Chapter 163: Unbelievable! They Surrendered!

Rushing forward, when Jiang Anguo's pursuit force finally reached the small town that the air force had discovered earlier, it was already nearing noon.

Even at high noon, the sun was scorching.

Through the binoculars, Jiang Anguo also sensed an eerie dread; the village was too quiet.

Not to mention people, there were no animals either; normally these Burmese bamboo houses would keep chickens or dogs underneath.

From the binoculars, none of that could be seen.

Only in the village center, several large pots still burned, steaming.

"Meng Shan, send a scout over; this place is too strange," Jiang Anguo said to the th Battalion Commander Meng Shan behind him.

"Yes, Commander," Meng Shan turned and left.

The th Battalion Commander Song Mengqin walked over, "Commander, do you think they're firing shells at the village?"

It was clear that Song Mengqin was also a tough character.

Jiang Anguo waved his hand, "No rush, send people over first, assess the situation."

The scouts crouched, moving like phantoms through the grass and ruins, cautiously inching toward the dead‑silent town.

The surroundings were terrifyingly quiet!

This whole line of scouts had silently entered the town's outskirts, each one's nerves never relaxing.

Their rifles and submachine guns stayed in combat stance, the dark muzzles vigilantly pointing at the tightly shut houses around them.

Because they knew well that on this complicated terrain, their enemies were not only the ruthless Japanese but also the inscrutable Burmese.

In this extremely dangerous special situation, Jiang Anguo's order was simple and blunt: fire on anyone who appeared before them, including seemingly harmless Burmese.

As the unit slowly advanced, suddenly a crisp "Ka‑cha" crack rang out, though no one could tell whether a dry branch or tile underfoot had broken.

The sudden sound echoed through the silent town like a bomb.

"Da‑da‑da!"

Almost simultaneously, several bullets shot out from the shadows of side houses, screaming death toward the scouts.

Fortunately the soldiers were prepared and reacted swiftly; the Five Regiments troops, at the instant they heard the sound, rolled to both sides, deftly ducking behind the roadside cover, raised their weapons, and launched a fierce counterattack.

Gunfire shattered the dead silence and revealed the enemy's position.

Platoon Leader Zhang Sheng, hiding behind a low wall, peeked at the flashing gunfire and shouted, "Zhu Zi! Get the mortar up! Bomb the Little Japan for me!"

The mortarman called Zhu Zi, without hesitation, led his mortar squad forward. The three worked in seamless coordination, skillfully setting up a 60 mm mortar in a blink and adjusting its aim.

"Fire!" Zhu Zi shouted, and the gunner loaded the shell into the breech.

"Dong—"

A shell whistled out, smashing into the target area.

Accompanied by a huge blast, black smoke rose, but the shell landed slightly off the intended point, missing the enemy fortifications.

Nevertheless, the blast's shockwave and shrapnel still inflicted some damage on the Japanese hidden in the shadows, with faint cries of agony.

"Zhu Zi, are you even capable? If not, replace you!" Zhang Sheng barked at the slightly off impact point, "Can't hit at such close range; all training went down the drain, what's your use!"

Zhu Zi, hearing the platoon leader's rebuke, broke a cold sweat on his forehead, his heart racing.

In regular training he was a cannon ace; not even ten out of ten, but nine out of ten accuracy—how could the first shot miss at the crucial moment?

He gritted his teeth, forced himself to stay calm, quickly readjusted the barrel's angle and bearing, and re‑calibrated the sight.

"Boom!"

Another shell burst forth with vengeful fire, this time striking the house where the Japanese were hiding with pinpoint precision. A muffled explosion roared, as if an invisible giant hand violently shook the interior, followed by flickering flames.

Finally, the gunfire ceased abruptly, and the whole town once again fell into that unsettling calm.

【8】 Although the gunfire stopped, the reconnaissance platoon did not launch an impetuous charge nor make any big moves. Zhang Sheng merely waved his hand, signaling his troops to hold position and continue tight surveillance of the surroundings.

【9】 He knew he couldn't be sure how many enemies were hidden here, and the current situation was enemy concealed, us exposed. For scouts, the thing they fear most isn't frontal melee but a cold gun fired from an unknown corner.

【10】 Meanwhile, from the rear command post, Jiang Anguo also heard the distant cannon fire. Though not loud, it was clear in the open jungle. He immediately radioed to inquire about the front's specifics.

