Spy Shadow: Command & Conquer

Chapter 1947, Refuse to Talk? Die!
Jinling.

Japanese Expeditionary Army Headquarters.

Chief of Staff Akira Muto bowed as he entered Commander Hisaichi Terauchi's office.

"Your Excellency Commander..."

"Mr. Muto, please have a seat."

Terauchi Hisaichi stood up, a rare occurrence for him, his face beaming with enthusiasm.

He was quite satisfied with this chief of staff. The operation of the expeditionary force had been going smoothly.

"I'm sorry, I cannot answer your question."

"I understand."

Muto Akira stood up, bowed, and expressed his gratitude.

Terauchi Hisaichi is leaving.

He was appointed commander of the Southern Army. He went to Guangzhou to take up his post.

This was expected. Various rumors had been circulating for some time.

For those at the top, there are really no secrets.

The formation of the Southern Army had been underway for some time.

Terauchi Hisaichi was the first commander.

The problem now is that no new commander of the expeditionary force has been appointed.

In other words, Terauchi Hisaichi has left. But no one has come to replace him.

What is the meaning of the arrangements at headquarters?
Muto Akira didn't understand.

Perhaps there are still internal disputes, and a decision cannot be made.

Or perhaps, the headquarters wants to directly command the war in China, reducing intermediate layers.

After all, this time, the headquarters made a very big move.

Anqing is a tiny place.

They are no longer in the sights of the main camp.

This time, the headquarters' goal is to completely destroy the Nationalist Army's Fifth War Zone.

Since the previous strategy of targeting Chiang Kai-shek's Whampoa Military Academy clique had failed, the next step would be to target the Guangxi warlords.

With the defection of a large number of high-ranking traitors, the Japanese high command has learned many inside stories.

They knew very well that Chiang Kai-shek would not aid the Guangxi warlords.

They might even cooperate with the Japanese army to eliminate the Guangxi warlords.

"Mr. Muto, Anami Korechika has been appointed commander of the Ninth Army, in charge of the Central Plains campaign. You must cooperate fully."

"clear."

Muto Akira was somewhat disappointed.

In fact, he himself also wanted to become a military commander.

Chief of staff and the like are ultimately not military commanders. Without combat achievements, it is difficult to get promoted further.

How are military achievements earned?
He must be a division commander or an army commander.

This is a mandatory requirement.

He has already served as a division commander. What he lacks now is experience as an army commander.

If one has never served as a military commander, one can only ever reach the rank of lieutenant general.

Unfortunately, Anami Korechika took the spot.

But there was nothing they could do. Anami Korechika was a veteran with powerful connections. He had been working on it for a long time.

Perhaps this war in the Central Plains was orchestrated by Korechika Anami behind the scenes. It was a stage specially arranged for him by the General Headquarters.

If Anami Korechika can defeat the Fifth War Zone of the National Revolutionary Army and severely damage the National Revolutionary Army, he can advance further.

"Commander, what about the direction of Anqing..."

"As long as we defeat the Nationalist army in the Central Plains, Anqing will be a ripe peach."

"Tie!"

Muto Akira bowed in greeting.

That's certainly the truth. It's just a pity...

That was all thanks to Anami Korechika! He, the chief of staff, could only watch...

Suddenly, an absurd thought popped into my head.

Will Zhang Yong go to the Central Plains?
Will he face off against Korechika Anami?

If Zhang Yong had defeated Anami Korechika in the Central Plains...

Stop!

Stop!

Muto Akira quickly shook his head.

How could I have had such a terrible thought?

Although he and Anami Korechika were competitors, he did not want Anami Korechika to lose.

otherwise……

The situation will collapse.

Not only will they fail to retake Anqing, but they may also create even bigger trouble.

If even Xuzhou is lost, then...

Stop!

Stop!

Muto Akira felt his mind becoming increasingly out of control.

Why am I so pessimistic?
Zhang Yong...

They're not gods.

but……

That guy is really strong!
just in case……

The more I think about it, the more wrong it becomes.

He hurriedly muttered to himself—

"May Amaterasu protect Zhang Yong from diarrhea..."

"May Amaterasu protect Zhang Yong from choking on his water..."

"May Amaterasu protect Zhang Yong from choking on his food..."

"Raising a flag but not holding it firmly..."

……

"Ah!"

"Ah!"

Anqing. Riverside. Zhang Yong sneezed repeatedly.

It was extremely violent. It lasted a long time. It startled everyone around.

I'm so worried about the Commissioner's health...

Grass.

Zhang Yong cursed under his breath.

Who's cursing me behind my back? Such deep resentment.

