Chapter 1 The Sergeant Major Feels a Surge of Heat

Sergeant Major Takao Osamu felt a surge of heat rush toward him, and along with it, countless shrapnel.

The infantry gun, primed and ready to fire, shuddered under the impact. With a “boom,” a shell was unexpectedly launched.

It was the only shell fired by Kitamura Kazuki’s artillery squadron that day, though no one knew where it landed.

Sergeant Major Takao Osamu's body lay draped over the Type 92 infantry gun, blood streaming down the barrel, a scene of utter desolation.

Captain Kitamura Kazuki's fate was no different; he was caught in the barrage. Before he could even take cover, the explosion tossed him into the air, and he never stirred again after landing.

While not every Japanese soldier in the artillery squadron was dead, the survivors were those furthest from the guns. Anyone near the artillery had been obliterated.

As the Matsuda Kaisen company charged up the hillside, they were met with a ferocious storm of gunfire. Completely unprepared, they suffered heavy casualties instantly.

Kunihiro Torataro and Kamikawa Hayato, at the head of the charge, were ironically elated and excited. The initial volley missed them, and they miraculously survived.

Now, they lay prone in a small depression, waiting for the captain to order the machine guns to suppress the fire from the hillside. Then, they could resume their advance.

The firepower from the Chinese troops was remarkably intense, exceeding even their wildest expectations. Only against such formidable enemies could Kunihiro Torataro and Kamikawa Hayato distinguish themselves.

With the majority of their company dead or wounded on the hillside, they had the opportunity to be the first to reach the summit and seize the position. Such an achievement would surely earn them a place at the academy.

Captain Matsuda Kaisen, immediately after the assault began, commanded, "Machine guns! Grenade launchers! Suppress the enemy fire immediately!"

The 2nd Regiment's various companies responded in kind, raining down infantry gun, mortar, and bazooka fire on the Japanese soldiers on the road.

The surprised Japanese forces reacted swiftly. Captain Uchida Kame no Hide ordered, "Machine gun company, suppress the Chinese fire with covering fire! Artillery company, bombard the hilltop!"

His orders were relayed to Kitamura Kazuki's artillery squadron along with the 2nd Regiment's shells.

Then the artillery squadron was rendered combat ineffective. Despite this setback, Captain Uchida Kame no Hide remained undeterred, shouting, "Fire on the hilltop! Suppress their fire!"

Across the Japanese ranks, the marines' battalion commanders issued similar orders, reflecting the limited options available.

They ordered their machine gun and artillery companies to fire upon the Chinese troops on the hilltop, while simultaneously ordering their infantry to charge up the slope.

At this point, Commander Fukiishi Juro realized his force had stumbled into a Chinese ambush. The enemy he had been so eager to find and destroy was now lying in wait on the hillside.

Commander Fukiishi Juro dismounted his horse and, accompanied by his guards, took cover in a slightly concealed location, listening to the incessant thunder of exploding shells.

He felt a mixture of excitement and apprehension. The Chinese artillery seemed unusually fierce today.

He watched his troops struggle to advance up the hillside, while machine guns, concealed in defensive positions, began to fire on the Chinese positions.

Commander Fukiishi Juro's one source of dissatisfaction was that none of his four marine battalions seemed to have any infantry guns or even mortars firing on the Chinese.

Deeply displeased, Commander Fukiishi Juro ordered his signalman, "Relay to all battalions: order them to immediately organize artillery fire to bombard the Chinese positions and cover the infantry's advance!"

"Hai!" The signalman bowed and hurried off along the base of the hill to deliver the orders.

As this battle erupted, the soldiers of the Takeuchi Takuma battalion grew excited. They immediately commenced their attack against the 10th Company, which was blocking the road.

At the same time, Hu Xiong directed his troops in a final, fierce assault against the encircled Japanese soldiers. These soldiers had outlived their usefulness.

The Special Operations Brigade had only kept them alive to serve as bait, drawing out the other Japanese soldiers to their rescue. Now, the reinforcements had stumbled into the 2nd Regiment's ambush.

Now was the time to kick away the ladder. The 10th Company's five mortars and two Type 92 infantry guns unleashed their full fury on the Takeuchi battalion.

The heavy machine guns, initially positioned to intercept the arriving Japanese troops, were now turned around. The newly arrived Japanese had no time to advance further; they were too busy fighting for the high ground.

The Takeuchi Takuma battalion was simultaneously attacked from three directions, overwhelming their already limited firepower.

Captain Watanabe Juro, watching the approaching Special Operations Brigade soldiers, shouted in desperation, "Nakamura Goro! Ito Masahiro! Machine gun fire!"

Nakamura Goro, the machine gunner, seeing the overwhelming firepower of the Special Operations Brigade's six heavy machine guns, had shrunk back with his gun, afraid to continue firing from his exposed position.

