Hidden Shadow
Volume Two, Chapter One
As the spring snow melts, the roar of the thawing Ussuri River, like muffled thunder, rolls across the border mountains and forests. More than two months have passed since the harrowing battle at Linjiangtun. Beneath the surface calm, the undercurrents are surging even more turbulently.
The ruins of the blacksmith's shop still stand at the end of the village, the charred wood telling the story of the night's carnage. No one dares to clean it up, nor does anyone dare to discuss it. The village head, Zhao Shouren, has become even more silent, rarely venturing out, as if he has aged ten years overnight.
Thirty miles away from Linjiang Village, in another more remote spot near the Heihe River bend, a new "shack" quietly rose up. Its appearance was no different from that of ordinary fishermen and hunters, low and simple, built with logs and thatch, backed by dense forest and facing the river branch, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and also convenient for rapid relocation by water or mountain road.
This is the secret communication station of the Anti-Japanese Allied Forces – "Jiangwan Wooden House".
Under Shen Lanjun's meticulous care and his own robust physique, Gu Tieshan's injuries had healed by about 70-80%. A deep scar remained on his left shoulder, like a special medal. The most noticeable change was in his eyes; the slight emptiness brought on by his amnesia had been replaced by a refined sharpness and composure. Fragments of memories occasionally flashed through his mind, though not yet forming a complete picture, but the Northwest Army's broadswords, the smoke of battle at Xifengkou, and a soldier's iron-blooded sense of responsibility had been deeply ingrained in his bones. He was no longer just a powerful blacksmith, but more like a military sword slowly drawn from its sheath, tempered by blood and fire.
His current public identity is that of "Old Man Gu," a taciturn hunter from downstream, who has settled here with his family. As for Shen Lanjun, she remains the gentle and diligent "Mrs. Gu," but deep in her eyes, there is now a hint of shrewdness and coldness that is hard to detect.
Although small, the wooden house was fully functional. On the surface, it had a stove and a heated earthen bed, but hidden in the back was a cellar where weapons, medicine, and a radio were stored. Geng Dashan and Zhao Xiaoshuan became frequent visitors. One, with his experience as an old hunter, was responsible for perimeter security and communication with more remote villages, while the other, with his youth and agility, served as a courier, relaying messages and observing enemy movements.
At this moment, inside the wooden house, the oil lamp flickered dimly.
Shen Lanjun was facing the captured, modified, and more powerful radio, wearing headphones. Her slender fingers slowly and steadily adjusted the knobs, trying to catch the invisible radio waves in the air. Her profile looked particularly focused under the light, sometimes listening intently, sometimes quickly jotting down sets of numbers in her codebook.
Gu Tieshan was cleaning his weapons, not only his broadsword and dragon-scale bracelet, but also several captured rifles and pistols. His movements were meticulous, as if he were performing a ritual. The air was filled with the mixed smell of engine oil and burning wood.
"Tick-tock... tick-tick-tick..."
Shen Lanjun suddenly stopped what she was doing, quickly copied down the next segment of the signal, and then translated it by referring to her codebook. After a moment, she raised her head, her eyes serious.
"The organization has informed us that the new head of the Heihe Special Service Agency, Onizuka Ichiro, has taken office. He comes from a Japanese aristocratic family and received special operations and intelligence training in Germany. He is ruthless and cunning, and is one of the actual promoters of the 'Country Swap Plan' in the border region. Since taking office, he has been working hard to rebuild the intelligence network that we destroyed and is conducting a more rigorous purge within the organization."
She paused, then continued, "In addition, the organization requires us to take advantage of the geographical advantages of 'Jiangwan' to try to establish a backup communication channel to Jiangbei (the Soviet Union), and to find out the patterns of Japanese and puppet regime material transportation at the Heihe Wharf."
The mission is arduous and extremely risky. Both the rebuilt intelligence network and the newcomer, Onizuka Ichiro, foreshadow an even more brutal covert war to come.
Gu Tieshan put down the cleaned gun and looked out at the dark river. “The passage, we can ask Geng Dashan for help. He knows some old boatmen who work on the river. The dock…” He pondered for a moment, “We need someone who can infiltrate the area long-term without attracting attention.”
“I’ll go.” Xiao Chen’s voice came from the doorway. He had just returned from a reconnaissance mission, his face weathered but his eyes even more determined. “I can disguise myself as a laborer carrying heavy loads. The docks are a mixed bag of people, it’ll be easy to sneak in.”
Shen Lanjun looked at Xiao Chen but did not immediately agree. The dock was a key area monitored by the enemy, and the risk was too high.
Just then, Gu Tieshan, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up and said something that seemed unrelated: "I remember... when I was in the army, I liked to choose rainy days to scout out enemy camps."
Shen Lanjun and Xiao Chen both looked at him.
Gu Tieshan frowned slightly, as if trying to catch the fleeting fragment of memory: "On rainy days, visibility is poor, and footsteps are also masked by the rain... Moreover, sentries are more likely to become complacent."
His words brought about a completely new reconnaissance approach, one that belonged to the regular army.
A glint of light flashed in Shen Lanjun's eyes as she looked at Xiao Chen: "Xiao Chen, get ready. Next time it rains, go to the dock and try. Don't rush to contact the core. First, find out their shift change times, patrol routes, and which warehouses are the most heavily guarded."
"Yes!" Xiao Chen nodded vigorously.
A new struggle has quietly unfolded in a new stronghold, in a new way. Like hunters lurking in the shadows, they have begun a new round of confrontation with a more cunning and powerful opponent. Gu Tieshan's gradually recovering memories may become the most unexpected variable in this shadowy battle.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
