Canteen System Assistance Notes

For some reason, Sakaki always felt that the words "Plan Pass" appeared in their heads.

We don't distinguish between officers and soldiers here; some command, some fight, and we perform different duties." The Red Army soldier replied, "Does it taste okay? As long as you get used to it. I heard this is a chicken recipe from a place called New Orleans in the United States, and it only spread here in recent years."

"What did you eat when you were a pilot?" This shouldn't be a secret, right?

Sakaki ate his chicken fillet and thought for a moment: "Flying soldiers usually eat better than army soldiers. Before, at... at the previous base...

"That base? It's Yicheng, right? We know it. Go ahead." The Red Army soldiers laughed even louder. "You took off from there to scout Jiangcheng. Hey! It's come to this point, why are you still being so petty?"

Ah, well... Anyway, back at the previous base, I could eat fish and meat, or mixed rice and the like every day. "Sakaki blushed, feeling rather bad about being exposed so directly," Please don't do this! I still have to abide by the rules of the Imperial Army..."

After arriving at Shimen, I was able to eat these for the first few days, but after that, it became difficult to follow the instructions for the pilot's set meal. However, the flight sergeant and his men would sometimes eat some lactose or something, and I don't know where it came from.

"I guess they're withholding your supplies?"

The two Red Army soldiers thought for a while and brought a paper bag from the next table. Sakaki was very familiar with the appearance of this paper bag. There was also an inscription on it from General Sugiyama Moto.

- First, the "comfort items" - the Red Army soldiers poured out the contents

Here, they were small oil-paper packages: "Here, try this thing that should have been distributed to you, something like... Morinaga brand milk candy."

Saburo Sakaki took the oil-paper package and saw the familiar Morinaga logo, the slogan "Excellent flavor, rich in nourishment," and the familiar cube-shaped nougat. He couldn't help but feel bitter: since joining the army as a tactical machine gunner in the 7th Air Wing, he had rarely eaten nougat! The file shared via Baidu Netdisk: "500 Books of Historical Military...

链接:https://pan.baidu.com/s/14V6X4c1IALlypl9XF9_g9Q?pwd=j3ut

Extraction code: j3ut Copy this content to open

Except for a few New Year's celebrations, the flight sergeant would solemnly hand himself and another machine gunner several packets of lactose, emphasizing that these were precious supplies saved by the people of the Imperial Kingdom for distribution to the front lines, and must be used with the same care as if they were gifts from His Majesty the Emperor. This made Sakaki Saburo believe that these things were extremely valuable in China, and he hid several boxes deep in his luggage, unwilling to eat them.

I didn't expect this to be just a regular rationed comfort food! This was the first time I had eaten this casually, and it was from the Red Army...

"How did you... no, your army obtain all this?" Although he had a basic guess, Sakaki Saburo still asked this question, as if seeking approval.

The younger of the two Red Army soldiers answered this question, with the older one translating: "The Japanese controlled the railways and roads, but they couldn't control them everywhere. We intercepted the convoys carrying supplies to Shimen and obtained these from above."

The young Red Army soldier said casually: "Sakaki Saburo, I think after you landed at Shimen, you should have heard about the shortage of aviation fuel and bombs. I think now you should know why."

Because... because even though the Imperial Army was on a strong offensive, the traffic lines behind the front were constantly under the threat of the Red Army... Saburo Itaki opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but ultimately no words came out.

He knew that even bombers capable of leaping mountains and steep cliffs couldn't constantly guard the vast stretches of transportation. They could only launch critical strikes against large targets like enemy cities, hoping the enemy would be terrified and choose to negotiate peace and surrender. And with the elusive Red Army behind the front lines, how could the Imperial Army maintain such smooth operations?

The roaring voice in my heart continued, but the sound was much quieter. It was cursing viciously, saying that this was not the attitude of winning a battle in an upright manner, and that only weak and cowardly people would do such a sneak attack and sabotage; saying that this group of Red Army was just a small scab on the Imperial Army and could not stop the Empire's unification of East Asia. As long as the Imperial Army turned around, it could directly crush this group of bugs that were corrupting public order.

But if the Imperial Army had always been so powerful, why was I captured by the Red Army?

