The Mysterious Soldier of the Anti-Japanese War

Chapter 51: Robbery of the Japanese 82nd Bank Vault

Lei Tao took out a special underground party token and handed it to the young man: "This is an internal token of the underground party. I got it from a reliable friend. He said it can prove my identity."

The young man took the token and examined it, then said excitedly, "How did you get this? This is our secret."

Lei Tao said: "I have my own channels, and I work hard for the anti-Japanese war just like you do. Now we can act together."

Lei Tao said: "I plan to rob the vault of the 82nd Bank of Japan. The bank contains wealth looted by the devils, and I want to take it back to weaken the devils. I will use these funds to purchase weapons and equipment to arm my own team, so I need your help to create chaos and attract bank patrols. These weapons are for you." He opened two suitcases one after another.

The young man looked at the weapon and said, "This is too risky. If we fail, we will die. Is your plan reliable?"

Lei Tao patted the young man on the shoulder and said, "Brother, I understand your concerns. But if we succeed, we can recapture our wealth and defeat the Japanese. I have a plan, not a blind action. You two discuss it, and I'll wait for your reply."

The others in the yard gathered around to discuss the situation. One said, "This is an opportunity. We want to do something big." Another worried, "If this is a trap, we can't risk our brothers' lives."

After a while, the young man said to Lei Tao, "We can consider it. You need to tell us the plan in detail and we will assess the risks."

Lei Tao nodded and took out a piece of paper with a map and markings around the bank from his arms: "The action will be tomorrow night at midnight. Divide into three groups. One group will set off an explosion on the street east of the bank to attract the patrol at the main gate; the second group will set off smoke bombs in the alley on the west side to confuse the enemy; the third group will feint an attack behind the bank to make the Japanese think that the main force is behind. I will sneak in through a secret passage on the side of the bank. I have confirmed the passage through reconnaissance. After I succeed, I will give the signal and you will evacuate. Use grenades and bombs to create chaos, and submachine guns and pistols for self-defense."

The young man looked at the map, and others gathered around. An older man said, "This plan is feasible, but there are many variables. What if the Japanese reinforcements arrive soon?"

Lei Tao said confidently: "I calculated that the Japanese army camp will be reinforced for at least 20 minutes. We have time to act and evacuate. I have a way to delay the reinforcements."

The young man asked: "How can we ensure our safety? What if we are chased by the devils?"

Lei Tao took out a few small bottles from his suitcase: "These are smoke bombs and simple jamming devices. After completing the mission, use them to escape pursuit and reach the predetermined safe point. I have prepared a new hiding place there."

After everyone discussed it, the young man said, "Okay, let's do it! But if things get bad, you have to keep us safe first."

Lei Tao promised: "I guarantee with my life that I will protect everyone. We are all here to drive the Japanese out of China. This operation must succeed."

Lei Tao added, "To make the plan go more smoothly, before the operation, I plan to bombard the Japanese headquarters. This will make them think they are under attack and they will withdraw some of their troops. This will weaken the bank's defenses and reduce the pressure on our operations."

Everyone in the yard was stunned, then surprised.

The young man asked worriedly, "Bombarding the Japanese headquarters? That's too dangerous. Exposing it would have serious consequences. And where would the artillery come from?"

Lei Tao said: "I found a cannon, hidden in a concealed place, within a suitable range of the Japanese headquarters, and surrounded by cover. Although the cannon's power is not great, it can make the Japanese headquarters panic, thinking it is the prelude to a large-scale attack. Seizing the opportunity, wait for them to transfer the bank guards and then take action, and the chance of success will increase."

An older member asked, "How do you evacuate after the shelling? The area is heavily guarded."

Lei Tao said: "I prepared a camouflaged vehicle and drove along the planned evacuation route after the shelling. The route passed through small roads and abandoned areas, which could avoid the Japanese pursuit. I also had props to interfere with the Japanese army's vision and tracking, so I could get away safely."

After hearing this, everyone's worries were slightly alleviated and they became more confident in the plan. Lei Tao looked at these young and motivated faces, and a warm current surged in his heart. He knew that these people were all great, and were true warriors who were willing to go through fire and water for their country and nation.

