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

Chapter 303 Smoke from Natural Gas Plant

"Brigadier General Chen, a strange target has been spotted ahead."

A guerrilla captain rushed over and reported to the brigade commander.

"What strange target?" the brigade commander asked.

Kitano Chuji and Major General Kawashima's troops ran out of food, and the brigade commander kept harassing them along the way.

However, Kitano Chuji and Major General Kawashima's troops numbered over 20,000, and the brigade commander could only delay them, not completely stop their advance.

Now, following Kitano Chuji and Major General Kawashima's team, the guerrilla captain discovered a strange target, which naturally puzzled the brigade commander as well.

Under normal circumstances, if Kitano Chuji and Major General Kawashima were out of supplies, they should go to the county town for emergency resupply.

However, they did not go to the county town along the way.

The guerrilla leader has now spotted a strange target, which is most likely the destination of this group of Japanese soldiers.

“I don’t understand it either, you’d better go and take a look,” the guerrilla captain said.

"Alright, I'll go take a look then." The brigade commander nodded and quickly set off with the guerrilla captain.

An hour later, the brigade commander still looked somewhat dazed as he stared at the natural gas plant in front of him.

Of course, the brigade commander didn't recognize the natural gas plant, but looking at these strange devices, he could tell that it must be an important Japanese factory.

The brigade commander was extremely puzzled by this.

Kitano Chuuni and Major General Kawashima don't seem like idiots.

Despite being constantly delayed by my guerrillas along the way, instead of going to the county town to find supplies, you're heading straight for this important factory. Aren't you just pointing out a way for our Eighth Route Army to make money?

That's right. Although the brigade commander didn't know what the factory in front of him did, he was sure it was lucrative.

The fact that this important factory is not shown on the map further highlights its value.

Normally, shouldn't the Japanese have tried their best to keep it secret? Why did they deliberately expose it to us?

The guerrilla captain looked at the brigade commander with a bewildered expression: "Brigade Commander Chen, it seems that this group of Japanese soldiers probably wanted to come to this factory to resupply, so they had no choice but to expose this place."

The brigade commander pointed and said, "This factory doesn't look like it has a strategic warehouse. How can there be supplies here?"

"I reckon there definitely is," the guerrilla captain judged. "Otherwise, have these Japanese devils lost their minds, letting such a large army march this way?"

"Hmm, that makes some sense," the brigade commander mused.

No normal person would easily expose such an important factory.

However, the actions of Kitano Chuji and Major General Kawashima, involving more than 20,000 men, exposed their utter foolishness.

In reality, they were definitely forced into this situation with no other choice.

They must have known that even if they went to the county town for supplies, it would only be a drop in the ocean, since there were more than 20,000 people and the amount of supplies needed was not small.

That's why we chose this important factory.

"Take pictures of this factory quickly," the brigade commander ordered the guerrilla leader. "After the photos are developed, send them to our rear as soon as possible so that someone can see what kind of factory this is."

The guerrilla leader sent men to look for the camera, but still said to the brigade commander, "Brigade Commander Chen, let's take over this factory and seize the equipment..."

"Things aren't as simple as you think." The brigade commander shook his head. "Kitano Chuji and Major General Kawashima have over 20,000 men right here. We don't have a chance to make a move. We'll consider taking action after they've replenished their supplies and left. Anyway, the factory is here; it can't run away."

Once we find out exactly what kind of factory it is, we can have the arsenal send in professionals when we dismantle the equipment.

Otherwise, if you mess things up and damage the equipment or cause an accident during the disassembly process, there will be no going back.

"What I'm worried about is that they've replenished their supplies and then come to attack us," the guerrilla captain said anxiously.

"We have two legs, can't we run away?" the brigade commander said seriously. "At worst, we can fight a guerrilla war with him."

"That's right, that's right."

The camera was brought over, and the brigade commander personally took photos of this important factory.

Just as the film was being delivered, Kitano Chuji and Major General Kawashima's team arrived.

The brigade commander didn't press the matter, leaving some men to keep watch while the rest quickly retreated.

Kitano Chuuji and Major General Kawashima arrived at the perimeter of the natural gas plant. Looking at the large pipes and huge tanks, their expressions were still somewhat...unpleasant.

The Eighth Route Army guerrillas came along too; they must have discovered this place as well.

However, the Eighth Route Army guerrillas did not attack this place, which clearly indicated that they intended to take it over.

In other words, the location of this natural gas plant has been exposed.

Their actions were, in a sense, extremely foolish.

Kitano Chuuji and Major General Kawashima exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat... well.

If we weren't lacking supplies, we wouldn't be forced into this situation.

Both of them turned their gazes to Fujita Ichiji: "Fujita-kun, where are the supplies?"

"Please wait here for a moment, I'll go in and make some arrangements." Fujita Ichiji asked Kitano Chuji and Major General Kawashima to wait here.

