Chapter 490: Fight and You'll Know

Matsuura Junrokuro had his Adjutant bring him a cup of warm water, and he took a light sip.

"Sakurai-kun, what is the situation on the West Line of the Republic of China Army?!"

Sakurai Ryozo stepped forward, "Reporting to the Division Commander, according to observations from our forward units, there is currently no unusual movement from the enemy!"

"Judging from the corpses of the Republic of China Army fallen at the front, the enemy at the junction of the West Line and East Line is the Northeast Army's 91st Division under Feng Zhanhai and the Sichuan Army's 122nd Division."

"Among these two forces, the combat effectiveness of the Northeast Army is relatively poor, and under the counterattacks of our Imperial Army, the Northeast Army's will to fight has dropped significantly."

"The Cavalry Regiment will be able to completely outflank the rear of the enemy's West Line forces in another half hour."

Bai Zhangsheng and Rao Guohua saw Guo Xunqi return and left directly without exchanging greetings; the two knew Guo Xunqi must have received an operational mission, and after glancing at each other, they also ran toward the command post.

"We'll know once we fight!"

"That possibility cannot be ruled out!" Yu Hua nodded: "Matsuura Junrokuro's strategic intent is too obvious."

One cannot wait for combat missions to come; one must go to the command post to ask for them!

"I feel this doesn't look like the Japanese Army's standard operating procedure!"

Upon hearing this report, Regimental Commander Tang took the hat off his head, squeezed it in his hand, and then let go.

Xue Yue shouted: "Orders!"

"Old Tang, I still owe you a drink!"

"As long as the commander isn't a fool, everyone will definitely choose to reinforce, plug this gap, and prevent the Japanese Army from breaking through!"

"Hai!" Sakurai Ryozo nodded heavily.

"Division Commander Guo, there is an urgent need for troops here, and I want to send your unit there."

This time, when leading his troops on a Rapid March, Guo Xunqi ordered all supplies—except for firearms, ammunition, and medical supplies—to be left behind.

Sun Zhen frowned: "You suspect the little devils are playing a trick?"

"If the devils charge up, I'll pull the pin on a Hand Grenade and try to take a few more with me."

Battalion Commander Zhang patted Regimental Commander Tang on the shoulder twice, then saluted.

"Yes!" Guo Xunqi saluted: "My unit will certainly complete the mission."

Facing the Japanese Army's assault, Feng Zhanhai's 91st Division had already lost two lines of defense.

Guo Xunqi arrived at the 91st Division's command post, and Feng Zhanhai walked up immediately: "Division Commander Guo, hello, our division no longer has any reserves."

Guo Xunqi nodded: "Division Commander Feng, I, Old Guo, came to the front line to kill devils; whatever we have to say, let's talk after this battle."

"I've had my fill, Battalion Commander Zhang; we are unwilling to be prisoners, we in the Northeast Army are no cowards, give us a Hand Grenade."

The situation for Wang Mingzhang's 122nd Division and Feng Zhanhai's 91st Division was indeed very difficult, so facing this situation, Xue Yue still wanted to send reinforcements.

"As a Regimental Commander, I failed to lead my brothers back to the Northeast; this is my dereliction of duty, and I will be a beast of burden for my brothers in the next life."

"Guo Xunqi's unit is to reinforce the 122nd Division and 91st Division immediately, plug the gap, and at the same time, all front-line units are to observe the Japanese Army's movements at all times."

"Battalion Commander Zhang, I've had my fill."

Seeing the situation all around, Battalion Commander Zhang felt terrible, so he had no choice but to order the Explosives and Hand Grenades to be left for the wounded.

Guo Xunqi curled his lip and said: "Commander-in-Chief Sun, Commander Xue, Officer Chen, let's not worry about what conspiracy that old devil Matsuura Junrokuro is playing."

Regimental Commander Tang put the Hand Grenade away: "How many people are left!"

"I've pulled the Guard Battalion from my division headquarters to the Biandanshan area; this defensive position is critical for us."

"Well said!" Sun Zhen applauded: "To hell with whatever conspiracy; as long as we fight a battle, we can see through the devils' true colors."

Biandanshan!

One regiment of Feng Zhanhai's division had already been wiped out, and after the division's Guard Battalion reinforced them, two-thirds had now fallen.

