You were tasked with guarding the Sihang Warehouse, and you brought out a Tiger tank?

If so many enemies were truly killed, why is the Imperial Army's defensive line still shrinking backward?!

"Commander..."

Chief of Staff Major General Sakurada Takeshi swallowed hard and cautiously reported to the commander:

"The enemy's infantry is definitely not bad."

They not only possessed an extremely large number of artillery pieces, but also had extremely skilled infantry-artillery coordination.

At least, they are far superior to the Nationalist troops we encountered in North China back then, who were so poorly equipped with guns and didn't even know how to perform tactical maneuvers.

Seishiro Itagaki gritted his teeth and remained silent.

What made him feel even more desperate was the sky.

Since the start of the war, the air support advantage that the Imperial Army had relied on so heavily was completely wiped out by the independent air force on the other side.

Now, as soon as it gets light, the sky is filled with enemy planes painted with the insignia of the Republic of China.

Instead, they became the ones who were bombed in the mud, feeling extremely frustrated!

"Any news from Isogai-kun?" Itagaki Seishiro asked, clinging to his last glimmer of hope.

Takeshi Sakurada shook his head, his face extremely grim.

"The 10th Division replied that they are fully engaged in the attack on Tengxian and have no time to spare to reinforce the east..."

"You idiot, Rensuke Isogai, that extremely selfish bastard."

Seishiro Itagaki was so angry that he trembled all over and kicked over the low table in front of him.

He finally realized that he had been completely isolated.

As the booming cannon fire grew closer and closer outside, Itagaki Seishiro felt a sudden urge to back down for the first time.

Tangtou Town has a flat terrain and no natural defenses.

If they continue to fight Lin Feng to the death here, his proud steel army will eventually be ground into iron filings.

"Sakurada-kun..."

Seishiro Itagaki took a deep breath and, with immense difficulty, made a decision that went against his arrogant nature:

"Order all units to prepare for alternating cover."

We...return to Qingcheng Port and reconsider our strategy."

However, Lin Feng might not agree to Itagaki Seishiro's departure.

East of Baitu Town, in an extremely dense pine forest.

On the muddy ground lay hundreds of Xia soldiers, their bodies covered in mud and camouflage made of branches and straw.

Xu Fei, the company commander of the 1st Company of the 1st Regiment of the 107th Division, was lying behind a bush, holding binoculars and observing the movements in the distance with great concentration.

They, as the vanguard, have already infiltrated this area with extreme secrecy.

At the end of the line of sight is an extremely ancient Confucius Temple.

At this moment, the area around this temple, which should have been quiet, is under heavy security.

Not only were there two military trucks covered with tarpaulins, but also several Type 95 sidecar motorcycles painted in tan.

Most importantly, Japanese officers dressed in impeccably tailored yellow woolen uniforms and high-top leather boots were constantly coming and going at the temple gate.

From the surrounding hilly high points, one could vaguely see the Japanese heavy machine gun positions built with sandbags.

"Company commander, this is definitely a big fish."

A long line of people next to him lowered their voices and rubbed their hands together excitedly:

"Judging from this setup, it's at least a regimental-level command post."

Let's pull off a heist!

"Charge in and capture a Japanese colonel!"

But Xu Fei shook his head with great experience and restrained the platoon leader who was itching to act.

"Don't act impulsively."

Xu Fei's eyes were extremely calm as he analyzed:

"Look at those high points around us, the Japanese have extremely tight firepower."

We only have so many people. If we fail to break through in one go, we might alert the enemy.

Letting the big fish escape would be a huge sin.

"What should we do? Just stand by and watch?" The platoon leader was so anxious that he scratched his head.

"Just watch? Hmph, when has our 33rd Army ever fought such a humiliating battle?"

Xu Fei sneered, turned his head and waved his hand behind him:

"Signal specialist, come here."

The communications soldier, carrying an extremely heavy walkie-talkie, immediately crouched down and crawled over.

Xu Fei grabbed the handset, pressed the call button, and decisively called out:

"Yangtze River, Yangtze River, I am a sweet potato."

We discovered a major enemy command center near Baitou Town.

Then Xu Fei, holding the map in one hand, reported the coordinates.

"The target is heavily fortified and is not suitable for infantry assault."

The battalion headquarters was requested to report immediately and call for air support.

Repeat, call for air support.

"Let the brothers in heaven give these bastards a good beating!"

Meanwhile, inside that originally extremely quiet Confucius Temple.

The blue brick floor of the main hall was covered with muddy footprints left by Japanese officers.

Major General Jun Sakamoto, commander of the 21st Brigade under the 5th Division, was bracing himself firmly on a long table with both hands.

His bloodshot eyes were fixed on the military map on the table.

"The division commander has given the order for a full retreat."

Jun Sakamoto's voice was extremely hoarse:

"Lin Feng's 33rd Army Corps' offensive is really too fierce."

Their firepower density has completely exceeded the common sense of the Imperial Army.

We are now designated as the rearguard for the entire army.

Inside the main hall, a dozen or so Japanese officers of the rank of colonel, lieutenant colonel, and major were silent and trembling, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Everyone knows what the word "defender" means when facing Lin Feng's massive army that could swallow even the Kunisaki detachment whole...

"Katano-kun."

Sakamoto Jun suddenly raised his head and looked at a colonel standing on his left.

"Hi!"

Colonel Katano Satomi, commander of the 21st Infantry Regiment, immediately put his feet together and bowed his head sharply.

A flicker of intense, agonizing struggle crossed Sakamoto Jun's eyes, but it was instantly replaced by madness.

"Immediately transfer your 21st Regiment's flag-bearing company to the brigade headquarters."

Let the regimental flag stay by my side.

Later, the flag-bearing company and the non-combat personnel of the brigade headquarters withdrew first to rejoin the main force of the division and retreat together.

Upon hearing this, the hall fell into an instantaneous, deathly silence.

Colonel Katano Sadayoshi suddenly raised his head, his face filled with astonishment and utter disbelief:

"Your Excellency?! This...how can this be?!"

In the Japanese army, the regimental flag was personally bestowed by the Emperor and was the soul and faith of the entire regiment.

As long as the people are there, the flag will remain; if the flag is destroyed, the organization will be disbanded.

Historically, in battles, the regimental flag always followed the regimental commander.

The fact that the brigade commander is now demanding that the regimental flag be sent away ahead of schedule, what does that mean?

This shows that the brigade commander has completely given up hope of this blocking battle!

"Execute the order, Katano-kun."

Major General Jun Sakamoto abruptly drew half of his command sword and roared sternly:

"That Black Dog Lin Feng should not be underestimated!"

His troops were nothing short of a bunch of devils armed to the teeth.

Your regiment is covering the rear for the entire division, and you must deliver the regimental flag to a safe location.

As for us…”

Sakamoto Jun drew his sword completely with a "whoosh," raised it high, his face filled with an extremely fanatical sense of Bushido:

"Gentlemen, for the sake of the Great Japanese Empire, for the sake of His Majesty the Emperor."

We must be prepared to die for our cause.

"Hey, let's die for our country!"

The Japanese officers inside the hall were moved by the extremely tragic atmosphere, and they all drew their swords and roared like wild beasts.