For a long time, the Japanese soldiers were bathing and playing in the river, apparently not noticing the cave entrance hidden in the reeds not far away.
Suddenly a Japanese soldier came ashore and walked toward the tunnel entrance. Judging from his posture, he wanted to go to the reeds for convenience.
Xu Dalong, Li Zhendong and others' hearts suddenly rose to their throats. The Japanese soldiers could see the location of the cave entrance as long as they climbed up the river embankment.
People have been coming in and out these days, and it is inevitable that they will leave some traces at the entrance of the cave, such as some soil scattered on the ground, and reeds that were trampled and broken, etc., which may arouse the suspicion of the Japanese army.
Sure enough, the Japanese soldiers shouted loudly, apparently having discovered the entrance of the cave. The Japanese soldiers in the river climbed up the river bank one after another and went to the river to get their guns. Some of the Japanese soldiers immediately fired shots to call the police after getting the guns.
No, the entrance to the cave was discovered.
The hearts of Xu Dalong, Li Zhendong and others sank suddenly, knowing that all their efforts during this period were in vain.
Li Zhendong said unwillingly: "Brother Xu, let's rush over quickly, kill those Japs, take out the people inside, and set off the explosion immediately."
Xu Dalong shook his head and said, "It's too late."
The current location of Xu Dalong and others is at least seven or eight hundred meters away from the entrance. At this time, the Japanese patrol team on the airport can already be seen running towards this direction. The Japanese troops stationed around the airport heard gunfire.
After that, they also ran towards the entrance of the cave one after another.
Xu Dalong only had Lin Xueying, Zheng Xirong, Wang Jinke, Wei Monk, and Li Zhendong with only 20 soldiers. He couldn't defeat so many Japanese soldiers, and he would have died in vain.
With a "Hey" sound, Li Zhendong's depression had nowhere to vent, and he punched the grass hard.
Xu Dalong was also very depressed. For more than a month, they had tried their best, but they did not expect such a result.
The company commander of the Guo Army who stayed in the tunnel was named Feng Baoqiang. After he checked the detonating device, he had to wait until dark before going out. Feeling bored, he took a nap there.
A soldier guarding the entrance of the cave ran over and pushed him awake, saying anxiously: "Lian Zuo, it's bad, the entrance to the cave was discovered by the Japanese. We are surrounded and can't get out."
Feng Baoqiang was startled and hurriedly led two soldiers outside. Before he had gone far, he saw the light of a flashlight in front of him. The Japanese soldiers had already descended into the tunnel and were searching this way.
Feng Baoqiang knew he couldn't get out, so he said: "Brothers, we can't leave today. What do you think we should do?"
A soldier said: "I can't get out anyway, so I have to fight with the Japanese."
Another soldier was obviously a little scared. He said: "Before I came, a letter came from home, saying that my family had arranged a marriage for me and was waiting for me to go back to get married. Together, I don't want to die. It's my parents' fault.
He's getting older, and he's still waiting for me to go back and take care of him." As he said that, he started to cry.
Feng Baoqiang scolded: "You are a restless thing. Since you are a soldier fighting against Japan, don't be afraid of death. Now that we are surrounded by the Japanese, we have no way to survive. It is still death anyway, so we might as well die with the Japanese."
The soldier also understood this truth, and he said: "Young lady, I know, I just feel sorry that I will never see my parents again, nor will I ever see my new wife."
As he said that, he picked up the gun and said, "Lian Zuo, just go ahead and detonate it. I'll stop the devils here."
Another soldier also said: "It's a dead end anyway, so let's use these Japs and the Japs at the airport as backers. Kill one Japs to earn enough money, and kill two to earn one. Once the explosive explodes, I have to kill him anyway."
Hundreds of Japs are worth it if they die. Don't you hurry up and detonate them."
At this time, the light of the Japanese soldier's flashlight was getting closer and closer, and the two soldiers shot forward with their guns.
The flashlight in front suddenly went out, and then bullets came. The tunnel was so narrow that it was impossible to escape. The soldier who was going home to marry a wife died on the spot. Another soldier was also injured in the shoulder, but he
He gritted his teeth and continued shooting forward.
Feng Baoqiang hurriedly ran back to detonate the explosive.
