The Mysterious Soldier of the Anti-Japanese War

Chapter 281 Thunder in the Mountain City: Spy Suspicion Behind the Bombing

As they watched the Sichuan Army disappear into the distance, the passionate war songs gradually dissipated in the wind, but the fiery passion still burned brightly in the hearts of Lei Tao and others.

"Let's go, it's time to go into the city." Lei Tao took a deep breath, calmed his inner turmoil, and took the lead in heading towards Chongqing. His companions followed closely behind, their steps firm and powerful.

The streets were bustling with activity. Shops lined the streets, people came and went, the sounds of hawking and laughter intertwined. But a closer look revealed the city's intense bustle beneath the surface of prosperity. Anti-Japanese slogans were posted at many shop entrances: "All People Fight the War, Share the National Crisis" and "Down with Japanese Imperialism." The bright red characters were striking, piercing and inspiring everyone.

As we passed by a teahouse, we heard a passionate speech: "Fellow countrymen! The War of Resistance is the responsibility of every one of us. Those who have money should contribute money, those who have strength should contribute strength. As long as we unite as one, there will be no enemy that we cannot defeat!"

Lei Tao and others were attracted and walked into the teahouse. They saw a gentleman standing on the stage, speaking passionately, and the audience below were focused and bursting into warm applause from time to time.

"Now, the Sichuan Army soldiers have gone out of Sichuan to fight the war despite all difficulties and dangers. They are short of food and clothing, and their weapons are simple, but they still bravely move forward. We are in the rear, how can we not give our full support?" The gentleman's voice became louder and louder, and his emotions became more and more excited.

"Yes! We must support the Sichuan Army!" someone in the audience responded loudly.

"Donate money! Donate supplies!" Everyone responded.

Lei Tao and his companions were moved by this scene of unity and found the owner of the teahouse, leaving some money for him to pass on to the supply collection office for the war of resistance.

As we emerged from the teahouse, the afternoon sun was still blazing, pouring down unreservedly on Chongqing's streets and alleys. Shops lined the streets, people came and went, and the sounds of shouting, chatting, and laughing blended into a scene filled with the atmosphere of everyday life. Lei Tao, gazing at the bustling scene before him, was overwhelmed with emotion. "This city holds immense strength. As long as everyone works together, victory in the War of Resistance will surely not be far off."

Before he could finish his words, the piercing sirens of air raids suddenly blared, shattering the city's tranquility. Pedestrians' faces paled, and the once orderly streets erupted in chaos. Vendors abandoned their stalls, shouldering their loads and sprinting towards the air-raid shelters. Children, terrified, cried and clung to the hems of their parents' clothes. Elderly people stumbled through the panicked crowd, their eyes filled with fear.

Lei Tao's expression suddenly changed. He quickly glanced around and shouted, "Everyone, calm down! Run to the air-raid shelter in an orderly manner!" He and his team members rushed into the panicked crowd. Lei Tao, agile, weaved through the crowd, reaching out to help an elderly man who had fallen, while shouting loudly, guiding everyone to evacuate to a safe place. The team members also sprang into action, some leading the way, shouting directions, while others flanked the crowd to maintain order, ensuring everyone entered the air-raid shelter in an orderly and swift manner.

At the same time, six Japanese bombers, escorted by twelve Zero fighters, swooped down on Chongqing like a flock of hawks baring their fangs and claws. The deafening roar of the plane engines grew clearer and clearer, like the footsteps of death approaching. The sound grew louder and louder, jarring the eardrums and distorting the surrounding air.

Lei Tao looked solemn. He turned to Liu Zishan and others and said, "Let's go into the air-raid shelter too and ensure safety first!" As he said that, he quickly pulled the people around him, quickened his pace, and ran towards the air-raid shelter not far away.

Inside the air-raid shelter, dim and damp, a sense of oppression permeated the air. People huddled together, nervously listening to the bursts of explosions outside, each one a heart-wrenching blast. The cries of children, the soothing voices of adults, and the pounding of heavy breathing intertwined, casting a pall of terror over the entire shelter. Lei Tao, tightly protecting Meng Xiaoyu beside him, stared warily at the entrance, constantly monitoring the movements outside.

After an unknown amount of time, the bombing finally ended, and the alarms were lifted. Lei Tao gently supported Meng Xiaoyu as they slowly emerged from the shelter. The scene outside was shocking. The once bustling streets were now a shambles, littered with ruins and thick smoke. The air was filled with the pungent smell of gunpowder and burning.

