Chapter 615: Killing a Chicken with a Butcher Knife
After the Battle of Wuhan, the Japanese headquarters made the decision to strategically bomb Chongqing.
They attempted to "achieve decisive results using the Air Force alone" and force the Nationalist government to surrender.
Chongqing's unique geographical features make it a world-famous "fog city".
At the beginning, the Japanese bombers often couldn't find the targets to bomb and returned empty-handed.
Even if the bombing was successful and a large number of bombs were dropped, it would only create some large holes and would not cause much damage.
With the influx of a large number of Japanese spies, a large number of spineless Chinese people were lured and corrupted to become traitors and running dogs, transmitting Chongqing's weather intelligence to the Japanese bomber forces.
They also reported the most fatal flaw in Chongqing's wooden house structures - fear of fire.
The Japanese high-ranking officials were overjoyed. After receiving the information that the weather in Chongqing was fine, they immediately sent 15 Japanese bombers, each carrying two incendiary bombs, escorted by 2 Japanese fighter planes, and approached Chongqing.
The anti-aircraft guns on the ground fired at the Japanese planes, with a maximum range of 1 feet, but the Japanese planes were at an altitude of 2 feet and could not reach them.
Five Chinese Air Force planes, including the fighter No. 5 that had made great achievements, quickly took off and fought a desperate air battle with the Japanese planes over Chongqing.
Unfortunately, they were outnumbered and after shooting down three Japanese fighter planes and two bombers, they were all shot down by Japanese planes.
More than 10 incendiary bombs were dropped, and wooden houses immediately caught fire. Several areas in Chongqing were set on fire, and countless people who did not have time to evacuate to the air-raid shelters were buried in the sea of fire...
Song Xi sent a sad message to Xiang Chu: "Brother! The Japanese sent 30 planes to bomb Chongqing with incendiary bombs. We suffered heavy losses. No. 2102 and our 5 fighters fought back and perished together with the 5 Japanese planes."
Qiandong, on the Hunan-Guizhou Highway.
Yu Xiaowan received the telegram, handed it to Xiang Chu, and said bitterly:
"Brother Chu! The hateful Japanese used incendiary bombs to attack Chongqing."
Xiang Chu took the telegram and read it, wondering: "There are so many anti-aircraft artillery units around Chongqing? Why didn't they shoot down a single Japanese plane?"
Yu Xiaowan said thoughtfully: "Is it too late to react?"
Kong Ling smiled bitterly and said, "I know that the anti-aircraft artillery unit's range is not enough to hit the Japanese planes."
Xiang Chu sneered and said, "The anti-aircraft artillery unit's range is not enough. There are so many mountains in Chongqing, they can just move to the middle of the mountain or the top of the mountain to attack. The range and specific location of our anti-aircraft artillery must have been revealed to the devils by the traitor."
"I'll send your questions to the Military Intelligence Bureau and ask them to check it out."
Kong Ling said anxiously, and rushed to the radio station and sent a telegram to the Military Intelligence Bureau.
Soon, the Military Intelligence Bureau replied to the telegram: "There is a suspect in the anti-aircraft artillery unit. Because of his great influence, we dare not arrest him without solid evidence."
Xiang Chu glanced at the telegram and sneered, "At this time, we are not going to use the 'wrongful killing of three thousand' trick. What is Dainong afraid of?"
Kong Ling said angrily, "Dear! Don't worry about the Japanese spies in Chongqing for now. Let's study carefully how we can encircle and suppress the bandits on the Hunan-Guizhou border."
Xiang Chu waved his hand and said, "There is nothing to study. Let's learn from the Japanese and throw poison gas bombs as soon as we come up."
Kong Ling was surprised and asked, "Does our 34th Army still have poison gas bombs? Where did they get them from?"
Xiang Chu deliberately lied: "I picked it up on the road."
Yu Xiaowan said hurriedly: "Inspector! His devilish father gave it to him."
Kong Ling corrected her, "Sister Xiaowan! You should just call me sister. Inspector is a term used by outsiders."
"Ok!"
Yu Xiaowan was very touched and took out the equipment and supplies list and handed it to her.
"Sister! This is our equipment."
