Holding the original shares, they fought all the way to the Korean War!

Zhou Tianyang remained silent for a moment.

Then he shouted towards the left wing of the slope.

"Ma Yong!"

"arrive!"

Ma Yong ran quickly down the slope, still holding the MP40 submachine gun in his hand.

He ran up to Zhou Tianyang, stopped, took a breath, and waited for instructions.

"Take two men and follow them along the highway in that direction for a while to see if the Japanese have really retreated or if they have other plans."

"Don't get too close, just keep an eye on them from a distance. Once you've confirmed their retreat direction, come back and report immediately."

"yes!"

Ma Yong turned around and waved to the slope, and two soldiers emerged from behind the bushes.

He quickly followed along the highway towards the end of the convoy.

The three figures quickly disappeared around the bend in the road.

Zhou Tianyang withdrew his gaze and turned to scan the entire stretch of highway.

A team of over three hundred people descended the slopes on both sides of the road and began clearing the battlefield.

Deng Chen's movements were more fluid than before.

After that battle, they quickly regained the rhythm they had when they were in the regular army.

One by one, the bodies on the highway were dragged to the roadside and lined up in a row.

The usable guns were gathered in an open area in the middle of the highway.

The ammunition boxes were unloaded one by one, the lids were pried open, and the number of bullets and grenades inside was counted.

A dozen minutes later.

Three figures appeared at the bend in the road.

Ma Yong led the two soldiers back quickly, their pace even faster than when they left.

"Commander!"

Ma Yong stopped in front of Zhou Tianyang, wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, and spoke with a certainty that came after confirmation.

"The Japanese soldiers have indeed withdrawn."

"We made two turns along the highway, but we didn't see any sign of them stopping."

"They ran very fast, and there were luggage and food bags left by the roadside. It didn't seem like they were going to launch a counterattack."

How many people are there?

"I estimate there are over two hundred people, and the formation is quite loose."

"There were only twenty or thirty men responsible for covering the rear. As soon as they saw us chasing after them from afar, they sped up and didn't dare to stop at all."

After listening, Zhou Tianyang remained silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Understood. Go help Battalion Commander Deng and the others clean up the battlefield."

Ma Yong responded and led the two soldiers to join the team counting supplies.

Zhou Tianyang stood in the middle of the road and took one last look at the direction of the end of the convoy.

The valley had become completely quiet.

He withdrew his gaze and turned to walk towards the supplies storage area.

It took nearly an hour to clean up the battlefield.

After all the bodies on the highway were dragged to the side of the road, doused with seized gasoline, and set on fire, a burnt smell began to fill the air.

The final list of supplies was presented to Zhou Tianyang.

More than 600 Type 38 rifles, 12 Type 96 light machine guns, and 7 Type 92 heavy machine guns.

More than 60,000 rounds of various types of ammunition, and a number of hand grenades and grenade launchers.

In addition to the supplies seized in the previous ambush in the valley.

The resources they've accumulated from these two battles are already quite substantial.

Deng Chen stood beside the pile of supplies and let out a long breath.

He looked at the pile of guns and ammunition, and then at the soldiers standing in formation not far away.

Then he turned back and his gaze fell on Zhou Tianyang.

"Commander, this battle has greatly increased our resources."

Zhou Tianyang didn't speak, he just stood there, his gaze sweeping across the entire road, and then glancing at the distant mountain ridge.

Beyond the mountain ridge lies the direction leading to Lijia Yu.

After another day's journey, they will reach the New Second Regiment's garrison.

……

the other side.

The remaining Japanese soldiers fled in disarray for nearly four miles.

Tanaka Ichiro then raised his hand and called out.

"stop!"

The two hundred or so remaining soldiers behind him collapsed almost instantly.

Some people plopped down on the ground, panting heavily, their military uniforms soaked with sweat and clinging to their bodies.

Several wounded soldiers were being supported, but as soon as their arms were loosened, they collapsed to the ground, emitting suppressed groans.

Tanaka Ichiro stood still, turned around, and glanced at the defeated and raging army.

He still held his military knife in his hand, the blade covered in mud, the tip pointing downwards, resting on the ground.

He didn't sit down, he just stood there, his chest heaving much faster than usual.

"Report!"

A communications soldier ran up from the back of the column and stood at attention.

"Squad Leader, preliminary statistics complete."

How many people are left?

Tanaka Ichiro's voice was hoarse, carrying a suppressed calm.

The communications soldier swallowed hard, his voice hoarse.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, there are still 224 people remaining."

Tanaka Ichiro's lips twitched slightly.

Two hundred and twenty-four people.

They used to be a full-strength battalion.

Seven trucks, more than a thousand soldiers, and a full range of light and heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, ammunition, and supplies.

After an ambush, only 224 men remain.

The trucks were all abandoned on the road, the machine guns were gone, and the ammunition was almost gone.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but his throat felt like it was blocked by something.

In the end, he simply gripped the hilt of the knife tightly and looked away.

"Where's the telegraph machine?"

"Is it still usable?"

"It still works."

The communications soldier nodded quickly.

"I just checked, and the equipment is not damaged."

Tanaka Ichiro closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then slowly exhaled.

"Send a telegram to the regiment."

"It is said that the brigade was ambushed by the main force of the Eighth Route Army in the Qingyunling area and suffered heavy losses."

"The battalion commander has been killed in action, and the remaining troops have been evacuated to a safe area."

He paused, as if what followed was even heavier than what had come before.

"Request the regiment to immediately send reinforcements to block the retreat of this group of Eighth Route Army soldiers and ensure their complete annihilation."

Without asking any further questions, the communications soldier turned and ran to the back of the column, quickly setting up the radio.

The ticking of the key echoed in the silent mountain forest, short and clear.

A dozen minutes later.

The communications soldier stood up from in front of the radio.

Holding a telegram in his hand, he walked quickly to Tanaka Ichiro.

"Reporting, Your Excellency, the wing commander has replied!"

Tanaka Ichiro took the telegram and looked down at it.

The telegram was short, consisting of two paragraphs.

The first paragraph confirms his previous report, and is brief in its wording.

In the second paragraph, the regimental headquarters had learned of the battle situation at Qingyunling and mobilized all its troops, determined to annihilate this group of Eighth Route Army soldiers.

Tanaka Ichiro tightened his grip on the telegram slightly, then lowered it.

When will the combined force arrive?

"The telegram did not specify the exact time, only that the entire force had been mobilized."

Tanaka Ichiro remained silent for a moment.

Then he raised his head and looked towards the direction of Qingyun Ridge.

"All assemble."

He called out to those behind him, his voice regaining some strength.

"Gather all your equipment and return the way you came."

The Japanese soldiers, slumped on the ground, looked at each other in bewilderment.

Some people hesitated and stood up, while others remained sitting on the ground, panting.