Not enough Japanese devils to kill? 1.4 billion people volunteer for the Battle of Shanghai.

131. There is an old Chinese saying: "Fortune favors the bold."

The embroiderer's gaze turned to the northwest again, becoming cold and sharp once more.

There, the Japanese 5th Brigade's attack, though temporarily thwarted by a failed flanking maneuver and the desperate resistance of the 7th Company of the 3rd Battalion, did not cease.

The yellowish-brown tide continued to surge.

They are adjusting their formation, reorganizing, and preparing for the next, even fiercer attack.

"Anvil, door-breaker." The embroiderer's voice came through the communicator, her tone now calm and almost ruthless.

"arrive."

"The enemy on the front lines hasn't collapsed yet." The embroiderer looked at the Japanese soldiers in her scope, who were starting to stir again. "It's our turn."

"clear."

"receive."

The next second—

The cannon of the "Kirin" tank spewed flames again!

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat—! ! !

The bursts of fire from the coaxial machine guns, like the whispers of death, precisely reaped every Japanese soldier who dared to show their face.

boom--!!!!

High-explosive grenades exploded in areas densely populated with Japanese troops, creating fountains of blood, flesh, and mud.

But this time, the embroiderer's state of mind was different.

She was no longer solely focused on maximizing the killing of Japanese soldiers.

She did it to... protect.

Protecting those Chinese soldiers who proved their dignity with their lives.

They defended this battlefield, which they had soaked in their blood.

…………

Just as the embroiderer and her team were using artillery fire to regain control of the Japanese forces on the front lines—

On the flank of the position, deep within the ruins, where the "Kirin" firepower had temporarily ignored the complex terrain.

More than thirty figures in tan hues moved swiftly through the shadows of broken walls and bomb craters, like ghosts.

They moved with practiced skill and light steps, communicating with each other through gestures, making almost no sound.

This is an elite Japanese infiltration squad.

The leader was a private in his early thirties named Koji Ishida.

At this moment, Ishida was lying behind a half-collapsed brick wall, cautiously peeking out and using binoculars to observe the three "Kirin" tanks that were spitting flames in the distance, and further behind... the cluster of blue brick shops that were being fiercely defended by Chinese soldiers.

"Captain," a private with a fresh scar on his face whispered beside him, his voice brimming with barely suppressed excitement, "You were truly a brilliant strategist. Those three strange Chinese vehicles and those remnants really did focus all their attention on the front. This flank is completely undefended."

Ishida put down his binoculars, a sinister smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Matsumoto, this isn't some divine calculation, it's observation," he said calmly. "I've been observing ever since those strange cars appeared."

"The timing of their appearance is too coincidental."

"Their tactics are too... ahead of their time."

"Their defense of this position is too... persistent."

He paused, then turned his gaze back to the row of blue-brick shops, his eyes gleaming with a greedy and fanatical light:

"I've been wondering, where did these extraordinary weapons and unbelievable tactics come from?"

"Now, I have the answer."

Private First Class Matsumoto's eyes lit up: "You mean... the secret is hidden in that shop?"

"Otherwise, there's no way to explain it," Ishida said confidently. "Look closely. Whether it's those three strange vehicles or those desperately resisting Chinese remnants, their core defense always revolves around that shop. No matter how much pressure they face, they never send troops to reinforce it. What does that mean?"

"This means... there's something more important there than the position itself!" Private First Class Matsumoto suddenly realized.

"That's right." Ishida licked his slightly chapped lips, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. "If my guess is right... what's hidden there might be some kind of secret weapon of the Chinese, or... the key to explaining all these extraordinary phenomena."

He turned to look at the thirty-odd subordinates behind him, whose eyes also gleamed with greed. He lowered his voice, but it carried a seductive power:

"Gentlemen, think about it."

"If we can get in on the trail, crack this secret, and even... seize those potentially out-of-the-time weapons or documents."

"Dedicated to His Excellency the Division Commander, and to His Majesty the Emperor—"

Ishida's voice suddenly rose in pitch:

"What kind of reward will we receive?!"

"Promotion! Wealth! Glory to the ancestors!"

"Even... to be remembered in history!"

These words were like a shot in the arm, instantly reigniting the fervent flames of the Japanese elite troops whose morale had been low due to repeated setbacks.

"The captain is brilliant!"

"Following the captain, we're sure to achieve unparalleled feats!"

"For His Majesty the Emperor!"

"Onboard!"

Soft cheers and declarations of loyalty echoed suppressedly through the ruins.

Ishida nodded in satisfaction, but he quickly gestured for everyone to be quiet.

"But—" he changed his tone, his eyes turning sinister, "Since that place is so important, the defenses must be extremely tight. Perhaps, the most elite Chinese troops are lying in ambush there, or... there are defensive measures that we cannot understand."

