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

Naoki lay in the crater, panting heavily.

He looked up and saw that the position was still there, the huge tank was still there, and the people in gray-blue uniforms were still there.

His heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of his throat; he was terrified.

"Brigade Commander! Brigade Commander!" Kobayashi Yu asked in a trembling voice, "What...what do we do?"

Naoki straightened up, adjusted his glasses, and breathed heavily, offering no answer. What could he do?

He wanted to retreat, he wanted to run away, he wanted to leave this godforsaken place, to leave that monster that could blow up two tanks with a single shot.

He wanted to return to the rear, to the command post.

But he couldn't; the face of Yamamuro Munetake flashed through his mind.

Those triangular eyes, that mouth that never smiles.

That person kills without blinking an eye.

Kobayashi Yu spoke again, his voice trembling even more: "Brigade Commander, perhaps... we should retreat?"

Naokijiro's eyes widened suddenly. He stared at Kobayashi Isamu as if he were staring at a timid insect.

Then, he exploded.

"Baka—!!!" he roared, causing Kobayashi Yu to take a step back.

"Imperial warriors, how can you retreat?! Kaimae, what the hell!" (You guy, what nonsense are you talking about!)

Naojiro raised his military sword, the tip pointing at Isamu Kobayashi's nose:

"Retreat? Retreat means desertion! Deserters commit seppuku! Seppuku—do you understand?!"

Naokijiro shouted, his voice a mix of bravado and cowardice.

He recalled a previous battle where a regimental commander had failed in his attack, and Yamamuro Munetake had drawn his pistol and shot him dead on the spot, in front of the entire division. After killing him, he even cursed:

"This is the shame of the imperial soldier!" (This is the shame of the imperial soldier!)

Naokijiro shuddered. He couldn't back down. If he did, Yamamuro Munetake would kill him.

Killing him is not enough; his family members in the home country—his wife, son, and daughter—will also be implicated.

Their property was confiscated, their reputation was ruined, their sons couldn't go to school, and their daughters couldn't get married. Their lives were worse than death, or even worse than death itself.

His wife's name is Kazuko. They have been married for twenty years and she has never complained. His son's name is Kenichi. He is fifteen years old and attends middle school in Tokyo.

His daughter, Meixiang, is twelve years old and loves playing the piano. He can't let them suffer because of him. He can't. So, he must win.

He must take down Liu Xing. Even if it means losing many men, even if it means wiping out the entire Tenth Brigade, he must take down Liu Xing.

Kobayashi Yu looked at Tenma Naojiro's distorted face and dared not speak again.

He swallowed hard. He saw the light in the brigade commander's eyes—a light that wasn't courage, but madness.

It's the kind of madness that's willing to push everyone down to hell just to save your own life.

He knew in his heart that the brigade commander was also afraid. Afraid of the division commander, afraid of death, afraid of losing everything.

But he dared not say anything more.

If I continue, I'll be seen as a deserter.

If you're labeled a deserter, you'll be executed. If you're executed, everything is over.

Naoki took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.

He raised his saber again. He had to make a decision. A "wise" decision.

A decision that would convince the soldiers, satisfy the division commander, and allow him to return alive.

"Kobayashi-kun." He spoke, his voice regaining its deliberate, performed composure.

"Let the warriors of the 10th Brigade continue their charge."

Kobayashi Yu was stunned. His mouth was agape, his eyes wide, as if someone had grabbed him by the throat. "Brigade Commander... but..."

Naoki didn't let him finish. He raised his saber, the tip pointing at Liu Xing, at the still-burning position, at the huge tank.

"The Chinese's new weapons didn't actually cause much damage. It only resulted in the deaths of two tanks and a hundred-odd brave soldiers!"

"And our 10th Brigade still has over three thousand warriors! And we have reinforcements to follow! We can overwhelm Liu Xing!"

Kobayashi Yu looked at Naoki Tenma, his lips trembling. He wanted to say, "Brigade Commander, this is suicide," and "Those new weapons can kill dozens of warriors with a single shot."

But he dared not speak, and could only lower his head.

"Kobayashi Isamu," Naojiro Tenma called his name. "My good adjutant, pass down the order—warriors of the 10th Brigade, continue the charge!"

Kobayashi Isamu stood there, looking at Naojiro Tenma, at that familiar face.

He had followed him for three years, ever since graduating from the sergeant school. He thought he was a responsible commander, a true soldier, and someone worthy of his loyalty.

Now he realized that this man, for his own life, for his own official position, and to prevent the division commander from killing him, was willing to send his soldiers to their deaths.

Tears streamed down his face, but he didn't wipe them away. He stood at attention, saluted, and said in a hoarse voice, "Hai!"

He turned to the soldiers still awaiting orders and roared, "The brigade commander orders—continue the charge—!!!"

Naoki Naoki stood there, holding his sword, looking at the soldiers who had stood up.

His lips slowly parted into a smile.

What does it matter how many soldiers die, as long as we can capture Liu Xing?

Yamamuro Munetake will commend him, the newspapers will praise him, and the newspapers will publish his photograph.

His family will be proud of him. He will still get promoted and become wealthy.

As for those soldiers who died—they were loyal to the Emperor and sacrificed their lives for the Empire.

It is their honor...