In addition to Usaburo Koizumi sitting in the first vehicle, Zhang Ruhao, deputy commander of the independent regiment, the supreme commander of the first echelon, also sat in the back seat of the cab of the first truck.
Wearing the uniform of a Japanese lieutenant, in addition to supervising the newly surrendered Deputy Secretary-General Koizumi, he also had the task of responding to questioning by Japanese patrols.
The entire convoy has been walking on the mountain road for four and a half hours. It is getting closer and closer to the Japanese artillery regiment's position. The sky has also revealed some white, and it is no longer pitch black.
We have already encountered two groups of patrols on the road, but they are both patrol teams of the 78th Infantry Regiment of the 39th Infantry Brigade on the Niangziguan front line.
After several days of fighting, neither the 77th Infantry Regiment in Jiuguan more than ten miles away nor the 78th Infantry Regiment here have made any progress on the Niangziguan front line. Their frontline commander, Major General Takagi Yoshito, commander of the 39th Brigade, must be anxious.
Like a lone wolf in heat.
But they were still so cautious. The location of the convoy was even ten miles away from the Japanese positions on the Niangziguan front line. They had sent out patrols, not to mention the artillery regiment, which they regarded as a treasure.
The Japanese army was obviously much more cautious than everyone imagined. When they were still about six miles away from the Japanese artillery regiment's defense line, a patrol team of about fifteen people stopped the convoy.
Except for the five soldiers who stood in front of the lead car and stopped the convoy, the other ten or so people were hiding at secret sentry posts on the mountain. With the light of the headlights on the front of the car and the faint twilight, Zhang Ruhao even saw someone hiding in the woods not far away.
The muzzle of a Type 96 light machine gun has been pointed at the convoy.
The Japanese army was unexpectedly cautious. Even though Koizumi, the second lieutenant, jumped down and chatted excitedly for a long time, the Japanese patrol still insisted on inspecting the convoy. If they were not allowed to inspect, they would not be released.
Of course, with the two infantry companies currently owned by the convoy, or two infantry squadrons comparable to the strength of the Japanese army, let alone this patrol is just an infantry squad, even if they also obtained a light machine gun or even a grenade launcher
The team was strengthened with an infantry squadron, and Zhang Ruhao was confident that he could resolve all battles within half an hour.
However, the task of the convoy is to infiltrate in disguise rather than attack by force. Once the Japanese army is alerted six miles away, all preparations will be in vain.
Including them, there were more than 4,500 Chinese officers and soldiers who came here to attack the Japanese artillery wing. They far exceeded the Japanese army in terms of numbers and light weapons firepower. But what the Japanese army defended was not artillery shells, but 48 cannons that could shoot out the artillery shells. Let this
48 guns turned around to attack them. Even if 4,500 people could attack them, how many people would be left in the end? I'm afraid no one knows.
Although Liu Lang and Commander Liu had already prepared for the worst, even if they failed to enter in disguise, they would still have to fight. Without hitting the Japanese artillery, the Japanese infantry would not be able to bite them. If they wanted to eat them, they would have to sacrifice their lives.
The lives of far more than 4,500 Chinese soldiers.
It can be said that the fate of thousands or even tens of thousands of Chinese soldiers depends on Zhang Ruhao and the infiltration force led by him.
Usaburo Koizumi had already gone down to negotiate with the leading sergeant for more than a minute.
However, the second lieutenant leading a baggage squadron obviously did not intimidate the infantry sergeant enough. Although the command was correct, the Japanese sergeant who led the team still insisted on checking all the trucks.
Zhang Ruhao didn't say anything at first. He kept watching the Japanese military officer in the reflector as he walked past the lead car, the second car, and the third car before getting out of the car.
"Baga! Captain Koizumi, ask Major Youyoumu of their 11th Infantry Brigade if he has received the telegram from our wing headquarters to the 26th Artillery Wing?" Zhang Ruhao got out of the truck with a frosty face and looked at everything.
Without looking at the Japanese sergeant who was looking inside with the canvas of the third truck, he yelled at Usaburo Koizumi in pure Japanese.
"Hi! Squadron leader, I'll ask him right away." Koizumi immediately stood up and bowed, his waist bent ninety degrees, acting like Koizumi.
