Turn the tables on them
Book Two: Clash of Shadows
Chapter Eight: Political Commissar Yang's reply arrived at the charcoal kiln late on the third night. The letter was brought back by Geng Dashan, along with two scouts from the Anti-Japanese United Army headquarters. The letter affirmed the value of the intelligence gathered by Gu Tieshan and Shen Lanjun, but stated that the main force was engaged in a Japanese mopping-up operation in another area and could not spare enough troops for a long-distance raid on "Yixiantian" (a strategic pass). Political Commissar Yang authorized them to decide their own actions based on the situation, prioritizing harassment and delaying the enemy if the opportunity arose, and strictly advising against direct confrontation. He also instructed them to be extremely careful.
Meanwhile, Xiao Chen also brought back Wang Degui's second reply. This time, the information was more specific, and it even included a hand-drawn map marking the marching route and rest stops. The letter clearly stated that the transport team would depart from Heihe Wharf at 8 PM on April 15th, and was expected to pass through "Yixiantian" around 11 PM that night.
Everything seemed to be going in their favor. The explosives promised by the Soviet side were also successfully delivered through the "old channel"—an old courier who used selling mountain products in Heihe Town as a cover—twenty kilograms of TNT along with matching explosives and fuses.
The atmosphere inside the charcoal kiln grew lively. Xiao Chen and Zhao Xiaoshuan rubbed their hands together, eager to get started, and even Geng Dashan's face was flushed. With explosives and reliable intelligence, they were confident they could give the Japanese transport team a run for their money, even if the main force didn't come.
However, Shen Lanjun stared at the hand-drawn route map and Wang Degui's letter, her brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
"Something's not right," she suddenly said, her voice unusually clear in the excited charcoal kiln.
Everyone fell silent and looked at her.
“It went too smoothly.” Shen Lanjun stood up, took the simple map and walked to Gu Tieshan. “Tieshan, look. Last time Wang Degui delivered intelligence, he took a great risk. The handwriting was hasty and the information was relatively vague. But this time, he not only gave the exact time down to the hour, but also drew the marching route and rest points clearly, as if he was afraid that we wouldn’t understand it and wouldn’t be able to win.”
Gu Tieshan took the blueprints and examined them carefully, his expression gradually becoming serious.
Shen Lanjun continued her analysis: "Furthermore, Onizuka Ichiro is no mediocre person. We just raided his general store, slipped away right under his nose, and even wiped out one of his search teams. Given his personality, he will inevitably be furious and will strengthen internal control and counter-espionage efforts. In this context, how could Wang Degui, a clerk who is not a core member, obtain such a high-level transportation plan so easily and in such detail? This is illogical."
"You mean... this is a trap?" Geng Dashan gasped.
“Very likely.” Shen Lanjun’s gaze sharpened. “Ghost Tomb deliberately leaked this ‘intelligence’ to lure us into a trap. He calculated that we desperately needed weapons and wouldn’t let this opportunity slip by. The real killing move is probably hidden in ‘A Line of Sky’!”
The initial warmth and enthusiasm within the charcoal kiln were instantly extinguished, replaced by a chill. If it truly was a trap, their hasty departure would be tantamount to walking into a snare.
"Damn it! Those damn Japanese devils are so cunning!" Zhao Xiaoshuan angrily slammed his fist on the earthen wall.
Gu Tieshan remained silent, his finger tapping heavily on the "narrow strip" mark on the map. He wasn't blinded by anger; instead, he was unusually calm. After a moment, he raised his head, a cold glint in his eyes: "Since he's set a trap, then...we'll play along!"
"A counter-strategy?" Everyone was taken aback.
“That’s right.” Gu Tieshan’s voice was steady and powerful. “He thought we would ambush the transport team at ‘One Line Sky,’ so he must have deployed a large force there. Well then, we won’t go to ‘One Line Sky’!”
His finger moved across the map, landing on the route between the transport team's departure point—Heihe Wharf—and "A Line of Sky." "You see," he said, "it's nearly three hours from the wharf to 'A Line of Sky.' This route is easier than 'A Line of Sky,' but it still passes through several densely forested areas. The Japanese are most vigilant when escorting large numbers of troops in dangerous places like 'A Line of Sky,' and they tend to be more relaxed in these relatively 'safe' sections."
His thinking became clearer: "We won't go against his tough stance. We'll strike him unexpectedly from what he considers the safest place! The goal isn't complete annihilation, but a quick victory, taking a piece of the enemy and leaving! The key is those four Type 92 heavy machine guns and their ammunition! These are extremely important to our main force!"
"Brilliant!" Geng Dashan slapped his thigh. "The Japanese will never expect us to dare to attack halfway!"
Shen Lanjun nodded and added, "Moreover, by taking action halfway, we can avoid any potential ambushes at 'One Line Sky.' Even if there are indeed ambushes at 'One Line Sky,' by the time they receive the news and arrive, we will have already succeeded and withdrawn."
The plan was instantly reversed. It changed from preparing for a hard-fought ambush at a fixed location to launching a swift and decisive surprise attack while the enemy was on the move.