The streets were dead silent, broken only by occasional painful moans. The survivors looked numb. Some stood blankly in front of the ruins, staring at their former homes with despair in their eyes, while others desperately searched among the rubble, hoping to find a glimmer of hope.

Lei Tao was terribly anxious, his eyes searching the crowd eagerly. Finally, he spotted Chen Feiyang and Liu Zishan. They were standing at the corner of a collapsed wall, their faces filled with anger and grief. Lei Tao walked over quickly, his footsteps so rapid that they kicked up a cloud of dust.

"Chen Feiyang, Liu Zishan!" Lei Tao shouted loudly, his voice a little hoarse with anxiety.

The two turned their heads and saw Lei Tao and Meng Xiaoyu, a hint of relief flashed in their eyes.

Lei Tao's expression was stern, his brows knitted into the shape of a "川" character, and he said in a deep voice: "The Japanese bombers dared to bomb Chongqing so blatantly, which means there are Japanese spies in Chongqing. They must have figured out our air defense deployment and urban layout in advance to be so unscrupulous. We must do something and cannot let these spies continue to sabotage in the dark!"

Chen Feiyang was so angry that he punched the broken wall next to him and roared, "These damn bastards, I must pull them out and tear them into pieces!"

Liu Zishan also gnashed his teeth, his face full of resentment: "Yes, we must not let them go!"

Lei Tao thought for a moment, looked into the distance with a determined gaze, and then said, "Let's go to the 'Eighth Office' first and report the situation here. They must have more comprehensive intelligence and may be able to catch those Japanese spies hiding in the dark."

Everyone nodded. Meng Xiaoyu then said softly, "I used to be a member of the underground party and have some connections with the 'Eighth Office'. I can help connect them and perhaps speed up the process."

A hint of surprise and relief flashed in Lei Tao's eyes, and he looked at Meng Xiaoyu with a little more admiration: "Xiaoyu, it's great to have your help. We will definitely succeed this time."

Chen Feiyang rubbed his hands excitedly and grinned, "Sister-in-law, you are really our lucky star! Now we can definitely catch the spy!"

Liu Zishan also echoed: "Yes, sister-in-law, with you here, we feel much more at ease."

Meng Xiaoyu's cheeks flushed slightly, and she waved her hand modestly: "Don't say that, everyone. We are all fighting against the Japanese. I am happy to contribute my part."

After gathering their thoughts, they headed towards the "Eighth Office" with a heavy heart and determination. Along the way, the aftermath of the bombing became increasingly horrifying. Collapsed buildings, charred trees, and rubble littered the streets, all bearing witness to the Japanese army's brutality. But the people on the streets remained undeterred by fear. They supported one another, working together to clear the rubble and carry the wounded, their eyes shone with tenacity and unyielding spirit.

This resilience also infected Lei Tao and his companions. They quickened their pace and finally arrived at the "Eighth Office." Led by guards, they entered the room, where a leader in plain military uniform had been waiting. Meng Xiaoyu was the first to step forward, standing at attention and saluting. Her voice was clear and firm: "Comrade, hello! I am Meng Xiaoyu, a former member of the underground Communist Party. I have come to report to the organization and bring important intelligence." She gestured to Lei Tao, "These are my comrades. We have discovered important clues related to Japanese spies, which may be closely related to the bombing."

Upon hearing this, the person in charge's expression froze, and he looked at everyone sharply: "Please sit down and tell me in detail. Any detail may be crucial."

Lei Tao cleared his throat and spoke first, detailing the flight paths of the Japanese planes during the bombing, the bombing locations, and his suspicion that spies were providing intelligence to the Japanese. Meng Xiaoyu, drawing on her own knowledge of intelligence transmission methods from her time working in the underground Party, then analyzed the spies' possible hiding places and the methods they used to transmit intelligence.

The person in charge listened attentively, occasionally raising questions to encourage deeper discussion. For example, he asked, "What do you think is the most likely method for spies to transmit information? Radio or secret letters?" A lively discussion ensued, each offering their own insights. After listening to everyone's comments, the person in charge's expression grew increasingly serious. "The clues you've provided are crucial. We've been aware of the presence of spies before, but we've never had a definitive lead. It seems we must act now and strive to uncover these hidden enemies as quickly as possible! From now on, we must work closely together and not overlook any suspicious activity."