Chapter 121: This Is What They Call the Soul of the Army!

Li Jian’s face betrayed a flicker of urgency and unease. Upon hearing the emergency report from the front lines, his brow furrowed, his eyes filled with disbelief and apprehension.

"What happened?" he asked urgently, his voice heavy with anxiety and worry.

When Chief of Staff Wang Xiao informed him that the Japanese were launching a dense, overwhelming assault, he could hardly believe his ears.

"How is this possible? How could the Japanese suddenly muster so many troops? Did they crawl out from underground?"

Facing this sudden turn of events, Li Jian felt immense pressure and the weight of the challenge. He was intimately familiar with the capabilities of the 4th and 5th Mixed Brigades, and he knew well that resisting such a massive force of Japanese troops with only those two brigades was nearly impossible.

His voice carried a hint of anger and helplessness: "Damn it, have these Japanese gone mad?"

His expression was complex, reflecting both fury at the enemy's massive offensive and a profound realization of the dire situation. When discussing whether to immediately dispatch a brigade from the 19th Infantry Division as reinforcements, Li Jian shook his head, his expression turning solemn and his eyes flashing with determination.

"Should we immediately dispatch a brigade from the 19th Infantry Division to reinforce them?"

"If the Shahe defense line is breached, the consequences will be severe."

"However, I fear it is already too late."

Wang Xiao’s tone revealed his powerlessness and worry; he understood that even if troops were dispatched, they could hardly arrive at the battlefield in time. The gravity of the situation left him feeling unprecedented pressure.

"The situation is too dire. We had best consult the Commander."

Shortly thereafter, they summarized the battlefield situation and sent a report to Jiang Bai. They had initially expected that waiting for a response from the Commander would be a long process. Unexpectedly, however, the telegram arrived within a mere half-hour.

The instructions in the telegram were sharp and hit the crux of the matter: it ordered the frontline troops to withdraw to the Anshan area, luring the enemy deep into their territory, and then to concentrate their main forces there in preparation for a decisive battle against the Japanese.

As soon as the telegram was read, Chief of Staff Wang Xiao expressed his deep approval. His eyes shone with admiration as he exclaimed:

"For the Commander to make the decisive call to lure the enemy in at this moment is truly a brilliant move!"

"If we can secure victory in this battle, it will lay a solid foundation for our final triumph!"

Li Jian, hearing this, saw a similar glint of agreement in his own eyes and nodded firmly. "Although it is not without risk, given the current circumstances, it is indeed the most appropriate choice."

Under Wang Xiao’s command, they quickly issued the order for the 19th Division and the 4th and 5th Mixed Brigades to retreat, instructing them to head immediately to Anshan and concentrate their forces there, preparing for the showdown with the Japanese.

Meanwhile, at the command post of the 62nd Division near Hukou at the northern end of Lan Province, Jiang Bai remained busy despite the late hour. He was using this rare moment of leisure to carefully study the telegrams from the Chengyun command, aiming to maintain a comprehensive grasp of the latest developments on the battlefield and stay vigilant against any potential night raids.

It was well-known that the Japanese were highly skilled in night warfare. They often used night raids to quickly seize strategic points and reverse the situation when it turned against them. Since organizing his troops, Jiang Bai had constantly emphasized improving the army’s night combat capabilities. Although he had full confidence in his troops' training, he remained cautious regarding enemy nocturnal infiltration.

Consequently, he ordered the entire line to heighten its nighttime vigilance, ensuring that frontline defenders remained in a state of constant readiness with strict three-shift patrols to ensure the Japanese were left with no opportunities. Soldiers from the elite reconnaissance battalion were dispatched in large numbers with orders to sound the alarm the moment they detected the Japanese massing.

At this moment, Chen Shan of the 64th Division was also awake. Carrying an oil lamp, he walked toward Jiang Bai with a light step, his eyes filled with respect and curiosity as he asked in a low voice, "Commander, how is the situation at Chengyun?"

Jiang Bai’s reply was calm and confident: "The situation is quite optimistic. The six independent garrison battalions of the Japanese have already been routed."

He continued, "At present, we have successfully pinned down the main force of the Japanese with our three infantry divisions and two mixed brigades." Mentioning the situation along the Biliu River, his tone grew slightly heavy. "Because the Japanese have concentrated two Type-A divisions there, we were unable to hold the Shahe defense line. I intend to lure the enemy deep and annihilate them in one fell swoop."

Upon hearing this, Chen Shan’s face displayed admiration and astonishment. "Commander, your strategic boldness is truly admirable—you plan to wipe out tens of thousands of Japanese in one go!" His eyes sparkled with respect.

Hearing such praise, Jiang Bai offered a rare smile and joked lightly, "Doesn't everyone eat dumplings during the New Year?" For the 7th Field Army under his command, the success rate of this plan was extremely high.

"Once we eliminate these Japanese forces, victory on the Chengyun front will be essentially secured," he said, his words filled with confidence.

Chen Shan’s expression became even more approving, his eyes burning with a thirst for victory. From the current battlefield perspective, this was undoubtedly extremely favorable for the 7th Field Army.

However, when Chen Shan asked about the next steps, Jiang Bai pondered for a moment, a look of deep thought crossing his eyes, before he spoke slowly:

"The Japanese lost over a thousand men at Hukou today; they will not give up so easily." His gaze revealed a deep understanding of the enemy. "But they now know our strength as well, and they will certainly make thorough preparations before attacking again."

Hearing this, Chen Shan’s face showed concern, and he couldn't help but feel a flicker of tension. "In that case, we will inevitably suffer heavy losses."

To this, Jiang Bai showed a sense of broad-mindedness and resolve. He said calmly, "War is inherently accompanied by sacrifice. As long as the soldiers understand what they are fighting for, they will unhesitatingly give everything for victory."

His gaze was firm, his expression filled with a profound understanding of the spirit of the military. "That is what we call the soul of the army."

When speaking of the current situation, Jiang Bai wore a look of deep reflection, his eyes revealing a clear understanding of the challenges ahead. He knew that to achieve their rise, they could not avoid experiencing military struggle after military struggle.

The path of peace was virtually impossible.

Unexpectedly, the heavy losses the Japanese suffered during the day seemed to have forced Lieutenant General Kamio to pause, preventing him from launching a new attack immediately. Instead, they reinforced their defenses at Hukou, preparing for a war of attrition.