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

The sunset was like blood.

The ruins of Luodian.

After a full day of travel, Wang Lei finally led the 108th Division to Luodian.

The remnants of the Gujia Town army and the garrison of Luodian, two forces that fought bloody battles in dire straits, finally met successfully on this scorched earth.

Zhu Yong took the initiative to go forward. The two gazed at each other, and without saying a word, they understood each other's feelings.

"Have you decided?"

"It's decided!" Zhu Yong nodded.

As an avatar, Wang Lei naturally couldn't stop Zhu Yong.

"My 108th Division still has about 22,000 men left. How many do you plan to send?"

"Two thousand people?"

"Isn't that too little?"

"Quite a few."

Zhu Yong shook his head. This surprise attack on Chuanjiangkou was all about taking them by surprise.

Too many people are pointless; almost all of them are going to their deaths. Even he, the main body, had faced death nine times out of ten in the past.

It would be better to leave more men and let Wang Lei deal with the Japanese Third Division.

"In that case, let's go to command post, explain things clearly as soon as possible, and then set off as soon as possible!"

At this time, Wang Lei not only had clones under his command, but also several thousand Sichuan Army troops that Zhang Zhizhong had gone to great lengths to send to him, with Yu Xiaoqing as the commander.

These Sichuan Army regiments were poorly equipped and had mediocre combat readiness, but none of them were afraid of dying.

Wang Lei greatly admired them.

Wang Lei ordered the communications battalion to immediately notify all battalion commanders to attend a meeting.

Before long, a dozen officers arrived at the command post that had been temporarily cleared out.

As the supreme commander of the 108th Division, Wang Lei naturally shouldered the heavy responsibility of command.

He stood in front of a tattered table covered with captured Japanese maps, surrounded by Zhu Yong, Zhou Weiguo, Yu Xiaoqing, and other key officers.

"Staff Officer Chen has already explained the situation to me."

Wang Lei's voice was hoarse as he slowly spoke:

"Jiading fell, Jinshanwei was breached, and our main force retreated."

"We are now truly a lone army."

"There are only a few paths ahead: First, hold Luodian and wait for a miracle, but the result will be being crushed by the superior Japanese forces."

"Second, we can try to break through to the west and catch up with the main force, but the Japanese Third Division is pursuing us with great success. We are likely to run into their army and be annihilated in the field."

"Third, heading south, but that's the route the Japanese 10th Army took north, and it's a dead end."

He paused, tapped his finger heavily on the spot where Luo Dian was, and suddenly changed the subject.

"However, Staff Officer Chen proposed a fourth path, which was a dead end, but it offered hope of reversing the entire battle situation."

All eyes immediately focused on Zhu Yong.

Wang Lei continued, his tone carrying a sense of resolute determination.

"I've decided to adopt Staff Officer Chen's suggestion! The entire army, instead of retreating, will advance! We must attack!"

"With the lives of the entire 108th Division, we will carve a bloody path for China!"

"Attack?" Yu Xiaoqing asked in astonishment.

"That's right! Attack!" Wang Lei drew two arrows on the map with his finger. "We'll split our forces into two groups!"

"I will personally command this force of 20,000 men westward!"

"Take the initiative to attack the Japanese 3rd Division troops in Jiading, open up our left flank route, create a retreat channel for our colleagues in the Shanghai-Nanjing battlefield, and at the same time stabilize the Wufu defense line."

"Another force, led by Staff Officer Chen, will advance eastward with two thousand elite troops! A surprise attack on the mouth of the Chuanjiang River!"

"That place is an important forward base and command hub for the Japanese. Staff Officer Chen's goal is to destroy its command nodes, disrupt its rear, leave the Japanese leaderless, and buy time for his colleagues in Shanghai."

"This journey is fraught with peril, with a nine-out-of-ten chance of death, or even a ten-out-of-ten chance of survival!"

"Staff Officer Chen, have you thought it through?"

Zhu Yong took a step forward, his posture as upright as a pine tree. Despite being covered in blood, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, and his voice was resolute:

"Department of Staff, have you made up your mind?"

"We will not turn back until we have conquered the mouth of the Sichuan River!"

"Good!" Wang Lei patted Zhu Yong's shoulder heavily.

"From now on, you are the deputy commander of the 108th Division. Whether you can save Shanghai and turn the tide depends on you."

Zhu Yong didn't speak, but simply gave a deep bow.

Wang Lei then addressed the others:

"You will all follow me westward to Jiading. This battle will determine the fate of China. You must all fight bravely!"

"Yes, Commander!"

After a short rest, it was time to distribute the equipment.

Zhu Yong left all the heavy weapons to Wang Lei—he didn't want any of the heavy artillery, mortars, or light and heavy machine guns; he only took the Type 38 rifles.

Next, Wang Lei will face the Third Division alone, and he will surely encounter a tough battle. More firepower means more hope.

After the equipment was distributed, the two units separated on the ruins of Luodian.

On one side was Wang Lei's 20,000-strong westward-bound army. Although their banners were tattered, their morale was high. Behind them was a large banner with the character for "death".

Wipe away blood when wounded, wrap the body when dead.

Almost everyone present was prepared to die; every moment that followed was a journey toward their demise.

On the other side were two thousand elite troops personally led by Zhu Yong, all of whom were clones. Even though they knew that this journey would be a certain death, they remained calm, only their bodies exuding a strong killing intent.

There was no toast to send them off, only gazing into each other's eyes and clenched fists.

Zhou Weiguo walked up to Zhu Yong, took a deep breath, and said, "Take care!"

Zhu Yong grinned, "I'm afraid we'll never see each other again in this lifetime!"

Wang Lei didn't say much, gave Zhu Yong a deep hug, and then resolutely parted ways.

Wang Lei mounted his horse, waved his hand, and roared:

"Brothers, forward! Target: Jiading!"

"kill--!!"

Twenty thousand soldiers roared with deafening fury, and like a flood bursting its banks, surged westward without hesitation.

Their figures gradually disappeared into the swirling smoke, merging into that unknown battlefield.

Zhu Yong silently turned around, facing his two thousand standing clones, slowly drew his already dulled broadsword, and said in a deep voice:

"While all the armies march west, I alone march east; I will not return until the Japanese court is destroyed!"

"Gentlemen, follow me—crush the enemy's lair!"

"I am willing to follow my commander and crush the enemy's lair!"

This scene is tragic and desolate.

......

Just as Wang Lei was leading his troops westward, a telegram was sent to the headquarters of the 15th Army Group, which was in a hasty retreat, via a radio that was still in contact.

"Commander-in-Chief Chen Junjian of the 15th Army Group: Wang Lei of my unit has led the remnants of the 108th Division to join forces with the garrison at Luodian. Given the current critical situation, holding out and waiting for death is tantamount to surrendering, while breaking out to the west may not avoid the enemy's advance."

"I have decided to take a risky gamble and have divided my forces into two routes: one route, led by myself, will head west immediately to launch a strong attack on the enemy's Third Division in the Jiading area, aiming to disrupt the enemy's deployment and seize the opportunity to recapture Jiading."

"Another detachment, led by Deputy Division Commander Chen Hucheng, will advance eastward to recapture the Chuanjiangkou area in order to destroy the Japanese command post."

"I earnestly request the Commander-in-Chief to seize this opportunity. If my troops succeed in their attack on the western front, I hope you will send reinforcements to deliver a heavy blow to the enemy! Yours truly, Wang Lei, bows in reverence."

"What??"

When Chen Cheng heard this telegram, he almost thought he had misheard.

His eyes were wide open like copper bells, his mouth was agape, and his face was filled with terror and disbelief.