Chapter 87

The snow finally stopped, the sun peeked through a gap in the clouds, bathing Linhai Xueyuan in bright light. Li Ping'an stood on the training ground of the new camp, watching the Flying Eagle Team members drill, his eyes holding a hint of contemplation.

"Political Commissar, I think it's time," Li Ping'an said abruptly, breaking the morning's tranquility.

Zhou Zhengwei was lowering his head to read the training log; hearing this, he lifted his head: "When?"

"It's time for the Flying Eagle Team to operate on its own." Li Ping'an's gaze swept over the trainees on the field; the old nest in the base, when will these fledglings fly on their own?

Zhou Zhengwei blinked, then shook his head: "That's too risky! The Flying Eagle Team is our heart and soul; if anything happens……"

"Precisely because it's important, we need to let them weather storms." Li Ping'an interrupted: "Look, they've trained for days, but they still lack real special-operations experience. We can't always trail behind the main force."

Squad Leader Yang also stepped forward: "Comrade Li makes sense." However, solo action is indeed risky; why don't we wait a bit longer?

Li Ping'an smiled: "Will the little devils give us this chance? I hear they're living it up in the city; it's time to throw some obstacles their way."

The meeting was noisy; most opposed the Flying Eagle Team acting alone, deeming it too risky.

In the city, it's the little devils' turf; if we get surrounded, there'll be no reinforcements!

Although the Flying Eagle Team is capable, they're too few; if they truly encounter a large enemy force, they'd likely……

Li Ping'an patiently listened to everyone's opinions, then slowly said: "I understand all your concerns. But have you considered why the Flying Eagle Team is called a special forces unit?"

He stood up, walked to the map: "The advantage of special forces is flexibility and mobility, appearing and disappearing unpredictably. Following the main force actually ties our hands."

"But……" Zhou Zhengwei still wanted to say something.

"I know the risk is great." Li Ping'an took over: "But some risks must be taken. The Flying Eagle Team needs real combat testing, needs to learn survival in desperate straits. Moreover——"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone present: "We've been sparring with the little devils in the mountains for days; it's time to bring the fight to their lair. Let the little devils know the Chinese are not to be trifled with!"

Those words left everyone silent. Finally, Zhou Zhengwei sighed: "You make sense. But Ping'an, be extremely careful. The Flying Eagle Team is our painstaking effort, and moreover the hope of the anti-Japanese alliance."

"Don't worry." Li Ping'an showed a confident smile: "I'll definitely bring them all back safe and sound."

Three days later, Li Ping'an led the Flying Eagle Team off. Fifteen carefully selected members, each exceptionally skilled and well-equipped.

"Instructor, where is our first stop?" Er Gazi asked excitedly. This was his first time undertaking such a mission, both nervous and eager.

"First to the county town." Li Ping'an pointed at the map, aiming to cause trouble for the little devils' railway line.

When it was pitch black, they had already reached the outskirts of the county town. From afar, searchlights on the city walls swept back and forth, sentinels' silhouettes appearing and disappearing.

"Quite the guard, it's pretty tight." A member smacked his lips.

"The tighter, the better." Li Ping'an laughed: "That's more exciting."

He studied it a moment, quickly spotting a breach: "See that section of wall? We bombed it earlier; the repair is shoddy. Let's go in there."

In the dead of night, the group crept silently to the foot of the city wall. Li Ping'an gave a hand signal, and two members swiftly moved forward, using specially made tools to pry open a gap between the bricks.

Li Ping'an whispered. The members filed in single file, moving as fast as leopards.

Inside the city was even more heavily guarded than expected. Patrol Squads came in shifts, and checkpoints were set at every street entrance.

The Little Devils have been scared by our attacks, Er Gazi whispered.

Perfect. Li Ping'an curled his lips, wanting to make them even more afraid.

They crept up near the railway line and discovered the area was heavily guarded. A squad of Japanese Soldiers was on patrol, and not far away stood a watchtower.

"This is tricky," a member frowned, asking how to strike given such tight defenses.

Li Ping'an observed for a moment, then suddenly smiled: "Watch me."

He had most of the members wait in place while he took Er Gazi around to the other side. He then pulled out several firecrackers from his pack, lit them, and threw them into the distance.

The crackling sound was especially sharp in the night, instantly drawing all the guards' attention.

What's the commotion? Go check it out!

Taking advantage of the chaos, Li Ping'an led the members swiftly toward the tracks. They split tasks—some kept watch, some planted explosives—moving cleanly and efficiently.

Once everything was ready, Li Ping'an immediately gave the order.

They had just retreated to a safe spot when a deafening explosion roared behind them. A large section of the track was blown sky‑high, flames shooting upward.

