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

Chapter 300 Borrowing an Airplane from the Kwantung Army

As darkness fell, Blind Cheng immediately led his team to set off.

They arrived at the military train at top speed, and the train was still safely stopped on the tracks.

Blind Cheng laughed and said, "It seems the scholar's prediction was correct. In the end, those Japanese planes still couldn't bear to bomb the military train. Move it, transport team, hurry up and move it. Dismantling team, get to work."

The transport team swarmed over like ants. The doors of the carriages were opened, and the remaining supplies were unloaded piece by piece and then loaded onto wheelbarrows, flatbed carts, and livestock wagons for transport.

The dismantling team immediately took their tools and worked quickly to dismantle the locomotive of the military train.

Of course, we have plenty of manpower.

In addition to unloading supplies and dismantling military train locomotives, the carriages are also being dismantled, and the dismantling of the railway tracks is also underway.

And those two broken-down iron turtles weren't spared either.

Someone remembered something and said to Blind Cheng, "Commander Cheng, weren't we supposed to get two military train locomotives for the border region's arsenal? We only have one so far, we're still short one."

Blind Cheng remained calm: "What's the rush? As long as the Japanese army can't get food, their trains will keep sending supplies. Then we can take the opportunity to work again, and we'll have the locomotives for those trains."

With the military train seized, the Kumamoto Division's army was left without supplies. Yoshio Shinotsuka and the Japanese military headquarters couldn't just stand by and watch them starve to death.

Therefore, there will definitely be further military train transport following this.

In short, as long as those Japanese military trains are running on the railway, we will not lack military train locomotives.

"That's true, but I estimate that the blocking battle on Commander Liu's side will still be difficult. After all, we've seen two Japanese planes fly over there." The man continued, "If the Japanese suffer another heavy loss this time, and if they slow down the battle lines on other front lines and free up more planes, it probably won't be so easy for them to rob military trains in the future."

"It's not easy! Are we just going to give up on those Japanese devils?!" Blind Cheng glared. "Which battle in this war did we want to fight? Weren't we all forced into it? Yes, I admit the Japanese planes are tough to deal with, and we don't have anti-aircraft weapons, so we can't do anything about them. But I believe that Director Li won't hold us back. As long as someone can get him the equipment for manufacturing seamless steel pipes, he can definitely provide us with anti-aircraft weapons as soon as possible. With anti-aircraft weapons, we won't be afraid of those little Japanese planes anymore."

Although Blind Cheng said that, he was still very worried.

Although the scholar had read many books, he was quick-witted.

But since they didn't have any anti-aircraft weapons, even if only two Japanese planes went over, it probably wouldn't be easy to intercept them.

Even blind man Cheng could tell that Liu Weidong's losses must have been considerable.

"Yes, as long as Director Li is here, we'll be able to use anti-aircraft weapons sooner or later!"

The transport team had plenty of manpower, and in just over half an hour, they had unloaded the remaining half of the supplies from the military train.

They worked until late into the night, and the locomotive was dismantled, along with the carriages, which were then hauled away by truck.

A large section of the railway track was also dismantled, along with parts of two iron turtles.

"Go and tell Liu Weidong that I've finished my work here." Blind Cheng sent someone to inform Liu Weidong.

Cheng the Blind Man finished his work and promptly notified Liu Weidong that Liu Weidong no longer needed to risk his life or engage in direct combat with the Japanese.

We can fight and retreat simultaneously, slowing down the enemy and reducing our own casualties.

Once the transport team enters the mountains, Liu Weidong can then find a way to shake off the enemy and withdraw his troops.

"Yes."

……

As expected, things went as planned with Liu Weidong.

Even though Major General Miyai was unconscious, the remaining Japanese troops quickly reorganized their forces and turned back to fight.

This time, due to the lack of aircraft support and the significant amount of ammunition consumed in the previous battle, the situation became dire.

Therefore, the offensive power of the remaining Japanese troops was greatly reduced this time.

Relying on the newly repaired fortifications, Liu Weidong tenaciously resisted the enemy using grenade launchers, mortars, and light and heavy machine guns.

When the Japanese armored vehicles came up, they used Molotov cocktails.

The two sides fought evenly, neither gaining the upper hand.

"Commander, this is the liaison officer sent by the 772nd Regiment." The battalion commander led the man sent by Blind Cheng to Liu Weidong.

"Greetings, Commander Liu." Cheng the Blind's liaison officer quickly and solemnly saluted Liu Weidong, his voice trembling slightly: "Our commander told me to tell you that he has dismantled the military train and transported all the supplies away."

The liaison officer was trembling because he had witnessed the fierce fighting between Liu Weidong's troops and the Japanese.

Even the Hell Cannon was damaged, the Type 92 Infantry Gun was broken, and there were hardly any good rocket launchers left.

Imagine how much pressure Liu Weidong must have been under during the day, fighting against Japanese planes and mechanized troops.

If it were the 772nd Regiment fighting with troops supported by headquarters, they probably would have already been overrun by the Japanese.

Meanwhile, Liu Weidong's troops held their ground firmly, not letting a single Japanese soldier pass by.

