Chapter 55: The Battle Ends

"Charge!"

Wang Kai and his comrades mustered all their strength and sprinted wildly, finally catching up just a bit. A frantic, directionless Japanese soldier mistook them for reinforcements and charged toward Wang Kai’s side.

Instantly, the Japanese soldier was riddled with bullets from Wang Kai’s light machine gun. After the last enemy fell, the battlefield fell into silence.

Zhang Dabiao immediately ordered everyone to clear the battlefield. "Hurry up, finish the cleanup quickly. Once done, we move out to support the battalion commander!"

Turning toward the group of defected puppet soldiers parked in the distance, Zhang Dabiao flashed a broad smile and approached them.

On Wang Kai’s side, everyone watched Zhang Dabiao approaching, stirring up some chatter.

“When did the Eighth Route Army get this strong?!”

“These guns are brutal, even fiercer than the Nationalist forces’ firepower!”

“Say, should we join the Eighth Route and fight alongside them?!”

“Brother Kai, what do you think? Should we join the Eighth Route and fight?”

The platoon leader was eager, truly impressed by this Eighth Route unit—fighting the Japanese alongside such a force would be great!

Wang Kai was straightforward. “Eighth Route or not, as long as they fight the Japanese, I’m in!”

Zhang Dabiao cheerfully walked up to Wang Kai. “Ha ha ha, I’m Zhang Dabiao. And you, brother, what’s your name?”

“I’m Wang Kai. These are my fellow townsmen. They were forced to become puppet soldiers because of me. Please, commander, don’t make things hard for them!”

Wang Kai softened his stance. Since they wanted to join the Eighth Route Army, their group of former puppet soldiers needed to prove their loyalty.

Unfortunately, they only managed to capture one Japanese soldier. They had to take full responsibility for their puppet soldier past before they could be accepted without worry.

Zhang Dabiao instantly understood. He knew they wanted to join but feared their puppet soldier background might affect their future.

With a dismissive wave, Zhang Dabiao said, “Hey, brother, you’re overthinking it. As long as you’re sincere about fighting the Japanese, we in the Eighth Route Army welcome you!”

“Brother Kai, let’s do it!”

Receiving Zhang Dabiao’s reply, Wang Kai was firm. “Alright, since the Eighth Route Army doesn’t care about our past, we’re in. We join the Eighth Route!”

Then Wang Kai turned around and shouted loudly, “Brothers, today I, Wang Kai, decide to join the Eighth Route Army. Those willing to fight alongside me, come together. Those who aren’t, no pressure. Let’s part on good terms and each go our own way!”

---

“Brother Kai, we’re still with you fighting the Japanese!”

“That’s right, we agreed to advance and retreat together!”

“We’re all in!”

Wang Kai’s townsmen all agreed to join the Eighth Route Army. This made Zhang Dabiao exceptionally happy—the first battalion’s position was secured.

“Ha ha ha, welcome everyone to our team!”

After clearing the battlefield, Zhang Dabiao led the now greatly swollen second company and swiftly headed toward Liu Wang Temple.

As Zhang Dabiao’s team hurried forward, the battle at Liu Wang Temple was nearing its end.

Li Yunlong noticed a breach. Although the rocket grenade had gone off course, it still made a large hole in the main hall’s roof. From over twenty meters away, grenades could reach it easily.

If they timed the distance and height right, throwing grenades through the courtyard wall to concentrate on the roof, some would surely land inside. Once detonated, they could charge in immediately and take the place in a blink.

Li Yunlong quickly ordered, “Platoon Leader Huang, gather all the grenades. Find a few good throwers and lob them onto the roof!”

At that moment, hearing Li Yunlong’s tactical plan, a Nationalist soldier volunteered. “Commander, I’m Li Fusan. I guarantee every grenade will land inside!”

Li Yunlong trusted him fully. “Good, it’s all yours. If you succeed, I’ll credit you with merit!”

“Commander, just watch!” The soldier took the grenades, bundling three together to make a cluster grenade. He weighed it in his hand, tested its heft.

Then he glanced at the main hall’s roof by the door, aimed, and estimated the precise distance and height—it was all clear in his mind.

He nodded to Li Yunlong, who then commanded, “Submachine gun teams, ready yourselves. Once the blast goes off inside the hall and the Japanese fall silent, charge in immediately and wipe them out!”

Li Yunlong looked at the soldier. “Li Fusan, it’s all on you now!”

Inside the main hall, Major Silver City wore a stern expression, having his men check their ammunition. His subordinates calmly reported their counts.

They seemed specially trained; despite being completely surrounded by the enemy, their morale remained unshaken.

“All right! Victory will be ours! Long live His Majesty the Heavenly Locust!”

Major Silver City was confident, even arrogant, firmly believing the enemy before them couldn’t harm them.

But then Li Yunlong delivered a crushing blow—or more precisely, a devastating blast!

---

Outside the courtyard wall, Li Fusan took a few steps back to gain distance, crouched, stretched his arm back, and threw with all his might.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, the cluster grenade flew toward the main hall’s roof. A soldier climbing onto the wall saw it land precisely into the hole.

“Got in!”

No sooner had the soldier shouted than a thunderous explosion erupted inside the hall. The M-24 wooden-handle grenade was already powerful; three bundled together detonated inside the enclosed space, inflicting even greater damage.

The hall’s doors and windows shattered and flew outward in flames, while two Japanese soldiers screamed and were blown away.

Li Yunlong’s eyes blazed with fury. “Charge!”

The assault team, armed with submachine guns, roared as they surged in. Their gun barrels spat scorching bullets. The Japanese, now without cover and dizzy, couldn’t rely on their marksmanship.

In moments, all remaining resisting enemies were wiped out.

Li Yunlong then approached, intent on examining this group of Japanese more closely.

Inside the hall, he stopped beside a fallen Japanese soldier and picked up a matte-finished helmet, squinting to inspect it. “This steel helmet doesn’t reflect light?! Nice!”

He glanced down at the soldier’s other gear. “Hey, there’s quite a bit of miscellaneous equipment here!”

Li Yunlong was no stranger to such things; these small items often proved invaluable at critical moments.

He guessed these Japanese were specially trained for behind-enemy-lines missions. Li Yunlong himself was no stranger to such tactics—penetrating enemy lines to strike weak points and command centers.

He took note of this intelligence, planning to report it to headquarters and urge commanders to strengthen security around their command posts.

Li Yunlong tossed the helmet to Huzi. “Go gather all these items and take them with us.”

He then headed toward a collapsed corner of the hall. His eyes brightened and he grinned. “Ha ha ha, what a pleasant surprise!”

There, lying on the ground, was Major Silver City himself, clutching a command saber in his right hand. Li Yunlong happily prepared to pick it up.

Suddenly...