Chapter 24: Betting Life Itself, Luring the Snake from Its Lair!

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“Have there been any movements from the two divisions under Commander Wu and Commander Wang this past month?”

Wang Xiao replied quickly, “Ever since our military police executed those two regimental commanders on the spot, things have quieted down considerably. However, a few officers from their side, who are on good terms with me, have confided secretly that their division commanders have already gone crying to Commanders Wu and Wang. They’ll probably complain to the Old Marshal as well, blaming you, Commander Jiang, for all this.”

At these words, Jiang Bai stopped kneading his brow and waved a hand dismissively. “It matters not. Only losers complain after a battle; if we win, there will naturally be people eager to wipe the mud off our boots. As for Commanders Wu and Wang, at worst, when the campaign is over, I’ll personally pay them a visit with generous gifts to make amends. People don’t hit a smiling face, after all.”

“But…” Jiang Bai’s tone grew heavy.

“Only when we have utterly wiped out the bandits can we claim true victory.”

His gaze drifted toward the sand table. The territory of Chenyun Province was a cursed land—ten thousand mountains, ten thousand bandits, as the saying went. Chenyun Mountain itself was not vast, yet it concealed countless outlaws, numbering roughly fifty thousand, thanks to its defensible and hard-to-attack terrain, dense vegetation, and abundant resources.

With the Seventh Reinforced Division and the two external divisions cutting off their food, roads, and medical supplies, those bandits could easily survive for three or four months. But relying solely on reconnaissance units for guidance and infantry for assault, it was impossible to clear them out within three months.

“We must find a way to lure the snake from its hole.”

“Find a way?” Jiang Bai began rubbing his brow again. “What’s your opinion, Wang Xiao? Let’s hear it.”

“You want my view? Commander Jiang, I believe that increasing our troop numbers would speed up the suppression effort. Why not let me personally go to the two divisions under Commanders Wu and Wang and request that their division commanders assign half their forces to assist us in the mountains? They may be reluctant, but we can promise them half the credit for the campaign.”

Jiang Bai opened his eyes and looked at Wang Xiao. “And let them come in and keep harassing the villagers? I’d be grateful enough if those beasts don’t cause more trouble for me. Once the commendation order has been circulated, show it to their division commanders and warn them: their task is to hold their posts and guard the borders. If even a single bandit escapes under their watch, I won’t need a military tribunal—the emperor himself could come, and I’d still have the military police execute them myself.”

“But, Commander, the bandits… they’re barely hiding as it is—why would they dare come out?”

Before Wang Xiao could voice more doubts, Jiang Bai issued a stern, unyielding order.

“Order: The 25th and 26th Brigades are to accompany the suppression forces into the mountains. Except for severely wounded and logistics personnel, no one is to descend without orders from divisional headquarters.”

Wang Xiao was stunned by this command.

With the 25th and 26th Brigades gone, the headquarters would be left as fragile as an egg—one well-aimed stone from the bandits and it would be cracked wide open. The risk was enormous.

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“Commander, this is sheer madness! Such an order cannot be given!”

Jiang Bai fixed Wang Xiao with a steely gaze. “My order stands. Even if you think it madness, it must be carried out.”

“Commander, forgive me, but I cannot obey. If you insist, you’ll have to detain me!” As he spoke, Wang Xiao stretched out his arms, ready to face punishment.

Seeing Wang Xiao’s stubbornness, Jiang Bai had to take a deep breath to explain. “You think my order is mad because you lack confidence in our Seventh Reinforced Division. Are we not supported by a security battalion, a military police battalion, and the Seventh Artillery Regiment?”

“You fear the bandits might charge us all at once? But I fear more that they won’t dare try. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

“Here’s what you’ll do—issue another order: the 25th and 26th Brigades are to leave behind six heavy machine guns, twenty light machine guns, and two hundred MP18 submachine guns to guard divisional headquarters.”

“Is that sufficient?”

“But Commander…”

“That’s final. Go and deliver the order at once.”

“Yes, sir…” Wang Xiao could only comply, however reluctantly.

And so, as the 25th and 26th Brigades joined the mountain suppression campaign, Jiang Bai ordered funds to be used to hire large numbers of local villagers as guides and informants.

