Bright Sword: From Border Region Manufacturing to Major National Heavy Industry

Chapter 231 Making up for the situation before it is too late
Heyuan County Military Police

"Vice Minister, the latest news has just come in: the Eighth Route Army has attacked the 21st Brigade's base and Colonel Kuroshima Morita's base."

The confidant approached Sato Haruno, his tone extremely unpleasant. "Colonel Kuroshima Morita's base was completely looted, including horse feed and hundreds of military horses. Fortunately, Colonel Kuroshima Morita wasn't there, otherwise he probably wouldn't have escaped the Eighth Route Army's clutches either. However, what's even more unacceptable is that the Yanzhen Arsenal, the base of the 21st Brigade, was ransacked by the Eighth Route Army. More than a dozen military production lines inside were taken into the mountains by them."

Upon hearing this, Sato Haruno's eyes widened in disbelief: "Baka! Is this for real? General Shinozuka has already organized a large-scale encirclement and suppression army to sweep away the Eighth Route Army. At this critical juncture, instead of preparing for a relocation, the Eighth Route Army dares to launch an attack! I remember the Yanzhen Arsenal. It was an important arsenal that supplied artillery and ammunition to my First Army. It has fallen into the hands of the Eighth Route Army. Didn't Major General Kawashima, the commander of the 29th Brigade of the Vanguard Army, try to stop it?!"

"According to intelligence, the Eighth Route Army obtained a large amount of artillery ammunition from the Yanzhen Arsenal, and they have a considerable number of troops. Therefore, Major General Kawashima's 29th Brigade not only failed to stop them, but also suffered heavy losses," the confidant replied.

Snapped!
Sato Haruno slammed his fist on the table: "Damn it! The Eighth Route Army's speed in growing in power is terrifying."

Not long ago, let alone a brigade.

Even a single regiment is not something the Eighth Route Army can fight head-on.

It hasn't been long, and the Eighth Route Army is already capable of directly confronting an entire brigade of our elite troops.

If things continue like this, it probably won't be long before they're able to directly confront our divisions and regiments.

The confidant nodded in agreement: "Yes, the Eighth Route Army's combat strength has improved far too quickly. In the past, their equipment was poor and their combat strength was weak, so we could still control the situation with their sporadic harassment in the rear. But now, with their combat strength improving rapidly, we are becoming increasingly unable to control the situation. If we don't take immediate action, our strategic rear area may become nothing more than a name."

"It's a pity that General Shinotsuka and Commander no longer support my military dog ​​scent tracking program," Haruno Sato sighed.

Although the Eighth Route Army has not yet taken the bait, they have already found it.

Sato Haruno believed that the Eighth Route Army would take the bait sooner or later.

Human tracking is ultimately less discreet than using military dogs to track by scent.

But there was no other way; military dogs couldn't be relied upon.

The confidant continued, "The message also says that only a portion of the Eighth Route Army returned to the mountains with the equipment from the Yanzhen Arsenal. The rest are still outside, but they've gone into hiding and haven't been found yet."

Upon hearing this, Sato Haruno was puzzled: "That's strange. The Eighth Route Army took over the Yanzhen Arsenal and gained such a huge benefit, so they should all retreat immediately, right? Our encirclement and suppression army will be in place this afternoon. By then, it won't be realistic for them to go back. If they don't go back, what do they want to do? Do they want to cooperate with the Eighth Route Army members inside their ranks?"

The confidant analyzed: "I've thought about it too. The Eighth Route Army probably feels that if they go back to the mountains, they'll still have to break out when they're surrounded and suppressed. So if they don't go back now, they'll save themselves the trouble of breaking out later."

“Things won’t be that simple.” Sato Haruno shook his head and denied it. “We will find and wipe out the Eighth Route Army outside, because they are now isolated.”

“That makes sense. They’re now isolated. Even if they’re hiding, it’s only a matter of time before they’re found. Once they’re found, a large force can surround and wipe them out. That’s why they…” The confidant nodded.

“I think I understand now,” Sato Haruno said after a moment’s thought. “The biggest problem for the Eighth Route Army right now is still the issue of weapons and ammunition. Although their border region arsenals have acquired a lot of equipment that they seized from our side, and now they’ve even taken equipment from the Yanzhen arsenal, but…”

Sato Haruno paused for a moment, then continued, "But their main problem right now is that they don't have enough time to produce. Once our encirclement and suppression forces close in and find their arsenals, their arsenals will have to stop and relocate. So!"

