Chapter 646: Annexation of the 34th Army

Chapter 646: Annexation of the 34th Army

As the sun set, Xiang Chu led the 34th Army to arrive five miles south of Hanshou County.

A clear river stretched before my eyes, and the bridge over the river had collapsed.

Xiang Chu helplessly picked up the megaphone and shouted, "Attention all divisions and regiments! My family will camp by the Canglang River tonight. Master Hong! Repair the bridge over the river."

"Yes!"

The division and regiment commanders hurriedly received the order.

Xiang Chu, Kong Ling and Yu Xiaowan got off the armored car and stopped by the river.

Yu Xiaowan looked at the surging river and said in amazement, "Brother Chu! Is this the Canglang mentioned in Qu Yuan's Chuci?"

Kong Ling chanted: "The water of Canglang is clear, so I can wash my hat with it; the water of Canglang is turbid, so I can wash my feet with it."

Xiang Chu nodded and said, "Yes! Go west along this river, where Cangshui and Langshui meet, and you will find Qu Yuan's hometown, now called Canggang. There may be three thousand years of historical sites there, such as Sanlu Dafu Temple, Qu Yuan Temple, Jiangtan, Juzhou, Diaoyutai, Qixingdui, and Zhaoqu Pavilion."

Yu Xiaowan exclaimed: "A three thousand year old monument?"

Kong Ling said anxiously: "Her father! Let's go play."

Xiang Chu shook his head and said, "Yu Dafu lived in Hanshou County a few years ago and wrote a travelogue. These ancient monuments, like the ancient Chaoyang Bridge in front of us, disappeared due to disrepair."

At this moment, the radio transmission in the armored car sounded.

Yu Xiaowan said coquettishly, "What a bummer! Get in the car."

The soldiers were setting up tents, and people were watching from a distance.

Xiang Chu and the other two got in the car. Yu Xiaowan translated the message and said with a wry smile, "Brother Chu! Sister Xi called and said that there is only one general position now and many people are competing for it. Zeng Yun has the highest vote.

But it all depends on your performance on the battlefield. If you can destroy one more Japanese brigade on the battlefield, you will be able to defeat him."

Kong Ling shouted, "Stop making things difficult for our men. Why do you have to promote him to the rank of general? Is it so easy to destroy the Japanese brigade?"

Xiang Chu sat in front of the radio and replied to the message while saying, "We agree verbally and we are free to act. Whether we can destroy another Japanese brigade depends on fate. We just need to work hard. Hehe!"

Kong Ling suggested: "Fifty thousand! Since we still have a big battle to fight, and the Japs won't attack from West Dongting for the time being, there's no need to leave a regiment in the south of Hanshou City. Just follow us."

"Of course!"

Xiang Chu nodded and immediately picked up the megaphone to call,

"Lao Liu! Withdraw a regiment from the south of Hanshou City and follow us."

"Yes!"

Liu Zhengxiong hurriedly accepted the order.

Yu Xiaowan asked in confusion: "Brother Chu! Why didn't Lin Qiaoer lead the Mixed 1st Division to Hanshou?"

Xiang Chu said thoughtfully: "I think something went wrong. Why don't you ask her?"

Kong Ling said angrily: "You two are too curious. Aren't you asking for trouble by asking her?"

"Yeah! Xiaowan is indeed very curious."

Xiang Chu nodded, turned around and slipped out of the armored vehicle.

Yiyang, Huilong Mountain.

Anan looked at the lush valley with a confused look on his face.

He couldn't help but ask the short chief of staff beside him: "Nakamura-kun! We only stopped the pursuit for one day, how did the Chinese Mixed 1st Division disappear without a trace?"

The short chief of staff smiled bitterly and said, "Your Excellency, Brigade Commander! Nara believes that the Chinese Mixed 1st Division has entered Hanshou and joined forces with the 34th Army."

Anan said with regret: "We should have made the best of our mistake and continued to pursue the 1st Mixed Division. Now Commander Okamura ordered us to annihilate the 1st Mixed Division, but we have lost our goal. Alas!"

At this time, the intelligence major stepped forward and reported loudly: "Your Excellency, Brigade Commander! Scout Tanaka sent a message that he found the 1st Mixed Division south of Hanshou City. They are heading towards Yiyang along the road."

