The War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression Begins in Songhu

Chapter 436 So Helpless (Two-part chapter combined)

Hey! Old Yu, the taciturn fellow, didn't die, because Uncle Bo and the others finally arrived at the most crucial moment.

To be more specific, it was that Uncle Bo and his group of more than a dozen people rushed towards the Xiyuan Hotel, and in an alley a few hundred meters away, they bumped into a compatriot who had been released by Lao Yu from the military police prison.

Seeing that the man still had many whip marks all over his body, Uncle Bo stopped him in a flash.

After a little questioning, they found out that Lao Yu had actually escaped on his own.

In the rush of time, Uncle Bo didn't even have time to ask Lao Yu more about the situation. He and Shen Zui each took a few brothers and started searching in the surrounding alleys.

During this time, they heard Lao Yu firing gunshots into the air, which served as directions for them.

After rushing as fast as they could, they finally arrived just as Lao Yu let out a long sigh and threw away his pistol. Just as an older woman who was about to be rushed up was about to slash her face with a pair of sharp scissors, they arrived with remarkable speed.

As he shouted "Stop!", Uncle Bo also fired several shots into the air.

The brothers who were following along also pulled the bolts to load bullets.

Their action finally calmed down the villagers who were caught up in the frenzy, and they stopped rushing forward.

It was Uncle Bo's timely arrival that saved Lao Yu, as well as Grandpa Yang and his daughter-in-law's lives, preventing a tragic incident where comrades killed each other, a tragedy that would have been heartbreaking.

The only problem was that, after passing through a passage spontaneously created by the people, they saw the old Empress Yu sitting slumped on the ground.

Seeing this guy, he not only had no wounds or signs of torture on his body, but his skin was fair and rosy, and he had gained at least several pounds, looking quite plump.

Uncle Bo felt a surge of inexplicable anger rising to the top of his head, and he really wanted to turn around and leave.

And then add a harsh line: "Sorry! I mistook you for someone else. Folks, keep hitting him, hit him hard! If you don't beat him until he poops green, then this guy hasn't eaten any vegetables for the past two days."

What made Uncle Bo react so strongly and get so angry?

It wasn't that he misunderstood Lao Yu as a traitor just because Lao Yu had no injuries, which led to this outcome.

Uncle Bo still had enough trust in this time traveler partner who fought alongside him and entrusted his back to him countless times.

The crux of the matter is that they've been very worried about this thing these past few days.

Even while eating and sleeping, he felt a great sense of guilt because he thought of the poor, silent fellow, and wondered what kind of miserable scene he was now under the cruel torture of the Japanese devils, unable to live or die.

So, what happened? Just by looking at him, you can tell he's living a pretty comfortable life. All my worries were for nothing...

"Damn it! I absolutely can't tell anyone about that Japanese woman, otherwise these guys will be extremely resentful and might cause me a lot of trouble."

The above is Lao Yu's first reaction and decision after being rescued and seeing the complicated expressions on Uncle Bo's face.

That's why, after Uncle Bo and the others revealed their identities and sent the crowd of people away, this guy immediately started asking a series of questions, intending to distract them:
"Old cucumber, how's the battle going? Has the Xiyuan Hotel been taken yet?"

"Have the two Japanese leaders, Ando Rikichi and Imamura, been captured or killed? How many Japanese soldiers are left in the city? When will they all be wiped out? Are our compatriots in the city alright?"

Faced with this long list of questions, Uncle Bo's train of thought was indeed led astray.

Instinctively, I began to answer the related questions one by one:
"Our compatriots in the city are all safe. We have set up four safe zones in the city and gathered most of our compatriots to hide in them. With hundreds of people guarding them, we have safely weathered this crisis."

Because I was looking for you, I didn't have a very detailed understanding of the battle situation.

However, based on the sounds heard and the situation seen, it is clear that the Nationalist army has now entered the city in full force, capturing not only the Xiyuan Hotel but also most of the city.

