Chapter 674: The Indians' Internal Conflict

Half an hour later, they saw the outline of the Singapore city district.

Those English-style buildings— the white Governor's Mansion, the spired church, the neatly arranged shops and residences— were especially clear in the afternoon sun. The streets were empty, shops closed, windows shut, and occasionally a few daring locals stuck out a head to glance, then withdrew.

Yamada Ichiro raised his telescope.

At the edge of the district, there were some makeshift works piled with sandbags. Behind the works, shadows flickered—people in khaki uniforms wearing English helmets.

"The British Army is still here," he said, putting down the telescope. "Send the order: First Battalion flank from the left, Second Battalion flank from the right, Third Battalion advance with me head‑on. Once inside the district, move in groups of three, taking turns covering. If we meet resistance, use hand grenades to clear the way."

The order was passed down. The soldiers began to disperse, disappearing into the buildings on both sides of the street.

Yamada Ichiro led the Third Battalion along the main street forward.

One hundred meters, no sign of movement.

Two hundred meters, no sign of movement.

Three hundred meters—

Suddenly, dense gunfire came from ahead. It wasn't from outside, it was from within.

Yamada Ichiro abruptly stopped in his tracks.

"What's happening?"

A scout ran back from ahead, his face ashen: "Colonel! Ahead… ahead the Yingguo are fighting each other!"

Yamada Ichiro paused briefly, then quickened his pace forward.

Turning a corner, he saw the bizarre scene—

In the street center, a squad of Indian soldiers knelt, raising their rifles overhead. Beside them, several Yingguo officers shouted at them. A Yingguo captain lunged forward, kicking the foremost Indian soldier to the ground, pointing his gun at his head: "Get up! You are Yingguo troops! Not cowards!"

The Indian soldier did not rise. He simply stayed kneeling, raising his rifle even higher, shouting something—unintelligible, yet everyone knew what he was shouting.

"Surrender. We will surrender."

The Indian soldiers beside them began to stir. Some stood up, some raised guns, some cursed in English. Then—

Gunfire erupted.

No one knew who fired first, but it instantly turned into a melee.

Yingguo soldiers and Indian soldiers shot at each other in the street, while civilians screamed and fled nearby. Bullets struck the walls, leaving holes. Some fell, some wailed, some crazily pulled the trigger until their ammunition ran out.

Yamada Ichiro stood at the corner, watching the sudden internal clash.

The Adjutant gathered close: "Colonel, what shall we do?"

"Wait," Yamada Ichiro said, "let them finish fighting on their own."

The internal conflict lasted about five minutes.

Five minutes later, the street was littered with corpses. Ten‑plus Yingguo soldiers were dead, dozens of Indian soldiers were dead. The remaining Indian soldiers dropped their guns and fled in all directions. The remaining Yingguo soldiers hid behind the sandbag fortifications, panting, their muzzles aimed at both ends of the street.

Then they saw soldiers of the Sakura Nation.

A Yingguo Lieutenant stuck his head out from behind the sandbags, looking at the soldiers in earth‑colored uniforms, at the blackened muzzles, at the expressionless faces.

He froze for three seconds.

Then he raised his hand and, in a trembling voice, said, "I… we surrender…"

Yamada Ichiro watched him, saying nothing.

From behind, the sound of horse hooves came.

Fukuda Yataro rode a tall maroon horse, approaching slowly. He tightened the reins, looking at the Yingguo soldiers with raised hands, at the bodies strewn on the ground, at the street dyed red with blood.

"Yamada."

"Here."

"Order all units: anyone bearing weapons, execute on the spot. No matter what color uniform they wear, no matter their skin color."

Yamada Ichiro paused briefly.

"Division Commander, those Indian soldiers might…"

"They have guns in their hands, they are the enemy," Fukuda Yataro cut him off, "Execute the order."

Yamada Ichiro was silent for three seconds.

Then he turned and shouted to the soldiers behind him, "Order all regiments—anyone bearing weapons, execute on the spot! No matter the skin color!"

Gunfire sounded again.

At dusk, the Sakura Nation soldiers had already advanced to the center of the Singapore city district.

Yamada Ichiro stood on the roof of a three‑story building, holding his telescope to survey the surroundings. To the west, the nd Regiment's flag fluttered; to the east, Third Regiment soldiers searched the streets; to the south, Fourth Regiment had already secured the harbor area.

Only the north remained—toward the Governor's Mansion.

"Report, Colonel!" a messenger ran up, "Division Commander orders: First Regiment advance toward the Governor's Mansion, link up with the other regiments, capture the Governor's Mansion before tonight."

Yamada Ichiro nodded.

"Messenger, continue forward."

As he descended the stairs, he saw a few soldiers crouched in a corner, surrounding the corpse of a Yingguo officer. Beside the body lay a sidearm and a pocket watch.

A soldier picked up the pocket watch, glanced at it, and slipped it into his pocket.

An older veteran slapped the back of his head: "Looking for death? Battlefield loot must be turned in!"

The young soldier plaintively touched the back of his head: "Just a watch…"

"Not even a watch! The Division Commander's order—who dares disobey?"

Yamada Ichiro walked over, looking at the young soldier.

"Take the watch out."

The young soldier trembled, pulled out the pocket watch, and handed it to him with both hands.

Yamada Ichiro took the watch, glanced at it. The cover bore an inscription: "To Lieutenant James, with love, your father. 1910."

He returned the watch to the young soldier.

Keep it. But remember, this is your last time violating military discipline.

The young soldier was stunned for three seconds, then nodded vigorously, his eyes a little red.

Shan Tian Yilang turned and left.

Behind him, the veteran whispered, "You lucky kid. Colonel is in a good mood today."

The young soldier shoved the watch into the deepest part of his pocket and fell in step with the squad.

In front of the Governor's Office, the battle was drawing to a close.

The last batch of Yingguo soldiers hid behind the stone pillars of the Governor's Office, sealing the main gate with rifles and machine guns. Sakura Nation soldiers lay in the opposite building, occasionally poking their heads out to fire a shot, then ducking back.

When Shan Tian Yilang arrived, he happened to see a Sakura Nation soldier struck in the forehead, falling on his back.

"Casualty report?"

"Report to Colonel: we charged three times, were repelled three times. Seventeen dead, over twenty wounded."

Shan Tian Yilang raised his binoculars. The Governor's Office is a three‑story white building, its façade has six massive stone pillars, and the windows are blocked with sandbags. A machine‑gun mount sits in a second‑floor window, sealing off the entire street.

"Where are the mortars?"

"They're being set up, arriving shortly."

Five minutes later, six 81 mm mortars were in place.

Shan Tian Yilang pointed at the second‑floor window of the Governor's Office: "First fire that machine gun. Three rapid shots."