Canteen System Assistance Notes

As for the fallen soldiers? Ah, that's not necessary.

"Remember your Majesty's determination to suppress the rebels and rebel against the Communists, your heart to support the Manchus and China, your determination to quell the chaos in East Asia, and your reputation for peace..."

The priests who had seized the Temple of Heaven, accompanied by the clumsy dancing of the shrine maidens behind them, recited a cryptic ritual, offering sacrifices to the invaders' dogs and horses in a place once reserved for the emperor to personally attend, offering sacrifices to the heavens and praying for a good harvest. As the ceremony progressed, the ritual grew passionate and impassioned, though the priests' chanting intonations felt a bit strange.

"Although you are not a human, you are as brave as a human. You lead the country and sacrifice your life for justice..."

The soldiers below lined up in formation, fists raised to the sky, obeying orders and chanting slogans like "Hey Ha," "Ho Hey," and "Board Load." They occasionally frightened a few of the more timid horses, causing them to tremble and almost rear up. Fortunately, the accompanying riders quickly calmed them down, keeping the situation under control.

"So, what's the point of doing this?"

Lieutenant General Iimura Jo was sitting on the viewing platform, muttering to himself, accompanied by General Hata Shunroku, Commander of the China Expeditionary Army. Unlike him, General Hata Shunroku seemed quite engrossed in the ceremony, fiddling with his pen while glancing at the priests on the stage, nodding occasionally, as if deeply impressed by the passages in the oration.

"Well, after all, he's a general, a superior who's here to inspect. I'm here on behalf of Lord Okamura, so you better sit still."

He steeled himself, sat down quietly, and continued to watch this funny and weird ceremony. However, Iimura Jang's thoughts drifted away uncontrollably, leaving the sacrificial site filled with the faint smell of horse manure.

Iimura Joi is a chief of staff type of talent who is well versed in the business within his field, but he is also a very pragmatic person - this is very rare among a group of Japanese Showa staff.

Under his very Japanese-style meticulous guidance and research, the report "Materials, Labor, and Transportation Required for National Defense" written by the General War Research Committee comprehensively sorted out Japan's war potential and predicted that the Imperial Army would inevitably fail if it went to war with the United States.

Now, the situation on the Sino-Japanese battlefield, which is not covered in this report, is also deteriorating rapidly.

After the Imperial Army's devastating defeats in Shanxi and Shandong provinces, the situation throughout North China had fallen into an irreversible collapse. The First Army, save for the 36th Division, was nearly completely annihilated, even its commander and chief of staff killed by the Communists. The North China Army's focus shifted from "preventing the Communists from crossing the Yellow River" to "preventing them from storming down the Taihang Mountains." Even their own proposed tactic of "mobilizing Japanese residents" failed to delay the advance.

The entire North China Front Army has shrunk to only 15 divisions - among which 5 divisions are reinforcements from the Central China Front and the Kwantung Army. This does not take into account the common problems of personnel shortages and equipment losses in most divisions.

How could such a small number of troops defend the eight passes known as the "Eight Passes of Taihang"? By then, as long as the large Communist army broke through any point of this thousand-kilometer defense line, our army on the Pinghan Line would surely collapse; and once the Pinghan Line collapsed, it would mean the collapse of the Jinpu Road, the destruction of the Beijing defense circle, and the reversal of the situation in the Sino-Japanese War.

"Unless you abandon North China outright, or call for peace...never mind, we can only massively increase our troops in North China.

"But the Imperial Headquarters has recruited 40 volunteers in Korea and Taiwan, and none of them will be sent to North China. They're all supposedly heading to Southeast Asia," Iimura Jo thought a little resentfully. Since assuming the duties of acting commander, he's felt as if everyone around him is against him, and he's the only one in the entire Imperial Army striving for victory.

Or rather, he was the only one doing his utmost to delay the final defeat. "What on earth are those guys at the General Staff thinking?"