"Okay, I understand." Liu Weidong's tone relaxed when he heard that Cheng the Blind had finished his work. He turned to the messenger and said, "Pass down the order: stop fighting the Japanese head-on. Take turns providing cover, fight and retreat at the same time, just delay the Japanese."

The order was quickly relayed to the lower ranks, but many soldiers below were blinded by rage.

Upon hearing the order, the company and platoon officers nearly lost their composure. The troops fought the Japanese for another half hour before gradually withdrawing from the battle.

Even after the Eighth Route Army withdrew, the Japanese troops did not give up.

They continued their relentless attack, determined to annihilate all those damned Eighth Route Army soldiers.

But in the end, the Japanese did not get their wish.

Liu Weidong's troops fought and retreated, and finally, thanks to their familiarity with the terrain, they successfully shook off the Japanese.

The Japanese troops arrived at Wolf Forest, only to discover it was a ruse, a fake transport convoy. They were furious.

They quickly arrived at the attacked military train.

Looking at this bare roadbed, there were no sleepers, no rails, and not even military trains.

The Japanese soldiers went crazy, shouting and yelling incoherently.

……

Taiyuan First Army Headquarters
"Commander, this is an urgent telegram from the Ninth Brigade!"

A staff officer, his hand trembling, handed the newly arrived telegram to Yoshio Shinotsuka, commander of the First Army.

Major General Miyai, commander of the 9th Brigade, led two mechanized regiments and two cavalry regiments to reinforce the troops, intending to reclaim the military supplies that had been looted by the Eighth Route Army.

As a result, they were met with fierce resistance from the Eighth Route Army on their way. Not only did the troops suffer heavy losses, but Major General Gongjing, the commander of the Ninth Brigade, was also seriously injured and in critical condition.

When the news reached the commander, he was so angry he almost choked.

The commander issued another death order, commanding the remaining troops to recapture the supply train at all costs.

This urgent telegram contains the results relayed back by the remaining troops.

They failed.

Not only were the supplies lost, but the military trains transporting them also mysteriously disappeared once again.

Upon seeing the strategist's expression, Yoshio Shinotsuka immediately guessed the outcome and instantly flew into a rage: "Baka! They failed again, and they've run out of supplies, is that it?!"

This is a life-saving supply for the Kumamoto Division; it was urgently transferred from the logistics warehouse of the North China Expeditionary Army by Commander Okamura.

It was robbed before I even got it. How am I supposed to explain this to Commander Okamura?

The tens of thousands of imperial soldiers in the Kumamoto Division were still starving.

The staff officer trembled even more violently: "The telegram said that not only are the supplies gone, but... but..."

"What?!" Yoshio Shinotsuka slapped the staff officer hard across the face, as if the latter had lost the supplies. "You damned bastard, you can't even speak properly, what use are you to me!"

The staff officer spat out a mouthful of blood, covered his swollen face, and stammered, "The telegram said that the military train and its supplies have gone missing."

"Baka!" Yoshio Shinotsuka kicked the staff officer over, his mind going blank.

Another military train has disappeared; this military train has gone missing again!

Without a doubt, they must have been dismantled and taken back by those damned Eighth Route Army guerrillas.

Damn it, damn it!

Yesterday, the intelligence department provided Yoshio Shinozuka with a report.

The report clarified that the Eighth Route Army's arsenal was most likely powered by dismantling and modifying the locomotives of military trains.

Now another locomotive has been dismantled and taken away, and it will definitely be used for power in the Eighth Route Army's arsenal.

The Kumamoto Division's army was once again in crisis after its failed attempt to suppress the Eighth Route Army. Meanwhile, the damned Eighth Route Army was able to take the opportunity to develop its military industry, which was simply intolerable!
"Commander, although the 9th Brigade's operation failed, their report isn't without merit," the staff officer said, getting up from the ground and forcing a smile. "With the support of two aircraft, the 9th Brigade also severely damaged the Eighth Route Army's forces. This once again highlights the weakness of the Eighth Route Army, a weakness shared by all Chinese troops: they lack anti-aircraft weapons. I suggest you communicate with Commander Okamura again and request more supplies. Be sure to send more aircraft for escort. Borrow planes from the Kwantung Army; they're not fighting right now, so you can definitely borrow their planes."

"Go and send a telegram to Commander Kumamoto, tell him that I will try to get him more supplies and that he must hold on." Under the urging of his staff officer, Yoshio Shinotsuka finally managed to suppress his anger.

At this point, getting angry won't help.

The tens of thousands of troops in the Kumamoto Division still need to find a way to send supplies up.

learn from mistakes.

It seems we have no choice but to borrow the planes from the Kwantung Army.

Without sufficient aircraft to escort them, it would be extremely difficult to deliver these supplies smoothly.

Moreover, since the plane has been borrowed, it can be returned later.

Kumamoto has acquired supplies, is taking an emergency rest, and has air support. Let him go back and sweep away the Eighth Route Army.

The strategic threat posed by the Eighth Route Army's regional arsenal is growing, and we must not give them enough room to grow.

"Yes."

(End of this chapter)