Courtyard House: Home Alone

The Japanese soldier walked into the private room while cursing. He glanced at Lin Yifan lying on the bunk next to him, but didn't say anything. He knew that people who could travel in first class were not ordinary people, especially since the other person was just a child.

The waiter also entered the private room carrying two suitcases, placed them on the luggage rack, bowed and apologized as he left the room, closing the door behind him.

Seeing the door close, Lin Yifan immediately jumped off his bunk. Before the Japanese soldier, who had his back to him, could react, he delivered a swift chop to the neck. With a "crack," the Japanese soldier collapsed onto the opposite bunk, kicked his legs a few times, and then died.

With a thought, Lin Yifan stored the corpse and its luggage into his personal space. Then he clapped his hands and said, "Now it should be quiet!" After saying that, he lay back down on the bed, closed his eyes, and fell asleep.

As expected of a first-class seat, apart from the initial ticket check, no one bothered him the entire journey. Lin Yifan slept until he naturally woke up. He checked the situation outside the train and first threw the Japanese soldiers' corpses out.

Then, he began to consider the current situation in Beiping. Although he had been prepared for the Japanese blockade, he had been away for more than two months and knew nothing about the current situation in Beiping.

However, one thing is certain: Beijing is currently facing a severe shortage of food and supplies. After all, the ancient city has a large population, and once transportation lines are cut off, even daily necessities like firewood, rice, oil, and salt will become a major problem.

Lin Yifan recalled that before leaving Beijing, grain prices in Beiping had already fluctuated several times. Those unscrupulous merchants who hoarded grains for profit had probably already caught wind of this, and now they were likely even more brazen in their actions.

He gently lifted a corner of the curtain. Outside the window lay a pitch-black wilderness, with a few lights occasionally flashing by like the weary eyes of the earth. The clanging of train wheels against the rails was exceptionally clear in the silence, its rhythm monotonous and persistent, like some kind of countdown.

Lin Yifan withdrew his gaze, took out a cup of spiritual spring water and some packaged food from his spatial storage, and began to eat slowly and methodically. As he chewed, he sorted out his next plan in his mind.

Although we had already looted a lot of Japanese warehouses and businesses in Shanghai, once we arrived in Tianjin, we first needed to get some food and supplies there. After all, Tianjin was an important transportation hub for the Japanese in North China, and there must have been a lot of supplies stockpiled there.

Moreover, as the largest foreign trade port in the north, Tianjin Port always had various channels for clandestine transactions, even when the war was intense.

He swallowed the last mouthful of Nanxiang steamed buns and then sipped some spiritual spring water. The train began to slow down, and the clatter of wheels against rails became denser and more rapid.

Lin Yifan quickly packed his things and put them into his spatial storage. The lights on the platform gradually became clearer, and many figures wearing yellow woolen military coats swayed in the dim yellow light.

The train let out a long whistle and came to a complete stop. The carriage doors were flung open, and a biting north wind, carrying the smell of coal dust, rushed in. In the distance, sporadic barking of dogs and shouts in Japanese could be heard.

Lin Yifan glanced at his watch; it was already past eight o'clock in the evening. He dispersed his spiritual energy and quickly found a secluded corner outside the station. With a thought, his figure disappeared from the private room.

Upon arriving outside the station, he first confirmed the location of the North China Expeditionary Army Headquarters. According to previous history, the headquarters of the Expeditionary Army was located at Haiguang Temple.

He located Haiguang Temple and found it heavily guarded, with about two regiments of guards, totaling around 8,000 men, inside and out. After confirming the location, he teleported to a deserted courtyard near Haiguang Temple.

This small courtyard is about two kilometers away from Haiguang Temple. At this distance, using mental energy to observe Haiguang Temple consumes relatively little mental energy. At the same time, this place is already outside the headquarters' defense perimeter.

Lin Yifan ignored the Japanese soldiers guarding the perimeter. He focused his mental energy on Haiguang Temple and began searching for Okamura Yasuji.

He had just released his spiritual energy when a smile appeared on his lips. Better late than never. Lin Yifan discovered that in a heavily guarded conference room, a brilliant star was shining.

A dozen or so high-ranking Japanese generals were sitting around a long table. A huge military map of North China was hanging on the wall, covered with small flags representing the positions of various units.

Matsui Iwane sat in the main seat, wearing a general's overcoat, the medals on his chest gleaming coldly under the gas lamp, tapping a spot on the map with a thin baton.

"Gentlemen, the first phase of the 'iron wall encirclement' has achieved the expected results."

Matsui Iwane's voice was low and hoarse, carrying a deliberately suppressed excitement, "So far, we haven't lost a single soldier, and according to news from inside Beiping, due to our blockade, the prices of food and daily necessities in the city have more than tripled. More importantly,"

He leaned forward slightly, a sinister glint flashing in his triangular eyes behind his glasses. "The 'Ghost' seems to have left North China. According to the latest military intelligence report, they seem to have gone to Shanghai."

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for North China. Without this major threat, we can act freely and completely eliminate the resistance forces in North China.

A murmur of agreement rippled through the conference room. Lieutenant General Tsuchibashi Ichijō, commander of the 12th Army, seated third from the left, nodded slightly, his right hand unconsciously stroking the hilt of his sword. "Lord Matsui is absolutely right. The existence of the 'Ghost' has indeed hampered our operations for the past few months. Now that its retreat to the south has been confirmed, it is the perfect time for us to close the net."

"No, Tsuchibashi-kun, your understanding is not thorough enough."

Matsui Iwane straightened up, his baton tracing an arc on the map. "The opportunity I'm referring to isn't merely the departure of 'The Ghost'." His gaze swept over the assembled crowd, finally settling on the face of Major General Amakasu Jutaro, commander of the cavalry brigade. "Have you all considered why 'The Ghost' would choose this time to head south?"

Amakasu Jutaro frowned, his thick beard trembling slightly: "Your Excellency means..."

"Luring the tiger away from the mountain."

Matsui Iwane coldly uttered four words, and the air in the conference room seemed to freeze instantly: "Or rather, a feint. 'Ghost' acts unpredictably and never does anything pointless."

His trip south to Shanghai at this time must be for some purpose. And what we need to do—" He paused abruptly, slamming his baton heavily on the mark of Beiping on the map.

"The goal is to completely sever the lifeline of all resistance forces in North China before he succeeds in his scheme, so that even if he returns, he will have no support or roots to cling to."

Jutaro Amakasu frowned even more, his lips pressed into a thin line beneath his beard. He slowly lowered his right hand, which had been stroking the hilt of his sword, and leaned forward slightly: "Are you saying that the 'Ghost's' southward advance is a feint? And its true intention is still to support the resistance forces in North China?"

"It's not entirely a feint, nor is it entirely real."