Spy Wars: Red Agent Codename Phoenix

Chongqing, combat research conference room.

Minister He took out a battle report and sighed:

"The Eighth Route Army's Western Shandong Special Task Force won a great victory at Yishan in Zoucheng. After defeating the Japanese garrison at Yishan and annihilating the Doihara Regiment, they have now defeated the Japanese Taihei Garrison and annihilated nearly 5,000 Japanese and puppet troops. It's truly unbelievable!"

These words sparked a flurry of discussion among the high-ranking officials present.

Zeng Yun feigned doubt and asked, "Minister He! This Eighth Route Army commander is such a skilled fighter, what's his name?"

Minister He glanced at the telegram and replied, "Oh! This commander's name is Lü Zheng."

Zeng Yun shook his head and said, "Impossible! I chased Lü Zheng like a dog in Shandong. By the way! Does the acting director know who it is? Tell everyone."

All eyes were on Dai Nong.

Because he failed to capture Yu Xiaowan, Dai Nong harbored deep hatred for Xiang Chu.

He deliberately exaggerated, saying, "Vice Minister Zeng is right. Lü Zheng indeed lacks the ability to gather tens of thousands of troops in a very short time, fight across hundreds of miles to defeat tens of thousands of Japanese and puppet troops, and hold Yishan Mountain against 50,000 Japanese and puppet troops..."

Such a record left the high-ranking officials speechless with astonishment.

Chen Guo impatiently interrupted him, saying, "Acting Director! Stop describing the Eighth Route Army's achievements, just tell me who it is."

Dai Nong glanced at Song Xi and Ning Caiwei, then smiled mysteriously and said, "Everyone knows the commander of the Eighth Route Army's Luxi Special Task Force; it's highly likely to be Chu Xi!"

Everyone was shocked. This was equivalent to being on the same side, and they all looked at Song Xi and Ning Caiwei.

Song Xi sneered, "Acting Director! Don't make things up without evidence. The battle report submitted by the Eighth Route Army has already identified Lü Zheng as the perpetrator."

Ning Caiwei chimed in, "Acting Director! You must be upset that my husband sent Mr. Wu to Yan'an. There's no need to frame me like this."

Ning Changde hurriedly said, "Chu Xi is currently in Qingdao. She obtained a batch of precious medicines for our military supply department and transported them to Chongqing."

Dai Nong said with a smile, "The three of you! I only said it was highly likely, not that it was Chu Xi. But I will definitely send someone to verify, so you can rest assured. Hehe!"

Song Xi said coldly, "Go and investigate!"

Minister Chen laughed and said, "To be honest, even if the commander is Chu Xi, he still deserves praise for leading the Eighth Route Army to a great victory."

Minister He chimed in, “Minister Chen is right. As long as we fight the Japanese, that’s all that matters. I don’t believe Chu Xi would abandon his several beautiful wives, his mansion, his high position, and his comfortable life to join the poor Eighth Route Army.”

Zeng Yun pretended to suddenly realize something and said, "Did Chu Xi take the opportunity of sending Mr. Wu to Yan'an to infiltrate the Eighth Route Army, with his body in Cao's camp but his heart in Han's?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone looked at each other in shock.

Xu Zeng, who was always eager to stir up trouble, said cryptically, "Yes! Chu Xi did call and said that the Eighth Route Army's equipment was outdated, its tactics were rigid, and its personnel were drastically reduced, so it was not a cause for concern."

Chen Guo chimed in, "So that means he used to spy on the Eighth Route Army."

The crowd echoed, "How could Chu Xi truly serve the Eighth Route Army? She must have a mission..."

Ning Caiwei said urgently, "Everyone! It's not appropriate to discuss private matters in this setting."

Song Xi said angrily, "If there are Communist Party spies at the meeting, how will my man survive?"

Judging from their expressions, everyone concluded that Xiang Chu was the commander of the Luxi Special Task Force.

Chen Guo nodded and said, "Yes! That's indeed not a good idea. I suggest that the Eighth Route Army's Western Shandong Special Task Force be stationed at Yishan like a nail, to wear down the Japanese troops."

The crowd echoed, "Yes! Let them fight the Japanese to the death!"

Governor Jiang emerged from the secret room, handed Minister He a note, and said with a smile:

"Minister He! Commend the Eighth Route Army's Luxi Special Task Force and reward it with some combat supplies so that the task force can exert its maximum combat power and hold Yishan Mountain."

"Yes!"

Minister He hurriedly accepted the order.

