Chapter 89: Decapitation Operation

The north wind rolled snow flakes, wooing as it swept over the ridge. Li Ping'an lay still in a snow pit, draped in white cloth, his whole body almost blending into the snow. The Type 97 sniper rifle in his hands gleamed coldly under the dim sun.

Instructor, are we really going to undertake such a big job? Er Gazi lay beside him, his voice trembling a little—that's Mei Jin Mei Zhi Lang, a top commander of the Kwantung Army!

Li Ping'an didn't turn back, his eyes still glued to the scope: strike the snake at seven inches. Take out Mei Jin, and the Kwantung Army will at least be in chaos for half a year.

Three days ago, the Flying Eagle Team intercepted vital intel: Mei Jin Mei Zhi Lang would inspect the front line, and the route happened to pass through their territory. Li Ping'an immediately gave the go-ahead, planning a big operation.

Too risky! When Zhou Zhengwei heard the plan, he shook his head straight away—Mei Jin's guard detachment is at least a company, while you guys are only a dozen or so; isn't this just rushing into gunfire?

Li Ping'an, however, was resolute: precisely because everyone thinks it's impossible, that's why it's most likely to succeed. We'll wage a lightning strike—hit and withdraw, no lingering.

At this moment, the Flying Eagle Team members were scattered in ambush at the predetermined points, each holding their breath, waiting for the prey to arrive.

Remember this well—before the operation, Li Ping'an repeatedly instructed: our target is only Mei Jin, don't be greedy. After success, withdraw along the preset route, with Er Gazi leading men to block pursuers.

Time ticked by, the mountain wind grew fiercer, cutting the face like a knife. Several teammates shivered from the cold, yet they gritted their teeth and held firm.

Suddenly, the roar of car engines came from afar.

Here they come! Er Gazi lowered his voice, his tone mixed with tension and excitement.

Through his scope, Li Ping'an saw a convoy slowly moving along the mountain road. Three motorcycles led the way, several black sedans were in the middle, and trucks loaded with soldiers followed behind.

Quite the entourage—this formation is no small thing. A teammate muttered, 'There are at least two hundred people.'

Li Ping'an calmly observed the convoy: don't panic, follow the plan.

He carefully identified the middle sedans and quickly locked onto the target—the deputy driver's seat of the second vehicle, where an officer wearing a lieutenant general's insignia sat, none other than Mei Jin Mei Zhi Lang.

Target confirmed. Li Ping'an whispered, 'All teams, get ready.'

The convoy drew nearer, until the faces of the Japanese soldiers on the vehicles were visible. The lead motorcycle suddenly stopped, and a few soldiers jumped out, warily looking around.

Have we been discovered? Er Gazi asked nervously.

Doesn't seem like it. Li Ping'an calmly said, 'Just a routine check.'

Sure enough, after a moment's glance, the soldiers waved the convoy on.

The convoy slowly entered the ambush zone, the tension so thick it felt almost solid. Everyone's fingers were on the triggers, waiting for Li Ping'an's order.

Just then, something unexpected happened. A sedan suddenly stopped, and Mei Jin Mei Zhi Lang stepped out of the car, surrounded by a group of officers, pointing at the surrounding terrain as if explaining some tactic.

Great opportunity! Li Ping'an's heart stirred—this was truly a heaven-sent chance.

He took a deep breath, slowly adjusting the scope. Wind speed, distance, angle... all the data flashed through his mind.

What's more, he quietly extended his divine perception, firmly locking onto Mei Jin's head. This shot must be flawless.

Wind from the east, level three. Distance four hundred twenty meters. Target moving... he muttered to himself, finger lightly resting on the trigger.

At that critical moment, Mei Jin suddenly turned, as if sensing something, his gaze snapping toward Li Ping'an's ambush position!

We've been discovered! Er Gazi cried out in shock.

Almost at the same instant, Li Ping'an pulled the trigger.