Seeing a squadron commander get out of the car with great authority and displeasure, the Japanese sergeant was also a little embarrassed. As a veteran of the front-line combat force, although he might not take a second lieutenant of the baggage squadron too seriously
, but that doesn’t mean he can be rude to a lieutenant who has been in the military for at least three years.
If nothing else, just the fact that he did not call the Major Captain, Your Excellency Yuyoumu, is enough confidence. Who knows, he was transferred to the infantry brigade that day, even if he was not the captain, he was
Being a squad leader is enough to feed a young sergeant like him.
"Captain Miyazawa, our patrol team changed defense at 11 o'clock last night. We were not notified by the squadron headquarters that there was an incoming baggage convoy. Please understand your responsibilities." The sergeant stepped in front of Zhang Ruhao and said this.
Much softer.
"Baga, the message from our baggage regiment headquarters was sent to His Excellency Colonel Hosokawa of the 26th Artillery Regiment at 1 o'clock in the morning. Why hasn't it been conveyed to your 11th Infantry Brigade? Do you still want your supplies?
?Do you need me to lead the army back to Jingxing County immediately and wait for you to come back after receiving the order?" Zhang Ruhao's face turned darker and he roared almost in a reprimanding tone.
As soon as he said this, the sweat on the Japanese military officer's head started to drop.
In fact, from the fact that Captain Koizumi, who had got out of the car earlier, said the correct password, and from the fact that a group of heavy soldiers entered the convoy and talked in low voices in Japanese, the Japanese sergeant had already determined that this was from Jingxing County.
The incoming baggage convoy.
The reason why he used military orders to make things difficult was just to beat the autumn wind and get some cans of beef from this transport convoy for himself to have breakfast.
Yes, it is a common problem in almost all the troops to eat and drink. It is not only in the Chinese army, but also in the Japanese army. It is also found in Europe, America and Africa. Even if there is an order from the top, these veteran greasers
It will also mop up some oil and water from the transportation fleet.
This kind of stubborn disease is almost impossible to eradicate. Just like an old Chinese saying: "If the water is clear, there will be no fish." Human nature is like this. If you don't let the people who follow you get some benefits, who will?
Are you working hard, even risking your life? The ministers and ministers of China and Japan basically turn a blind eye to this. As long as it doesn't go too far, just get some oil and water!
You know, even if the government provides support to the 18th Group Army, it must send a major general to lead the team. Otherwise, after more than 2,000 miles of checkpoints along the way, the team may not have even crossed the Yellow River, and the team may only be people and vehicles.
And there weren't many supplies left. For just a few hundred miles away, the Shanxi old man had to use a lieutenant general to suppress the situation when delivering arms to Liu Lang. That was a big favor.
Who would have thought that the lieutenant of the baggage squadron who led the team was so angry that he was ready to turn around and leave at the slightest disagreement.
"Captain Miyazawa, please calm down, please calm down, I will give way right now." The Japanese military officer immediately shrank, stood at attention and bowed his head to admit his mistake.
"Youxi, yours, you are loyal to your duties, not bad." Zhang Ruhao, who had been staring at the wrong sergeant for a long time, suddenly broke out into a smile, "How many of your subordinates are there?"
"Seventeen people." The sergeant didn't dare to be negligent, so he hurriedly replied.
Zhang Ruhao waved to Koizumi who was standing aside, "The imperial warriors who are still so loyal to their duties under such difficult conditions deserve a reward. Each of them has two cans of cans and a bag of toffee, which are considered as personal gifts from me, Miyazawa Yuzan."
"Thank you, Captain Miyazawa, thank you." The Japanese sergeant's face flashed with deep gratitude, and his posture of standing at attention and bowing became more standard.
There are really not many leaders like this who can be considerate of their subordinates besides losing their temper.
Zhang Ruhao, who was swaggering and in a very happy mood, sat back in the cab and looked through the reflector at the Japanese sergeant leading several soldiers blocking the road, standing respectfully on the roadside with the cans thrown off the car in their arms, with the expressions on their faces.
Finally, he relaxed slightly and finally passed the first Japanese checkpoint. He growled softly: "Let's go."