Chapter Twenty-One: A Thousand-Mile Journey to Jiangcheng

After several days of continuous effort, the town hall, which reportedly dates back to the Chongzhen era, was finally patched up. Why such a building—clearly in violation of standard architectural regulations—existed in the town remains a mystery. Legend has it that this was the residence of a certain "Empress," though local records fail to specify which rebel queen it belonged to. Regardless, after several centuries, the structure remains remarkably sturdy.

Previously, the three-person town hall was barely functional, but now, Wang Yue’s force of several hundred doesn’t feel crowded at all. There are even cellars and ice pits that can be repurposed as warehouses, all built with foot-square granite blocks and tight seams. At this level of quality, it could likely withstand a direct hit from a large-caliber artillery shell, making it the perfect place to store the food and supplies evacuated from Laojun Temple.

Although the Independent Detachment had evacuated with only light gear, Wang Yue had used his spatial storage to bring along all their belongings, right down to the large water vats. The guiding principle was frugality, and as for how he explained it—well, let’s just say he told everyone it was transported by brother units. Believe it or not, that was the story.

Qifeng Village, while not as strategically treacherous as Laojun Temple, is similarly easy to defend and hard to attack. Once the all-steel artillery pieces were placed in key positions, it wouldn't matter if it were bandits or regular troops; given the current transport conditions, no one could bring heavy weaponry into the area. The Independent Detachment’s heavy machine guns and autocannons made them invincible here.

Upon arriving in Qifeng Town, Wang Yue reorganized his troops.

First, the maintenance workshop was separated from the combat units to establish a small-scale arsenal. The staff was expanded from 30 to 113. After vetting the 32 craftsmen and 51 apprentices captured from the Xingergou coal mine, he found them suitable and absorbed them into the ranks. With the addition of the seized equipment, Wang Yue quietly became the owner of the most powerful arsenal in the Taihang Mountains—a fact that, frankly, was beyond dispute.

Second, the detachment’s medical team was reduced from 10 to 5, and the remaining 5 were formed into a small military hospital. Of course, they couldn't be counted on for the heavy lifting; the departing Dr. Bai would have to handle that. One should not underestimate a five-person military hospital; in fact, even into the 21st century, many town health centers in various parts of the country had only a handful of staff. For a fledgling hospital, it was sufficient.

Third, a 13-man security squad was formed from elite troops. It included two assault teams, one marksman, three assault troopers (equipped with one 1888 Commission Rifle and three C93 pistols), and two 2-man machine gun teams (each equipped with one FND light machine gun, one 1888 Commission Rifle, and one Mauser M1879 pistol), plus a squad leader (equipped with one C93 pistol). As a cautious man, Wang Yue was very protective of his own life. Vacancies in other units were filled with prisoners of war.

Finally, the training unit was abolished and expanded into a 50-man "camp-following" military academy, with Wang Yue serving as principal and his adjutant, Qin Shou, as vice-principal. As a graduate of the Northeast Military Academy’s infantry department, Qin Shou was more than capable of training squad and platoon leaders. Indeed, the academy only trained junior leaders—Wang Yue knew his own limits. Meng Fanliao was appointed as the other adjutant.

The reason was simple: the man was far too good at sweet-talking. Wang Yue didn't trust him with the prisoners of war; the Independent Detachment was still too small to withstand internal strife. If not for his respect for the characters of the original story, he would have eliminated him outright.

Though he still had over a hundred thousand catties of grain, Wang Yue began purchasing more the moment he arrived in Qifeng County. Millet, broomcorn, sweet potatoes, potatoes, black beans, sorghum, yams, dried vegetables—it didn't matter what it was; as long as the locals were willing to sell, the detachment bought it. In wartime, the most important thing wasn't guns or ammunition, nor gold or jewelry; only things that could fill a stomach were truly reliable. Even with his spatial ability as a backup, one could never be too prepared.

For the first two days, the bandits in Qifeng Town tried to "set the rules" for the Independent Detachment, but Milong, a man who cared little for traditional martial etiquette, dragged an autocannon with him when he went out to collect grain. Whenever he encountered bandits, he opened fire. After a barrage of shells, the bandits immediately turned docile; most knelt, while the few who remained scattered and fled the town entirely.

