Chapter 124: Withdrawing from the Frontline Positions

Chen Qingzhi’s words were met with an immediate nod of agreement from Fang Xiaodong, who could not help but remark, "The soldiers are fighting with everything they have; they show no fear when facing the Japanese. Even though the enemy has been launching desperate assaults, our men have held them back with sheer grit."

Pausing for a moment, Fang added with a touch of emotion, "This batch of new recruits is truly remarkable."

Chen Qingzhi replied, "When an officer fights with resolve, the soldiers follow suit. As the saying goes, a weak commander leads a weak army. Whatever standard an officer sets, his men will live up to it. If these soldiers have grown this much, you, as their regimental commander, deserve the lion's share of the credit."

Fang Xiaodong modestly insisted he did not deserve such praise. After a brief conversation, Chen Qingzhi asked, "What are the casualties like for your regiment now?"

Fang’s expression turned somber as he replied, "The losses are heavy. My regiment was tasked with defending this sector, placing us directly in front of the Japanese main force. While we managed to stall the 6th Brigade and inflict significant damage, our own losses have been severe."

"The 1st Battalion is down to fewer than two hundred men—it’s essentially a shell of its former self. The 2nd and 3rd Battalions are in slightly better shape, but all have lost more than two-thirds of their strength. To date, the 1st Regiment has suffered over two-thirds casualties; the entire regiment now numbers fewer than a thousand men." As he spoke, a look of profound sorrow and pain crossed Fang’s face.

Chen Qingzhi felt a heavy weight in his heart. He had equipped the Independent Brigade as well as he possibly could, even deploying artillery units; yet, despite that firepower and the advantage of the terrain, they had only managed to reach this stalemate. It spoke volumes about the combat capability of the Japanese forces, and it made the endurance of the 1st Regiment’s soldiers all the more impressive.

Watching Fang struggle with his grief, Chen Qingzhi patted his shoulder and comforted him. "As soldiers, dying on the battlefield is their honor. And to have killed the enemy before doing so is an honor above all honors! The men of the 1st Regiment are heroes. To have held off a Japanese brigade and dealt them such a crushing blow—this achievement is rare even on a national scale."

"Fang Xiaodong, the soldiers did not die in vain! Their deaths have meaning," Chen said. "The brothers we lost are gone, but we who remain must stand tall and continue the struggle against the Japanese. Now, more than ever, we must stand firm, strengthen our resolve, and fight on without yielding."

"Carry the dying wishes of our martyrs and fallen brothers forward, and fight until the Japanese are driven out of China!"

Chen Qingzhi’s words rang out like a solemn tolling bell, jolting Fang Xiaodong out of his despondency. Fang composed himself, stood up, and looked at Chen. "Brigade Commander, you are right."

"The brothers who died did so with honor, and we who survive must carry their will as we continue the fight against the Japanese! Only by killing the enemy—continuing to kill them until they are driven from China—can we provide the greatest solace to our fallen comrades."

Fang’s gloom vanished, replaced by a surge of fierce fighting spirit. As he looked toward the distant encampment of the 9th Division, his eyes burned with intensity. Chen Qingzhi observed the change and smiled slightly. He patted Fang’s shoulder again and said softly, "I have come here today to deliver an order."

"Please, Brigade Commander, give your instructions!" Fang stood at attention and saluted, his voice booming with vigor, his eyes flashing with anticipation. He assumed the commander had come to issue new combat directives or perhaps provide reinforcements.

Yet, to his bewilderment, Chen Qingzhi said, "I am ordering your 1st Regiment to withdraw from the southern front, abandon the outer defenses, and fall back to the town of Dingyuan to regroup."

"Yes, sir! I guarantee we will complete the mission, hold the line to the death, and never let—wait, what?" Fang’s instinctive reply cut off as the meaning of the words finally registered. His mouth hung open in utter disbelief. He could hardly trust his ears. Retreat? Abandon the position? Why?

Before Fang could ask, Chen Qingzhi continued, "Fang Xiaodong, you must be wondering why I’ve issued this order, aren't you?"

Fang nodded silently, waiting for an explanation. They had held the southern position for so long and suffered so many losses to keep it; he found it difficult to accept that they were to abandon it now. However, he did not voice his dissent, looking at Chen with a questioning gaze, knowing a reason would follow.

"Your regiment held the southern front, blocked a Japanese brigade, and inflicted heavy losses, which has severely bruised their arrogance."

"In the art of war, it is said that momentum is built in the first beat, wanes in the second, and is exhausted in the third. The Japanese came in with great fury, intending to take Dingyuan in one fell swoop. However, the ambush at Double Dragon Valley wiped out their vanguard—the 7th Regiment—effectively extinguishing their first surge of momentum."

"By stationing your regiment at the southern front to hold the line, you forced the 6th Brigade to suffer heavy casualties and lose ground, which extinguished their second surge."

"Having been humiliated twice, the Japanese will now attempt to launch a grand, all-out offensive to vent their frustration. They are about to launch their most ferocious attack yet."

Fang nodded in agreement. While he wasn't well-versed in military strategy, he understood that the enemy, having failed twice, was about to go mad. He began to grasp where Chen was heading.

Chen continued, "If your regiment remains at the southern front, you will face the full brunt of their most frenzied assault. At that point, your regiment would suffer catastrophic losses, and there would be a real risk of total annihilation."

"But, if you withdraw now and regroup within the walls of Dingyuan, those Japanese forces—primed for a fight and desperate to vent their rage—will strike at an empty position. The morale and spirit they have been desperately building up will plummet. And at that moment..."

Chen did not finish, but Fang understood the rest. If the Japanese failed in their third attempt only to find the position empty, their morale would collapse. With his troops falling back behind the city walls, they could defend from a superior position against an enemy devoid of fighting spirit, significantly increasing their chances of victory. Furthermore, an army with shattered morale would only suffer even greater losses when forced to assault the city.