Sato Haruno paused for a moment, then concluded, "So I judge that the Eighth Route Army's unit outside is definitely trying to harass our encirclement and suppression forces to buy time for their arsenal to produce."

Although this group of Eighth Route Army soldiers received artillery and ammunition supplies from the Yanzhen Arsenal, Sato Haruno did not believe that they had the resources to fight against the encirclement and suppression army.

Therefore, Haruno Sato used the word "harassment" instead of "restraint"!
"Our encirclement force numbers over 60,000. How can the Eighth Route Army harass us?" a confidant questioned. "Once we find them, our planes will bombard them relentlessly, and our ground troops will pursue and intercept them. The Eighth Route Army will be trapped like turtles in a jar."

“I don’t understand it either.” Sato Haruno shook his head, then changed his tone: “But since the Eighth Route Army dares to come out and harass our encirclement and suppression army, they must have something to rely on. We should still remind General Shinozuka. If the encirclement and suppression army comes out, our rear will be vulnerable. If the Eighth Route Army sneaks into the rear, that’s no joke.”

"Yes." The confidant nodded, deeply agreeing. "If the Eighth Route Army were to sneak into the rear and harass Taiyuan, and the encirclement and suppression army had to go back to rescue it, that would be what the Chinese call 'besieging Wei to rescue Zhao'."

Sato Haruno took out the telephone receiver, intending to make the call himself, but then put it down and looked at his confidant: "When the Eighth Route Army attacked the 21st Brigade and Colonel Kuroshima Morita's base, did they charge straight in, or did they happen to be there by chance?"

Direct past and accidental past are two different concepts.

The former is planned in advance and has a strong purpose.

The latter is a coincidence.

"According to the information, the Eighth Route Army attacked with a specific purpose," the confidant replied.

“That’s strange then,” Sato Haruno questioned. “I can easily figure out why the Eighth Route Army attacked Colonel Kuroshima Morita’s base: although they had seized a lot of his horses, they didn’t have enough fodder to feed them. So, their main purpose in attacking his base was definitely to steal fodder. But their attack on the 21st Brigade’s base is a bit odd. Why didn’t they attack other brigades’ bases? Why did they specifically target the 21st Brigade’s base and head straight for the Yanzhen Arsenal?”

"Vice Minister, do you mean..." The confidant looked puzzled, "that the Eighth Route Army obtained intelligence about the location of our Yanzhen Arsenal in advance?"

“This is the only explanation.” Sato Haruno nodded emphatically and said decisively, “The location of the Yanzhen Arsenal is very well hidden, and not many people usually know about it, but the Eighth Route Army did. Where do you think the problem lies?”

The confidant lowered his head and thought for a moment, then quickly raised his head and looked at Sato Haruno in shock: "Could it be that the Eighth Route Army pried open the mouths of the managers of the Cuicun Arsenal and learned the location of the Cuicun Arsenal from them?"

The managers of the Cui Village Arsenal, especially the senior managers, were the Empire's most loyal guards, and some had even received training in counter-interrogation techniques.

It's terrifying that their psychological defenses were breached by the Eighth Route Army's intelligence personnel in such a short time. That Eighth Route Army interrogator was no ordinary person.

“Therefore, we must immediately remind General Shinotsuka that all military factories that have any connection with the Cuicun Arsenal and the Yanzhen Arsenal should be relocated as soon as possible,” Sato Haruno said solemnly.

Since the Eighth Route Army was able to capture and interrogate the managers of the Cuicun Arsenal, the managers of the Yanzhen Arsenal would also be subject to interrogation by the Eighth Route Army.

Therefore, we must quickly take remedial action after the fact.

“Vice Minister, the Taiyuan Arsenal and the Yanzhen Arsenal are also connected. We can’t expect General Shinozuka to move the Taiyuan Arsenal as well.” Although the confidant thought Sato Haruno’s words made sense, the transfer of combat troops and the relocation of arsenals were two completely different things.

The former can walk anytime, while the latter has a family to support and cannot simply leave whenever they want.

In particular, the Taiyuan Arsenal, although the Imperial Army took away more than 1000 small machine tools and more than 200 power motors when it was captured, still has a considerable number of machines and equipment in the factory.

