The War of Resistance Against Japan: Special Operations Battalion Traverses Shanghai and Slaughters

Chapter 277 The Fish That Escaped the Net Then, everyone started chatting.

Long Fei briefly recounted to them every battle fought since the Battle of Shanghai.

Commander Liu knew that the reason why the Longyan Legion was invincible against the Japanese was not only due to its advanced weapons, but also to its flexible and mobile strategies and tactics.

He also genuinely admired Long Fei's command abilities.

As they chatted, Long Fei revealed his initial plan.

"The reason why my Dragon Flame Legion entered Shanxi is the same as your Eighth Route Army: because Shanxi's geographical location is very important."

"My legion is marching through the Taihang Mountains. Once it finds a suitable location, it will set up camp and begin establishing a broad base."

"I will train the troops first, and then gradually expand the troops while establishing a base."

"The Japanese have currently stationed their First Army in Shanxi, with a total strength of over 100,000. Adding the 50,000 puppet troops, the total strength does not exceed 200,000."

"Although it sounds like a lot, because we need to station troops throughout the entire Shanxi province, once they are dispersed, they are actually not a threat at all."

"I envision wiping out all the Japanese and puppet troops in Shanxi by the end of next year, making Shanxi the first province to be liberated during the War of Resistance."

Long Fei was really daring; as soon as he said it, both Division Commander Liu and Brigade Commander Chen were stunned.

Even the usually audacious Li Yunlong was secretly astonished.

Division Commander Liu paused for a moment, then asked, "Commander Long, that's quite a bold move. Are you really that confident?"

Long Fei raised his head slightly and answered with absolute confidence.

"Of course, after wiping out the Japanese in Shanxi, the next step for my Dragon Flame Legion is to march into Shandong and Northeast China, open up access to the sea, and seize grain and mineral resources."

Long Fei's overwhelming plans came one after another, leaving Commander Liu and the others looking at each other in bewilderment.

Li Yunlong, however, was moved by Long Fei's heroic spirit and asked a question.

"Brother Longfei, are you really that confident?"

Long Fei replied seriously, "Confidence comes from strength. Without strength, my words are just empty talk, but with strength, they are just goals."

That's it...

These two words, "arrogant," are incredibly arrogant...

At this moment, Commander Liu solemnly said, "Alright, since Commander Long is so confident, then I will make a statement: our Eighth Route Army will never back down in the fight against the Japanese devils."

"So, if the Dragon Flame Legion needs the cooperation of my 129th Division in combat, just ask."

"Alright, then I'll thank Commander Liu in advance."

However, what Long Fei just said about opening up the sea route gave Commander Liu a thought.

"Commander Long, you just said that opening the sea outlet was to break the Japanese blockade and allow aid supplies to enter China?"

Long Fei thought about it and decided to keep it a secret for the time being, because it was not appropriate to talk about the plan now.

What I just said has already frightened them. If I were to tell them about this plan, I'm afraid it would really shock them.

"That's right. I know that the Nationalist government is currently working hard to build the Burma Road. At present, the coastal areas are occupied by the Japanese, and foreign aid supplies cannot be transported in."

"With access to the sea, the transport capacity of 10,000-ton ships is incomparable to that of road freight."

Unexpectedly, Brigade Commander Chen shook his head and said, "Brigade Commander Long, having a sea outlet alone is probably not enough. Our navy is too weak. If the Japanese navy blocks the sea, supplies still can't be transported in, which would only benefit the Japanese."

Long Fei had already thought of this problem and had a solution, but he couldn't say it outright right now.

"Brigadier General Chen, you're absolutely right, but I'll have a solution to this problem later. The Japanese navy, heh heh..."

Long Fei gave a final, contemptuous smile, leaving Commander Liu and the others completely bewildered.

Whether they could guess what Long Fei's so-called solution was or not, they all felt that Long Fei was unfathomable and had no idea what he was up to.

Then everyone talked for a long time. Long Fei even suggested that if the Eighth Route Army was subjected to a fierce encirclement and suppression by the Japanese, it would be better to temporarily retreat into the Taihang Mountains to avoid their sharp edge.

