lovenovelstory Chapter 64 240 Tons of Grain
Chapter 64 240 Tons of Grain
The Japanese armored vehicles followed closely behind the train. The curve ahead blocked their view, and the rear of the train completely blocked their path.
They have brutal firepower, but no space or vision to use it.
"Baka! We're blocked, we can't get through!" The Japanese tank commander, looking ahead, pounded violently on the steel wall.
He was helpless. The armored vehicle had strong firepower and very strong defense, but there were very few people on board, only six in total.
In this situation, there's no way to provide support, so the priority is to protect oneself...
"Reverse!! Reverse!!" the conductor shouted the order.
But it was too late!
Another sapper slammed down the detonator lever!
boom--!!!
The explosive charge that had been planted under the rails beneath the armored vehicle was detonated!
The explosion not only tore another section of rail, but the massive shockwave and the flying debris and dirt also violently lifted the front of the armored car upwards before slamming it down, leaving the Japanese soldiers inside completely disoriented.
"good!"
Yang Zheng clapped his hands and shouted, "Third platoon, send a squad to take care of them!"
"yes!"
"Chen Xiaoquan! Speed up! Finish off the remaining enemies! Zhao Dahu! Lead your men to flank from the left! Zeng Dahui! Right! Use grenades and bayonets to end the battle! Quick and decisive!"
Under Yang Zheng's repeated orders, the Eighth Company's offensive pace suddenly accelerated!
Using the cover of explosions and smoke, the soldiers advanced rapidly in skillful three-person tactical teams, alternating between shooting and throwing grenades, quickly closing in on the train wreckage that had become a living hell.
Close combat ensued, bayonets clashed! Roars, screams, the clanging of metal, and sporadic gunshots erupted in an instant!
After seeing Chen Xiaoquan rush into the train carriage, Yang Zheng breathed a long sigh of relief and took out a cigarette to light.
At this stage, the outcome is already decided; the next step is to mop up the remaining enemies and then clean up the battlefield.
"Communicator, have the railway team bring the villagers over!"
For safety reasons, the railway team, along with more than 200 villagers, led mules and other transport animals a little further away.
Now it's time for them to get ready to enter the game.
Yang Zheng's order was quickly relayed, and Liu Tiegang immediately shouted upon receiving it: "Fellow villagers, the battle on the other side of the railway is over, it's our turn to work! I'm counting on you all today."
"That's only right!"
"Let's go, let's go, don't keep Company Commander Yang and the others waiting too long."
"That was so satisfying! The Eighth Route Army was really something else!"
Under the protection of Liu Tiegang and the soldiers of the railway detachment, more than 200 able-bodied villagers acted quickly, taking 23 mule carts (borrowed from several villages around Changning Village) and heading swiftly to the battlefield at Heishiling.
Before long, Liu Tiegang arrived at the edge of the battlefield with a long transport team.
The more than two hundred villagers were shocked and gasped when they saw the mess and devastation before them. Then, under the guidance of the soldiers and the organization of the railway detachment members, they quickly got to work.
"First platoon, clean up the battlefield and clear away enemy corpses! Second and third platoons, cooperate with the villagers to transport food! Fire support platoon, continue to control the high ground! Reconnaissance squad and cavalry squad, expand the perimeter!" Yang Zheng threw away his cigarette butt and issued a series of orders to ensure the safety of the transport operation.
"Quick! Open the carriage doors!"
"Over here! This carriage has cracked!"
The soldiers and villagers worked together to break open the twisted and deformed doors of the freight car with crowbars and axes, or to widen the gaps in the damaged areas.
When the mountain of sacks inside the carriage was revealed, everyone couldn't help but let out a low cheer.
"It's grain! It's all grain!"
"Good heavens, so many!"
"Quick! Move it!"
The scene immediately became lively and bustling.
The soldiers were responsible for passing the heavy sacks out from the depths of the carriage, while the villagers lined up below the carriage, took the sacks, and carried them on their shoulders or in pairs to a nearby open space where they were piled up.
Liu Tiegang, along with a few others, nervously counted the items, holding simple notebooks and charcoal pencils.
Not long after, Chen Xiaoquan walked up to Yang Zheng and reported: "Company Commander, in this battle we killed 62 Japanese soldiers, 63 puppet troops, and captured 26 puppet troops."
The captured weapons included 23 Type 38 rifles, 45 Hanyang rifles, 2 Type 91 light machine guns, 1 grenade launcher, and 2 Type 91 light machine guns. Over 7,000 rounds of ammunition were also seized.
"What about casualties?" Yang Zheng nodded and asked.
"Three people were killed, five were seriously injured, and eleven were slightly injured," Chen Xiaoquan replied immediately.
Yang Zheng nodded. The casualties were acceptable; it would be impossible to have no casualties at all.
After giving his report, Chen Xiaoquan looked at the bustling scene and couldn't help but smile.
"Company commander, I just checked. Each carriage carries 30 tons of grain. Eight carriages that's 240 tons! We've struck it rich! We'll never have to worry about grain again!"
Yang Zheng glanced at him, shook his head, and said bluntly, "You're too optimistic. It's good to have so much food, but we can't take it with us."
The words clearly implied abandonment, but Chen Xiaoquan panicked. "Company Commander, we can split the transport into multiple trips..."
Before he could finish speaking, Yang Zheng interrupted him, "What are you thinking? With such a commotion, do you think the Japanese won't know? What are you thinking? Do you think the Japanese are blind, deaf, or stupid?"
Yang Zheng's angry rebuke was truly merciless. Chen Xiaoquan, who was usually very calm, was unexpectedly blinded by so much grain this time.
Chen Xiaoquan was taken aback, then calmed down, a wry smile appearing on his face. "Company Commander, you're right, I didn't think things through! But so much grain is such a waste! Maybe we should contact the villagers in the surrounding areas..."
"Burn it!" Yang Zheng said calmly, though his heart ached as he said it, but burning it was the best, yet also the most helpless, solution.
If they let the surrounding villagers transport the supplies, the Japanese retaliation would immediately fall on their heads, and they wouldn't be able to protect them. Besides, there wasn't enough time; every extra minute of delay would increase the danger.
Chen Xiaoquan stared blankly into space for a long time before nodding with difficulty. "Yes, Company Commander. Burn the remaining grain that can't be taken."
Yang Zheng patted his shoulder without saying a word of comfort; he was also heartbroken for him!
Let's just get to work; once we're busy, we won't have time to worry about the cost.
As Yang approached, he heard someone shouting:
"Quickly! Get the mule cart over here! Load it!"
Twenty-three mule-drawn carts were driven to the storage point, and the drivers shouted as they and the villagers loaded the sacks onto the carts.
Each bag of grain was heavy, mainly millet and sorghum, with the occasional bag of wheat flour making everyone's eyes light up.
"Comrades, fellow villagers, get the best grain loaded onto the trucks first! We need to hurry, it's almost dawn!"
As Yang Zheng called out, he deftly picked up a bag of flour and placed it securely on the mule cart.
"Yes, sir! Quickly, listen to Company Commander Yang!"
"There's too much grain; we can't possibly store it all!"