Weapons and ammunition were being produced not only for the First Army, but also for the entire North China Expeditionary Army. How could we just stop and move them away?

Sato Haruno said, "The Taiyuan Arsenal is located in the heart of the First Army's territory, so it's definitely not easy to move there. But we can have General Shinozuka send some heavy troops to guard it in advance. Otherwise, if the Eighth Route Army really manages to sneak into Taiyuan, their artillery threat will be very serious."

“That’s true.” The confidant nodded.

The Taiyuan Arsenal is a large and complex enterprise that cannot be moved, but strengthening its defenses with military forces would suffice.

The First Army organized three brigades to encircle and suppress the Eighth Route Army, which would be difficult to assemble in a short time to strengthen the forces of the Taiyuan Arsenal.

“As long as General Shinozuka can prevent the Eighth Route Army from sneaking into the rear, I think he has a way to reinforce the defense of the Taiyuan Arsenal.” Sato Haruno picked up the microphone again. “Connect me to the First Army Headquarters.”

……

Taiyuan First Army Headquarters
Yoshio Shinotsuka was furious when he learned of the loss of the Yanzhen Arsenal: "Tell Kawashima and Muto that if they can't find the Eighth Route Army Arsenal and bring back the stolen equipment, they shouldn't come back."

"Hai!" The Japanese staff officer hurriedly ran off to relay the order.

Jingle Bell!
The telephone on the table rang, and Yoshio Shinozuka picked up the receiver: "This is Yoshio Shinozuka."

“Commander, I am Sato Haruno…” Sato Haruno did not finish his sentence.

Yoshio Shinozuka interrupted, "If you're here to ask for military dogs, then shut up."

“Commander, I’m not here to ask for military dogs.” Sato Haruno was still somewhat annoyed by Shinotsuka Yoshio’s words.

He actually did have a bit of a desire to have military dogs.

Having been abruptly cut off by Yoshio Shinozuka, Haruno Sato had no choice but to get down to business: "Commander, based on my analysis, the Eighth Route Army's direct advance to the 21st Brigade's base and capture of the Yanzhen Arsenal most likely indicates that they managed to extract information from senior management at the Cuicun Arsenal. I want to remind you that any military factories with connections to the Cuicun and Yanzhen Arsenals should either be heavily guarded or relocated..."

"You make it sound so simple. Where are you going to get soldiers? There's so much equipment. You try moving one yourself!" Yoshio Shinozuka interrupted him abruptly.

Although the First Army had 60,000 to 70,000 men, it had so much territory to defend.

With three brigades and a considerable number of puppet troops forming a large-scale encirclement and suppression force, Shinotsuka did not have many usable troops at his disposal.

Faced with Yoshio Shinotsuka's shout, Haruno Sato paused for a moment, but still gritted his teeth and reminded him: "Also, some of the Eighth Route Army's troops are outside the encirclement. We still need to prevent them from sneaking into the rear of Taiyuan. The rear of Taiyuan is poorly defended."

"Yes, that's true." Yoshio Shinotsuka didn't get angry. After a few seconds, he asked, "How's it going with your search for the Eighth Route Army's arsenal?"

Yoshio Shinotsuka was furious and told Kawashima and Muto not to come back if they couldn't take down the Eighth Route Army's arsenal.

But Yoshio Shinotsuka also knew that this Eighth Route Army arsenal would probably not be so easy to find.

“The bait has been laid, and the Eighth Route Army hasn’t taken the bait yet, but I believe it’s only a matter of time before they do,” Sato Haruno said hastily.

“Sato-kun, I’ve always known your loyalty and ability.” Yoshio Shinozuka’s tone softened a bit as he said, “I can give you two more military dogs, but this is your last chance.”

If Sato Haruno can find the Eighth Route Army's arsenal, then when the encirclement and suppression army heads towards the arsenal, the Eighth Route Army soldiers outside will definitely have to go back to rescue it.

We can ambush them on the way and take them out.

Two military dogs, give yourself a chance, and give Sato Haruno one last chance.

"Please rest assured, Commander, I will definitely not let you down again." Sato Haruno was overjoyed.

After the call ended, Sato Haruno put the phone back on the shelf, his expression greatly excited: "Two military dogs tracking by scent are enough. Once I find and pinpoint the Eighth Route Army's arsenal, that will be the end for the Eighth Route Army!"

(End of this chapter)