The priests and shrine maidens on the stage were still singing inaudible blessings and dancing in the circle of the shimenawa rope. Their expressions were solemn and their movements were exaggerated. It was unclear how they were any different from those performed at festivals and ceremonies.

Without Lord Okamura present, Iimura Joi had no one to communicate with openly. After the disastrous defeat in Shanxi Province, which decimated the First Army, General Okamura, feeling he could not escape blame, requested a "caution" from Imperial Headquarters, secluding himself in his residence at Cuimingzhuang in Shijiu Castle, refusing to see guests, visit friends, or travel. Before assuming this "caution," he handed the commanding officer's duties to Iimura Joi, requesting that he and Chief of Staff Ando Nijuzo temporarily assume command and management responsibilities.

After taking on this job for a while, Iimura Joi did feel a lot of pressure.

General Hata Shunroku, standing beside him, seemed completely focused on the memorial ceremony, oblivious to his own distraction. Iimura Joi adjusted his posture, trying to relax as much as possible to free up his energy for thought. "Troops...Troops..."

The entire headquarters was now focused on Southeast Asia. Their tremendous victory over Britain, the US, Macau, and the Netherlands was a source of pride, and the oil, rubber, and minerals shipped from Southeast Asia fueled their fervor. With such a smooth advance, the North China Front's disastrous defeat, far from provoking a siege by the scoundrels, had instead become a shadowy corner, invisible to everyone, forgotten by the masses.

Not having to deal with criticism is a good thing, but this collective amnesia is clearly another sign of indifference. Now, the new recruits for 1942 have indeed arrived, but not only have the numbers remained at the previously planned three divisions, with no intention of adjusting for the additional losses, but the quality of those recruits...

"Is it possible to say that they are relatively young, full of roots and spirit, and can be easily molded into qualified soldiers?"

The more he saw, the more uncomfortable he felt. Iimura Jang, who had deduced the southward advance strategy from beginning to end, was perhaps the most miserable person in the Japanese army at this moment. He could not help but recall

Recalling the scene when I went to Jieshi Island to pick up people, "The brigade's artillery was not fully equipped, and the machine guns were not fully equipped.

There is also a shortage of rounds, and they need to use the Zhi-type made in North China to make up for it. The divisional artillery is actually using the Sanyi type to make up the number...

"In 15, there was talk of replicating the Communist Army's individual automatic gun. However, the First Army Research Institute spent nearly two years developing one. It was so large, heavy, and expensive that it could only be used by independent automatic artillery units."

On one side were the Communist Army's broom-light "turtle fists," and on the other side were the "Type 2 7.5mm Torreya Spear" that arrived with the reinforcements. Although the latter was a twin-mounted rifle with a tripod, optical sights, and a range of 200 meters, its 16kg mass and 22kg heavy machine gun-like mount reduced its mobility to an unimaginable level.

Never mind, it’s better than before.

Iimura Joi tried to comfort himself, thinking that the headquarters would definitely consider this, right?

".....Iimura-san? Iimura-san?"

The voices beside him brought Iimura Jo back to reality. He turned around and saw that the ritual had ended. His nominal superior, General Hata Shunroku, was looking at him. "Hey, Mr. Hata, I was distracted."

"That's all right. I'm sure you're thinking about your own things." Hata Shunroku smiled and waved his hand with a knowing look. For some reason, Iimura Joi found his smile rather amusing.

For the past few days, he had been accompanying the commander of the China Expeditionary Army on his inspection tours across North China. As meticulous as he was, Iimura Joi had meticulously planned the entire itinerary, satisfying the commander's every need while ensuring absolute safety. However, in his memory, Hata was never in a good mood, and rarely smiled.

"Mr. Hata, if it's convenient for you, we'll go to Erliting for dinner. They serve authentic Japanese cuisine, as well as Northern China specialties. I hope you enjoy it."

The skilled Iimura Jang quickly recovered. Now that the sacrifices were over, it was time for lunch. After the commander finished his meal and rested, according to procedure, he should be taken to inspect the sick horse farm outside the capital. To do this, they would contact the city defense headquarters and have the military horse doctors on duty relieved early and return to wait.