Over the next two days, Gu Tieshan, along with Xiao Chen and Zhao Xiaoshuan, conducted a detailed reconnaissance of the chosen raid location—a section of road known as "Old Forest Bend." The road was winding and densely wooded, providing excellent cover and evacuation opportunities. They carefully selected ambush points, firing positions, and retreat routes.
April 15th, evening.
Gu Tieshan, Shen Lanjun, Geng Dashan, Xiao Chen, Zhao Xiaoshuan, and the two scouts sent by the Anti-Japanese Allied Army headquarters—a total of seven people—carried explosives, rifles, pistols, and limited ammunition, and silently entered their pre-arranged position at the "Old Forest Bend." The twenty kilograms of TNT were cleverly placed under a rock foundation on the inside of the bend, the amount calculated to collapse part of the mountain, block the road, and create chaos.
Just after 8 p.m., the roar of a truck engine echoed in the distance, its headlights slicing through the night like swords. They're here!
Everyone held their breath, their fingers on the trigger.
The convoy gradually approached, led by a truck fully loaded with puppet troops, followed by three military trucks covered with tarpaulins; judging by the heavy tire tracks, they were carrying munitions. At the rear was another truck fully loaded with Japanese soldiers. The convoy moved slowly, clearly not being overly cautious about this stretch of road.
As the first puppet army truck rounded the bend, the second arms truck entered the deepest part of the bend, its front end about to turn—
"Explode!" Gu Tieshan shouted in a low voice!
Geng Dashan, who was in charge of detonating, suddenly pressed down on the gun!
"BOOM—!!!"
A deafening roar erupted! The TNT's power was immense; the mountainside on the inside of the bend was blasted apart, sending rocks and debris flying everywhere. A massive amount of earth, rocks, and trees tumbled down, instantly blocking the road! The second ammunition truck was thrown off balance by the blast wave, its front end crashing into the rocks before coming to a stop! The trucks in front and behind also braked hastily, the blaring of horns mingling with the shouts and curses of the Japanese and their collaborators!
"Fire!" Gu Tieshan fired first! His rifle accurately took down the driver and a Japanese soldier in the cab of the ammunition truck.
Almost simultaneously, gunfire erupted from the forests on both sides! The seven men lying in ambush concentrated all their firepower on the three ammunition trucks and the Japanese and puppet troops escorting them!
The sudden attack threw the Japanese and puppet troops into chaos! The puppet troops were terrified; some jumped from their vehicles and fled, while others fired wildly. The Japanese reacted slightly faster, attempting to organize a counterattack, but the narrow roads, traffic jams, and the chaos caused by the explosion made it impossible to launch an effective counterattack.
"Xiao Chen! Xiao Shuan! Follow me! Grab the machine gun!" Gu Tieshan roared, leaping out of his ambush like a tiger descending a mountain, charging straight at the second crooked ammunition truck! He knew time was precious and he had to take advantage of the chaos to finish the job quickly!
Xiao Chen and Zhao Xiaoshuan, their eyes red, followed closely behind. Two Anti-Japanese Allied Army scouts, along with Geng Dashan and Shen Lanjun, used precise firepower to suppress the Japanese troops attempting to approach the ammunition trucks.
Gu Tieshan rushed to the truck, smashed open the canvas with the butt of his rifle, and inside were rows of wooden crates printed with Japanese characters! He immediately spotted the longer and heavier crates—they were Type 92 heavy machine guns!
"Move this!" he roared, and together with Xiao Chen and Zhao Xiaoshuan, they struggled to drag two heavy machine gun boxes and several boxes of matching ammunition off the vehicle.
"Baka! Stop them!" A Japanese sergeant brandished his sword and led several soldiers charging over.
A cold glint flashed in Gu Tieshan's eyes. He put down the box, drew his broadsword from his back, and charged forward! The blade gleamed in the night and firelight, accompanied by a shrill scream, instantly cutting down the two Japanese soldiers at the forefront! The Japanese sergeant was also kicked in the chest and sent flying backward!
"Retreat! Retreat now!" Shen Lanjun shouted sharply from a short distance away. The Japanese resistance was picking up again; if they dragged it out any longer, they wouldn't be able to escape!
Gu Tieshan, without lingering in battle, along with Xiao Chen and Zhao Xiaoshuan, shouldered the heavy boxes and quickly disappeared into the dark forest along the planned retreat route. Geng Dashan and two scouts fought their way back, throwing several grenades (captured from the previous search team) to create smoke and confusion.
The entire attack took less than ten minutes. When the Japanese ambush troops from the "One Line Sky" direction arrived breathlessly after receiving the news, all they saw were the destroyed road, burning trucks, corpses and wounded scattered all over the ground, and the military truck that had been pried open and was missing its most valuable heavy weapons and some ammunition.
Onizuka Ichiro stood amidst the chaos, his face ashen, staring at the empty machine gun case, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. His meticulously laid trap had not only failed to catch any fish, but had instead resulted in a large chunk of his flesh being bitten off!
"Gu...Tie...Shan!" He squeezed out the name through gritted teeth, his eyes filled with resentment and an unprecedented solemnity.
Meanwhile, Gu Tieshan and his men, carrying their spoils, vanished without a trace under the cover of night. By "playing along," they not only successfully broke the deadlock but also taught Onizuka Ichiro the bitter lesson of underestimating his opponent, brilliantly turning the tables in this shadowy battle.
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