Chapter 490 You always create surprises
Yu Xiaowan said angrily, "Brother Chu! The Dongcang is docked at Jiangyin Port. There are so many Japanese warships, and there is a small group of Japanese soldiers on the Dongcang. Don't be impulsive, otherwise we will be implicated."
Xiang Chu smiled and said, "We are not going into Jiangyin Harbor to sink it, so why can't we get away with it?"
"Not going into Jiangyin Port?"
Yu Xiaowan and Xu Lai both exclaimed in surprise.
Xiang Chu pointed to the map and said, "Qingmu Fantong ordered the Dongcang to depart at 128 o'clock tonight and arrive in Zhenjiang at 10 o'clock tomorrow. The waterway from Jiangyin to Zhenjiang is miles. The Dongcang should go upstream and maintain a speed of about knots.
We can rush to the narrow sandbar south of Gaogang at 3 a.m. to wait for the Dongcang, drop three mines, and sink it in one fell swoop. "
Yu Xiaowan stared at the map and nodded, "Yes, but how can you avoid the eyes of the sailors on the Xicang?"
Xu Lai smiled bitterly and said, "Brother Chu! In fact, you should really lock up these Japanese sailors and their captain together."
Yu Xiaowan said angrily: "According to my opinion, just kill them all and save yourself the trouble. They are all a bunch of damn devils anyway."
Xiang Chu said angrily, "You two! Do you really think our people can drive this warship without any problems? The navy is a technical branch of the military. The Yangtze River is full of dangerous shoals, reefs, shallows, and mines. If we are not careful, the ship will be destroyed and people will die. We cannot do without them."
Yu Xiaowan and Xu Lai looked at each other.
Xiang Chu added: "Of course, I can lead everyone to start this landing ship. We don't know how long the Battle of Wuhan will last. I can't stand watching it every day."
Xu Lai nodded and said, "Yes! You have to take overall command, you can't just focus on driving the boat."
Yu Xiaowan suggested: "Brother Chu! Why don't you lead our people to act at night and let the Japanese sailors of Xicang rest."
"That's what I thought, and we'll let them have some wine with dinner."
Xiang Chu nodded, pushed open the porthole, pointed outside and said happily,
"You two! The Yangtze River is covered with fog and rain, which makes it more convenient for action tonight."
Since it was decided to sink the Dongcang landing ship, Xiang Chu immediately called Zheng Zhili, Li Tong, Gan Rong, Hongyi, Liu Zhengxiong, Lu Xiong, Ning Qiang and others over.
Xiang Chu said solemnly: "Everyone! The Dongcang landing ship is loaded with 100 million counterfeit French currency. If it flows into the Kuomintang-controlled area, it will cause immeasurable losses to the economy. The Supreme Command orders us to destroy it immediately. We will act tonight. The specific plan is..."
After some precise planning, everyone immediately took action.
At dinner, Xiang Chu borrowed the sailors from the Xicang to eat and replaced them with his own people.
Zheng Zhili and Liu Zhengxiong even allowed them to get drunk.
Gan Rong was in charge of the controls, Hongyi was in charge of the machinery, Zhang Linmao was in charge of telecommunications, and the upper deck was under the charge of Li Tong, Lu Xiong and others.
To avoid being discovered, Xiang Chu ordered all radios on the ship to remain silent.
In order to verify whether the Dongcang really left Jiangyin Port at 8 pm, according to the Jiangyin Port's system of ships reporting one hour in advance of leaving the port, the Xicang passed through the waters outside Jiangyin Port before 7 pm.
Several radio stations remained on their radio call signs, and the operators listened quietly.
At 7 o'clock, the Dongcang landing ship called on time:
"Jiangyin Port Dispatching Center! Can the Dongcang leave the port on time at 8 o'clock?"
Soon, Jiangyin Port Infinite Radio replied: "Dongcang! OK."
Dongcang replied: "Yes! Our ship will start preparing for battle and sailing in one hour."
Xiang Chu was overjoyed and ordered, "Gan Rong! Speed up and rush to the designated waters."
"Yes!"