Nice! Er Gazi exclaimed, punching the air. That'll put the Little Devils' railway out of action for days!

But Li Ping'an wasn't satisfied: this was just the beginning. Come on, next target.

Over the next few days, the Flying Eagle Team moved like ghosts through the city—today they blew up the Arsenal, tomorrow they burned the grain depot, the day after they raided the Japanese Soldiers' Yi Yuan, seizing a large quantity of urgently needed medicine.

The Japanese Soldiers were thrown into confusion, dispatching large forces to search, yet they couldn't even find a trace of the Flying Eagle Team.

Instructor, you're absolutely divine! Er Gazi exclaimed sincerely after the operation, "We've had the Little Devils running around in circles!"

But Li Ping'an remained calm: don't get too confident too soon. The Japanese Soldiers will surely find a way to make up for their losses after taking such hits; we must be even more careful.

Sure enough, the Japanese Soldiers changed tactics. They set ambushes at key locations and sent agents to scout out the Flying Eagle Team's whereabouts.

Once, the Flying Eagle Team almost fell into a trap.

It happened while they were raiding an Arsenal. Although the guard appeared lax on the surface, Li Ping'an keenly sensed something was off.

"It's too quiet," he frowned, saying that such an important place shouldn't have so few people watching.

He had the members wait outside while he slipped in to scout. Sure enough, he discovered a large force of Japanese Soldiers lying in ambush, waiting for them to walk into the trap.

Too close! Er Gazi said, relieved. If it weren't for the Instructor's quick thinking, we'd have been done for.

But Li Ping'an saw an opportunity: since the Little Devils had prepared such a big gift for us, why not return the favor?

He devised a daring plan: deliberately reveal their position, Lure the Snake Out of the Cave, then spring a counter‑ambush.

The battle was unusually fierce. The Flying Eagle Team, relying on excellent tactical coordination and terrain advantage, successfully turned the tables on their pursuers and seized a large quantity of weapons and equipment.

Exhilarating! Truly exhilarating! After the fight, Er Gazi said while wiping his gun, "Following the Instructor, it's just pure thrill!"

But Li Ping'an reminded everyone: don't forget, our main mission isn't to kill the enemy but to sabotage. We should be like mosquitoes—bite and run—so the Little Devils can't sleep.

The Flying Eagle Team's operations grew bolder and smoother. Sometimes they disguised themselves as civilians, blending into the crowd; sometimes they posed as Pseudo Army, strutting openly down the street; sometimes they vanished like ghosts into the night.

The Japanese Soldiers were worn out from constant running, and rumors spread through the city. Some said the Anti‑Japanese Alliance had sent heavenly troops; others claimed it was a group of masters who could turn invisible; still others whispered that it was a band of spirits that specialized in punishing traitors.

You heard? The Flying Eagle Team burned the Little Devils' grain depot again last night! Serves them right—to put their arrogance in its place and give us some relief!

The common folk secretly cheered, while the Japanese Soldiers each felt uneasy, fearing they might become the next target.

The news quickly reached Yan'an. One day, the Signalman ran over excitedly: "Instructor Li, Yan'an called to commend us!" The leaders all said the Flying Eagle Team had displayed the Chinese people's might!

The team members cheered and jumped for joy, and Li Ping'an also, rarely, showed a smiling face.

But happy as it may be, he remained clear‑headed: "Comrades, praise is good, but we must not become arrogant. The Little Devils, after suffering such a loss, will surely strike back furiously. Future operations must be more cautious."

Sure enough, the Japanese Soldiers brought in Special Forces from elsewhere, specifically to deal with the Flying Eagle Team. This unit was well equipped, well trained, and also adept at fighting in the city.

A cat‑and‑mouse game unfolded in the city. The two Special Forces units came at each other, testing wits and bravery.

Once, the Flying Eagle Team was nearly wiped out. It happened while they were securing an important target and fell into a Japanese Soldiers' ambush. Fortunately, Li Ping'an was alert, saw through the trap in time, and led the team to break out of the encirclement.

Instructor, how did you discover it? After the escape, Er Gazi asked, still shaken.

Intuition. Li Ping'an said calmly, "Sometimes life and death hinge on a single thought."

He looked at the lights on the distant city tower, his tone firm: "But this is fine too. Only with opponents can we improve. The Flying Eagle Team needs this kind of honing."

Day by day, the Flying Eagle Team grew more mature. They not only completed countless sabotage missions, but also gathered massive intelligence, providing vital support to the Resistance Alliance's operations.

But Li Ping'an understood that this special war was far from over. On the unseen front, an even fiercer contest was unfolding…

And the legend of the Flying Eagle Team had only just begun.