"Thank you, Iimura-san, but let's go back to Suiming-so at noon today." Commander Hata Shunroku unexpectedly rejected Iimura Jo's suggestion. He said slowly, "I've been here for many days and have troubled you with my reception, but I haven't met Okamura-san. I think we should go see him."

"Master Hata, Commander Okamura is requesting caution regarding the battle in Shanxi Province. I'm afraid..." "Don't worry, Okamura-san will be able to return soon."

Hata Shunroku flashed that rather playful smile again. "Also, Iimura-san, Mr. Hata, Mr. Hata, although you are the acting commander, you are still a commander after all. Our rank and position are actually the same. You and I are actually both part of the Imperial Kingdom's conquest—from now on, you can just call me Mr. Hata."

Um?

Mr. Hata Shunroku is a general, and the chief officer of the 22nd term of the Ryūda Army, with even more experience than Mr. Okamura. Furthermore, the North China Front Army was subordinate to the China Expeditionary Army. Why is it said that "in terms of rank and position, they are essentially the same"? Why can a mere lieutenant general, acting commander, directly address him as "Mr. Hata"?

Could it be that the North China Army will be expelled from the China Expeditionary Force...

"Please go and report it!"

Hata Shunroku straightened up from his seat and said, "Just say that Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese Army, Hata Shunroku, is here to visit the new Commander-in-Chief of the North China Army, His Excellency General Okamura Yasuji.

Chapter 661: Sailing on the Sand Sea (I) Before setting sail, you need to stew the scroll

(Update)

The sun blazes across the vast Xinjiang province. While those exposed to the sun sweat profusely, those in the shade seem to shiver with cold, as if to live comfortably, they must squat at the intersection of yin and yang, halfway through the sun. Yet, some people always prefer to gravitate towards the warmth, seeing nothing wrong with it.

"When Emperor Gaozu passed through Mangdang Mountain, a white snake came to meet him and blocked his way.

"If Emperor Gaozu hadn't killed the white snake, how could Wang Mang have seized the Han Dynasty? Hey, comrade, your curls seem to be almost done."

"Don't worry! Don't worry!" Hearing this, the burly man who was looking down at the flames in the stove raised his head. He wanted to wipe the sweat off his face as usual, but when he saw the black and gray face of the kitchen helper next to him, he thought his face might be the same, so he stopped.

He pulled up his sleeves, glanced at his watch, and said, "Where are we? There's still five minutes left!"

"But I think the noodles are well-fermented. Noodles for braised rolls can't be too fermented. If they're too fermented, they'll be bland and become soft once they're dipped in the soup. That's not good, not good."

"Don't worry! Our kitchen team prepares meals with precision and standard. Whether it's big plate chicken, braised rolls, braised pork, or wide noodles, we have a standard process. This place is different from your local transport team, where there are 'service areas' everywhere you go, where you can just book your meal and eat. We have to rely on ourselves!"

"Hey, you little buddy! It's not like I haven't been to Northwest Road before. Back in 37 and 38, the conditions there weren't as good as they are now! When I led people to make big plate chicken, there was no standard process. What's more, the cooking rules were too strict, and it always felt a little lacking in flavor..."

"Master Yu! We have over 1,500 mouths to feed in our motorcade—and we're full of people here! Using a small pot to cook will give you the 'flavor,' but it'll leave you empty-handed." "That's... okay, then!"

Yu Weifu, a veteran driver, once again arrived at the Northwest Passage. He could only put his hands behind his back and stroll slowly into the distance, humming a familiar Qinqiang opera piece as he walked. "At the age of twelve, Liu Xiu fled to Nanyang, while the swordsman Su Xian hurried to the throne. Ma Wu and Yao Qi came to the rescue, and only then did they help Guangwu to sit in Luoyang..."