After the Japanese soldiers discovered the tunnel, they soon discovered the wires on the ground. They were aware of the danger. They set up machine guns in the tunnel and fired fiercely. Another Japanese soldier also died.
The Japanese soldiers were worried that other officers and soldiers staying in the tunnel would detonate explosives, so they rushed forward desperately.
Feng Baoqiang came to the explosive pile, found the detonator, knelt down and kowtowed three times in the direction of his hometown, and said: "Father, mother, I can no longer serve you in this life, but I will still be your son in the next life."
After saying that, he sat up and pressed the push rod of the detonator.
Unexpectedly, there was no reaction.
It turned out that after the Japanese soldiers discovered the wires on the ground, they immediately cut them off and the circuit was no longer connected.
Feng Baoqiang had already seen the bright light of the Japanese flashlight in the distance, so he had to take out the two Japanese grenades he carried with him, pulled out the safety pin, smashed the sulfuric acid tube inside after the impact, placed it on the explosive package, and then quietly
Sit there and wait for the grenade to explode.
The one who rushed at the front was a squadron leader of the Japanese army. He knew that once the people in the tunnel detonated explosives, he and the Japanese officers and soldiers who followed him would only die. Therefore, he ran forward as hard as he could, urging him as he ran.
The soldiers behind him quickly followed.
He held up the flashlight and soon saw Feng Baoqiang in front of him. Feng Baoqiang did not have a gun in his hand, he just sat there quietly and smiled contemptuously at the Japanese officer.
When the Japanese squadron leader saw the smile on Feng Baoqiang's face, he knew he was already too late. In panic, he fired two shots at Feng Baoqiang.
At the same time that Feng Baoqiang was shot, a violent explosion occurred in the tunnel. The Jaap squadron leader's vision went dark and he lost consciousness.
Xu Dalong, Li Zhendong and others were worried about the Kuomintang officers and soldiers left in the tunnel. Suddenly they heard a loud noise and the ground trembled. They saw a violent explosion at the Japanese airport, and a large area of the airport was destroyed.
billowing smoke shrouded.
Before the thick smoke dissipated, a huge fire broke out at the airport. This was because the oil depot was ignited by explosives.
At this time, the smoke gradually dissipated, and Xu Dalong and others saw a large number of Japanese soldiers fleeing from the airport.
It turned out that after the oil depot was ignited, the fire had spread to the ammunition depot. The Japanese soldiers were afraid that the ammunition depot would explode, so they fled in all directions.
About a minute later, the ammunition depot at the airport was finally detonated. Countless aerial bombs exploded one after another, once again embroiling the entire airport in billowing smoke.
The explosions continued one after another for seven or eight minutes before they gradually subsided.
Although fires are still burning at the airport, the smoke and dust caused by explosions in many places have dispersed. Xu Dalong, Li Zhendong and others can clearly see the ammunition depot, oil depot and surrounding buildings of the Japanese airport, including the airport tower.
It has been razed to the ground, and even the runway of the airport has been blasted with a wide trench. It is obvious that the Japanese military airport cannot be used again in a short time.
Li Zhendong knew that all the people who stayed in the tunnel had died heroically, and he said with emotion: "Feng Baoqiang and the others are really good people. I will definitely give them credit when I go back."
Xu Dalong and others were also moved by the heroic actions of Feng Baoqiang and others. He said: "For such heroes, we should not only praise them, but also take good care of their families."
Li Zhendong nodded and said: "Brother Dalong, don't worry. From now on, their family will also be my family. As long as I, Li Zhendong, have something to eat, I will never starve them."
The Japanese airport was destroyed again, and the officers and soldiers who participated in the war were commended.
The Zhongtiao Mountain Command and the World War II District Chief's Department reported to the underground party's anti-Japanese armed headquarters and requested that Xu Dalong and others be commended.
The Zhongtiao Mountain Command awarded Xu Dalong and others 20,000 French currency. The World War II District Governor's Department specially awarded Xu Dalong 10,000 French currency. Xu Dalong was grateful for the sacrificed soldiers of the Guo Army and asked Li Zhendong to receive the French currency from the Zhongtiao Mountain Command on his behalf.
Part of it was used as pension for the fallen soldiers of the Kuomintang army, and part of it was awarded to those soldiers of the Kuomintang army who participated in the war.
After General Fu heard about this incident, he felt that Xu Dalong was very benevolent and righteous, so he rewarded Xu Dalong with 10,000 French coins again.
