Chapter Ninety-Four: The Ambush at Twin Dragon Valley (Part Four)

Under Kazuo Isa’s relentless pressure, the battalion commander had no choice but to rally his men and prepare for an assault.

Though, in his own view, the order was utterly unworkable, it had come from the regimental commander, and he had no standing to object. He could only comply.

In the Japanese army, discipline was severe. Especially in the relationship between superiors and subordinates: it was commonplace for those above to strike and curse those below, and those below would submit to it without daring to resist. Because of this twisted code of military discipline, the Japanese army’s organization and cohesion were so ruthlessly efficient.

Since Isa Kazuo had issued the order, the battalion commander, however improper he felt it to be, could only carry it out and dare not oppose him.

Seeing that he could not persuade Isa Kazuo otherwise, the battalion commander let out a silent sigh. As the soldiers were already being organized, he drew his command saber and roared, “Charge!”

At the command, two more companies of Japanese troops advanced with rifles in hand toward the positions on the left.

Watching the soldiers of the Empire push forward through a storm of bullets, men dropping now and then as if cut down like grass, the battalion commander could not suppress a twitch in his face. Seeing the regimental commander still observing from the side, he hurried over to dissuade him.

“Your Excellency, Regimental Commander, we cannot attack so recklessly! The Chinese army’s fire is too fierce. No matter how many men we send out, they will all be wiped out!”

“This kind of assault is nothing less than a suicide charge for the warriors of the Empire!”

At this, Isa Kazuo merely glanced at the battalion commander and did not answer. Instead, he asked in a flat voice, “How far is the main force of the division from us?”

“We just received word from division headquarters. They are still a very long way off. It will take at least half a day to reach Dingyuan,” the battalion commander replied.

“Half a day.” Facing the battalion commander, Isa Kazuo said gravely, “Do you think, under such fire from the Chinese army, that our Seventh Regiment can hold out for half a day until reinforcements arrive?”

Of course not.

The battalion commander had seen the Chinese firepower with his own eyes. Under such bombardment, unless the Seventh Regiment seized favorable terrain, to hold out for half a day in a two-sided crossfire would be nothing short of a fool’s dream.

It was simply impossible.

He understood this as well, and could only say bitterly, “No.”

“Then isn’t that settled?” Isa Kazuo said coolly. “Since we cannot defend passively and still hold out until reinforcements arrive, why not take the initiative and attack the Chinese? We may even be able to seize their left flank position. Once we hold the advantage of the terrain, let alone half a day, even three days would not be impossible.”

“Besides, although the Chinese firepower is fierce, their ammunition must be being consumed at a tremendous rate. Under fire of this intensity, their bullets cannot possibly last much longer.”

“Once the Chinese run out of ammunition, the warriors of the Empire will launch their fiercest charge, storm their positions, and annihilate every one of those wretched Chinese!”

Isa Kazuo spoke with complete conviction, his face shining with confidence.

The battalion commander froze at first, then understood. “Your Excellency, you mean to have the soldiers charge in order to drain the Chinese ammunition?”

“Indeed, you have finally caught on,” Isa Kazuo said with a chuckle, approvingly. “If we simply defend passively, the Chinese will not expend their ammunition so heavily. Only by sending the warriors of the Empire into relentless attack will we force their bullets to run out quickly, thereby achieving our ultimate aim.”

Only then did the battalion commander truly grasp the plan.

So the regimental commander had ordered the Empire’s warriors to attack in order to exhaust the Chinese ammunition.

And by the look of it, this plan had a very high chance of succeeding.

After all, he knew the enemy’s firepower well. Under such overwhelming suppression, the ammunition carried by two Chinese battalions could not be much. It would likely be exhausted before long.

Then would come the moment for the warriors of the Empire to show their might.

Thinking that the regimental commander had devised such a scheme, the battalion commander’s admiration for Isa Kazuo surged like a flood.

“Your Excellency is indeed wise. In that case, the Chinese are surely doomed!”

“Heh. The advantage the Chinese hold now is only temporary. Only those who can smile at the end win the true victory,” Isa Kazuo said smugly.

As for how many soldiers would be killed or wounded by this plan, that was not something the regimental commander or battalion commander needed to consider.

In their minds, these rank-and-file soldiers were nothing more than tools to be used.

After all, they were soldiers of the Empire. They were ready at any moment to give their lives for the Empire’s glory and for the radiance of His Majesty the Emperor. Everyone had long been prepared to sacrifice themselves for the creation of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere.

To them, the soldiers’ willingness to die for the Empire was a source of honor.

Isa Kazuo gave the battalion commander a slight nod and said with a smile, “Very well. Hurry back and urge the warriors forward. Do not give the Chinese even a moment to breathe. Increase the intensity of the assault and make sure their ammunition is exhausted as quickly as possible.”

“Hai!” The battalion commander bowed deeply and accepted the order.

After the battalion commander left, the smile on Isa Kazuo’s face faded at once, replaced by a dark, brooding expression.

He glared fiercely toward the left-side defensive position, a look of hatred rising on his face.

He had been forced to make this plan as a last resort.

Originally, he had intended to reach Dingyuan without anyone noticing, perhaps even seize it in a single battle. But he had never imagined that, several li short of the town, he would run into a Chinese ambush—and be pinned down so badly that he could not even lift his head.

Now, in order to break free from the suppression of those two Chinese battalions, he had been driven to make this decision.

It was easy to imagine that even if the Seventh Regiment eventually managed to seize the position, it would suffer severe losses.

And if, by chance, the division commander held him accountable afterward, how was Isa Kazuo supposed to explain himself?

Would the Seventh Regiment be branded as incompetent in the division commander’s eyes? Would Isa Kazuo himself be marked as a man unworthy of trust and promotion?

All of it was because of the Chinese.

“Bastards! Despicable Chinese! Once I storm your position, I will personally cut off your heads to vent the hatred in my heart!” Isa Kazuo snarled toward the enemy lines across from him.