The gunshot echoed through the valley, the bullet screaming out of the barrel. Time seemed to freeze, everyone holding their breath.

Through the scope, Li Ping'an clearly saw Mei Jin Mei Zhi Lang's head burst open in a spray of blood, his body toppling backward like a felled log.

Target down! Li Ping'an shouted,

Instantly, gunfire erupted. The Flying Eagle Team members opened fire in different directions according to the preset plan, creating chaos. The Japanese army's guard detail fell into disarray, but quickly began to organize a counterattack.

Instructor, pursuers are coming up! Er Gazi shouted while returning fire.

Withdraw according to the plan! Li Ping'an calmly ordered, 'Third squad, cover the retreat; the rest, follow me!'

The teammates swiftly retreated along the preset route, moving cleanly and efficiently. Although the Japanese army had more men, in the complex mountain terrain they appeared clumsy.

Damn it! Catch them! A Japanese army officer brandished his sword, shouting hysterically.

Bullets whizzed past, snapping branches and sending snow spray flying. While leading the retreat, Li Ping'an pulled a grenade from his Spiritual Spring Space and tossed it behind him without looking.

Boom! Boom! Several explosions rang out in succession, blowing the pursuers to the ground.

Instructor, where did you get all these grenades? Er Gazi asked while running, his face full of surprise.

Don't ask, just move! Li Ping'an produced a few more grenades, precisely throwing them onto the routes where the pursuers might flank.

Suddenly, a fierce machine-gun fire swept in from the flank, blocking their retreat.

Uh-oh, an ambush! Er Gazi exclaimed, 'The little devils had already set a trap!'

Li Ping'an's face darkened: 'It seems Mei Jin's inspection was just a bait; the real target is us!'

The situation instantly reversed, the Flying Eagle Team fell into a heavy encirclement. Japanese troops surrounded them from all sides, firepower growing stronger.

Instructor, what do we do? The teammates were getting a little panicked.

Li Ping'an quickly surveyed the battlefield, his mind racing: change the plan! Break out to the southeast, where the terrain is complex and favorable for maneuvering.

He raised his sniper rifle and fired a series of precise shots, accurately taking down the Japanese army's machine gunners.

He shouted loudly and led the team charging toward the southeast.

Bullets whizzed past his ears, occasionally a teammate fell hit. Li Ping'an felt anguish like a knife cut, but he could not hesitate; they had to break out as fast as possible.

Er Gazi, take the wounded first! He shouted while returning fire, 'I'll cover the rear!'

No way, Instructor! We stay together! Er Gazi said stubbornly.

This is an order! Li Ping'an barked, 'Move out!'

Er Gazi gritted his teeth and led the wounded onward in the breakout. Li Ping'an stayed behind alone, suppressing pursuers with precise fire. He continually drew ammunition from his space, ensuring uninterrupted firepower.

One, two, three... Japanese soldiers fell one after another, but more kept surging forward.

At this critical juncture, intense gunfire suddenly came from the rear flank of the Japanese army. It turned out Zhou Zhengwei had grown uneasy and personally led a reinforcement team to meet them!

Ping'an! Over here! Zhou Zhengwei shouted loudly.

Li Ping'an's spirits lifted; he seized the moment to burst out of the encirclement and link up with the relief force.

Hurry up! The main Japanese force will be here any moment! Zhou Zhengwei urged.

The group swiftly withdrew from the battlefield, behind them the angry howls of the Japanese army and sporadic gunfire.

Back at the temporary camp, when we took inventory, we discovered three team members had been sacrificed and five were wounded. Everyone's mood was heavy.

"How's Mei Jin?" Political Commissar Zhou Zhengwei asked concernedly.

"Headshot, dead," Li Ping'an said in a low voice, "but this time we fell into a trap; the loss is too great."

Zhou Zhengwei patted his shoulder: "Don't blame yourself. You captured Mei Jin, that's a great achievement. The Kwantung Army won't have the strength to organize a large sweep in the short term."

