Chapter 37: Ichiro Hirata Reinforces with an Additional Regiment

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Chapter 37: Hirata Ichiro Sends Another Regiment

Heyuan County Town

“Sir, I have some bad news.” Jiang Deshui, the highest-ranking officer of the puppet troops stationed in Heyuan County, reported to Hirata Ichiro with a tense expression.

“What bad news?” Hirata raised an eyebrow. The New First Regiment of the Communist guerrillas had attacked Xiaowang Village and Xiaoli Village. The forces assembled for the encirclement had only just finished gathering and were preparing to depart. How could more bad news have arrived now?

Could it be that the New First Regiment had launched another attack?

“Qiujia Village has been occupied by the New First Regiment...” Jiang Deshui did not finish.

Hirata’s eyes widened. “What did you say? Qiujia Village has been seized by the New First Regiment?”

Qiujia Village produced eight hundred thousand pounds of potatoes every year. It was a vital source of military grain. How could it be allowed to fall?

Besides, Qiujia Village had a highly sophisticated defensive system. Even if the New First Regiment possessed an Italian cannon, it could not possibly have enough shells to storm the village by force.

“Yes... yes, that’s right...” Jiang Deshui stammered.

After learning the news, he clearly had not wanted to believe it either.

Yet once he understood what had actually happened, he had no choice but to accept it.

Qiujia Village’s defenses might have been excellent, but its military commander had a fatal weakness.

Bang!

Hirata slammed his fist onto the table so hard that the telephone nearly fell to the floor.

“Impossible! With the resources those Communist guerrillas possess, there’s no way they could have taken Qiujia Village!” Hirata roared.

“Sir, you should still remember this. Before Commander Qiu was promoted, he had only just joined the Imperial Army. To test his loyalty, the Imperial Army ordered him to slap his own father. They even held a bayonet to his throat, but he still refused to do it...” Jiang Deshui said.

“Enough with the old stories. Tell me how the New First Regiment took Qiujia Village,” Hirata interrupted. He had no interest in such ancient trifles.

“The New First Regiment captured Cui Baozhong from Wan Family Town. From him, they learned the true location of Commander Qiu’s father’s grave. The guerrillas went to dig up his father’s remains, then framed him by claiming he had hidden three crates of penicillin. Commander Qiu was forced to send out his troops, only to fall into an ambush laid by two enemy regiments...”

“Wasn’t it only the New First Regiment? Why are you saying there were two regiments?” Hirata interrupted suspiciously.

“That part isn’t entirely clear. In any case, they had at least fifteen hundred men in the ambush,” Jiang Deshui replied.

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“Damn it. It seems this New First Regiment has become a serious menace.” Hirata gritted his teeth and glared at Jiang Deshui. “Immediately mobilize another regiment. I want the New First Regiment completely annihilated.”

“Sir, if we mobilize another regiment, our strength will exceed three thousand men. Isn’t that using a sledgehammer to crack a nut?” Jiang Deshui hesitated.

“Do not underestimate the enemy. The New First Regiment’s sudden rise is certainly no coincidence.” Hirata’s expression grew solemn. “I feel that the New First Regiment is much like moso bamboo. At first, it seems insignificant. It develops its strength in secret, just as moso bamboo barely grows above ground in the beginning while its roots constantly absorb and store nutrients. Once the time is right, moso bamboo can shoot up twenty or thirty meters in half a year. I think the New First Regiment is the same. Now that it has emerged, we must destroy it with all our strength. We cannot allow it to grow any larger.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll mobilize another regiment immediately.” Jiang Deshui nodded.

“This time, you will lead the troops personally,” Hirata said. “I will assign an Imperial Army company to accompany you.”

“Sir, there’s no need to send Imperial troops. I can take three regiments...” Jiang Deshui began.

Hirata cut him off. “The terrain there is complicated. You must not underestimate the enemy.”

“Understood.” Jiang Deshui accepted the order.

“What is the situation at Qiujia Village now?” Hirata asked.

“The guerrillas dug up and carried away the potatoes. The village itself has been destroyed, but they cannot destroy the land,” Jiang Deshui replied.

“Send men to rebuild the village. We cannot abandon such an important source of military grain,” Hirata ordered.

“Yes.”

Jiang Deshui withdrew.

“Hmph. The New First Regiment won’t exist much longer,” Hirata snorted.

—

Headquarters of the Eighteenth Group Army

The Deputy Commander-in-Chief was studying a map with the Chief of Staff when someone came to report, “Brigade Commander Chen of the 386th Brigade has arrived.”

“Old Chen is here?” The Deputy Commander-in-Chief and the Chief of Staff exchanged startled looks before saying, “Let him in.”

“Yes, sir.”

Before Brigade Commander Chen entered, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief said, “Why isn’t that old Chen concentrating on taking Qiujia Village? What has brought him here?”

“Could it be that Old Chen has already taken Qiujia Village?” the Chief of Staff suggested. “Don’t forget, he is one of the three outstanding graduates of the Whampoa Military Academy, and this time he also has an Italian cannon to aid him.”

“If that’s the case, our headquarters would feel rather embarrassed asking him to hand over the Italian cannon,” the Deputy Commander-in-Chief said, pretending to be troubled.

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The Chief of Staff laughed. “Whoever can make the greatest use of the cannon should be qualified to keep it. Old Chen of the 386th Brigade has clearly demonstrated that he has the ability.”

“We’ll ask him when he comes in,” the Deputy Commander-in-Chief said with a nod.

Brigade Commander Chen of the 386th Brigade entered and saluted the Deputy Commander-in-Chief and the Chief of Staff.

“Greetings, Commander-in-Chief. Greetings, Chief of Staff.”

“Old Chen, have you come to bring us good news?” The Chief of Staff studied Chen Geng’s expression. He did not look as though he had come to report anything unpleasant.

“Chief of Staff, Commander-in-Chief, the 386th Brigade has finally fulfilled its mission. Qiujia Village has been taken,” the brigade commander replied. “The potatoes have all been dug up and are now being transported.”

“What? You took Qiujia Village so quickly?” The Deputy Commander-in-Chief and the Chief of Staff both froze.

They had indeed guessed that the brigade commander had probably taken Qiujia Village.

But when they truly heard the news, they were still deeply excited.

The Eighth Route Army was expanding far too rapidly. On the surface, it was organized into only three divisions, but in reality, its forces already numbered more than two hundred thousand men.

Such rapid expansion brought many problems. There were shortages of rifles and ammunition, as well as an acute lack of food and supplies.

The potatoes seized from Qiujia Village would greatly ease the immediate crisis.

“Yes, Qiujia Village has been taken,” the brigade commander said with a nod.

“Excellent. You truly live up to your reputation as a gifted graduate of the Whampoa Military Academy. That was a fine victory.” The Deputy Commander-in-Chief rarely praised anyone.

“Commander-in-Chief, there are a few matters I have already reported to my divisional commander. However, he was busy and had no time to come here with me, so he sent me to give you a personal report.” In the face of the Deputy Commander-in-Chief’s praise, the brigade commander’s expression became—how should one put it? In any case, he was visibly more confident.

That scoundrel Li Yunlong had caused trouble by handing Qiujia Village’s weapons and ammunition over to the Independent Regiment. When the divisional commander learned of it, he had been furious.

The divisional commander did not want to come to headquarters, so he had sent the brigade commander in his place.

Now that the Deputy Commander-in-Chief was praising him, the 386th Brigade’s chances of keeping the Italian cannon had clearly improved.

If they failed to retain it, the brigade commander would not be the only one to make Li Yunlong pay. The divisional commander might even strip him of his rank.

End of Chapter