In other parts of the city, there may still be seven or eight small groups of Japanese soldiers occupying some well-positioned areas and putting up a stubborn resistance, but it is only a matter of time before they are wiped out.

After all, if they've angered everyone, whether it's arson or using merciless cannons, they could be wiped out in a matter of minutes.

While saying the above, Uncle Bo looked extremely relaxed; he was not at all surprised by the result.

Indeed, after Hu Biao and his men successfully besieged and attacked the reinforcements in Dadong Township for the second time, and dealt with the 18th Division, the recapture of Nanning City was no longer in doubt.

However, as the conversation progressed, Uncle Bo seemed to realize something and a look of considerable regret appeared on his face.

Somewhat annoyed, he said, "We saw a Japanese plane take off hastily before it was shot down at the Xiyuan Hotel, and it must have been carrying Ando Rikichi and Imaizumi Hitoshi."

Those two Japanese devils are really cunning; they actually hid a small transport plane in the Xiyuan Hotel.

Upon hearing this, Lao Yu remembered the Type 97 transport plane he had seen when he escaped from the small building.

"If only I had stayed a little longer and damaged this plane; that Leica camera was still a bit lacking, it couldn't even kill Ando Rikichi."

Oh, right! I can't say anything about this, lest those guys laugh at me for being blind and letting two big Japanese fish escape.

This was the second decision Lao Yu had made.

Good heavens! This time travel is truly an unprecedented and novel experience for him...

Just as Uncle Bo analyzed the battle situation based on what he heard and what he saw, the Japanese in Nanning City is now on the verge of complete annihilation.

At least 15,000 Nationalist troops have stormed into the city from all directions.

And behind them, a steady stream of troops followed and charged in.

On the Japanese side, after their command post at the Xiyuan Hotel was captured and their two highest-ranking officers fled, they lost unified command.

The remaining Japanese soldiers scattered throughout the city can now only gather in groups of a hundred or so, occupying some of the more sturdy buildings to put up a stubborn resistance. It's only a matter of time before they are annihilated.

Or they would be small groups of three or five, wandering aimlessly through the city's alleys like headless flies.

These Japanese soldiers also suffered the worst fates, as they not only had to face pursuit and killing by a large number of Nationalist soldiers.

Often during their escape, they would suddenly be hit by a barrage of bricks, stones, chairs, and benches falling from above, injuring or knocking them to the ground.

Then countless citizens of the city, who had been oppressed by them in the past and were like sheep, attacked them like wolves.

The deep-seated hatred in their eyes made them feel not only utterly alienated, but also filled them with immense fear; for a moment, they didn't even have the courage to resist, and could only kneel on the ground and beg for mercy.

However, such pleas for mercy had absolutely no effect.

They were quickly overwhelmed by the angry crowd. By the time other Nationalist troops arrived, the sight of the Japanese soldiers lying dead on the ground was so gruesome that even these professional soldiers, who had just experienced a major battle, felt a bit uneasy...

At the same time, in the sky above Nanning.

Imamura Hitoshi withdrew his gaze from the window at the city below and couldn't help but sigh. He then said to his adjutant beside him:
"Let's go! Tell the pilot to stop circling and head to Weizhou Island Airport."

After saying this, the Japanese lieutenant general felt a sense of relief and liberation amidst his anger and grief, though he dared not show it in the slightest.

It should be noted that this Type 97 transport plane was not arranged by them, but rather by headquarters.

Upon receiving the farewell telegram from the 18th Division, the high command of the Japanese General Staff reached a conclusion with considerable resignation:
They launched the operation in the Guinan region based on "Continental Order No. 375".

They have already suffered a huge and irreparable defeat, because even if they send reinforcements as quickly as possible, it will be too late.

In Nanning, the remnants of the 5th Division and the Taiwanese mixed brigade were on the verge of complete annihilation.

The only thing they could do at the moment was to send a transport plane overnight to land at the Xiyuan Hotel, preparing to evacuate Ando Rikichi, Imamura Hitoshi, and other generals at a critical moment.

