Chapter Nineteen: The Commander Invited Our New First Regiment to Drink!
He clearly commanded an enhanced infantry regiment of over 5,000 men. His forces had once easily defeated two infantry divisions of Daxia. Yet today, his entire army was on the verge of annihilation at the hands of an unknown Daxia infantry regiment. He refused to accept this!
“Baka yarou!” Sakata Nobutetsu shouted repeatedly in his native tongue, drawing his samurai sword. Like the reckless soldiers of the defeated empire who faced the tide of history with ignorance and blind courage, he charged headlong at the advancing warriors of the First New Regiment.
But what awaited him was a relentless volley of bullets.
Rat-a-tat-tat!
After a sharp burst of gunfire, Sakata Nobutetsu was riddled with holes, his eyes wide open as he collapsed upon the soil of Daxia. Perhaps in his final moments, he regretted taking part in this sinful war.
Faced with the howling soldiers of the First New Regiment, even those few reinvigorated by Nobutetsu’s last stand were no match.
Two minutes later, not a single enemy soldier remained alive on the surface of Cangyun Ridge.
“Watch out for those damn enemy soldiers on the ground — don’t let them drag you down in the gutter!”
“If you see an intact enemy, shoot first! Our First New Regiment isn’t short of bullets!”
Li Yunlong patrolled the battlefield, loudly warning the rookie soldiers not to fall for the enemy’s tricks.
“Commander! Commander!”
Li Yunlong looked up to see Zhang Dabiao rushing toward him excitedly.
The next moment, his attention was instantly captured by the tattered flag in Zhang Dabiao’s hand.
“This is...!”
A look of joy spread across Li Yunlong’s face.
He was no longer the old Li who couldn’t recognize large characters. Of course, he knew exactly what that seemingly worthless flag was.
It was the regimental flag of the Sakata Regiment!
There was an unspoken rule among the enemy troops: if a regiment’s flag was captured by the enemy, that regiment could be stricken from the army’s official order of battle.
Thus, whenever an enemy infantry regiment faced total destruction, their first act was not to write farewell letters but to burn their regimental flag.
Since the beginning of the war, although Daxia’s armies had wiped out enemy infantry regiments, they had never captured a single regimental flag.
All had been destroyed by the enemy’s own flag guards.
Moreover, the faded chrysanthemum on the Sakata Regiment’s flag indicated it was no ordinary enemy infantry regiment flag.
It was a regimental flag personally bestowed by the enemy’s highest command, the Celestial Locust!
Its significance was far greater.
Li Yunlong treated it as a precious treasure, quickly stowing the flag away and shouting excitedly,
“Looks like the enemy never expected to be defeated this quickly — they didn’t even have time to destroy their flag!”
“Now the division commander owes our First New Regiment a drink!”
“Hahaha!”
...
In a large auditorium in Jincheng,
[Notification: Congratulations, your unit, the First New Regiment, has completely destroyed the Sakata Regiment. You have earned 5 intermediate lottery draws and 2 advanced lottery draws!]
[Due to the additional capture of the Sakata Regiment’s flag, you have earned 5 extra intermediate lottery draws and 1 advanced lottery draw!]
[Would you like to proceed with the draw now?]
Liu Jianguo shook his head silently.
Such an important matter deserved incense burning and cleansing rituals first to wash away any bad luck.
Still, he knew the Sakata Regiment was no match for the First New Regiment.
He hadn’t expected them to fall so quickly, though.
It was barely past 2 p.m., and afternoon tea hadn’t even been served yet.
Li Yunlong had dispatched Sakata Nobutetsu so swiftly.
Truly worthy of the name Old Li!
Incredible!
And to think there was an unexpected prize: the capture of the Sakata Regiment’s flag.
If he remembered correctly, that flag was personally bestowed by the enemy’s Celestial Locust.
For us to seize it was like publicly slapping the face of the Celestial Locust before all enemy troops.
If Terauchi Beast One knew about this, he would surely be driven mad with rage!
Liu Jianguo grinned inwardly, then turned his gaze toward the podium.
“People of the entire Jindi region and the whole nation, you have donated money and goods to support our resistance against the invaders!”
“Our Jinsui Army will hold firm to the end, unlike others who have retreated!”
“This is our honor; you can afford to lose yours, but we cannot lose ours!”
“Our four hundred million compatriots across Daxia cannot afford to lose theirs either!”
“Since we came here, we never planned to return alive!”
“This is a fight to the death, and I believe we will be reborn from the ashes!”
“Now, we have sent our strongest German-equipped division to the front line.”
“They will not disappoint us!”
“We hope all compatriots across the country will continue to support us!”
After delivering these words, Yan Laoxi’s face revealed an unyielding resolve.
As if telling every guest present,
I, Yan Laoxi, will fight to the death to defend the last piece of land in Jindi!
Until my last breath!
Yan Laoxi’s performance was superb.
Combined with his masterful appropriation of Liu Jianguo’s words, his delivery deeply moved the uninformed reporters and visitors in the audience.
Many merchants from Jindi and beyond, inspired by these words, generously donated without hesitation.
They shouted loudly, pledging funds and supplies to fully support the heroic efforts of the Jinsui Army against the Japanese invaders.
Some merchants even offered their entire fortunes to aid the cause.
Ordinary citizens fortunate enough to gain entry also responded enthusiastically, contributing their modest but heartfelt offerings.
“Chairman Yan, your righteousness is truly noble!”
“Chairman Yan, the entire nation stands firmly behind you!”
“We people of Jindi will always stand shoulder to shoulder with Chairman Yan!”
The enthusiastic response from the crowd earned a subtle nod from Yan Laoxi.
Not bad, not bad.
That young man might be ungrateful, but his words did serve a purpose.
Better that these supplies go to us than fall cheaply into the hands of the enemy.
With this thought, Yan Laoxi paid no mind to the amount donated, always smiling without a trace of resentment.
He personally thanked each donor sincerely and arranged for someone to meticulously record these generous acts in a ledger.
He explained in lofty terms that these resources were strictly for fighting the invaders, promising that when he had the means, he would repay everyone.
Yan Laoxi’s “noble” actions prompted some reporters to praise him,
“Chairman Yan is truly a man of the nation!”
“Hahaha!”
Meng Fanle, standing behind one such reporter, could not help but laugh aloud.
Many immediately turned and glared at him for his inappropriate amusement.