The War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression Begins in Songhu

Chapter 639 I Want Them All (Two Chapters Combined)

"Damn it! It's so hard to even get a drink of water. Can this weather get any colder?"

Hu Biao smashed the kettle, now completely frozen into a lump of ice, a long way away in a fit of rage, cursing angrily under his breath.

After uttering that curse, he spewed out two unusually thick streams of water vapor from his nostrils, like a panting old ox.

At the same time, it can be seen that not only is a thin layer of ice on his Japanese army overcoat, but his eyebrows and stubble beard are also covered with obvious frost.

All of the above indicates that at this very midnight hour, the outdoor temperature may have already dropped to a terrifying level of minus 40 degrees Celsius.

Hu Biao actually knew why it was so cold.

On the one hand, this is the coldest time of year in Northeast China, but according to locals like Xie Laoyan, it's even colder than in previous years.

Good heavens! As a result, Hu Biao and his team encountered this kind of severe weather, which was completely different from previous years.

On the other hand, many people in the south may not have heard of the place name Jiamusi, but they have basically heard of its name during the Daqing period.

Because it was called 'Ningguta', some serious criminals were exiled here to this harsh land where they were enslaved by armored men.

It would be strange if this place wasn't this cold during the coldest part of winter.

Perhaps due to the long journey, Hu Biao was extremely thirsty; more importantly, the current situation made him feel quite uneasy, as if he had a fire burning inside him.

He glanced around, then simply scooped up a large handful of relatively clean snow from in front of him and took several big bites with a satisfying crunch.

As the cold, white snow entered his mouth, Hu Biao immediately felt a refreshing coolness spread through his body, from his mouth to his lungs.

Even the anxiety I had felt was significantly relieved, and my head, which had been feeling a bit dizzy, became much clearer.

That's why, after lighting a cigarette and taking two deep drags,
With a much clearer mind, they began to analyze the predicament they were currently facing and how to resolve it.

First, once they entered the forest, they raced deeper and deeper into it.

After speeding along, we have now ventured deep into the heart of this forest.

The Japanese cavalry that had been chasing them had suffered more than half their casualties in the short battle; therefore, they dared not pursue them any further, and the Japanese were now temporarily safe.

Secondly, this period of safety is very short, and a larger number of Japanese soldiers must be rushing over.

Therefore, we cannot stay in this forest for long and must move immediately. If we are surrounded and killed by the Japanese with a large number of troops, then we will be in big trouble.

The key question is which direction to move from and where to move to.

Finally, with the appearance of the Japanese cavalry, and their demonstrated superior mobility compared to trucks in the current adverse weather and road conditions.

Even if Hu Biao didn't want to admit it, he still had to accept a cruel reality:

The Japanese troops blocking their way ahead are getting stronger, and the number of pursuers behind them is increasing; they will not be able to reach the banks of the Wutong River where General Zhao had his accident before dawn tomorrow night.

At least according to the original plan, it was impossible to achieve this, and some adjustments had to be made.

As for how to make the adjustments, Hu Biao already has some ideas in mind, but whether or not to actually do it requires some study of the map first.

Therefore, he shouted: "Map..."

With just Hu Biao's simple command, the difference between a veteran and a novice was immediately and clearly demonstrated.

While the remaining five newbies were still somewhat bewildered, the dozen or so veterans standing on the periphery, including the warehouse manager, the henchmen, Van Gogh, and Zhixiang, were already on guard with their weapons at the ready.

To prevent the Japanese from sneaking up and attacking Hu Biao while he was studying the map.

Annie quickly rummaged through her crossbody bag and found a small waterproof calfskin bag. From inside, she took out a map of Northeast China, placed it on the snow, and opened it.

Mina and Xiao Cui, the two girls, each took out a flashlight and used it to illuminate the map.

The rest of the people gathered around, intending to offer their thoughts and suggestions on Hu Biao's next decision; no one was just standing there idly, and everyone was ready to contribute their share.