Because in this battle in Guinan, they have already suffered too many losses and lost too much face.

It is simply unacceptable that more generals were killed or even captured by the Nationalist army.

So at this moment, in the plane, besides Imamura Hitoshi, the lieutenant general and commander of the 5th Division, and one of his adjutants, there was also Ando Rikichi, the commander of the 21st Army, who was in a coma.

And about a dozen senior officers with the ranks of colonel and lieutenant colonel.

This was to maximize the carrying capacity of the transport aircraft, taking away as many valuable personnel as possible to reduce the Nationalist army's losses. As for those who couldn't be taken? Of course, they would have to die a glorious death.

With the plane traveling at high speed, after officially departing for Beihai Weizhou Island Airport, the city of Nanning behind them disappeared completely in no time, and the few remaining air force units of the National Revolutionary Army also did not appear.

At this point, Imamura Hitoshi was able to let go of his last remaining worries.

He then became extremely distressed. The Guinan campaign had suffered such a huge defeat, and the Empire's famous 5th Steel Army Division had almost been completely destroyed by him.

When I got back, I had no idea what terrible consequences I would face, and I was extremely agitated.

However, this Japanese soldier soon realized that even returning alive to sit on the sidelines seemed to be a pipe dream.

Just as he was feeling agitated, his adjutant, pale-faced, shouted, "Everyone, grab the handrails! The plane is about to make an emergency landing!"

Completely bewildered, Jin Cunjun asked:
"Why did we have to make an emergency landing? Did the plane experience a mechanical failure?"

"Damn it! Didn't the pilot repeatedly assure me before takeoff that the plane had undergone numerous checks and maintenance and that there wouldn't be a single problem?"

"The plane itself is fine, but a venomous snake somehow crept into the cabin at some point."

I couldn't identify the species of the snake, but it bit both the pilot and the co-pilot. The pilot's face turned black and he was already dead.

The co-pilot could hold on a little longer; he tried to make a quick emergency landing.

The adjutant quickly explained, and as if to prove his point, he held up a dead snake with its head flattened.

Imamura Hitoshi also couldn't identify the specific species of the dead snake, but seeing the numerous conspicuous rings on its grayish-brown body, he knew it must be a highly venomous snake.

And you know what? Imamura Hitoshi's judgment was right.

If a local from Nanning came here, they would immediately recognize this as a '30,000 snake,' which can be found in bushes, woods, and abandoned houses.

If you get bitten, it's basically a death sentence.

The scientific name for this creature is actually the king cobra. After biting a person, it can secrete a large amount of neurotoxin; it can usually kill a person within a few minutes to an hour.

This is why the Japanese pilot was bitten first, and because he was injected with even more toxins, he was about to die.

The co-pilot, who was bitten later, received less toxin, which is the main reason he was able to attempt an emergency landing.

Imamura Hitoshi was lucky; the small transport plane successfully made an emergency landing in a cornfield before the co-pilot was completely incapacitated.

There was no tragic outcome of the plane crashing and all lives lost.

However, Imamura Hitoshi preferred that the forced landing fail and the plane be destroyed, resulting in the loss of life.

It was during the intense turbulence of their emergency landing that they had just calmed down a bit, opened the cabin door and stepped out, only to witness this horrifying scene.

They landed near a village at the foot of a mountain, and the villagers had already realized what was happening.

There was an old man with a white beard, who was banging on a broken gong while shouting something.

Hundreds of villagers, young and old, rushed over, carrying not only farm tools such as hoes, carrying poles, sickles, and manure scoops, but also several homemade guns.

His adjutant, Kobayashi, was very dutiful; even at this moment, he did not forget his duties.

He brandished a Nambu XIV pistol and shouted in broken Mandarin, "Stop! Don't come any closer, or I'll shoot!"

And do you even know who we are? Don't cause trouble for your village..."

