Chapter 63: Hoodwinking Kong Jie Once Again

"Commander, you know as well as I do without me saying it that a plan of this magnitude requires as few people to know as possible. If you don't report this up the chain, the brigade commander will surely give you a hard time later. But if you do report it..." Wu Ze still reminded Li Yunronng.

Before Wu Ze could finish, Li Yunronng brushed it off with a casual wave of his hand, "It's fine, it's fine. I know how our brigade commander operates; as long as we win battles, everything's good."

Besides, it wasn't the first or second time Old Li had been chewed out by the brigade commander; he was already used to it.

Seeing Li Yunronng's attitude, Wu Ze thought to himself: Commander, you make it sound so easy and carefree, but every time you stir up trouble and face the brigade commander, why do you always act like a mouse seeing a cat?

"Commander, you need to go talk to Commander Kong as well. We have to send two battalions back to transport the captured weapons from the Japanese and traitors, along with the wounded. Leaving just one battalion behind as bait for the New Regiment won't be enough manpower; we need to take those two battalions from the Independent Regiment along," Wu Ze said. "Ideally, we shouldn't let Commander Kong in on the plan either. Knowing his temperament, he would definitely send someone to report it up..."

Before Wu Ze could finish, Li Yunronng interrupted him once again: "Easier said than done, leave that blockhead to me. I guarantee he'll hand those two battalions over, and I'll even have him come along with us personally, all without him knowing your plan."

"Very well then, Commander. Let's go over the specific details of the operation once more. Here is the plan I drew up in advance, take a look." Wu Ze took out a pre-prepared map and handed it to Li Yunronng.

Wu Ze had marked out the route for the New Regiment and the Independent Regiment to march toward Gushan, as well as his predicted advancing routes for the various Japanese and puppet forces.

According to this map, the reinforcements from the enemy and puppet troops would converge and surround the New Regiment and the Independent Regiment right here at Gushan.

Once the encirclement was complete, it would be time to unleash the water attack.

Li Yunronng took the map, studied it intently for a moment, and showered it with praise: "Wu Ze, there's not a single flaw in this plan of yours, it's brilliant. The biggest challenge is for me to play the role of Ma Su, but don't worry, I'll pull it off without a hitch."

"Commander, nothing in this world is absolute. After all, the Japanese and puppet troops aren't fools," Wu Ze said earnestly. "The fact that your New Regiment was able to wipe out over three thousand Japanese and puppet soldiers is proof enough that you are an outstanding commander. If you simply stumble into a blunder like Ma Su's, it will arouse the enemy's suspicion. I've prepared a backup plan for you here, take a look."

Wu Ze produced another map containing the contingency plan and handed it to Li Yunronng.

After reviewing it, Li Yunronng praised it once again: "Wu Ze, why do I feel like this backup plan of yours is even better?"

Under the first plan, Li Yunronng would lead his troops in a feigned retreat after scoring a major victory, only to be cornered by an overwhelming enemy force. Li Yunronng would find himself blocked on all sides until he was "forced" to retreat to Gushan, stealthily leading a massive horde of the enemy right beneath its peak.

As for the second backup plan, it was far more audacious.

It involved Li Yunronng leading the troops to withdraw, and if that failed to deceive the enemy and puppet forces, he would pivot with his artillery to launch a direct assault on Heyuan County City, aiming to capture Hirata Ichiro alive.

This was entirely consistent with the arrogant tone struck in the challenge letter.

Whether Li Yunronng and the New Regiment managed to capture Heyuan County City or not, they would subsequently face a massive, overwhelming encirclement by the enemy and puppet troops.

At that point, the New Regiment would abandon the siege or give up the county town, executing a retreat that lured the enemy right to the foot of Gushan.

"Commander, the second backup plan will inevitably result in casualties. You've said yourself that the lives of our soldiers are precious," Wu Ze understood Li Yunronng's train of thought.

Li Yunronng was clearly more enticed by the prospect of a direct assault on Heyuan County City. That would provoke the enemy much more intensely, increase the scale of the encirclement against the New Regiment, and make it all the easier to dupe the enemy.

"True, true, the soldiers' lives are precious," Li Yunronng nodded. Unless the first plan failed completely, he had no intention of resorting to the backup plan.

"All right, Commander. Since the plan is settled, you should go talk to Commander Kong first. Once that's sorted out, have Zhang Dabiao lead the troops and march along the predetermined route with Commander Kong," Wu Ze instructed. "You can come with me to inspect the layout at the canyon and by the river with your own eyes, and then take a shortcut back to your command post."

Given arrangements of such vital importance, Li Yunronng as the regimental commander could naturally not rely solely on Wu Ze's one-sided account.

With the lives of over a thousand Eighth Route Army soldiers hanging in the balance, Li Yunronng, as the commanding officer, was bound to verify everything firsthand.

"Alright, alright, I'll go find Old Kong right now," Li Yunronng nodded. As much as he trusted Wu Ze, a plan of this magnitude demanded personal verification.

It was the basic command competence expected of a qualified officer.

Li Yunronng trotted over to Kong Jie. By this time, Kong Jie had also realized something: his Second Battalion Commander Shen Quan had managed to snatch the artillery piece, but it came with zero shells.

Every single shell had been monopolized by the New Regiment.

Seeing Li Yunronng approach, Kong Jie immediately hurried over: "Old Li, you rascal moved too fast, that's not playing fair. Spare me a few shells, treat it as a..."

Before Kong Jie could finish, Li Yunronng cut him off: "Blockhead Kong, treat what? Treat it as a loan?"

"An artillery piece without shells is nothing more than a decoration," Kong Jie looked at Li Yunronng with a flattering grin. "You captured so many shells, lend me a few, won't you?"

At that moment, Kong Jie had completely lost the aggressive swagger he'd had when he was snatching the cannon earlier.

Having no shells meant he was being held firmly by his weakness at Li Yunronng's hands.

"Old Kong, look at you, what a lack of ambition. Asking to borrow a few shells puts that look on your face, making you look like a pauper begging a landlord for grain," Li Yunronng said with feigned disdain. "Can't you think of another way to get your hands on some shells?"

"Think of another way to get shells?" Kong Jie glared, his eyes wide. "What other way is there? Aside from trying to figure something out from you, Li Yunronng, what other options do I have?"

"And that's why I always say you're a blockhead," Li Yunronng scolded.

"Li Yunronng, tell me then, where else can I possibly get artillery shells?" Kong Jie blinked at Li Yunronng. He certainly didn't possess anywhere near as many crafty ideas as this kid.

"From Hirata Ichiro, of course," Li Yunronng blurted out. "While Heyuan County City is thinly defended, we take it down—don't we get shells then?"

According to the "withdrawal" plan provided to Li Yunronng by Wu Ze, the troops were supposed to move in the general direction of Heyuan County City anyway. Li Yunronng was simply hoodwinking Kong Jie outright, claiming they were going to attack Heyuan.

Could a Kong Jie lacking artillery shells easily pass up such an opportunity?

When the time came, Kong Jie's two battalions would simply be led around by the nose.

And he wouldn't even let Kong Jie in on Wu Ze's earth-shattering scheme.

By the time Kong Jie figured out what was happening, enemy reinforcements would be closing in from all directions. Even if he realized it then, it would be far too late; he would have no choice but to grit his teeth and walk the same path to the end with their New Regiment.

"Attack Heyuan County City and snatch them right out of Hirata Ichiro's hands?"

Upon hearing this, Kong Jie was enlightened in an instant. He slapped his thigh and broke into a broad smile: "Right, right, right! Why didn't I think of that?"