Chapter 264: Capture Yueyang Within Three Days

Changde Airport, only the roar of airborne engines.

In the sky, C-47 transport planes line up waiting to land, all from the 'Milk Bottle' Battalion that just finished the Zhejiang‑Jiangxi airlift, and they have already returned safely.

Except for one unlucky aircraft, fortunately the Pilot was unharmed and has already been rescued by the warriors of the Tertiary War Zone back to Quzhou.

Changde Airport is indeed a bit small; with so many transport and fighter planes, it's impossible for them to take off and land simultaneously.

Even a unit that launches thirty aircraft needs at least half an hour, and that's already the fastest!

The first C-47 transport plane has steadied at the far end of the Runway, its cargo door wide open. As soon as it stopped, the Chinese soldiers who had been waiting on the ground surged forward like a tide.

There's no cheering, only tense and efficient coordination.

Boxes upon boxes of brand‑new Czech‑style machine guns, boxes of neatly packed 7.92mm Mauser rifle ammunition, and the urgently needed 60mm and 80mm mortars and 37mm anti‑aircraft guns for all units.

The warriors quickly moved the boxes into the cargo hold, and soon the transport plane was packed to the brim.

This mission's target is Changsha.

Compared with the previous deep‑behind‑enemy adventures, this time the distance is shorter and the route safer.

And unlike that heart‑pounding air battle, Jiang Anguo had also made preparations in advance, having William lead a team of P-38 Lightning fighters for escort.

If those fighters weren't there, the entire 'Milk Bottle' Battalion would likely have been chased and shot at by the Little Devil's aircraft.

Changsha, th War Zone Commander's Office.

Xue Yue stands before a massive operational map, his brows knotted. On the map, the red arrows representing the Japanese Army coil like a Poisonous Snake spitting venom from the Yueyang direction, ready to strike at Changsha at any moment.

Yueyang, the Japanese Army's bridgehead in Wuhan, a poisonous fang nailed into the northern gate of Xiang. Pulling it out is far from easy.

This morning, a baffling phone call from Xu Guozhang, commander of the 150th Division at Changde, further unsettled Xue Yue. On the other end, Xu Guozhang's words flickered, merely saying a batch of weapon supplies would be flown into Changsha, urging him to be ready to receive them.

"A massive supply?" Xue Yue muttered irritably, having lost count of how many times he'd looked up at the gray‑hazy sky. He waited left and right; not even a bird's shadow could be seen, let alone a transport plane.

At dawn, a massive formation of aircraft roared over Changsha's sky, heading straight east, clearly not coming toward him.

"Damn, this Xu Guozhang, he's not messing with me, right?" Xue Yue cursed irritably.

Just then, Chief of Staff Wu Yizhi burst in like a gust of wind, his cap askew, his face unable to hide ecstatic joy: "Sir! Aircraft! The planes have arrived! It's real!"

"Great!" Xue Yue slammed the table, sweeping away the day‑long gloom. He briskly shed his pristine gloves, tossed them onto the table, and strode out with long, confident steps.

"Let's go to the airport! I want to see what that kid Xu Guozhang is really selling in his gourd!"

When Xue Yue's party arrived at the airport, the sight before him made him hold his breath instantly.

Several massive C-47 transport planes sat quietly on the Runway, doors open, silhouettes of people scattered on the ground, boxes of brand‑new weapons and ammunition being unloaded at speed, piled up like a mountain.

The mixed scent of gun oil and steel drifted through the air—it was the smell of victory.

Xu Guozhang didn't lie to him.

The news spread like wings, instantly reaching the entire th War Zone.

The army commanders under the th War Zone, those who usually wore worried frowns and turned gray from ammunition shortages, all gathered around now, their eyes flashing green.

The commander of the 10th Army, Li Yutang, hurried forward, rubbing his hands, face beaming: "Sir! With this good stuff, we can finally wrestle with the Little Devil!"

