Chapter 40: The Yamamoto Special Ops Team Strikes!

Two days later.

At the Independent Regiment headquarters.

The atmosphere inside the humble command post was as turbulent as boiling water. A small, rugged kang table was covered with an array of new-style weapons: submachine guns, general-purpose machine guns, assault rifles... Kong Jie’s mouth had been hanging open in astonishment the entire time.

"Good, good, good! That brat Li Yunlong, he actually managed to get his hands on so many rare treasures! Good! This is simply marvelous!"

"With these iron beasts, let’s see if those little devils dare to bare their fangs at us again!"

"Pass on my order! The entire regiment! Immediately! Right now! Equip yourselves!"

"Yes!" the nearby guard replied loudly.

Just yesterday, when the headquarters learned that Lin Ran had not only brought two hundred 107mm rocket launchers but also ten thousand assault rifles, one thousand mortars, one hundred 155mm heavy artillery pieces, and eight hundred single-shot rocket launchers, the commanders were all stunned. This was enough to arm an entire division, with plenty to spare.

To ensure the element of surprise and firepower advantage for the night raid on Zhicheng, and to maintain secrecy, the headquarters made a swift decision: the 386th Brigade would re-equip on the spot. Once this earth-shattering fireworks show of a battle was over, they would consider upgrading the entire army.

Soon, the Independent Regiment completed its re-equipment. Following instructions from above, each squad was now equipped with two general-purpose machine guns, one mortar, three submachine guns, and seven assault rifles. This was a comprehensive assessment made by the commanders based on the performance of the various weapons and combined with Li Yunlong’s combat experience. This configuration allowed for both close-range and long-range engagement, and was suitable for both offense and defense.

Inside the headquarters, Kong Jie looked at his battalion, company, and platoon leaders, who were ready to charge into battle after completing their re-equipment, his voice dropping to a serious tone.

"Don't just stand there grinning! According to intelligence from headquarters, that old devil Shinozuka from Taiyuan has moved dozens of 150mm heavy artillery pieces from the capital!"

"It’s almost certainly aimed at our 386th Brigade; he’s looking to avenge that son-of-a-bitch Sato!"

Kong Jie scanned his core officers. "Keep your nerves tightened! From today on, everyone in the Independent Regiment is to sleep with one eye open!"

Seeing his old comrade acquire so many new weapons and fight two earth-shattering, glorious battles, the stubborn Kong felt a sense of urgency.

"Go back and pass this down. Whoever dares to drop the ball, I’ll have him shot! Dismissed!"

"Yes!" The officers responded quickly and left to relay the orders to their respective units.

...

Night gradually fell.

In the dead of night, when exhaustion was at its peak, at the rear of the Independent Regiment, above a steep, rugged cliffside, the terrain was treacherous. To the average person, it seemed impossible to be an approach route. Because of this, Kong Jie had only stationed one platoon to keep watch.

"Stay alert! Keep your eyes peeled and your ears pricked! Whoever dares to doze off, I’ll kick him off the cliff!" the platoon leader whispered sternly.

A new recruit couldn't help but mutter, "Platoon leader, the area we’re guarding is a cliff. Could the little devils really climb up from the bottom?"

"Stop your damn chatter! The regiment commander said the little devils are itching for revenge, so don't be careless!" the platoon leader scolded again.

"Keep your wits about you! If anything goes wrong, you’ll be the first one I execute!"

"Yes!" the soldiers replied in unison.

The tense atmosphere didn't last long before it was replaced by a stronger emotion—a fanatical excitement for their new weapons. The soldiers whispered to one another, unable to contain themselves:

"I hope the little devils actually attack."

"This time, we’ve traded our bird guns for cannons!"

"A single squad gets two machine guns! My heavens!"

The soldiers grew more excited with every word, losing all sense of fatigue. Two general-purpose machine guns per squad meant six for the entire platoon! In the past, they wouldn't have even dared to dream of this; previously, the entire Independent Regiment didn't even possess six machine guns.

"And we’ve got mortars, and that submachine gun thing."

"The PPSh!"

"Right, right, the PPSh. Great name—it kills them in droves!"

"And that automatic rifle, switching between single and burst fire at will—it’s the perfect rifle."

The soldiers' faces were flushed with joy; their good fortune had come so suddenly. With these weapons, they were eager to fight the little devils in a real, head-on conflict. The way they had fought in the past had been stifling.

"Next time I run into a little devil, I’m taking on ten!"

As he was speaking, the platoon leader suddenly raised a hand. "Shut up!"

He crouched down abruptly, pressing his ear against the ground. "Don't make a sound! Listen carefully!"

The soldiers immediately quieted down. The platoon leader whispered, "Do you hear that? Is there a noise?"

The soldiers held their breath. In the deathly silence, a faint but chilling sound drifted up from the base of the cliff. Had the soldiers not been in such a heightened state of alert, they might not have heard it at all.

"Platoon leader, there’s definitely something!"

"I heard it too!"

The platoon leader nodded; he hadn't been mistaken. "Er Guzi! You! Run as fast as you can and notify the company commander! The rest of you, take your combat positions!"

"Yes!"

The soldiers shed their smiles, instantly ready for battle.

...

On the other side, at the base of the cliff, Yamamoto Ichiki stood as still as a cold rock. He scanned the nearly vertical cliff face above him, then glanced at the watch on his wrist.

The timing was perfect.

"Once we cross this cliff, the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army lies ahead!"

"Warriors of the Empire, whether we can restore the glory of the First Army and avenge the seven thousand imperial heroes who died in vain—I leave it to you all!"

"Hai!"

Over a hundred special forces soldiers roared in a low, unified voice. This was the first time their Yamato Soul Commando unit had appeared on the battlefield, and they intended to announce their arrival in the most spectacular and lethal way possible.

"Everyone, check your equipment!" Yamamoto ordered.

The commandos quickly organized their gear. After confirming everything was in order, Yamamoto added, "One last reminder: do not get bogged down in combat!"

"Three minutes to clear the Eighth Route's first line of defense, then strike directly at their headquarters."

Although this was a steep cliff, Yamamoto was not careless. However, even if the cunning Chinese had set up a warning line here, he was confident he could resolve the battle quickly. In his mind, there was at most a company stationed at the top of the cliff—perhaps only a platoon. In that case, he was confident he could finish the fight within a minute.

"Everyone, prepare!" Yamamoto stared at the top of the cliff.

"Release!"

At the order, a dozen grappling hooks flew up the cliff. Then, the commandos climbed up the ropes one by one with astonishing speed. Their movements were clean, precise, and well-coordinated. In less than five minutes, over a hundred heavily armed special forces soldiers, like ghosts rising from hell, had silently reached the top of the cliff.

Yamamoto was the last to climb up. He quickly crouched, scanning his surroundings with vigilance. Except for the moaning mountain wind and sparse shrubs, there was absolute silence.

A look of disdain slowly crept onto the corner of Yamamoto's mouth.

Stupid Chinese!

To leave such a critical position so poorly guarded? They deserved to be conquered! An inferior race only fit to crawl at the feet of the Great Yamato people!

"Target, due west! Move out!"