Bright Sword's Bloody War of Resistance

Chapter 890 Doihara: Capture Zhou Weihan Alive

Late at night, Hebei-Shandong-Henan Column Headquarters.

Zhou Weihan curled up on a camp bed with a piece of mugwort burning beside the bed, and the whole tent was filled with smoke and fire.

Lying on another camp bed in the room was Tian Defu. The snoring of the two men echoed each other, playing a beautiful melody together.

Yang Bo tiptoed and lifted the door curtain. The noise instantly woke Tian Defu up. He put his right hand on his belt and only relaxed his guard after seeing who was coming.

Strangely, after Tian Defu woke up, Zhou Weihan's snoring stopped and he got up directly from the bed.

"Defu, you don't have to stay by my side from now on. Go find a place to sleep!"

Tian Defu was very puzzled and said immediately: "Officer, I can only sleep peacefully if I stay by your side!"

Zhou Weihan rolled his eyes: "Do you really need me to point it out? You snore so loudly, who can fall asleep in the same room with you?"

"Ah? Impossible, officer, your snoring is quite loud!" Tian Defu's face was full of grievance.

"Nonsense, I never snore when I sleep, and no one has ever mentioned it to me!"

It was Zhou Weihan's turn to rest tonight, but Yang Bo must have something important to tell him since he came over at this time. Zhou Weihan washed his face and went straight to the operations room.

The chief of staff Zhao Bingzhang, who was on duty, saw Zhou Weihan and hurriedly said, "Commander, there is movement from the Japanese spy Gu Feng lurking in the base. This is the original text of the telegram provided by Fujikawa Reizo!"

Gu Feng's identity has been confirmed, but Zhou Weihan did not let Wang Zhiguo and Wei Dayong arrest him. All members of the Shangqiu intelligence team serving Gu Feng were arrested, so Gu Feng's telegram contacts with the outside world could not be concealed.

However, since we don’t have the code book now, we have no way of knowing the specific content of the telegram.

Of course, this did not prevent Zhou Weihan from making the judgment that leaving Gu Feng behind would be just passing false information to Kenji Doihara.

"Gu Feng had been silent before, and it seems he can't help it this time. Notify Lao Luo to be careful!" Zhou Weihan said.

Zhao Bingzhang said: "I have already informed Comrade Luo Benzhong that he has a battalion of the assault regiment to protect him, so there should be no accidents!"

When the Hebei-Shandong-Henan Column entered Yucheng County, the people in the city knew about it, so the Japanese army was very likely to know Zhou Weihan's location.

Everyone knows the principle of capturing the leader first. The Japanese army knew Zhou Weihan's location but did not dare to attack Yucheng first. One can imagine their inner torment.

Therefore, Zhou Weihan decided to take the risk and transfer the command center to Dayangji in an open and aboveboard manner, and revealed the news to Gu Feng, so as to mobilize the Japanese army.

However, Luo Benzhong thought that this move was too risky, and finally decided to lead some members of the command to Dayangji, pretending to be the command headquarters of the Hebei-Shandong-Henan Column.

After the command personnel came out of Yucheng, Zhou Weihan and Zhao Bingzhang led the rest of the personnel northward and secretly chose a forest to hide.

"Any other news?" Zhou Weihan asked.

"As expected, the Japanese troops besieging Shangqiu launched a surprise attack on the positions on the south side of Shangqiu tonight. However, the 16th Brigade had already made arrangements, and the Japanese surprise attack plan did not succeed!" said Zhao Bingzhang.

Zhou Weihan rubbed his body. The most unbearable thing about being stationed outdoors was the wild mosquitoes. Whenever he was bitten, a big bump would appear soon after.

"Commander, the current situation is more favorable than previously imagined. Although the name of the Kwantung Army is intimidating, our Jiluyu Column is not just for show!"

"The Japanese army has an advantage in tanks, but other aspects such as personnel quality, firepower equipment at all levels, and even artillery cannot be said to have an absolute advantage!"