I almost died from a sneeze...

It took a lot of effort to calm things down.

The mighty river continued to churn and surge downstream.

It's often said that the mighty Yangtze River flows eastward, its waves washing away the heroes of the past. And that's no exaggeration. The river truly can erase all traces of history.

If it weren't for the signs of battle on the shore, one could not see anything unusual simply from the surface of the river.

The Japanese transport ships that were previously sunk, as well as the Japanese soldiers who drowned in the river, have all disappeared.

Perhaps, by this time, they have already drifted to the vicinity of Nanjing.

Anqing appears very quiet now.

The Japanese troops in the west also withdrew. Reports indicate they retreated to places like Susong and Huangmei.

Leave it alone for now.

It's rare to have some free time.

"Reporting to the specialist, we still haven't found it..."

"Forget it. Stop searching."

"Yes."

An officer reported that they had not found Yoshio Hongo.

Nothing related to it was found. It's suspected it escaped, or perhaps it was completely destroyed in the explosion.

The previous fighting was so intense that ammunition was almost depleted. The battlefield was a mess. Who knows where it might be?
Just run away.

Anyway, it won't have any impact.

There is no immediate motivation to plunder money.

Let the troops loot it themselves first. That will be considered spoils of war.

An army without faith needs some financial incentive to motivate them...

In fact, Anqing, as a strategically important military location, was not wealthy. The common people had been ravaged by the Japanese invaders.

Suddenly, an idea struck him. He raised his hand to signal.

"quick!"

"quick!"

The Nationalist soldiers nearby immediately understood.

They quickly entered combat readiness, maneuvering the 88mm gun to aim at the river.

A total of six 88mm mortars, the latest arrangement by Zhang Yong, were deployed near the Anqing wharf, ready to fire directly at the river.

Whether you're a warship or a civilian cargo ship, you're nothing but trash in front of the 88mm gun.

If the Japanese destroyers dared to approach, the 88mm guns would have pierced them directly.

Now, radar maps show that a large number of red dots have arrived.

There are also some half-red dots next to the red dot.

There are also some white spots.

Yes, not just some. A lot. Four or five hundred people. Very densely packed. It felt like they were tied together?

The red dots and half-red circles all have weapons. Surround the white dots completely.

They're all on one ship. It's a pretty big ship.

That's reckless.

Don't you know that Anqing has been captured?
Ha ha……

They offered it to me willingly!

Then it would be impolite to refuse. Send them all away.

Raise the binoculars.

Sure enough, a cargo ship appeared upstream.

It's not an ordinary transport ship. It's a cargo ship. Its displacement is approximately three thousand tons.

The flag flying on the mast was the Japanese invaders' red flag.

Haha, how arrogant.

They just swaggered down like that.

Do you think Zhang Yong doesn't exist?
"Somebody come!"

"To!"

"Signal with flags to order the enemy to come ashore and surrender! Otherwise, they will be sunk."

"Yes!"

Soon, Nationalist soldiers began signaling with flags.

They were originally from the river defense force. They knew some basic flag signals.

It's okay if you don't understand.

Anyway, I'll fire a warning shot.

If you behave and listen to them, nothing will happen.

However, if you disobey, then I'm sorry. You'll be thrown into the river.

result……

no response.

The Japanese cargo ship continued downstream.

Approaching Anqing felt like returning to one's hometown. The atmosphere was incredibly relaxed.

Zhang Yong suddenly tilted his head.

I saw a black dragon flag. It looked a bit eerie.

My first thought was the Black Dragon Society?
Is it a cargo ship belonging to the Black Dragon Society? Is that why it's so arrogant?
They may not yet know that Anqing has been occupied by the Nationalist army.

That being the case...

Wait patiently.

Wait for the other party to continue approaching.

Eight kilometers...

Five kilometers...

"Warning: Fire!"

"Yes!"

"Tom!"

"Tom!"

Both 88mm guns fired simultaneously.

Aim directly.

Shells hit both sides of the cargo ship.

However, the distance wasn't controlled well. Mainly, the angle was too small.

"boom……"

"boom……"

The shells all exploded behind the cargo ship.

The Japanese cargo ship belatedly realized that something seemed amiss in Anqing.

Several Japanese soldiers hurriedly ran to the bow of the ship to observe.

then……

There's no after that.

What they saw was not the familiar Japanese flag.

At this very moment, the flag of the National Revolutionary Army, the Blue Sky with a White Sun, is flying in Anqing!
Damn!

They are Chinese!

They have occupied Anqing.

"boom!"

"boom!"

Japanese soldiers opened fire.