Gan Rong took the order excitedly.
Xiang Chu came to the stern cabin and ordered Li Tong and others to move the three mines to the stern and fix them, then he personally installed fuses on the mines, covered them with canvas, and sent Ning Qiang and other capable backbones to stand guard.
The night is deep and the rain is hazy!
At around midnight, the Xicang approached the narrow mouth of the sandbar south of Gaogang.
Gan Rong reduced the speed and sailed slowly through the narrow mouth.
Xiang Chu had been holding a telescope and observing behind the bridge.
Zhang Linmao held an umbrella for him and couldn't help but volunteer: "Chief! It's hard to see at night. I'm willing to carry a radio on a small boat and go downstream. If it's really the Dongcang coming, send a message immediately."
Xiang Chu put down the telescope, pointed behind him and said with a smile: "Good brother! You don't have to sacrifice yourself. The Dongcang is following the channel and has already caught up."
Indeed, the Dongcang, which was half the size of the Xicang, finally appeared in the narrow mouth.
Xiang Chu ran to the stern of the ship, and when the time was right, he ordered, "Lay the first mine!"
"Hai!"
Ning Qiang and others hurriedly accepted the order.
Everyone carefully pushed the first mine slowly into the Yangtze River.
The first mine went down the narrow rapids and rushed towards the Dongcang landing ship.
The Dongcang landing ship has entered the narrow mouth and there is no escape.
Xiang Chu hurriedly ordered: "Quick! Release the second and third mines."
Ning Qiang and others hurriedly followed their instructions and pushed two mines into the river one after another.
"Everyone, please go to the cabin and hide. Do not make any noise."
Xiang Chu gave a loud order and turned to run towards the cockpit.
Not long after, a loud "boom!" was heard from behind.
Immediately, the Dongcang turned on the searchlight, illuminating the surface of the river.
A mine hit the front waterline of the ship and exploded, creating a medium-sized hole. River water rushed in frantically and the bow of the ship began to sink.
"Boom! Boom!"
There were two loud bangs in succession.
Two mines hit the side of the ship one after another, creating two large holes.
As the river water rushed in, the Dongcang began to capsize in the water and slowly sank.
Xiang Chu held a telescope and observed from the bridge until he saw that only the chimney on the top of the Dongcang was left. Then he walked into the cockpit and ordered Gan Rong: "Gan Rong! Speed up and try to dock at Nanjing Xiaguan Wharf in the early morning."
"Yes!"
Gan Rong hurriedly accepted the order.
Zhang Linmao said with a choked voice: "Director! Can I go to Yuntai Road to take a look after arriving in Nanjing?"
Xiang Chu patted his shoulder and comforted him: "Good brother! I will go with you. Maybe your brother and sister-in-law are still alive."
After he finished speaking, he turned around silently, walked out of the cockpit, inspected the entire ship, and then returned to the captain's room.
Yu Xiaowan and Xu Lai were both still awake, and when they saw him coming they immediately went forward to greet him.
Yu Xiaowan: "Brother Chu! There were three loud noises just now. The Dongcang must have sunk."
Xiang Chu nodded and said, "Yes! It's done."
"Great!"
Yu Xiaowan and Xu Lai said excitedly.
Xu Lai hurriedly said, "Brother Chu! Send a message to the higher-ups."
"Okay! But maybe no one will accept it at this time."
Xiang Chu nodded, pointed to the inner room, and ordered,
"It's almost dawn! You two should go to bed!"
"Ok!"
Yu Xiaowan and Xu Lai nodded obediently.
Xiang Chu sat down next to the radio and sent a message: "Fifty thousand! The Dongcang landing ship was just sunk by me at the narrow mouth of the sandbar south of Gaogang. Blind man!"
He sent the message twice and lay down on the sofa next to him, not holding out any hope that the other party would reply to the message.
But suddenly the radio transmission sounded.
He hurriedly got up to transcribe and decipher the message: "Blindfolded man! Message received. You always manage to create surprises. Fifty thousand!"
"Who on earth is this person?!"
Xiang Chu couldn't help but feel doubtful.