Chapter 10: The Japanese Advance

In the dim room, a faint, cold light slowly brightened, seemingly brushing away a trace of the chill and bringing a hint of vitality.

Under a tattered and heavy quilt lay Xu Gaoxiang, curled up tightly in a cotton-padded coat, his complexion sallow. As the cold light filtered through a gap in the quilt onto his face, Xu Gaoxiang frowned, baring his teeth as he inhaled the frigid air. He shuddered, shivering violently as his sluggish brain finally began to whir into gear.

"Hiss... ugh... cough, cough... whew... Damn it! This is killing me!" Xu Gaoxiang struggled to open his eyelids, which were weighed down by dark circles; his bloodshot eyes looked dull for a long moment before a flicker of clarity finally returned.

Moving with a pained expression, he slowly regained sensation in his limbs. Immediately, he felt the bone-chilling cold and the soreness in every muscle of his body.

"I'm dying! I'm really dying! Ah! Ouch... hiss..." His sallow face was a mass of wrinkles, a textbook portrait of a "bitter melon" expression.

Like a ninety-year-old grandmother, Xu Gaoxiang slowly and shakily climbed out of bed. His body was stiff and clumsy, unable to keep up with his brain's commands.

"Well, that was truly... heart-chilling and soul-shaking," Xu Gaoxiang muttered. After moving around for a while, a touch of color finally returned to his face.

Opening the door, he squinted at the warm sun in the azure sky. "They should be arriving soon, right? I hope everyone doesn't get too spooked."

Last night, Xu Gaoxiang had chosen to deploy two high-end guardian robots and one M1 mortar to the spot where he had first appeared. He had adjusted the robots' appearances to match some particularly vivid figures from his own memory—"They might put a little pressure on people... maybe!"

Following Xu Gaoxiang’s perspective to the skies above one of the main peaks of Cangyun Ridge, one could see trench lines layered across the hillside. Soldiers in grey uniforms were constantly weaving through them, working feverishly to reinforce their defensive fortifications.

In a hidden spot, several soldiers who were setting up a machine gun nest stood to attention and saluted as Li Yunlong came running over with rapid, short steps, followed by Zhang Dabiao. "Good day, Commander!"

Li Yunlong waved his hand, eyes widening. "Alright, alright! Get back to it! Make sure you set that machine gun up properly. If you ruin my Type 92, watch out for your hides!"

The soldiers weren't intimidated by Li Yunlong's gruff tone; instead, they loudly assured him, "Don't you worry, Commander! With us here, we guarantee those Japanese devils won't be able to charge up!"

Li Yunlong chuckled. "Heh, you little rascals talk a big game. But... well said! That’s the spirit—the determination that there is only us and the enemy!"

Zhang Dabiao, trailing behind, looked at the soldiers with satisfaction; his battalion men hadn't shamed him. "Don't worry, Commander. All the brothers in the regiment are itching for a fight with the Japanese!"

Li Yunlong let out a hearty laugh. "Hahaha! That's my boy! What are the Japanese, anyway? They’ve got two shoulders and a head just like us. Who’s afraid of whom?"

Leaving the machine gun nest, Li Yunlong crouched over the trench and raised his binoculars to scan the terrain below. On the uneven ground, among the rocks and trees, several small squads of Japanese soldiers could be seen advancing rapidly, attempting to seize favorable positions.

"They're moving fast! These Japanese are a bit different this time... Zhang Dabiao!" Li Yunlong called out without lowering his binoculars.

"Here!" Zhang Dabiao stepped to his side immediately.

"Are the landmines below all buried?" Li Yunlong looked toward a depression about two hundred meters in front of their position. It provided some cover for the enemy and was likely where they would launch their charge.

Zhang Dabiao understood his commander's intent perfectly. "Don't worry, Commander! They're all buried. If those Japanese want to cross this minefield, they won't make it through without losing a few teeth!"

Li Yunlong grinned. "Heh, that'll give them something to chew on!"

Shifting his gaze, he scanned his own lines again. His eyebrows shot up, his eyes bulged, and he bared his teeth. "You little brat! Is that how you dig a foxhole?! Are you tired of living? You're just serving yourself up as a target for the Japanese!"

"Zhang Dabiao! Go and see which bastard is leading this squad! Dammit! Give him a couple of kicks for me!"

Zhang Dabiao, equally incensed, roared, "Yes, Commander!"

As Zhang Dabiao hurried off, Li Yunlong still wasn't at ease. He called for Huzi to follow him and continued his inspection of the positions.

They arrived at a mountain pass where a circular trench had been dug, reinforced with layer upon layer of thick sandbags. In the center sat the pride of the New First Regiment: an old, battered mortar.

A stolid-looking man was meticulously wiping and adjusting the weapon, while his assistant gunner carefully laid out the mortar shells nearby.

Seeing the mortar reminded Li Yunlong of the gift from "Brother Xu." He figured Xu's people must have arrived by now, so he called out to the man's back.

"Zhuzi!"

The stolid man stood up immediately, turned around, and saluted. "Good day, Commander."

Li Yunlong waved his hand, signaling Zhuzi to come over. "Come on, Zhuzi, come with me. I've got something good for you!"

"Yes!" Wang Chengzhu replied loudly, then hesitated, glancing back at the mortar. "But... Commander..."

"Tsk! Why are you dithering like a woman? Out with the old, in with the new! Haha, I’m telling you, don't lose your head with excitement when you see it!" Li Yunlong scolded him with a stern face, then immediately switched to a grin, trying to soothe him.

The straightforward Wang Chengzhu hadn't quite caught on at first, but as he followed Li Yunlong down the back of the mountain, it finally dawned on him.

"Out with the old, in with the new? What does that mean... could it be..." As the thought struck him, his face lit up. He began to run, his feet moving so fast he almost overtook Li Yunlong.

Li Yunlong laughed. "Heh, you little rascal! What, are you planning to fly?"

At the same time, outside the perimeter of the Fourth Company’s station, a squad of soldiers was surrounding two figures with extreme caution. The atmosphere was incredibly tense, and many of the soldiers couldn't help but gulp.

The sense of oppression radiating from the two figures was overwhelming. It was the first time they had ever seen such towering, muscular men, and they were clearly foreigners.

A dark, thin soldier gripped his rifle tightly, looking up at the two expressionless giants. With their high noses, deep-set eyes, and icy, dead-silent gazes, just being stared at made one’s body go cold, muscles lock up, and head spin.

"Squad... squad leader! Are these the legendary Russian devils? They're terrifying!"

"What do they eat to grow so tall and strong? They're beefier than the ox back home!"

"Hey! You big lug! Do you understand our Chinese? What are you doing here?"

Bucking up his courage, the squad leader stepped forward to question them.