On the map, Hu Biao first roughly determined the location of his group, then slid his finger down the Songhua River, and finally made a decision in his mind.

Because they knew that with such limited time, there simply wasn't enough time to hold a collective brainstorming session.

Hu Biao gritted his teeth and decided to act unilaterally this time; with this in mind, he first shouted: "Raise your hand if you can ice skate."

In response to this question, two KL warriors raised an arm.

Among the transmigrators, seven or eight people raised their hands. These people shared a very common characteristic:
They are either from the north or have lived in the north for quite some time.

After a cursory glance at the people who had raised their hands, Hu Biao immediately issued the order:

"From this moment forward, a special team will be formed, consisting of the boss's wife, the consumptive, the warehouse manager, the sister-in-law, the quack doctor, and Sanpang, along with Comrade Ma Qianli from KL."

The boss lady will serve as the team leader, and in case of any disputes during the mission, all decisions will be made in accordance with her decision.

The special team's mission was to immediately set off southwards until they reached the Songhua River.

At this time of year, the Songhua River must be frozen solid; so when you arrive, shaman, please find a way to make a pair of ice skates for everyone.

Then you will put on white camouflage cloths and skate to the banks of the Wutong River, where you must rescue General Zhao.

Attention! This is currently our only way to get to the scene in time and save General Zhao.

Therefore, the others who remain will try to make as much noise as possible here to attract the attention of the Japanese and reduce the chances of you being discovered.

On your way to the banks of the Wutong River, try to keep your tracks hidden and avoid taking action if possible; don't worry about killing many Japanese soldiers, just try to rescue the people safely.

Alright! That concludes the special team's mission. Do you have any further questions?
"Speak quickly if you have any questions. If not, take a radio with you and we'll contact each other again after the rescue mission is over."

Upon hearing this, all those named by Hu Biao, including Annie, immediately assumed a standard military posture and responded with:
"No problem! I guarantee I'll complete the mission."

Despite the fact that these veterans don't usually treat Hu Biao as the team leader and constantly call him "Deadbeat," they still do.

In the early days, there were often scenes of a group of people surrounding and beating Hu Biao.

But when it comes to serious matters, they are all incredibly clear-headed.

Especially now, they all know that, just as Hu Biao said, the troops are splitting up here; the main force is operating openly to attract and distract the Japanese.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, a small elite unit quietly moved to Wutong River to rescue the people as quickly as possible; this was indeed the only way.

They all became unusually serious, without the slightest delay or a single wasted word.

Only Annie thought of Hu Biao and the others, realizing that their mission to distract the Japanese must be extremely dangerous.

He stepped forward and walked to Hu Biao's side, helping to clear the frost from Hu Biao's obviously frostbitten cheeks while giving him a few words of advice:
"Boss Hu! Remember not to be reckless."

If something doesn't work, don't force it; we can always think of other solutions.

"Yes! You too." Hu Biao also gave Annie the same advice, and as he spoke, he took a scarf that he had seized from Mi Rong Village from his own neck and wrapped it around Annie's neck.

After realizing something, he started shouting to the others:

"Take out emergency food such as canned goods, chocolate, and candy and give it to the special team; they need to keep their tracks along the way, so they probably won't be able to make a fire for warmth and will have to consume a lot of food to replenish their energy."

As for what we'll eat? We'll just rob the Japanese; they have plenty there.

Under this order, everyone stuffed the canned Japanese food they had seized from Miyaka Village, as well as the chocolates and candies they had brought from the modern world, into the hands of the seven members of the special squad.

They even gave each of them a bottle or two of strong liquor, so they could warm themselves up with a sip in a pinch.

As modern people, Hu Biao and his companions naturally knew that drinking alcohol to keep warm was an unscientific and even quite dangerous method.

