Bright Sword: From Border Region Manufacturing to Major National Heavy Industry

Chapter 263 Another military expert lost

Because the Eighth Route Army guerrillas destroyed the roads, Takahashi Konosuke, a military expert sent by Saki Ichiro from the No. 9 base, had to switch from a car to a horse halfway to reach Heian County.

The guard consisted of two full companies of Japanese soldiers.

Their weaponry was also of high quality, with twice as many machine guns, grenade launchers, and mortars as regular Japanese troops.

The two squadrons of Japanese soldiers were escorting Takahashi Konosuke on his journey at high speed, but by some twist of fate, they ran into Ding Wei.

That's right, it hit Ding Wei's hand.

Originally, Ding Wei and Gao Xigang were leading Yan Kai and running around aimlessly ahead.

Then Li Yunlong and Gao Liujin led the Jin-Sui Army in pursuit. During the chase, they made full use of the advantages of mobile warfare and wore down the two or three thousand Japanese soldiers.

Once we've worn down and crippled those 20,000 to 30,000 Japanese soldiers, we'll find another opportunity to deal with their logistics.

As a result, Ding Wei and Gao Xigang led Yan Kai to a fork in the road. The scout ahead reported: "Reporting to the regimental commander, two companies of Japanese soldiers have appeared ahead. They are all on horseback and seem to be escorting some important people."

"Gao Xigang, you take Yan Kai and continue according to plan. I'll go and wipe out these two squadrons of Japanese soldiers and see who they're escorting." Ding Wei immediately and decisively decided to intercept them.

"Okay." Gao Xi had just nodded when Ding Wei led his team to rush over.

Although the two squadrons escorting Konosuke Takahashi were not weak, they were no match for the powerful artillery barrage of the New 1st Regiment.

Ding Wei quickly dealt with the two squadrons of Japanese soldiers, and also captured Takahashi Konosuke alive.

Of course, because the latter was uncooperative, Ding Wei knocked him unconscious, tied him up, and brought him back.

Ding Wei brought Takahashi Konosuke over and they met up with Gao Xigang. Yan Kai asked in surprise, "Isn't this Takahashi Konosuke?"

Seeing that Yan Kai recognized the other person, Ding Wei asked suspiciously, "You know him?"

Yan Kai looked at Takahashi Konosuke carefully for a couple more seconds, and then said with great certainty, "When I was studying in Japan, he was my deskmate."

Ding Wei was naturally pleased to hear this.

Yan Kai went to study in Japan, and his classmates were no ordinary people.

Just like the previous Yamamoto Sakura.

Ding Wei immediately asked, "Then who is this Takahashi Konosuke?"

“He is a metallurgical expert, proficient in refining various ores,” Yan Kai replied.

A smelting expert proficient in refining various ores?

Ding Wei was still a little stunned when he heard this.

Why is this smelting expert out here in the middle of nowhere instead of staying at the smelting site?

However, Ding Wei was too lazy to think about it anymore.

Now that such an important expert has fallen into our hands, we must make sure to take good care of him.

If political officers can get him to talk, they can definitely get important information out of him.

Ding Wei then said to Gao Xigang, "It's still not safe for us to take people to the rear of Taiyuan. After we meet up with Lao Li, we'll send them to the base area."

It's definitely not possible to send it now.

Because Ding Wei and Gao Xigang still had to lead Li Yunlong, the Jin-Sui Army, and the Japanese troops in circles.

"Okay." Gao Xigang nodded immediately, then, remembering something, asked, "Should we put him with Yan Kai?"

"No!" Ding Wei shook his head immediately. Although the two knew each other, they still wouldn't put them together to avoid any trouble.

"Row."

The minor incident of easily capturing Takahashi Konosuke did not affect Ding Wei and Gao Xigang's actions.

The two of them led their team forward, continuing to dash about, pretending to be pursued by Japanese soldiers.

After all, there really were some Japanese soldiers pursuing them.

Behind the pursuing Japanese soldiers, Li Yunlong and Gao Liujin were leading the Jin-Sui Army.

Behind the two of them were 20,000 to 30,000 Japanese soldiers, all of whom were exhausted from running for their lives.

……

Ping'an County
"Colonel, the appointed time has arrived, but Takahashi Konosuke hasn't shown up," a subordinate reported to Yamamoto Ichiki. "Could he have been delayed on the way?"

"With time so tight, he probably won't delay easily." Yamamoto Ichiki shook his head, immediately picked up the phone receiver, and started making a call.

Yamamoto Ichiki is inquiring about the outposts and guard posts along the way.

At first, several outposts claimed to have seen Konosuke Takahashi pass by, but later outposts said they hadn't seen him.

This caused Yamamoto Ichiki's emotions to freeze instantly.

Judging from this, it seems that Takahashi Konosuke has been attacked by the Chinese.

Konosuke Takahashi is very valuable; if something goes wrong, the responsibility will be significant. Moreover, our samples are still awaiting his authentication.

If other people can't come, won't the appraisal be put on hold?
Now, the Kumamoto Division's main force has already advanced, and they are completely unleashed.

If we can't quickly verify whether the sample is tungsten sand, and it turns out to be a false alarm, that would be incredibly embarrassing.

Yamamoto Ichiki picked up the phone: "Connect me to the Commander of the First Army."

The call connected quickly, and Yoshio Shinotsuka's impatient voice came through: "Yamamoto-kun, could it be that the results of Konosuke Takahashi's diagnosis are in?"

Yamamoto Ichiki's tone was not good: "I'm sorry, Commander, but I haven't seen Takahashi Konosuke arrive yet. My initial assessment is that something may have happened on the way, and he's gone missing."