The rice and dishes in the bowl were gradually gone. While eating, Sakaki sorted out the messy thoughts in his mind. Many things that had never existed before ran out of his mind in a disorderly manner, disrupting his previous simple goals and thinking. But now, he felt that he could not grasp a thread to organize his thoughts.

But at this time, a small group of people came into the bustling dining area:

"Hey! Comrades! We've brought you some pears!"

They are actually a group of old ladies and women?! Isn't this where the army eats?

"Big, crisp, sweet pears! Children, you're all tired from marching and fighting. Eat some pears to refresh yourself!"

Saburo Sakaki stretched his neck in surprise. The old lady with bound feet in the lead, with wrinkles all over her face and a black headscarf, came over with a basket and spoke loudly in words he could not understand. However, he could still understand the emotions that transcended language: this old lady was joyfully delivering something to the Red Army from the bottom of her heart.

"Comrade Rong, Mother Rong! Oh, you haven't fully recovered yet, why are you here?"

The younger Red Army soldier quickly stood up, took a few quick steps, and grabbed the basket from the old woman's hand. "Comrade Rong, you're a Party member, so you must know our rules—we can't take even a single needle or thread from the people!"

It was Comrade Guo Guangqian, as the director of the Women's Rescue Association, who adhered to the mass line and organized the masses to actively support the army and the front. This was also the task assigned to me by the organization and the sincere wishes of the villagers.

With her hands stuffed with pears, the women following behind her placed a shoulder pole and a basket of pears next to the wooden table and the grain stack, "During this period, thanks to you for driving away the Japanese and sending people to help the labor-deficient families in the village to harvest, the summer grain season has not been delayed... These pears were picked and selected by the comrades of the Women's Association. There are no worm holes, rotten bubbles, or crooked or cracked fruits. Comrades, take them.

Saburo Sakaki stared at everything in front of him in amazement. He saw the old lady and the young Red Army soldier pushing each other like old friends and relatives who had known each other for many years, arguing fiercely over a few baskets of pears: one wanted the other to accept the pears, the other wanted the other to take them back, or accept an IOU or money.

In his mind, superiors have unshakable authority over subordinates, seniors over juniors, and older soldiers over older soldiers, and the latter must obey the former unconditionally. As for soldiers over ordinary people, it goes without saying: even in the "Japan-China Friendship Demonstration Zone", it is difficult to see such a scene. On the frozen soil of "(pseudo)) Manchuria, the people look at him with only fear and dread, and the occasional flash of resentment.

Although Saburo Sakaki was originally a victim of this unspoken rule, he now began to ponder this question: Am I, to some extent, also looking forward to becoming a senior, a superior, and a senior soldier, and then bossing around my juniors, subordinates, and senior soldiers? When I am bullied, do I want to compromise and obey, or do I want to tyrannize the weaker ones?

Can I achieve such equality? Is my emotion anticipation, or in some sense...fear?

"Sakaki, I remember your name is Sakaki, right? Sakaki Saburo?"

"Hai, yes. Just call me Sakaki." Surprisingly, now, he did not feel that the laughing man in front of him was his enemy. Instead, he felt that they were like colleagues he had known for a long time, and he could have a relaxed conversation with them.

The older Red Army soldier, who could speak Japanese, watched the scene with interest. He looked at Sakaki's face and said, "Sakaki, this is how it is here. If you're not used to it, you have to change your mindset." "Oh, that reminds me of something."

He rummaged through his shoulder bag and pulled out a notebook with a pen clipped to it. The pen was orange, with the rounded, refined look of a Parker. "This must be something very important to you. You left it on the truck the other day. I'm returning it to you."

The Red Army was active behind the Imperial Army. They had extraordinary fighting power, far surpassing the National Army. In the Red Army, officers and soldiers were equals. They helped each other and were as close as family to the people. The Red Army treated the people well.

The prisoner did not beat or scold me, and even returned my precious pen and diary to me.

Saburo Sakaki silently took the pen and diary and said "thank you".

What kind of team is this?

Just as this thought occurred to Saburo Itaki, someone ran over from a distance, shouting something. He didn't understand Chinese, but he was still perceptive enough to discern the man's rapid words. The atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense, and everyone stood up and looked southeast.

