Bright Sword: The Flowers of War

Chapter 241 The Greatest Irony
"Commander! Commander! Good news!"

The curtain of the command post was suddenly thrown open, and Pi Ruoyu peeked in with a happy face. He quickly walked up to Su Yaoyang, his voice full of barely suppressed joy.

"The 24th Division has completely collapsed. That old devil Yoshikatsu Kuroiwa has already retreated!"
Li Gaoyuan and his men have already stormed into the county town! The remaining Japanese soldiers have given up resistance and are fleeing desperately towards the railway to the north like headless flies!

As Pi Ruoyu spoke, he excitedly pointed at the map, as if he could already see the glorious victory of annihilating a Japanese standing division, a victory worthy of being recorded in history.

However, Su Yaoyang's face did not show much joy.

He simply listened calmly to Pi Ruoyu's report, then stretched out his finger and gently tapped the wider area beyond Xinxian County on the map.

"Ruoyu, it is too early to be happy now."

His voice was calm and steady, like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing most of Pi Ruoyu's enthusiasm.

"Come and see."

Su Yaoyang pointed to several points on the map, "Just now, the flight reconnaissance squadron sent the latest report."

The Japanese Independent Mixed Brigade No. 2, entrenched in Yangquan, and the Independent Mixed Brigade No. 4, stationed in Taigu, have abandoned their original defense zones and are advancing at full speed towards us, one to the south and the other to the north.

His finger then slid to the black line on the map that represented the Tongpu Railway.

"Regarding the railways, Yoshio Shinotsuka has dispatched engineering units, which are frantically repairing the railways and bridges that we destroyed."

At their speed, the fully-equipped Class A division—the 20th Division—that has completed its rest and reorganization on the mainland should arrive at the battlefield in two days at most.

Su Yaoyang raised his head and looked sharply at Pi Ruoyu, who had calmed down.

"At that time, we will be facing a main force of the Japanese army consisting of a Class A division and two independent mixed brigades, with a total strength of more than 50,000 men."

If Yoshio Shinotsuka were truly determined, he could even mobilize more troops from the Kwantung Army or other war zones to keep us bogged down in Shanxi.

That's not the outcome we wanted.

He drew a circle with his finger in Xinxian County, the place that had just been conquered.

"Our objective in this operation was to eliminate the 24th Division and open up a passage to the south, not to fight a war of attrition with the entire North China Area Army here. Now, we have exceeded our objective."

A slight smile finally appeared on Su Yaoyang's lips. "So, we should know when to stop."

Upon hearing this, Pi Ruoyu broke out in a cold sweat.

He was so focused on the victory that he almost forgot that his unit was still isolated on this vast land.

He slapped his forehead suddenly, a wry smile appearing on his face.

"Yes, the commander is right! I'm so happy I'm almost confused!"

Pi Ruoyu scratched his head, then suddenly remembered another equally important matter, "And... Chongqing has repeatedly and urgently ordered us to rush to Yichang's aid!"

Reminded by Su Yaoyang, Pi Ruoyu's mind, which had been clouded by victory, instantly came to its senses.

The ecstasy on his face faded, replaced by a belated sense of solemnity.

He slapped his thigh suddenly, realizing, "That's right! How could I forget that! Our proactive attack on the 24th Division wasn't about taking over this wretched place of Xinxian, but about eliminating this forward-deployed pawn that could launch a pincer attack before the Japanese 20th Division arrives! Now that our objective has been achieved, we..."

Pi Ruoyu's mind was completely clear. He looked at Su Yaoyang, his eyes shining again, and asked eagerly, "Chief, what should we do next?"
Should we retreat overnight? Or...?

"Retreat, but not a simple retreat."

A sly, fox-like smile appeared on Su Yaoyang's face. He picked up the command stick on the table and drew a large X on "Xin County," which they had just captured.

Then, the control stick swung sharply southeast, landing heavily on the name of another county—Meng County.

"We abandon Xinxian and turn our entire army around to attack Mengxian."

"what?!"

