The reason why Chairman Chiang agreed to David Stephen's visit to the Dameishan base area may be because he feels that the Dameishan Independent Group has little weight and will not have any international impact. Perhaps it is because David Stephen is just a trainee reporter for the Associated Press. It will not have a substantial impact on the US government's strategy. There may be other reasons, but in short, it is an indisputable fact that David Stephen is about to visit the Dameishan base area.
This is of course a big deal for the Dameishan Independent Group.
It was a big event even for the New Fourth Army and even the entire Communist Party.
During World War II, although the United States' aid to China was based on national interests, and the intensity of its aid to China was far from comparable to that of the Soviet Union and Europe, it is undeniable that during World War II, the U.S. government did provide The National Government provided a large amount of military and economic assistance.
Unfortunately, these aids from the U.S. government were not well used in the war of resistance.
For example, the first $50 million loan approved by the U.S. government in accordance with the Lend-Lease Act was transferred to the Nationalist Government's account and then immediately deposited back into a U.S. bank. Until the end of the Anti-Japanese War, the $50 million was no longer available. Not even a penny was used, and the Song family kept using the $50 million to eat the interest that was prohibitively high at the time.
If these 50 million US dollars and subsequent larger amounts of loans can be turned into weapons and equipment as soon as possible, and transported back to the country as soon as possible to arm the domestic armed forces, then in the second battle of Changsha, Xue Yue may It is possible to completely annihilate Japan's Central China troops, or even directly shift from strategic defense to strategic counter-offensive.
In other words, the strategic counterattack on the Chinese battlefield is likely to be advanced to 1943, or even 1942.
It is a pity that history has no ifs. The U.S. government's financial assistance to the National Government became a gluttonous feast for the four major families and did not play its due role.
Now, the opportunity to change history is about to appear in front of Xu Rui.
Therefore, Xu Rui must try his best to change this historical trend. Even if it is impossible to convince the US government to transfer all economic aid to Japan, he must at least get a share of the US government's economic and military aid!
Moreover, this is by no means a fantasy, because objectively speaking, the U.S. government did have the idea of aiding Japan at that time, but it was only due to the obstruction of the then U.S. Ambassador to China Johnson, coupled with the attention of U.S. President Roosevelt More of them were concentrated on the European battlefield, so in the end the assistance to Japan came to nothing.
Now, Xu Rui is determined to change this historical trend, so the Associated Press war correspondent, David Steve, is very important. The most important thing now is to protect his safety.
So Xu Rui picked up the phone on the table and called the 3rd Battalion headquarters.
When the call was connected, Xu Rui just said to He Shuya on the other end of the phone, come to the regiment headquarters immediately because he has an urgent task.
After putting down the phone, He Shuya immediately put down all the work at hand and walked more than ten miles through the tunnel to reach the regiment headquarters.
But when Xu Rui's mission was handed over, He Shuya was a little dumbfounded: "What, you want me to rush to Tongcheng at this time?"
Xu Rui asked: "Why, you don't want to?"
The telegram forwarded by the New Fourth Army military headquarters stated that AP war correspondent David Stephen would arrive in Tongcheng on a ship of the American and British Tobacco Company tomorrow, because Tongcheng is now controlled by the fourth detachment of the New Fourth Army, and then the fourth detachment would send a small force to escort it. David Stephen went north to Damei Mountain.
The military headquarters of the New Fourth Army also knew that the Dameishan Independent Regiment was facing a major sweep by the Kawaguchi Detachment, so it did not ask the Independent Regiment to send troops to meet halfway, but only said that the safety of David Stephen would be the responsibility of the Fourth Detachment, but as the independent regiment Leader, as a time traveler who knows the direction of history, Xu Rui is not at ease.
Therefore, it goes without saying that a small elite force is sent to respond.
The only question is, which troops to send? Who should lead the team
It must be said that Leng Tiefeng's special operations team is the most suitable, but currently the Dameishan Independent Regiment is facing a mopping up operation by the Kawaguchi detachment. In the subsequent combat operations, Leng Tiefeng's special operations unit is indispensable. Therefore, He could only send other troops there. Xu Rui chose over and over again, and finally selected He Shuya.
Although He Shuya is young, he has rich combat experience. Counting from September 18, he has been a soldier for seven years. At his age level, he is absolutely unparalleled. Secondly, He Shuya has a flexible mind. Longgou was shown vividly in that battle, so besides Leng Tiefeng, He Shuya was the most suitable.
This can also be regarded as a test for He Shuya. If he passes the test, he will basically be qualified to serve as the battalion commander.
He Shuya didn't want to go, which Xu Rui had expected. Xu Rui smiled and asked, "Why, you don't want to go?"
He Shuya did not dare to directly say that he was unwilling. He looked around and said: "Captain, I have never done this as a bodyguard before. Otherwise, why don't you find someone else to do it? Didn't you just say that?" This war reporter is very important and cannot make any mistakes, so it is even more important to send someone with experience."