It was the Nambu Type 14 pistol.

Zhang Yong: ...

No.

You shot at me?
Using a turtle box?
Grass……

It is not very harmful and extremely insulting.

You actually fired at me with a Mauser pistol! That's incredibly disrespectful to me, Commissioner.

"fire!"

"Sink it!"

Give the order immediately.

You're being ungrateful. Well, then you'd better go report to the eighteenth level of hell!
Remember to bring your Mauser C96 pistol! Damn it. Shoot me...

"Tom!"

"Tom!"

All six 88mm guns opened fire simultaneously.

Because it was a direct shot, and the distance was only four kilometers, it was naturally a perfect shot every time.

"boom……"

"boom……"

The shell hit directly.

The cargo ship's hull was immediately blasted open with several holes.

However, because it is above the waterline, the river water does not flow in very quickly.

If it were a torpedo, it would be a one-shot kill.

Realizing the situation was dire, the cargo ship quickly turned and rushed towards Anqing Wharf.

"Stop shooting!"

"Stop shooting!"

Zhang Yong raised his hand, signaling the Japanese cargo ship to come closer.

The cargo ship has gold markings on it, indicating it carries some valuables. We can't let it sink easily.

Even a few hundred dollars would be good. If it sinks, it's gone.

If an ocean shovel falls into a river, even a god couldn't retrieve it. Gold bars are even less likely to be recovered.

In addition, there were four or five hundred white dots on the ship. They were likely laborers captured by the Japanese. We should try to rescue them if there's a chance.

"Crash..."

"Gulu gulu..."

"Crash..."

The Japanese cargo ship struggled desperately.

As it entered the water, it rushed towards the shore.

It was no longer able to reach the dock. Instead, it rushed several hundred meters above the dock.

It crashed heavily into the sand. Then it ran aground. Finally, it rocked violently. It almost capsized. Fortunately, it didn't. It managed to stabilize itself.

The reeds along the bank were battered and bent over, leaving a scene of utter devastation.

"Don't move!"

"boom!"

"boom!"

A jumble of gunfire.

It was the Nationalist soldiers who rushed up and took control of the cargo ship.

"Da da da……"

"Bang bang bang..."

The gunfire was intense at one point.

The Japanese invaders attempted a desperate resistance but were killed on the spot. Many red dots disappeared.

At the same time, some half-red dots also disappeared. They were all die-hard traitors. Naturally, they were to be killed without question.

The gunfire finally stopped after a while.

The radar map showed twenty red dots and a dozen or so half-red dots. The weapons had all been confiscated.

Those few hundred white dots aren't a big problem. They're even clustered together.

"report!"

An officer arrived.

They say they have taken control of the cargo ship.

"it is good!"

Zhang Yong then leisurely walked to the side of the cargo ship.

The remaining Japanese soldiers were escorted out.

The leader was dressed in a black robe and wooden clogs.

He looked at Zhang Yong with obvious resentment in his eyes.

Zhang Yong went up and slapped him.

"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

He knocked the other person unconscious on the spot.

Damn it, you dared to fire at me with that tortoise shell!
Damn it, why did you have to use that Mauser C96 box of guns?! Go to hell!
"Snapped!"

"Snapped!"

Two more slaps.

It knocked out all of the other person's teeth.

But that still wasn't enough. He grabbed it and threw it into the air.

He was strong and threw the person flying.

"Kill it!"

"Yes!"

"boom!"

"boom!"

The nearby Nationalist troops immediately opened fire.

Thus, the Japanese soldier, still in mid-air, was hit by several bullets and died on the spot.

"Pfft!"

"Crash..."

"Crash..."

The body fell. Water splashed.

Soon, the mighty river swept away the Japanese invaders who had perished.

"Who still disagrees?"

Zhang Yong glared at the other Japanese soldiers. He wanted to throw a second one.

Others throw flying saucers. I throw Japanese invaders.

That's good. UFOs cost money, but the Japanese invaders didn't.

By the way, the Nationalist soldier who just fired was a pretty good shot. There are actually quite a few seasoned veterans in the Guangxi Army.

The Japanese invaders remained silent.

All the Japanese soldiers hung their heads, fearing they would be the second to be thrown out.

Even the die-hard traitors kept their heads down, huddled in the crowd.

Zhang Yong glanced around and noticed that the die-hard traitors were all wearing black uniforms. It was obvious at a glance that they came from the puppet state of Manchukuo.

Well, they're definitely from the Black Dragon Society. And there's a staunch traitor from Manchukuo accompanying them.

Those white dots below seem quite interesting.

