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

One platoon of Japanese soldiers was wiped out right under the noses of the other three platoons, and then quickly disappeared into the mountains.

The search team's temper flared up, and they relentlessly pursued them, determined to get revenge.

The ambushers, who had been chasing and attacking the Japanese soldiers earlier, became relentless and kept firing at them, taking down several more.

The search team was demoralized and fearing a larger ambush, they chose to exercise restraint under the sergeant's orders and retreated to the road where they could get support.

The Seventh Platoon did not pursue further; they simply kept the Japanese at a distance, fighting very cautiously.

On the main road, the Japanese soldiers were still clearing mines, which took up a lot of time. Occasionally, sniper shots would come from the side, targeting the engineers.

Gunshots were sporadic, like a light drizzle, continuous and incessant. Using an umbrella would be inconvenient, but not using one would get you soaked.

The unit that harassed the Japanese soldiers was the regimental reconnaissance company. They were masters of the "sticky" tactic, once they got on the enemy, they were impossible to shake off.

The Japanese soldiers completely lost patience, so they brought over several mules and horses, tied flammable materials to their tails, and set them on fire.

The mules, in pain, charged into the minefield and quickly detonated the remaining mines, one explosion after another, causing the Japanese officers to nod in approval.

This plan is brilliant, but it is particularly wasteful of mules and horses.

The reconnaissance company did not deliberately stop them, letting them do as they pleased. Mules and horses were also expensive resources, and a single landmine would be enough to eliminate them.

By the time all the landmines were cleared, two hours had passed, four mules and horses had been used, and 21 Japanese soldiers had been killed or wounded.

"You idiot! Those Chinese aren't real warriors, they only know how to ambush!"

The Japanese company commander cursed in frustration, but there was nothing he could do. After cleaning up the mess, he continued westward.

Not long after they left, the group stopped again, and Major Okubo gave a cold shout:

"Baka yarou, what's wrong now?"

"Commander, the road ahead has been damaged. Several deep pits have been dug in the main road, making it impossible for supplies to pass."

Okubo had no choice but to suppress his temper and order a halt to wait.

The Japanese company commander sent out a squad to dig and fill the pit, while the other two squads kept watch, which would take a lot of time.

Instead of just watching them fill the pits, the reconnaissance company sent out elite squads to harass them. With sniper rifles and semi-automatic rifles, a single squad could give the Japanese a real headache.

Gunfire was intermittent. The Japanese soldiers tried several times to engage in a decisive battle, but the reconnaissance company brothers skillfully evaded them, unable to shake them off or catch them.

Time flew by like water. The Japanese soldiers moved about, stopping and starting, and before they knew it, the sun was setting, and the day was over.

Major Okubo was horrified to discover that they had only walked six kilometers in a day!

"You idiot! Even a snail isn't this slow. Are you holding fire pokers?"

Colonel Kondo was furious. At this rate of advance, it would take at least ten days to half a month to reach Luoshan.

He was furious, but the problem remained unresolved. Colonel Kondo had never encountered such a formidable opponent.

"They're all mute! How do we deal with this?"

The senior staff officer, unable to avoid it any longer, forced himself to speak:

"This is guerrilla tactic, the purpose of which is to buy time. It would be best to have cavalry escort, as they are fast and can catch up with the attackers more easily."

Colonel Kondo wasn't sure if this tactic was feasible, but he had to try it anyway, so he sent someone to request assistance from the division headquarters.

Although the division commander gave him a good scolding, he still sent a cavalry squadron to Kondo's regiment, commanded by Captain Nakano.

He was very opposed to such a task, which was tantamount to sending noble cavalrymen to guard lowly army stags, and it would also endanger his own life.

"You idiots, a bunch of useless trash!"

The Nakano Company advanced along the hills on both sides of the road. The open terrain was perfect for the cavalry to maneuver. Fearing that they would be caught up, the reconnaissance company suspended the attack and reported to the regimental headquarters.

However, the minefields on the road were still insurmountable. The cavalry could only hold off small infantry squads, and clearing the minefield would take a lot of time.

At Yangang, the regimental field command post, a reconnaissance company sent someone to request reinforcements. Sui Youlan stared at the map for a moment, then quickly determined the battlefield and said to the chief of staff:

"Immediately send a telegram to the cavalry regiment, instructing them to annihilate the Japanese cavalry here. The reconnaissance company will cooperate with them in the operation."

The chief of staff strongly agreed, saying that the only way to deal with cavalry was to use cavalry; even the most elite reconnaissance company was not up to the task.

After the order was passed down, Sui Youlan began planning where to launch another major attack, provided that the Japanese cavalry were eliminated first.

Along the Shangxin Highway, east of Yangang to Caozhai, the Japanese advance has accelerated. It was getting dark, and they planned to set up camp in Caozhai.

Senior staff officer briefed Kondo on the situation at Cao's stronghold:

"This is a walled village built by the wealthy Cao family. It is suitable for the brigade headquarters to set up camp, store supplies, and prevent the Chinese from harassing them at night."

"Alright, let's camp at Cao Village then. The Third Infantry Battalion will keep watch on the perimeter."

How far is the vanguard from Cao's camp?

The senior staff officer quickly replied:

"In less than a kilometer, this area is full of farmland, the rice has been harvested, and it is flat as far as the eye can see."