Captain Watanabe had spotted him and ordered him to resume firing. With no choice, Nakamura Goro set up the machine gun, and Ito Masahiro quickly inserted a magazine. The familiar “tat-tat-tat” of the machine gun filled the air once more.

The sound reassured Captain Watanabe slightly. But as he watched, he saw Nakamura Goro hit in the head by a bullet.

Although Captain Watanabe didn't see the trajectory of the bullet, he saw a dark shadow explode from the back of Nakamura Goro's head before the gunner collapsed onto the machine gun.

Petrified, Ito Masahiro immediately dropped to the ground, paralyzed with fear. Captain Watanabe bellowed, "Saito Toshishige! Koizumi Keita! Get that machine gun firing again!"

The absence of the machine gun was agonizing. Not only did it provide much-needed firepower to slow the advance of the Special Operations Brigade, but the sound of its firing boosted the morale of the entire company.

Captain Watanabe watched anxiously toward the direction Captain Takeuchi Takuma was commanding. Since the sudden start of the battle, Captain Takeuchi Takuma had realized their end was near.

He was now directing his three companies, nearly four hundred men, to attack toward the approaching Japanese reinforcements. If they couldn't break through, they were doomed.

Squad Leader Shirakawa Daisuke personally led his men toward the fortifications of Hu Xiong's company. Captain Takeuchi Takuma watched, having told Squad Leader Shirakawa just before the attack: "Succeed or die trying."

That meant there was no turning back. Either break through to the reinforcements or die trying.

Squad Leader Tsukamoto Sono Kaeru was doing the same. To inspire his men, the squad leaders were leading the charge.

Sergeant Murakawa Sanjuro followed closely behind Squad Leader Shirakawa Daisuke, feeling a strange excitement. In all his years fighting alongside the squad leader, this was the first time he had seen him leading from the front.

Usually, even in the thick of battle, Squad Leader Shirakawa Daisuke would only make a show of leading the charge, then draw his sword and shout a few slogans before discreetly moving to the rear.

But today was different. Very different! Sergeant Shinohara Saburo, following Squad Leader Tsukamoto Sono Kaeru, was equally astonished.

It was so rare that Sergeant Shinohara Saburo twice surged ahead of Squad Leader Tsukamoto Sono Kaeru, trying to shield his commander from bullets, only to be quickly overtaken by the squad leader.

The third time Sergeant Shinohara Saburo surged ahead, his wish was fulfilled: a bullet struck him.

Wounded, Sergeant Shinohara Saburo was no longer able to charge forward. He could only lie where he fell, hoping the distant Japanese reinforcements could drive back the Chinese troops.

The breakout led by Captain Takeuchi Takuma was not progressing, and Watanabe Juro’s company was quickly collapsing.

Sergeant Ito Masahiro died. Sergeant Saito Toshishige died. Sergeant Koizumi Keita died. All the Japanese who touched the machine gun died.

Sergeant Aoi Kazuma hesitantly took over as the primary gunner, and Sergeant Asano Kazuki became the assistant gunner. Only Watanabe Juro’s constant supervision prevented them from abandoning the gun.

Sergeant Asano Kazuki had only just become the assistant gunner when he realized their struggles were futile. The enemy was advancing behind six carts, filling the entire road. Machine gun bullets only sparked against the carts; they couldn’t hit the soldiers behind them.

Whenever their machine gun fired, it immediately attracted the fire of several heavy machine guns. Learning from the fates of his predecessors, Sergeant Aoi Kazuma would fire a few rounds, then quickly move the gun to a new location.

This allowed him and Sergeant Asano Kazuki to survive for a while longer, but the enemy continued to advance, now less than sixty meters from their line.

What now?

The situation was completely one-sided. Captain Watanabe Juro knew that if his company didn't retreat, they would soon be locked in close combat with the Special Operations Brigade.

He looked again toward Captain Takeuchi Takuma’s command post. The Special Operations Brigade’s defenses remained impenetrable.

Watanabe Juro knew that the entire battalion was doomed. After so much time, they hadn't made any progress, and the reinforcements hadn’t been able to break through.

Captain Watanabe Juro shouted, "Fix bayonets!" The order was heard clearly by the fifty-odd men left. They all knew what fate awaited.

They said nothing, silently fixing bayonets. Even Asano Kazuki and Aoi Kazuma stopped firing.

They had their own rifles. They had only been drafted to operate the machine gun temporarily. Now, they prepared to fight with bayonets.

Seeing the Japanese resistance suddenly weaken, 15th Regiment Company Commander Ren Ce laughed and said, "These Japanese have accepted their fate. Increase speed and destroy these Japanese, and then there are other battlefields waiting for us ahead.”

When they were only thirty meters from Watanabe Juro's company, Ren Ce commanded, "First Platoon! Grenades!"

The first platoon immediately began throwing grenades, not all at once, but in three waves. The explosions battered the Japanese soldiers, who were already braced for a desperate fight.