Pi Ruoyu's eyes widened instantly, almost unable to believe his ears. "Commander, you...you're not kidding, are you? Give up Xinxian? We...we fought with tremendous effort, our brothers shed so much blood to take it! Just like that...we're handing it over to the Japanese?"

This order was completely beyond the tactical understanding of Pierre-Yves Pierre, a top student from Virginia.

"Bloodshed is for achieving strategic objectives, not for the gain or loss of a single city or territory."

Su Yaoyang patiently explained, his gaze seemingly piercing through the map, seeing his opponent far away in Taiyuan, who must be furious at this moment—Shinotsuka Yoshio.

"Come and see."

He gestured for Pi Ruoyu to move closer to the map. "Why is Xinxian important? Because it's located at the throat of the Tongpu Railway. This is the Japanese's main transportation artery throughout Shanxi. If we hold out here, what do you think Yoshio Shinotsuka will think? What will he do?"

Su Yaoyang answered his own question with a hint of amusement in his tone: "He will not negotiate with us, and he will not make any compromises."

He'll just unleash every force he can muster, like mad dogs, wave after wave, to fight us to the death! Until he completely wears us down and crushes us. Because we've attacked his lifeline.

Then, he moved his control stick to the location of Meng County.

"But Meng County is different."

Su Yaoyang's lips curled up slightly.

"Meng County is also very important. It has Japanese warehouses and coal mines, and it is an important node on our southward route."

Losing this place would break Yoshio Shinotsuka's heart, would cause him immense pain, and would make him furious. But... that wouldn't be enough to make him decide to mobilize all his forces to fight us to the death.

“So…” Pi Ruoyu seemed to have grasped something, but he wasn’t quite sure.

"Therefore, by abandoning Xin County and turning our attention to attacking Meng County, we are clearly telling Yoshio Shinotsuka a thing through our actions."

Su Yaoyang looked at Pi Ruoyu and said, word by word, a hint of mockery in his eyes:

“‘Hey, you old devil. Look, I can take your vital transportation hub, Xinxian, whenever I want. But I have no interest in fighting you to the death.’”

“‘So, I’m returning Xin County to you. But… I fought a hard battle, so I can’t let it all go to waste. Therefore, I’ll accept Meng County to your south as compensation.’”

After hearing these words, Pi Ruoyu was completely stunned.

He stared blankly at Su Yaoyang, mouth agape, for a long while before finally managing to squeeze out a sentence: "Commander...you...you're not at war, are you making a deal with Yoshio Shinotsuka from afar, or are you forcing a sale!"

"Hahaha... You can't say that." Su Yaoyang laughed. "Shinotsuka Yoshio can choose not to make this deal with me, but we can still look for other counties to fight in. It all depends on what Shinotsuka Yoshio chooses."

Looking at Su Yaoyang, who was smiling like an old fox, all Pi Ruoyu could do was give him a thumbs up.

…………

The grove of trees that temporarily shielded Haruko and Katsuhiko Nakata from the gunfire did not become their final resting place.

Driven by their fear of death and their suppressed desire to live, they eventually left this temporary sanctuary.

Supporting each other, they trudged through the cratered and desolate wilderness, trying to find a way to escape this hell.

Just then, they saw a small group of figures, also dressed in Japanese military uniforms, emerging from behind a bombed bunker not far ahead.

"They're...they're on our side!"

Upon seeing the familiar military uniform and equipment, a glimmer of hope instantly shone in Katsuhiko Nakata's eyes.

He supported the nearly exhausted Haruko and staggered toward the figures.

However, as they approached, the last glimmer of hope in Nakata Katsuhiko's heart was instantly doused with a bucket of ice water.

That was not a fully organized unit.

They were a group of defeated soldiers.

Seven or eight men, their military uniforms open, their faces blank and crazed, their eyes murky, like wolves driven mad by hunger in the wilderness.

The intense stench emanating from them, a mixture of sweat, blood, and despair, immediately made Katsuhiko Nakata stop in his tracks and shield Haruko behind him.

But it's too late.

The eyes of the fleeing soldiers, like those of hungry wolves spotting their prey, instantly focused on the figure protected behind Nakata Katsuhiko, whose disheveled appearance still couldn't hide her beautiful features.

