jdhmnovel Chapter 267 Desperate Thunder
Chapter 267 Desperate Thunder
"Dr. Meng is missing?!" The news Xu Guangrong brought was like a thunderclap, instantly shattering Lei Tao's tranquil concentration on sniping instruction. The branch he was using to demonstrate his skills snapped in two in his anger and anxiety, with a crisp snap that seemed to capture his current state of mind.
Lei Tao turned abruptly, his eyes like torches, quickly scanning the team members in front of him who were learning sniping together, and said firmly: "Brothers, Dr. Meng is the life guardian of our team in public. She has superb medical skills and a kind heart. She has saved the lives of many brothers and is an indispensable part of our team. In private, she is my fiancée, and I, Lei Tao, will never let her fall into danger and ignore her!" As the words fell, a moment of tenderness flashed in his eyes, but it was instantly filled with determination. He looked at several Sichuan soldiers in the team and continued: "During this rescue, you Sichuan brothers haven't been home for a long time. Let's fight side by side. We must rescue Dr. Meng safely and then go home on the way!"
Surprise and hesitation flashed across Liu Zishan's eyes, and he murmured softly, "Captain Lei, I... I do miss home, but I'm worried that it will delay the rescue operation."
Lei Tao stepped forward and patted Liu Zishan's shoulder firmly, his tone firm and encouraging: "Don't worry! We are all battle-hardened and well-trained soldiers. As long as we plan carefully and arrange the time reasonably, we will definitely not make any mistakes. Moreover, you are familiar with the local conditions. Maybe you can become our magic weapon for victory at a critical moment and help us find Dr. Meng quickly."
Chen Feiyang clenched his fists excitedly and shouted, "Captain Lei, I'll sign up! My hometown is not far from Dr. Meng's home, and I know the way very well. I'll definitely be able to help a lot!"
Yi Guang and the Li brothers exchanged glances and nodded. Yi Guang looked serious and solemnly promised, "Captain Lei, we will follow your instructions and ensure that we complete the mission!"
Lei Tao looked at everyone, a surge of warmth welling up in his heart. He shouted an order, "Alright! Everyone, hurry up and prepare. This operation must succeed, not fail! We must bring Dr. Meng back safely!" Then, he turned to Xu Guangrong and said, "Captain Xu, I'll leave you and Old Zhou to take care of the camp." With a sly smile, he said, "This is the cradle of our elite training. Don't slack off in training. Who knows, they might come in handy on the battlefield one day!"
Xu Guangrong's expression froze, and he nodded in response, "Captain Lei, go with peace of mind! Zhou Weiguo and I will be at the camp to ensure that the training proceeds as planned, and that no team member is left behind. You must return safely!"
Lei Tao gave a few more detailed instructions before he and his team members quickly began their intense preparations. They carefully cleaned each gun, repeatedly checked its performance, and ensured they had enough ammunition. When packing their bags, they carefully selected highly effective first aid medicines and long-lasting dry food.
Soon, everyone gathered at the camp gate. Zhou Weiguo, accompanied by several soldiers and several nimble war horses, approached with a hint of complaint. "Captain Lei! You didn't even tell me about this serious incident. How long will it take to get there if we just rely on our own two feet? Riding these war horses will speed us up several times and conserve our energy, giving us the confidence to face the bandits!" He patted the neck of a black steed beside him. The steed neighed and pawed the ground with its front hooves, demonstrating its agility.
Lei Tao's eyes flashed with gratitude, and the corners of his mouth curled up: "Old Zhou, thank you for your thoughtfulness! Things were too urgent just now, and I was so focused on preparing supplies and making plans that I really neglected the matter of the war horses."
Zhou Weiguo waved his hand and looked at the team members with concern: "Your mission this time will pass through the Japanese-occupied area, so you must pay attention to safety. I will wait for you to come back and fight the Japanese together with you." After saying that, he paused slightly, his eyes full of trust and expectation.
Lei Tao then stepped forward, looked at everyone with a serious expression and said, "You too, must be careful to guard against surprise attacks by the Japanese army. Take care!"
Lei Tao turned to the team members and shouted, "Brothers, mount your horses! With these companions, our rescue operation is more assured! Let's go!" The team members quickly mounted their horses, their movements smooth and seamless. With the sound of enthusiastic hooves, the rescue team shot off like an arrow, heading towards Dr. Meng's hometown.