Anan was overjoyed and said with a smile, "Yoshi! The Mixed 1st Division still can't escape the grasp of this Major General. Our army is just in a good position to wait for them to tire themselves out and surround and annihilate them all at Huilong Mountain."

Nakamura Nara suggested, "Your Excellency the Brigade Commander! Nara has a plan."

Anan Jihe said with a smile: "Mr. Nakamura is very smart, please tell me."

Nakamura Nara said with a grin, "Our army will massacre all the villagers in the villages around Huilong Mountain, and then let our people pretend to be villagers, and the 1st Mixed Division will enter Huilong Mountain and wipe them out."

Anan Jihe clapped his hands and praised: "Yoshi! This is really a good idea."

The radio operator stepped forward and shouted, "Your Excellency the Brigade Commander! The 11th Army has called a meeting of the division commanders. Division Commander Abe is ill because the Doihara Brigade was annihilated. Commander Okamura asks you to take a speedboat to Wuhan to attend the meeting."

Nakamura Nara flattered him: "Your Excellency the Brigade Commander! It seems that you will be promoted to division commander soon."

Anan Jike still kept a clear mind and shook his head, saying, "No! Now I am the commander of the brigade and have not achieved any success. If we can annihilate the Chinese Mixed 1st Division, I will be promoted to the commander of the division. I will go to Wuhan for a meeting, and you will massacre all the surrounding villages. We have to build a big maze for the Mixed 1st Division to drill into."

Nakamura Nara said respectfully: "Don't worry! Nara will definitely help you get promoted to Lieutenant General Division Commander."

Anan Jihe promised: "Nakamura-kun! If you succeed, the brigade commander will promote you to the position of division chief of staff."

Nakamura Nara shouted with absolute certainty: "We will definitely succeed!"

East of Yiyang, south of Xiangyin.

The 1st Mixed Division is marching quickly eastward.

Ye Guang and Wu Sheng sat in the car at the back drinking and chatting.

Ye Guang asked in confusion: "Director Wu! I find it really strange that the division commander no longer wants to 'fight the local tyrants and divide the land', but instead has changed his mind and wants to go to the front line to fight."

Wu Sheng smiled and said, "You don't even know this. This is to help her uncle, Commander Zeng, get military merit and be promoted to general."

Ye Guang waved his hand and said, "Stop talking! Commander Zeng has been a deputy minister for many years, and it is almost certain that he will be promoted to general. He doesn't need any military merit at all."

Wu Sheng shook his head and said, "Master Ye! You are in Southeast Asia and have no idea about what is happening in our country. To be honest, there is only one position for a general, and it can only be chosen between our commander Zeng and the commander of the 34th Army, Chu Xi."

Ye Guang suddenly realized, "No wonder Lin Qiaoer stopped helping the 34th Army and went to Miluo to help her uncle."

Wu Sheng whispered: "Not only that, she also wants to help her uncle annex the 34th Army and completely trample Chu Xi under her feet."

"Annex the 34th Army?!"

Ye Guang exclaimed, and after a while he said, "Okay! Let them fight among themselves, and we will continue to sell intelligence and make a lot of money. But once Doihara Xian'er dies, can we still sell our intelligence for a good price?"

Wu Sheng shook his head and said, "Young Master Ye! Long Sheng is already dead, so let's not try to make that dirty money that will cost us our lives."

Ye Guang almost said that he was a Japanese spy, but he changed his words and said, "You're right! There's no need for us to do that anymore. Come on! Cheers."

"Dry!"

Wu Sheng raised his glass happily, feeling how good it felt not to be a traitor.

Hankou, military dock.

Kenji Doihara was wearing a lieutenant general's uniform, with a bald head and shiny leather shoes.

Wearing a mask and sunglasses, he walked down the transport ship's gangway.

A black car was parked at the gangway, waiting for his arrival.

He got into the car and ordered, "Fang Zhi! Go to the 11th Army Headquarters."

"Hello!"

Kawashima Yoshizhi hurriedly accepted the order.

The black car drove away from the dock and headed straight for the headquarters of the Japanese 11th Army.