of the place is guarded by the Japanese Army!"
"Aihara Kida must take the train. Unless we do something along the way, there are only two suitable locations, Oura Station and Haizhou Station, and it is even more impossible in Haizhou City!" Cao Dabao said.
"Daepo Station is not possible. Even if we succeed, the surrounding terrain makes it inconvenient for us to evacuate, so we can only choose Haizhou Station. The Taohuajian Mountain District is only six kilometers away from Haizhou Station. With our foot power, we are very fast. If we can get it
A car would be better!" Li Dongsheng said.
In fact, Cao Dabao had an idea in his mind. Their current identity was the Japanese army in the Dangshan area, and their identity documents were verifiable. They could be killed by snipers with one shot from the commanding heights. With this identity, they could fish in troubled waters, and even participate openly and openly.
into the midst of a manhunt.
As for why Terauchi Isamu didn't select one of his own to take action, firstly, if the operation failed, the arrest of the operators would be equivalent to being imprisoned. Secondly, he knew very well what Aihara Takahiro was doing. As long as something happened to him, all relevant forces would be suspected.
"Tomorrow, the second group of people will sort through the route map to see if there are any opportunities along the way. As for Haizhou Station, we must focus on investigation!"
"The three groups of personnel focused on sorting out the situation along the way from Haizhou to Taohuajian, and found more blocking points. In addition, they also need to be familiar with the situation inside the Taohuajian mountainous area!"
Two days passed quickly. On the afternoon of the next day, Cao Dabao went to the meeting point in the city again to confirm the situation with members of the Xingrihui. After receiving a clear reply, he immediately started to make arrangements.
On the way back, Cao Dabao could clearly feel that the security force in the city had been strengthened. In the past two days, there had been far fewer Japanese people drinking flower wine.
Although the members of the second group responsible for familiarizing themselves with the route entered Haizhou City with their identity documents, they were unable to enter the Navy Club because of their status as soldiers, and were even beaten and scolded by the guards.
"Company Commander, today the Japanese soldiers in the station have checked the entire train station inside and out. At present, all trains have stopped transporting. After dinner, all escorting Japanese troops, including us, gathered at the school yard. They said they were going to be temporarily deployed into the sea.
Among the state station guards!"
"If this is the case, all our plans will be disrupted!"
"Why are you anxious? I know it well!" Cao Dabao said. During the second meeting, Cao Dabao informed the members of the Xingrihui that the location was set at Haizhou Station, but the location chosen by the sniper was not easy to approach rashly, but the other party said
Everything is solved by him.
Xuzhou is the hub of the Jinpu Railway and the Longhai Railway. After passing through Xuzhou, if the supplies want to go to sea, they need to pass through Haizhou. Since the Japanese army's sweep has not yet ended, many Japanese troops escorting through Haizhou were intercepted in order to strengthen the defense force.
After dinner, about 300 Japanese soldiers gathered at the school grounds, including 6 people from the second group of the reconnaissance company.
The person who gave the lecture was a Japanese lieutenant. After the lecture, they began to assign their respective positions. Cao Dabao, the group who came from Dangshan, happened to be assigned to the two guard towers at the south gate of the station and the south side fortifications.
Everyone else felt like it was pie in the sky, but Cao Dabao didn't think it was a coincidence. From the conversation with the contact, it was not difficult to judge that the other party was the navy, so the Japanese army lieutenant responsible for allocating positions should also be Xingrihui.
member.
Early on the third day, all Japanese troops at the train station began patrolling and guarding. Near noon, the train coming from the direction of Oura slowly slowed down and entered the platform.
Cao Dabao stood on the sentry tower, and could vaguely see the Japanese officer who was originally standing sloppily suddenly standing upright.
The train between Haeju and Daepo runs in the east-west direction, so the station only has two gates, the north and the south. The guard tower is about 800 steps away from the south platform where a group of little devils are. This is the distance measured on the spot.
At a distance of 800 meters, no matter who it is or what kind of firearm is used, there is no guarantee that it will hit the target. However, if Aihara Takahiro wanted to take the bus, he would need to leave the platform and walk south, and the location where the vehicle stopped was about 400 meters away from the guard tower.
After the train stopped and the door opened, except for the leading major general who did not move, none of the other little Japanese officers moved either.
"Hey, why is this different from the imagined scene? It's supposed to be a big shot, but why don't they seem to want to see each one of them!" A soldier wondered.
"Who knows? I would love him even more than if I met my biological father!"
The leading Japanese major general came from Xuzhou and was the chief of staff of the 21st Division. He immediately stepped forward and said: "It's been a long journey. You have worked hard all the way. Our division commander is supervising the battle in Qingxiang and has no time to spare. He can only ask me to come."
!”
Although there were words in his mouth, none of the chief officials from various places along the way of the emperor's special envoy showed up. Japan has an unwritten rule that generals stationed abroad are not allowed to have private dealings with the Japanese emperor. Everything must go through the military headquarters.
Perhaps because of his belief in Buddhism, Takahiro Aihara clasped his hands together, bowed slightly, and then walked towards the vehicles parked on the south side of the platform under guidance.
The convoy escorting Takahiro Aihara stopped right opposite the south gate, with a truck at the front and rear, and a car in the middle. The reconnaissance company had a sniper on each side of the guard tower.
As Aihara Takahiro and his party approached the convoy, the two trucks in front and behind started to catch fire. Cao Dabao's palms became sweaty. Although there were snipers on the left and right sides, the distance was too far and the chance of missing was high. The distance to the vehicle was too close.
, the truck in front can easily block the view, so the timing must be chosen well.
With a soft pop, the bullet fired from the Type 97 sniper rifle equipped with a silencer hit Takahiro Aihara in the head. The body fell to the ground with a sound, and the kid next to him didn't seem to react.
Immediately afterwards, another sniper killed the little Japs in the driver's seat of the car in front. The sound of shattering car glass woke the Japs up. The Japs chief officer in Haizhou, Taka Mori, screamed in panic: "Baga!"
, there are enemies!”
The leading Japanese Major General threw himself on Takahiro Aihara's body. He seemed to have not been able to react from the shock. He did not want to get involved in this muddy water, but the division commander of the 21st Division did not want to.
Come forward.
"There are assassins, rush to the station for support!" Cao Dabao stood at the south gate and shouted to the little Japs on the outer fortifications. Hearing the shouts, the Japs subconsciously ran towards the train station, but did not find Cao Dabao and his party.
The six people passed by them and ran towards the south.