Chapter 141: A Brutal Battle

Within Dinyuan County, the Japanese soldiers’ cries could even be heard inside the city. Hearing the commotion, Chen Qingzhi and Su Zuxin both went up onto the wall, binoculars in hand, and watched the Japanese movements in the distance.

When they saw the Japanese army shouting in unison, their voices merging into one tremendous roar, so powerful that even the clouds overhead seemed to scatter, while smoke signals billowed upward and an invincible force radiated across the battlefield, both men’s expressions changed at once.

“The Japanese have been stirred into a fighting frenzy!” Su Zuxin said gravely.

Chen Qingzhi’s face was equally dark. The battle had been going well, and they had already inflicted heavy losses on the Japanese. Who could have imagined that, at the critical moment, the enemy would suddenly erupt with such force?

This had completely disrupted his plans.

It was easy to foresee that in the coming assault, the Japanese would attack with everything they had, and the defenders’ casualties would rise steadily.

That was certainly no good news.

“This is the power of faith!” Su Zuxin said with an ugly look on his face. “Damn it, who would have thought the Japanese would pull something like this at the very end? What rotten luck! What should we do now?”

He directed the last question at Chen Qingzhi.

Chen Qingzhi’s expression remained grim. Hearing this, he said heavily, “We can only stand our ground and endure it. This wave of attacks will certainly not consist of infantry alone. There will be air support as well. I expect this battle to be extremely difficult.”

Before Su Zuxin could speak, Chen Qingzhi continued on his own. “But no matter how difficult it is, we still have to fight! If the Japanese can disregard life and death, are the sons of China really any worse than they are?”

The words seemed directed at Su Zuxin, yet they also sounded like encouragement meant for himself.

He turned to Su Zuxin and said, “Brother Su, the fighting ahead will certainly be brutal. You must hold on. This will be a severe test for us. If the situation turns unfavorable, come to our Independent Brigade for help at once. I’ll return to my brigade and make the necessary arrangements. We’ll meet later at headquarters.”

“Very well. I’ll go make preparations as well,” Su Zuxin replied with a nod.

Chen Qingzhi nodded in return, then led several guards toward the Independent Brigade.

With his guards beside him, Chen Qingzhi soon reached the defensive position of the Second Regiment. The regiment commander, Huzi, was speaking with several officers, apparently issuing instructions. When he saw Chen Qingzhi approaching, he hurried over and called out loudly, “Brigade Commander, you’re here!”

“Mm.” Chen Qingzhi nodded, then asked, “How is your regiment?”

“Things are under control. Our losses aren’t very serious, and stopping the Japanese attack won’t be a problem,” Huzi replied.

Chen Qingzhi nodded. “If anything goes wrong, call for reinforcements early. This battle will probably be difficult. The Japanese have been worked into a frenzy, and the fighting ahead will certainly be fierce. Make sure the men are mentally prepared.”

“Don’t worry, Brigade Commander. The brothers aren’t the raw recruits they were when they first joined us. After these battles, they’ve grown rapidly. They can handle the situation before us,” Huzi said, appearing somewhat more relaxed than Chen Qingzhi.

It was not that Huzi felt no concern. As the commander on the front line, the officer directly responsible for leading the soldiers into battle, he could not allow any abnormality to show in his demeanor. Otherwise, it would easily damage the troops’ morale.

After all, if even the officers displayed gloomy expressions, what would the ordinary soldiers think when they saw them?

“Good. Have the men make the most of this time to rest and eat something to replenish their strength,” Chen Qingzhi instructed.

Huzi naturally nodded and ordered the soldiers to rest as quickly as possible. Chen Qingzhi, meanwhile, stood on the wall with his binoculars, watching the Japanese forces in the distance.

Even the wisest man can overlook something.

Chen Qingzhi had made meticulous preparations for this battle, but no one had expected the Japanese to unleash such powerful morale at this stage. All his arrangements had been designed to keep the brigade’s casualties as low as possible. Yet now it seemed that a bloody battle was unavoidable after all.

Faced with this outcome, Chen Qingzhi could only offer a bitter smile. Beyond that, he could do nothing but sigh at the will of Heaven.

The situation on a battlefield could change in an instant. A seemingly excellent position might suddenly collapse because of the smallest oversight. Was the present situation not the perfect proof?

After chatting with Huzi for a while, they were still talking idly when a piercing cry suddenly rang across the previously quiet battlefield:

“The Japanese are coming!”

“Prepare for battle!” Huzi and Chen Qingzhi’s expressions changed instantly, and Huzi shouted the order at the top of his voice.

At the command, every soldier shuddered into action, then hurried back to his position, worked the bolt of his rifle, and fixed his full attention on the battlefield.

Under the soldiers’ watchful eyes, a large group of Japanese soldiers crouched low and crept forward from the distance. They advanced in teams of three, forming combat formations and supporting one another as they rapidly closed in.

“Brigade Commander, the battlefield is dangerous. You should return to headquarters and direct the battle. Leave this place to me,” Huzi said after glancing at the Japanese.

“Very well. I’ll leave this position in your hands,” Chen Qingzhi replied with a nod, making no objection.

He did indeed need to return to headquarters and arrange several matters. The Japanese assault would certainly be fierce, and the battle ahead was bound to be a hard one.

At present, only Huzi’s Second Regiment from the Independent Brigade was stationed here, and Chen Qingzhi was uneasy about that. He had to make preparations in advance.

After patting Huzi on the shoulder and giving him a few final instructions, Chen Qingzhi led his guards away.

Only after Chen Qingzhi had departed did Huzi turn his attention back to the rapidly advancing Japanese. He shouted, “Brothers, take careful aim! Let them come closer before you fire. Give them everything you’ve got!”

“Don’t worry, Commander! This time, we’ll make sure the Japanese regret coming here!”

“I’ve been waiting for this! Let them come. I’ll slaughter the lot of them!”

The soldiers answered one after another. Their voices held not the slightest trace of worry; they sounded completely at ease.

Hearing this, Huzi felt a little relieved. The soldiers’ spirits were high and their determination to resist was strong. That was a good sign.

With that thought in mind, he saw that the Japanese were almost at the foot of the wall. Huzi quickly gathered himself, cleared his mind, and took aim at one of the enemy soldiers.

A rifle cracked.

One of the Japanese soldiers fell at once.

At that moment, Huzi’s roar rang out across the battlefield:

“Brothers, open fire!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

At his command, a chaotic storm of gunfire erupted, echoing across the entire battlefield.