"Baka!" Yoshio Shinotsuka's impatient tone instantly turned into anger. "The cherry blossom tree is gone, and now we've lost Takahashi Konosuke too!"

“Commander, I’ve analyzed his route, and I’m afraid he’s run into the Eighth Route Army outside the encirclement.” Yamamoto Ichiki said gravely.

"Damn it!" came the sound of Yoshio Shinotsuka slamming his fist on the table from the phone receiver. "Those twenty or thirty thousand men over there in Kawashima are all useless!"

It's infuriating that 20,000 to 30,000 men couldn't contain the Eighth Route Army and the Jin-Sui Army, and that they even ran into Takahashi Konosuke by accident.

Yamamoto Ichiki continued, "Commander, my samples need to be tested as soon as possible."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, then someone said, "We've lost another military expert; we can't afford to make the same mistake again."

The Eighth Route Army and the Jin-Sui Army were running around outside like wild horses.

Sending military experts again would be a joke if the bad luck came again.

"Does this mean my samples won't be tested?"

“According to Kumamoto’s report, the Eighth Route Army’s resistance on his way to Yang’er Mountain was very strong, causing considerable casualties on Kumamoto’s side. Also, the Eighth Route Army on Yang’er Mountain is still desperately digging and moving things. Judging from these two points, it is highly likely that what is buried on Yang’er Mountain is tungsten ore,” Yoshio Shinotsuka said.

"Commander, judgment is just judgment, not..." Yamamoto Ichiki was about to say something more.

Yoshio Shinozuka interrupted, "The most urgent tasks right now are the operations in Kumamoto and Kawashima. I'm sending a telegram to Kawashima now, telling him to find Takahashi Konosuke. You continue to rest and don't get distracted. Sato Haruno will continue searching for the location of the Eighth Route Army's border arsenal. If you find any clues, you must cooperate well with Sato Haruno. This time, Yamamoto-kun, you can't afford to fail again."

"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander."

After ending the call with Yamamoto Ichiki, Shinotsuka Yoshio was still stomping his feet in anger: "Those Eighth Route Army guerrillas outside the encirclement are really despicable! First they captured Sakura, and now they've captured Takahashi Konosuke. If we don't deal with them quickly, they might come after me tomorrow!"

"Someone come here!" Yoshio Shinotsuka shouted frantically outside.

"Commander!" A staff officer rushed in.

"Go, immediately send a telegram to Kawashima in the name of headquarters, telling him that Takahashi Konosuke is very likely in the hands of the Eighth Route Army he is pursuing, and that he must find him for me!" Yoshio Shinotsuka ordered.

"Hayi!"

……

"Damn it, those Eighth Route Army soldiers, their artillery fire is too fierce."

Major General Kawashima saw another unit trying to rush forward and engage the Jin-Sui Army, but it was reinforced by artillery fire from the Eighth Route Army, and the unit retreated again.

Major General Kawashima was furious. "If our planes were available, we wouldn't allow these Eighth Route Army guerrillas to run rampant like this!"

"Yes, the Eighth Route Army has shoulder-mounted artillery, which makes our tanks unable to get a foothold. Even our defeated Jin-Sui Army has joined the Eighth Route Army in launching a counterattack against us. It's infuriating!" Captain Yoshino was also furious.

"Gentlemen, there's no need to be so angry," an advisor reassured them. "The Eighth Route Army's artillery fire is fierce, but their shells will eventually run out. We just need to deplete their shells, and once they're out of ammunition and their henchmen are gone, will we still have to worry about not being able to subdue them?"

"That's true, but our logistical costs are also very high," said Captain Yoshino.

“War is all about attrition,” the staff officer said. “They are essentially isolated right now, without logistical support, while we are.”

“That’s true.” Both Captain Yoshino and Major General Kawashima nodded.

"Brigade Commander, an urgent telegram has arrived from the Commander-in-Chief." At this moment, the communications soldier handed the newly arrived telegram to Major General Kawashima.

Upon hearing that it was an urgent telegram from the commander, Major General Kawashima quickly took it.

Looking down quickly, Major General Kawashima cursed, "Damn it! The Eighth Route Army has captured another one of our military experts, right under our noses! What a disgrace!"

Captain Yoshino took the telegram and read it, then cursed loudly, "These damned Eighth Route Army soldiers! If we don't hurry up and deal with them, I have a feeling something bad will happen."

"Perhaps we should adjust our deployment," Major General Kawashima said after a moment's thought. "If we pursue the Eighth Route Army now, they will be too fast and skilled in mobile warfare. If we are forced to pursue them passively, it seems we will always be in a passive position."

"Then how do we adjust?" Captain Yoshino asked, looking at Brigade Commander Kawashima.

"Let's stop pursuing them and turn around to reinforce Commander Kumamoto's division," Major General Kawashima said. "I refuse to believe that if we help Kumamoto's division raid the Eighth Route Army's stronghold, those Eighth Route Army soldiers won't come to our aid. That way, the initiative will be in our hands."

Immediately afterward, Major General Kawashima said, "If they return, we'll set a trap halfway and wipe them out on the spot!"

"Well, that's a good idea." Captain Yoshino nodded, then, remembering something, asked, "What if they don't return? What if they flee to the rear of Taiyuan after we're gone?"

"The defenses in Taiyuan have been strengthened. Even if they attack, they won't be able to take the key positions in a short time. At worst, we can just turn back," Major General Kawashima said.

"Yeah, that makes sense."

……

(End of this chapter)