Chapter 24
On the position of the Eighth Route Army's New 1st Regiment.
Entities: Eighth Route Army, New 1st Regiment.
Over fifty machine gunners inspected their weapons; this attack was a mobile operation, lacking ammunition handlers to assist with reloading, so the gunners grabbed as many magazines as they could.
Entries: machine gunner (generic), ammunition handler (generic), magazine (generic) – none are named entities.
Some assistant gunners followed them, tasked with picking up the light machine guns of any fallen machine gunners and continuing the advance.
Entries: assistant gunner (generic), light machine gun (generic).
Zhang Dabiao led an assault team of several dozen, waiting at the front line for the regiment commander's assault order.
Entries: Zhang Dabiao, Assault Team, Regiment Commander.
Only battle‑hardened veterans could join the assault team—true elite fighters who had crawled out of heaps of corpses. Although they were about to embark on a near‑suicidal assault, they relaxed in their own ways, none showing any fear.
Entries: Assault Team (already listed), assault mission (generic) – not a named entity.
Some chatted with comrades, some gambled over who had killed more Japanese, and some smoked captured Japanese cigarettes. Their faces bore the attitude that life and death were nothing—if you couldn't stand it, just fight.
Entries: Japanese (slang) – generic, not a named entity.
Zhang Dabiao gazed at these brothers whom he might never see again, his eyes steadfast.
Entries: Zhang Dabiao (already listed).
We now have two new weapons: the grenade similar to the old border‑area‑made ones is offensive—think of it as an upgraded version of the border‑area grenade. The egg‑shaped one is defensive, powerful, and fragments on detonation; after throwing it, seek cover if possible, otherwise throw it as far as you can.
Entries: hand grenade (generic), border‑area‑made (generic) – none are named entities.
I hope to see you all again tomorrow—we fight for the people!
Entities: none.
An assault team soldier told Zhang Dabiao, 'Hey battalion commander, this is my fourth assault mission. I've never seen you so emotional before—do you think you're not up to it? If you think you're not, step aside and give me the assault team leader's spot; we've been waiting a long time.'
Entries: Assault Team, Battalion Commander, Zhang Dabiao, Assault Team Leader; assault mission is generic.
Damn it, you want to be assault team leader? Not in this life—hahaha!
Entries: Assault Team Leader.
Zhang Dabiao laughed and shouted back.
Entries: Zhang Dabiao.
But this exchange lifted the assault team's mood, and even the machine‑gun squad behind them relaxed considerably.
Entries: Assault Team, Machine Gun Squad.
Comrades!
Entities: none.
Hearing the regiment commander's loud voice from behind, the assault team soldiers wiped smiles from their faces and began final preparations.
Entries: Regiment Commander, Assault Team.
The Japanese are human too—just two shoulders bearing a head, born of a mother. But their mothers clearly didn't educate them well, so today we'll discipline them on behalf of their ancestors. Since the Japanese die from a blade or bullet, our New 1st Regiment must now show its spirit!
Entries: Japanese (generic), New 1st Regiment.
Li Yunlong drew a signal flare gun and aimed it skyward.
Entries: Li Yunlong, signal flare gun (generic).
A soft whoosh.
Entities: none (sound effect).
As everyone watched, the piercing signal flare shot up, and he bellowed to his comrades.
Entries: signal flare (generic).
When narrow roads meet, the bold win—comrades, follow me into the attack!
Entities: none.
Li Yunlong's call was answered by the regiment's soldiers roaring and shouting battle cries, with the assault team's silhouettes moving forward.
Entries: Li Yunlong, whole regiment (generic), Assault Team.
The whole assault team burst from the front‑line trenches like wild horses breaking free, crouching with bolt‑action rifles as they charged along the winding road of Azure Cloud Ridge.
Entries: Assault Team, bolt‑action rifle (generic), Azure Cloud Ridge.
In fact, the safest members of the assault team are those facing forward, since the mission depends on surprise. With covering fire from comrades behind, when the enemy notices them they usually target our fire points first; the assault troops then exploit that opening to use every skill to close in on the enemy position.