The Imperial Japanese Army headquarters activated the card from the graveyard, elevating the North China Army to the "General Army" and promoting Okamura Yasuji to the same rank as the China Expeditionary Army Commander-in-Chief Hata Shunroku and the Kwantung Army Commander Tada Shun. This was not kept secret. To be honest, strategic changes at this level are difficult to keep secret.

For a time, there were claims that the Japanese army was preparing to abandon North China, cut ties with Okamura and send him to his death; there were claims that the Japanese army established a garrison in Thailand, separating the North China army so that the Kwantung Army could better enter the interior to reinforce, and specifically use it to target the Eighth Route Army... But in short, the fact that the anti-Japanese situation was reversed in North China was recognized by almost all people who paid attention to the situation of the War of Resistance.

The reason for this is, of course, that the communist anti-Japanese forces, led by the Eighth Route Army, had grown to the point where they could proactively launch large-scale battles and offensives, defeating and annihilating the Japanese army. But why did the Eighth Route Army become so strong?

"The Soviet Union must have sold everything it had to support the Communist Party!" The preserved fruits would definitely point to the road on the map that starts from the Hexi Corridor and goes all the way west to Xinjiang, without caring at all that they also received a lot of foreign aid through this transportation route.

However, based on a pragmatic perspective, the Northwest Passage was indeed the only channel for the Eighth Route Army to obtain international aid and purchase supplies, aside from the Mongolian route and air transport, so it naturally needed to be managed well. Since the CCP was recognized by the Allies, officially joined the Allied camp as an independent anti-fascist force, and gained access to the Lend-Lease system, the Northwest Passage's transportation pressure was almost completely occupied, making it rarely available.

"So, as an experienced driver, I obeyed the instructions and took up my post with honor!"

Yu Weifu ran into an old acquaintance in the camp: "Old Qiu," the former head of the Eighth Route Army's transport regiment and now the commander of the Second Column of the Eighth Route Army's Northwest Passage Railway Protection Corps. The two men, meeting in perfect sync, exchanged fist bumps, high-fives, and a greeting.

"If you are all pulled here, who will take care of the transportation within the base?" asked Lao Qiu. He stayed with the Railway Protection Army all year round and only returned to Guanzhong occasionally for vacation.

“As I recall, our industrial zones were quite far apart, and there was no

I'm afraid it won't work if I send it by car."

"Take the train! The border region now has a railway. Starting from Huinong, Ning Province, you can cross the Yellow River using the railway pontoon bridge and drive directly to Haojing. I heard that the railway troops are planning to build a railway from Dali, cross the Yellow River at Yumenkou, and then connect to Shanxi Province. Oh! Those bespectacled experts are still building a railway bridge in Yimeng. After that, from Suide all the way north, the train will be able to go directly to Lucheng."

Turn east again and you’ll reach Datong!"

Yu Weifu introduced his work, his voice full of pride. "For the past few years, I've been helping them in the border areas, transporting building materials, people, and supplies... Now that the railway is built, everyone who can use it is using it - it's so convenient to have a train!"

"Yes, it would be so convenient to have a train." Upon hearing this, Lao Qiu also sighed.

As time went by, he had grown from a commander of a motorcade to a "column leader" responsible for the safety of an entire transport area, and could already be called a "commander." The older Yu Weiguo had already joined the Northwest Passage transport team for the second time, and was a true veteran.

However, I have consulted the railway experts from the Soviet Union - they and our engineers followed my car and conducted surveys in the northwest, saying that they were planning to build a railway from Xinjiang Province to Guanzhong - but the results seemed not optimistic. I heard them say that the cost of building a railway in this vast Gobi Desert is too high, and China today simply cannot afford it - if we really want to connect to the Soviet Union by railway, it would be better to build a railway directly from Mongolia and go through the Gobi Desert.

"Or maybe we can take Northeast China back and go directly to the Soviet Union via the Chinese Eastern Railway. Maybe that would be faster!"

"Then our troops must win more battles."

"Then you and I will have to bring back more support, planes, tanks, artillery, ammunition... and even something big enough to build planes and artillery." "Aren't we ready to go? The trucks are all packed."

