Chapter 34: Thorough Consideration

Chapter 34: Comprehensive Considerations

(I)

"Yes, I see, I see." Zhao Gang recorded the information rapidly as he listened.

"As of 4:50, no further vehicles have been seen entering or passing through. Under the command of Platoon Leader Tian, the small detachment has entered the intersection to deploy a blockade. I, along with two team members, Li Chengjiang and Li Chenghe, am heading south toward the Independent Regiment’s pre-designated liaison point!"

On the other end of the line, Guan Shan caught his breath, took a sip of water, and continued: "I arrived at the liaison point around 10:30 PM. Li Chengjiang and Li Chenghe did not accompany me; I had them remain at Mountain Passes No. 2 and No. 3 to stand guard and wait for the reserve unit..."

That meant that in five and a half hours, Guan Shan had run nearly seventy *li*!

Wait, no—because from the liaison point to this specially installed telephone station, there were another thirty-plus *li*!

He had already run a hundred *li*!

"Good, very good, Guan Shan! Your intelligence is critical. The Japanese haven't appeared yet! You should get some rest; I need to go and arrange the deployment immediately!"

"Yes, sir!"

Zhao Gang hung up the phone and quickly dialed the switchboard, asking to be connected to Chen Bo of the Special Operations Regiment.

The call was answered on the first ring.

"Around 4:30 PM, three trucks entered the dirt road at the North Sanao Pass..."

"Understood. I will arrange for the leaders to relocate immediately!"

Chen Bo didn't need to know more for now. Since the Japanese were truly coming, he could not risk even the slightest chance of error. Regardless of the time, he had to work with the Security Regiment to move the high-ranking officers to the pre-arranged safe location!

Following Chen Bo’s notification, the pre-planned emergency protocols of the Special Operations Regiment and the Security Regiment were activated. The Political Security Department and the guards were immediately alerted. They worked together to lift the Commander from his *kang* bed, placed him on a stretcher, and carried him away without further discussion.

"What is the meaning of this! Why am I being moved? What is Li Yunlong doing? If a full regiment can't hold Chenjiayu, I'll have his unit disbanded!" the Commander roared in anger.

(II)

"Hello! This is Zhao Gang. Is Guan Shan still sleeping?"

After making the necessary arrangements, Zhao Gang dialed the dedicated line again. He wanted to understand the situation on Li Yunlong’s end and wondered how much Guan Shan had disclosed.

"Reporting to the Political Commissar, Guan Shan has already left!"

"Left? Where did he go?"

"He said he was headed for North Sanao Pass. He didn't take the main road; he went straight into the mountains, saying he wanted to take a shortcut."

"What is he trying to prove! That bastard, who does he think he is!" Zhao Gang was furious. He still wanted to ask for more details, yet the kid had already taken off.

He would have to teach that boy a lesson. He needed to understand that as a courier, providing a complete and detailed report was his duty and mission...

"Commissar... Guan Shan left a note saying that if you called, I should report it to you..."

"Well, read it, then!"

"Yes, sir! After arriving at the liaison point at 10:30, the reserve unit departed immediately. The preliminary plan estimates a ten-hour march, meaning they should arrive at North Sanao Pass by 8:30 AM."

Ten hours? Yes, over seventy *li* of mountain paths, covered at night—a reasonable marching speed.

"Wang Huanxi from the liaison point has already headed south to find and notify the Regiment Commander. The map and the details regarding Japanese troop strength and timing have been marked. According to Wang Huanxi’s description, there are Japanese patrol and security units along the road near the 1st Battalion’s ambush site. It is possible the 1st Battalion will be unable to disengage from the ambush site before dawn to reach North Sanao Pass..."

There were Japanese patrol and security units near the 1st Battalion’s ambush site? What did that mean? Were the Japanese planning a larger operation in that direction?

"If the 1st Battalion engages in combat after dawn, considering the potential for captured supplies or wounded personnel, we should arrange for the County Battalion and local militia to send logistical teams and stretcher-bearers to the Regiment Commander’s pre-designated liaison point to provide support. I request that the Political Commissar consider this. If feasible, please notify County Mayor Wang by phone. I have already arranged for Li Chengjiang to proceed to Mopan Village once he meets the reserve unit; he can act as a guide for our local comrades..."

Well, well! Not bad at all! Zhao Gang couldn't help but want to praise Guan Shan.

However...

"Report completed! Commissar, Political Commissar Zhao..."

"Good! I understand. You have all worked hard! Wait for my signal to terminate the mission and decommission the line!"

"Yes, sir!"

Zhao Gang hung up the phone, pondering a detail.

Li Chengjiang had not gone to the liaison point; he had stayed at Mountain Pass No. 3 to wait for the reserve unit. Yet, when Guan Shan left him there, he had already instructed him to head to Mopan Village via the mountain path once the reserve unit arrived.

Sending Li Chengjiang to Mopan Village was to guide the local logistics and stretcher teams, and the premise for that was that the 1st Battalion would fight and have spoils and wounded...

But the 1st Battalion hadn't fought yet. Moreover, Guan Shan had only heard from Wang Huanxi at the liaison point about the Japanese patrols near the ambush site, leading him to guess that the Japanese might have their own plans and that combat might break out...

(III)

That kid—if one didn't know his background, who would ever think such foresight and calculation could come from a shepherd boy from the mountains who had never stepped foot in a schoolhouse!

Zhao Gang checked his watch: 3:40 AM. Forty-five minutes had passed since Guan Shan’s call.

At this hour, would anyone be on duty at the County Committee?

After a moment's thought, Zhao Gang dialed the switchboard and asked to be connected to the County Committee office in Mopan Village.

If someone was on duty, he would ask them to find Party Secretary Lü; calling County Mayor Wang—a woman—in the middle of the night clearly wasn't appropriate.

The phone was answered on the first ring, catching Zhao Gang off guard.

"Hello, this is Wang Wanlan. Who is this, please?"

Huh? Such a coincidence? Dammit, could it be that Guan Shan had tipped her off in advance? Impossible—he was a raw recruit, not a fortune teller!

"Hello, is this Political Commissar Zhao?"

"Oh, County Mayor Wang, hello! This is Zhao Gang."

"Wonderful! Our stretcher teams and logistical personnel are all prepared, just waiting for your orders!"

"Prepared? You're already prepared?"

"Yes, Commissar! Li Chengjiang brought the diagrams drawn by Comrade Guan Shan, and we began preparations immediately. Please rest assured, we will fulfill our mission!"

"Be sure to prioritize safety!" Zhao Gang urged.

"Yes, Commissar! We will send a small number of comrades to the liaison point first, while the main force waits in concealment three kilometers away. Our County Battalion has also assigned a company to provide security and protection. Please rest assured, we will execute the plan strictly!"

Such a detailed plan—could it be that this, too, was orchestrated by that kid, Guan Shan? Zhao Gang desperately wanted to ask, but felt it would be inappropriate to bring it up so abruptly.