One man's resistance against Japan, I mobilized a million people to aid Shanghai.

Jiangwan Road.

Three hundred meters in front of the Japanese headquarters.

Fourth barricade.

Zhu Yong, seriously wounded, planned to lead his remaining eight hundred brothers in a final assault on the Japanese.

However, the phone suddenly rang.

Zhu Yong had to frown and answer the phone.

"Hello! This is Zhang Zhizhong."

"Commander!"

Zhu Yong loudly reported to his superior:

"Our unit has completely wiped out all remaining enemy forces at Barricade 4, and the final passage has been cleared!"

"The Japanese naval headquarters is right in front of us; we can clearly see the antenna on the roof!"

"Our unit currently has 803 officers and soldiers remaining, all wounded, but their morale is high and their blades are not dulled!"

"Rest assured, Commander, all officers and soldiers of the 853rd Regiment are willing to be the vanguard of the entire army, to press on with one decisive blow, smash the enemy's lair, and uphold our national prestige!"

Zhu Yong's words were resounding and passionate, showing that he had long since disregarded life and death.

On the other side, Zhang Zhizhong held the heavy microphone, his hand trembling slightly uncontrollably.

He could almost smell the strong stench of blood on Jiangwan Road through the sound of the electricity, and see the dark red scabs on the worn uniforms of the soldiers of the 853rd Regiment.

But precisely because of this, his guilt intensified.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the overwhelming sense of guilt, and used all his strength to maintain a steady tone, each word seeming to be squeezed out with difficulty from between his teeth.

"You and the brothers of the 853rd Regiment... fought well! fought... exceptionally well!"

"The President also learned of your outstanding military achievements in Nanjing and has specially promoted you to the rank of Colonel and Deputy Brigade Commander of the Army Infantry."

"However, the president knows how hard you've worked, so he specifically ordered you to stop the attack and rest in place for the time being."

"What??"

Zhu Yong's eyes widened instantly.

"Commander, what did you say? Cease the attack??"

"Look at our position. The Japanese headquarters is only 500 meters away. Thousands of our brothers risked their lives to pave this way, fighting their way from Baoshan Road to Jiangwan Road. You want me to stop the attack now??"

"We got here by stepping on the bones of our brothers, smelling their blood! And now... now you want us to stop?"

"Why?! Commander, tell me, why? Are the blood of my brothers going to be shed in vain?"

Zhu Yong's voice trembled violently with extreme anger.

When Zhang Zhizhong heard the question, he felt an indescribable sense of shame welling up in his heart, making it hard for him to breathe.

As Zhu Yong said, this victory was achieved after thousands of brothers fought through the night. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, forged by the countless bones of our brothers.

Zhang Zhizhong was so ashamed he wanted to disappear.

He practically exhausted all his strength to utter that chilling command, a command he himself couldn't even accept.

"This is... a direct order from the President."

"All units of the Ninth Army Group, including your 853rd Regiment, shall immediately cease all offensive operations, remain in place, and begin defensive operations to consolidate existing positions."

"This is all for the sake of the overall situation, so as not to affect the international image."

"The overall situation?! What a load of bull! International perspective?! Screw perspective!"

Zhu Yong's roar was like the howl of a wounded lion.

"Commander, please open your eyes and look at Jiangwan Road!"

"This is no longer a road; it's hell. The ground is littered with severed limbs and scorched earth—all carved out by our brothers with their lives!"

"We've bled dry, all for this final step! What are we waiting for if we stop now? Wait for the Japanese to catch their breath and redeploy their troops? Wait for their planes and artillery to blast us to smithereens?"

"Are we just waiting for the gentlemen of Nanjing to negotiate terms with the Japanese and then sell us out?!"

"presumptuous!!"

Zhang Zhizhong's heart was also bleeding, but as the commander-in-chief, he had no choice but to obey orders.

"Obey orders! That's a military order!"

"For Shanghai, and for the Party and the nation!!"

"Obey orders? Heh... Hahaha..."

Zhu Yong let out a bitter laugh, filled with utter despair and disappointment in Chiang Kai-shek.

"Commander, I've said it before, Chiang Kai-shek is an amateur."

"I must fight this battle, even if you execute me later."

His voice suddenly became unusually calm, as calm as the stillness before a storm, but beneath this calm lay a resolute determination that sent chills down one's spine.

"Commander, you used to teach us that a soldier's destiny is to die on the battlefield and to dedicate himself to the country."

"Today, I have no other choice."

Zhang Zhizhong's heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition rose in his heart.

"What are you trying to do?! Zhu Yong, don't do anything stupid! Stop right there!!"

"I offer my blood to Xuanyuan!"

"853rd Regiment, all brothers!! Hear my final command!!"

"Attack the Japanese headquarters with all forces! Fight to the death!!!"

Zhang Zhizhong seemed to understand what Zhu Yong was going to do, and instantly became terrified, screaming his heart out into the microphone.

"Shut up! No!! Zhu Yong, don't be impulsive!!"

However, he was met with a gunshot.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was louder than ten thousand cannons firing at once!

Zhang Zhizhong felt as if he had been struck by lightning, instantly freezing in place, his mind blank, his blood seemingly freezing in an instant.

He roared instinctively.

"Zhu Yong!! Speak up!!!"

However, he was answered by an unfamiliar voice.

"Commander, the regimental commander has committed suicide. I am Wang Lei, the deputy commander of the 853rd Regiment."

"Next, I will follow the last command of the regimental commander and lead all the remaining brothers in a desperate charge against the Japanese naval headquarters."

"This battle is a fight to the death!!"

"boom--!"

Zhang Zhizhong felt as if the top of his head had been lifted, and the whole world was spinning before his eyes.

Zhu Yong actually risked his life to remonstrate with Zhu Yong.

He fulfilled his vow to offer his blood to the Yellow Emperor with his death!

Meanwhile, Wang Lei had already begun gathering his men to prepare for a general offensive against the Japanese naval headquarters.

"Brothers, you all heard the commander's last words clearly: attack the naval headquarters, fight to the death."

"Now I command, brothers, follow me, we will die together with our commander!!"

"Following the Commander's dying order!! Kill—!!!"

"kill!!!"

"I'll go to my death with the regimental commander!"

A series of angry roars rang out from the other end of the phone.

"No!!! Stop! I order you to stop!!"

Tears and snot instantly covered Zhang Zhizhong's face. He could no longer care about the dignity of a commander-in-chief; all that remained was endless regret.

"That's suicide! A pointless sacrifice! Wang Lei! I order you, in the name of the Commander-in-Chief, to stop immediately!"

"Take your brothers and retreat! Retreat!! Please!"

However, Wang Lei simply answered him calmly.

"Commander, at this critical juncture for the nation's survival, the Regiment Commander used his death to warn future generations; how can we live on alone?"

"I only know how to die for my lord on the battlefield; why should I need to be wrapped in a horsehide to return home?"

"Farewell, Commander. I hope you can lead your brothers to slaughter the enemy, and one day offer three bowls of wine at their gravesite!"

"Snapped!"

After hanging up the phone, blood vessels slowly crept into Zhang Zhizhong's eyes.