"Goodness, this area is suitable for cavalry warfare. With a cavalry squadron leading the way, there shouldn't be any more problems."

Colonel Kondo seemed to be speaking to his senior staff, but more like he was trying to comfort himself. He was already overwhelmed by the Tiger Army's harassment and just wanted to get a good night's sleep at Cao Village.

It would be even better if there were pretty girls...

"Tap tap tap..."

"Boom boom boom!"

The sudden burst of gunfire made Kondo, the old Japanese soldier, tense up; what he feared most had come to pass.

Approaching Cao Village, the vanguard battalion was attacked again by the reconnaissance company, killing and wounding three cavalrymen, which stirred up a hornet's nest.

Captain Nakano couldn't stand this insult and decisively ordered a pursuit. The attackers didn't flee west but retreated northwest, which was understandable, as they couldn't outrun warhorses on the road.

"You idiot, trying to run away? Did you ask for my permission first?!"

"Warriors, charge!"

Captain Nakano brandished his saber and chased after them for two miles, having already strayed far from the main road. At that moment, a black line appeared due north, right at the waist of the Japanese cavalry formation.

Captain Nakano was terrified. Cavalrymen are instinctively sensitive to each other, and his first reaction was that he had been tricked.

"Baka yarou, enemy attack! Turn around!!"

The black line drew closer and closer; it was the 3rd Cavalry Battalion, with Major Gao Mingyuan, who had been promoted to battalion commander, leading the charge.

Holding a large 8-round Garand semi-automatic rifle, he skillfully maneuvered his warhorse and charged towards the Japanese cavalry.

The Nakano Company was turning around; instead of fleeing, they charged towards the Third Battalion, determined to have a showdown with the Chinese cavalry.

However, turning the cavalry formation takes time, and accelerating takes even more time; this oversight could be fatal.

Before the Japanese could pick up speed, the 3rd Cavalry Battalion arrived. Gunfire erupted like popping beans, and Japanese soldiers fell from their horses like dumplings being dropped into a pot. Captain Nakano's eyes were practically spitting fire.

That's incredibly unprofessional. Cavalry charging into battle with rifles is an insult to cavalry!

"You idiot! You're not a true knight!"

"Kill the chicken!"

Captain Nakano raised his saber high, his eyes bloodshot, ready to teach a lesson to the Nakano Company, which outnumbered him several times over.

The 3rd Cavalry Battalion opened fire, using their superior firepower to take down half of the Japanese soldiers, and then came the inevitable hand-to-hand combat.

Gao Mingyuan hung his rifle on the side holster, drew his saber, and slashed at the Japanese soldier. With a swift stroke, a round head fell from his horse.

Captain Nakano also achieved some success, cutting down a cavalryman from the Third Battalion with his superb swordsmanship. However, his luck ran out, and he was riddled with bullets by the charging gunners who arrived just in time.

This was not a fair fight; the outcome was decided in a single clash, with the vast majority of the Japanese soldiers falling from their horses and dying.

With overwhelming superior manpower and firepower, the 3rd Cavalry Battalion won this decisive cavalry battle, which was a foregone conclusion. The entire Nakano Company was wiped out, and the 3rd Battalion also paid a heavy price with more than 30 cavalrymen killed or wounded.

In Caozhai, the landlord Cao Wang refused the 646th Regiment's offer to leave, choosing to remain neutral and closing his doors to visitors.

The third son, Cao Mufeng, said worriedly:

"Father, the Japanese devils are about to invade. Rumor has it that they are burning, killing, looting, and committing all sorts of atrocities."

"Leave now, or it'll be too late!"

Before Cao Wang could speak, his second son, Cao Wangyue, retorted sarcastically:

"Mu Feng, you make it sound so easy. The Cao family is a large and powerful family, with its roots in the shopping mall. Where else can they go? Are they going to abandon their land and shops?"

Cao Mufeng continued to argue:

"Second brother, the world is so big, where can't we go? As long as we're alive, we can always make a comeback. We can go to Xinyang or Zhengxian to avoid trouble, or we can go south to Jiangcheng or Yuzhou. If all else fails, we can go to Nanyang."

As long as they live, the Cao family lives!

Cao Wang was aware of the risks of staying, but he couldn't bear to leave his homeland, so he turned his attention to his eldest son, Cao Linchuan:

"Boss, what do you think?"

Cao Linchuan roughly guessed Cao Wang's thoughts and followed his lead, saying:

"The rumors are not credible. A few days ago, the county town was occupied by the Japanese, but I didn't hear of anyone suffering any misfortune."

The Japanese came to China for nothing more than money. Even if they took over the country, they still needed people to farm and pay taxes. They couldn't just kill everyone.

People are less valuable away from home; I urge Father to reconsider!

Cao Mufeng said anxiously:

"Brother, the Japanese are a different race; how can they be compared to other dynastic changes—"

Cao Wang coldly shouted:

"Enough, this concerns the foundation of the Cao family. Let's wait and see."

If it's just about the money, then give it to them; it's better than abandoning your family and livelihood.

The butler rushed in, flustered, and reported loudly:

"The Japanese are here!"

How many people are there?

A hint of panic flashed in Cao Wang's eyes. This had come too quickly. He had no idea whether it was a blessing or a curse.