Unfortunately, Kobayashi-kun didn't even finish uttering a single sentence before suffering misfortune.

With a 'bang' of gunfire and a thick cloud of smoke, Kobayashi and a lieutenant colonel staff officer beside him fell to the ground with screams.

They didn't die, but a handful of dense iron shot was sprayed onto their heads and faces from a distance of less than twenty meters by a homemade gun; the excruciating pain was indescribable.

Seeing that the fierce-looking villagers were about to attack, Imamura Hitoshi instinctively drew his katana.

The other Japanese officers did the same; they hastily leaned against each other, prepared to die here today, but to die gloriously like samurai.

Just as Imamura Hitoshi had a chance to swing his katana a few times, his wrist was struck by a carrying pole, and the katana fell to the ground.

Then, a dung ladle, still covered in years of filth, slammed into his face, sending stars flying and knocking him to the ground.

Then, amidst a barrage of beatings, Imamura Hitoshi gradually lost consciousness.

According to the county annals of Hengxian, on January 16, 1, at noon, a Japanese transport plane made an emergency landing in front of Bishan Village within the county.

The clan chief, Li Taigong, personally struck a gong to summon his descendants and villagers to kill the Japanese devils.

During the battle, the elders of Bishan Village fought bravely, killing two Japanese lieutenant generals, seven colonels, and four lieutenant colonels. They also captured a Type 97 transport plane, samurai swords, pistols, and a batch of documents.

Afterwards, both the bald-headed principal and Commander Bai of the Guilin Military Headquarters issued orders to commend them…

******
Time: Shortly after noon, the gunfire in Nanning City completely subsided, signifying that the Japanese soldiers in the city had been completely annihilated.

This largest and most important city in southern Guangxi has finally returned to the embrace of China.

In an instant, loud cheers resounded throughout the vast city.

However, all of this joyful atmosphere seemed to have nothing to do with Lao Yu; he wandered around and searched frantically in the Japanese military police building like a headless fly.

What are we looking for? Of course, it's that weird Leica camera.

This thing was also taken away when he was captured by the Japanese.

Although Lao Yu knew that in future time travels, there probably wouldn't be conditions like this again, allowing him to create such a commotion with this thing.

But that Leica camera is still an extremely important thing, and it must be found.

Unfortunately, Lao Yu searched almost the entire building; in one office, he found his watch, pen, and other personal belongings, but his Leica camera was nowhere to be found.

They wanted to ask someone, but adhering to the principle of the Northern Jiangsu Independent Regiment that they did not take prisoners, there were no Japanese soldiers left alive in the entire Xiyuan Hotel.

Even the old Japanese woman he had tied to the bed has now completely disappeared.

For a moment, he wanted to find a Japanese soldier to question him about where the Leica camera was, but he couldn't find anyone.

While frantically searching, Lao Yu suddenly saw Mo Shuiyan hurrying towards him, and he couldn't help but perk up.

After hearing that the Leica camera was missing, Hu Biao and his team didn't dare to be careless. They all led people to search various places in the Xiyuan Hotel, especially in the offices of Ando Rikichi and Jin Tsunehito.

So when he saw Mo Shuiyan arrive, Lao Yu quickly asked:
"You cripples, did you find the camera?"

"We found several cameras, but none of them are what we're looking for," Mo Shuiyan said, delivering this bad news.

Before Lao Yu could speak, he continued with another piece of heartwarming news:

"We just received a notification that four bigwigs, including Bai, Chen, Li, and Zhang, are going to enter the city through the North Gate, and we, as well as the military commanders of various units, must participate in the entry ceremony."

"These guys aren't very good at fighting, but they're all experts at these fancy tricks." Upon hearing this, Old Yu couldn't help but complain.

However, she gave up searching further and followed Mo Shuiyan to the North Gate to meet up with Hu Biao and the others.

As for that Leica camera, he was already prepared to buy it back at a high price at an auction after returning to the modern world.

What else? He was helpless too...

(End of this chapter)