Because of the stimulating effect of alcohol, it can only temporarily increase blood flow to the skin, warming the body for a short time. Once the stimulating effect of alcohol wears off, body temperature will drop even faster, making you feel colder.

But if you're really on the verge of freezing to death, you'll cherish every moment of warmth and won't care about anything else.

And so, Annie's special team of seven departed with a heavy mission; their figures soon disappeared completely into the increasingly fierce snowstorm...

******
Like a chimney, he seamlessly lit another cigarette for himself.

Hu Biao first glanced at the team, which now consisted of only 34 people, including himself; then, facing the remaining four KL warriors, he asked a crucial question:

"Gentlemen! Who among you is most familiar with Jiamusi City and the surrounding areas?"

Do you know what parts of their territory are extremely important to the Japanese, and what they would be very distressed about if we wiped them out tonight?

Hu Biao's inquiry was naturally intended to find a suitable target to take action, and also to attract the attention of the Japanese, thus creating certain conditions for the special team's operation.

Upon hearing this, Xie Laoyan and the others' eyes instantly turned incredibly fervent, and their breathing became heavy.

No other reason than that! No one just takes a beating without thinking of fighting back.

Over the years, they in Northeast China have been struggling to survive under the constant pursuit of the Japanese. Of the original 30,000 troops in 11 armies, it is hard to say whether there are even a thousand left.

A significant portion of them had to retreat into Russian territory to recuperate.

During that time, I don't know how many times I thought about doing a good job and killing more Japanese devils to avenge the fallen soldiers.

Unfortunately, they struggled to even survive. Their usual activities included raiding Japanese checkpoints, police stations of the Black Dogs, or small groups of Japanese soldiers in their tribes.

They had the will but lacked the power to achieve such a large goal as Jiamusi City.

But since the beginning in Mirong Village, after witnessing the formidable fighting power displayed by Hu Biao and others, it seems that these past dreams have become a possibility.

Soon after, Zhou Ergou, a man in his mid-twenties, stepped forward and said:
“I’ve only been with KL for less than a year. I’ve been living in Jiamusi City for a while, so I know a lot about the situation here.”

After he finished speaking, he broke off a branch from a dead tree and held it in his hand.

Once it became a pen, it squatted down and started drawing on a patch of snow. Before long, it had drawn an irregular rectangle, which should be a simple topographical map of Jiamusi City.

Then, without even thinking twice, Zhou Ergou took the twigs and marked each location on the map, explaining them as if they were his own treasures:
"Commander Hu and other officers, there are still many places in Jiamusi City where action is worth taking."

This area in the west of the city is where the puppet Sanjiang Province, established by the Japanese two years ago, is located; most of the traitors in the city, big and small, live in this area.

About a kilometer south of here lies Nangang Street, the most bustling street in the city.

On this street, there were many foreign firms run by the Japanese, including banks, businesses that bought and sold mountain products, duck slices, cloth, grain, and timber.

Relying on these foreign firms, the Japanese have plundered resources from hundreds of miles around China over the years.

This location in the east of the city was the headquarters of the Kwantung Army Air Group stationed in Jiamusi. It is said that this headquarters commanded two air regiments.

The airport is outside the city, but the command center, pilots' quarters, and other facilities are located here.

Oh, right! There were about 110,000 people living in the city, and about 35,000 Japanese soldiers. They lived in the east of the city and near Nangang Street.

They've taken all the best spots. We Chinese people all live in the north of the city, along that narrow strip of land near the Songhua River; whenever there's a flood, countless people drown.

After quickly introducing the situation in the city, Zhou Ergou then began to describe the situation outside the city:
“Aside from some villages where the settlers were stationed, there were three important places outside the city for the Japanese.”

This is the railway bridge over the Songhua River. It was built in 1937 and is a single-track bridge. The Japanese army relied on this bridge to transport troops and supplies.

Not far downstream from the bridge is the Japanese power plant, which supplies electricity to all Japanese units and military camps in the surrounding area.