Within a few days, the large gangs of bandits had been cleared out. Only a few solo operators remained, unable to grasp the situation. Bandits were evil, but not stupid; there was no need to risk their lives against artillery for the sake of pride. In such chaotic times, as long as one had people and guns, one could survive anywhere.

However, straightening out the affairs of Qifeng Town couldn't be done in a day or two. Wang Yue didn't have the time, so he dumped everything on Gu Yufei. Although she lacked experience, she at least held a sense of public duty. Letting her train was a good idea; through soul-searching, Wang Yue confirmed she hadn't defected to the other side and wasn't even a die-hard loyalist to the Bureau of Investigation and Statistics. She was eager to make a name for herself, which made it convenient for him to "cultivate" her.

As for whether she could steal his troops away? Gu Yufei would never have the chance, as all key positions were held by his absolute loyalists.

Qin Shou, a graduate of the Northeast Military Academy infantry department and an Army Major, was Wang Yue's former adjutant and current vice-principal of the military academy. They had been partners since their time at the Grand Marshal's Mansion, through the 68th Division of the Jin-Sui Army. He lacked initiative but was excellent at holding ground.

Wang Dahua, the garrison captain and Army Second Lieutenant, was a servant from the Wang household and a personal maid to Wang Yue’s mother. She was skilled with two German-made "twenty-shot" Mausers. Had she not been stout and heavy, the original owner of Wang Yue's body would never have let her be. Among the detachment, she was the most loyal to Wang Yue; if anyone harbored ulterior motives, she would be the first to counter them.

He Dana, Army Second Lieutenant, the logistics officer and head of the mess, was a former chef at the Grand Marshal's Mansion, expert in Lu and Tan cuisine. If not for his lack of ambition, he would have easily been a regimental commander. Despite having a wife, son, and grandson back in the capital, he was obsessed with Wang Dahua—a point Wang Yue struggled to understand. Don't the He family men usually prefer widows? Sister Hua wasn't a widow; the logic just didn't hold up.

Li Liansheng, Army Lieutenant, commander of the First Platoon. Though not described much in the "Regimental Commander" records, the fact that he survived until the end proved he was no fool. Wang Yue was very satisfied with him.

Zhang Milong, Army Lieutenant, commander of the Second Platoon. Despite his "unprofessional" appearance, he had no issues maintaining control over his men—a feat Wang Yue admitted he couldn't replicate.

Xu San'er (born Xu Wude), Army Lieutenant, commander of the Third Platoon. Also a veteran of the Northeast Army and a fellow townsman of Milong, he was slick but loyal.

Du Gui, Army Second Lieutenant, a former member of the Imperial Household Department. Though he joined the Northeast Army late, he owed a great debt to the Wang family. Entrusting the arsenal to him was safe; he had managed the Landianchang gunpowder factory while the former President was alive. His competence was unquestionable; otherwise, a gambler like him wouldn't have been protected by his superiors for so long.

Jia Youfu, a graduate of the Northeast Military Academy artillery department and an Army Major, was the artillery platoon commander. He was granted this rank because he had been an acting battalion commander in the Northeast Army. Wang Yue trusted his junior. Even though he was only a mortar platoon leader, he had trained the machine gun and cannon platoon as well; with him there, the artillery would remain in good hands.

Hao Xichuan, known as "Dr. Hao," Army Second Lieutenant, a remnant of the Shaanxi Army and head of the medical unit. He was mentioned specifically because he held all the detachment's medicine. In these times, Western medicine was worth more than gold. Even though Wang Yue only stored a fraction of his supply, it was enough to make others jealous. With Dr. Hao in charge, there was no need to worry about the medicine being sold off on the black market.

With the old brothers serving as squad leaders, the entire Independent Detachment was tightly knit. Rookies like Gu Yufei or Xu Zhongyi, or even Li Weigong himself, wouldn't be able to penetrate it.

Therefore, as soon as things settled down, Wang Yue took Xu Zhongyi, Milong, Fanliao, and the security squad on a secret departure from Qifeng Town, heading south to Tongguan, where they transferred to an Air Force TB-3 bomber for Jiangcheng.