Enter the cabin.

See those dense white dots.

As he had guessed, they were all prisoners of the Nationalist army.

Their bodies were mostly intact. However, their hands and feet were bound, making it almost impossible for them to move.

Furthermore, the Japanese invaders controlled food and drinking water, leaving them physically weak. They could barely survive and certainly lacked the strength to resist.

Suddenly, his eyes flashed.

I spotted someone I knew.

Near Wanjialing. That very handsome and young man...

She had brought him food before. But Zhang Yong didn't know her name. He thought he would never have the chance to meet her again.

Walk over. Take out a dagger. Cut the ropes binding the other person.

The Nationalist soldiers who followed also cut the ropes and rescued the people.

Because they were too weak and dehydrated, their lips were very dry, so it was quite difficult for those Kuomintang prisoners to speak.

"water!"

"water!"

I gave everyone some water.

Finally, the weakened prisoners regained a little bit of their energy.

They realized they had been saved. They all felt like they were dreaming. Many found it hard to believe.

Zhang Yong also helped the young man up.

"Commissioner?"

The young man had sharp eyes. He recognized her.

Zhang Yong nodded, but didn't say anything.

Turn around and look around.

They're looking for gold.

"Your Excellency..."

"Your Excellency..."

A slight commotion arose in the crowd. Everyone stared intently at Zhang Yong.

They were finally certain that they had truly been rescued. Because the Commissioner himself had led the team. It was all real.

It's truly a blessing from all the gods! They actually encountered the Commissioner.

"Go ashore first."

Zhang Yong waved his hand, deciding to stay behind himself.

Radar maps showed that there was a lot of treasure on the cargo ship. He had to dig it all out.

The young man walked past Zhang Yong with his head down. He moved very slowly. He was very weak. It was already quite an achievement that he could walk independently.

Zhang Yong vaguely felt that the other person looked somewhat familiar, but he couldn't place him.

"What's your name?"

"Reporting to the Commissioner, my name is Cao Yiqi. I'm from Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. I have an older brother named Cao Mengqi, who was admitted to the ninth class of the Central Military Academy..."

"Your brother's name is Cao Mengqi?"

"Yes. But I don't know which unit he's in..."

"he……"

Zhang Yong remained silent.

No wonder it looked familiar.

It turned out that the other party was Lao Cao's younger brother.

Ugh……

Old Cao...

Didn't your brother tell you?

"No. My brother said his work requires secrecy. He can't reveal the unit number."

"is it?"

“But I believe my brother must be in some elite unit. Maybe even the Fifth Army…”

Cao Yiqi's eyes lit up when he talked about his older brother.

Although I am physically weak, I still feel very proud.

After all, his older brother had been admitted to the Central Military Academy.

They are exceptional talents, one in a hundred.

And any organization that needs to keep its secret is certainly not ordinary.

"Go on! Rest first!"

"Yes."

Cao Yiqi hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

But in the end, he said nothing. He lowered his head and left.

Zhang Yong looked up.

The commissioner is very concerned about his image.

You can't let others see the tears in your eyes.

Old Cao...

He desperately wanted to return to the combat unit.

I'm finally back...

Yet...

His younger brother was unaware that his proud older brother had sacrificed his life on the battlefield of Shanghai.

Three years...

It will be three years soon...

He never offered sacrifices to Lao Cao.

No need.

Killing more Japanese invaders is the best way to commemorate them.

Exterminate the Japanese invaders. Cast them all into the deepest hell. That would be the best way to commemorate them.

kill!

kill!

kill!

Clenching his fists, he stepped out of the cabin.

He approached a Japanese soldier and lifted him up with one hand.

“State your identities.”

"..."

The Japanese soldier tried to refuse.

Zhang Yong raised his hand and threw a punch, which landed heavily on his opponent's lower abdomen.

Did not say?

dead!
"what……"

"Well……"

The Japanese soldiers groaned and collapsed, curling up in pain.

He eventually bled from all seven orifices and gradually fell silent. He had been beaten to death by Zhang Yong with a single punch.

Poker face.

They pulled out the second Japanese invader.

"explain."

"..."

The Japanese soldier hesitated.

As a result, Zhang Yong grabbed him and slammed him hard to the ground. He landed heavily on the ground.

Then step on it. Step on it right at chest level.

Click!

Click!

A series of muffled thuds.

His sternum was broken by force.

dead!
He reached out and pulled out the third Japanese soldier.

The Japanese soldier was deathly pale and trembling all over, hurriedly shouting, "I'll talk! I'll talk, I'll talk..."

[To be continued]

(End of this chapter)