Lei Tao cleared his throat and said with a smile: "Brothers, we are going to do something big, but courage alone is not enough, we also need some skills. Just like the group of you who went to the east street to make the explosion, don't be stupid and just run over to light the fuse." As he spoke, he imitated a silly running posture, which made everyone laugh.

"When placing a bomb, you have to observe the surrounding situation first to see if there are any Japanese secret sentries. If there are, do it like this." Lei Tao picked up a small stone and threw it at a flower pot not far away. The stone hit the flower pot accurately, making a slight sound. "Use a small noise to lure them away, then take the opportunity to place the bomb, and then run away quickly. Don't linger, just like when you see an ugly woman, run as far away as you can." Everyone laughed, and the originally tense atmosphere relaxed a lot.

Then he looked at the group setting off the smoke bombs: "You set off the smoke bombs in the alley on the west side. This job seems simple, but it actually requires a lot of knowledge. Setting off smoke bombs is like adding salt to cooking, it has to be just right. Don't throw them all at once, you have to find a good time, set off a few at the entrance of the alley first to attract the attention of the Japs, and when they are in a mess, throw a few among them, making them fly around in the smoke like headless flies. If you don't throw it well, it's like adding too much salt, the dish will be ruined, and our plan will be ruined. Don't blame me for asking you for salt then." Everyone laughed again.

To the group that was feinting at the back of the bank, Lei Tao's expression became more serious: "Your task is not easy either. The feint must look like a feint, but don't rush up stupidly. Make good use of the surrounding environment and find some obstacles to cover yourself. Don't be too regular when shooting. Sometimes you shoot here and sometimes you shoot there, making the devils think we are everywhere. If the devils' firepower is too strong, don't resist. We are not here to fight to the death, but to cause damage and take things. Remember, you can continue to fight the devils if you are alive. If you die, you can only watch us fight from underground. How frustrating that is."

Lei Tao picked up a smoke bomb and a simple jamming device and demonstrated: "When we complete the mission and start to retreat, this little gadget will come in handy. Just like when you are being chased by the devils, suddenly set off a smoke bomb, the devils will be confused, then you can run away quickly. If the devils are still chasing you, throw this jamming device, it will be like casting a magic spell on them, making them lose their way. But don't get stunned yourself, otherwise I can only wait for your ghosts to gather in a safe place."

"Also, brothers, I have prepared a good thing for you for this operation - a Thompson submachine gun." Lei Tao said as he took out a Thompson submachine gun from the corner, and everyone's attention was immediately attracted to it.

"This Thompson submachine gun is amazing. It has an extremely fast firing rate, like raindrops in a storm, it can beat the enemy so hard that they can't raise their heads. Look at this magazine, it has a large capacity and enough ammunition, so you don't have to change bullets frequently during combat, and you can continuously output firepower." Lei Tao said as he skillfully fiddled with the gun and showed everyone the magazine.

"However, this gun also has a little temper. It has a relatively large recoil, so you have to hold it tightly when shooting, just like holding your beloved girl, and you can't let it run away. Otherwise, the muzzle will jump around, and you won't know where the bullet flies. When shooting, you should use short bursts, and don't hold the trigger down all the time. If you do that, the bullet will be like a headless fly, which is not only a waste, but also exposes yourself." Lei Tao explained and demonstrated at the same time, simulating the shooting posture and movements.

"In terms of tactical application, if we encounter the Japanese head-on, the brothers holding Thompson submachine guns will be in the front, find cover, and don't rush to shoot. When the Japanese get close, suddenly open fire to disrupt their position. The others will cover with pistols in the back. Once the Japanese are suppressed, we will quickly move away and don't linger in the fight. If we are in a narrow street or alley, the Thompson submachine gun will be even more powerful. We can use the bullets to bounce off the wall to attack the enemy, but we must pay attention to the angle to avoid hitting our own people."

Lei Tao picked up the gun again and made a shooting gesture in the alley: "Just like this, using the rebound of the wall to catch the devils off guard. If we cooperate well, this Thompson submachine gun will be our weapon to kill the enemy."

Lei Tao's words reassured the underground party members and made them look forward to this battle even more. In addition to the desire for victory, everyone's eyes were filled with determination and confidence. They knew that with Lei Tao there, this operation had a better chance of success.

Lei Tao's words gave the underground party members peace of mind and made them look forward to this battle even more.