Chapter 3

"Going to the mines to do hard labor, this is understandable. According to my understanding of Northeast China, the mineral resources here are not only abundant domestically but also rank among the richest in all of Asia. The iron mines in Anshan and Benxi, the coal mines in Fushun and Fuxin, and the magnesium in Dashiqiao and molybdenum in Yangjiagang are all essential resources for military industry. It makes sense that the Japanese would transport us to the mines for hard labor. However, most of the developed resources in Northeast China are within Liaoning Province. In the north, apart from a few coal mines in Heilongjiang, there are no major mines. Could it be that the Japanese are continuously moving us north to Heilongjiang?"

"Also, I don't quite understand your point about transporting us to Northeast China to build fortifications. Since the September 18th Incident, the Japanese have occupied Northeast China for seven years. With the current strength of the Nationalist Government, they are powerless to reclaim Northeast China. Other major powers are also unwilling to offend the Japanese by intervening on China's behalf. Unless it's the north?"

At this point, Guo Bingxun was startled. The Japanese were continuously moving them north, and the north was precisely the area bordering the Soviet Union. Could it be that this person's guess is true? Are the Japanese really planning to transport them to the Sino-Soviet border to build fortifications?

"Are you suggesting that the Japanese intend to take action against the north? This seems unlikely. As you said, although the Japanese have been conquering cities and regions within China and have gained the upper hand for the time being, they are far from completely conquering China. The Nationalist Government is still resisting, and the Chinese people are still resisting. Before they have fully conquered China, the Japanese do not have the resources to open a second front."

Guo Bingxun understood some of Yang Zhen's assessment but found other parts hard to believe. In his view, although Japan's national strength far exceeded China's, it still fell short compared to the European and American powers. Due to inherent limitations, Japan's industrial capabilities were far behind those of the old European and American powers. Before the Japanese had fully conquered China, they did not have the capacity to attack another country. Although the Japanese were greedy and had narrow horizons, they were not so unrealistic.

"How can it be impossible? For years, the Japanese navy has considered the United States as its primary enemy, while the Japanese army has considered the Soviet Union as its primary enemy. As for their capabilities? When have the Japanese ever had enough resources? When have they not tried to stretch their limited resources to the limit? Don't underestimate Japan. Despite its small size and short stature, its ambitions are inversely proportional to its size. Whether it was the First Sino-Japanese War or the Russo-Japanese War, they always aimed for big gains with small resources."

"Japan is a resource-poor country with frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. This environment has shaped the Japanese into natural gamblers. It's just that their previous gambles have been fortunate. However, Japan's national strength dictates that they can only fight a quick war and cannot afford a prolonged conflict. For example, if the Northeast Army had resisted during the September 18th Incident, the prolonged war would have been unsustainable for Japan, which was in the midst of an economic crisis at the time."

"But these few lucky successes have stimulated the Japanese to develop a good appetite. The rich spoils of war have further fueled their greed. There is nothing they are afraid to do. As long as there is a three in ten chance of success, they will dare to take extreme risks. Not to mention the Soviet Union, which they have defeated in the past, even the wealthiest Americans might not be spared. You'll see, in the near future, the Japanese and Americans will inevitably go to war. The Japanese will ultimately die because of their insatiable appetite. They even dared to sink an American warship in Nanjing, let alone the Soviet Union, which they have always considered a defeated enemy."

At this point, Yang Zhen paused to catch his breath and said, "Brother Guo, tell your men to stay calm no matter where they transport us. As you said, as long as we are alive, there is a way. The Japanese have gone to great lengths to transport us here, so they won't kill us immediately. As long as we have time, we can find a way to escape."

Hearing Yang Zhen's words, Guo Bingxun, who was still immersed in his previous thoughts, nodded. "Brother Yang, have you figured it out? Yes, no matter what, we must survive. Death is not to be feared, but we cannot die in such a wretched manner."

Both Yang Zhen and Guo Bingxun still underestimated the Japanese. They did not anticipate the true purpose of the Japanese transporting them to Northeast China. If they had known, even if Guo Bingxun would not have understood their destination, Yang Zhen might not have remained as calm as he was.

Although Yang Zhen had a rough idea of the Japanese intentions in transporting them from the interior to the northeast, the situation did not develop as he wished. As the train continued to move, the outcome they were about to face was even worse than what Yang Zhen, who was familiar with the future, had anticipated.

