Before the troops set off, Ning Zhiheng summoned all officers and arranged the specific route of action.
First, I led the reconnaissance squadron directly across the river by small boat at Chenyan Bay to reach Yangjing District in Pudong. I reported to the theater commander in advance and began to reconnoiter all the warehouses, formulate plans, and make all necessary preparations.
At the same time, the third company commander, Huo Yueze, was ordered to lead three companies in military vehicles to Songjiang, find the nearest Dadukou to cross the Huangpu River, and rush to Yangjing District in Pudong to meet up with Ning Zhiheng.
"Yueze, after you cross the Huangpu River, you must be careful of attacks by Japanese plainclothes squads along the way. It is said that there are several plainclothes squads operating in the Pudong area. They often attack supply lines, but their numbers are not too large. You take two guides, and with your more than 400 team members and more than 200 student soldiers, you should be able to handle it!" Ning Zhiheng carefully instructed. However, he believed that the Japanese plainclothes squads would not be so eager to devour his special agent brigade.
"Yes, team leader. Don't worry, I will definitely bring the personnel and vehicles safely to Yangjing District and meet up with you," Huo Yueze replied, standing at attention and saluting.
However, he wasn't worried about himself, but rather about Ning Zhiheng's safety. After all, Ning Zhiheng only had less than two hundred men under his command, and it would be very dangerous for him to encounter the Japanese plainclothes team.
He continued, "Team leader, be careful after you cross the river, and get to the base as soon as possible to meet up with us."
Ning Zhiheng nodded and said, "Don't worry, I'm just doing some reconnaissance. I have a reconnaissance squad with me, so the Japanese plainclothes team can't do anything to me. Alright, time waits for no one, see you in Pudong!"
After saying that, he reached out and shook hands tightly with Huo Yueze, then waved goodbye. Watching the main force board the military vehicles and set off smoothly in a convoy, Ning Zhiheng turned to Sun Jiacheng and said, "We're going to Chenyan Bay."
Sun Jiacheng's reconnaissance squadron had already assembled and was on standby. Upon hearing Ning Zhiheng's order, the reconnaissance squadron quickly set off, boarded the truck prepared by You Laoliu, and sped along, soon arriving at Chenyan Bay, upstream of the Huangpu River.
At this moment, You Laoliu was already waiting there, having organized his men. When he saw the convoy arrive, he quickly came forward to greet them.
The river at Chenyan Bay has a gentle current, and there is a very hidden bay at the river mouth. When the Japanese blocked the Huangpu River, they destroyed all the boats on both banks. Many fishermen had no way to go upstream along the riverbank and slid their fishing boats into this small bay.
The bay was shallow and narrow, only large sampans could fit. When Ning Zhiheng arrived at the bay, he saw hundreds of sampans densely packed together. He nodded repeatedly, thinking that this was an excellent hiding place. It was hard to know from the outside that so many boats were hidden here. These were enough for his special agent team to cross the Huangpu River in one go, and also provided him with an escape route for timely withdrawal in the future.
Standing beside Ning Zhiheng, You Laoliu pointed to the bay in front of them and said, "This place is called March Bay. Only the local fishermen know about it. I have gathered fifty small boats. We can set off as soon as it gets dark."
Ning Zhiheng nodded, quite satisfied with You Laoliu's arrangements. He carefully instructed, "Laoliu, you must keep a close eye on this place during this period. If things change and the battle in Pudong is lost, you must bring us back as quickly as possible. Don't delay!"
Ning Zhiheng repeatedly emphasized that this was the best and fastest escape route for his special agent team, and he would never embark on that blood-soaked escape route should the team fail.
"Captain, don't worry, my men are here at all times. As soon as you send word, I'll bring you all back in less than an hour!" Old Man You patted his chest and made his assurances repeatedly.
As darkness fell, the banks of the Huangpu River were deserted since the river was frozen over, and the river surface was completely silent.
Everyone boarded the ship, and Ning Zhiheng sat in the first small boat, skillfully maneuvering through March Bay.
Upon reaching the river, the speed suddenly increased, and the fifty small boats quickly and safely crossed the more than 300-meter-wide river. The boats stopped, and Ning Zhiheng stepped off first, followed closely by 160 action team members, who quickly lined up and set off.
Once on the main road, scouts were dispatched on both sides. Ning Zhiheng walked at the front of the group, striding forward quickly. Two guides were beside him, explaining each location to Ning Zhiheng as they advanced.
There were no houses around, so the team moved quickly under the cover of night. They rested once during the journey, and as the night grew deeper, the team members were all strong and well-trained, so the team's pace did not slow down.
"Captain, just ahead is Liujiahe. To the south of here is a village called Xiaoliuzhuang, with about a hundred households. From here on, the population will gradually increase as we go further. We'll turn north, and by late at night we'll reach Yangjing District. Further ahead is our army's garrison," the guide Zhao Chunsheng explained.
This was a young man in his early twenties, with a strong physique. He was clearly a skilled fighter, a young man whom You Laoliu had specially selected after returning to his hometown and brought to Shanghai to make a living. He was extremely familiar with the terrain of this area.
Ning Zhiheng nodded. His memory was far superior to that of ordinary people. A map of Shanghai was already clearly imprinted in his mind. All he had to do now was match the locations in his memory with reality. He quickly found out where he was.
"So, the main stream of Liujia River should be to the south. Shouldn't there be a stone bridge there called Qingmen Bridge, leading directly to the great marshland to the south?" Ning Zhiheng asked.
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