Along the way, the wind whistled in their ears, and the trees on both sides quickly retreated like phantoms. Chen Feiyang, riding a bay horse, his face flushed with excitement, shouted loudly: "Captain Lei, when this horse gallops, it feels like my whole body is full of power!"
Lei Tao raised the corners of his mouth slightly and responded loudly: "Don't just get excited, stay alert at all times!" His eyes were like an eagle, scanning the surroundings vigilantly. The terrain along the way was complicated, and the Japanese army and bandits were surrounding them. If they were not careful, they might fall into a desperate situation.
As expected, when they arrived at the first checkpoint in the Japanese-occupied area, they were surrounded by armed Japanese soldiers. With fierce eyes and guns drawn, the soldiers demanded to check their bags and show their identification. Lei Tao thought to himself that with such a strict inspection, any mistake would expose their identities. He calmly gave his team members a look, signaling them to hold steady, while he began to survey the surrounding terrain.
Lei Tao soon spotted a towering tree over 300 meters from the checkpoint. The tree, like a natural watchtower, stood out against the dense forest, offering an excellent view. Crouching silently through the dense undergrowth, he slipped silently through the thicket, unnoticed when a rough branch scratched his hand. Reaching the tree's base, he quickly checked his gun, making sure it was in place. He slung it across his back and began climbing, using both hands and feet. The rough bark chafed his palms, but he gritted his teeth and moved swiftly. Through the scope, Lei Tao observed the Japanese troops at the checkpoint intently. Japanese soldiers, rifles in hand, patrolled back and forth, occasionally shouting harshly at the civilians queuing for inspection. The civilians all lowered their heads, their faces filled with helplessness, their hands nervously tugging at the corners of their clothes, shivering in the cold wind.
Lei Tao took a deep breath, slowly adjusting his breathing to steady his heartbeat. His finger rested lightly on the trigger, his eyes flashing as he instantly spotted the Japanese squad leader. He decisively pulled the trigger. "Bang!" A crisp gunshot pierced the air, and a blood flower instantly bloomed between the Japanese squad leader's eyebrows, and he fell straight to the ground.
The sudden burst of gunfire was like a bombshell, instantly throwing the situation out of control. The people who had been queuing were stunned for a moment, then burst into terrified screams and began to flee in all directions. Several people shouted at the top of their lungs, "Fighting! Run!" Like ants in a panic, the crowd rushed in all directions. Some fell to the ground in panic, only to quickly pick themselves up and continue running; others clutched their family members' hands tightly, fearing they would be swept away by the crowd.
The Japanese troops instantly fell into chaos, aimlessly firing wildly in all directions. Lei Tao quickly pulled the bolt, ejected the shell, and expertly loaded a new round. Taking advantage of the enemy's panic, he quickly moved to another sniper position. He once again steadily positioned his rifle, locked onto his target through the scope, and fired several more shots. Each bullet accurately hit the Japanese soldiers, and several felled.
Lei Tao leaped from the tree and tactically rolled to his feet. "Brothers, charge!" He shouted to his teammates, then quickly rushed towards his horse. He quickly stepped onto the saddle, squeezed his legs hard against the horse's belly, and the horse neighed and galloped towards the checkpoint.
The team members understood his intention. Some used the terrain to cover themselves, fanning out and advancing in turns. Others jumped on their horses as fast as they could and followed Lei Tao like arrows from a bow. They galloped while firing their guns, striking the Japanese with precision.
As Lei Tao's horse approached the checkpoint, he saw the Japanese still holding out. He held the reins with one hand, raising his horse's front hooves high. With his other hand, he quickly pulled an incendiary grenade from his waistband, forcefully unhooked the safety pin, and leaned back slightly. Using the strength of his arms and waist, he precisely tossed the grenade into the sentry box. "Boom!" With a resounding roar, the sentry box was instantly engulfed in flames, with flames shooting skyward and waves of heat billowing.
While the Japanese were busy fighting the fire and in chaos, Lei Tao and his team successfully broke through the checkpoint and rushed into the distance. Their figures soon disappeared in the dense smoke and dust.