While Yang Zhen and Guo Bingxun were speculating about the Japanese intentions, the train finally came to a complete stop as the light from the slightly open ventilation window gradually disappeared and then vanished entirely.

This time, the Japanese did not open the doors to provide the minimal water and food needed for survival, nor did they pause briefly before continuing. The train remained stationary without restarting.

Although the Japanese guards did not allow the prisoners to disembark, this was the first time since leaving Beijing that the train had stopped for such a long time, making all the prisoners realize they had finally reached their destination. Despite the unbearable heat and thirst in the carriage, the arrival at the destination felt like a relief to all the prisoners, even though they did not know what awaited them.

Although the arrival at the destination was a relief for most of the prisoners who had suffered in the carriage, Yang Zhen, who had just slightly recovered, suddenly felt an ominous premonition. As time passed, this premonition grew stronger.

It was not just Yang Zhen who felt this way; Guo Bingxun, who had been by his side since he regained consciousness, also had the same feeling. Despite the darkness, they could not see each other's faces, but they turned to look at each other almost simultaneously. Their hands, which were unusually cool in the sweltering carriage, gripped each other tightly.

After a moment of silence, Yang Zhen spoke first, "Brother Guo, this must be the place they are taking us. You must take good care of your men. Tell them not to act rashly, to be cautious, and not to give up easily. As I said, as long as we survive, there is hope."

Hearing Yang Zhen's words, Guo Bingxun, though unable to see his face in the darkness, could sense something from the strength of his grip. Guo Bingxun did not directly answer but shook their hands firmly and said, "Take care of yourself. As you said, do not abandon or give up."

Before Yang Zhen could respond to Guo Bingxun's words, the carriage door, which had been closed since the train stopped, suddenly opened. With the door opening, several bright lights shone into the dark carriage, blinding everyone. A harsh voice in broken Chinese called out, "All the people in the carriage, get out and form up."

When Yang Zhen and the other prisoners were escorted out of the carriage, they could not help but gasp. The small station was filled with armed Japanese soldiers, their rifles with bayonets at the ready.

Around the Japanese soldiers, several dozen snarling dogs with bared teeth were jumping around, trying to break free from their chains to attack the prisoners. The station and its surroundings were illuminated by several dozen searchlights, making everything as bright as day.

The grand welcome for these unarmed prisoners was immediately suspicious to Yang Zhen. The so-called Manchukuo had been established for many years, and the Japanese control over the local puppet troops was much stronger than in the interior. Transporting prisoners should not require so many Japanese soldiers. Today, there were no puppet troops, only genuine Japanese soldiers. The Japanese interpreter, with his broken Chinese, was clearly a native Japanese, not a Chinese-speaking Japanese or a collaborator, but someone transferred from Japan.

Yang Zhen noticed the discrepancy, and Guo Bingxun, who was walking beside him, also sensed something was wrong. Guo Bingxun, who had been a prisoner since the Battle of Xuzhou and had spent more time in the prisoner camp than Yang Zhen, might have noticed the anomaly even earlier.

Guo Bingxun gently tugged at Yang Zhen's sleeve, quickly scanned the surroundings, and whispered, "Brother Yang, something is not right. Not counting the guards, there are at least two companies of Japanese soldiers on the platform. And not a single puppet soldier. When we were transported from Xuzhou to Beijing, although the guards were Japanese, most of the soldiers who escorted us after we got off the train were puppet soldiers. We had more people then."

"Also, did you notice that the Japanese have at least six machine guns set up around us, covering the entire platform with no blind spots. And the searchlights and the dogs. Given the Japanese arrogance and their usual disdain for Chinese troops, the grand welcome they are giving us today must be for a reason."

Hearing Guo Bingxun's words, Yang Zhen nodded slightly, about to say something, but a Japanese soldier guarding him struck him on the shoulder with the butt of his rifle, interrupting him. The soldier barked in broken Chinese, "Move quickly, no talking. If you talk again, you will die."

The sudden blow made Yang Zhen stagger. If not for Guo Bingxun and Xiaohu, who quickly supported him, he might have fallen. Unable to speak, Yang Zhen could only nod slightly to Guo Bingxun, indicating that he had also noticed the unusual situation.