The Mysterious Soldier of the Anti-Japanese War

After finishing their coffee, Lei Tao and Ai Li walked together through the streets of Shanghai. The sun shone on them, casting two shadows, one long and one short, on the ground. Ai Li happily invited Lei Tao to visit the newspaper office where she worked, and he agreed.

The newspaper office was a bit dated, but vibrant. Reporters and editors bustled in and out of the doorway, some hurriedly carrying manuscripts, others engaged in heated discussions about news topics. The air smelled of a mixture of ink and paper, a scent that Lei Tao found both familiar and unfamiliar.

Ai Li brought Lei Tao into the newspaper office hall and introduced proudly: "Lei Tao, this is our newspaper office. Look over there, that's the typesetting area. Every day a lot of news is typeset here and turned into lead type, and then conveyed to the public." Lei Tao looked and saw the workers concentrating on fiddling with the lead type, their movements were skilled and professional.

They then went to the reporters' office. It was noisy, with the constant clatter of phones ringing and typewriters tapping away. Ellie's desk, by the window, was piled high with documents, photos, and unfinished manuscripts. Lei Tao's eyes hardened as he saw the photos of war-torn houses, displaced civilians, and the grimacing faces of Japanese soldiers. He knew the significance of his actions, and his admiration for Ellie's work deepened.

Ellie picked up a photo and said, "These photos are evidence. They will let the world know about the crimes of the Japanese army. I want to make sure the Japanese army has nowhere to hide." Lei Tao nodded and said, "You are right. These photos are as powerful as guns and cannons. They can awaken people's conscience and consciousness of resistance."

Then, Ellie led Lei Tao to the newspaper's darkroom. The lights were dim, and photos were being developed hung around the walls. As Ellie demonstrated the development process, she said, "Every photo here is a ray of hope, a record of the city's pain and the people's unyielding spirit." Lei Tao felt Ellie's passion for her work and the importance of journalism during the war.

After visiting the newspaper office, Lei Tao checked his watch and said, "It's getting late. I have things to prepare." Ellie was a little reluctant, but she said, "Go ahead, and be careful." Lei Tao picked up his suitcase and walked over to his motorcycle, securing it to the back seat. He got on. The motorcycle roared as it started. Lei Tao glanced at Ellie, his eyes filled with gratitude and determination, then rode off. Ellie watched him leave from the newspaper office door.

Lei Tao rode his bike to a remote corner, stopped, picked up the suitcase, used his special ability to put it into the Bagua Gyroscope Space, and then rode his bike towards the Huangpu River.

After reaching the riverbank, Lei Tao abandoned his car and ran up the hill. The trees provided shelter. He found a secluded spot and took out his binoculars. A few kilometers away, the Japanese naval flagship, the Yamato, was anchored at the dock. Japanese marines were loading weapons and equipment onto the dock. The weapons gleamed coldly in the sunlight, piled like a small mountain. The Japanese soldiers were on high alert, not allowing the Chinese to approach.

Lei Tao smiled at the sight, his eyes gleaming with excitement. The Yamato and the dock's weapons and equipment were both within range of his 120mm howitzer. Two 120mm thermite-fired shells would stun the Japanese. Lei Tao's heartbeat quickened as he pondered his next move.

Lei Tao found a spot on the mountainside where the Japanese couldn't find him. After confirming the surroundings were safe, he took out an engineer shovel from the Bagua gyroscope space and leveled a piece of mountain ground. He was so tired that sweat broke out on his forehead, but his eyes were determined.

After the land was leveled, Lei Tao pulled out two "charged" shells and two 120mm howitzers from the Bagua gyroscope. The shell casings reflected the light, and the howitzers looked like sleeping giants. Lei Tao expertly deployed the howitzers, adjusting the direction and angle of the muzzles, each movement meticulously executed, as it depended on the success of the operation.

After getting ready, Lei Tao sat on a large rock, wiping his sweat and muttering to himself, "Operating a 120mm howitzer alone is not easy." He took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a few puffs, thinking about the Japanese reaction after the bombardment. He thought they would probably be in disarray at first, then frantically search for the attackers, but by then he should be able to evacuate as planned. The thought made him smile.

Lei Tao finished smoking, picked up a thermite incendiary shell, walked to a 120mm howitzer, and loaded the shell into the barrel with skillful and accurate movements. Then he picked up another shell and loaded it into another gun.

Lei Tao adjusted the firing parameters at the first gun, then took a deep breath and pulled the firing cord. The shell flew out, and the gun vibrated with recoil. Lei Tao didn't see the result, only hearing the distant explosion, like a dull thunder, shaking the earth. He quickly ran to the second gun and repeated the firing process.

Both thermite bombs hit their targets, exploding on the dock and the Yamato. Flames, brighter than the sun, shot skyward, and shockwaves spread outward, collapsing dock buildings and knocking down Japanese Marines. The intense heat of the thermite ignited the Yamato's deck, and the fire spread, engulfing the entire ship in flames and sending plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky.

Before the aftermath of the explosion had dissipated, Lei Tao used his Bagua gyroscope to retrieve the two howitzers, then turned and ran down the mountain. He ran quickly through the woods, reaching the foot of the mountain, mounted his motorcycle, and kicked the accelerator. The motorcycle kicked up a cloud of dust, and Lei Tao rode away. He knew the Japanese would send troops to search and encircle them, so he had to leave quickly. His eyes were determined, and he quickly disappeared at the end of the road.