Xu Dalong will not forget all the people involved every time he makes meritorious deeds. When submitting materials, he will request credit from their respective superiors for the underground party Taiyuan Intelligence Station, the Shanxi-Sui Army Taiyuan Intelligence Station and the military unification Taiyuan Working Group.
Wang Yaohui was once again commended by his superiors and received a large bonus. He appreciated Xu Dalong's affection. He had already seen that Xu Dalong liked Lin Xueying, and Lin Xueying also had feelings for Xu Dalong.
He decided not to force Lin Xueying to do the work of instigating Xu Dalong. He secretly had the intention to help them, so he sent Lin Xueying to stay in the Mawushan guerrillas.
Xu Dalong and others received the special agent equipment, high explosives, time bombs and other materials purchased with Wang Yaohui's help, and returned to the Mawushan base area.
On the way back to the base, Li Kun sent a telegram to Xu Dalong, saying that both the King of Shanxi and the chief of staff of the World War II District Governor's Department admired Xu Dalong very much, saying that Xu Dalong could now take the opportunity to put forward some conditions, and the officers would definitely agree to it.
After Xu Dalong thought for a while, he sent a telegram back to Li Kun and asked Li Kun to make a request to the chief of staff on his behalf.
That morning, Representative Wang of the Underground Party Office of the World War II District received a call from Li Kun, deputy director of the Operations Division of the World War II District Governor's Department, saying that he would come to visit.
Representative Wang knew the relationship between Xu Dalong and Li Kun, and would sometimes ask Li Kun for help when he had something to do. Li Kun never refused for Xu Dalong's sake.
Representative Wang guessed that Li Kun's arrival must be related to Xu Dalong. He warmly welcomed him and said that he would make tea and wait for Li Kun's arrival.
Sure enough, after Li Kun arrived, he brought good news to Representative Wang, saying that after Xu Dalong's request, the World War II District Governor's Department decided to reward the Mawushan Guerrilla Group with equipment for an infantry regiment. Xu Dalong had already stated that this batch of equipment would be handed over to the office.
to handle.
Representative Wang was very happy after hearing this and quickly reported the good news to the headquarters.
The head of the headquarters was very happy. Since Xu Dalong's unit was under the brigade commander, he gave all the equipment of the infantry regiment to the brigade commander.
The brigade commander was very satisfied with this. He said happily: "Chief of Staff, I was just thinking about forming a new third regiment. I was worried about the equipment. Now it's good. The problem has been solved by Xu Dalong."
The chief of staff said with emotion: "Xu Dalong is such a good guy, he can always bring surprises to people.
These equipment are still at the headquarters of the World War II District Commander. Should we ask Xu Dalong and others to escort this batch of equipment over?"
After thinking for a while, the brigade commander said: "Li Yunlong, Kong Jie and the others always say they have a hard time with nothing to do. Let them do the task of escorting weapons this time."
The chief of staff said: "The journey from the Taihang Mountain base to the World War II District Chief's Headquarters is not short. With Li Yunlong's temper leading the team, something might happen. What if something goes wrong?"
The brigade commander smiled and said: "It doesn't matter. Now Zhao Gang's prestige in the independent group is also very high. With him here, Li Yunlong will not do anything random. Besides, they will definitely get in touch with Xu Dalong after they go out. If something happens,
Xu Dalong will not sit idly by and there will be no danger."
The chief of staff smiled and said: "That's true. Xu Dalong and Li Yunlong have a deep relationship. When Li Yunlong and the others go to transport weapons and ammunition this time, Xu Dalong will definitely lead the troops to respond."
Independent Regiment Department.
Li Yunlong was very excited when he received the call from the brigade commander and immediately expressed his gratitude to the brigade commander.
After putting down the phone, he said to Zhao Gang and Zhang Dabiao: "Since the last time we fought against the Japanese and formed an independent fourth brigade, staying in the base every day has really made me sick. This time I went to receive weapons and equipment.
, you will definitely encounter little devils intercepting you on the road, and then you can have a good fight."
Zhao Gang is now completely familiar with Li Yunlong's temperament and knows how to deal with him.