After that, they both laughed. Master Yu didn't say what was loaded on the car, and Commander Qiu didn't ask. The two of them tacitly stopped talking about this topic.

Now, the war situation is no longer as hopeless as it was a few years ago. Anyone who opens their eyes can see that the clarion call for a strategic counterattack has been sounded and the day of the Japanese's annihilation is approaching. Although this restless hope is firmly controlled by an attitude called rationality, it still makes people happy and full of fighting spirit.

"That young comrade, five minutes..."

Yu Weifu glanced at his watch and reached out, ready to greet the cook who was distributing steamed buns and preparing to make chicken stew rolls. But as he turned around, his nose detected before his eyes that the cook had already walked over to the cauldron, picked up the large spoon, and lifted the lid.

The rich aroma of meat permeated the station, mingled with the sweetness of scallions and the spiciness of ginger. It was like a bundle of bombs exploding at the tip of my nose, driving out all the cravings in my stomach and mind, making them leap and twist. The cook scooped up some of the glistening broth, tasted it, and poured half a bottle of pepper into the cauldron. Finally, it seemed to be just right. Then, he instructed the kitchen helpers to spread the pre-made rolls over the simmering chicken, cover it, and let it simmer. He turned and shouted.

"Pack your lunch boxes, line up in order, and get ready to eat!

"All the rolls! All the chicken! One portion per person. Only come back for more after you finish eating!"

"One spoonful of bok choy per person, no more!"

Chapter 662: Sailing on the Sand Sea (Part 2) Observations at the Checkpoint

Master Yu and Captain Qiu were pulling supplies from the border to the base, while Wang Shunfeng was transporting goods from the base to Xinjiang Province.

His vehicle is still a 4.8-meter-long "blue-plate" 5-ton single-axle truck from the future. It used to be a van truck for urban freight. After strengthening the rear suspension,

It can transport cargo far beyond its original "load capacity", even on the paved roads in the base area.

On the surface, it can run even with a full load of 5 tons. However, this time the return trip would at least require trekking through mountains and rivers for thousands of kilometers on a simple road, so Wang Shunfeng didn't dare to overload the car with so much.

Especially since the inspection of this car must comply with confidentiality requirements and outsiders cannot access it...

Considering the potential risks of overloading and the potential complications that could arise if something went wrong, the trucks in the transport team typically only carried two tons of cargo and towed functional trailers. For example, behind the truck Wang Shunfeng was currently crouching, there was an equipment trailer carrying the fleet's water filter tanks—a crucial item when traveling in the Western Regions.

However, in most cases, he doesn't need these things.

"Attention, all company members! We've successfully passed the Jiadecheng wind zone, and Chaiwobao Military Depot is just ahead. Comrades, we moved ahead of schedule today, arriving at our destination a day ahead of schedule, and without a single vehicle overturning. This is something worth celebrating!"

Transport Company Commander Wang Shunfeng released the "talk" button on his walkie-talkie, and cheers were heard within the designated communication frequency band.

While there were weather stations on either side of the Dabancheng wind zone, and data from several stations in the center of the zone could be used to determine wind direction and speed, providing weather forecasts for the convoy, these wind speed forecasts based on ground-based test data were often inaccurate. Therefore, the fact that the entire convoy managed to pass this section of road without suffering, rather than ending up as irretrievable wreckage on the roadside, was a cause for celebration.

"Odd-numbered vehicles remain unchanged, even-numbered vehicles go left. Two columns—each platoon will enter the depot in the order they drive and set up camp. First and second platoons of students, then the guard platoon and company headquarters—once you arrive at the campground, each will send one vehicle to help with the kitchen!"

The long journey to the Western Regions was far more challenging than Wang Shunfeng had imagined.

After several years of work, the boatman's son had grown from a trainee driver to a highly skilled and motivated transport driver, a true Eighth Route Army soldier. Because of his outstanding abilities and diligent study, coupled with the rapid expansion of the motor corps, the Railway Protection Army's Party Committee approved the appointment of Wang Shunfeng as the company commander of the transport company, hoping that he would shoulder greater responsibilities.