"In my opinion, there is no need to implement the second phase plan that was formulated earlier. The Japanese army led by Yamashita Tomoyuki is currently surrounded by our army, and the situation is extremely favorable to our army!"

When the battle plan was formulated, the 16th Brigade was supposed to consume the Japanese army's vitality in Shangqiu in the first phase, and the second phase was to lure the Japanese army northward and rely on the defensive fortifications built in the base area to fight back. However, it was thought that the three Japanese divisions would come out in full force, but the fat 14th Division remained in Xuzhou until now, which greatly reduced the pressure on the Hebei-Shandong-Henan Column.

Zhou Weihan said with a smile: "To be honest, Kenji Doihara deserves a third of the credit for our army's successive victories!"

"If I could meet him in person, I would give him a medal!"

"But I still say that we need to be patient in this battle. I want to see how Kenji Doihara reacts."

Let’s talk about two things at the same time, inside Xuzhou city.

Compared with Zhou Weihan, who lives in the wilderness, Kenji Doihara's life is much more comfortable.

After receiving the telegram from Gu Feng, the adjutant hurried to Kenji Doihara's residence to wake him up. Through the crack in the door, he saw two geishas lying on the tatami.

"Teacher, this is Gu Feng's telegram, I decoded it myself!"

The content of the telegram was: Zhou is in Dayangji.

"What?" Kenji Doihara widened his eyes, as if he couldn't believe that Gu Feng had really found out the location of the Hebei-Shandong-Henan Column.

"Let's go to the war room!"

The two devils quickly walked into the operations room and came to the map hanging on the wall.

"Teacher, Dayangji is here!"

Doihara Kenji stared at the location of Dayangji, his face full of confusion: "This place is close to the Longhai Railway. Why would Zhou Weihan take the risk of setting up his headquarters here? This doesn't make sense!"

"Before this, Zhou Weihan made a public appearance in Yucheng. Now he has moved his headquarters from a county town with city defense fortifications to Dayangji. What is he going to do?"

Doihara was a former spy and had always been cunning and suspicious. Although the intelligence came from Gu Feng, who had been planted by him personally, he still doubted the authenticity of the intelligence.

"Teacher, I think the Chinese are very likely to attack the Imperial Army gathered in Shangqiu. According to intelligence from the front, although the war has only been going on for two days, the Imperial Army under Commander Yamashita has suffered heavy losses!"

"The Tank Training Brigade lost more than half of its tanks, and at least 13,000 infantrymen. Perhaps the Chinese want to use this as an opportunity to launch a general attack on the Imperial Army!"

"And Zhou Weihan may have moved his headquarters forward for the convenience of command!"

"Teacher, this is your chance. The Imperial Army on the frontline has suffered repeated defeats under the command of Commander Yamashita. If our 14th Division can capture Zhou Weihan alive, you will surely be able to replace Commander Yamashita!"

"Yoshi!" Kenji Doihara showed a slight smile on his face, but the suspicion in his heart could not resist the naked temptation.

"This matter needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. Order the 50th Infantry Regiment and an artillery battalion to set off by train overnight and make sure to capture Zhou Weihan alive!"

The adjutant was very puzzled after hearing this: "Teacher, why don't you send out the entire 14th Division? What if we get ambushed by the Chinese with only these troops?"

"Your consideration makes some sense, but it's not comprehensive enough. My 14th Division is staying behind under the pretext of defending the area around Xuzhou!"

"But once all the troops are dispatched, regardless of whether Zhou Weihan is captured alive, there will be no excuse to return to Xuzhou. If we fail to get Yamashita Fengwen to resign and return home, then won't my 14th Division become his helper? Can we only obey his orders?"

Things have different priorities. In the eyes of Doihara Kenji, restraining Yamashita Tomoyuki is the top priority, and capturing Zhou Weihan alive is only second.

As for the loss of some soldiers, it didn't matter to him.

"Issue the order immediately. If we can capture Zhou Weihan alive, it will be more convenient for Prime Minister Tojo to speak for me in the military!"