He further commanded the Seventh Reinforced Division to maintain relentless, round-the-clock pressure, pushing deep into the mountains to root out the bandits. Even the largest outlaw gangs, comparable to Black Hawk’s forces, suffered unprecedented blows. With their food, roads, and medical supplies cut off, panic spread among the mountain bandits.

A month passed.

The situation grew dire. Non-combat losses from wounds and disease alone became an insurmountable problem.

At last, Hassan could sit idle no longer and urged Black Hawk, “Sir, we can’t wait any longer. If we persist like this, we’ll either be wiped out by the Chenyun Army or our men will scatter and desert us. When that happens, it’s all over.”

Though Hassan spoke with reason, there was a wild glint in Black Hawk’s eyes—he still saw a sliver of hope.

“Though we’re desperate, there’s always a chance to turn the tables.” Black Hawk proposed a bold plan.

“What do you mean, sir?” Hassan asked, confused.

Black Hawk explained, “Commander Jiang Bai of the Seventh Reinforced Division has sent all his main forces away, leaving just two battalions at headquarters. Their weapons are fine, but they’re few in number and limited in fighting strength. If we could launch a surprise attack on Chenyun County, even capture Commander Jiang Bai himself, the situation could change in an instant.”

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Hassan was shocked by the plan. “Sir, that’s far too risky! They may be few, but they’re all armed with German weapons, and there’s an artillery regiment on top of that. How could we possibly succeed?”

“Alone, we can’t—but the Chenyun Mountains don’t have just our faction. The government’s suppression campaign targets everyone. If we unite, gather thirty or forty thousand men, and launch a surprise attack, we might win in one fell swoop. The risk is enormous, but we must find opportunity in crisis. I’ve decided—we will gamble everything on this!”

Driven to the brink, Black Hawk staked everything on this desperate bid.

“Is the risk truly worth it?” Hassan frowned deeply, anxiety written across his face. Success would mean a triumphant reversal, but failure could cost them their lives.

“My mind is made up!” Black Hawk declared, unwavering. “Better to die fighting than to flee Chenyun in disgrace. If we can succeed, destroy their headquarters, and capture or kill Jiang Bai, we’ll have accomplished something great. Then Wang Lin will have to beg me to return his men and his artillery!”

He was already imagining how much ransom he might demand for Jiang Bai, or how he might betray Hassan for an official post and finally leave the outlaw’s life behind.

Knowing Black Hawk’s mind was set, Hassan said no more.

“Hassan, we must move at once. Summon all the forces in the Chenyun mountain region for a meeting—time is critical,” Black Hawk ordered urgently.

“Yes, sir,” Hassan replied.

Black Hawk and Hassan moved quickly, visiting every major bandit gang in the Chenyun Mountains.

In just three days, Black Hawk succeeded in uniting the eighteen largest groups in the region, amassing an army of over forty thousand men.

Black Hawk was able to do this so rapidly partly because of his reputation among the bandits, and partly due to the Japanese backing that Hassan represented.

Though these bandits were not highly educated, they all understood the importance of unity. Faced with the government’s suppression efforts, they would be destroyed one by one if they didn’t join forces.

Given these circumstances, they decided to unite, daring to take a chance for survival.

Once assembled, Black Hawk immediately ordered the advance on Chenyun County. Although the army had stationed heavy forces around the mountain’s main roads, the Chenyun mountains were vast, riddled with small trails and goat paths. Even with forty thousand men, the Seventh Reinforced Division could not completely seal off the entire mountain region. The bandits could use these byways to bypass government blockades.

Moreover, due to Jiang Bai’s prior orders, even if the Seventh Reinforced Division spotted small groups of bandits descending the mountains, they were forbidden from pursuing. The bandits could not comprehend this strange behavior, but it only boosted their confidence. Many small gangs who had been waiting to see which way the wind would blow now eagerly rallied to Black Hawk’s call, assembling near Chenyun County and awaiting his order to attack.

In Chenyun County, the headquarters of the Seventh Reinforced Division, the security and military police battalions had dug three layers of trenches around the perimeter, preparing in full for the coming storm.