Chapter 109: The Hunter and the Prey

The two Japanese companies never anticipated that the Dadao Squad warriors would suddenly hurl grenades at them, and their close-combat skills were no less formidable than the Japanese soldiers', so the enemy was unable to halt their advance.

Amidst the chaos, the warriors struck fiercely, felling many of the Japanese and successfully breaking through their blockade.

Watching Chen Qingzhi and his men swiftly depart, the Japanese battalion commander in charge of the interception leapt up in fury, grinding his teeth and cursing vehemently, "Baka! Despicable Chinese! Die, die all of you!"

The battalion commander's frustration was understandable—Chen Qingzhi and his men defied all conventional tactics!

Though he wished to give chase, surveying the heavy casualties around him, he realized pursuit was futile and reluctantly abandoned the idea.

Yet he knew punishment was inevitable.

For two entire companies to fail in blocking the Chinese forces, and worse, to be cut to pieces by them, was an immense disgrace.

He could already foresee the rage of the regimental and brigade commanders once they learned of this incident.

Soon after, the commander of the 36th Regiment, Jiro Kyosaka, arrived with reinforcements, and the commander of the 35th Regiment, Suekichi Fujii, whose forces had been attacked, also gathered his troops.

Both leaders fixed their stern gazes on the battalion commander and demanded, "Baka! Where are the Chinese troops?"

"The Chinese... the Chinese... have already fled!" The battalion commander stammered nervously under their piercing looks, his scalp tingling.

"Baka!" Fujii roared in anger and struck him across the face. "Useless! You couldn't even hold back such a small force. What good are you?"

"Commander Fujii, that’s enough!" Kyosaka immediately objected, displeased to see his subordinate struck. Though he had been tempted to slap the battalion commander himself, Fujii had beaten him to it, and Kyosaka was not about to let it go unchallenged. This battalion commander was still one of the 36th Regiment's men—Fujii had no right to lay a hand on him.

"Hmph!" Though anger flared in Fujii, he suppressed it and merely snorted without further comment.

"My apologies, Commander," the battalion commander bowed deeply, admitting his failure.

"Enough," Kyosaka waved his hand. "Since the Chinese got away, so be it. We will finish them off in tomorrow’s assault. You should take your men and rest."

Though the Chinese escaped, Kyosaka harbored little anger—the raid had not targeted the 36th Regiment’s position, and his own losses were minimal. At most, he felt some regret for letting the enemy slip away, but no true fury.

It was Fujii who seethed with rage.

Chen Qingzhi’s Dadao Squad had launched a surprise night attack on the 35th Regiment, setting booby traps that killed many, and amid the confusion, had slaughtered numerous soldiers. After tallying their losses, they found almost a thousand men gone—nearly a whole battalion wiped out in one night raid. Fujii was furious beyond measure.

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