The Mysterious Soldier of the Anti-Japanese War

Chapter 408: We're rebelling! Target the Japanese infantry squadron! Cavalry squadron, attack!

The violent explosion of the C4 explosives blew a massive breach through the city wall, shattering bricks and scattering them, sending clouds of dust billowing into the air. The powerful blast was like a sledgehammer, jarring everyone's eardrums. Without hesitation, Lei Tao and Wang Huming decisively commanded their troops to charge towards the breach.

"Get out! Move quickly!" Wang Huming yelled at the top of his lungs, his resounding voice piercing the thick smoke and carrying in all directions. The New Fourth Army soldiers, along with Scarface Li, Meng Xiaoyu, Sun Jinhua, and the others, swiftly crossed the crumbling city wall and sprinted towards the city, kicking up clouds of dust beneath their feet.

At the same time, the Japanese troops and Imperial Army cavalry squadrons conducting an encirclement and suppression mission in the mountains received urgent news of an emergency from the county town. The leading Japanese officer, Takeda Fujino, suddenly felt his face darken as if water could drip from his eyes. His carefully planned encirclement and suppression plan, which he believed to be foolproof, had been completely disrupted by this sudden change. He flew into a rage, his face flushed crimson, veins bulging. "Baka! Full speed, return to the county town! No mistakes!" he roared frantically, brandishing his command knife with all his might, which drew fierce arcs through the air.

In the mountains, Tang Zhangshan led a guerrilla force and bandits, skillfully maneuvering against the Japanese army. Suddenly, they keenly sensed a strange shift in the rhythm of the Japanese attack. Their firepower suddenly became extremely fierce, but strangely, they no longer charged with the same fearless abandon as before. Tang Zhangshan instantly became alert, his expression frightened, and he blurted out, "Oh no! The Japanese are about to run away!"

Bandit leader Hei Hu was puzzled. He scratched his head and asked, "Old Tang, how can you be so sure the Japs are going to escape? They have such strong firepower right now. Are they planning to fight us to the death?"

Tang Zhangshan was extremely anxious. While closely observing the movements of the Japanese army, he quickly explained: "Look carefully, the Japs are constantly increasing their firepower without launching an attack. This is obviously a bluff. They want to suppress us so that they can secretly evacuate. We must not let their evil plan succeed!" After that, he quickly turned around and shouted orders to the guerrillas: "Comrades, the Japs are about to slip away! We must not let them get away. Pay your attention and intensify the counterattack. Don't let them get away easily!"

Upon hearing this, the guerrillas' blood boiled, and they quickly prepared for battle, their morale at an all-time high. They took shelter in the forest's trees, boulders, and other natural shelters, their weapons firmly gripped, and they fired fiercely at the Japanese troops. Gunfire echoed incessantly, and bullets whizzed towards the enemy. Not to be outdone, the bandits, armed with machetes, joined the guerrillas in a fierce attack, their cries of killing resonating through the forest.

Seeing that the retreat plan seemed to be discovered, Takeda Fujino was burning with anger in his heart. He became more and more angry, his eyes were red as if they were about to bleed, and he roared madly: "Speed ​​up! Ignore these rebels, break through their defense line and rush back to the county immediately!" Under his frantic urging, the Japanese soldiers rushed forward desperately like crazy, and the firepower became more crazy. Bullets shot towards the defense line of Tang Zhangshan and others like a torrential rain, causing the surrounding trees and leaves to fly and earth and rocks to splash.

Tang Zhangshan, fully aware of the dire situation, skillfully dodged Japanese bullets with his nimble agility while concentrating on finding weaknesses in the Japanese defenses. Suddenly, his vision lit up, revealing a clear loophole in the Japanese flank defense. He immediately called out to his comrades, "Lao Li, take a team and flank them. Take them by surprise! Black Tiger and I will engage them head-on!"

Old Li, taking command, led a team of guerrillas, and like the agility of a cheetah, they swiftly vanished into the mountains and forests, stealthily advancing toward the Japanese flank. Tang Zhangshan and Hei Hu, leading the remaining men, fearlessly faced the hail of Japanese fire, holding their ground and engaging in a fierce exchange of fire. Bullets whizzed past them, but they didn't flinch. With a determined gaze, they kept pulling the trigger, firing back at the enemy.

