Chapter 46: Company Commander, Shooting Down the Plane

March 24, 5 a. m.

Jiang Anguo was woken early by a call from Songshan; Songshan had spotted an aircraft that had already circled the area near Baoshan several times.

Jiang Anguo immediately ordered Xiao Si to notify everyone.

"Take cover, enemy aircraft."

"Take cover, move into the mountains."

Soon everyone, under the guidance of their Company Commander, hurriedly and chaotically donned their clothing and weapons.

Because the departure day was near, Jiang Anguo had already issued the ammunition.

"All Machine Gunners, prepare and aim at the sky," Jiang Anguo ordered again; the report from Songshan said there was only one aircraft.

Jiang Anguo estimated it was a Japanese aircraft; at this hour it was unlikely to be an American plane, since cooperation with Chongqing had only just been achieved, and Chen Nade's Flying Tigers had already been formed.

Moreover, over Kunming they had intercepted invading Japanese aircraft, shooting down six and wounding three, while the volunteer squad's fighters suffered no losses.

How dare the Japanese, at this time, continue to dispatch aircraft from the Yunnan direction.

Jiang Anguo had already heard the aircraft's sound; it was not flying very high, perhaps because it was still before dawn, and the Japanese pilot was not part of the Chanda Expeditionary Force.

He did not recognize Japanese aircraft and was generally indifferent to planes, but he could still identify the Zero; clearly this aircraft was not a Zero.

It resembled a Japanese reconnaissance plane even more; the pilot was truly bold.

It was also inevitable: China severely lacked an air force, and even donated aircraft could not become combat‑ready in the short term before American pilots entered the country.

Moreover, with such a long front line, this few fighter planes were insufficient, and the domestic battlefield still had no radar.

Jiang Anguo and Jiang Chao sprinted toward the hilltop, and all the soldiers followed their units into the concealed forest.

Officers of all ranks, leading MG42 machine‑gun squads, also ran with Jiang Anguo.

Jiang Anguo was not fleeing; he and Jiang Chao sought a high ground to see if they could shoot down the aircraft, daring it to fly so low.

The soldiers knew it was a Japanese aircraft and were eager to open fire, but many had witnessed the prowess of Japanese planes and some felt fear.

That was normal; before the war began, many soldiers had never seen a tank in their lives—indeed, never a tank, let alone a fighter plane, which seemed like something divine.

Some soldiers had seen one only once in their whole lives, and that was the only time.

"Little Japan, come back if you have the skill," Jiang Anguo had found a spot, but he was nowhere near Jiang Chao's ability; Jiang Chao climbed a pine tree directly.

Like a monkey, he carried a Mauser K98k Sniper Rifle with a six‑times scope.

Jiang Anguo had the same equipment and was waiting.

About ten minutes later, the buzzing sound rose again; everyone waited for Jiang Anguo's order, and at a single command all the machine guns were ready to fire.

The MG42's effective range was 1,000 m; that's why it's called a universal machine gun—it can engage ground, personnel, and air targets.

Of course, the effects vary.

If the aircraft flies low, rifle fire at it is not impossible.

Jiang Chao nodded toward the ground commander; the aircraft came this way, and Jiang Anguo saw a small dot in the distance gradually enlarging.

His eyes stayed fixed on the scope—one second, two seconds, three seconds.

The surrounding air fell silent; the morning insects could no longer be heard.

In Jiang Anguo's eyes, there was only prey.

Huh.

Bang.

Two bullets fired simultaneously, both aimed at the Japanese pilot, who was flying too low—under three hundred meters.

It was practically a free meal for Jiang Anguo and Jiang Chao.

"Kojima, this flight mission seems very successful," Zhong Cun said to the Kojima Ippei behind him; Kojima Ippei was the observer, and there were two Little Devils on the aircraft.

"Ha, this land should belong to the Imperial," Kojima's words had not yet finished.

Bang‑bang, two bullets pierced the reconnaissance plane's glass; one struck Zhong Cun's head, spraying blood everywhere, and Kojima's face was covered in blood, his pupils contracted; he could not believe how Zhong Cun's head had blown open.

Another bullet hit Zhong Cun's heart; he died instantly, without any chance to react.

What happened?

After Zhong Cun's death, the Japanese‑style reconnaissance plane lost control; fortunately its altitude was not low, so if it hadn't struck a mountain, the rear pilot might have survived.

Kojima was still pondering what had occurred.

"Oh."

"Commander shot down the plane."

"Company Commander brought the plane down."

"Oh my god, look, the plane is falling!"

Everyone emerged from the hiding trees and grass, cheering joyfully.

No soldier had expected the officer to be so capable, and Jiang Chao naturally would not try to steal the commander's limelight.

Only after the plane crashed did Jiang Anguo lower his rifle and say, "Mi Long, take a Platoon of soldiers to inspect the plane; if anyone is alive, bring them back to me, and watch out for any sidearm they might have."

At that flight altitude, if luck held, the rear occupant might indeed survive.

Because at the moment of firing, Jiang Anguo actually saw the Japanese soldier in the rear seat.

"Yes, Company Commander," Mi Long shouted.

Gripping his MG42, he shouted, "Follow me."

Soon a squad followed Mi Long toward the crash site.

It wasn't that Jiang Anguo designated Mi Long; rather, Mi Long happened to be beside Jiang Anguo, setting up his machine gun for anti‑air fire.

But before he could fire, the pilot had already been killed by Jiang Anguo, and the plane was already descending.

The system voice soon announced, "Kill Japanese pilot*1, Points Reward 2000 points."

The Japanese pilot's value wasn't that high; after the System Upgrade, the reward rose from 1000 points to 2000 points.

There was only one Pilot, which means the people behind are still alive, they still heard the explosion sound, the plane probably didn't explode; after all, at this flight altitude, as long as it isn't a vertical dive or a crash into a mountain, there's still a chance to survive.

Of course, Jiang Anguo wouldn't say it was just that he killed a Japanese Army soldier, but luck was on his side, this also counts as his First Kill.

"System, if the Japanese Devil was killed by my subordinate soldiers, are there any points?" Jiang Anguo asked.

"Yes, as long as the soldier is under the Host's jurisdiction, killing an enemy will also reward you with points."

What a good piece of news; it seems that from now on we should kill more Japanese Devils, eradicate the Japanese altogether, and strike the Japanese islands.