Chapter 399: The Turmoil in the Rear

Back at the secret base, Tu Feiyuan Xianer gathered all the spies; this time there was a big operation.

At the same time, he called over his two prized ace operatives.

Chuan Dao Fangzi, daughter of the Manchurian Prince Su, fluent in many languages, moves among the high society of Beiping and Shanghai, with an intelligence network deeply embedded in both political and business circles.

Nan Zao Yunzi, codename "Sakura", has been lurking in Central China for years, renowned for her beauty and agility, and has turned several Nationalist Army officers.

It must be said, the prettier the woman, the more like a poisonous snake she is.

These two repeatedly passed important intelligence learned from superiors to the Japanese Army, causing frontline combat defeats, and the combat deployment appeared on the Japanese Army commander's desk before the battle.

"The target is the Chongqing Gele Mountain POW camp, heavily guarded, under joint US‑Chinese custody," Tu Feiyuan's voice hissed like a poisonous snake, "but remember, this is not a prison break, it is a silencing. Let them 'die of illness' before the world, or 'commit suicide in atonement', only then can the Imperial face be saved."

Clearly, Tu Feiyuan Xianer had already secured a place holding two division commanders, so it can be imagined that many Japanese Army spies were lurking in Chongqing.

Chuan Dao Fangzi's eyes flashed with a hint of ruthlessness as she said, "I have contacted internal informants in Chongqing; I can infiltrate a press corps and use the interview opportunity to deliver poison, or act directly."

Nan Zao Yunzi lightly brushed her dagger, "If action is needed, I can cut the throat in three seconds, leaving no trace."

Tu Feiyuan Xianer nodded, "Complete it within seven days. Success makes you Imperial heroes; failure…" his gaze was icy, "will be as if you never existed."

Tu Feiyuan Xianer placed great importance on this mission.

Moreover, he dispatched three waves of spies: one group to Changde, and the other two to Yichang and Jingzhou respectively.

The primary target was a single one: to assassinate the Huaxia st Division commander, Jiang Anguo.

Indeed, the Japanese Army's agents could no longer resist moving against Jiang Anguo.

Jiang Anguo was simply too detestable; combining all the intelligence before and after, it could be deduced that he possessed bombers that threatened the Imperial headquarters, as well as an extremely large number of fighter aircraft.

At the same time, poison gas shells were dropped on the Imperial Japanese Army in the Zhejiang‑Jiangxi area.

This caused the Japanese Army's 61st Brigade to be annihilated, and its brigade commander, Major General Nagano, also fell in the Zhejiang‑Jiangxi region.

Jingzhou.

June 15, 1942, dusk.

The Yangtze River flows eastward, never ceasing.

Inside Jingzhou city, the celebration continues.

Jiang Anguo did not attend; he simply watched the surging river.

"Anguo, why are you standing here alone?" Hu Lian walked up from behind, clearly in a good mood today, his face slightly flushed, apparently from drinking, and his uniform was a bit disheveled.

Jiang Anguo smiled, "The Jianghan Campaign is over; I'm preparing to return to Myanmar."

Myanmar was a somewhat unfamiliar term to Hu Lian, but he knew Dai Anlan was in Myanmar, and Jiang Anguo also belonged to the Expeditionary Force; even though Jiang Anguo's Independent Regiment had now been promoted to an infantry division, it still remained part of the Expeditionary Force.

"That fast?" Hu Lian was three points sober from the drink.

"Heh, the Military Commission's orders have already been issued; speaking of Stilwell, that old Little Devil is not a good thing." When Jiang Anguo saw the orders, his head swelled, as they called for an offensive against Mandalay in the rainy season.

How many times have they asked to counter‑attack Mandalay now?

After the counter‑attack on Tonggu, the Military Commission ordered them to advance on Mandalay, to encircle it simultaneously with the Expeditionary Force's main body; this order felt unusually odd.

One must know the main force was exhausted troops, so why demand a continued attack at this time?

Jiang Anguo and Dai Anlan tacitly rejected the order.

Later, after arriving in Chongqing, he learned that it was Churchill on that tiny Atlantic island who wanted to rescue his troops in Myanmar; evidently, Churchill was again contemplating betraying his allies.

While Jiang Anguo was staring blankly at the river.

Another voice came, "Hey! Brother Jiang, Colonel Hu, what are you two hiding here for, the city's bustling a lot!"

From the voice, they knew Xu Guozhang had arrived.

Today's Jingzhou city was indeed lively; the townsfolk had somehow produced fireworks and firecrackers that boomed sky‑high.

Both soldiers and civilians were celebrating the campaign's victory, and Jiang Anguo waved his hand generously, ensuring supplies were ample.

The scent of twice‑cooked pork was so strong that Jiang Anguo could smell it here.

When Xu Guozhang heard Jiang Anguo was returning to Myanmar, his mood also sank, "Brother Anguo, you really are heading back to Myanmar."

Jiang Anguo nodded, "It's time to go!"

"On the Jianghan Plain, the Little Devil's main forces have withdrawn to the north bank of the Han River; their focus now lies on the Pacific, so in the short term they won't mount a large campaign in the Wuhan area," Jiang Anguo analyzed the current situation.

Xu Guozhang sat on a stone, lifted his wine jar, took a muffled sip, then let out a heavy sigh, "Alas!"

After a while, Xu Guozhang said, "Brother, you have no idea how smooth the fighting has been these days; I, Old Xu, have never had such a successful campaign. At first, when you came to Changde and told me you wanted to attack Yidu, I thought you were crazy! Seeing you bring weapons to arm my Sichuan troops showed you held me in high regard."

"Old Xu, I'm also a man of pride; you're so straightforward, I'll join your madness. I never expected we'd accomplish such a massive feat—just your Independent Regiment, my 150th Division, and Colonel Hu's 11th Division, we're almost marching on Wuhan."

Xu Guozhang seemed to be recalling his recent combat experiences.

Xu Guozhang had fought many wars in his life: first within the Sichuan Army, then marching to Shanghai, though his troops missed the Battle of Songhu; he later took part in the defense of Wuhan.

Along the way, it wasn't a constant defeat, but the fighting was unsatisfying, constantly suppressed by the Little Devil.

Yet the Yichang battle made Xu Guozhang realize how simple war could be; the Little Devil simply used tanks, aircraft, and artillery to keep them pinned in their defensive zone.

Jiang Anguo listened silently, saying nothing.

Hu Lian also listened quietly, "Indeed, having an Independent Regiment feels much more reassuring."

Xu Guozhang took another sip, "Straightforward! You know, killing the Little Devil is that easy, but I'm also a sensible man; if it weren't for Brother Jiang's weapons, ammunition, the aircraft in the sky, the tanks on the ground, my 150th Division— even if I were given an entire army—I still wouldn't dare attack Yichang!"

Hu Lian knew Xu Guozhang was right; not even an army—let alone a hundred thousand men—could he muster the courage to assault a well‑prepared Japanese elite division.