Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Changjin Lake, a Hundred Battles, a Hundred Victories

Chapter 264 Turning the False Military Advisor to the Side!
The puppet army company commander was summoned by the Japanese for questioning, but was quickly released.

The stench emanating from him hadn't subsided. After asking him a few simple questions, the Japanese soldiers dismissed him with disgust.

The Japanese soldiers had no doubt that he had escaped by hiding in a cesspool.

After all, they were well aware of the cowardly nature of the puppet troops.

Let alone jumping into a cesspool to survive, they could even turn a cesspool into a restaurant.

The Japanese did not punish the puppet army company commander for losing a company of puppet soldiers.

They are currently surrounded, and the puppet troops on the perimeter were originally intended to wage a war of attrition against the Eighth Route Army.

It's normal for them to be wiped out; the Japanese soldiers are used to it.

Punishing the other party simply because they have suffered significant losses will negatively impact future defense efforts.

Because if you suffer significant losses on the battlefield, you will be punished upon your return.

So when the puppet troops on the periphery suffer losses, they won't think about returning to accept punishment; instead, they'll simply surrender with the rest of their men.

Even if they went back, they would be punished, so it was better to just surrender and at least save their lives.

On the contrary, the Japanese not only did not punish the puppet army company commander, but even rewarded him.

He was rewarded for refusing to surrender to the Eighth Route Army even when he had to hide in a latrine; he was a loyal warrior of the empire.

The puppet army company commander didn't care about any of that. He was preoccupied with his own worries, so he took his savings and went to see the deputy regimental commander.

This was all the wealth he had accumulated over the years as a puppet soldier, and he brought it all out this time.

After this experience, he came to a realization: money is a worthless thing; you can't take it with you when you die.

If I die this time, all the money I've saved will belong to someone else.

So this time he took out his savings, hoping to use them to find a way to survive.

After finding the deputy regimental commander, the puppet army company commander expressed his desire to see the division commander and offered all his savings.

"Let me tell you, don't waste your time. The division commander doesn't have many troops at his disposal right now, so there's no point in you going to find him."

The deputy commander of the puppet army spoke up.

He believed that the company commander in his regiment was only looking for him because his men had been wiped out and he wanted to ask the division commander for more troops.

However, their division is currently suffering from severe troop depletion and a serious shortage of personnel. They can't even replenish their regiments, let alone a company below them.

Out of consideration for their distant kinship and the gifts sent by the puppet army company commander, he still spoke up to offer a reminder.

“I know, Commander, I just want to give it a try.”

The puppet army company commander insisted.

The deputy regimental commander of the puppet army sighed and said:

"Alright, since you're willing to give it a try, I'll introduce you to my master, but he might not be willing to see you."

"Thank you, Uncle."

The puppet army company commander thanked his distant relative.

This is the highest-ranking official he could find using his network of connections.

All he can do now is try his best and leave the rest to fate.

As for the other officers who could be contacted, the puppet army company commander was unsure whether they would take the money and not do the job.

At least this distant relative of mine has a decent reputation; he's someone who takes money to do things, and he's related to me by marriage.

As expected, the puppet army company commander's perception was correct. The next day, the puppet army division commander had someone summon the puppet army company commander.

"Speak, what do you want from me?"

The puppet army division commander raised his eyelids and glanced sideways.

"Commander, I have important intelligence to report, which concerns our lives."

The puppet army company commander spoke up.

"Oh? What important information?"

The puppet army division commander said nonchalantly.

What important intelligence could a company commander possibly have? It's just their own arrogance.

Many things seem like the end of the world to junior officers, but to them, it's just a matter of a word.

One's perspective determines how one views a problem.

"Commander, there are too many people around, I'd like to report in private," the puppet army company commander said.

Among those present were die-hard Japanese soldiers, but the puppet army company commander dared not reveal the truth.

"Alright, you guys go out first. I want to hear what important information he has."

The puppet army division commander dismissed the others.

After everyone had left, the puppet army company commander finally spoke:
"Commander, actually last night, I didn't escape. I was captured by the Eighth Route Army, but they released me."

"The Eighth Route Army asked me to pass on a message to you: they want you to surrender with your troops, and they will guarantee your safety."

"What happens next?" the puppet army division commander asked.

He wasn't surprised by what the puppet army company commander said; it was exactly what he had expected.

