Chapter 35: Blood for Blood, Tooth for Tooth

“Ma—!”

Mark Ying rode swiftly on his horse up to Captain Luo’s side.

He quickly dismounted, snapped to attention, and saluted. “Captain Luo…”

Luo Weiguo didn’t waste time. “Company Commander Ma, get straight to the point. What’s the situation with the enemy now?”

“We’ve encountered a main force of about three thousand enemy tanks and armored vehicles marching toward Xinkou. In Yuanping city itself, only a small number of scattered troops remain…”

Mark Ying’s face showed some displeasure. “Those damned devils don’t even take our cavalry company seriously!”

“The main force is advancing. If we sever the supply lines behind Yuanping and block the enemy reinforcements, then those three thousand plus devils will be trapped like fish in a barrel, won’t they?”

Luo Weiguo stroked his chin, sensing the matter was not so simple.

The Japanese commanders generally had decent tactical skills; they wouldn’t reveal such an obvious flaw.

“Company Commander Ma, could this be a trap set by the devils?”

Luo Weiguo’s worry deepened. “From what I know, the enemy has at least eight thousand troops. If, as you say, about three thousand are advancing toward Xinkou, then I feel it’s just a decoy—the real force is still behind…”

Mark Ying nodded. “Yes, I share the same concern. If this is the full extent of the devil’s plan, our small force isn’t even a meal for them.”

“Then let’s not act rashly. Send word to the regiment commander immediately.”

“That’s all we can do.”

Unfortunately, the regiment’s main force had not yet arrived.

If they had been here, would the devils dare act so brazenly?

As Mark Ying returned, the guards hurriedly surrounded him.

“Company Commander Ma, what’s the situation?”

“Company Commander Ma, is the main force here yet?”

Mark Ying shook his head silently. “Only the third battalion has arrived; the main force is still behind.”

Huang Hongyou grew anxious. “If it takes too long and we can’t find them, what then?”

Mark Ying remained silent.

Outside Yuanping city, during their hunt for scattered enemy troops, they had already discovered severed heads hanging on the city walls.

Most likely, they belonged to Commander Jiang.

Those cruel devils thought they could escape, but no matter how far a monk runs, he can’t leave the temple behind.

Knowing Chu Yunfei’s nature, even if the devils fled to the ends of the earth, he would hunt them all down.

But Mark Ying didn’t know how to reassure his brothers.

He simply couldn’t bear it…

Seeing Mark Ying’s silence, Huang Hongyou and the others grew restless.

“Company Commander Ma!”

“Company Commander Ma, say something!”

Mark Ying sighed.

Huang Hongyou seemed to misunderstand, and without a word, dropped to his knees.

“Company Commander Ma, I’m an orphan. If it weren’t for the brigade commander giving me a meal, I might be dead by now… I, Huang Hongyou, may have little education, but I know to repay a life-saving kindness like a spring of water. If only I could exchange this worthless life of mine to bring back the brigade commander… I…”

Huang Hongyou sighed and then looked back at his comrades.

He took a deep breath as if making up his mind.

“I only ask for a few automatic rifles… We, the guards, are still alive, but the commander is dead… The whole brigade’s brothers, if they die, only a few of us will remain…”

The Special Operations Platoon was essentially the guard platoon.

What is a guard?

A guard is a soldier responsible for security.

Only those closest to and most trusted by the commanders could hold such a position.

Mark Ying understood this well.

He had not agreed before because he firmly believed that once the regiment commander arrived, the situation would turn around.

“Brothers, our regiment’s main force will be here soon…”

Mark Ying stepped forward and helped Huang Hongyou up.

“I, Mark Ying, personally guarantee that our 358th Regiment will never stand idly by!”

...

Inside Yuanping city.

At the headquarters of the Independent Mixed Fifteenth Brigade.

Shinohara Seiichiro still felt uneasy.

Six long hours had passed.

There was still no sign of movement.

Outside the command post, dusk was falling.

Morinaga Yosuke stepped forward.

“Brigade Commander, the Nagashiro Regiment has sent word. They have arrived at Guozhuang and Lizhuang and have not yet encountered the enemy. Colonel Nagashiro believes the enemy’s main force has already deployed along the Xinkou line.”

Hearing this, Shinohara Seiichiro relaxed completely.

The vanguard had faced no issues, and Yuanping city had not been attacked.

This indicated one thing.

This cavalry unit was merely “roaming” here.

Or perhaps they were remnants of a defeated force retreating here.

They posed no real threat.

Elsewhere.

Chu Yunfei’s regiment headquarters had reached Tanzizhuang.

Upon receiving the news, Battalion Commander Luo Weiguo, Cavalry Company Commander Mark Ying, and Special Operations Platoon Leader Huang Hongyou quickly came to the headquarters.

“Salute!”

At Tanzizhuang, inside the regiment’s main courtyard.

The communications soldiers were busily laying telephone lines, while others tidied rooms rapidly.

In the courtyard,

Chu Yunfei and Fang Ligong stood around a large round table.

Laid out on it was a military map of the area surrounding Yuanping town.

The map was drawn ten years ago and was somewhat inaccurate, but still sufficient for the current operation.

“Report: Captain Luo and the others have arrived!”

“Let them in.”

Chu Yunfei looked up.

Luo Weiguo, Mark Ying, and another man entered the courtyard in turn.

“Regiment Commander!”

“Commander Chu.”

Chu Yunfei and Fang Ligong stood facing the three.

“You must be Special Operations Platoon Leader Huang Hongyou.”

“Yes, Commander Chu.”

Huang Hongyou nodded. In the dim light, Chu Yunfei could not read his expression.

He only sensed the man seemed weary and listless.

“How long have you gone without rest?”

Huang Hongyou didn’t understand why Chu Yunfei asked this but answered honestly.

“Sir, nearly four or five days without sleep.”

Chu Yunfei folded his hands behind his back and stepped forward.

He reached out and wiped the blood and tears from Huang Hongyou’s face.

“Have you been crying?”

Huang Hongyou silently nodded. “Yes.”

“You are a soldier. Soldiers may bleed, but they must not shed tears.”

Chu Yunfei’s gaze burned fiercely as he looked at Huang Hongyou.

“As for the matter with the 196th Brigade, leave it to our 358th Regiment. I have always upheld the principle of blood for blood, tooth for tooth.”

Huang Hongyou was deeply moved and quickly spoke up.

“Commander Chu, give us a few automatic rifles. We can go to the front and fight the enemy too!”

Chu Yunfei shook his head firmly and refused.

“I order you and the other guards to eat, bathe, and get some proper rest.”

“Yes, sir!”

“Sun Ming!”

“Yes!”

Sun Ming came over to Huang Hongyou’s side and quietly said, “Platoon Leader Huang, come with me.”

After they left, they stood quietly in place.

Chu Yunfei and Fang Ligong ignored them and continued studying the battle map.

Luo Weiguo and Mark Ying exchanged glances.

Though puzzled, they dared not speak and obediently stood at attention in the courtyard...