It was hard to imagine that despite two nations fighting like dogs, the railways hadn't been completely destroyed. Otherwise, Wang Yue wouldn't have been able to get out of the hinterlands so quickly. Heavens be praised; initially, Wang Yue had planned to go through Luliang, cross the Yellow River, and then go to Chang'an to catch a private plane from a foreign airline to Jiangcheng. That route would have taken nearly a month and cost over ten thousand silver dollars.

In reality, it took only three days and less than a thousand silver dollars to reach Jiangcheng. The biggest expenses were the five hundred silver dollars and a bottle of morphine powder slipped to the pilot. Even in peacetime, such speed and cost would have been unthinkable. Wang Yue was truly enlightened.

What shocked Wang Yue even more was the situation in Jiangcheng. Both sides had committed over a million troops, fighting tooth and nail, yet Jiangcheng remained calm. Even with the aircraft of both nations dogfighting in the sky from time to time, it didn't affect the mood of the public; there was even a sense of morbid prosperity.

August 20, 1938, Xuan Palace Hotel, Jiangcheng.

In a luxury suite, Wang Yue was conversing with a tall, sharp-nosed Slav in a crisp suit. The refined "foreign master" appeared somewhat cautious before Wang Yue. He was none other than the former adjutant who had previously absconded with all of Wang Yue's money.

It turned out everything was a setup by his predecessor. Realizing he couldn't maintain the situation, the predecessor had planned to bail. Had an accident not occurred, he likely would have run off after settling his men, but Wang Yue had ended up reaping the benefits.

Before arriving in Jiangcheng, Wang Yue had used Gu Yufei's radio to contact Alexei—the man before him—and made a series of arrangements. While the outcome of the Battle of Jiangcheng wouldn't change, that didn't mean Wang Yue wouldn't try to get involved.

His abilities might be limited, and while he was determined to save his own skin, his desire to kill the Japanese invaders was genuine. Even if there was only a sliver of a chance, he would strike decisively.

"Young Master, do we really have that many torpedo boats for sale?" Alexei asked, feeling somewhat guilty. He felt like a fraud; he had already made arrangements for a ship to go to Europe, but suddenly he wasn't leaving, and he had registered a "Umbrella Company," used fake documents to get bank loans, and then used those loans to buy strategic supplies.

If that were all, it would be fine, but his Young Master had even made him proactively approach the Ministry of Military Affairs, wanting to sell them a batch of old torpedo boats—fifty of them, all at once! Fifty torpedo boats! That was a national-level order! He was now certain his Young Master wanted to scam the Ministry of Military Affairs as well. Alas! It was a pity for the old master's lifelong reputation; how did his sons turn out so incompetent?

"Is there any issue with the price on their end?" Wang Yue smiled. He was not short on Zhen-II torpedo boats; not only had he stockpiled eighty of them in his spatial storage, but he had also dropped a few more in the freight yard since arriving in Jiangcheng. As time passed, he would have even more.

The Zhen-II was less than twenty meters long, just over two and a half meters wide, and less than two meters high once the railings and chimneys were lowered. Stacking eighty of them in a 20-meter cubic space was not a problem at all.

While it was true that the craft was outdated, the current battlefield was the Yangtze River. No matter the warship, speeds couldn't be maintained, and there were no decent heavy warships present. It might be difficult during the day, but at night, they would absolutely pose a threat to the Japanese fleet.

Compared to the "advanced" torpedo boats imported over the years, the advantages of the Zhen-II could not be ignored. First was the fuel advantage: with the loss of coastal ports, domestic fuel supplies would become increasingly tight. Torpedo boats that didn't require fuel were naturally more convenient to operate. Second, ease of maintenance: while the 110-horsepower triple-expansion steam engine on the Zhen-II was precise, it was just a steam engine; almost all wearing parts could be machined domestically, eliminating the need for imported components. Finally, the shallow draft: a displacement of less than sixteen tons allowed it to easily navigate most waterways, forcing the Japanese to commit more resources to deal with their navy. As one grew stronger, the other would weaken, and the pressure on the army would be reduced.

In the water-network regions of the south, deploying a large number of small vessels wouldn't just counter the Japanese navy; it would make the Japanese army miserable, forcing them to continue down the path of specialized riverine warfare.