Kitano Chuuji and Major General Kawashima waited, letting Fujita Ichiji go first. "You, you, you're Deputy Factory Director Fujita?" The Japanese officer guarding the area quickly recognized Fujita Ichiji's identity, and his tone instantly became somewhat tense.

Back when Fujita Ichiji was the deputy factory manager, he almost caused a huge disaster.

That is, he was secretly smoking at the natural gas plant.

The patrol team smelled the cigarette smoke on his breath, but he still denied it.

The cigarette butt he threw away later ignited the bedding, causing a fire.

Fortunately, it rained heavily at that time, and the rain prevented the disaster from happening in time.

Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.

After this incident, Fujita Ichiji was dismissed from his post and reassigned to the intelligence department.

Unexpectedly, Fujita Ichiji returned not long after, which naturally made the Japanese officers on guard nervous.

“Yes, I am Fujita.” Fujita nodded and said to the guard officer in front of him, “Take me to see Director Hojo immediately, I have urgent business with him!”

The guard officer flatly refused: "Director Hojo is not here. Whatever you need, please come another day."

Fujita Ichiji's mess even implicated Hojo, the factory manager, and he was punished.

Factory manager Hojo has given the order that he never wants to see Fujita Ichiji again.

What's more!

A fool like Fujita Ichiji, let alone Director Hojo, no one in this natural gas plant wants to see him again, much less let him in easily.

"I have something urgent to do, I need to..." Fujita Ichiji didn't finish his sentence.

The guard officer immediately resorted to violence: "Come on, throw him out!"

Several Japanese soldiers came over like wolves and tigers and dragged Fujita Ichiji out without any politeness.

Kitano Chuuji and Major General Kawashima watched as Fujita Ichiji was lifted up. Major General Kawashima quickly stepped forward and questioned, "Baka! What happened?"

The Japanese soldier didn't recognize Major General Kawashima, but he did recognize the general's star on Major General Kawashima's shoulder.

The Japanese army had a strict internal hierarchy, where every rank higher could crush many of those below them.

This is a major general.

Several Japanese soldiers quickly released Fujita Ichiji and saluted Major General Kawashima in a trembling voice: "General!"

Major General Kawashima ignored the Japanese soldiers and looked solemnly at Fujita Ichiji: "Fujita-kun, what's going on? Why were you kicked out like that? Where are the supplies?"

“Commander Kawashima, I stayed here for a few days before and caused a little trouble,” Fujita Ichiji explained. “They’ve misunderstood me…”

Before Fujita Ichiji could finish speaking, several Japanese soldiers interrupted him: "Fujita, stop talking nonsense. Is that a minor trouble? Is that a misunderstanding? You started a fire while smoking at the natural gas plant, almost destroying this place. If it weren't for Amaterasu's timely rain, you would have been meeting Amaterasu long ago."

Upon hearing this, Major General Kawashima and Junior High School Student Kitano both paused in surprise.

Smoking in a natural gas plant? My God, this Fujita Ichiji is incredibly stupid. No wonder the soldiers here don't like him.

However, Fujita Ichiji said there are supplies here, but since they don't welcome him, our army still needs to replenish its supplies.

Major General Kawashima then said to the Japanese soldiers, "I am Maki Kawashima, the brigade commander of the 29th Brigade. I have important business to discuss with your factory manager. Please introduce me."

"Yes, yes, General, please come with us." The Japanese soldiers dared not delay and quickly led the way.

Fujita Ichiji wanted to follow him inside, but Kitano Chuuji grabbed him and said, "Fujita-kun, you'd better stay here and not go in."

Smoke from a natural gas plant? How could you do something so stupid?

What are you doing going in there again? Are you going to do something stupid again?!

“Okay.” Fujita Ichiji nodded in agreement.

Actually, he went in to look for something.

He had previously caused trouble and been kicked out of the gas plant, where he had hidden something important, which he hadn't had time to retrieve at the time.

I want to pick it up now... well, it seems I'll have to wait until later.

Major General Kawashima was introduced to Factory Director Hojo by a guard.

When Factory Director Hojo heard the purpose of Major General Kawashima's visit, he looked somewhat helpless: "I'm sorry, General, most of the supplies have been diverted, and there aren't many left."

The Kumamoto Division swept through the area, taking away most of the supplies.

"Approximately how much is left?" Major General Kawashima felt a little comforted upon hearing this; having some left was better than nothing.

“Your team has more than 20,000 people, and this supply is only enough to feed you for three or four days,” said Factory Manager Hojo.

“Three or four days should be enough,” Major General Kawashima said. “Give me the supplies first, and then I’ll go to the Jin-Sui Army and the elite troops’ territories to replenish them.”

"May I ask you what's going on here?" Factory Manager Hojo looked at Major General Kawashima. "If we're going to give you these supplies, we'll have to talk to headquarters first."

Factory manager Hojo was busy with matters concerning the natural gas plant and knew very little about the war outside.

(End of this chapter)