Chapter 123: The 36th Regiment Arrives as Reinforcements!

“If I assign you another regiment’s worth of troops and you still cannot take this tiny position in front of us, do not come back to me again! Commit seppuku and die in service to the Emperor!”

Recalling the furious voice of the division commander over the telephone, Akiyama Yoshimasa’s face darkened, and a gloomy shadow appeared in his eyes.

He had never imagined that the battle would reach this point.

From the beginning of the war until now, his Sixth Brigade had lost nearly two-thirds of its men, leaving the entire brigade little more than an empty shell.

Yet that was not even the most important thing. The most important thing was that, despite suffering such heavy losses, they had still failed to capture this tiny position before them. It was an utter disgrace.

It was a tremendous disgrace both to his Sixth Brigade and to the Ninth Division.

There was no need to mention how furious Division Commander Kikka Yoshisuke was—even Akiyama Yoshimasa himself was seething with rage.

At first, they had believed this was merely a small position that could be taken with ease. But after the ambush at Shuanglong Valley annihilated his Seventh Regiment, and the night raid on their camp cost the Ninth Division nearly a battalion, matters had only grown worse.

Now, after launching attacks for so long and suffering such heavy casualties, they had still failed to take a position defended by no more than a single regiment.

No one had expected this.

The reinforcements sent by Division Commander Kikka Yoshisuke were the 36th Field Infantry Regiment, subordinate to the 18th Infantry Brigade. Its commander was Wakisaka Jiro. When Wakisaka Jiro arrived with his men, Akiyama Yoshimasa wasted no time with formalities. He briefed the 36th Regiment directly, and it immediately entered the battle.

The Temporary Command Post of the 36th Regiment

Regimental Commander Wakisaka Jiro raised his binoculars and studied the distant battlefield. After a while, he lowered them, a trace of contempt appearing in his eyes.

“Fujii Suekichi is becoming more useless with every passing day. A whole regiment, and they still cannot capture such a tiny position. I truly have no idea what they have been doing!”

“Brigade Commander Akiyama Yoshimasa is even more of an incompetent fool. All he knows how to do is ask for reinforcements. What else can that Sixth Brigade do?”

Wakisaka Jiro’s words were filled with disdain for Fujii Suekichi’s 35th Regiment and the Sixth Brigade. In his opinion, the fact that an entire brigade had failed to capture this position was proof of their complete incompetence.

It was merely a position occupied by a single regiment, yet an entire brigade was helpless before it. If that was not incompetence, then what was?

“You are absolutely right, Commander,” one of the battalion commanders beside him said ingratiatingly. “That wretch Akiyama Yoshimasa does nothing but call for reinforcements. He relies on brute force in every battle and never thinks things through. He is nothing but a reckless brute. If he did not have someone backing him at headquarters, how could he ever have become commander of the Sixth Brigade?”

He paused briefly before continuing, “Commander, this is the perfect opportunity. The Sixth Brigade has lost an enormous amount of face before the division commander, and its casualties have been catastrophic. If you can distinguish yourself in this battle, annihilate all the Chinese troops before us, and ease the division commander’s anger, then perhaps…”

The battalion commander did not finish his sentence, but Wakisaka Jiro understood exactly what he meant.

If he handled this matter beautifully and demonstrated his abilities to the division commander, then once he was compared with Akiyama Yoshimasa, the difference between them would be obvious.

Afterward, if he performed a few more favors for the division commander and kept him pleased, the commander might even put in a good word for him at headquarters.

When that happened, would the position of Sixth Brigade commander not be his for the taking?

At that thought, Wakisaka Jiro’s eyes lit up, and he could not help laughing.

“Excellent! You truly are my most capable aide!”

“Since Akiyama Yoshimasa is incompetent, then as his subordinates, we naturally must relieve the division commander of his burden and help him destroy his enemies! We shall annihilate everyone who stands in the way of our glorious empire’s construction of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere!” Wakisaka Jiro declared righteously. “Other than us, who else has the ability to accomplish such a thing?”

The implication was obvious: apart from Wakisaka Jiro, who else could possibly lay claim to the position of Sixth Brigade commander?

“Your wisdom is unmatched, Commander!” The battalion commander promptly delivered another well-timed compliment.

Wakisaka Jiro was delighted. He patted the battalion commander on the shoulder and said earnestly, “Captain Kuwano, your battalion must make the name of the 36th Regiment resound in this assault. Let the division commander see the fighting strength of our regiment! Once you have cleanly and decisively annihilated the Chinese troops, I promise that after I become brigade commander, I will not forget your contribution!”

“Yes, sir! I shall gladly give my life for you, Commander!” That was precisely what Kuwano had been waiting to hear. Upon receiving this promise, the battalion commander immediately beamed with delight and hurried to profess his loyalty.

“No, no, no. You must give your life for His Majesty the Emperor, not for me!” Wakisaka Jiro shook his head. “We are all striving toward His Majesty’s grand objective. We shall sacrifice everything to build the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir! Your instruction is well taken. I understand completely!” Kuwano stood at attention, bowed deeply, and answered with obsequious respect.

Wakisaka Jiro was very satisfied with his performance. He nodded, then said, “Captain Kuwano, go. Lead your battalion in the assault and show the Sixth Brigade what we are capable of! Let them understand the gap between us! And let the Chinese troops see that they cannot possibly withstand the advance of our glorious empire!”

After saying this, Wakisaka Jiro once again became feverish with fanaticism.

“Anyone who stands in the path of the empire will ultimately be crushed into dust beneath the wheels of this enormous war machine!”

Kuwano was equally fanatical as he shouted, “Long live His Majesty the Emperor! Long live the Japanese Empire!”

“Go!” Wakisaka Jiro waved him away.

“Yes, sir!”

After being subjected to that indoctrination, Battalion Commander Kuwano immediately reorganized his unit and mobilized the soldiers, preparing to launch an assault on the defenders’ position.

Just as the Japanese army was preparing to attack once more, Chen Qingzhi was discussing the situation with Fang Xiaodong, commander of the First Regiment, at the Independent Brigade’s forward command post on the defensive line.

“Brigade Commander, what brings you here?” Upon hearing that Chen Qingzhi had arrived, Fang Xiaodong hurried to the command post to meet him.

“I came to see how things are going here.” Chen Qingzhi held a pair of binoculars as he watched the distant battlefield.

The Japanese attack had failed, and their troops had withdrawn to regroup and rest. This had given the defenders some precious time, allowing the soldiers to seize the opportunity to recover.

Lowering the binoculars, Chen Qingzhi turned to Fang Xiaodong with a smile.

“Your First Regiment has fought well. You have held fast here and dealt the Japanese a heavy blow. Very well done!”

“It is all thanks to your excellent command, Brigade Commander,” Fang Xiaodong said hurriedly.

“You little rascal, even you have learned to flatter people now!” Chen Qingzhi laughed and scolded him.

Fang Xiaodong scratched his head and gave an embarrassed chuckle.

“I finally tried flattering someone, and somehow I ended up praising the wrong part of the horse. I suppose I was never cut out for flattery.”

Chen Qingzhi smiled at that.

“What good is flattery? Fighting well and killing the Japanese is the proper path!”