Entries: Assault Team, assault mission (generic), fire point (generic), enemy (generic), friendly forces (generic), position (generic).
In the Japanese position, the Sakata Regiment's suicide squad was ready, wearing headbands medicated with ointment that read 'certain victory'. After drinking the so‑called spirited liquor, each waited for the order to charge forward at once.
Entries: Sakata Regiment, Suicide Squad; Japanese Army, medicated headband, and spirited liquor are generic terms.
Apart from fanatical Japanese nationalists and those brainwashed from childhood, most were like the company commander who had escaped and returned earlier; they 'volunteered' to join the suicide squad.
Entries: Company Commander, Suicide Squad; Japanese nationalism (typo) is not a named entity.
To produce more killing machines, the Japanese indoctrinate future soldiers from childhood, teaching them they can unswervingly walk toward death for victory. Who isn't afraid of death? Even the suicide squad fears it,
Entries: Japanese people (generic), Suicide Squad.
But they have no choice left.
Entities: none.
Some believe the Japanese Army's suicide squad fears no death, but that's a huge lie—the Japanese suicide squad actually fears death, weeping when they know death is imminent, and begging for mercy when captured to stay alive.
Entries: Japanese Army (generic), Suicide Squad; Japanese Suicide Squad is the same as Suicide Squad.
The Japanese Army boosted its morale and sought to crush enemy morale by trumpeting the fearless bravery of its suicide squad, claiming they'd never retreat. Consequently, many foes believed the Japanese suicide squad was incredibly brave, would never yield, making their odds of victory slim—thus the Japanese scheme succeeded.
Entries: Japanese Army (generic), Suicide Squad; Japanese Suicide Squad is generic.
Behind the suicide squad lay the Sakata Regiment's two infantry battalions.
Entries: Suicide Squad, Sakata Regiment, Infantry Battalion.
The two infantry battalions were still not up to strength; Sakata Nobutetsu had learned from the previous engagement, retaining enough troops on his flank for defense. Consequently, the Japanese forces actually committing to the attack numbered only about 1,400; after subtracting some support personnel, it was effectively a full battalion versus an understrength regiment.
Entries: Infantry Battalion, Sakata Nobutetsu (Bǎntián Xìnzhé), Japanese Army (generic), logistics personnel (generic), battalion (generic), regiment (generic).
Sakata Nobutetsu declared, 'The advantage is mine!'
Entries: Sakata Nobutetsu (Bǎntián Xìnzhé).
As the suicide squad leader said, 'heavenly locust, Your Majesty, board planting.'
Entries: Suicide Squad Leader; the phrase 'heavenly locust, Your Majesty, board planting' is not an entity.
Suicide squad members launched a pig‑rush charge.
Entries: Suicide squad member (generic) – not a named entity.
Right behind them were the two battalion commanders, who drew their command swords, blades aimed at the New 1st Regiment's position, shouting 'sakiki'. Behind them, over a thousand Japanese troops spread out in a skirmish line, gripping Type 38 rifles with fixed bayonets, followed the suicide squad's advance to the front.
Entries: Battalion Commander, command sword (generic), New 1st Regiment, Japanese (generic), Type 38 rifle, bayonet (generic), Suicide Squad.
The Japanese fielded several dozen light machine guns and over a dozen heavy machine guns, ready to fire. Their artillery mortars occasionally shelled the New 1st Regiment's position, but their fire would be useless—Li Yunlong had already led his men out of the trenches and launched a full‑regiment assault.
Entries: light machine gun (generic), heavy machine gun (generic), artillery position (generic), mortar (generic), New 1st Regiment, Li Yunlong as Regiment Commander, whole regiment (generic), assault (generic).
When the Sakata Regiment's suicide squad encountered Zhang Dabiao's assault team, nearly all its members were stunned.
Entries: Sakata Regiment, Suicide Squad, Zhang Dabiao, Assault Team, suicide squad member (generic).
