Spy Wars: I can get rewards by being a bully!

Chapter 1154 A New Route for Breakthrough

Lin Ze was still accompanying Okamura on an inspection tour along the line from Shimen to Qingyuan. This long stretch of land, from Xinle to Qingyuan, was under the responsibility of a part of the 26th Division.

Despite the length of their blockade line, the 26th Division deployed six battalions along the entire line to maintain the blockade.

Although it's called "along the line," it's not true that you can cross the railway line to go west in every place. In some places, even if you cross it, there's no road ahead.

This is similar to border checkpoints. As long as the key locations are blocked, there won't be any major problems. Those so-called side roads or unpaved paths can allow one or two people to pass through, but large-scale passage is definitely not allowed.

One of the six battalions of the 26th Division was dispatched to sweep towards Shenze, while the remaining five were stationed at key locations along the railway line, patrolling day and night.

The Japanese army's defensive capabilities were actually quite strong. In the two years when the war was on a larger scale, the Southern Army had many instances of failed local counterattacks. Sometimes, tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers would surround a company and fight for several days without being able to take it down.

Of course, the 26th Division was a Class B division, and its combat effectiveness was certainly not comparable to those old Japanese soldiers, but the huge difference in weaponry and equipment should not be underestimated.

If the troops in the base area want to withdraw westward along the Xinle-Qingyuan line this time, it will probably be very difficult.

The 26th Division had some connection with Lin Ze. Shibayama Kenshiro, who was driven to suicide by Lin Ze, had briefly served as the division commander of the 26th Division.

According to the original timeline, this division would have been deployed to Luzon to fight the Americans next year.

After the war ended, only 23 men survived out of the more than 10,000 men in the division. That's right, only 23.

The Japanese officer leading the troops here was named Mizukawa Yoshio, who had previously served as the commander of the Suiyuan West Garrison. It was fitting that he was stationed here.

After inspecting the area, Okamura was very satisfied with the 26th Division's garrison and patrol situation.

"Mr. Mizukawa, I greatly admired you when you were stationed in Manchuria and Mongolia. Later, when you went to the Suiyuan-Western Hebei area, you effectively dealt with the local guerrilla forces. You can say that you are an expert in guerrilla warfare. It is precisely because of this that I transferred you to the 26th Division. You must continue to work hard this time. Once the enemy's forces in central Hebei are completely eliminated, I can recommend you for further promotion!"

Mizukawa Yoshio was a discerning man, and immediately pledged his loyalty to the General.

At the same time, he looked at Lin Ze and said, "Ah, it just so happens that Colonel Lin Ze is here as well. Then I won't have to send a telegram. Just yesterday, I sent a battalion to the direction of Shenze to spy and sweep. As a result, we encountered the enemy near Baizhuang, west of Shenze. According to the information sent back from the front, the enemy seems to be quite well prepared. Of course, it is impossible for the intelligence to have been leaked, but I would still like to ask Colonel Lin to help with a routine investigation."

Lin Ze nodded. “Your telegrams are all using the latest codebook developed by Tokyo, so there shouldn’t be any problem with telecommunications security. I’ll send a few people to help you with a simple internal audit. Of course, the specifics of the internal audit are up to you, Mr. Mizukawa. Our military police have never interfered with specific military arrangements. However, I feel that since the Eighth Route Army has already realized that we are about to launch a large-scale military operation, it’s normal for them to be prepared. There’s no need to be too nervous. With Your Excellency’s strategic planning and on-the-spot command, even if those Eighth Route Army soldiers are heavenly warriors, they won’t be able to escape Your Excellency’s grasp.”

Mizukawa Yofu didn't take the battle at Baizhuang seriously. Their main task was to set up defenses, and sweeping through the Fukasawa area was just a side job. Since this tough nut was hard to crack, they decided not to bother with it.

He mainly wanted to find an excuse to get closer to Lin Ze because Lin Ze was a favorite of Okamura.

Seeing Lin Ze being so courteous, sending people to assist with the internal audit and speaking so politely, Shuichuan was naturally pleased. With everyone praising him, Shuichuan immediately flattered, "General's decision is absolutely correct, and Lin Jun's contributions to intelligence work are also very important. You don't know, the Red Bandits have one major characteristic: they are omnipresent. When I was in Suiyuan, they had people in the local gendarmerie, police, puppet regime, and government. Later, I had to completely exclude Chinese people from the decision-making level..."

At this point, Mizukawa realized something was wrong. He'd heard that Lin Ze hadn't become a citizen yet!

He quickly changed the subject: "In short, I will remember Lin Jun's great help this time. If Your Excellency awards me the Golden Kite Medal, I will give half of it to Lin Jun!"

Okamura laughed heartily, "Lin-kun deserves a lot of credit, and Mizukawa-kun, you did a good job too. Alright, let's go look around somewhere else."

Lin Ze felt a wave of disgust. That damned Mizukawa was really unlikable!

After inspecting the entire defensive line, he already had a plan in mind: he would definitely find some fun for Mizukawa.

Many of the system's rewards are still unused, such as the "Here's a Brick" reward, which is quite good.

Upon returning to Shimen, Lin Ze found Niu San'er and said, "Arrange for a few reliable people, preferably Japanese, to conduct an internal audit for the 26th Division. Find a few assistant supervisors to accompany them. Under the guise of inspecting the various garrisons, plant some things on the railway for them..."

Niu San'er suggested, "The grain train is heading north; we can use it as cover and make sure there are plenty of supplies..."

Lin Ze thought for a moment and agreed to Niu San'er's suggestion, "This is a good idea. We'll have our people take charge of detonating it. Tell them to be careful and not to sacrifice themselves rashly even if they are discovered. I have many ways to get them out, but the more secretive we are, the better!"

"Yes!"

It was inevitable that the main force of the base area would retreat westward. Since the Japanese were certain that they would retreat westward north of Xinle, they could simply go around to the south of Xinle!

Although this road is difficult to travel, we should be able to evacuate by surprise. We can break out in the Cihe area south of Xinle, cross the Mudaogou, cross the railway defense line, and then go directly into Tenglong Mountain!

Although the paths in Tenglong Mountain are all small, the routes are well-established and will not hinder the march. Moreover, the Eighth Route Army has virtually no mobile forces and relies entirely on foot. The Japanese are different; if they want to pursue, they will have to abandon their supplies. Once they enter the mountains, facing Japanese soldiers without supplies will make the battle much easier.

At that time, we can fight and retreat at the same time, retreating from Tenglong Mountain to Landaoshi, and then entering the Tiger Head Forest Area and Tuoliang Mountain. As long as we go west from this area, we will enter Wutai Mountain. At that time, we will be free to fly. It will be harder than climbing to heaven for the Japanese to block the main force of the base area!

I wonder what Okamura's feelings will be then. He went through so much trouble and mobilized so many troops, only to end up with nothing!