When they looked up again, the Special Operations Brigade troops were upon them. Of the fifty or sixty Japanese soldiers of Watanabe’s company, only about thirty were still standing.

They scrambled to their feet, but before they could prepare, the bayonets of the 10th Company soldiers were already upon them.

Captain Watanabe Juro had imagined many times how he would fight with his sword, but when the moment came, a simple thrust from the enemy ended his ability to fight, and the entire Watanabe company was annihilated.

Captain Takeuchi Takuma, serving as the rear guard, and his Watanabe Company, who were blocking the Ren Ce Company, were finished. Following that, the attack from Ren Ce's 200 soliders struck Captain Takeuchi Takuma, who panicked: He sent all of his strengh to the front attack.

Now the attack had not even made half an inch of progress, the assualt from the rear had begun, what could he do?

He could only lead his dozen soliders to the ranks in front of them. They escaped quickly, but they could never be faster than the sweeping bullets from heavy machine guns.

Squad Leader Tsukamoto Sono Kaeru, Squad Leader Shirakawa Daisuke, Sergeant Murakawa Sanjuro all of these soliders no longer knew what to do.

The fortifications they were attacking were impregnable, with machine guns, cannons, and the most difficult part was that the Chinese soliders ahead of them detonated landmines.

This made the assault very difficult for the Japanese soliders. If they wanted to rush forward, they would have to have a number of soliders sweep for mines first. They watched with their own eyes as the mines were laid.

If they didn't sweep the mines, they simply could not pass. Squad Leader Shirakawa Daisuke, ordered: "Sergeant Murakawa Sanjuro, take four of your men and remove the landmines."

Remove the landmines? Remove the landmines while the enemy was watching? Sergeant Murakawa Sanjuro had no such ability. But he did not dare say no.

The soliders from the Shirakawa Daisuke squad knew that the five cannonfodder had been chosen and the other soliders breathed a sigh of relief.

Each and every one of them starred at Sergeant Murakawa Sanjuro and his group. If they did not go, these soliders would definitely turn against them at the scene.

If they did not go, these soliders would have to sweep the mines.

Sergeant Murakawa Sanjuro, lead his four soliders carefully to the location of the landmines. As expected, they reached the location of the landmines and they exploded.

These soliders had to press through a hail of bullets, they also had to sweep for mines along the way. Naturally, their speed could not be very fast.

One hundred meters behind them, the soliders of the Special Operations Brigade had already appeared. Captain Takeuchi Takuma and his remaining soliders were running around in panic.

The fortifications in front of them were impenetrable. Captain Takeuchi Takuma, who was still catching his breath, ordered: "Everyone fix bayonets! Fight to the death!"

It was impossible for this band of soliders to start meleeing with Hu Xiong's Company. If they wanted to melee, they had to first break through the minefield in front of them.

They could only turn back to fight Ren Ce and his group. Captain Takeuchi Takuma looked at the remaining strength of two hundred and thirty to three hundred soliders of his squadron.

The number of Special Operations Brigade soliders chasing after him were not as large as his remnants. If they were able to fight to the death, they would be able to break through from this direction.

Although they would not be able to link with the soliders coming to their rescue, they would be able to flee to the mountains. They could use the chance to find a small path back to Conghua.

Suddenly, Captain Takeuchi Takuma, who had suddenly found a way out, felt a sudden rush of courage and motivation. He loudly encouraged the soliders: "Everyone! There are fewer of them than us. In melee we are number one in the world, we will break out from this direction."

"If we do, we will live! Everyone work together and move forward! Charge!"

Takeuchi Takuma's bayonet pointed directly at the Ren Ce squad. Ren Ce saw the actions of the soliders and was angered.

He shouted at all the soliders who were charging: "Comrades! The Japs were obviously attacking Hu Xiong's group, and now they have suddenly turned to attack us."

"It's like an old lady eating a persimmon, picking the softest one! He thinks that we are easy to bully! Are we easy to bully?"

"No!" "No!" Ren Ce's words lit up the fury of all of the 10th Company soliders, no one wanted to be the one that was easy to bully!

"What should we do?"

"Charge forward! Kill them all!" All of the 10th company soliders roared.

The 10th company soliders lead by Ren Ce quickened their pace. The first squad charged to the front, the attack route was the same as always.

When both sides were only about forty meters apart, Ren Ce once again ordered: "First Squad! Grenades!"

The soliders of the first squad threw out the grenades, as the grenades were exploding in the air, the second squad threw their grenades, as these grenades were exploding, the third squad's grenades were thrown.

After the three waves of grenade explosions, the soliders of the first squad were already in front of the Japs.

After being attacked by three waves of grenades, Captain Takeuchi Takuma had bloodshot eyes. The initial numerical superiority they held, had been reduced by half. They were no longer at an advantage.

What angered him more was that after such an explosion, the moral that he had just encouraged, had dissapted.