On this hill in the southeast, the Japanese also built a shrine, supposedly to suppress the dragon vein of our China.

Of these three important locations, aside from the shrine which is in slightly better condition, the power plant and the railway bridge are usually garrisoned by at least one squad of Japanese soldiers, and tonight there will certainly be even more.

After Zhou Ergou spent a few minutes quickly explaining the situation, a group of people around him stared intently at Hu Biao, waiting for him to make a decision about which target he would choose to attack.

It can only be said that everyone wants to wipe out all the targets set by Tuesday Dog.

But they themselves know that with only 34 people, it is impossible to do such a thing, and it is really difficult to make a selection for the time being.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Hu Biao laughed heartily and then shouted:

"Only children make choices; adults want it all, at least all the targets in the city. If we're going to stir up trouble and attract attention, we should definitely make it bigger for better results."

Let's forget about the targets outside the city; even if we succeed there, we'd easily be surrounded.

However, in the city, especially in such a densely populated urban environment, we can take advantage of our strengths and carry out a standard special operations operation.

Aside from the area in the north of the city where our compatriots live, we won't cause any trouble there.

They used all sorts of tricks, like setting fires and throwing bombs, in other areas, mainly to make the more than 30,000 Japanese soldiers in the city, as well as the other traitors, afraid to stay in their homes.

With so many people running around the city, that's the best cover for us.

On the contrary, as long as we seize the opportunity, we can wreak havoc on those important places of the Japanese.

However, there is something that needs to be said in advance: the enemy was strong and we were weak, and we were fighting in what was essentially the enemy's stronghold. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the process was fraught with peril.

"If anyone doesn't want to go, I, Hu Biao, won't force them. I'll just meet them outside the city."

Hu Biao's statement was naturally directed at Xie Laoyan and the other three KL brothers; these time travelers had no choice at all.

Faced with Hu Biao's question, Zhou Ergou, a native of Jiamusi, gave a bitter smile.

He said, "Ever since my wife and child were killed by a Japanese truck last year, I've considered myself a dead man since I joined KL."

"As long as I kill enough Japanese devils to avenge those three women, I'm not afraid of being torn to pieces, let alone pulling off a heist."

The other three, including Xie Laoyan, remained silent, but the resolute expressions on their faces spoke volumes.

Seeing this, Hu Biao didn't hesitate any longer and said, "Let's go! Once we're in the city, we'll act according to the situation. Don't be afraid if we get scattered."

After seeing a green signal flare in the sky, it was a signal to retreat. Everyone met outside the Japanese shrine on the southeastern hill outside the city.

After saying that, he led the way and strode towards Jiamusi City.

The crowd followed closely, their hearts filled with a determination to risk their lives and cause chaos in Jiamusi City.

As they walked, Awei, who was behind, suddenly noticed that Xufeng beside him stumbled and fell to the ground.

At first, he thought Xu Feng had slipped on the ice and didn't think much of it, simply reaching out a hand to help him up.

When they got closer, they noticed that Xu Feng's face was abnormally flushed, and one of his trouser legs was already wet.

Reaching out to touch him, I found his forehead was burning hot; without a doubt! At this critical moment, Xu Feng had actually caught a cold and had a fever.

But thinking about it, it's normal, even if these veterans are physically strong.

But at some point, Xu Feng's trouser leg got wet. In this environment of minus 40 degrees Celsius, where skin can be frostbitten in seconds without protection, he couldn't withstand it either.

Realizing all of this, Awei instinctively wanted to shout to Hu Biao to report on Xu Feng's situation.

Before he could even speak, Xu Feng whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Shut up! I've already taken cold and fever medicine. I'll kill a few Japanese soldiers later to warm up and work up a sweat, then I'll be fine."

Under pressure from the veteran, Awei immediately shut his mouth.

However, the worry in my heart did not subside at all...

(End of this chapter)