Private First Class Matsumoto immediately replied, "Don't worry, Captain! We're the 27th Regiment's most elite infiltration squad! What kind of defense haven't we seen? Besides, the Chinese elite were almost wiped out in the previous battles. The remaining remnants are barely able to hold off the enemy head-on, let alone have any spare troops to guard the rear!"

"Exactly!" another short, stocky private grinned. "Maybe there are only a few wounded soldiers and civilian staff inside; we can take them out in one charge!"

"I think so too," someone echoed. "Those strange vehicles and remnants of the army are all drawn to the front lines and can't spare any attention here. This is a golden opportunity!"

As Private Ishida listened to his subordinates' confident analysis, the last trace of doubt in his heart dissipated.

Yes.

The Chinese have reached their wits' end.

If the front lines are being held so difficultly, how could there be any spare capacity to deploy heavy troops in the rear?

That shop is very likely just a ghost town with a show of force!

Even if there are guards, it will definitely be a weak point!

This was a chance given to him by God to redeem himself through meritorious service, or even to rise to the top in one step!

He had indeed considered running away before.

Witnessing the regimental commander being blown to pieces and his troops being massacred en masse, the deep-seated fear nearly drove him to the brink of collapse.

He thought of his fiancée back home, and her smiling face under the cherry blossom tree.

He wanted to go back alive, marry her, and live a peaceful life.

but--

Major General Katayama Riichiro is right.

If he deserts, even if he returns alive, he will be despised by everyone. His fiancée will never be able to hold her head high again and will spend the rest of her life in shame.

He, Koji Ishida, can die, but he cannot bear the stigma of being a deserter!

And now, the opportunity has arrived!

An opportunity to not only survive but also achieve great merit and bring glory to one's ancestors!

"Gentlemen!" Ishida took a deep breath, the last trace of hesitation in his eyes completely consumed by greed and ambition. "Success or failure hinges on this!"

"Follow me!"

"Target—that brick shop!"

"Take it down and unlock the secrets of the Chinese!"

"Promotion and wealth—it's today!"

"Hai—!!!"

More than thirty elite Japanese soldiers responded in hushed tones, their eyes burning with greed and madness.

Like a pack of hyenas drawn by the scent of blood, led by Hiroki Ishida, they stealthily made their way under the cover of the ruins toward the seemingly tranquil brick shop that might actually conceal a shocking secret.

The Japanese soldiers moved with practiced skill and quietness, clearly not for the first time engaging in such infiltration and sneak attacks.

At this moment, Ishida walked in the middle of the group, holding a Nambu Type 14 pistol in one hand and binoculars in the other, stopping from time to time to observe the surroundings.

His heart was pounding, partly from nervousness and partly from excitement.

He could almost see himself cracking the Chinese secrets, seizing those weapons ahead of their time, standing before the division commander to receive commendation, his chest adorned with medals, his deeds published in his hometown newspaper, and his fiancée and family proud of him…

"Thump!"

A muffled thud interrupted Ishida's daydream.

"Baka! Who?!" Ishida growled.

At the very back of the column, a private stepped on a loose floorboard, and half of his leg sank in. He was frantically trying to pull it out.

"I'm sorry... Captain..." The private was covered in sweat.

Matsumoto turned around and glared at him fiercely: "Useless! Making such a commotion, are you trying to attract the Chinese?!"

"I...I didn't mean to..." the private hurriedly whispered.

Ishida's face darkened: "Shut up! Come out now! Keep moving!"

After a series of close calls, the group of thirty finally made their way to the side and rear of the brick shop.

This is a relatively open space, which should have been the backyard of the shop, but is now filled with broken bricks, rubble and charred furniture remains.

The brick shops stand quietly opposite the open space.

It was a typical two-story building in the Jiangnan style, with blue bricks, gray tiles, horse-head walls, and wooden doors and windows.

The exterior walls have many bullet holes and damage, but the overall structure is still relatively intact. The windows on the second floor are all boarded up, making it impossible to see inside.

The door was tightly shut, not a ray of light could be seen through the cracks, and no sound could be heard.

Quiet.

A deathly silence.

It was eerily quiet.

Matsumoto lay behind the pile of rubble, carefully observing every detail of the shop through binoculars.

"No sentries," he reported in a low voice. "The windows are all sealed shut, and the doors are locked. The second floor... I can't see clearly, but there doesn't seem to be anyone there either."

"It's too quiet...that's not normal."

Ishida also held up his binoculars and looked carefully.

Indeed, as Nakamura said, the entire building was excessively quiet.

There were no lights, no sounds, and no people.

It's like... a ghost town.

But the more this happened, the more doubts Ishida harbored in his heart grew.

Would the Chinese be so careless?

Why would you keep such a crucial secret in a seemingly undefended shop?

"Captain, let's move!" Matsumoto was already getting impatient. "Let's charge in while no one's around! A quick and decisive victory!"

"Yes, Captain, we can't miss this opportunity!" Nakamura urged.

The other soldiers also looked at Ishida, their eyes filled with greedy anticipation.

Ishida gritted his teeth.