Spy Wars: Red Agent Codename Phoenix

Chapter 1741 What War Can Be Wage Without Fuel?

At this moment, Wu Shi rushed into the command post.

Xiang Chu asked in confusion, "Old Wu! What brings you here?"

Wu Shi said urgently, "Advisor Xiang! The minister sent me here specifically to invite you and your wife to the command post. It's too dangerous here; it could fall at any moment."

Xiang Chu shook his head and said, "No need! My wife, brothers, and I have decided to fight the Japanese to the death on Gaojiagang and we will not retreat a single step."

Wu Shi insisted, "But Minister Chen wants to invite you to the command post to assist him in directing the entire campaign."

Xiang Chu smiled wryly and said, "The war has come to this point, we can only hold on to the bitter end, there's no strategy or tactics left. If there is any important intelligence, I will report it immediately."

Wu Shi said worriedly, "But you only have a little over two thousand men under your command. How can you withstand the Japanese offensive?"

Xiang Chu laughed and said, "We have taken in so many defeated and deserting soldiers that the Iron-Blooded Special Forces Division now has tens of thousands of men."

"what?!"

Wu Shi was stunned.

"Boom! Boom!"

The pontoon bridge over the Qingjiang River was detonated.

Piles of Japanese soldiers on the pontoon bridge were blown up and fell into the Qingjiang River.

Wu Shi exclaimed in surprise, "So many Japanese soldiers were killed at once?"

Xiang Chu sneered, "The Japanese are arrogant and greedy for merit, they must think the garrison at the pontoon bridge has fled."

Wu Shi said admiringly, "Advisor Chu! If it were any other commander, they would have blown up the pontoon bridge long ago. You have managed to make the most of this bridge. I admire you!"

Xiang Chu said modestly, "You flatter me!"

He spread out a map and drew several routes of the Japanese army's attack on it. While gesturing, he said, "Old Wu! The main force of the Japanese 11th Army has entered the mountains and valleys of western Hubei. Logistics and transportation mainly rely on mules and horses."

Our army can dispatch small guerrilla units, based on the location of each unit, to maneuver through the mountains and rivers of western Hubei, specifically to attack Japanese transport convoys, thus preventing their main force from continuing its westward advance.

Wu Shi nodded and said, "Good idea! I'll go back and report to the minister right away."

Xiang Chu patted him on the shoulder and said solemnly, "Old Wu! Go back and tell Minister Chen that Commander Hu and I will live and die with Shipai. Also, the command must be on high alert against small groups of Japanese soldiers launching sneak attacks."

Wu Shi saluted, choking back tears, and said, "Yes, sir! Take care, sir."

Xiang Chu returned the greeting, nodded, and said, "Take care!"

Wu Shi glanced at the row of radios that were constantly ringing in the cave, then turned and left.

Xiang Chu asked, "Qian Fu! Who's still on the other side of the river?"

Qian Fu reported: "Liu Sen and Liu Heping are each leading a reconnaissance platoon on the opposite bank."

Xiang Chu ordered, "Order them to begin attacking the Japanese logistics troops, focusing on the mules and horses, and then run away."

"Yes!"

Qian Fu hurriedly accepted the order.

Xiang Chu picked up the phone and instructed, "Deputy Division Commander! The Japanese troops may launch a river crossing operation. To conserve ammunition and to toughen up the new recruits, wait until the Japanese are close to the shore before engaging them."

Gan Rong laughed and said, "Commander! With the two of us old and one new recruit, there are almost no new soldiers left."

Xiang Chu nodded and said, "Nothing is better! We must make sure the new recruits fire more shots at the Japanese."

"Yes!"

Gan Rong hurriedly accepted the order.

On a high ground on the right bank of the Qingjiang River.

Chi Lu Xun was carefully observing the defensive fortifications of the Iron-Blooded Special Forces on the opposite bank of the Qingjiang River.

The Japanese intelligence lieutenant colonel rushed up and reported loudly:

"Your Excellency, Division Commander! The Chinese army has destroyed the pontoon bridge, and the Nakamura Battalion has suffered heavy losses while crossing the river."

Akashi roared, "Is Captain Nakamura a pig? Why did he send so many people onto the pontoon bridge all at once?"

The intelligence lieutenant colonel explained, "Captain Nakamura thought the Chinese garrison on the other side of the pontoon bridge had been scared away."

Akashi shouted angrily, "Idiot! Doesn't he know that the other side of the river is home to China's elite, iron-blooded special agents?"

The intelligence lieutenant colonel muttered, "They're just a ragtag army, not some elite force."