That was the direction of the stone gate, and there seemed to be faint gunshots coming from there.

Chapter 117: The Escape of Saburo Sakaki

"Enemy attack."

No, that's not accurate. From Saburo Sakaki's perspective, this should be called "our attack." That's not right either. How can something like this be called an "attack"?

Suddenly, the voice in Sakaki's heart resounded, laughing triumphantly, like a loud speaker suddenly plugged in, proudly launching its daily Royal Music Broadcast—this must be the Imperial Army, sympathetic to its soldiers, coming to exact revenge on the wicked Eighth Route Army. Soon, this place would be conquered by the Imperial Army's invincible forces, and the cowardly Red Army, shrinking back like mice, would flee in panic, returning this devastated region to the embrace of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere!

Communications Squad! Contact the Second and Third Battalions of the 718th Regiment. Assemble immediately and head towards Matou Mountain and Xilin Village! The Japs must have come from Shimen and Zhengding. If they want to get into Pingshan, they must be coming up the mountain! The young Red Army soldier who had just interrogated him shouted, "Everyone from the First Battalion, collect your weapons and assemble immediately!"

"yes!! ! "

The people around him responded with a roar, and then dispersed to carry out their own tasks. In an instant, Sakaki Saburo felt like he was back at the airport where he was taking off.

The "flying soldiers", "camping team" and "maintenance agents" each performed their duties in a tight situation.

Under the emergency alarm, everyone performed their duties and raced against time to transform the aircraft from preparation state to combat state, and then completed a series of operations, taxied onto the runway, and flew into the blue sky.

The Eighth Route Army Red Army in front of them, although not an air force, was also doing things in a very orderly manner: the food cart that was still emitting smoke was quickly put away, and the Red Army cooks in aprons quickly collected the remaining food and led the horses away from the base; the luggage cart loaded with weapons soon arrived nearby, and the Red Army responsible for logistics quickly stood up on and off the carts, forming a human conveyor belt, and accompanied by the sound of whistles and strange electric horns, the Eighth Route Army Red Army dressed in costumes like those in American movies began to pour out from behind the hill, the villages at the foot of the mountain, and the tents and bungalows.

They were like streams of green water, gathering together quickly. Each person seemed to be controlled by invisible rules, running to the corresponding carts, picking up their weapons and luggage, and finally standing in square formations on the open space that had just been the dining area.

"Second Company is here! We should have 132 people, but we actually have 127! Please give instructions!" "First Company is here!" "Detective Company is here!" "Third Company is here!"

.... ...

The sound of reports coming one after another dispelled the laziness of the afternoon in the mountains. In an instant, part of the rapid reaction forces of the 718th Regiment of the 359th Brigade of the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army were assembled. After listening to the brief reports on the enemy situation from the guerrillas and independent forces, Deputy Brigade Commander Guo Guangqian, who was temporarily in charge of the work, began to assign tasks to each unit.

The police and detective companies will go first and report the enemy's movements at any time. The first and second companies will go to Qiancun Kiln and prepare to delay the Japanese army. The comrades of the independent regiment will fight and retreat at the same time. They will arrive around dusk. Be careful to identify them and avoid accidental casualties. ... "

"First Battalion, Third Company, go help the civilians evacuate. Remember to cooperate with the work team to ensure a strong defense and clear the countryside. The Women's Rescue Association has done this many times. By the way, you should also pay attention to the few Japanese prisoners this time. Let them go with the villagers first..."

Perhaps thinking of something, Guo Guangqian turned back to look at the place where he had just sat with the prisoner named Sakaki Saburo. There was no one there.

Even the instructor who could speak Japanese was gone.

"Thank you, comrade!"

"well!"

Saburo Sakaki put down a bag of grain, covered his face with a sack of sackcloth, and hurriedly responded to the old lady's thanks, trying his best to conceal his true identity.

In the brief chaos just now, the Red Army soldiers who had been watching him called out to him, asking him to follow the villagers and quickly evacuate to the village. Compared to the well-trained soldiers, the civilians' movements seemed much more chaotic. Coming down from the base on the hill, by the time they reached the village entrance, they were met with a chaotic mix of evacuees, those carrying supplies, and security forces on the move.