Their last thought before dying was, 'Who is actually attacking now?'
Entities: none.
Thus the suicide squad, which might have troubled the assault team, was simply wiped out—even their explosives and Molotov cocktails were useless. Yet their deaths weren't entirely wasted; they used their lives to warn the infantry battalions behind. Even if the two battalion commanders found it hard to accept, the New 1st Regiment's attack had nonetheless become a fact.
Entries: Assault Team, Suicide Squad, explosives (generic), Molotov cocktail (generic), Infantry Battalion, Battalion Commander, New 1st Regiment.
An outpost a few kilometers outside the Azure Cloud Ridge battlefield.
Entries: Azure Cloud Ridge, battlefield (generic), outpost (generic).
Clad in the Shanxi‑Suiyuan Army combat uniform, sporting colonel's shoulder insignia and resembling Lü Bu, the 358th Regiment commander Chu Yunfei observed the Azure Cloud Ridge battlefield alongside his chief of staff Fang Ligung.
Entries: Shanxi‑Suiyuan Army, Colonel, 358th Regiment, Regiment Commander, Chu Yunfei, Chief of Staff Fang Ligung, Azure Cloud Ridge, battlefield (generic).
What a splendid Eighth Route Army! The best defense is offense! If he survives this battle, I, Chu, will certainly make the acquaintance of this valiant general.
Entries: Eighth Route Army, battle (generic), brave general (generic).
Fang Ligung beside him also hadn't expected the Eighth Route Army to launch a counter‑charge.
Entries: Fang Ligung, Eighth Route Army, charge (generic).
Regiment commander, the enemy is the Sakata Regiment of the Japanese 4th Brigade—this is an elite Japanese unit!
Entries: Regiment Commander, Japanese Army (generic), 4th Brigade, Sakata Regiment, Japanese (generic), elite unit (generic).
Chu Yunfei said: 'No matter how elite, they are still the enemy's forces. When our regiment first engaged the Sakata Regiment, we lost three hundred men in just one hour. The unit opposite that
Entities: Chu Yunfei, our regiment, the Sakata Regiment, a unit, and a commander.
They're all Chinese soldiers—I can't just stand by and let them die! Soldiers need courage! Relay my order: have the artillery battalion target the enemy infantry.
Entities: Chinese military personnel, an artillery battalion, the enemy, and infantry.
Fang Ligung heard this and immediately panicked.
Entity: Fang Ligung.
Regiment Commander, Yan Chancellor of the Second War Zone repeatedly insisted: "To cooperate with the Eighth Route Army in battle, we need his written order. Apart from that, not a single soldier can be moved! Anyone who disobeys will be severely punished without leniency!"
Entities: Regiment Commander, Second War Zone, Yan Zhangguan.
Also mentioned are the Eighth Route Army and a written order.
Just then, the enemy infantry's rear was suddenly hit by artillery fire.
Entities: the enemy, infantry, and artillery fire.
Chu Yunfei and Fang Ligung stared in confusion; he was still arguing about whether to flee, but the enemy had already been blown up.
Entities: Chu Yunfei, Fang Ligung, and the enemy.
The headquarters of the 386th Brigade.
Entities: the 386th Brigade and its headquarters.
The brigade commander in a leather jacket yelled at the staff officers.
No Chinese characters? The line is just "【107】" with nothing after? Actually the list ends at "【107】" with no text. Possibly missing. We need to output something for 【107】. Since there is no Chinese text, maybe it's empty. But we need to output exactly one line per item. If there's no content, we could output just "【107】 " (maybe nothing after). But better to check if there is any hidden text. The provided text ends at "【107】" with no following line. So we assume it's empty. We'll output "【107】 " (maybe just the index). However the instruction: "Translate each FULLY into natural English. Output EXACTLY one line per item as: 【N】
Hit me, hit me hard, I can't take it! Mountain Artillery Battalion, aim at me and fire! First, get Li Yunlong rescued for me! Even if Li Yunlong dies, I'll kill him with a single shot!
End of Chapter
