Chapter 24: Attacking West Well Town, the Deputy Chief of Staff Wants to Win Me Over?

Xijing Town.

As Li Yunlong arranged for Shen Quan to lead men in wiping out the Axe Gang, the commotion caused the Japanese to believe that Li Yunlong was suppressing the Eighth Route Army. Upon learning this, Ichiro Watanabe was overjoyed. He felt the bandits had struck at the perfect moment; by launching their attack now, they were effectively pinning down the Eighth Route Army, thereby securing the path for the transport convoy. As long as these bandits were dealt with, the remainder of the route would be clear for passage.

With this in mind, Ichiro Watanabe cheerfully issued an order: "Pass the word down. Do not obstruct the men of the 22nd Regiment when you encounter them. Bring their leader to see me."

"Hai!"

The 22nd Regiment was the designation Watanabe had bestowed upon Li Yunlong’s unit.

Xijing Town was not large, but because it was a vital point along the highway, the Japanese had established a stronghold there. It was garrisoned by one Japanese infantry platoon, assisted by a battalion of puppet troops, totaling about 550 men. The nearest stronghold was the town of Huangyadong, about 10 kilometers away, which also hosted a Japanese platoon and a puppet battalion. The Black Dragon Society had historically thrived by controlling the road between Xijing and Huangyadong and the surrounding villages. This was why the Japanese had sought to win them over—primarily to prevent the society from attacking the highway and threatening its safety. After all, once the bandits struck, they would vanish into the mountains, making them nearly impossible to annihilate. Co-opting them was the most efficient and effortless solution.

By noon the following day, Li Yunlong had finalized his comprehensive deployment. One company was tasked with intercepting the enemy from the direction of Huangyadong, while the remaining forces were stationed in Xijing Town. Li Yunlong had always suspected that the Japanese’s request for him to sweep the Xierhe mountainous region was not so simple. After learning that the Japanese had recently heightened their security, and upon further investigation, he discovered that a transport convoy had arrived in Xijing. Though he did not know what they were carrying, the level of secrecy and vigilance suggested the cargo was certainly significant.

After thinking through his plan and confirming every detail, Li Yunlong led his troops, escorting over a dozen men disguised as "Eighth Route Army soldiers," toward Xijing Town.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief of Staff, guided by Captain Chen, had reached a hillside and, through observation, noticed something amiss. Particularly after discovering many bandits lying in ambush outside Xijing Town, the Deputy Chief of Staff reached a startling conclusion: these bandits were likely planning to attack Xijing. The realization left him unable to calm his thoughts for a long time. This explained why the bandits had been made to dress in Eighth Route Army uniforms. This group of bandits was no ordinary lot! He found himself wanting to meet them; perhaps they could even be swayed to join the anti-Japanese forces. After all, from the current perspective, both sides shared the same goal.

The Deputy Chief of Staff pondered this, though he decided he needed more observation before making a final judgment, as he still could not discern the bandits' ultimate intentions.

At the gates of Xijing Town, as Li Yunlong arrived with his company, the guarding puppet troops immediately entered a state of high alert and shouted, "Halt! Which unit are you with?"

Zhang Dabiao held up the appointment papers and shouted back, "Brothers, don't be nervous! We are the newly formed 22nd Regiment! This is the authorization provided by Lieutenant Watanabe!"

Hearing this, the puppet troops and the Japanese relaxed. They had already received instructions from Watanabe to receive the 22nd Regiment well. After inspecting the appointment papers, the puppet troops cleared the barricades.

"So you are the brothers of the 22nd Regiment. Where is your leader, Li Long? Watanabe-kun wishes to see you."

Li Yunlong stepped forward, cupping his hands in a salute, and replied, "I am Li Long. After a fierce battle, we have finally captured 15 Eighth Route soldiers, specifically to present to the Imperial Army." As he spoke, the ‘bandits’ were pushed forward.

The puppet troops were taken aback; they had not expected the 22nd Regiment to be so valiant as to capture actual Eighth Route soldiers. After the translator relayed this, the Japanese looked at the captives with suspicion. One Japanese soldier immediately shot and killed one of the captives.

Li Yunlong, instantly realizing the Japanese soldier's intent, shouted, "Lieutenant! We expect to be paid for these as well!"

Through the translator, the Japanese officer replied, "Of course, no problem!" As he spoke, he ordered the execution of several more of the captives while watching Li Yunlong and his men for their reaction.

Seeing this, Li Yunlong cursed, "If the Lieutenant does not trust us, then don't waste your bullets on them!" He then decisively opened fire.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Before the translator could finish, the remaining captives were all dead. This stunned both the Japanese and the puppet troops. No one expected Li Yunlong to have such a volatile temper—killing so many ‘Eighth Route soldiers’ without hesitation. It was ruthless!

"Now, ask the Lieutenant if he trusts us! If he doesn't trust me, Li Long, then we will turn around and leave right now!"

This declaration shocked the puppet troops. The Japanese officer, recovering from his surprise, apologized repeatedly and invited Li Yunlong and his men into the town. Seeing that the Japanese and puppet troops were intimidated, Li Yunlong put on a satisfied expression and led his men inside.

He gave Zhang Dabiao a subtle signal. According to the battle plan, once they entered the town, they were to quickly seize the entrance, signal the main force, and take control of Xijing Town.

As the troops entered, Li Yunlong dropped his act. Smiling, he approached a Japanese sergeant and said ingratiatingly, "Lieutenant, this is a small token of my appreciation. I hope for your continued support." As he spoke, he pulled a gold bar from his tunic and handed it over. The previously vigilant Japanese sergeant relaxed upon seeing the gold.

"Yoshi! You have done well!"

Seeing this, the other Japanese soldiers also lowered their guard. Just as the sergeant’s attention was diverted to the gold, Li Yunlong saw his moment and gave a slight nod to Zhang Dabiao. In a flash, he drew his knife and plunged it into the sergeant's heart. It was as fast as lightning! Before the sergeant could react, Li Yunlong stabbed him repeatedly, and blood sprayed forth.

At that very moment, the other soldiers launched their attacks.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The Japanese and puppet troops were caught completely off guard and were cut down instantly.

"Attack!" Li Yunlong shouted, firing his pistol.

In just a few moments, they had secured the town gate. He then led his men toward their pre-designated targets. Having scouted the town beforehand, the division of labor was clear. As the fighting broke out, the soldiers outside the town also launched an assault on the defensive fortifications, quickly pushing into the town.

Inside the Japanese command post, Ichiro Watanabe had been alerted the moment Li Yunlong’s men began shooting the ‘bandits.’ Thinking his own men were in a conflict with the 22nd Regiment, he rushed toward the town gate, but upon hearing the intensification of the gunfire, he could not help but curse, "Baka! Damn it, they can't even handle this!"

He hurried back, but as he did, he collided head-on with the advancing forces of the New First Regiment.

"Nani? These Chinese actually dare to target the Imperial Army? Damn them! Call for reinforcements immediately!"

"Hai!"