Li Yutang has already spotted those mortar boxes; they are exactly what his troops need, and what all units in the th War Zone require.

For a moment, the Major Generals and Lieutenant Generals present all complained to Xue Yue, simply wanting this supply shipment.

Xue Yue spurred his horse and sat atop the mountain‑high ammo boxes, lifted a brand‑new MP40 submachine gun to weigh it, scanned the circle of hungry commanders, curled his lip, and boomed:

"What's all the fuss!"

He slammed the butt of the gun onto the ground, producing a "thud", and the whole room fell silent instantly.

"Want it? You can have it!" Xue Yue's gaze sharpened like a drawn sword, "My equipment, Xue Boling's, isn't for you to boost your courage! Whoever takes this lot will have to serve as my mountain‑cleaving axe!"

He pointed the barrel toward the map's direction, shouting each word with a pause:

"Yueyang! I only need you to gnaw down that hard bone called Yueyang! Anyone who dares to complain before me, anyone who dares to step back even a half‑step…"

He paused, his gaze like a blade, sweeping over everyone.

"Just bring your head and see me!"

As soon as Xue Yue finished speaking, the atmosphere among the crowd didn't cool; it was instead ignited completely.

"Commander Xue!" a resonant voice cut through the crowd. Li Yutang, with a square face and thick brows, stepped forward, chest rigid as an iron plate, voice booming: "Give this entire cache of weapons and ammunition to my 10th Army! Three days! Within three days, I, Li Yutang, will bring the head of the Yueyang Little Devil's defending commander to you!"

Before his words ended, a lean, sharp‑eyed officer pushed forward beside him, the commander of the 26th Army, Xiao Zhi Chu. He glanced at Li Yutang and loudly declared without backing down: "Commander Xue! Brother Yutang is a fierce general, but my 26th Army is no pushover! This hard‑bone‑gnawing job should be ours!"

For a moment, the airport seemed to become a 'call‑to‑war summit' of the two armies' generals, shouts and challenges rising and falling, each with reddened eyes, eager to grab the gear and charge toward Yueyang.

Xue Yue looked at the howling tiger‑wolf generals before him, a faint satisfied smile on his face, but his mind already plotted. He waved his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet.

"Everyone quiet!"

His gaze swept over Li Yutang and Xiao Zhi Chu, finally landing on Li Yutang: "Yutang, that spirit is good! That hard bone of Yueyang is yours, 10th Army!"

Li Yutang instantly stood upright and saluted: "Yes! Mission guaranteed!"

"But," Xue Yue's tone shifted, cooling, "All the weapons to you? What are you thinking! I, Xue Boling, am the commander of the th War Zone, not the steward of your 10th Army! All the troops are bleeding; this bowl of water must be balanced!"

At his words, the previously disheartened officers all nodded in agreement.

Xue Yue then turned to Chief of Staff Wu Yizhi, issuing orders: "Record! The newly arrived submachine guns and rifles, each army to supplement according to its organization, one per person! Hand Grenade, each division to allocate five thousand rounds first!"

Some units, even soldiers, have no weapons in hand.

"Yes!" Wu Yizhi recorded immediately.

The generals' faces all showed delight; this meant everyone got a share.

Xue Yue looked at them, then deepened his tone, saying each word deliberately: "However, all the 60mm mortars, 80mm mortars, and all German‑made 37mm anti‑aircraft guns, not a single one left, are to be concentrated entirely to Li Yutang's 10th Army!"

He looked at Li Yutang again, his gaze razor‑sharp: "Yutang, I've fitted you with the hardest teeth! Three days, you have only three days, I only need one word from you!"

Li Yutang felt the admiring and jealous gazes of his brothers behind him, his blood boiling, performed another proper military salute, and shouted thunderously:

"Commander, rest assured! Within three days, if the 10th Army fails to take Yueyang, I, Li Yutang, will bring my head to see you!"