Bright Sword: The Flowers of War

Chapter 167 Air Raid
Wolf Valley

"Sir, this is a telegram from the Commander-in-Chief!"

Li Gaoyuan took the telegram from the communications officer, read it, and sighed helplessly.

"Commander, what are the Commander-in-Chief's instructions?" Chief of Staff Wu Qingyun asked from the side.

Li Gaoyuan said helplessly, "What other instructions could there be? The commander is blaming us for being too timid and wasting the strength of the tank battalion."

“But we are also afraid that if the attack goes badly, it will cause heavy losses to the tanks.” Wu Qingyun said with some grievance, “These tanks are so valuable. One Sherman costs fifty thousand US dollars. If I lose one, I can’t afford to pay for it even if I sell myself.”

"Perhaps this is the difference between the Chief and us."

Li Gaoyuan rubbed his temples, feeling a little dizzy.

He hadn't expected that his momentary reluctance last night would provoke Su Yaoyang's displeasure. But he really couldn't bear to let the armored unit break away from the main force and pursue the Japanese army alone. If things went wrong and the entire tank battalion was wiped out, he would not only be letting down his classmate John, but also Su Yaoyang's trust.

Others might not know, but he certainly did. The Sherman tank, that gas guzzler, consumed 40 gallons of gasoline every hour it ran, which was equivalent to twenty silver dollars. A single 75mm high-explosive shell cost one hundred silver dollars. Every deployment was a real money pit.

However, his caution only earned him the boss's dissatisfaction.

"Well, it seems the commander's ideas are indeed different from ours. We really can't be so restrained anymore." With a helpless sigh, Li Gaoyuan put the telegram away and was about to go out to check on how the digging of the position was going when the communications staff came again.

"Telegram from the Regiment Commander... Commander-in-Chief."

"This time it's...what...a reporter wants to interview us?"

Upon seeing this telegram, Li Gaoyuan felt utterly overwhelmed.

If you were to ask him who he least wanted to deal with, journalists would definitely be at the top of the list.

These people will do anything to grab the news, and one of them is so stubborn that I have to ensure their personal safety. What kind of situation is this?
"Call Zhao Weide (commander of the special service company directly under the regiment headquarters) over here."

"Commander, did you call me?" A moment later, a burly young captain came to Li Gaoyuan's side.

"You immediately take a platoon and drive several trucks along the highway to meet reporters from all over Shanxi. There will be about thirty of them."

Your task is to bring them back safely; their safety is paramount.

"Commander...I..."

"Go quickly... and carry out the order!"

"Yes!"

Zhao Weide acted quickly, and in less than half an hour he brought more than 30 reporters to the regimental headquarters.

Looking at the group of men and women getting off the truck, Li Gaoyuan felt a headache coming on. At any moment, a fierce battle could break out with the Japanese army, but now a group of reporters who couldn't lift a finger had arrived. How could this not give him a headache?

You know, if even one or two of these reporters were to die or be injured, it would be a real problem. Once that got out, who knows what kind of rumors would be spread about them and the Shanxi militia.

Although he was extremely unwilling, he still mustered his spirits and gathered the reporters together.

"Gentlemen... I have received a telegram from the Commander-in-Chief informing me that you have come to survey the battlefield. I will send someone to take you there immediately, but I hope you can promise me one thing."

Although the battle in that valley has ended, the Japanese could attack again at any time, and there is always the danger of making contact with the enemy.

Therefore, once you reach the valley, you will only have half an hour to take photos and conduct an investigation. After that time, my soldiers will immediately send you back to Wutai County. I wonder if you can agree to this request of mine?

The reporters looked at each other, feeling resentful that they had traveled a long way to the battlefield only to be able to stay for half an hour.

But then they thought, after all, this was wartime, and it was already quite commendable that Commander Li could take time out of his busy schedule to send someone to escort their group to the battlefield for reconnaissance. They really couldn't ask for more from him. Just then, a female voice rang out: "Commander Li, don't worry, I can grant your request. Half an hour will be enough."

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a woman who looked to be about thirty years old with a somewhat rough complexion step forward.

Unlike other reporters who wear cameras around their necks, she was holding a rare 240-type 16mm cinema camera, which is extremely expensive.

"Which newspaper does this woman work for? She's so rich!" The reporters exchanged glances, their eyes filled with questions.

"Madam, may I ask who you are...?" Li Gaoyuan inquired.

"Hello, Commander Li, I am Wang Jiahui, a reporter from the Shanxi branch of the Central Daily News."

Upon hearing this, everyone realized that the reporter was from the Central Daily News, which made it no surprise.

Li Gaoyuan looked around at everyone: "Reporter Wang has already agreed. What do you all think?"

"This……"

The group looked at each other, and after a while, they finally agreed.

two hours later
Li Gaoyuan stood on the fortifications in the valley, patted the sandbags piled on the breastwork, and pushed them a few times. The sandbags did not budge, and he nodded in satisfaction.

In the distance, mountains rise and fall, pine trees sway in the wind, and sunlight filters through the clouds, casting dappled shadows.

He turned to his advisor and asked, "Have those reporters been seen off?"

"They've already been sent away. Company Commander Zhao personally led a group to escort them."

"That's good!"

A look of relief appeared on Li Gaoyuan's face. He would rather fight the Japanese than face those troublesome reporters.

However, he still happily carried it away.

Before he could speak, a deafening roar that seemed to tear through the air suddenly came from above.

He looked up abruptly, his pupils contracting sharply. He saw six grass-green planes swooping down like vultures, their wings reflecting a blinding, cold light in the sunlight.

"The devil's plane!"

The staff officer's exclamation was drowned out by the roar of the engine. Without thinking, Li Gaoyuan rushed towards the trench, immediately lying prone in it while shouting.

"hidden!"

"Hurry and take cover!"

He roared loudly, but his voice was swallowed up by the deafening explosion.

The first 250-kilogram bomb crashed to the ground, sending dirt and debris flying like a torrential downpour, and a wave of heat and smoke swept over us.

Everyone's ears were ringing, and the world before their eyes seemed to blur into a tremor.

Fighter jets roared past, machine gun bullets ripped vicious craters into the ground, and vegetation instantly turned to dust.

Li Gaoyuan gritted his teeth and squatted in the corner of the breast wall.

He stared intently at the sky, as if trying to etch the circling vultures into his very being, when suddenly a surge of heat rose from his chest, and then, as he opened his mouth, a stream of liquid gushed out…

(End of this chapter)