The Mysterious Soldier of the Anti-Japanese War

Chapter 289 Secret Support and Material Handover

Late at night, all was silent, save for the solitary moon in the horizon, casting its cool light. Lei Tao and his companions dragged their exhausted bodies back to their inn. After a brief greeting with his teammates, Lei Tao hurried into his room, gently closed the door, and fastened the bolt behind it, shutting out the clamor of the outside world.

He quickly walked to the corner of the room, a flicker of caution in his eyes. He cautiously observed his surroundings. After confirming that no one was around, he removed two briefcases from the mysterious Bagua spinning top and placed them on the table. He then pulled out ten Thompson submachine guns, ten M1911 magazines, and a number of bullets, neatly placing them in one of the boxes. After a brief pause, he reached into the Bagua spinning top again, took out some silver dollars, British pounds, and US dollars, and placed them in another box, gently closing the lid.

Lei Tao took a deep breath, picked up the two boxes steadily with both hands, and tiptoed out of the room. The corridor of the inn was quiet, and the occasional light chirping of insects made the silence even more vivid. He crouched down, his steps were very light, and his eyes glanced around vigilantly from time to time. Just as he was about to reach the end of the corridor, he caught a glimpse of a dark shadow flashing by at the corner of the stairs. Lei Tao's heart suddenly tightened, and he stopped in an instant, holding his breath. He quickly put the box down gently against the wall, his right hand quietly reached for the pistol at his waist, his finger on the trigger, ready to deal with any emergency at any time. He squinted his eyes, staring at the direction where the dark shadow disappeared, not daring to breathe.

After a while, seeing that there was no movement, he slowly relaxed, picked up the box again, quickened his pace, and with his familiarity with the surrounding environment and keen observation, he cleverly avoided several Central Bureau of Investigation agents who were following him and successfully walked out of the inn.

Stepping onto the street, a cold wind blew in his face, and Lei Tao shivered. He pricked up his ears alertly, but only his own footsteps echoed on the cobblestones, no other sound. He didn't dare to slack off, and quickly glanced around. The doors and windows of the houses on the street were closed, and there was no light in sight. He turned into a narrow alley. The alley was filled with a damp smell, the walls were covered with moss, and the cobblestones underfoot were bumpy and uneven, making it easy to trip if you weren't careful. Lei Tao walked forward cautiously, looking back from time to time to make sure he was not being followed. He twisted and turned, weaving through the intricate alleys with agility and silence.

Finally, he arrived at the door of the "Eighth Office." Lei Tao quickly slipped into the shadows, set down his suitcase, and stared intently at the door and the surrounding movements. He observed for several minutes, taking in every detail. After ensuring there were no anomalies, he took a deep breath, walked forward, extended his hand, and gently knocked on the door.

"Who?" A familiar guard's voice came from inside.

"I'm Lei Tao, and I have something important to discuss with you." Lei Tao responded in a low voice.

The door slowly opened a crack, and a sharp gaze shot out from the crack, sizing up Lei Tao. After confirming that everything was correct, the door was fully opened, and Lei Tao quickly slipped in.

He was greeted by the office director's secretary, whose eyes revealed competence and composure. "Comrade Lei, it's so late, what's the urgent matter?"

Lei Tao didn't say anything, but placed the two boxes on the table and gently opened them. When the secretary saw the weapons and currency in the boxes, a hint of surprise and joy flashed in his eyes.

"These……"

"I found that your guard weapons are a bit simple and the funds are a bit tight, so I sent some to you. The situation is tense now, and the diehards are eyeing us covetously. These weapons can enhance our defense at the critical moment, and the currency can also solve the urgent problem and buy much-needed supplies." Lei Tao looked solemn, moved closer, lowered his voice and continued.

The secretary's hand gently stroked the firearms in the box, his eyes filled with emotion. He excitedly shook Lei Tao's hand and said, "Comrade Lei, this is a timely help! We have always been limited in equipment and funds, and it has been difficult to carry out missions and ensure safety. What you brought gives us more confidence."

Lei Tao waved his hand and said seriously: "It's all for the common ideals and goals. You have to be careful when using these weapons. The Thompson submachine gun has a fast rate of fire and strong firepower, but it has considerable recoil, so you need to practice to adapt. The M1911 has high accuracy and is very practical for close-range combat." He explained in detail the performance, usage techniques and maintenance points of the weapons. The secretary listened attentively, nodded from time to time, and took out a pen and paper to record key information.

After explaining the weapons, Lei Tao looked at the box containing currency: "You can flexibly use these dollars, pounds, and US dollars according to your actual needs. They can be used to purchase supplies and transmit intelligence. Be sure to keep them properly and don't let those with ulterior motives take advantage of them."

The secretary nodded solemnly: "Comrade Lei, rest assured, we will use them prudently and maximize the value of every resource."

The two men discussed the current situation in whispers. Lei Tao shared some intelligence he had gathered from various sources, noting that the movements of the diehards were particularly noteworthy. He spoke gravely, "As far as I know, they've recently been frequently mobilizing troops in several counties near the Eighth Route Army bases in the Taihang Mountains of the Second War Zone. While ostensibly to defend against the Japanese invasion, I suspect they have other motives, most likely intending to launch military action against the Eighth Route Army. You must remain vigilant."

The secretary looked solemn as he listened carefully and took notes.

After the secretary finished recording, he frowned and slowly spoke, "Comrade Lei, the information you brought is extremely important. In recent years, the diehards have been making small moves and causing friction from time to time. We have always been cautious and vigilant, but we didn't expect them to make such a big move this time."

Lei Tao nodded slightly, his expression grim, and added, "I also heard that there are some radicals within their ranks who advocate taking the initiative and attempting to weaken the Eighth Route Army. These people are likely to launch an attack without considering the overall situation."

The secretary took a deep breath, his eyes firm. "We will immediately report this intelligence to our superiors and strengthen our base's security. We will also deploy more reconnaissance personnel to closely monitor the diehards' every move. Any abnormalities will be detected immediately."

The conversation concluded, and Lei Tao stood up to leave. His secretary escorted him to the door and once again expressed his sincere gratitude: "Comrade Lei, we will always remember your support. If you need anything in the future, please feel free to ask."

Lei Tao joked, "My father-in-law's family is in trouble, so shouldn't I, as his son-in-law, help out?" The secretary was stunned at first, but then he reacted. A knowing smile appeared on his face, and he gently hit Lei Tao's shoulder: "You, you still don't forget to joke at this time! But after all, aren't we a family!"

Lei Tao smiled and waved his hand, his eyes full of sincerity: "Okay, no more jokes. If you have any difficulties in the future, whether it's a lack of guns and ammunition, food supplies, or even medicine, feel free to come to me. I have many channels over there, and I will definitely find a way to solve it. As for medicine, I know a few reliable drug dealers who can get some scarce anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers, and I will send them to the military hospital in a few days. I also have ways to get food, but you have to be careful when transporting it so that it can't be discovered by the enemy. I will make all the arrangements."

"Okay! With your words, we feel much more at ease." The secretary nodded vigorously, with trust and gratitude in his eyes.

Lei Tao looked solemn and said in a firm tone: "The things have been delivered, and it's time for me to go back. Take care!" After that, he stood straight and saluted the secretary with a standard military salute.

The secretary also quickly returned the greeting, with a touch of emotion in his eyes.

Lei Tao turned around and started his journey back. He remained highly vigilant and did not miss any suspicious signs.