Given the fighting strength of the Eighth Route Army outside the city, even a puppet army company was wiped out. How could the puppet army company commander have come back alive?

He didn't believe that hiding in a cesspool would bring him back alive.

The junior officers didn't understand the Eighth Route Army, but as a puppet army division commander who had dealt with the Eighth Route Army for a long time, he knew their style all too well.

Hiding in a cesspool to escape the search? Dream on!
The fact that the puppet army company commander was able to return alive means he definitely came back with a mission.

Otherwise, after escaping the Eighth Route Army's search, wouldn't it be better to just disguise yourself as an ordinary citizen and escape?

Why come back to Baotou to die?

Therefore, the puppet army division commander concluded that his subordinate must have been released by the Eighth Route Army to deliver a message to him.

So he went along with it and met the company commander to hear the Eighth Route Army's terms.

Otherwise, how could a division commander so easily meet with a mere company commander alone?

Upon hearing the division commander's question, the puppet army company commander asked in confusion:
"What then?"

"What are the conditions? The Eighth Route Army wants me to surrender, they can't just say it, can they?"

The puppet army division commander spoke up.

He still has an army and leverage in negotiations.

Naturally, one should strive for better terms and wait for the right price.

"Yes, yes, the Eighth Route Army said they can offer these conditions:"

"First, it can protect our lives."

Second, the military structure can be retained, but it must undergo reorganization and training. Once the reorganization and training are completed and the military structure is deemed satisfactory, the military structure can be retained.

Third, the position may not be revoked.

Fourth, the livelihood of family members can be secured, and housing and land for cultivation will be allocated.

The puppet army company commander explained the situation.

The puppet army division commander nodded after listening.

This condition is much better than that of other puppet troops.

Previously, the Eighth Route Army offered unconditional surrender to the puppet troops stationed in Mongolia, promising to guarantee their safety.

The punishment may be mitigated or reduced.

That's all; that's how assertive they are.

The independent detachment's combat effectiveness is too strong; that's their confidence.

If you surrender, that's fine. But if you don't surrender, they won't mind adding a few more entries to their list of achievements and increasing the number of enemy casualties.

The conditions this time are much better.

Not only can the organizational structure be preserved, but also the positions can be retained.

Even if they no longer have actual military power and their power is greatly reduced, they are still officials, aren't they?

"By the way, Commander, the Eighth Route Army also said that if you lead your troops in an uprising, you will be the first puppet army division to revolt as a whole." "The Eighth Route Army will make you a role model and an example."

The puppet army company commander added.

Upon hearing this, the puppet army division commander was even more tempted.

The idea of ​​spending a fortune to buy a horse's bones is nothing new.

If I surrender this time and become Qianjin's horse bone, then my safety will be guaranteed.

"Okay, you go down first."

After the puppet army division commander finished speaking, he waved his hand, signaling the puppet army company commander to leave.

After the puppet army company commander left, a person suddenly walked out of the room.

This was the chief of staff of the puppet army division and a confidant of the puppet army division commander.

"What do you think about this?"

The puppet army division commander asked.

"Does the division commander want to hear the truth or a lie?" The puppet army chief of staff did not answer directly, but asked in return.

"Of course it's the truth. I don't have time for nonsense at a time like this."

The puppet army division commander said with a dark face.

"Commander, let me analyze the situation for you first," the puppet army chief of staff said.

“We’ve been besieged in Baotou since October, and it’s been almost two months now.”

"Our original force of over 8,000 men is now down to only 5,000."

"In just two months, the casualties have exceeded half."

"When the weather warms up next year, there will be three months left. It's uncertain whether we can have a thousand people survive these three months of fighting."

"This is only assuming that the Japanese reinforcements can successfully relieve Baotou after the weather warms up."

"If the war drags on for even half a month, we will be completely wiped out."

"I don't know if the Japanese can rescue Baotou, but I do know that during the breakout from Baotou, we will definitely be used as the vanguard to take bullets."

"Even if we survive in the end, we'll be grateful if only one battalion remains."

"At that time, we only had one battalion left. Would the Japanese still take us seriously? Would they let us off the hook if the division commander had offended them?"

"Moreover, supplies in Baotou are already insufficient. Not only our troops, but even the Japanese troops on the outskirts are experiencing a reduction in food supplies."

"I don't know if it can last until next year. I haven't seen any warehouses in the city."

"But I think that even if there is still food, the Japanese will not give us any more to eat in order to hold out longer."