In the eyes of these men who had completely abandoned military discipline and were left with only animalistic instincts, Haruko's pretty face stained with tears and dirt, her nurse's uniform that, though tattered, still outlined her slender curves, and her full breasts that heaved violently with fear, all became the most intense fuel to ignite the dark desires in their hearts.

"Oh? Look, there's a woman here!" A defeated soldier who looked like a private first class stuck out his tongue, licked his chapped lips, and let out a hoarse and lewd laugh.

"There's another deserter!"

Another Japanese soldier pointed the bayonet of his Type 38 rifle at Katsuhiko Nakata, his eyes filled with malicious mockery. "You dare to desert with a woman in the face of battle! This is treason! A disgrace to the Empire!"

This sudden and utterly absurd hat completely stunned Katsuhiko Nakata.

Before he could even open his mouth to defend himself, the fleeing soldiers swarmed forward like sharks that had smelled blood!

"What are you doing! Let me go!"

Katsuhiko Nakata struggled desperately, but he was no match for the two soldiers. He was quickly pinned to the ground, his rifle was taken away, and his mouth was gagged with a rag. He could only watch helplessly as...

He watched as those beasts reached out their claws towards the desperate, helpless white figure behind him.

"No! Don't come any closer! Ah..."

Haruko struggled desperately, but to no avail. The group of Japanese soldiers, who had lost their minds, had turned into beasts and pounced on her.

As soon as one finished, the other pounced on him.

Like a pack of wild beasts, they wantonly vented their lust on Haruko's soft, defenseless body.

Time passed slowly, and the event came to an end.

Haruko had stopped crying. Her eyes were empty as she stared at the sky, which was stained gray by the smoke of gunpowder, feeling as if her soul had been completely torn apart.

Katsuhiko Nakata felt a sense of despair and anger, as if he had witnessed the biggest joke in the world. Was there anything more ridiculous, ironic, or despairing than this?

Just as the sergeant was on top of Haruko for the second time, preparing to assault her again, and grinning maliciously at his comrade, saying, "After we're done, we'll kill these two deserters."

"Da da da da da da da..."

A series of extremely crisp and penetrating gunshots, like the swing of the Grim Reaper's scythe, suddenly rang out from behind the earthen slope not far away!
The sergeant, who was thrusting his hips on top of Haruko, suddenly felt a huge burst of blood erupt from his back! His body stiffened, the savage grin on his face frozen, and he collapsed beside Haruko.

The remaining Japanese soldiers, who had just finished venting their lust and were resting on the ground, were instantly riddled with bullets before they even had time to react to what was happening! Blood and bits of flesh were splattered everywhere.

The gunshots came quickly and went quickly.

In just an instant, the hell that had been filled with lewd noises and maniacal laughter returned to deathly silence.

A group of soldiers in gray uniforms, carrying submachine guns, rushed out from behind the earthen mound. They quickly brought the scene under control, and the young officer in the lead frowned deeply as he looked at the lewd and bloody scene before him.

He saw Haruko lying on the ground, barely clothed and like a broken doll; he saw Katsuhiko Nakata pinned to the ground, tears of blood streaming from his eyes; and the corpses of the Japanese soldiers who had just been committing violence around them.

The two soldiers who had been holding down Nakata Katsuhiko had already released their grip and raised their hands.

Katsuhiko Nakata struggled to his feet. He glanced at the Chinese soldiers who had saved their lives and were supposed to be "enemies," and then at Haruko's lifeless body on the ground, which looked like a broken doll.

A tremendous, absurdly intense grief and indignation instantly shattered all his mental defenses.

He suddenly burst into laughter, but as he laughed, tears streamed down his face like a burst dam.

His own woman was raped by his own people.

But they were saved by the enemy.

The Japanese Empire...Amaterasu...Bushido...

It's all bullshit!
He walked up to the wary Shanxi militia officer in charge, knelt down with a thud, and kowtowed with all his might.

Then, in a hoarse voice, filled with endless grief and despair, he roared in broken Chinese:
"My lords...we...surrender!"

(End of this chapter)