In the midst of fierce fighting, the guerrillas led by Lao Li successfully circumvented the Japanese flank. Seizing their opportunity, they launched a sudden attack like a tiger emerging from the mountains. The Japanese flank instantly fell into chaos, and the soldiers panicked and turned back to resist. Watching this, Takeda and Fujino were furious and furious, but there was nothing they could do. They could only watch their troops fall into chaos, and their plan to defend the county town became increasingly difficult. Despair and resentment filled their hearts.

Takeda Fujino turned to look at Zhao Fugui, the commander of the Imperial Army Cavalry Squadron, and threatened viciously: "Captain Zhao, if your cavalry doesn't fight back, don't blame me for being ruthless! Charge immediately and wipe out these rebels!" Zhao Fugui cursed in his heart, but his face remained expressionless. Under the coercion of Takeda Fujino, he had to go to the front of his cavalry squadron, mount his horse and order a charge.

He shouted loudly, "Brothers, charge!" Then, while Takeda and Fujino weren't paying attention, he lowered his voice and whispered to his subordinates, "Be smart, just charge forward, don't actually attack. Once you're at a distance, follow my instructions."

The Imperial Army cavalrymen understood the message and pretended to wave their sabers, shouting loud slogans as they charged forward under the leadership of Zhao Fugui. However, once they approached the guerrilla line, they deliberately slowed down or pretended to be hindered by the terrain. Some cavalrymen even deliberately fell, causing Takeda Fujino to be furious in the rear.

Takeda Fujino was furious when he saw this scene, and he yelled, "Zhao Fugui, you are courting death!" He immediately ordered the machine gunner fiercely, "The Imperial Army Cavalry Squadron is attempting mutiny. Target the Imperial Army Cavalry Squadron. Open fire. Don't let any of them go!"

Japanese machine guns roared furiously, their bullets swarming like a deadly swarm of bees, blasting the Imperial Army cavalrymen. The Imperial Army cavalrymen were horrified; they had never imagined Takeda and Fujino would be so ruthless as to actually kill them. Instantly, the ranks were toppled, their horses and men falling. Pitiful screams echoed incessantly. Several cavalrymen were shot and fell heavily from their horses, their blood quickly spreading across the ground.

Zhao Fugui was furious and fearful, knowing he had no way out. He glanced at the panicked cavalrymen around him, took a deep breath, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Be careful to avoid the enemy! Keep your distance and keep charging! Don't crowd together, beware of the enemy's bullets!" The cavalrymen reacted immediately. Some shoved their horses hard, sending them scattering to the left and right; others lowered their bodies, almost clinging to their horses' backs, using them for cover to move quickly.

When the cavalry rushed into the range of the Japanese machine guns, Zhao Fugui suddenly pulled the reins, and the black horse under his crotch raised its front hooves high, neighing angrily, and the horse's hooves scratched the air, as if venting its dissatisfaction with the Japanese army. When the horse's hooves fell heavily, Zhao Fugui turned around quickly. In the dense smoke, he raised the cold saber high, and the blade reflected the cold light, pointing it directly at the defensive position of the Japanese infantry squadron. He roared at the top of his lungs: "Brothers! We worked like slaves for the devils, but in return they killed us all! Today, we are rebelling! Target the devil's infantry squadron! Cavalry squadron, attack!"

This shout, like a fire, instantly ignited the rage within the cavalry. Initially frightened, the cavalry, moved by Zhao Fugui's aura, roared in unison, their legs clamped tightly around their horses' bellies. The horses neighed and charged towards the Japanese positions like arrows from a bow, the clatter of their hooves shaking the very ground.

Like a surging black tide, the Imperial Army cavalry instantly plunged into the Japanese squadron's defenses. The cavalrymen raised their sabers high, their cold gleams flashing, and with deafening roars, they slashed down with all their might. Young cavalryman Liu Er, his face flushed red, his eyes blazing with rage, zeroed in on a Japanese soldier, leaped high, and with a whirring sound, struck the Japanese soldier's shoulder with a fierce blow. The soldier screamed and fell to the ground, blood gushing out. Veteran cavalryman Zhang Dashan was even more valiant. He galloped forward, striking with his saber left and right, his sword wielding with ferocity. He felled several Japanese who tried to resist, blood splattering his clothes, but he remained oblivious and continued to fight. Leveraging the powerful impact of their horses and the sharpness of their sabers, the Imperial Army cavalrymen charged through the Japanese defenses like they were in no one's way, shattering the Japanese formation and throwing it into disarray.