In his heart, he does not advocate fighting the Japanese army on the road. As long as he can successfully complete the task of transporting weapons, his merits will be considered complete. However, he will not refute Li Yunlong, which will only make everyone unhappy. Anyway, the key point is
He, as Commissioner Zheng, must play his role at all times. He will definitely stop Li Yunlong's chaos and ensure the safety of these weapons and ammunition as well as the officers and soldiers of the independent regiment.
Zhao Gang said: "Old Li is right. When we go to the World War II District Chief's Headquarters meeting, we pass through Xu Dalong's base area. I have long wanted to go and see how they are developing there."
Li Yunlong smiled and said: "When you say that, I really miss that boy Dalong. Zhang Dabiao, you sent a telegram to Xu Dalong and said that we should go to his place and ask him to prepare a banquet and let's have a good drink."
.”
Zhang Dabiao was very happy and said: "I really miss Brother Dalong and the others. I will send a telegram to Xu Dalong now."
Kong Jie was also very happy when he heard that he was going to meet Xu Dalong. After receiving the order from the brigade commander, he led the New Second Regiment to the station of the Independent Regiment, and led the troops to the Mawu Mountain base together with Li Yunlong and others.
Guancheng County.
Xu Dalong had already made preparations to lead his troops to escort this batch of equipment to the Taihang Mountain base area.
After receiving the telegram from the brigade commander, he was a little confused at first and didn't understand why the brigade commander sent the Independent Regiment and the New Second Regiment from so far away.
After thinking about it carefully, he realized that the brigade commander deliberately asked Li Yunlong and Kong Jie to lead the troops out. He probably did not want to leave these two guys idle and found an opportunity to release them.
On the one hand, it trains the troops, and on the other hand, it completes the task of transporting weapons.
In addition, the brigade commander may have other ideas, which is to let them cooperate with the Mawushan guerrillas to fight another battle.
Xu Dalong believed that the brigade commander was a shrewd man. Although he didn't say it explicitly, he was familiar with Li Yunlong and Kong Jie and knew that these two guys would not be honest after they went out. They just completed the task of transporting equipment and would definitely find opportunities to talk to the Japanese.
They wanted to fight. He also considered that Xu Dalong would definitely lead his troops to fight with them.
Among the famous generals of our army, there are many people whom Xu Dalong admires very much. Especially the brigade commander. His experience is definitely one of the most exciting among the senior generals of our army. Almost all major events in the development history of our army have been
He has participated in all the events and performed wonderfully. Moreover, he is also the most popular. His unique ability to see into people's hearts is something that Xu Dalong thinks he will never be able to catch up with after practicing for three more lifetimes. Being able to do this under such a leader
Subordinate, it is really an honor for Xu Dalong.
The Independent Regiment and the New Second Regiment went to the Mawushan base area. Xu Dalong did not send troops to meet them because Zhang Dabiao had led the first battalion of the Independent Regiment to the Mawushan base area last time and he was familiar with the route.
Sure enough, under the guidance of Zhang Dabiao, the Independent Regiment and the New Second Regiment passed through the enemy-occupied area smoothly and entered the Mawushan base area.
Li Yunlong and others were marching. When passing a village, a sentry from the underground party's anti-Japanese armed forces appeared in front of them.
Seeing the large army approaching, he stepped forward and asked for the unit's number.
Zhang Dabiao, who was walking in front, said that he was from the Independent Regiment. The sentry blew a whistle, and like a magic trick, another latent sentry came out from the hiding place.
The sentry said to the lurking sentry: "These are people from the Independent Regiment. Go back and report to our company commander."
The sentry ran back as fast as he could.
Zhang Dabiao praised: "Yes, the sentinel arrangement is light and dark, very organized."
Soon after, a group of officers and soldiers ran out of the village. The company commander led by them was a veteran who had followed Xu Dalong from the Independent Regiment.
When he saw Zhang Dabiao, he hurriedly stood at attention and saluted, and said: "Reporting to the Chief of Staff, I am Zhang Qiushan, captain of the 12th Squadron of the Guerrilla Infantry Branch, and I salute you."
Zhang Dabiao asked: "Where is your captain?"
Zhang Qiushan said: "Report to the Chief of Staff, our brigade captain and other leaders are waiting for the arrival of the old leaders in Linchuan Town ahead. I will lead the way for you right now."
Zhang Dabiao said happily: "Okay, then I'll thank you for the hard work."
