Chapter 63: Repelling the Enemy Troops

The intense bombardment still failed to breach the library, and the Nishimura Company outside reported the situation to the headquarters again.

The commander was greatly enraged; every sector was requesting artillery support, and if they continued to entangle themselves with the library, the battle line would collapse.

He had no choice but to order the Nishimura Company to monitor the library, while all aircraft and warships were sent to support the front line.

Inside the library, Ximen Lang received the news and said with great excitement, "Daoist Zhang, the enemy has temporarily stopped the bombardment.

Also, the front-line headquarters has sent a battalion to support us; we can repel that company of Japanese invaders outside."

Zhang Cheng nodded and said, "Good, leave a few people here to guard it, and we will go out to eliminate those Japanese invaders."

The supporting battalion commander arrived at the street corner near the library within half an hour.

Zhang Cheng and Ximen Lang took a few people to rendezvous with them, while the library was left to Wang Hai to manage.

That battalion commander saw a group of Daoist practitioners and was full of questions.

Ximen Lang immediately took out his Fuxing Society credentials and said, "I am an advisor for the Fuxing Society, ordered to guard the Oriental Library here. You have come just in time; there is a company of Japanese Marine invaders directly opposite the library."

That battalion commander gave a military salute and said, "I understand. Leave this company of Japanese invaders to us!"

Zhang Cheng interjected, "Do not have any psychological pressure; we will help. As long as the other side does not have Onmyoji or people from the Nine Chrysanthemum Sect, you will not suffer any casualties."

The battalion commander was half-skeptical, but he immediately led his troops to enter the area in front of the library.

Seeing the army appear, the Japanese company commander immediately reported the situation and simultaneously ordered all units to prepare for battle.

Zhang Cheng spent 1,000 merit points to exchange for a Dharma Bow, and the Dharma arrows had protective talismans on them.

He drew the bow and nocked an arrow, shot a few arrows toward the outside, and said to the battalion commander, "As long as you do not go beyond those few arrows, you will be safe and sound."

The battalion commander was half-believing and half-doubting, but he immediately dispatched his own Spearhead Company to go up and test it.

The hundred-plus men of the Spearhead Company immediately charged up and unleashed firepower at the Japanese invaders opposite them.

The machine guns on the Japanese positions immediately fired in a burst, but they all hit the ground.

The soldier who had been charging in the front originally thought he was dead for sure; he closed his eyes directly to wait for death.

The squad leader behind him stepped up and kicked him, saying, "What the hell are you dazing for!"

The soldier said blankly, "Eh, I'm not dead."

"Nonsense, brothers, give it to them hard!"

"Bang, bang, bang..."

"Da, da, da..."

"Thump, thump, thump..."

For a time, dense gunfire erupted on the street, but there were no screams from the soldiers; instead, it was the Japanese side where soldiers were occasionally hit and screaming.

That Company Commander Nishimura was greatly surprised and hurriedly said to his subordinates, "Mortars!"

Soon, Japanese invaders moved out and adjusted the mortars.

The battalion commander saw this scene through his binoculars and hurriedly looked back, saying, "Daoist, can you defend against mortars?"

Zhang Cheng had no confidence in his heart either, and he said, "I will go up and watch; if it cannot be defended, I can still resolve it."

Having said that, he rushed onto the street.

The next second, shells struck; the shells avoided the Dharma arrows and landed in the street behind.

Seeing that they were about to hit the soldiers, Zhang Cheng rushed over and waved his sleeve, collecting the few shells, and immediately threw them back at the Japanese position opposite.

"Boom, boom, boom..."

This blow caused the Japanese invaders heavy losses, and the machine gun position was blown away.

Once Company Commander Nishimura saw this, he immediately reported to the headquarters.

Once the commander saw that things had reached this point, he could only order, "Nishimura Company, retreat immediately!"

Seeing the order, Company Commander Nishimura was overjoyed and hurriedly said loudly, "Transfer! Our army will immediately conduct a strategic transfer!"

The soldiers breathed a sigh of relief instantly and quickly turned to flee.

Seeing the Japanese invaders trying to run, the Spearhead Company immediately began a pursuit while howling.

The battalion commander ran over,

and laughed, "Hahaha, this battle was really easy to fight. Daoist, you are truly too amazing!"

Zhang Cheng nodded slightly and asked, "How is the situation on the front line?"

The battalion commander replied, "The situation is okay. Although the Japanese invaders launched a sneak attack, our army has stabilized the battle line and is currently counterattacking."

Ximen Lang explained from the side, "Actually, the higher-ups knew long ago that this battle would happen, so they were prepared.

Your Maoshan Northern Sect, as well as Longhu Mountain and Wudang Mountain, have all sent Daoists to come.

There are also advisors recruited by the government, as well as Buddhist monks. This time, the Japanese Onmyo Bureau and the Nine Chrysanthemum Sect do not have the advantage."

Zhang Cheng nodded and said, "Mm, that is quite good. Everyone has worked hard too; let's rest for a bit first and finish transporting the remaining books."

By noon, the books in the library had all been transported by the Kappa and then returned to the Painting of the Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers.

Zhang Cheng and the others did not receive new orders, so they stayed at the library to rest and wait for new orders.

During this period, the Shanghai Shanghai Beizhan was captured by the Japanese invaders, but main force units immediately launched a counterattack. By five o'clock in the afternoon, the Shanghai Shanghai Beizhan was recaptured, and the Japanese invaders suffered heavy losses and had to retreat back to Hongkou.

The government troops immediately launched a pursuit, attacking all the way into Hongkou and reaching the Marine headquarters.

The Japanese commander roared in his office, "You trash, you actually let the Zhina people fight their way here! This is a disgrace to our army!

If the headquarters is captured, I will not spare you! Everyone, join the battle immediately; even the clerks must go up!"

Most of the Japanese forces gathered at the headquarters building, and at this time, Abe Yukimasa of the Onmyo Bureau and three people from the Nine Chrysanthemum family, including Fukada Mitsuko, had to cooperate sincerely.

Zhang Cheng and the others were soon also conscripted to this place to participate in the general offensive against the headquarters.

The general in command of the front line said to the group of cultivators, "Everyone, there are a large number of Onmyoji and evil practitioners of the Nine Chrysanthemum Sect inside the Japanese Marine headquarters.

Our troops charging up are simply of no use; some soldiers die in inexplicable ways, some die in miserable states, and some do not even have peace after death, being controlled by the other side.

We are forced to ask for your help to assist us in breaking the Japanese headquarters."

"Right now, all the Western nations are watching our war with the Japanese pirates; only by taking the headquarters can we let the Westerners know that we are no longer the Manchu Qing, no longer the Sick Man of East Asia!"

Zhang Cheng stood up excitedly and said, "Well said, I, Zhang Cheng, am willing to go into battle!"

Wang Hai and Wu Cai also immediately stood up in support.

When the others saw that the three of them had already declared their stance, some were dissatisfied, because Zhang Cheng's speed in declaring his stance made the others seem bad by comparison.

The temperaments of some cultivators are very eccentric and cannot be treated with common logic.

A Heterodox practitioner stood up and said, "You little Daoist look unfamiliar; what sect or faction are you from to be spouting such nonsense here?"

"Exactly, young man, don't rely on just a bit of hot-blooded courage, lest you lose your life."

"We elders haven't spoken yet, so when is it your turn, a junior, to speak?"

Ximen Lang in the crowd hurriedly stood up and said, "Everyone, Daoist Zhang is the closing disciple of Perfected Master Jinbao of the Maoshan Southern Sect; the one who defended the Eastern Library today is Daoist Zhang."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire room was shocked.