The Mysterious Soldier of the Anti-Japanese War

Chapter 176 We must uphold the Party-State position

The Military Control Commission's special operations team led the National Security Force back to the National Security Force's defense zone. The journey was exhausting, yet they felt a sense of relief at mission accomplishment. Upon entering the defense zone, the soldiers on guard immediately saluted, their eyes revealing concern and respect for their returning comrades.

The Military Intelligence Bureau captain straightened his collar, looking slightly exhausted but still maintaining a soldier's agility, as he headed straight for the divisional headquarters. Inside, a special commissioner from the Military Intelligence Bureau, a division commander, and others were already seated, their eyes filled with eager anticipation. The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive, like the calm before a storm.

The captain put his feet together, gave a standard military salute, and then began to report in detail about the operation. "While advancing toward the Japanese airfield, we suddenly heard a series of violent explosions coming from its direction. Cautiously approaching, we discovered a mysterious armed force in action. They were wielding unprecedentedly advanced weaponry, accurately destroying high-speed Japanese aircraft. It was then that we encountered a man who claimed to be 'Phantom,' a lone ranger operating behind enemy lines. He acted with a bold and mysterious style. He then launched a surprise artillery attack on the Japanese airfield's oil depot, instantly illuminating the night sky and inflicting immense damage on the Japanese. The chain reaction triggered by the explosion also severely damaged surrounding Japanese facilities. Given his demonstrated abilities and potential, and his current role as a military instructor for a guerrilla unit affiliated with the Eighth Route Army, we had no choice but to stabilize him and cultivate a good relationship with him in order to leverage him and enhance our combat effectiveness."

The captain paused, then continued, "Later, as the situation developed, we unexpectedly reached a cooperation with the Eighth Route Army to jointly fight the Japanese. During this process, both sides worked in perfect harmony, and the soldiers worked together to achieve fruitful results. We destroyed Japanese strongholds and supply depots, killed a large number of Japanese soldiers, and seized a large amount of weapons, ammunition, and supplies. I have recorded all of this here, without missing a single detail."

Having said that, the captain subconsciously tightened his grip on the document in his hand, his eyes flickered slightly, and tiny beads of sweat oozed out of his forehead. He knew very well that cooperation with the Eighth Route Army was extremely sensitive under the current situation, and the expressions of his superiors also became a little complicated. The special envoy frowned slightly, and the division commander looked at the captain with deep eyes. They did not get angry on the spot, but just asked the captain to rest first and wait for further instructions.

After leaving the command center, the captain breathed a sigh of relief, secretly thankful to have escaped danger for the time being, but also aware that this matter would not be so easily resolved. Meanwhile, inside the Military Control Commission's headquarters, the team members were unaware of the captain's concerns. They were busy with their own tasks, some cleaning their weapons, others exchanging combat experiences.

After the Military Intelligence Bureau captain finished his report, a brief silence fell in the room. The division commander was the first to break the deadlock. He looked at the Military Intelligence Bureau special commissioner with a serious look, frowned slightly, and said, "Special Commissioner, what do you think of this? This is a bit sensitive when it comes to cooperating with the Eighth Route Army."

The Military Intelligence Bureau's special commissioner folded his hands, tapping them lightly on the table. After a moment's contemplation, he spoke, "From the captain's report, while this operation has yielded results, cooperation with the Eighth Route Army does carry risks. However, the current situation is complex, and the Japanese army is formidable. Their cooperation may be forced by circumstances. But this must not become the norm. We must uphold the Party and the country's position."

The division commander nodded slightly and continued, "Then what should we do with this 'Phantom'? He's an Eighth Route Army instructor. If we try to win him over, will it cause more trouble? Furthermore, we don't know his background or intentions, so we can't trust him easily."

The special envoy's eyes revealed a hint of doubt, and he replied, "First, send someone to secretly investigate this 'phantom' to see if he is reliable and truly worthy of our recruitment. As for the cooperation with the Eighth Route Army, you must strictly instruct your subordinates to keep it secret and never let it get out, otherwise it will bring us political trouble."

The division commander agreed: "Yes, we must control the spread of good news. At the same time, we must strengthen the ideological education of the troops, so that they are clear about our position and mission and cannot be disturbed by external factors."

The special commissioner added, "Next, we must focus on the Japanese army's retaliatory actions and make defensive deployments in advance. We must not let our guard down just because of this small victory. We must also screen the personnel involved in this operation to ensure that they have not been infiltrated by the Eighth Route Army's ideology."

The division commander leaned back in his chair, rubbed his temple, and said, "Okay, let's do as the special envoy says. Once we've worked out the specific countermeasures, we'll go back to him and ask for the details."

The captain nodded slightly and replied seriously, "Don't worry, Special Envoy. I've already gained preliminary understanding of Phantom's background and trading intentions. While his identity is mysterious, previous interactions have shown him to be a temporary guerrilla training unit for the Eighth Route Army and he doesn't appear to be completely committed to their side. Furthermore, he's hinted at selling this batch of weapons and equipment. He says he still has a lot of advanced equipment on hand, but right now isn't the right time to sell it. It seems he's waiting for the right opportunity or buyer."

The captain paused before continuing, "He also emphasized that, aside from legal tender, gold yuan, and Japanese yen, gold, silver dollars, US dollars, British pounds, antiques, precious medicinal herbs, and valuable woods are all acceptable for purchasing military equipment. This suggests he's cautious in choosing transaction currencies, likely due to a consideration of their stability and actual value. From our perspective, this also provides us with multiple payment options. As long as we can raise enough equivalents, we might be able to complete the deal. However, there are also several challenges, such as how to quickly gather the required supplies and ensure a secure transaction to prevent detection by the Japanese army or other forces. After all, if these weapons fall into our hands, they will undoubtedly attract widespread attention."

The special envoy tapped his fingers on the table after hearing this. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Hmm, this matter is indeed thorny, yet also fraught with temptation. You must quickly draw up a detailed transaction plan, including how to raise supplies, select a transaction location and time, and arrange for escorts. At the same time, closely monitor Phantom's every move. We must not let him sense our eagerness, lest we be put on the defensive in the transaction. Furthermore, we must further verify the quantity and quality of the weapons he claims, and must not be deceived by him."

After receiving the order, the captain left the special commissioner's office. He was well aware of the heavy responsibility he shouldered. He had to deal with possible retaliation from the Japanese army and plan this risky arms deal. The military control center was also faced with sudden opportunities and challenges.