Chapter 14: Fierce Battle

Behind the Third Battalion, atop a low earthen slope beside a yellow soil cliff, the combat engineers hastily constructed a makeshift concealed command post. Nobutetsu Sakata entered the command post and ordered the signalmen to establish a communication center immediately. “Hayaku, establish contact with the brigade as soon as possible!”

“Sir! Regimental Commander!” The signalmen swiftly began tuning the radios and raising the communication antennas.

At that moment, a staff officer brought news of the Third Battalion’s request for artillery support. Without hesitation, Sakata approved the request.

“Relay to the artillery company: continue providing fire support for the Third Battalion. Clear the path for their advance!”

In less than half an hour, the Third Battalion was ready to strike. The machine gun company and artillery detachment had replenished their ammunition. The battered Fourth Company was temporarily placed under the command of the Fifth Company, continuing a frontal assault on the New First Regiment’s position.

“The Sixth Company will attack the flank. Begin the assault!” With Major Fukuda brandishing his command saber and issuing the order, five to six hundred enemy soldiers formed distinct assault formations and surged toward the New First Regiment’s position.

Lowering his binoculars, Li Yunlong shouted loudly, “Everyone get down! When those devils charge, no one’s allowed to wet their pants! Show the spirit of our New First Regiment and hold fast—bite down on those bastards!”

The positions erupted with thunderous shouts. Amid artillery bombardments, the soldiers gripped their weapons tightly, glaring fiercely at the advancing enemy in grim silence.

Minutes later, the artillery fire ceased. Facing sporadic shelling from the Third Battalion, the New First Regiment’s heavy and light machine guns unleashed a withering volume of fire, engaging the enemy in a deadly exchange.

“Rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat-tat…”

“Erniu! Ammo! Bring me ammo!”

“Grenade launcher! Wang, get down!”

Boom!

Once again, the Pillar of Fire proved its might—two men and a cannon suppressed an enemy squad’s grenade launchers and machine guns.

The New First Regiment’s front lines bore the brunt of the assault. The first defensive line, held by the First, Third, and Sixth Companies, suffered the heaviest casualties.

Zhang Dabiao clutched a Czech light machine gun, shouting, “First Company Commander, give me all your ammo! I’m not letting them through today!”

At his command, the company commander immediately dispatched soldiers to distribute all their reserve ammunition. “Grenades! Grenades! Quickly, get them out!”

“Kill them all!”

“Swarm them like locusts!”

“Artillery! Artillery!”

By now, the New First Regiment’s minefield had been largely cleared by the Fourth Company. The well-manned Fifth Company deployed four squads—nearly two hundred men—to launch a charging assault under the cover of machine guns and artillery.

Boom! Boom! Occasionally, unlucky enemy soldiers triggered residual mines, causing disarray in their assault formations.

Despite heavy losses, the enemy pushed within a hundred meters of the defensive line, though the New First Regiment’s casualties remained high.

These foes were no ordinary soldiers. Beyond their superior firepower, their marksmanship was precise, and even during the charge, they maintained tactical discipline rather than reckless rushing.

A mere hundred meters was just a few breaths for them to breach the enemy lines.

Zhang Dabiao kept a clear head as he crouched and ran through the trenches. “Grenades! Throw grenades! Toss every grenade you’ve got! Watch your posture!”

On the first line, over a hundred soldiers equipped with grenades concealed their movements while rapidly throwing them—each flinging at least three grenades within seconds.

“Grenade! Grenade!”

“Take cover!”

“Swarm them like locusts!”

The enemy, charging swiftly, entered the grenade-throwing range about forty to fifty meters from the position. Grenades rained down upon them.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Over three hundred grenades exploded across the dusty front line, carving a smoky barrier. More than a squad of enemy soldiers was wiped out outright.

Emerging from the smoke, the remaining hundred or so enemy soldiers shouted “Swarm them!” and charged close to the trenches, ready for hand-to-hand combat.

But unlike other units, the New First Regiment was not intimidated by the enemy’s superior bayonet skills.

Zhang Dabiao hailed from the 29th Army’s saber squadron. Particularly, the First and Third Companies’ soldiers had mastered his techniques.

Before the enemy even reached the trenches, Zhang Dabiao flung off his cap and drew the large saber from his back. “Brothers! Show these devils who invented close-quarters combat! Charge with me! Kill the bastards!”

Leaping out of the trench, Zhang Dabiao plunged into the enemy ranks. The soldiers roared as they charged, engaging in a brutal and bloody melee.

“Haah!”

With a fierce yell, Zhang Dabiao’s blade struck diagonally, deflecting a direct bayonet thrust. The enemy’s defense wavered.

He followed with a swift reverse slash, the blade slicing through an enemy’s neck, blood gushing freely.

“Shinei!”

Another enemy screamed as he lunged at Zhang Dabiao, but Zhang was quick. With a grunt, he grabbed the enemy’s rifle barrel with his left hand and swung his saber with the right, severing an arm.

Kicking the screaming enemy aside, Zhang twisted the rifle into the enemy’s chest.

“Kill!”

The Fifth Company commander, seeing the onset of close combat, immediately sent in the remaining two squads. “Hayaku! Eliminate the enemy! Swarm them!”

Nearly a hundred enemy soldiers plunged into the chaotic melee, sharply increasing the pressure on the New First Regiment.

“Charge!”

“Kill!”

“Commander, hold the line!” The relieved Second Company, having rested briefly, rejoined the fight.

Amid the deafening cries of battle, our troops gradually gained the upper hand. Unable to withstand the pressure, the enemy was the first to retreat.

Zhang Dabiao, sensing the tide turning, wisely pulled back. With the enemy still engaged and their machine guns and artillery rendered ineffective, he seized the opportunity to gather some guns and ammunition before leading his men back into the trenches.

Seeing the Fifth Company withdraw, the Sixth Company, feinting on the flanks, also had no choice but to retreat. The Third Battalion’s offensive stalled.

Through his binoculars, Major Fukuda observed over a hundred enemy corpses littering the front line of the New First Regiment. His expression darkened. In just over an hour, nearly a company’s worth of soldiers had fallen—an utter disgrace!

Though the New First Regiment suffered heavier losses, that was due to their firepower advantage. Now, to be defeated in close combat by these ragged, poorly supplied guerrillas was humiliating.

Major Fukuda cursed loudly. Coming from a samurai lineage, he often boasted of his Third Battalion’s superiority in bayonet fighting. This was a crushing blow to his pride.

“Baka yarou! A complete disgrace to the Locust Army! Back at base, intensify bayonet training! Use Chinese POWs if you must!”

At that moment, Nobutetsu Sakata noticed the slow progress of the Third Battalion compared to the Fourth Battalion’s flanking attacks, which had achieved more definite results.