Devil's Army

Upon hearing that they were to hold Hunchun for half a month, the third regimental commander immediately responded:

"Okay, no problem. Even if our entire group is wiped out, I'll hold onto the couplets for half a month."

"According to reliable intelligence we have obtained, the ratio of Japanese troops invading Hunchun to our military strength is currently 14:1. I have ordered Political Commissar Guo to arm all the anti-Japanese armed forces, the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army, and political cadres in Hunchun and the surrounding areas, give them simple training, and establish the newly formed 1st Regiment of the 7th Brigade, which will be under your command."

"Thank you, Brigade Commander."

"Commander Liu, I'm entrusting Hunchun to you. We absolutely cannot let it fall into the hands of the Japanese."

"Rest assured, Brigade Commander, the Japanese army will only be able to occupy Hunchun by stepping over my dead body."

Inside Hunchun City, more than 2800 members of the Anti-Japanese Armed Forces and political cadres are undergoing intensive training under the leadership of Political Commissar Guo.

With the Japanese army pressing in on the border, the soldiers of the New First Regiment trained extremely hard. They conducted military skills training during the day and studied military theory at night.

Many soldiers were so trained that their hands trembled when they picked up bowls and chopsticks, and their calves ached when they walked. But they paid no heed, with only one belief in their hearts—to defend Hunchun.

The Japanese army did not give the newly formed First Regiment time to train and brazenly invaded Hunchun again.

That morning, the soldiers of the Third Regiment patrolled along the border with solemn expressions.

At 8 o'clock, the Japanese artillery suddenly launched a fierce bombardment on the fortifications of the Hunchun First Army without any warning.

The Chinese border in Hunchun was suddenly engulfed in flames.

The patrolmen of the Third Regiment, who were on patrol, were all killed in the Japanese artillery fire; none of them survived.

Because the battalion commander was determined to hold the Hunchun border line to the death, he did not order his soldiers to withdraw. In this sudden wave of shelling by the Japanese army, more than half of the battalion's soldiers were killed or wounded.

The battalion commander was also wounded in the Japanese artillery fire.

When the 3rd Regiment Commander heard that the 1st Battalion had suffered more than half its casualties in a single Japanese artillery barrage, he flew into a rage and called the 1st Battalion Commander, giving him a thorough dressing-down.

"Are you fucking out of your mind? The Japanese bombarded my entire battalion and killed more than half of them in one go. How am I supposed to hold out for half a month before we can go back to the village?"

"Commander, I just want to hold the Hunchun border to the death and prevent the Japanese army from entering Chinese territory."

"Damn it, we've wiped out everyone. What are you going to use to defend the border? Your balls, you think?"

"Commander, I know I was wrong. I will definitely try my best to preserve our strength and prevent the Japanese army from entering Hunchun."

"I don't care what method you use, even if you have to bite, you have to hold the border for two days."

"Yes, sir! Mission accomplished!"

The Japanese bombardment lasted for half an hour, and the vanguard of the Japanese army launched a fierce attack on Hunchun. However, they encountered stubborn resistance from the 1st Battalion of the 3rd Regiment on the Sino-Korean border.

After giving the battalion commander a thorough dressing-down, the third regimental commander sat down and thought for a moment before deciding to send the newly formed battalion of the first regiment to reinforce the battalion.

Upon receiving the order, the newly formed 1st Battalion of the 1st Regiment immediately ceased training and rushed to the front line to join the 1st Battalion of the 3rd Regiment in blocking the Japanese army.

Around 1 p.m., the soldiers of the First Battalion repelled two relatively large-scale attacks by the Japanese army, but their own casualties were also considerable.

The battalion commander looked at the few remaining soldiers, more than a company, and was deeply troubled. He didn't know how to hold out for two more days unless a divine intervention would come.

At this moment, a nurse forcibly dragged the battalion commander to the infirmary to change his dressing.

Before the battalion commander's medicine was even changed, a sentry ran over to report that the newly formed 1st Battalion of the 1st Regiment was coming to reinforce them.

Upon hearing this, the battalion commander was overjoyed and exclaimed that Heaven had eyes, and that he was about to leave to go to the front line.