"At that time, there will be no food to eat, and the brothers below will be in constant danger of losing their lives, which may lead to a large-scale rout."

“If something like this happens, the Japanese will definitely find someone to take responsibility, and you, Commander, will be the one to take the blame.”

"Most importantly, our division also has a deputy division commander who controls half of the troops."

"If he makes contact with the Eighth Route Army first, our Qianjin Magu will be useless."

"As the ringleaders, we will definitely be purged by the Eighth Route Army."

The puppet army's chief of staff shared his analysis.

He seemed not to offer his own opinion, but it was as if he had said everything.

The first two puppet army division commanders knew what was going on, but the last one really hit the nail on the head.

It was him. If the other side had made contact with the Eighth Route Army first, then the effectiveness of his surrender and uprising would have been greatly reduced.

In the end, they may not be able to escape their fate.

That deputy division commander was supposed to take over my position.

However, the Japanese promoted him to the position of division commander, but did not remove him from the position of deputy division commander, and instead gave him the strength of a brigade.

This was clearly a way to pit him against himself, so as to divide the false strategists and make them more useful to the Japanese.

He must be holding a grudge because he took the position of deputy division commander.

If the Eighth Route Army were to offer the other side the same terms they had just discussed, there was a high chance the other side would be tempted.

If the other side surrenders first, then I'm really doomed.

No one wanted to die, not even the commander of the puppet army.

After a long while, he made up his mind.

"Should we send out a signal first, then hold back for a while, and see if we can negotiate better terms?"

Although the commander of the puppet army division already had a plan in mind, he still harbored a glimmer of hope and wanted to negotiate for better conditions.

He was unwilling to give up his military and political power directly.

"You're being foolish, Commander. Chen Ming, the commander of the Independent Detachment, is a man of his word."

"Commander, do you still remember that puppet army in Wuchuan?"

"The Eighth Route Army initially offered them unconditional surrender, giving them only two hours to consider, but they tried to negotiate for better terms."

"As soon as two hours were up, the Eighth Route Army launched an attack. By then, it was too late for the puppet army to surrender."

"After the Eighth Route Army's artillery fire, only three hundred brothers remained. In the end, they were all captured, and the regimental commander was also publicly tried and executed by the Eighth Route Army."

The puppet army's chief of staff immediately spoke.

Upon hearing the chief of staff's words, the puppet army division commander immediately sobered up.

Yes, it would be easier to deal with other units, after all, they are still a puppet army division with more than 5,000 soldiers.

Although their combat strength is not strong, their numbers make them a force to be reckoned with.

But they were no match for the independent detachment; the other side didn't really care about them.

More than 5,000 people?

It sounds like a lot, but the Independent Detachment has wiped out countless groups of more than 5,000 men.

It's just that the weather is freezing cold now, making it difficult to support a large army in battle; otherwise, the Independent Detachment would have already wiped them out in one fell swoop.

While it might be difficult to take down the enemy, dealing with the puppet troops outside the city is not a difficult task at all.

The Japanese were happy to watch them wear down the Eighth Route Army, depleting the Eighth Route Army's ammunition and manpower.

Therefore, the puppet army division commander was genuinely afraid of a ruthless commander like Chen Ming.

While he still has troops under his command and there's still time, he still has some leverage. Selling himself for a good price is better than anything else.

The puppet army division commander made a decision.

The next day, the commander of the puppet army division sent a trusted confidant to secretly leave the outer perimeter and make contact with the special operations brigade.

After confirming the other party's willingness to surrender, Duan Peng stated his demands.

"What? You want to go into the city?"

"The puppet army division commander's confidant said in surprise."

There are still thousands of Japanese soldiers in Baotou. How dare this force of just over a hundred men enter the city?

“If you want to revolt, a direct uprising won’t work. So, in order to help you revolt, we plan to enter the city and create chaos. Then you can continue your chaotic uprising.”

"After you break free from the Japanese control, you will be able to contact our troops outside Baotou. They will come to your aid, so you don't need to worry about the Japanese pursuing you."

Duan Peng spoke up.

Duan Peng did not reveal his plan to blow up the oil depot, as the other party had not yet fully gained his trust.

"How will you create chaos in the city so that the Japanese won't be able to focus on us?"

The puppet army representative asked the question.

"Assassination!"

Duan Peng emphasized two words.

P.S.: A short, filler chapter for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

(End of this chapter)