【11】 When he learned that Japanese were counterattacking in the front town, a flash lit Jiang Anguo's eyes; he realized it was a Japanese rear‑guard detachment.

【12】 If this nail wasn't removed, the subsequent main force's march would be threatened.

【13】 Jiang Anguo, while pondering how to assault the village, swiftly made his deployment.

【14】 He immediately ordered soldiers to encircle the village, forming a tight siege, but deliberately left an opening on the east side, not sealing it completely.

【15】 The east side was the northern Burmese primeval forest; if the Little Devil tried to flee, they'd feed the forest.

【16】 Though he lacked extensive command experience and had never attended a formal military academy, he understood the principle of leaving a margin. Moreover, these ragged troops were the 56th Division's rear‑guard; given their current state, they were likely resolved to die.

【17】 A cornered dog will jump walls; a desperate man will do anything. If all their escape routes are blocked, forcing the enemy into a dead end, even though the Little Devil's chance of victory is nil, their last‑minute counterattack could still inflict significant casualties on Jiang Anguo's pursuing force.

【18】 Since it's a rear‑guard, leave a way out, drive them into the jungle to feed the mosquitoes—far more economical than a head‑on fight.

【19】 However, what no one could have imagined was that the front line sent not a death‑defying roar but a shocking report.

【20】 The Little Devil actually surrendered!

【21】 "Surrender?"

【22】 Jiang Anguo's hand on the radio paused slightly, his face full of disbelief, even doubting his own ears. He muttered, his tone laden with suspicion.

【23】 That's unlike Japanese style.

【24】 Remember, this isn't 1945; it's 1942!

【25】 The Japanese Army's offensive in Southeast Asia was at its peak, with a fanatical Bushido Spirit—how could they choose to surrender at such a critical rear‑guard moment?

Although the gunfire stopped, the reconnaissance Platoon this time did not rashly launch a charge, nor was there any major movement. Zhang Sheng only waved his hand, signaling his soldiers to hold their positions and not move, continuing to monitor the surroundings closely.

Because he knew in his heart that he was not sure how many enemies were hidden here, and the current situation was that the enemy was concealed while we were clear. For reconnaissance soldiers, what they fear least is a hard clash on the Front, and they dread a Cold Gun fired from an unknown Corner.

At the same time, at the rear command post, Jiang Anguo also heard cannon fire coming from the Front. Though the sound was not very loud, it was still clearly discernible in the open jungle. He immediately used the radio to inquire about the specific situation up Front.

When he learned that Japanese were counter‑attacking in the small town up Front, a flash of steel lit Jiang Anguo's eyes, and he instantly realized this was a rear‑guard unit deliberately left by the Japanese Army.

If this nail is not pulled out, the subsequent march of the main force will be threatened.

Jiang Anguo, while contemplating how to assault the village, swiftly made his deployments.

He immediately ordered soldiers to encircle the village, forming a tight siege ring. However, during the formation of the ring, he deliberately left an opening on the East side, not sealing it completely.

The East side is the pristine forest of northern Burma; if the Little Devil (Japanese soldier) wants to flee, they can go feed that forest.

Although he lacked much experience leading troops and had never attended a formal military academy, he understood the principle of "leaving a line." Moreover, these ragged soldiers were a rear‑guard unit of the 56th Division; judging from their current condition, they were most likely determined to die.

A cornered dog will even jump a wall; a person pressed to the limit will do anything. If we block every retreat, forcing the enemy into a dead end, although overall the Little Devil (Japanese soldier) has virtually no chance of victory, this band of desperados could still strike back in their final moments, inflicting considerable casualties on Jiang Anguo's pursuing forces.

Since it is a rear‑guard, we should leave a way out, driving them into the jungle to feed the mosquitoes; that is far more cost‑effective than a head‑on fight.

However, what no one could have imagined was that the report from the Front was not a roar of all‑out battle, but a shocking piece of news that left everyone stunned.

The Little Devil (Japanese soldier) actually surrendered!

"Surrender?"

Jiang Anguo's hand on the radio paused slightly, his face full of disbelief, even doubting whether his ears were malfunctioning. He muttered to himself, his tone saturated with suspicion.

That is far from the Japanese style.

You have to know, this is not 1945; right now it is 1942!

The Japanese Army's offensive across Southeast Asia is at its zenith, fueled by a fanatical Bushido Spirit; how could they choose to surrender at such a critical rear‑guard moment?