Kong Ling took the equipment and supplies list and looked at it, and was so shocked that he was speechless.
After a while, she said solemnly: "Xiang Chu! You, Sister Xi, and Man Xue are really fighting the war with all your family wealth."
Xiang Chu thought she was upset and said nervously, "Don't be angry, dear! I stole all that money. Now our family is relatively well-off and we are not starving."
Kong Ling said angrily: "Go away! Who is angry? I am just moved."
At this point, the troops' marching speed slowed down and finally stopped completely.
Li Tong's voice came from the car radio loudspeaker:
"Uncle Master! The road ahead has been dug up by a group of bandits called Qin Dibao. They even put up a sign saying that if we give them a thousand good guns and a hundred thousand rounds of bullets, they will not dig up the road and let us pass safely."
Xiang Chu picked up the megaphone and asked with a smile: "Didn't the bandits tell us how to give them the guns and ammunition?"
Li Tong responded: "Send someone with guns and ammunition to the entrance of the Yixiantian Gorge in Sanhe Mountain ahead."
"A ray of sky at Sanhe Mountain!"
Xiang Chu repeated the name and asked Yu Xiaowan to unfold the map and take a look.
He found that Sanhe Mountain was not far away. There was a steep platform on the top of the mountain with Heifeng Village built on it. There was only a narrow canyon leading to the Heifeng Village on the top of the mountain.
Kong Ling came up to look at the map, clapped his hands and laughed, "Fifty thousand! The Black Wind Stronghold of these bandits is so close to the official road, they obviously stole a lot of good things, we're going to make a fortune."
Yu Xiaowan said anxiously: "Brother Chu! The bandits are bullying us, let's quickly rob and kill them all."
Xiang Chu sneered, "We have to rob them! Otherwise, they would really think that our 34th Army is a rubbish unit. But we have to ask the people before we rob them."
After he finished speaking, he picked up the megaphone and shouted, "Captain Li! Send people to repair the road quickly and ask the people nearby what kind of bandit Qin Dibao is and what his relationship with Qin Tianbao is. Also, how many bandits are there in the Black Wind Village and whether there are any people there."
"Yes!"
Li Tong hurriedly accepted the order.
Soon, Li Tong replied: "Uncle Junior! The road has been repaired. I heard from the people nearby that Qin Dibao is a wicked man. He is a sworn brother of Qin Tianbao. His original name was Qin Digou. He changed his name to Qin Dibao to curry favor with Qin Tianbao. There are more than 200 bandits in the Black Wind Village, but no ordinary people."
Xiang Chu smiled and said, "Very good! Keep marching forward and stop when you are within the rifle range of the Sanhe Mountain bandits."
Li Tong responded: "Understood!"
The large army continued to move forward, and the end of the force was as far as the eye could see.
Yu Xiaowan smiled bitterly and said, "We have such a large army, and the bandits actually dared to provoke us. They are really seeking death."
Kong Ling shook his head and said, "No! Because these bandits occupy the dangerous mountain tops and are elusive. Local troops have tried to encircle and suppress them many times but failed to catch them, so they are so rampant."
Xiang Chu sneered: "That's because they didn't encounter our troops."
"Boom! Boom!"
There were sporadic gunshots in the distance ahead.
The troops stopped again, and Li Tong's voice came from the loudspeaker.
"Master Junior! The bandits have fired warning shots at the top of Sanhe Mountain, saying they will attack us if we get any closer."
Xiang Chu issued a combat order: "Gan Rong! Elite commandos put on bulletproof clothing, wear helmets, carry 30 infantry guns, grenade launchers and other weapons, and storm the Black Wind Stronghold on Sanhe Mountain. You can use poison gas bombs. Hongyi! The 88mm heavy artillery regiment fires 10 shells at the Black Wind Stronghold to clear its main buildings. Zhang Fei! Liu Zhengxiong! The 1st and 2nd Divisions will be dispatched to encircle Sanhe Mountain and kill the bandits without mercy. Action!"
"Yes!"
Everyone accepted the order with absolute certainty.
Kong Ling clenched his fist and said, "You can only use a butcher knife to kill a chicken!"