204: Prepare

The Chuansha Estuary frontline, position of the 122nd Division.

The scorching sun hung high in the sky as dust filled the air.

The entire position was a sea of people; officers and soldiers were drenched in sweat, desperately digging fortifications.

Communication trenches, nearly two meters deep and wide enough for three people to walk abreast, were beginning to take shape.

The trench walls were reinforced with timber, and every ten paces, specialized anti-artillery bunkers were dug according to requirements.

Division Chief of Staff Luo Jialie patrolled along the trenches with a stern expression.

This was because he could occasionally hear the soldiers complaining in low voices while swinging their pickaxes:

"Squad leader, our new guns and cannons are so powerful. Won't it be enough to just fight the Japs head-on when the time comes?"

"Exactly, why dig such deep holes? It's exhausting!"

"It would be better to spend this time practicing marksmanship so we can kill more Japs later."

"Yeah, and we have to dig these anti-artillery bunkers too. Who knows how long this will take..."

Hearing the grumbling, Luo Jialie stopped in his tracks.

He barked a harsh reprimand at the soldiers who were chiming in: "Nonsense! Just because we have good weapons doesn't mean we don't need fortifications!"

"Do you think the Japs' planes and cannons are just for show? I brought you out of Sichuan to resist the invasion, not to seek death. These trenches are to save your lives."

"You sons of b*tches, if you want to be comfortable, go home and hold your wives!"

"Look at this—it's not deep enough! And over here, the reinforcement is too sloppy!"

"By four o'clock this afternoon, everything must be built perfectly to standard, or you'll face military law!"

Seeing the Chief of Staff's fury, the soldiers immediately fell silent. They didn't dare say another word and buried their heads in their work.

Meanwhile, inside the division headquarters, the atmosphere was equally oppressive.

Feng Tiankui was roaring into the telephone.

In the end, he could only slam the receiver down powerlessly, his face ashen as he cursed, "Those bastards... they're doing it on purpose!"

He turned to Lu Fan, his beard trembling with rage: "Brother Lu, listen to this!"

"Those grandsons in the Logistics Department claim supplies are tight! Want ammunition? None! Want food? Delayed!"

"With great difficulty, they finally approved a few mortars, but damn it, they're all antiques. One look and you can see the rifling is almost worn smooth."

"The shells they issued are even more ridiculous; seven out of ten are duds. How the hell are we supposed to fight with this?"

"As for the military pay, Zheng Yaoxian helped coordinate it, but when it arrived, we found out half had been forcibly deducted!"

Lu Fan listened and sighed helplessly.

He had long since witnessed the corruption and infighting of the Jinling Government, but every time he encountered it, he still felt a chill and a sense of powerlessness.

He shook his head, setting the topic aside for the moment, and then changed the subject, asking: "Brother Feng,"

"Have the neighboring Friendly Forces been notified about the possibility of the Japs landing at Chuansha?"

"They were notified long ago, and secret orders were issued from above!"

Feng Tiankui said irritably, "I advised them to strengthen their fortifications, but nobody listened. They all think digging trenches like these is a waste of effort!"

As they were speaking, Luo Jialie finished his inspection and returned to the headquarters.

He wiped the sweat and dirt from his face: "Division Commander, Boss Lu, the positions are basically dug to standard."

"It's just that the brothers are exhausted, and there are plenty of complaints."

Feng Tiankui's expression softened slightly: "Complaints are normal, but fortifications save lives. They must be completed with quality and quantity."

"Tell the brothers they must be finished before dark! At that time, everyone will move into the positions to prepare..."

"Wait," Lu Fan suddenly interrupted Feng Tiankui.

Both Feng Tiankui and Luo Jialie looked at him in confusion.

"Division Commander Feng, Chief of Staff Luo."

Lu Fan pointed at the map and said slowly, "The fortifications must be built, but we cannot have the troops enter the front-line positions immediately."

"Why?" Luo Jialie was puzzled. "If we don't occupy the positions, how will we block the Japs' landing?"

Lu Fan handed out a round of cigarettes and analyzed calmly: "The Japs' attack pattern usually follows a few set moves:"

"First, they send reconnaissance planes to confirm the situation;"

"Then, bomber groups conduct carpet bombing to destroy surface fortifications and kill our effective forces as much as possible;"

"Next, naval guns perform extended fire preparation;"

"Finally, infantry landing craft hit the beach to establish a bridgehead."

His gaze swept over the two men: "If we pack our main forces into the front-line trenches ahead of time,"

"How heavy will the casualties be when the first round of Jap aerial and naval fire hits?"

"These fortifications we worked so hard to dig might instead become living coffins for our brothers!"

Feng Tiankui and Luo Jialie gasped at his words, cold sweat instantly soaking their backs.

They had only thought about using the fortifications to block the enemy, ignoring the enemy's powerful preliminary fire preparation.

"Then... Mr. Lu, what do you mean?" Feng Tiankui asked humbly.

"My plan is," Lu Fan's finger traced across the map as he explained seriously.

"Before the battle starts, leave only a very few observation posts in the forward hidden observation stations."

"The main forces should all retreat to the second or even third line of pre-set hidden assembly areas and wait in concealment."

"Wait until the Japs' planes and naval guns finish their bombardment and their infantry begins to hit the beach—when their formation is most chaotic and vulnerable."

Lu Fan's hand made a sharp cutting motion toward the beachhead. "Our main force will then quickly move through the communication trenches into the front-line positions."

"We'll catch them off guard! That's the only way to preserve ourselves to the maximum extent while annihilating the enemy!"

Feng Tiankui and Luo Jialie's eyes lit up as they listened, nodding repeatedly: "Brilliant! Truly a brilliant plan! We'll do exactly that!"

Just then, Li Zhenshan and Feng Hanqing rushed in frantically; both were covered in dust but their faces were full of excitement.

"Boss, the task you ordered is done!" Li Zhenshan said, grabbing a tea mug from the table and drinking greedily.

He caught his breath and continued: "We've been through several villages in the rear, and we spent a lot of money to buy all their chickens, ducks, pigs, and sheep."

Feng Hanqing added: "The straw men we hired the locals to make are also mostly ready, several thousand of them."

"They're all wearing old uniforms cast off by the Sichuan Army brothers. From a distance, they look just like real people!"

"Good!" Lu Fan slapped the table, a smile appearing on his face. "Pass down the order: start the fires and boil water immediately!"

"Slaughter most of these animals to give the brothers of the whole division an extra meal. Let them eat meat and drink soup until they are full and satisfied."

As he spoke, he exchanged a look with Feng Hanqing; seeing the other man nod heavily, he felt relieved.

Everyone in the headquarters was stunned for a moment. The battle hadn't even started, and they were slaughtering livestock to improve the meals?

But seeing Lu Fan's confident look, Feng Tiankui waved his hand without hesitation: "Listen to Brother Lu. Jialie, go make the arrangements~~"

"Get the brothers from the Cooking Squad and the Guard Battalion moving. Let the whole division eat meat as soon as possible, so they can kill Japs on a full stomach."

As the order was passed down, a cheer instantly erupted from the positions.

Although the soldiers knew this might be the last meal of meat they would eat in their lives,

having meat to eat was always a great thing. As the saying goes: a full stomach keeps you from being homesick!

In an instant, the fatigue from digging fortifications was greatly relieved.

The aroma of meat soon wafted over the entire position.

Lu Fan stood outside the headquarters, watching the busy scene with a profound gaze.

He knew that the real test would only arrive tomorrow. And he had already prepared a great gift for the Japs.