Chapter 139: Schemes and Intrigues

Observing Wakisaka Jiro's behavior at this moment, Kika Ryosuke decided to stoke the flames even further!

With a swift motion, he struck Wakisaka Jiro across the face with another heavy slap and roared angrily, "Baka! Look at you now! Are you fit to be a brave warrior of the Empire?"

"As a proud soldier of the Great Japanese Empire, to be bullied and humiliated to this extent by the despicable Chinese army, is this not a disgrace? Do you intend to carry such shame for the rest of your life, dragging out a miserable existence amidst the sneers and ridicule of everyone?"

"Raise your head! Lift it up! As a soldier of the Empire, you must never lower your proud head under any circumstances! Take up the command sword in your hand and wash away your disgrace with the blood of the enemy!"

Hearing Kika Ryosuke's words, Wakisaka Jiro suddenly jerked his head up. His eyes were bloodshot, revealing a fierce and sinister gleam within them. Stiffening his neck, he growled, "Your Excellency, Divisional Commander, please grant me one more opportunity! I will definitely defeat the Chinese army, and I will surely flay Chen Qingzhi alive to vent the hatred burning in my heart!"

His tone was rigid, laden with monstrous hatred and fiery rage.

Wakisaka Jiro had been successfully provoked by Kika Ryosuke, his desire to win thoroughly ignited.

Seeing Wakisaka Jiro's reaction, the corners of Kika Ryosuke's mouth curled upward. Looking at him with satisfaction, he nodded and said, "Yoshi! This is the imperial warrior I expected to see!"

"Wakisaka-kun, go! Lead your brave men, drive your bayonets deep into the hearts of the Chinese, and wash away your shame with their blood!"

"Thank you, Your Excellency, for your cultivation and trust. I will never let you down!" Wakisaka Jiro declared firmly.

"Yoshi! Wakisaka-kun, to help you cleanse yourself of this disgrace, the imperial aircraft I have arranged will soon arrive in Dingyuan. By then, I hope Wakisaka-kun will not disappoint me again! This is your final chance! Your last opportunity to prove yourself! Once you successfully annihilate the Chinese army, not only will I overlook your previous failures, but I will also recommend you for the position of commander of the Sixth Brigade!"

Upon hearing these words, a rush of blood instantly surged to Wakisaka Jiro's head, as if he had been struck hard by a heavy club. His eyes turned crimson instantly, and his entire body trembled violently.

This time, it was not from anger, but from sheer excitement!

Commander of the Sixth Brigade!

The Divisional Commander himself had promised that as long as he wiped out the Chinese army, his past mistakes would be forgiven, and he would be recommended as the commander of the Sixth Brigade!

This was nothing short of a pie falling straight from the sky!

One had to know that Wakisaka Jiro had coveted the post of the Sixth Brigade Commander for a long time. Could it actually become a reality today?!

At the very thought of this, Wakisaka Jiro's fighting spirit skyrocketed even further!

As long as he destroyed the Chinese army, as long as he captured Dingyuan County, he would become a brigade commander!

With this phrase echoing endlessly in his mind, the last remnants of rationality left in Wakisaka Jiro's heart were utterly swept away under the assault of unbridled desire!

Nothing remained except surging fighting spirit and boundless fury!

"Very well, Wakisaka-kun, go! Go and prepare!" Seeing that Wakisaka Jiro's fighting spirit had been thoroughly aroused, Kika Ryosuke was immensely satisfied, so he waved his hand and dismissed him to make preparations.

"Then, Your Excellency Divisional Commander, your subordinate takes his leave! Please await my good news here, Your Excellency!" Wakisaka Jiro bowed respectfully before turning to leave.

Watching Wakisaka Jiro's retreating back, a faint smile appeared on Kika Ryosuke's face.

"Wakisaka-kun, do not blame me! As a soldier of the Empire, one must always be prepared for every eventuality! Although doing this might ruin you, to be able to sacrifice oneself for His Majesty's grand enterprise is your supreme honor!"

With a crooked smile, Kika Ryosuke turned around and walked back into the command headquarters. "Pass down the order: have all reserve units ready. Once the 36th Infantry Regiment launches its assault, coordinate with them immediately and strive to capture Dingyuan in one single stroke!"

"Haii!"

Came the crisp acknowledgment of a staff officer.

Parting ways with Kika Ryosuke, Wakisaka Jiro clutched his command sword, the expression of rage still lingering on his face. However, the moment he stepped back into the encampment of his own 36th Infantry Regiment, the anger and greed vanished entirely from his features, replaced by a chilling calmness.

Recalling what Kika Ryosuke had just said, a cold sneer suddenly crept onto Wakisaka Jiro's face.

"Kika Ryosuke, you truly know how to calculate! You are ruthless enough to discard your own subordinates so easily!" Wakisaka Jiro sneered coldly, then cast his gaze toward the direction of the division headquarters, a sharp, piercing gleam flashing in his eyes. "Since you show no loyalty, do not blame me for showing no righteousness!"

Wakisaka Jiro knew full well that Kika Ryosuke's actions were intended to strip him of his sanity. Under such circumstances, for a man who had lost his reason to survive on the battlefield would be a near-impossible task!

Kika Ryosuke's move was clearly designed to get rid of him through the hands of the enemy while squeezing out every last ounce of utility he had left before doing so.

Such a venomous scheme truly chilled Wakisaka Jiro to the bone!

Having followed Kika Ryosuke for so long, Wakisaka Jiro understood his master's mind inside and out.

Kika Ryosuke was stubborn, excessively arrogant, and profoundly selfish. The moment he felt someone was no longer useful or deemed unworthy of heavy responsibilities, he would cast them aside instantly, just like throwing away a worn-out object.

His attitude toward Wakisaka Jiro was precisely this!

The moment he realized Wakisaka Jiro had failed and deemed him incapable, he immediately sought to destroy him, inciting him into a blind rage so that he would perish at the hands of the Chinese, thereby clearing up the position of the 36th Infantry Regiment.

As for the promise of making him the commander of the Sixth Brigade upon success—that was nothing more than a pie drawn in the sky by Kika Ryosuke to lure him on!

It was entirely a ploy to stimulate Wakisaka Jiro's desires and drain the absolute last drop of his potential!

Wakisaka Jiro understood everything!

Yet, he had chosen not to expose it at the time!

Indeed, his entire performance before Kika Ryosuke just now had been completely feigned!

Relying on his deep understanding of Kika Ryosuke, he knew that following his defeat in the offensive, the divisional commander was bound to abandon him.

Therefore, he had no choice but to pretend to be easily provoked, forcing Kika Ryosuke's plot out into the open. By doing so, he would actually find a measure of safety!

Otherwise, had Kika Ryosuke discovered that he could no longer be controlled, the general might have resorted to even more insidious and unpredictable backstabbing methods. Rather than facing that, it was far better to bring everything out into the open where it was easier to manage.

Moreover, the bait dangled by Kika Ryosuke—the promise of the Sixth Brigade commandership meant to spur his offensive drive—turned out to be an unexpected bonus.

With these thoughts, Wakisaka Jiro let out a long breath, though his face remained devoid of joy, heavy with profound solemnity.

He knew that no matter what, breaking this deadly deadlock required capturing Dingyuan County. Only by doing so could he preserve his life and secure the position of the Sixth Brigade Commander. Only upon becoming a brigade commander would he no longer be at the mercy of Kika Ryosuke!