Just then, a Signalman rushed over: "Political Commissar, Instructor Li, comrades of the underground Party have sent news that Mei Jin was indeed killed, and the Japanese Soldiers over there are in complete chaos!"

The camp instantly erupted, and the team members burst into jubilant cheers.

"Quiet!" Li Ping'an barked loudly, "What's there to be happy about? We've lost three brothers!"

Everyone fell silent, the cheerful atmosphere instantly turned heavy.

Li Ping'an looked around at the team members, his tone softened a bit: "Although this operation succeeded, it also exposed many flaws. We were too complacent and almost lost the whole force."

He walked to the bodies of the fallen teammates, solemnly rendered a military salute: Their sacrifice reminded us that we can never be careless at any time. The Japanese Soldiers are more cunning than we thought.

Political Commissar Zhou Zhengwei nodded: "Ping'an is right. Although we captured Mei Jin this time, the Japanese Soldiers will surely retaliate wildly. We must prepare for the worst‑case scenario."

Sure enough, in the following days, the Japanese Soldiers began a frenzy of retaliation. Large numbers of Japanese troops swept the mountains, burning villages they saw and killing any people they encountered.

The Flying Eagle Team had to split into smaller units and act dispersedly. Li Ping'an led a few teammates, skirmishing with the Japanese Soldiers in the forest.

"Instructor, how long will we keep hiding like this?" a teammate couldn't help asking.

Li Ping'an stared at the black smoke rising in the distance, his gaze firm: "Avoid their sharp edge, strike when they grow weary. When the Japanese Soldiers are fatigued, that will be our chance to counterattack."

A week later, the Japanese Soldiers' sweep indeed slackened. Li Ping'an seized the opportunity and organized a counterattack.

That night, he led the team to capture a Japanese garrison. The operation was as swift as lightning; by the time Japanese reinforcements arrived, the Flying Eagle Team had already vanished.

These battles played out repeatedly, and the Flying Eagle Team was like a fishbone lodged in the Japanese Soldiers' throats, preventing them from swallowing or spitting it out.

News of Mei Jin's death spread quickly, and reactions varied across the board.

The Japanese Soldiers side fell into chaos. The Kwantung Army high command held an all‑night meeting, vying for power, none yielding to another. The Tokyo Headquarters was frantic, issuing several orders to stabilize the situation, but with little effect. The soldiers' morale was low; they said the Anti‑Japanese United Front had a sharpshooter who could take heads from a thousand li away.

The Communist Party side was sour. Though Chongqing outwardly sent congratulatory telegrams, behind the scenes they muttered that the Communist Party was again showing off. Military Statistics intensified its activities, seeking ways to uncover the Flying Eagle Team's details, hoping to poach this elite unit.

The Red Party side was jubilant. Yan'an sent a commendation order, praising the Flying Eagle Team for displaying Chinese valor. Chairman Mao even specifically instructed that the Flying Eagle Team's combat experience be thoroughly summarized and disseminated throughout the army. Among the populace, the story grew legendary; they said the Anti‑Japanese United Front had heavenly troops, and the Little Devils' good days were over.

A month later, news came: Tokyo Headquarters appointed Yamada Otsu as the new Kwantung Army commander‑in‑chief.

Now the Kwantung Army was in disarray. Zhou Zhengwei laughed, "A new official always stokes three fires; Yamada must first get familiar with the situation, so in the short term he won't be able to pay attention to us."

Li Ping'an, however, was not so optimistic: "Changing the soup but not the medicine." The Japanese Soldiers' desire to destroy us remains alive; we cannot afford any slack.

He stood on a hilltop, gazing at the endless mountains ahead, silently vowing: No matter how difficult the road ahead, we will fight to the end, until the invaders are completely driven out of China.

In the wind and snow, his posture remained upright, his gaze as steadfast as iron.