Chapter 118: Laying Down the Pocket Array

  Songshan, this "small mountain" in the Gongshan Mountains, a branch of the Gaoligong Mountains, with an elevation of only over 2,000 meters, located in Mengla Township, Longling County, western Yunnan, has shouldered too much historical burden due to the famous Burma Road winding its way through the steep cliffs for over 40 kilometers. It stands opposite the high mountains and steep cliffs on the east bank of the Nujiang River, forming a magnificent landscape of turbulent waters and towering peaks, and is an essential route to reach the Huitong Bridge spanning the Nujiang River.

  The Dianmian Highway on Songshan Mountain is congested due to the constant flow of transportation vehicles.

  On the highway, day and night, there are military and civilian patrols inspecting suspicious horse-drawn carriages and passersby.

  The vanguard of the Japanese army led by Matsushita Nagayoshi, in order to keep it a secret, deliberately avoided villages and highways, they hardly came into contact with any local people, and naturally would not dare to take the mountain road, they chose a shortcut used by horse teams, this was the only path from west to east leading to Huitong Bridge, which was half the distance of taking the highway, as long as they could smoothly pass through this path, Huitong Bridge was within reach.

  So Dong Li Mao set up an ambush under the pine tree of Zhanggui's Wild Wolf Dare-to-Die Corps on this mountain path used by the horse gangs.

  Zhao Yong chose a place between two mountains with narrow heads and wide middles according to Dong Li Mao's instructions as the ambush point.

  This is a strip of land about 200 meters long and about 30-40 meters wide, with shrubs growing on both sides of the road, far away from the Yunnan-Burma Highway.

  Dong Li Mao led his men to arrive at the foot of Songshan Mountain before noon on the 27th. They stopped their vehicles by the roadside and walked along the horse trail up the mountain, where they converged with Zhao Yong's group at this ambush point.

  "Commander, what do you think of this position?" Zhao Yong asked Dong Li Mao.

  Dong Li Mao used binoculars to scan the surrounding steep cliffs, put down the binoculars and said: "This is really a great natural wolf trap! Let's wait here for Song Xiaolonggui's wolf pack to arrive."

  "Is it Matsushita Nagataka?" Zhao Yong asked with a puzzled face: "Lian Chang, are you talking about the name of a Japanese military officer?"

  "Yes, the officer leading this vanguard unit codenamed 'Pangolin' is indeed Nagisa Chōki!" Dong Limao nodded in response.

  "How did Battalion Commander know?" Zhao Yong asked again.

  Dong Li Mao glanced at Zhao Yong and smiled, saying: "Don't forget, I'm a god who can calculate and predict. I not only know his name is Song Xiaolonggui, but also that he's the future son-in-law of the Heavenly Emperor family, a ruthless thug who kills without batting an eye!" Dong Li Mao didn't want to reveal the secret that Wenshengyuan was an intelligence station, not because he didn't trust the people around him, but for the safety of the intelligence officers inside.

  Zhao Yong realized that Dong Li Mao was unwilling to speak the truth, so he smiled and asked: "Commander, do we really have to use pistols and machetes to kill the enemy? Why not use the readily available submachine guns and machine guns to sweep them away?"

  "If we open fire on the devils from both sides of the road, who can guarantee that we won't mistakenly harm our own brothers? And who can guarantee that before the little devils take out their weapons and counterattack from the horse-drawn carts, we can finish them all off?" Dong Li Mao asked, scanning the several platoon leaders beside him.

  Several people looked at each other and shook their heads together, indicating that it couldn't be done.

  "That's right, what I want is to eliminate this group of Japanese wolves at the smallest cost! Dong Li Mao smiled and said: "If any of you have a better way than mine, now it's still possible to speak up." Seeing no one proposed other suggestions, Dong Li Mao then ordered: "Gather the brothers, I have something to say!"

  Soon, the special agent troops participating in the ambush stood in front of Dong Li Mao, with each unit standing in formation, their morale high and their spirits full.

  "It seems that in the future, we'll have to let you guys soak in hot springs often, it's refreshing! " As soon as Dong Limao spoke, everyone burst out laughing. Before the laughter stopped, Dong Limao immediately put on a serious face and shouted loudly: "Brothers! Are you all ready?"

  "Ready!" Everyone shouted in unison, their voices echoing around them with great momentum.

  "Good! You're indeed the brave warriors of Special Forces!" Dong Li Mao walked a few steps forward, then stopped and continued: "Tonight, we will face a Japanese elite guerrilla squad, known as the Wolf's Dare-to-Die Team! I believe you've all seen the brutal behavior of the Japanese devils, but this Wolf's Dare-to-Die Team is even more ferocious! They take pleasure in beheading our compatriots! Bloodthirsty and almost devoid of humanity! We will use their own methods against them! We'll slaughter these Japanese wolves with an even more ruthless approach! Are you all ready to kill the wolves?"

