Chapter 39: Mission Accomplished, the Japanese Soldiers Can't Sleep!

"Bang!"

The Arisaka rifle fired, and a bullet struck the chest of the point man. The projectile continued to spin, tearing through Bian Fucheng’s arm.

"The Japs are here!"
"Company Commander, they've cut off our retreat!"
"Don't panic! Take them out!"

"Help me unpin this!" Bian Fucheng pulled a grenade from his chest, which a nearby soldier snatched away and tossed low in the direction of the gunfire.

"Boom!"

As the explosion roared, the wails of the Japanese soldiers followed. Then came the muzzle flashes. In the pitch-black night, while the specific positions of the enemy were hidden, firing back at the flashes was sure to find a mark.

"Rat-tat-tat!"

Three soldiers rolled forward, raised their weapons, and swept the rooftops where the Japanese were positioned with gunfire. Another soldier quickly primed a grenade on his chest and hurled it forward.

Yosuke Morinaga was stunned. He hadn’t even made a sound before the grenade landed just a few feet from his feet. Before he could react, it detonated. Morinaga and two other nearby Japanese soldiers bore the brunt of the blast, leaving them dead or wounded.

"Brothers, charge!"
"Kill!"
"Rat-tat-tat!"

The gunfire intensified as the soldiers threw the last of their grenades. With a dozen explosions, the enemy's fire suddenly went silent.

"Charge!"
"Move!"
"Hurry, hurry!"

The soldiers scrambled through the breach and fired signal flares into the sky. Three red flares rose in quick succession—the commando mission was a success.

Song Mingli, commander of the heavy mortar company, lowered his binoculars and bellowed, "All units, three rapid-fire rounds, fire!"

The men, who had been restrained until now, eagerly dropped shells into the mortar tubes.

"Whoosh!"

A shrill, piercing whistle tore through the air. Seiichiro Shinohara looked up at the sky, deep in thought.

"Brigade Commander, look out!"

A staff officer tackled him to the ground, shielding him with his own body. Moments later, shells began to hammer Yuanping City in a relentless barrage. The heavy mortar team didn't need to worry about precision—hitting the city at all was victory enough.

"Boom! Boom!"

The explosions continued unabated until the shelling finally ceased. Shinohara frowned and signaled, "Get up."

"Hai!"

The staff officer climbed off and helped the Brigade Commander to his feet. Shinohara brushed the dust from his uniform and turned to the officer. "Send a telegram to General Itagaki. An elite enemy unit has launched a night raid on Yuanping. I suspect the main force of the enemy is active in the surrounding area."

"Hai!"

...

Under the cover of the crops, Bian Fucheng and his men quickly shook off the Japanese pursuit.

At the headquarters of the 15th Independent Mixed Brigade:

"Report to the Brigade Commander: our 'trophy' hanging on the city wall has been seized by the Chinese forces. We have thirty-four soldiers killed, and fourteen enemy corpses were found at the scene."

Shinohara asked, "Which unit are they?"

"According to the interpreter, it is a unit called the 358th Regiment of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army!"

Shinohara was slightly surprised. "The 358th?"

"Hai. It is the same 358th Regiment that dealt a heavy blow to the 11th Independent Mixed Brigade at Ruyue Pass. Intelligence suggests they are an elite force of the Second War Zone, and Chu Yunfei is a renowned commander in the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army."

Sensing danger, Shinohara ordered, "Pass the order: immediately reinforce the outer perimeter and remain vigilant against further raids. Also, draft another telegram to report this to General Itagaki."

"Hai!"

Orders to accelerate the construction of defensive fortifications were issued. The Japanese in the city knew a major battle was coming. With fewer than a thousand men, and a third already tied up in guard duty, the quality of their defenses was questionable.

Meanwhile, Bian Fucheng and his team had fulfilled their mission for Chu Yunfei at the cost of fourteen dead and three wounded. A telegram was sent to the headquarters of the Second War Zone, and upon receiving the news late at night, Yan Xishan immediately replied to Chu Yunfei.

The remains of General Jiang were placed in a coffin to be sent to Taiyuan. With the matter settled, Chu Yunfei summoned Bian Fucheng.

"You completed your mission well. I have another task for you."

Bian Fucheng stood at attention. "Yes!"

Chu Yunfei glanced at the gunshot wound on his arm. "Commander Yan has ordered General Jiang’s remains to be transported to Taiyuan. I intended for your company to handle it. Since you are wounded, it’s a chance for you to rest."

"Commander... we lost fourteen more brothers this time." Bian Fucheng looked troubled. "I want to stay and fight to avenge them."

Chu Yunfei looked at him earnestly. "Have you thought it through?"

Bian Fucheng nodded firmly. "I want to avenge my fallen brothers."

"Since you insist, very well. I will have someone else take the transport duty."

"Thank you, Commander!"

"Commander, I would like to lead the team tomorrow..."

Chu Yunfei interrupted, "Discuss that with Qian Bojun."

Bian Fucheng scratched his head. "Yes, Commander."

After he left, Fang Ligong spoke up. "Commander, the telephone lines to all units are connected, and the main force of the First Battalion has completed its deployment for the assault on Yuanping."

Chu Yunfei looked at his watch. "Five and a half hours until dawn. Ligong, it seems we can get some rest."

...

Chu Yunfei and Fang Ligong managed a good night's sleep, but Lieutenant General Seishiro Itagaki of the 5th Division spent the night in restless anxiety.

The two telegrams from the 15th Independent Mixed Brigade had brought the formidable 358th Regiment back into Itagaki's crosshairs. Their stubborn defense at Ruyue Pass, alongside the 203rd Brigade, had delayed the Japanese advance by eight full days, costing them the chance to annihilate the main force of the National Revolutionary Army at Pingxing Pass and Yanmen Pass. It had caused them heavy casualties—the greatest losses they had suffered since entering the Shanxi theater. Even Chen Changjie’s forces, considered the elite of the Shanxi Army, hadn't caused them such trouble.

Because of this, the appearance of the 358th Regiment left the staff officers deeply uneasy. According to current intelligence, the 358th had at least eight thousand men, and with half a month of reorganization, it was highly likely their strength had been restored. Even at half their previous combat effectiveness, the 15th Independent Mixed Brigade faced the risk of being completely annihilated.