Chapter Thirty-Three: Everything is Completely Screwed Now!

Seeing those iron-gray figures appearing out of nowhere behind them like soldiers descended from the heavens, Jiro Ono was stunned.

"Chi... Chinese! Chinese!"
"Counterattack! Quickly, counterattack!"

"Die, you little devils!"

Gu Zidi’s face was filled with murderous intent as he pulled the trigger without hesitation.

"Rat-tat-tat-tat!"

As the sound of gunfire erupted like popping beans, nearly a hundred MP40 submachine guns opened fire simultaneously. A dense rain of bullets surged toward the Japanese soldiers. The projectiles tore through their frail bodies, leaving behind horrific wounds and killing them instantly. Those hit in the limbs suffered even more than the dead; the concentrated fire shattered their bones into fragments, rendering amputation unnecessary. Blood splattered everywhere, and gore filled the air.

"Yamete!"
"Otousan! Okaasan!"
"Tasukete!" (Help me!)

In the span of a single encounter, the Japanese soldiers in the carriages were reduced to wailing and crying for their parents, regretting ever setting foot on this land. Yet, the soldiers of the New Third Regiment showed no mercy. Wielding their MP40s, they ruthlessly swept away any Japanese soldier still showing signs of life. In the words of Liu Jianguo, the only good devil is a dead devil.

In close-quarters combat, the Arisaka bolt-action rifles were no match for the MP40s. Before long, the soldiers had secured absolute control over the carriages.

"Baka yaro! Damn Chinese!"
"Where did they pop out from? How do they possess so many automatic weapons?"

Hearing the continuous screams from the forward carriages, Jiro Ono grew frantic. He turned to his men and shouted, "Quick! Call for reinforcements from the surrounding Imperial Army strongholds! Also, notify headquarters—tell them we are under attack by a full division of Chinese troops! Requesting tactical guidance! Requesting tactical guidance!"

"Hayaku! Hayaku!"

The Japanese radio operator scrambled to operate the equipment. "Calling headquarters! Calling headquarters! This is the supply train. We are under attack by a Chinese division! Requesting support! Requesting support!"

The Japanese operator on the other end of the radio froze upon receiving the message. A whole division? Why not say you encountered an entire army group? But he was merely a low-ranking soldier; after a silent complaint, he immediately relayed the message to his superior.

Meanwhile, outside, the soldiers under Tan Ziwei’s command launched their final assault. Veterans positioned at various points, shouldering RPG rocket launchers, took aim at the armored train in the distance under the moonlight. The armored train was now a stationary, massive target, sitting there silently with flames erupting from its roof. In the darkness, it was highly conspicuous. Even a recruit with no combat experience could hit it, let alone the veterans of the New Third Regiment.

Accompanied by sharp, piercing whistles, rocket after powerful rocket streaked across the night sky like meteors, heading straight for the armored train.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

In an instant, fire shot into the sky, followed by billows of thick smoke. The entire armored train was swallowed by explosions and flames. The Japanese soldiers who had hoped to rely on the train’s heavy firepower for suppression were all sent to meet their Sun Goddess.

Inside the supply train, Jiro Ono heard the explosions behind him and scrambled to look out through the train window. Upon seeing the once-imposing, arrogant armored train reduced to a pile of scrap metal, he collapsed to the floor. Without the armored train, how could they possibly withstand the assault of so many Daxia soldiers?

It’s over! Everything is finished!

With the obstacle of the armored train removed, Tan Ziwei made a swift decision. With a wave of his hand, he led his soldiers forward, forming a pincer movement with Gu Zidi and the others inside the carriages.

Time ticked by. The Japanese were still putting up a desperate struggle, and the fierce battle continued. Two minutes later, once the screams of the Japanese had ceased, the soldiers of the New Third Regiment finally eased off their triggers.

"Clear the battlefield immediately! Make it quick!"
"Remember! We are taking no prisoners in this battle!"
"Yes, sir!" The soldiers sprang into action.

Gu Zidi stepped quickly to the supply train and pulled open the door of a carriage filled with cargo. Seeing what was inside, he couldn't help but grin. The carriage was stacked floor-to-ceiling with cardboard boxes marked with bull heads—clearly, they were all canned beef. Another nearby carriage was packed full of Japanese sake. The New First Division was not short on weapons, ammunition, uniforms, or bedding, but they were certainly lacking in food and drink.

Most of the remaining carriages contained Japanese weapons and ammunition. However, when Tan Ziwei opened the very last carriage, his expression darkened. Gu Zidi, who was busy directing soldiers to move the canned beef, noticed Tan Ziwei standing still and curiously walked over. One look, and Gu Zidi couldn't help but curse.

"Those sons of bitches! If they can't beat us, they play dirty!"
"They actually brought a whole carriage of poison gas shells to use against us!"
"Bastards! They deserve to die!"

Indeed. Terauchi Juichi was desperate. Knowing the New First Division was a tough nut to crack, he had emptied the entire Taiyuan stockpile of poison gas shells to deal with them.

Tan Ziwei let out a cold snort. "It’s a good thing the Division Commander intercepted the intelligence about the enemy's supplies. Otherwise, how many of our countrymen would have died at their hands!"

Gu Zidi nodded in agreement. Every member of the New First Division was equipped with a gas mask and had no fear of poison gas. But the civilians and most other Daxia armies did not have such protection. If these gas shells had reached Changye City or been used against other Daxia troops, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

"We cannot just destroy these gas shells!" Tan Ziwei gritted his teeth and said coldly. "We must teach the Japanese a profound lesson and let them know we are not to be trifled with!"

Gu Zidi narrowed his eyes, and hearing the constant ticking sound of his pocket watch, an idea struck him. "Old Tan, lend me your pocket watch!"

...

Further away from the New Third Regiment’s ambush site, Li Yunlong was stationed with the First Battalion of the New First Regiment. Their task was simple: to intercept any Japanese reinforcements coming from Tongyang County.

Colonel Li was a busy man who could never sit still. Wherever there were benefits to be gained or battles to be fought, he would be there in an instant. When he learned that Tan Ziwei was going to the occupied territory to "pick up a delivery," he had kicked his good brother Meng Fanle aside and snatched the job for himself. There was no helping it—Old Li wanted some meat!

In the New First Division, the rule had always been: more work, more reward.