Xu Rui smiled and said: "Then who do you think has experience and who is the right person to send?"
He Shuya said: "I think veterans are quite suitable, and a special operations unit for such a mission is more suitable. It has a small number but extremely strong combat effectiveness. Otherwise, let the veterans lead the special operations unit to Tongcheng?"
"This won't work. The special operations team must stay." Xu Rui flatly rejected He Shuya's proposal and said in a deep voice, "Nerd, stop picking out the best for me here. Go back and pick out the elite of a platoon. Then take this platoon to Tongcheng and bring David Stephen back to me with all his beard and tail intact."
He Shuya's head drooped immediately. Xu Rui had already given the order, what else could he say? Just obey.
But after thinking about it, He Shuya felt a little unwilling, and said: "Captain, you can go to Tongcheng, but you have to lend me a few special forces. I don't dare to ask for veterans. At least let Han Feng and Tiezhu follow me. Can’t do it?”
"Sure, I'll let Han Feng and Tie Zhu follow you." Xu Rui nodded, "But you have to promise me that you will bring David Stephen back to the base in one piece."
"Yes!" He Shuya stood up straight and responded loudly, "Reporting to the head of the delegation, I will bring David Stephen, the trainee war correspondent assigned to the Chinese battlefield by the Associated Press, back to the base in one piece."
Xu Rui laughed, waved his hand and said, "Go."
He Shuya gave a military salute, turned around and walked away.
In the evening of that day, He Shuya took Han Feng, Tiezhu and twelve elite soldiers selected from the 3rd Battalion and left the Damei Mountain area via a small road and embarked on the road to Tongcheng.
(Dividing line)
The 101st Infantry Regiment of the Kawaguchi Detachment occupied Meizhen at noon, and soon found that the entire town had become an empty city, with no common people in the town missing. So Yoshino Akio immediately ordered a large number of search teams to be sent to the outskirts of Meizhen and the surrounding areas. Searches were launched in nearby villages.
The 101st Infantry Regiment dispatched as many as twelve search teams. Each search team included an infantry team and a cavalry team. The infantry team was responsible for search and the cavalry was responsible for communications.
The Japanese army's communications are much better than those of the Japanese army, but the radio stations are only assigned to the brigade level. The squadrons and even squads below still have to rely on the communications soldiers to be responsible for communication.
Takeo Shanshan, who luckily saved his life from the Dawan battlefield, was sent to the eighth search team.
The Eighth Search Team is responsible for searching in the direction of Xiaolizhuang, which is located in the northwest of Mei Town, ten miles away from the two places.
Since the search would continue at dawn tomorrow, the eighth search team did not return to Meizhen after nightfall, but camped on the spot in Xiaoli Village.
For safety reasons, the search team did not camp in Xiaoli Village, but stayed at the mountain temple at the entrance of the village. In addition to the main hall, the mountain temple at the entrance of the village also has left and right wing rooms and a courtyard. There is also a stone in the courtyard. The ancient cypress tree is as thick as two people hugging each other, and its canopy is so lush that it almost covers the entire yard.
After nightfall, the atmosphere in the mountains became a little cooler. The infantrymen in the search team set up a bonfire in the yard, and then cordially invited the cavalrymen from the cavalry squad to come and warm themselves over the fire. They also skinned and cleaned the two pheasants they had hunted in the field. After a while, the two pheasants were roasted until oil was coming out.
One of the Japanese infantrymen took out two small jars from his backpack, which were filled with salt and pepper. He sprinkled the salt and pepper on the roasted chicken, and the two pheasants were roasted until they were dripping with oil. It turns golden brown, and the tangy smell of meat begins to fill the air.
The pheasant was roasted, but the infantry of the search party did not have to eat. They had to respect the cavalry.
Yama Takeo and his more than ten cavalrymen accepted the filial piety of the infantry with peace of mind. In Japanese society, the hierarchy is very strict, and there is an insurmountable gap between civilians and samurai. This huge gap in hierarchy has also been brought about. Entering the army created a gap between infantry and cavalry.
Takeo on the mountain tore up a chicken leg and took two bites, then suddenly sighed: "It would be great if there was wine."
"Wine?" A Japanese infantryman who was standing cautiously nearby immediately brightened up and said, "Sir, when I was searching the village just now, I seemed to have found a huge wine vat in one of the courtyards. There should be Chinese people in it. Do you want me to get some of the self-brewing rice wine for you?"
"Baga." Takeo on the mountain scolded immediately after hearing this, "Since there is wine, why don't you go and get it quickly?"
"Hai." The Japanese infantryman paused repeatedly, then turned around and picked up the 38-meter cover to go outside. However, Takeo on the mountain ordered two other Japanese infantrymen to go together. The two second-class soldiers who were ordered did not dare to neglect. , hurriedly followed him out of the gate of the mountain temple with the Sanba Daigai on his arm.
The three Japs walked out of the gate of the mountain temple and went straight to a compound at the east end of the village. (To be continued.)