Even if I'm a useless bum at Whampoa Military Academy, I'll be invincible in the War of Re

Zhao Yunwen spoke privately with Su Wanqing to inquire about Yang Ruifu's recovery progress. He then began to invest heavily in retaining Yang Ruifu, having the guards deliver several large boxes of penicillin.

Su Wanqing could hardly believe her eyes and stammered:

"Where did you get this? As far as I know, it's not even mass-produced overseas!"

Zhao Yunwen leaned closer to her and said:

"Let me tell you a little secret: the team that developed penicillin in the US belongs to the Zhao Group, and the penicillin manufacturing plant is controlled by the Zhao family. It's their own product."

Su Wanqing subconsciously took two steps back. This was no small secret; it was a huge bombshell. She was even worried that Zhao Yunwen would silence her.

"Commander, I didn't hear anything. I've been having hearing problems lately."

Zhao Yunwen gave a sinister smile:

"Take these medicines first. In the next few days, many wounded people will be sent here, so I'll trouble Dr. Su to stay in the hospital and take good care of them."

I hereby formally appoint you as Director, an expert, with a monthly stipend of 100 silver dollars, the same rank as the deputy team leader.

Zhao Yunwen was trying to force himself on her. Su Wanqing tried to refuse, but was intimidated by his gaze.

She now knows a secret she shouldn't know, and if she doesn't agree to Zhao's request, given Zhao Yunwen's ruthless nature, he will definitely silence her.

Besides, there's a monthly allowance of 200 yuan. The conditions are too tempting and the offer is so sincere, who could refuse?

Su Wanqing subconsciously puffed out her chest and said loudly:

"We guarantee the mission will be completed."

I learned this from Xiao Jianyun; I really can't afford to mess with the warlord Zhao.

Zhao Yunwen was surprised that Su Wanqing agreed so readily. He thought to himself that he was still very charming. With just a few words, he had won over a medical talent and made her willingly serve the guerrilla detachment.

Having secured another talented individual, Zhao Yunwen was in high spirits. He casually pulled out a box of chocolates from his system and handed it to Su Wanqing.

"You've worked hard on Battalion Commander Yang, this is a reward for you. Find some time to go see Chief of Staff Xie to complete your enlistment procedures; your allowance will be paid starting this month."

After Zhao Yunwen finished speaking, he turned and left, not giving Su Wanqing a chance to refuse.

In Shanghai, chocolate is a valuable commodity. Seeing that no one was watching, Su Wanqing stuffed it into her pocket and then went to find Xie Polu to complete the formalities.

For the sake of the chocolates and the high salary of 200 silver dollars a month, she decided to stay in the guerrilla detachment.

Northern front, outpost

Dozens of Japanese soldiers were collecting corpses while waving white flags. Yang Guai aimed his gun at the Japanese soldiers but did not fire.

The battlefield has its own rules. Since the Japanese were allowed to collect the bodies, the isolated battalion would not fire. In return, the 101st Regiment would also cease fire that night.

The Japanese soldiers played a trick, secretly carrying the seriously wounded back as well, but they didn't dare pick up the guns and ammunition, which were the spoils of war of the isolated battalion. Both sides tacitly understood this.

After collecting the bodies, the Japanese soldiers retreated several hundred meters, built a circular fortification, and set up camp.

Shangguan Zhibiao also sent men to collect the spoils of war overnight, but the Japanese pretended not to see it. The next round of life-or-death struggle between the two sides would not begin until dawn.

Inside the 101st Regiment's field command post, Senior Staff Officer Major Sakamoto said with a grim face:

"Commander, we have brought back a total of 87 seriously wounded soldiers. The supply train is running low on medicine."

Iizuka Kunigoro was also very annoyed. These seriously wounded soldiers were a complete burden, not only consuming a lot of resources but also dragging down combat power. But he had to do it unless the Chinese refused.

"You idiots, a bunch of useless trash!"

Both men fell silent. Some things couldn't be said outright, so Major Sakamoto changed the subject to the war:

"Let the Chinese be smug for one more night. With the assistance of the heavy artillery battalion, we will be able to easily break through the Chinese defenses and wipe away our shame."

Iizuka Kunigoro's mood improved somewhat; he was full of confidence in the Imperial-made 105mm heavy artillery.

Nothing happened that night, and Iizuka Kunigoro finally waited for dawn. The Japanese soldiers of the 101st Regiment were enjoying a delicious breakfast. Iizuka Kunigoro walked among the soldiers to boost their morale:

"Warriors, the Imperial Army's heavy artillery will destroy the Chinese fortifications. All you need to do is rush up and collect the corpses."

His Excellency the General said that after capturing Kunshan City, military discipline will be lifted for three days, and you can celebrate to your heart's content.

"May His Majesty the Emperor reign supreme! May the Holy War commence!"

The Japanese soldiers' enthusiasm for the war was instantly ignited, and they all joined in shouting slogans, greatly boosting their morale.

On the isolated battalion's position, everyone felt the oppressive atmosphere of an impending major battle, but no one flinched.

Yang Guai was filing the bullet tips while smoking. He had learned this from a sniper in the reconnaissance company. It was said that the bullets would explode if they hit a Japanese soldier's body, and he wanted to try it out.

Machine gunner Tian Kai was organizing the ammunition belts to prevent jamming during firing. Each belt contained 250 rounds, and each machine gun had 16 belts. Tian Kai, who was not well-educated, couldn't count them all.

The assistant gunner, Duanwu, cautiously reached for the machine gun, but before he could touch it, Tian Kai's eyes widened in surprise:

"Don't touch that! Is that something you can touch?"

Duanwu obediently withdrew his hand and said enviously:

"Brother Kai, can I fire a few rounds? I've been a machine gunner for so long, but I've never even touched a gun."

Tian Kai corrected him very impatiently:

"You're the assistant gunner! Your job is to help load the bullets. Do you even know how much this magazine costs?"

Duanwu shook his head, looking like he had no knowledge of such things.

Tian Kai said arrogantly:

"It's equivalent to your family's food rations for a month."

Duanwu was completely intimidated and never again asked to play a couple of rounds of mahjong for fun. All that money was going to be spent!

"Chirp..."

A shell flew overhead, and Tian Kai was so startled that he kicked the new recruit Duanwu into the trench, then grabbed his gun and crawled into the foxhole himself.

The shell exploded behind the position, creating a huge crater. It was a test shell, fired no more than 100 meters from the position.

Before long, a barrage of artillery shells screech into the position, leveling entire sections of trenches.

This is a 105mm mountain artillery shell. Each explosion creates a deep crater, with a kill radius exceeding fifty meters. Within a ten-meter radius of the blast center, there are no survivors; survival depends entirely on luck.

A barrage of shells rained down from the sky; the moment of truth had arrived!

Fortunately, the brothers in the isolated battalion all had trenches and foxholes, which could block most of the shrapnel and greatly reduce casualties.

The premise is that you don't get hit directly, otherwise even a god couldn't save you.

Shells rained down, the position was shrouded in thick smoke from the explosions, and no one knew how many people were buried in the loose soil.

"Wow, the Imperial Army's artillery fire is really fierce! By the time the bombardment ends, our brave warriors will only be able to collect the corpses of the Chinese!"

Iizuka Kunigoro, in high spirits, showed off for a bit, and before Major Sakamoto could join in the boasting, he coldly shouted:

"Sakamoto-kun, let's begin!"

As soon as the shelling stopped, hordes of Japanese soldiers surged toward the isolated battalion's position, eager to reap the spoils.

Shangguan Zhibiao shook off the dust from his body and roared:

"Fire! Blow up that son of a bitch!"