You are ordered to support the War of Resistance against Japan; China enters Level 1 combat readines

Eighth Route Army Headquarters.

The fire in the charcoal brazier crackled occasionally, illuminating the huge, increasingly detailed map of the North China theater on the wall.

"Report!"

A hurried report broke the slightly relaxed atmosphere.

A communications officer, carrying a telegram, hurried in, his face bearing the alertness typical of a reconnaissance unit.

"Speak." The deputy commander's gaze sharpened, and he immediately looked away from the map.

"Report from forward reconnaissance units and intelligence stations: The 33rd and 41st Divisions of the Japanese First Army in Shanxi Province are showing signs of unusually large-scale mobilization!"

"Their main force is leaving its original garrison area, and their supply convoys are unusually active, with their marching direction clearly pointing towards southern Shanxi, the outskirts of the Zhongtiao Mountains!"

The air inside the cave instantly became heavy.

The chief of staff immediately stood up and strode to the map: "As expected! The Japanese are still not giving up!"

"It seems our intelligence deciphering was completely accurate. The Japanese didn't abandon their battle plan after their command post was destroyed; on the contrary, they might be even more eager to save face!"

"Over in the mountain city... I wonder how their preparations are going after receiving our warning?"

"They should take precautions and strengthen their defenses, right?"

The division commander pondered for a moment and said, "As long as they remain vigilant and rely on the advantageous terrain of the Zhongtiao Mountains and the fortifications they have built up over the years, the Japanese will not succeed so easily. Besides, the Japanese are still recovering from their recent defeat, and their morale is low..."

Before the words were finished—

"Report!"

Another confidential staff officer rushed in almost immediately, his expression even stranger than the first, seemingly filled with disbelief and a hint of absurdity.

"speak!"

A sense of foreboding swept through the deputy commander's mind.

"Report from the First War Zone: Our reconnaissance units urgently report a large-scale troop movement in the Zhongtiao Mountain area!"

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, the CEOs' faces lit up with joy.

"Great! At least it's finally moving!"

One of the executives slapped his thigh: "It seems our intelligence report was timely, and their response was quick. They're adjusting their deployment and strengthening their defenses!"

The bosses were all quite pleased.

They finally did something decent over there!

However, before the executives could even celebrate, the staff officer said with a strange expression:

"However... the main direction of the National Revolutionary Army's mobilization... was not aimed at the outer passes to the east, north, and northeast where the Japanese army might attack..."

The staff officer paused, then lowered his voice as he looked at the suddenly sharpened gazes of the leaders.

"Its main force, including the Fourth Army Group, is moving westward and northward... The target area is determined to be the periphery and adjacent areas of our southeastern Shanxi base area!"

"What?"

"Southeast Shanxi?"

Several startled and incredulous growls rang out almost simultaneously!

The bosses were dumbfounded!

What does that mean?

Is this... them keeping an eye on us?

Immediately afterwards, the bosses were furious!

"Damn it!" A hot-tempered CEO slammed his fist on the table, making the teacup jump.

"I told you to guard against the Japanese devils! And you fucking turned your guns around to guard against us? What kind of logic is that?"

"What do you mean? Huh?! What does this mean?!" Another boss was also furious, his face turning ashen.

The chief of staff's face was so dark it could drip water. He sneered, "What else could it mean? Someone's worried!"

"They were worried that our Eighth Route Army would 'take advantage of the chaos,' that we would use the opportunity of the Japanese attacking Zhongtiao Mountain to 'kick them when they're down,' and seize territory and gain an advantage!"

"Judging others by one's own petty standards!"

"We fought the Japanese to the death, and immediately reported the intelligence we captured to them. Is this what we got in return?"

One of the bosses was so angry he laughed, his laughter filled with sarcasm and chilling disbelief.

"Excellent! Excellent! What a brilliant plan! The Japanese haven't even made a move yet, and our own people are already setting up defenses! Are they still going to hold Zhongtiao Mountain?"

An angry roar erupted from inside the cave dwelling.

The frustration and anger of being stabbed in the back, being maliciously speculated about, and having one's sincerity met with suspicion and distrust made it difficult for these big shots who had fought their way through bloodshed to remain calm.

The vice president remained silent, his back to everyone, facing the map, his hands resting on the edge of the table, his shoulders taut.

After a long while, when the crowd's anger had subsided and they were waiting for his decision, he slowly turned around.

He waved his hand, his voice low, but it suppressed all remaining anger:

"never mind."

"There's no point in saying more now. What they think and do is their business."

"Our principles remain unchanged: resistance against Japan comes first, and national righteousness is paramount! It's a fact that the Japanese want to attack Zhongtiao Mountain. How the National Revolutionary Army deploys its defenses is their decision, and we have no right to interfere, nor... I'm too lazy to guess."

"From now on, raise the alert level in southeastern Shanxi, but unless attacked, do not fire the first shot!"

"The priority is to stabilize the existing defense zone and continue to strengthen our own capabilities!"

"Over there in Zhongtiao Mountain... we've fulfilled our duty to warn them. The rest is up to their own fate."

The vice president looked at the Zhongtiao Mountain area on the map again and sighed almost imperceptibly.

"Hopefully... they can hold on after they transfer an army group."

. . .

Meanwhile, at Zhongtiao Mountain, the front-line command post of the guard commander.

"Bang!!!"

A delicate white porcelain teacup was smashed to the ground and shattered into pieces!

The scalding hot tea splashed all over the floor, and also splashed onto the trouser legs of several silent staff officers nearby.

"Foolish! Incompetent! Utterly stupid!!"

Commander Wei paced back and forth in the command post like a trapped, angry lion, his face ashen, veins bulging on his neck, and chest heaving violently.

This "tiger general," who was known for his composure, could no longer suppress his overwhelming anger and deep sense of powerlessness.

He had previously received intelligence warnings from the Eighth Route Army headquarters regarding a possible Japanese attack on Zhongtiao Mountain.

Commander Wei had no doubt about the value and authenticity of this intelligence, after all, he had a fairly good relationship with the Eighth Route Army.

Upon receiving the warning, the commander immediately summoned his staff to adjust the defensive deployment, preparing to move the main force forward to key passes on the eastern and northern fronts that might be attacked, reinforce fortifications, stockpile ammunition, and prepare to strike the invading enemy head-on.

The Fourth Army Group, as the backbone of the defense of Zhongtiao Mountain, was also the core counterattack force in his plan.

However, just as he began to take action, and even before the order had been half-transmitted, a telegram from the Mountain City Military Commission struck like a bolt from the blue!

Order: The Fourth Army Group shall immediately disengage from its current command in the Zhongtiao Mountains, move westward and northward, and be stationed in the area adjacent to the Eighth Route Army-controlled areas in southern and southeastern Shanxi to strengthen its defenses and ensure the stability of the rear!

"Strengthen security? Ensure stability in the rear? What utter bullshit!!"

Commander Wei grabbed the telegram and nearly tore it to shreds.

Does that person really treat war as a game?