However, Wang Shunfeng had not yet developed the habit of breaking down the work into sections and handing it off to other comrades in the company, as had *Lao Qiu* he had met before. On this first "solo trip", he did everything himself, rather neurotically "doing it himself", inspecting the entire convoy.

This made Wang Shunfeng very tired, but also made him enjoy it.

The rolling mountains of the Western Regions, the desolate Gobi Desert, the arid heat waves, the torrential downpours, and the oases nestled amidst the dust and sand all formed part of a monotonous daily existence. However, when all of this was compounded by a seemingly ridiculous sense of "responsibility," while it lost its grandeur and excitement, it made this burdensome monotony bearable.

Unlike ordinary transport teams, the two platoons of the "heavy transport company" where Wang Shunfeng is located are equipped with "blue-plate transport trucks" and tank tractors with strong load-carrying capacity and traction. Almost all of them are attached with a trailer, and their carrying capacity is very strong.

Although this "tough" force caused the convoy to exceed the length limit and had to be broken up into small units, seeing hundreds of heavy trucks pulling tanks or mechanical equipment towards the base, watching the tank soldiers in the border areas hand over to me, and then unloading the tanks from the trailers and driving away, the indescribable satisfaction and sense of accomplishment were also difficult to give by conventional entertainment.

What's more, the allowances provided by the transport soldiers were enough to raise Wang Shunfeng's purchasing power to the highest level in the border area. What kind of blind date is better than hauling tanks?

The return journey was rather monotonous, as the Eighth Route Army could not deliver large items like tanks to the Russians. The convoy's cargo beds and trailers were basically piled with various loose goods. Large items were relatively rare and difficult to identify - such as "light bulbs" buried in sponges and straw, cans of "fruit powder" and "coffee powder" packed in wooden boxes, or particularly heavy mysterious large crates with a symbol representing an airplane painted on them.

But why is the plane locked in an iron cage?

Forget it, don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask. Wang Shunfeng knows the confidentiality rules, but he is just really weird.

Because of the trailer, this company-level transport convoy took twice as long as a single-axle truck to park the vehicle at the Chaiwopu military station.

Nearly a hundred trucks were lined up in rows, forming several square formations using cotton pads, filling up less than one-fifth of the large military depot. As a BA-10 armored vehicle from the escort platoon entered the parking area, the entire parking process finally concluded.

After completing the handover with the staff of the station platoon, the station's kitchen team has already merged with the kitchen team of the convoy. Many chefs and helping soldiers picked up kitchen knives and axes and started working hard.

The men in the convoy took the flour from the logistics vehicle, took the eggs and sesame oil handed over by the station, and worked together with the dough mixer on the steering wheel, flying left and right to make the dough and basin clean; the young man at the station chopped the mutton generously, adding mutton fat, pepper and cumin nonchalantly, but chopped the onion with tears and reluctance, and mixed the meat filling evenly; the drivers and soldiers who helped in the kitchen formed a circle, flattened and smoothed the dough, turned the freshly mixed mutton skin and teeth filling over the blanket, and sprinkled sesame seeds on it.

"Hey! You! Why did you add green peppers to the stuffing?" someone shouted in surprise, confusion, and anger amid the clamor. "What's this red thing? A tomato?" "Can it be eaten without these two? I've been carrying this tomato all the way!"

"Can I eat it with these two?"

“Why can’t I eat it?”

The cook squatting beside the salt water basin and baking buns in the naan pit heard the sharp quarrel, shook his head, and continued to work nonchalantly, as if he was watching the sheep in his own flock.

The sun was still high in the sky, and the firewood shop in May was bathed in sunlight, slumbering in the long shadows cast by the jungle of trucks. Although the temperature was not too high, everyone was sweating profusely beside the charcoal-burning naan pit, vowing to finish baking enough buns for hundreds of people before dinner.

"What are they arguing about?"