Taking advantage of the chaos, and with a sudden flash of inspiration, Saburo Sakaki somehow picked up a bag of grain and turned himself into a laborer helping to carry the grain. He followed the flow of departing villagers and escaped from the control of the Eighth Route Red Army.

The woman in charge of transferring the food apparently didn't recognize this unusual "comrade" closely. She took the food from his back, tossed him a few sacks filled with sand to use as shelter, and urged him to continue helping. He was already quite short, and after hearing the shouts and whistles of soldiers behind the ship, he assumed the capture had begun. Sakaki Saburo dove between several streams of people and quickly disappeared. He followed the group heading out of the village for a while, and when no one was paying attention, he sprinted down a small path.

Run! Run!

Just now, more than a squadron of Eighth Route Army Red Army soldiers assembled, in no more than 15 minutes. These Eighth Route Army soldiers seemed to have uniforms and weapons. They were definitely the ones who launched the artillery attack on the airport last night. Such an elite Red Army main force will face a fierce battle with the Imperial Army coming to rescue them!

Thinking of some of the rumors in the army and what he had seen and heard, fear once again surged into Sakaki Saburo's heart: Although the Red Army had been very good to me before, that was still in a peaceful state. If they fought with the Imperial Army, they would definitely have casualties, and there would always be a possibility of suffering losses and defeat, right?

If they take their anger out on me, won't I be dead?

Thinking with his own logic, Saburo Sakaki clutched his sack and ran furiously along the path. The unfamiliar landscape of North China flashed by, like a fleeting sanity. Gradually, the bustling village receded, the crowds vanished, and silence fell, leaving only the rustling of the wind, the chirping of insects, and his increasingly rapid breathing.

I don't want to die yet! I still have a home to return to and people to see!

“Ah….Ahaha….Ahaha…Hoohoo…”

I don't know how long I ran, or where I was running towards. Sakaki Saburo leaned against a tree, breathing heavily, suppressing the nausea that suddenly arose from the intense exercise after dinner. I actually, actually escaped from the Red Army, but, but...

It took Sakaki a long time to finally calm his breathing. He looked up and saw only trees, grass, and hills. At the end of the narrow dirt road, only the tip of the small village he had just escaped from was visible, and there was no one around.

I should have been feeling very happy, even exultant, having just escaped the enemy base camp independently, without even being discovered. But now, why did I just feel melancholy? Even a little guilty?

Saburo Sakaki thought hard, and he found that in this short period of time, less than a day, many things that he had never thought about, considered, or even understood appeared in his mind. The thought circuit that should have been pure and simple, such as completing military service, returning to the country to work, and marrying his childhood sweetheart, has become messy and chaotic. A kind of thought that he had never had before is like a seed that has sprouted through the ground and taken deep root in his mind.

He thought of the delicious meals and the open conversations.

He thought of the well-trained, murderous, yet kind and gentle Red Army.

He remembered the old lady who had just thanked him for helping him transport the food.

No, now is not the time to think about this...

Sakaki Saburo shook his head, forcing himself not to think about it. Under the current circumstances, he had to escape the pursuit as soon as possible and find a way to reunite with the Imperial Army.

Chapter 118: Trekking through mountains and rivers with Saburo Sakaki

On the mountain road, a group of people with torches ran past.

This is the fourth team today.

Saburo Sakaki lay in the grass, looking at the dirt road. The selection of pilots required very high eyesight. From a distance, he could see that among the crowd of people in mixed clothing, there were always a few Eighth Route Army soldiers leading the team. They were holding flashlights that could emit white light, searching back and forth in the sunset, shouting their names.

They were obviously just learning, their Japanese was as clumsy as a child's scribbles, with incorrect pronunciation, unclear articulation, and even incomprehensible words. But they were still shouting Sakaki Saburo's name, as well as some simple things like "Don't hide", "There are wolves at night", and "Treat prisoners well".

This bunch of Red Army...

A day had passed since Sakaki had escaped the Red Army's village during the chaos. He hadn't eaten much or slept. He tried to analyze the problem on his own.

To be honest, this is not something he is good at. Although he is a second-class flying sergeant,

Normally, his army training had taught him to obey his superiors and his own flight sergeant. But now, there was no one around.