Akashi shouted, "Take a closer look! What ragtag army could build such a complete fortification without any blind spots?"

The intelligence lieutenant lowered his head, feeling utterly resentful.

At this moment, the division's chief of staff, Hashimoto Jiro, rushed over and reported: "Division Commander! Commander Yokoyama has telegraphed, ordering our troops to quickly cross the Qingjiang River and swiftly capture Gaojiazui, cutting off Shipai's flanks. Otherwise..."

Seeing his hesitation, Akashika snapped, "Hashimoto-kun! Otherwise what?"

Chief of Staff Hashimoto said in a low voice, "Otherwise, you will have to be relieved of your post as division commander."

Enraged, Akashi roared, "Baka! Is Yokoyama Isamu a pig? There isn't even a pontoon bridge, and the Iron-Blooded Special Forces are fighting tenaciously. How can our army cross the river quickly and capture Gaojiazui?"

In the intelligence report, Zuo Lang said loudly, "Division Commander! Why not send the Fujita Regiment across the river to test the firepower of the Chinese Iron-Blooded Special Forces Division?"

Akashi nodded and ordered, "Lieutenant Colonel! Order the Fujita Regiment to cross the river using assault boats, wooden boats, and other means of transportation to annihilate the Chinese Iron-Blooded Special Forces Division."

"Hah!"

The intelligence lieutenant bowed and accepted the order.

Chi Lu Xun continued to instruct: "Chief of Staff! Contact the Army Air Force and send planes to bomb the Iron-Blooded Special Forces Division's positions."

Chief of Staff Hashimoto said with a wry smile, "Division Commander! The Army Air Force has already sent planes to bomb the Iron-Blooded Special Forces Division's positions. Now that fuel is scarce and the weather is foggy with poor visibility, the Army Air Force is certainly unwilling to send planes to bomb."

Akashi waved his hand and said, "Let's ask first! Otherwise, the Fujita Regiment will definitely suffer heavy losses in the crossing of the river."

"Hah!"

Chief of Staff Hashimoto reluctantly accepted the order and sent out a telegram.

Shortly after, a reply was received, reporting:

"Your Excellency, Division Commander! The Army Air Force says that fuel is scarce and the weather is bad, so they cannot send bombers to bomb the area."

Enraged, Akashi roared, "Baka! What kind of war is this without fuel? Quick! Order the Fujita Regiment to halt their river-crossing operation!"

However, the Japanese Fujita Regiment had already begun crossing the river and was close to the opposite bank.

Chief of Staff Hashimoto advised, "Division Commander! Don't rush. The Chinese garrison on the other side of the river has not made any move. They have probably abandoned their fortifications and retreated."

Red Deer Xun was overjoyed and exclaimed happily, "Really?!"

He picked up his binoculars and observed the opposite bank, laughing loudly, "Haha! The Chinese Iron-Blooded Special Forces Division is nothing but a hollow name; not a single person has established a solid position. Quickly! Order the Fujita Regiment to accelerate its advance to the shore, establish a bridgehead, and drive it like a nail into the opposite bank."

"Hah!"

Chief of Staff Hashimoto bowed and accepted the order.

"Da da! Da da da!"

The sound of light and heavy machine gun fire rang out from the opposite bank of the river.

Upon closer inspection, Akashiro saw countless firing holes in the rocks on the opposite bank, from which tongues of fire spewed forth, reaping the lives of the Japanese soldiers crossing the river.

Regimental Commander Fujita raised his sword, pointed it at the shore, and roared:

"shooting!"

The Japanese reacted quickly and fired into the firing holes in the rock face.

However, all the firing ports were angled, so bullets couldn't penetrate them at all.

With a loud "bang!"

The Japanese regimental commander, Fujita, was shot in the forehead by a sniper bullet and died instantly.

Mortars and grenade launchers began firing from the cliffs and jungle, and the shells landed precisely on the Japanese motorboats and assault boats.

The accuracy of their shooting terrified the Japanese soldiers.

Chief of Staff Hashimoto sighed, "Alas! At least two battalions are finished!"

Akashi shouted urgently, "Quickly! Order the Fujita Regiment to retreat!"

Chief of Staff Hashimoto shook his head and said, "Division Commander! The Imperial warriors who crossed the river are definitely not coming back. Let them fight the Chinese Iron-Blooded Special Forces Division."

Akashi nodded and pointed to the boats on the opposite bank, saying, "If necessary, bombard the boats; we must not let them fall into the hands of the Chinese army."

"Hah!"

Chief of Staff Hashimoto hurriedly accepted the order.