North of Teng County, at the Jiehe Railway Station.

The train carrying Kobayashi Zenzaburo had been waiting here for several days.

Because the railway tracks were damaged by the Eighth Route Army, the train could not move an inch.

Heiji Kazuyoshi entered Kobayashi Zenzaburo's private room and said in utter dejection:

"Commander! Brigade Commander Otaka was killed in the Battle of Yishan, and his troops were annihilated, with only about 600 survivors remaining."

"what?!"

Kobayashi Kenzaburo exclaimed in surprise.

It took him a while to recover, and he roared, "Baka! The Eighth Route Army's Luxi Special Task Force is too arrogant. I, the commander, will wipe them out today!"

Heiji Kazuo shook his head and said, "Our main force is blocked from advancing, and the railway has been repeatedly destroyed by the Eighth Route Army. How can we reach Yishan in one day?"

Kobayashi Senzaburo waved his hand and said, "Chief of Staff! One day is just a way of describing my anxious mood. Alas! Our army can no longer travel by train, so we will have to march by land. At the same time, send a company to pursue the Eighth Route Army that is sabotaging the railway."

"Hello!"

Heiji Ichigen bowed and accepted the order.

Yishan, the command post of the special task force.

Zhang Fei reported excitedly, "Commander! We've sabotaged the railway tracks time and time again, making Kobayashi Senzaburo's train stop and start repeatedly. If you don't order a recall, we're prepared to blow up the train."

Xiang Chu smiled and said, "Your mission is complete. Now I hope Kobayashi Senzaburo will come over soon."

Liu Zhengxiong said irritably, "It would have been better if you had come later. We could have improved the fortifications and strengthened the training."

Xiang Chu said with a wry smile, "Old Liu! Our personnel training and weapons and ammunition are not problems now, what we lack most is food. We will run out of food in less than half a month. Even if Kobayashi Senzaburo doesn't come, we will have to move."

Liu Zhengxiong asked anxiously, "Ten days?! Can Xiaowan make it here in time?"

Xiang Chu smiled and said, "I have already sent Xiao Liu with men to meet Xiao Wan. She doesn't necessarily have to go to Yishan."

Liu Zhengxiong nodded and said, "That's good!"

At this moment, Qian Fu received the telegram and handed it to Xiang Chu.

Xiang Chu smiled wryly and said, "Caiwei called and told us to keep a low profile. Those guys in Chongqing already suspect that I was the one commanding the Luxi Special Task Force in Yishan."

Zhang Fei laughed and said, "How can we keep a low profile when fighting the Japanese?"

Liu Zhengxiong said angrily, "These guys, they don't go to the front lines to fight the Japanese themselves, and they even start questioning you."

Xiang Chu waved his hand and said, "Don't worry about it! Those people in Chongqing can't do anything to me. They asked me to send Mr. Wu to Yan'an so that they could steal intelligence about the Eighth Route Army. I have already followed my master's instructions and reported it by playing the victim and crying poverty on behalf of the Eighth Route Army."

Liu Zhengxiong said angrily, "You're only doing this because you're protected by Miss Kong and Miss Song. Anyone else would have been caught and 'chopped' by Baldy long ago."

Xiang Chu scolded, "You like to talk too much, don't you! I'm punishing you by sending the Fourth Brigade to rob Pingyi County."

Liu Zhengxiong shouted, "You want me to lead a large battalion to attack Pingyi County? Are you kidding me?"

Xiang Chu laughed and said, "The garrison in this county town was brought by Oogakari to fight us. Now there's at most a platoon of puppet troops and two Japanese soldiers guarding it. If you don't want to go, let Zhang Fei go instead."

"I go!"

Liu Zhengxiong hurriedly said this and turned to run out of the command post.

Zhang Fei asked in confusion, "Brother Xiang! There are plenty of undefended towns nearby, why go to the trouble of sending Lao Liu to attack Pingyi?"

Xiang Chu laughed and said, "Taking Pingyi can kill two birds with one stone: first, to seize grain, and second, to scout out a route into the Yimeng Mountains."

"I see!"

Zhang Fei suddenly realized, paused, and then said thoughtfully,

"Brother Xiang! Are we really going to fight to the death against 50,000 Japanese and puppet troops on this mountain?"

Seeing his doubts, Xiang Chu countered, "Afei! Do you know that for over a thousand years, the Japanese have only dreamed of doing one thing?"

Zhang Fei nodded and said, "I know! The Japanese are determined to annex China."