Sakaki covered his forehead to calm his confused mind.

This morning, rapid gunshots and explosions were heard in the distance. From then on, the number of people coming to search for me decreased: it should be that there was a battle between the Imperial Army and the Eighth Route Army, resulting in fewer people available to search for me in the Eighth Route Army area.

The Imperial Army must be coming from Shimen and Zhengding, so I need to head east to encounter them. But...how do I head east now...

Saburo Sakaki had some parachute survival training, but he had never evaded enemy pursuit and escaped successfully in such complex and unfamiliar terrain—not to mention that he had no compass, no map, no weapons, and even no food. The Eighth Route Army's search party wasn't composed entirely of soldiers, but rather many local civilians, making their numbers considerable, like a wide, tight net spread across the mountainous area.

Sakaki was unwilling to gamble whether he, a fugitive, would receive such generous hospitality if he were caught again.

Kuso, so why should I run away?

The sky is gradually turning overcast, and the battle in the distance seems to be still going on. Gunshots sound in sequence, but the density is not high. However, every once in a while, there will be a burst of intensive explosions and gunshots. I don’t know what the situation of the battle is.

After a whole day of running around and being hungry, coupled with the unknown nature of most situations, Sakaki could no longer run. He felt that he should move in the general direction of the east, but because of the terrain and the mountains, he could only follow the valleys in the mountains and walk downstream along the river. His direction of travel was actually south, and he had to take an "L"-shaped route.

From memory, the largest river here is the Hutuo River. If we follow it, we can head east and find the Imperial Army. However, without a map, we have no idea how far we have to go. My empty stomach is protesting, craving the chicken cutlet and rice I had yesterday.

"Go, I can't walk anymore..."

The mountain was high and the road was steep. Walking up the hillside was very strenuous. Sakaki sat down and held his aching stomach. "Impossible, this is impossible. If I can't find something to eat, I won't be able to go back..."

He took out the last piece of candy from his pocket. It was the last piece that the Eighth Route Army soldiers had given him yesterday from the supplies they had seized from the Imperial Army. He peeled off Morinaga's brown paper with force, and then stuffed the hard lump made of milk powder and syrup into his mouth. Banmu finally felt that his stomach felt a little better.

No, I need to get some food, and if possible, a set of clothes... He looked at the small village on the hillside in the distance. During the day... Forget it, he gave up the idea of ​​going into the village during the day and decided to wait until night.

Saburo Sakaki was unaware that his unwitting caution had allowed him to avoid the militia lookout and signal tree at the village entrance. With nightfall, the militia's visual observation range dropped significantly, and with the overcast weather, the moonlight was obscured by clouds. After the sun had completely set behind the ridgeline, Sakaki had managed to sneak closer to the village.

This village is a typical example of what you'd find in North China. At the entrance, there was a courtyard, but the wall had been demolished. The rooms and houses within were distributed to the local poor peasants, while others lived in scattered mud houses. A small number of large livestock rested in sheds. The village itself was quite large, with a dirt road running through it and a canal serving as a water source.

Sakaki crouched, carefully walking along the grassy path leading into the village. He fought back the discomfort in his stomach, squeezing out every last bit of strength to keep moving quickly. He had no weapons and wasn't physically fit. If he encountered the village's young men, he would be the one to suffer.

All I had to do was find a house with a lot of elderly people, women, and children. Then, I could... the voice in my head started to persuade and instigate.

As long as you kill those weaklings who are powerless, you can get

Food, clothes, tools... can help you escape and return to the Imperial Army.

Guilty thoughts surfaced, but Sakaki gritted his teeth in disgust. He thought of the kind old woman and the villagers who had brought him pears. Even though they were enemies, the harmonious relationship between the army and the people filled him with an indescribable sense of envy. "Shigeko certainly wouldn't want me to become a demon who slaughters innocent people..." He muttered to himself, like a mantra, as something silently shifted his thinking. "I am a glorious Imperial soldier, I am a glorious Imperial soldier. Imperial soldiers shouldn't act like this. Imperial soldiers shouldn't act like this..."

But now we have to escape from pursuit, so we should change in a hurry!

"Shut up! Shut up Sakaki! If you really take this step, you're doomed!"