  "Yes!" The officers and soldiers responded in unison again.

  Dong Li Mao continued: "Wolves are the most cunning and ruthless animals. As a good hunter, besides being calmer and more composed than wild wolves, you must also be more ferocious! To kill wolves, we first need to endure the torture of waiting... After you enter your ambush positions on both sides of the road, you must ensure that no sound is made, no fires are lit, no smoking is allowed, no talking is allowed, and no one is allowed to leave their post even a step... Before nightfall, eat well, drink well, sleep well, and recharge your energy. Just wait for the wolf pack to enter the pocket, hear the bugle sound of Little Huzi's charge, and immediately pounce on the enemy from your ambush position, using your pistols and knives to greet the little devils, giving them no chance to take their weapons from the horse packs! Can you do it?"

  "We can do it!" they shouted in unison again.

  "The little devils are wolves, and we are fierce tigers! We will charge out of the thicket like a tiger descending a mountain in the shortest time possible! There are two sniper squads on either side of the mountain, responsible for picking off those devils who pose a threat to our brothers. Behind us, Liu's reconnaissance squad is providing cover, blocking the devils' retreat route. So, brothers, don't worry too much, just give me your all and slaughter those devils!" Dong Li Mao said this to dispel some of the soldiers' inner fears, as this was a close-quarters battle after all. Although almost every soldier in the special operations company had killed Japanese devils before, that was always at a distance with guns; many had never experienced hand-to-hand combat like bayonet fighting."

  "Now I command!" Dong Li Mao began to give specific orders: "Zhao Yong!"

  "Here!" Zhao Yong stepped forward from the crowd.

  "Lead the main assault team, line up in a row, with each person spaced two to three meters apart, and ambush on the right side of the road in the bushes!"

  "Yes!" Zhao Yong stood up straight and replied.

  "Heavy machine gun!" Dong Li Mao shouted at Zhang Da Li again.

  "Yes!" Zhang Dali also took a step forward and replied loudly.

  "A squad of machine guns is in charge of defending the intersection ahead. If you see little devils trying to break through, open fire and kill them, but be careful not to mistakenly injure our own brothers!"

  "Yes!" Zhang Dalie replied.

  "Two strips!" Dong Li Mao turned his gaze towards Wang Jia Gui.

  "Yes!" Wang Jia Gui also stepped forward, head held high and ready for orders.

  "Take the sniper squad to the big trees on both sides of the mountain and take cover. Before the battle starts, do not fire, be responsible for covering and killing those devils who pose a threat to our brothers!"

  "Don't worry, Commander, I still remember the lesson from last time!" Wang Jia Gui replied.

  Dong Li Mao nodded, he believed that Wang Jia Gui would not make another mistake this time: "The rest of you, follow me and ambush on the left side of the road. From now on, we must keep quiet! Let's move!"

  "Commander Lian, what about me?" Zeng Zifan walked forward and asked. In his hand, apart from the small medicine box, he was also holding a machete.

  "You are our special troops' only medical officer. You and Lan Xiang will take cover in the woods behind us and be responsible for treating the wounded." Dong Li Mao replied.

  "No! I also want to kill those little Japanese devils!" Zeng Zifan said with his chest out.

  Dong Li Mao could understand Zeng Zifan's vengeful thoughts after just losing his beloved wife, so he walked up and patted Zeng Zifan's shoulder, saying: "Zeng Junyi, use your medical skills to save the lives of our brothers. That is also a way to avenge Xia Hua Jie. Do you understand what I mean?"

  Zengzi nodded and said: "I heard it from Lianzhang."

  "Hey fatty! Liu Xingyu! You two come over here!" Dong Li Mao shouted to Pan Guangzu and interpreter Liu Xingyu.

  Two people ran to Dong Li Mao's side.

  "You two, take care of Zeng Junyi and Lan Xiang," said Dong Li Mao.

  Liu Xingyu pushed his glasses up with one hand and said loudly: "I request to participate in combat!"

  "You just protect Zeng Junyi and Lan Xiang well, that's the battle!" Dong Limao shouted loudly with a glare in his eyes.

  Pan Guangzu pulled Liu Xingyu's arm and said: "At this time, don't give Lian Zhang more trouble, come with me."

  Liu Xingyu didn't say anything else and could only follow Pan Guangzu and Zeng Zifan as they walked towards the forest.

  Everyone returned to their posts, and there was no longer any noise. On the surface, it seemed that peace had been restored here, and it became a paradise for small birds, which chirped and flew back and forth in the trees.

  Dong Li Mao and Hu San lay side by side on the ground in a thicket, Dong Li Mao narrowed his eyes, gazing at the sunlight filtering through the branches, muttering to himself: "Hope it's good weather tonight."