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

Chapter 315 A sudden turn of events
"Brigade Commander, Director Li of the Border Region Arsenal has identified it as the Japanese natural gas plant."

The liaison officer returned as quickly as possible and reported to the brigade commander, "Director Li also said that these pipeline tanks are full of dangerous flammable and explosive gases. Any spark could potentially cause the entire factory to explode. The best way is to take it down without using weapons. He is already organizing a professional dismantling team. Let him know in advance when you plan to make your move."

Take this place without using weapons?
Upon hearing this, the guerrillas present all frowned immediately.

These Japanese devils occupy the natural gas plant without using weapons. How can you possibly persuade them to surrender with words?

Not to mention, when Major General Kawashima led his troops away from here, he left behind an extra Japanese battalion for protection.

Given these conditions, let alone without weapons, even if weapons were used, our guerrilla force wouldn't be able to take it down.

All eyes turned to the brigade commander's face.

Can the brigade commander manage to accomplish this seemingly impossible task?
The brigade commander pondered for a moment and said, "A direct assault is impossible, so let's temporarily adopt a siege."

Major General Kawashima took away a large amount of the natural gas plant's supplies, so there are definitely not many supplies left.

On the surface, Major General Kawashima left behind a Japanese battalion to strengthen defenses, but in reality, this also increased the consumption of supplies.

If we can besiege this natural gas plant until it runs out of supplies, and prevent the Japanese from sending any other supplies, we might have a chance.

"Brigade Commander Chen, we've captured a Japanese officer." At that moment, a guerrilla fighter brought over a Japanese officer.

The brigade commander quickly looked over and was immediately stunned: "Isn't this Fujita Ichiji?"

Fujita Ichiji was on the brigade commander's radar.

No matter who is under the command of the 386th Brigade, they cannot be killed prematurely.

Such an idiot, if placed on the Japanese side, will cause them more trouble, and we can also get some unexpected surprises.

And now, the guerrillas have actually captured Fujita Ichiji.

Leaving aside how Fujita Ichiji was captured, the fact that he was brought here has already caused problems.

While the brigade commander was still in a daze, Fujita Ichiji was brought before him.

Fujita Ichiji immediately knelt down before the brigade commander: "Don't kill me, don't kill me, I'm willing to confess, I'll confess everything." (Translation of the plot is automatically omitted)

The brigade commander looked at Fujita Ichiji with a headache: "What do you want to explain?"

What's done is done, and the person has already been arrested, so let's just let things take their course for now.

Let's figure out the situation first, and then see if there's anything else we can do with Fujita Ichiji.

“You can ask me.” Fujita Ichiji looked up at the bespectacled Eighth Route Army officer in front of him.

"Do you have any way to help me take down this natural gas plant?" the brigade commander asked casually.

This was just a casual question; the brigade commander didn't think Fujita Ichiji was up to the task.

However, a scene that surprised the brigade commander occurred. Fujita Ichiji hesitated for a moment, looked at the brigade commander, and said, "If I can help you take over this natural gas plant, will you spare my life?"

"What's wrong? Do you have a solution?" The brigade commander was surprised.

“I used to be the deputy director of this natural gas plant,” Fujita Ichiji replied.

"Oh, really?" The brigade commander was immediately delighted, and the other guerrilla captains all beamed with joy.

This is truly a case of the clouds parting to reveal the sun.

They originally thought there was no way to take over the natural gas plant, but unexpectedly they captured a Japanese officer who had served as the deputy director of the plant.

This must mean they're familiar with the interior of a natural gas plant.

“I served as the deputy director of this natural gas plant, but they were very hostile towards me,” Fujita Ichiji said truthfully. “If we want to take over here, the first thing we need to do is regain their trust.”

"Why are they rejecting you?" the brigade commander asked suspiciously.

“Because I used to smoke here,” Fujita Ichiji said.

"……"brigadier.

"..." Guerrilla captains.

The atmosphere froze instantly.

Smoking at a natural gas plant—what an incredibly stupid bastard would do something so absurd!

At this moment, not only did the Japanese soldiers at the natural gas plant reject Fujita Ichiji, but even the brigade commander and guerrilla leaders were very resistant to him.

Such an idiot, he's not just being ostracized by the Japanese at the gas plant, he's practically boycotting them.

In this context, helping him regain the trust of the Japanese soldiers at the natural gas plant was no different from taking over the plant without firing a shot.

There was even a guerrilla captain who suggested to the brigade commander, "Let's just take this Japanese prisoner and execute him."

"No, no, no! Please don't kill me! Please don't kill me! I don't need your help anymore. I'll gain their trust myself, okay?" Fujita Ichiji was terrified when he heard that he was going to be dragged away and executed, and he begged frantically.

"Can you gain their trust yourself?" The brigade commander expressed strong doubt about this.

If a natural gas plant smokes, even if you're a Japanese worker at a natural gas plant, people probably won't trust you anymore.

“There are many ways to gain trust,” Fujita Ichiji said.

"For example?" the brigade commander asked.

“For example, if the people you’ve besieged run out of supplies, I can bring them supplies and help them out in their time of need. Wouldn’t that make them trust me?” Fujita Ichiji said.