Zhang Dabiao continued to move forward with his team, when he found another lurking sentry standing behind the ditch on the roadside, where he saluted them with a gun.
Zhang Dabiao praised: "Zhang Qiushan, your sentries are arranged in both light and darkness. It is not easy for the little devil to sneak attack on you. It is not easy."
Zhang Qiushan said with some pride: "These are all taught by our captain. We are the only ones who can sneak attack on the little devils. If the little devils want to sneak attack on our guerrillas, there is no way."
Zhang Dabiao smiled and said: "Yes, they are indeed the soldiers brought out by Xu Dalong."
After entering the village, I saw several guerrillas waiting there holding a horse.
The squadron leader took the war horse from the hands of the team members, got on his horse and rode alongside Zhang Dabiao.
Zhang Dabiao asked curiously: "Are all your squadron leaders equipped with horses?"
Zhang Qiushan said: "Each of our infantry squadrons is equipped with 12 horses. Each of the squadron leader and instructor has one horse. The communications squad has three horses. The rest are used to transport supplies. Our battalion leader said that more horses will be equipped in the future.
The more horses we have, the more we can become packhorse infantry."
Zhang Dabiao said: "You have a good life as a child."
Zhang Qiushan said: "In fact, when we fight now, most of the time, we don't have to walk on the ground. The captain will send a transport team to pick us up in trucks. This time when we went to Gaosheng County to fight the Japanese, we took trucks.
Go."
Zhang Dabiao said: "That's great, you are almost becoming semi-mechanized infantry."
After leaving the village, Zhang Dabiao stopped. Although he had entered the Mawu Mountain base area, he still had to wait here for Li Yunlong, Zhao Gang, Kong Jie and others to come over to meet Xu Dalong.
Linchuan Town.
At the entrance of the town, Xu Dalong, Sun Desheng, Wang Chengzhu, and the independent brigade commander Wang Limin, deputy commissioner Gao Zhiyong, and chief of staff Huang Jingzhong were all waiting for the arrival of Li Yunlong, Kong Jie and others after receiving the report.
When Li Yunlong and others arrived, Xu Dalong and others came forward to greet them.
Li Yunlong, Kong Jie, Zhao Gang and others got off their horses, and Xu Dalong and others hurriedly came up to meet them.
Xu Dalong, Sun Desheng and Wang Chengzhu saluted first and said loudly: "Hello, old chief."
Li Yunlong, Zhao Gang, Zhang Dabiao, Kong Jie, Wang Zhengwei and Chief of Staff Li of the New Second Regiment also returned the gift to Xu Dalong and others.
Both parties were old acquaintances, and they immediately exchanged warm greetings.
Xu Dalong certainly did not forget the leaders of the Independent Brigade standing aside. He said: "Dear senior leaders, let me introduce to you. These are Brigadier Wang Limin of the Independent Brigade, Deputy Commissioner Zheng Gao Zhiyong, and Chief of Staff Huang Jingzhong."
Wang Limin, Gao Zhiyong and Huang Jingzhong saw how enthusiastic Xu Dalong and others were towards Li Yunlong and Kong Jie, and they did not dare to neglect them and stood at attention and saluted respectfully.
Li Yunlong carelessly raised his hand and returned the salute.
Zhao Gang, Zhang Dabiao, Kong Jie and others stood at attention and saluted Huang Zhiyong and others in a very formal manner. In terms of rank, after all, they were brigade cadres and the superiors.
Neither party was familiar with each other, so they exchanged polite greetings.
Xu Dalong saw that everyone had finished the ceremony and said to Li Yunlong and others: "Dear senior leaders, we have already held a banquet in Guancheng County to welcome the arrival of senior leaders and old troops."
Li Yunlong looked at the sun in the sky, and it was almost noon.
He said: "How far is it from the county seat?"
Xu Dalong said: "There are still more than thirty miles."
Li Yunlong said: "It's too far. The troops have been walking for a long time and they are all hungry. Let's just have something to eat in this village first."
Zhao Gang also said: "Yes, if we let the troops go hungry and travel such a long distance, the soldiers' physical strength will not be able to keep up."
At this time, Wang Xiaohu, who was following Xu Dalong and others, stepped forward and said: "Regiment leader, Commissioner Zheng, we have arranged vehicles. The journey of more than thirty miles will not take much time."