Tang Zhangshan, flushed with excitement upon seeing this, turned to the guerrillas and shouted, "Comrades, the Imperial Army has rebelled! This is our golden opportunity! Charge! Drive the devils out!" The guerrillas, their morale surging, rifles drawn, rushed from their hiding places like tigers descending from the mountains. The bandits, brandishing their swords and shouting, charged at the Japanese troops, their cries of killing seemingly shattering the very heavens.

On the battlefield, all kinds of firepower intertwined, the shouts of killing and the roar of gunfire were deafening, and the smoke of gunpowder filled the sky, obscuring the sun, as if the entire world was engulfed in flames of war. Under the dual attack of the Imperial Army cavalry and the guerrillas, the Japanese defense line was shaky and on the verge of complete collapse.

Lei Tao and Wang Huming led their team to the edge of the battlefield. Lei Tao quickly observed the situation and said to Wang Huming, "Captain Wang, the Japanese rear defense is empty. Let's attack from behind and catch them off guard!" Wang Huming nodded in agreement. The two led their team, like stealthy night leopards, and quickly circled behind the Japanese army.

The "Ghost" squad opened fire first, their precise shooting skills instantly knocking out several Japanese soldiers. Other soldiers followed closely behind, charging into the battlefield like tigers emerging from the mountains. The Japanese army, attacked from both sides, was thrown into complete chaos. The soldiers fled in all directions, completely losing their will to resist, abandoning their weapons and armor, hoping only for their lives.

Seeing his troops on the verge of defeat, Takeda Fujino was filled with despair, his eyes hollow. He gripped his command knife tightly and slashed wildly, making a final, desperate struggle. He screamed at the top of his lungs and dodged bullets, looking utterly miserable.

At that moment, Zhao Fugui charged forward on horseback like lightning. He squeezed his legs against the horse, accelerating it. As he neared Takeda Fujino, he suddenly swung his sword, the force of the blade pounding. Takeda Fujino raised his sword to block, but with a clang, the two swords collided, sending out dazzling sparks. His arms were numb from the shock, and he could barely hold the sword.

Zhao Fugui didn't give Takeda Fujino a chance to breathe, first slashing diagonally, then horizontally, one blow after another, like a violent storm. Takeda Fujino dodged left and right, but was still scratched multiple times, blood staining his uniform red. Takeda Fujino stumbled, lost his composure, tripped over a rock, and fell to the ground.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Fugui immediately rushed over on his horse, raised his sword high, and chopped it down with all his strength. Takeda Fujino was knocked down and died on the spot.

The battle ended, and the battlefield fell silent. The smoke slowly dissipated, leaving behind the pungent smell of blood. Tang Zhangshan, Hei Hu, Lei Tao, Wang Huming, Zhao Fugui, and the others reunited on the battlefield. Zhao Fugui, his face filled with guilt, walked over to Tang Zhangshan and knelt on one knee. "Captain Tang, we made mistakes before, and we beg you to take us in. Let's fight the Japanese together. We are willing to die for you, even if it means we die!"

Tang Zhangshan helped Zhao Fugui up and said sincerely: "What happened in the past is in the past. As long as we are united in resisting the Japanese from now on, we will be brothers who share life and death together!"

Zhao Fugui's eyes were red. After hesitating, he walked up to Tang Zhangshan and said anxiously, "Captain Tang, my mother is still in the city. I worked for the Japanese before because I wanted to protect her. Now that the Japanese are defeated, the city must be in chaos. I'm afraid she's in danger. Can you arrange for someone to help me get her out?"

Tang Zhangshan patted Zhao Fugui on the shoulder and said firmly, "Fugui, don't worry. We're family, and your problem is everyone's problem. I'll arrange for someone to go into the city and pick you up right away!" He then summoned several skilled guerrillas familiar with the city's conditions and, in a low voice, carefully explained their mission and precautions. The team members, upon receiving their orders, quickly headed towards the county seat, and a tense rescue operation began.