"Just take him and execute him." The brigade commander waved his hand speechlessly. Our guerrilla force is surrounded, blocking transportation. Do you think we're stupid, or are the Japanese soldiers inside stupid?
To put it another way, the Japanese are now sending all their important supplies to the Kumamoto Division. Even Major General Kawashima's troops are out of supplies and are going to their own troops and the Jin-Sui Army's territory to replenish them.

At this critical juncture, who would believe that you, Fujita Ichiji, could still procure supplies?
"No, no, no! I still have a way! I still have a way!" Fujita Ichiji screamed like a pig being slaughtered.

"Shall we stop listening to his stupid talk?" Several guerrilla leaders turned their gazes back to the brigade commander, preparing to take action.

Although it was their first time meeting Fujita Ichiji, they could tell that keeping such a fool around would be a problem sooner or later.

As the old saying goes, it's not the enemy's ingenious schemes that's scary, but the sudden inspiration of a fool.

"One who stays near ink gets stained black." Even if such an idiot were sent to the logistics department for reform, the political workers might be fooled by his stupidity.

"This is your last chance." The brigade commander looked at Fujita Ichiji again. "You'd better think it over before you speak."

“No need to think about it, I cherish this last chance.” Fujita Ichiji quickly said, “I have something on the natural gas plant manager, and with that, I might be able to coerce him into submission.”

Upon hearing this, the brigade commander questioned, "What leverage?"

Fujita Ichiji looked left and right, as if afraid of being overheard by others.

The brigade commander yelled, "Spit it out!"

"This matter cannot be known by too many people," Fujita Ichiji said to the brigade commander. "Come closer, I'll only tell you."

The brigade commander took out paper and pen and handed them to Fujita Ichiji: "Write it down for me."

The brigade commander would never put his ear so close; it would be no joke if the latter suddenly bit his ear.

When dealing with Japanese prisoners of war, try to avoid giving them opportunities to get close.

“I wrote it down, and so many of you have seen it. It’s really not good, sir. Please believe me,” Fujita Ichiji said.

"If you keep dawdling, I'll have you shot." The brigade commander glared.

"No, no, no, I'll write, I'll write." Fujita Ichiji hurriedly grabbed the pen with his bound hands, and like a dog, he awkwardly bent over and knelt on the ground to write.

Fujita Ichiji wrote for a few minutes and finished the piece. It was just too tiring to write in this position, so he wrote slowly.

The brigade commander picked up what Fujita Ichiji had written, read the contents through the translator beside him, and his expression instantly tightened.

Without hesitation, the brigade commander immediately burned the paper.

The brigade commander addressed the translator beside him solemnly: "From now on, you will stay by my side and not go anywhere. You are not allowed to contact anyone. I will send you to a safe place later, and once the traitor is caught, I will release you. As long as you can keep the secret, I will give you a second-class merit."

If what Fujita Ichiji said is true, then this is a huge weakness.

This leverage could force the director of the natural gas arsenal to submit, and at the same time, it could also expose a high-ranking Japanese spy lurking among the top brass of our army.

This Japanese spy has a very special identity now, so we can't be careless. Even the brigade commander has to investigate him secretly.

"Commander Chen, don't worry, I promise to keep the secret." The translator's tone was extremely solemn. Of course, he knew what this secret meant, and he would never easily tell a second person.

Even when sleeping at night, one should sleep alone to prevent talking in one's sleep and revealing secrets.

Of course.

If you manage to keep the secret and eventually receive a second-class merit award, that would be a lucky thing.

Finally, the brigade commander's gaze fell on Fujita Ichiji: "You'd better guarantee that the information you've revealed is true, otherwise..."

"Sir, don't worry, it's true." Fujita Ichiji said confidently.

The brigade commander then asked suspiciously, "How did you know about such a highly classified secret?"

“I spent a few days in the military police,” Fujita Ichiji said.

"Yes, yes." The brigade commander suddenly realized, "That's right, this idiot served as a military police captain for a few days."

"You can go and rest now." The brigade commander ordered someone to take Fujita Ichiji away to rest.

Fujita Ichiji revealed that this information was too important, and the brigade commander needed to calm his mind.

On the one hand, we must quickly and secretly investigate our own military to verify the truth without alerting anyone.

On the other hand, how to use this leverage to force the natural gas plant manager to comply must be carefully considered and cannot be taken lightly.

Otherwise, if the factory manager is forced to take a risk, the natural gas plant will be impossible to acquire.

"Yes, sir." Fujita Ichiji nodded repeatedly and was led away.

Fujita Ichiji was taken away, and the brigade commander still asked the guerrilla fighter, "How was this Japanese officer captured?"

“It’s strange, really. He seemed to be wandering around the area alone,” the guerrilla fighter replied.

Are you wandering around the neighborhood alone?
The brigade commander found it absurd.

No matter how stupid Fujita Ichiji was, he couldn't possibly be unaware that our guerrillas were active nearby. There must have been a reason for him to wander around alone.

The brigade commander pondered for a moment, wondering if Fujita Ichiji felt he couldn't stay with the Japanese, so he deliberately wanted to become our prisoner.

If that's the case, then the brigade commander should release Fujita Ichiji as soon as possible.

It's definitely better for him to stay with us for reform than to remain in the enemy camp and continue causing trouble for the Japanese.

The brigade commander decided to verify the important intelligence provided by Fujita Ichiji as quickly as possible before dealing with Fujita Ichiji.

(End of this chapter)