A storm is brewing
Volume Three, Chapter One
Beyond the tree hollow, spring in the north displays its vitality in an almost cruel way. The snow melts, revealing last year's withered grass and dark brown soil; the streams become turbulent and muddy, rushing towards the Heilongjiang River with the roar of crashing ice. The forest is filled with the clamor of rebirth, birdsong and animal cries, brimming with life.
However, beneath this clamor, an invisible, suffocating pressure was weighing heavily on the hearts of everyone at the "Treehouse" outpost, as intelligence from all directions converged.
On the simple wooden table in front of Shen Lanjun, several sheets of paper of different textures were spread out. There was a secret letter sent by Wang Degui through the dead mail box, written with a needle tip on the inside of the tin foil; there was a prescription slip with medicinal writing on the back, which Qinghe risked her life to bring out from the hospital and which was stained with a faint smell of disinfectant; and there was a summary of a telegram sent by the Anti-Japanese Allied Army Headquarters through the radio, which required a complex codebook to translate.
All the information points in the same direction—an unprecedented storm is rapidly brewing.
"...The Kwantung Army units stationed in Heihe, Huma, and Qike have been frequently relocated recently, and the amount of ammunition and supplies replenished is abnormal, far exceeding the daily needs of the garrison..." Wang Degui's letter revealed a sense of bewilderment.
"...The number of seriously wounded Japanese officers continues to increase, all of whom are being secretly transferred by special vehicles, and the guards in the isolation area have been doubled. The head nurse privately complained that there was a shortage of manpower and that she was being asked to sign additional confidentiality agreements..." Qinghe's intelligence confirmed the escalation of the military operation.
The telegram from headquarters was more macro-level and grim: "...According to multiple sources, enemy leader Okamura Yasuji has issued a strengthened 'security crackdown' order, targeting all units of our North Manchurian Anti-Japanese United Army. It is judged that the enemy will soon launch a large-scale mopping-up operation codenamed 'Iron Wall Encirclement,' aimed at completely wiping out our base areas. All units must be on high alert and prepare for the most difficult situation..."
Using a charcoal pencil, Shen Lanjun marked the locations of Japanese troop movements and supply depots mentioned in the intelligence on a large birch bark map. Soon, several clear arrows formed on the map, like giant iron pincers, vaguely pointing to the core secret camp areas where the main force of the Anti-Japanese United Army was currently active.
Her brows were furrowed, and her fingertips tapped unconsciously on the table. The enemy's intentions were clear: it was no longer a small-scale pursuit or regional mopping-up operation, but a strategic, devastating strike aimed at decisively ending the war.
"Troops, firepower, logistics—the Japanese have really gone all out this time," Gu Tieshan's deep voice sounded behind her. He had walked over at some point, his gaze calmly fixed on the densely marked map. Having experienced the life-or-death chase and intelligence battle last time, the composure and sharpness of a soldier in him were more restrained, yet also more profound.
“The key is time and the main direction of attack.” Shen Lanjun raised her head, her eyes bloodshot. The continuous intelligence analysis and pressure made her look somewhat tired. “Wang Degui and Qinghe have no access to the core battle plan. Headquarters can only make judgments, without concrete evidence.”
Gu Tieshan's finger slowly moved between the three points on the map: Heihe, Huma, and Qike. "Three routes advancing simultaneously, supporting each other. They want to devour us whole, leaving no gaps." His finger finally stopped in the direction of Heihe, and he pointed sharply. "Onizuka Ichiro is here. Given his personality and the losses he suffered before, he will definitely try to take the main attack position. I judge that the Heihe direction must be the enemy's main force, and also the route with the fiercest offensive."
His judgment was based on his understanding of the opponent and his intuition about military geography; it was not unfounded.
Just then, Xiao Chen rushed in from outside, bringing back another unsettling message. He was responsible for maintaining contact with some more outlying villages and relaying warnings.
“Sister Chen, Brother Gu, news has come from the village below that some unfamiliar faces have recently arrived. They claim to be teachers from ‘Xinjing’ (Beijing), and they’re starting a ‘literacy class’ in the village, distributing free candy and old clothes. They’re also asking which family’s child wants to go to the city to study at the ‘new school’.” Xiao Chen’s tone was filled with disgust. “They speak with strange accents and don’t seem like good people.”
Shen Lanjun and Gu Tieshan exchanged a glance, both seeing the seriousness in each other's eyes.
"The Black Dragon Society... they've really got a head start," Shen Lanjun said coldly. "The military sweep hasn't even started yet, and their advance team for cultural infiltration has already arrived. They're trying to plant spies in our rear and kill us with a soft knife."
"A two-pronged approach: military destruction and cultural enslavement. This time, the Japanese devils want to take our lives and destroy our spirit!" Gu Tieshan's tone was filled with icy anger.
The atmosphere inside the tree hollow was extremely oppressive. Open threats and hidden bribes created an unprecedentedly dangerous situation.
However, amidst this tense atmosphere, the Anti-Japanese United Army was not a monolithic entity. Soon, the liaison officer sent by Political Commissar Yang brought with him the headquarters' initial response, as well as dissenting voices.
The liaison officer relayed headquarters' order: all units were required to immediately enter a state of combat readiness, implement a scorched-earth policy, and prepare for a mopping-up operation. However, differing opinions arose within headquarters regarding the breakout direction and operational strategy.
A group led by Political Commissar Yang advocated for a retreat to the western mountainous region, where enemy forces were relatively weak, to utilize the vast terrain for maneuvering. However, another senior deputy chief of staff, Li, insisted that forces should be concentrated in the Heihe area to wage a hard-fought defensive battle, taking advantage of the familiar terrain, to blunt the enemy's momentum.
"Deputy Chief of Staff Li believes that retreating without a fight would embolden the Japanese and would also be unfair to the people in the base area," the liaison officer added, his tone somewhat helpless.
After listening, Gu Tieshan remained silent for a moment, then walked to the map. His gaze swept across the terrain of the western mountains and the Heihe River frontier like that of a hawk.
"Moving westward covers a vast area, but supplies are difficult. If the Japanese get on our heels, we could easily be worn down. Concentrating our forces to fight a direct confrontation at Heihe..." He shook his head, pointing to several key passes on the map. "The Japanese have an absolute advantage in firepower this time. A frontal defense would play right into their hands. We can't afford to risk that with our limited resources."
He raised his head, looked at the liaison officer, and said firmly, "Please tell Political Commissar Yang and headquarters that my opinion is that we cannot fight head-on, nor can we simply flee westward. We should take advantage of the depth of the forest and snowfields, and conduct guerrilla warfare in dispersed units. The main force should jump out to the outer lines to look for opportunities to attack the enemy's supply lines and isolated strongholds. A small number of elite troops should be left in the inner lines to cooperate with local armed forces to constantly harass and delay the enemy, making them pay a price for every step they take!"
His plan, combining resilience and aggression, was the optimal solution based on a clear understanding of both enemy and friendly forces. However, the liaison officer hesitated, saying, "Brother Gu, your idea coincides with Political Commissar Yang's. But with Deputy Chief of Staff Li… it'll be difficult to persuade him. Moreover, many comrades in the unit feel that avoiding battle is cowardice…"
Internal divisions, like a cold wind seeping through the gaps in the clouds, have added even more uncertainty to an already grim situation.
Gu Tieshan didn't say anything more, but just took a deep look at the mountains and rivers on the map that were about to be covered by blood and fire.
A storm is brewing, and the wind is already howling. The choices made at the eye of the storm often determine the life or death of countless people.
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