It was already late at night, and Commander Liu decided to return to the 772nd Regiment. Long Fei also decided to leave together.

Because we need to deliver the gifts tomorrow, and then quickly train the troops of the 129th Division.

Besides, Long Fei also wanted to return to the legion as soon as possible.

Li Yunlong seemed a little disappointed because he felt that he got along very well with Long Fei while drinking and chatting, and he wished that Long Fei would stay and chat all night.

But in front of Commander Liu and Brigade Commander Chen, he ultimately held back from speaking.

Li Yunlong then took Zhang Dabiao and escorted him all the way out of Baiyangyu.

After Commander Liu and Long Fei had walked away, Li Yunlong hurriedly gave the order.

"Da Biao, go back and immediately notify the entire battalion to assemble, collect weapons and ammunition, and recruit soldiers from all over the place tomorrow."

Zhang Dabiao scratched his head, looking bewildered, and asked, "Battalion Commander, is there a need to be in such a hurry? Can't we do it tomorrow?"

As a result, Long Fei kicked Zhang Dabiao in the butt.

"Are you fucking stupid? You're just following orders. Don't you know that things can go wrong if you wait too long? What if the brigade commander wakes up tomorrow and makes me hand over all the equipment?"

Zhang Dabiao chuckled: "Battalion Commander, I'm slow-witted, but you're quick-witted. I'll go and notify the troops right away."

After Long Fei returned to Wafang Village, the headquarters of the 772nd Regiment, he hurriedly called out to Xiao Baibai as soon as he entered his tent.

"Little Bai, the 129th Division currently has about 10,000 troops. The weapons, equipment, food, medicine, and silver dollars in the system warehouse are not enough for me to send. Please reward me with a batch."

"No problem, it's just a force of over ten thousand people, it's nothing."

Long Fei was already quite drunk, and when he heard Xiao Bai Bai's playful reply, he couldn't help but chime in.

"I'll be at Gold level soon. Will I get rewards like radar, missiles, airports, various aircraft, and warships?"

"Sure, but I can't reward you with anything too advanced. However, it's more than enough to beat the Japanese devils."

Hearing what Xiaobaibai said, Long Fei immediately felt relieved, but his eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

"Okay, you can put the reward in the warehouse. I'm tired, I'm going to sleep now..."

Long Fei mumbled something, then immediately fell asleep and started snoring.

"What the hell? It's even snoring! It's so noisy... so annoying..."

While Long Fei was sleeping, the Japanese Army General Staff was holding an emergency meeting.

When Xie Qiang captured Licheng, he ordered his troops to search the entire city.

However, there was one very cunning Japanese soldier who, in order to survive, actually hid in a cesspool.

As a result, he actually managed to evade the search and escaped the net.

Afterwards, the Japanese soldier, disregarding the stench, hurriedly ran to Liaoyang Town to report.

According to the soldier's description, Kitahara Sōsuke, the commander of the 66th Regiment stationed in Liaoyang Town.

They learned that it wasn't just the Eighth Route Army that captured Licheng, but also a force that was extremely powerful in terms of both weaponry and combat strength.

Kitahara Sousuke realized that this was no small matter and immediately reported it to Division Commander Numata Tokushige.

Numata Tokushige also felt that the matter was of great importance, guessing that the Dragon Flame Legion might have entered Shanxi.

So he immediately reported to his superior, the commander of the First Army, Yoshijiro Umezu.

After much deliberation and combining the intelligence he had gathered, Yoshijiro Umezu realized that his First Army was simply no match for the Dragon Flame Legion.

Left with no other option, he sought help from Terauchi Hisaichi, commander of the North China Expeditionary Army.

Terauchi Hisaichi was at his wit's end, so he made a phone call to Hata Shunroku, the commander of the Central China Expeditionary Army, and the two discussed the matter for more than an hour.

Finally, they unanimously decided to report the situation of the Dragon Flame Legion to their headquarters back home separately and ask for instructions on how to proceed.