"I'm afraid we won't be able to have that drink; I'll repay this drink to you, brother, in the next life."

There were traces of moisture in Regimental Commander Tang's eyes, "Our Biandanshan is the focus of the Japanese Army's attack, and now the division's Guard Battalion has all come up."

Regimental Commander Tang took the Hand Grenade into his hand, grinned, and said nothing more.

Originally, it would have taken the New 144th Division half an hour to reach the battlefield, but after a fifteen-minute Rapid March, Old Guo led the vanguard of two regiments to the 91st Division's position.

"Yoshi!" Matsuura Junrokuro nodded with satisfaction: "Follow my orders, once the enemy forces reinforce the 122nd Division and 91st Division, the cavalry unit is to immediately launch a fierce attack on Ji Zhangjian's Reserve 6th Division!"

The soldiers of the Guard Battalion, tears in their eyes, placed the Hand Grenades beside the wounded.

"This doesn't conform to the little devils' daily combat methods; there must be a conspiracy in this."

Battalion Commander Zhang placed his right hand on Regimental Commander Tang's shoulder and squeezed gently.

Therefore, on the road the New 144th Division marched, one could see cooking pots, bedding, straw mats, and other items everywhere.

"Tell us your thoughts, help us ponder whether this Matsuura Junrokuro is truly choosing to break through from our army's weak point?"

"Yes!" the orderly replied.

"Tonight, I've had my fill; I killed five little devils."

Battalion Commander Zhang of the Guard Battalion came before the wounded Regimental Commander Tang!

Battalion Commander Zhang took two Hand Grenades from his own person and looked at Regimental Commander Tang.

"Orderly, pass on my order: have Regimental Commander Liu lead the troops up to block the little devils; without my order, the troops are not allowed to retreat."

At the Sichuan Army Command, Xue Yue, Chen Cheng, and Sun Zhen looked at the map carefully.

Around Regimental Commander Tang, several severely wounded soldiers heard this and spoke up one after another: "Battalion Commander Zhang, leave us a Hand Grenade."

The surrounding severely wounded soldiers also smiled and said: "Regimental Commander, I'll be your soldier again in the next life!"

"I've had my fill too, Battalion Commander Zhang, leave the Explosives for us."

"Our battalion now only has ninety-some people left, most of whom are severely wounded; there are only thirty-some people left who can still hold a Rifle and fight."

"Among them, there is less than one hundred rounds of Rifle ammunition, the Machine Gun ammunition has been exhausted, and there are two hundred rounds of Mauser C96 ammunition left."

Inside the command post, everyone stood at attention, waiting for the Tiger Xue to give the order.

"We'll know what tricks Matsuura Junrokuro is playing once we fight!"

"There are still quite a few hand grenades and explosive packs left; two crates of hand grenades and ten explosive packs."

In an instant, the gazes of Xue Yue, Chen Cheng, and Sun Zhen all turned toward Yu Hua.

"The Japanese Army is currently increasing their firepower, fiercely attacking the weak points of our army, seemingly preparing to break through from here."

After hearing the words of the severely wounded soldiers, Regimental Commander Tang put his hat back on, "Brothers, you are all fine men."

"Our Division no longer has any reserves, and the order our Regiment received is a death order; we cannot retreat."

"Our Division will go first to plug the gap; as for strategic objectives, as long as we fight a few battles, the little devils will certainly expose themselves."

As the voice fell, Xue Yue also felt that what Yu Hua said was correct: "Adjutant Yu's words make sense; everyone can see Matsuura Junrokuro's obvious intention."

His gaze turned to Yu Hua: "Adjutant Yu, what is your opinion?"

Seeing that everyone was also looking at him, Yu Hua pondered for a moment: "Gentlemen, the art of war says: strike where they are unprepared, attack where they do not expect it."

Guo Xunqi left the command post and rode his horse back to the rear; he did not greet Rao Guohua or Bai Zhangsheng, but led his troops and ran directly.

Regimental Commander Tang returned the salute: "In life, we are people of the Republic of China; in death, we are ghosts of the Republic of China!"

The remaining wounded soldiers also saluted, shouting: "In life, we are people of the Republic of China; in death, we are ghosts of the Republic of China!"

Seeing this scene, Battalion Commander Zhang wanted to say something, but a thousand words could not be spoken now, so he saluted again and immediately turned and left.

(End of this chapter)