140: Chase alone

The news spread, instantly dousing the joy of victory that had just been won through bloody battle and repelling a formidable enemy.

After a brief deathly silence, uncontrollable roars erupted inside and outside the command center.

"Son of a bitch! Stopping now is letting the tiger return to the mountains! Is he a damn fool?"

Li Zhenshan was the first to curse loudly, angrily kicking over an ammunition crate beside him.

His words ignited the emotions of the other Security Team Members, stirring up collective fury.

"Stop~ stop~ stop~~, stop his motherfucking nonsense, I won't listen."

"Exactly, I won't listen, I won't listen to that turtle's chanting, damn it, we'll go ourselves~~"

"Fool~~ bastard son, brothers, let's go."

"Coward, I came here to fight the Japs, not to listen to officials giving orders."

As everyone was discussing, Ah Fu coldly shouted: "The boss hasn't spoken yet, what are you shouting for!"

"Are your magazines fully loaded? Is your equipment ready? Have you completed the necessary rest before pursuit?"

A series of questions quieted the Security Team Members.

At this moment, the soldiers of the 29th Army also looked grim; unlike the Security Team, they didn't shout at the top of their lungs.

Instead, they communicated quietly within small circles.

"What is the Army Commander doing? Not seizing such a great opportunity."

"Exactly, after finally winning a battle, we're not allowed to pursue. It's frustrating."

"I've had enough of this damn life. If we're really not allowed to pursue, I'll join the Security Team."

"If I don't get to fight to my heart's content today, I'll become a bandit tomorrow and decide for myself whether to fight the Japs."

"Where is the Army Commander who led us to fight at Xifeng Pass back then? Why is he so spineless now!"

"The higher the rank, the smaller the courage. How did he become an official? Pathetic!"

"Army Commander Song is confused!" Even the regiment Commander of the 32nd Division, who had just been rescued, couldn't help but beat his chest in frustration.

Inside the command center, Zhang Zhongguo's face was ashen, his nails digging deeply into his palms.

Zhao Dengyu leaned on his gun, his leg injury making his face pale, but the fury in his eyes burned even brighter.

He suddenly slammed a fist on the table covered with maps, causing teacups to jump: "Outrageous! Outrageous!"

However, even more chilling news followed one after another.

A communications staff officer ran in with a grim expression, handing over another telegram.

"Report, Division Commander! Urgent telegram from Zhuozhou! The troops of Brigade Commander Liu and Brigade Commander Wang of the 132nd Division... refuse to march north to reinforce Southern Camp... stating... stating they need 'rest and replenishment,' and are stillDetention in Zhuozhou, holding their positions!"

"What?!" Zhao Dengyu felt his vision darken, his blood boiling.

Two of his main brigades had actually disobeyed orders at such a critical moment, watching the bloody battle at Southern Camp from afar.

A cold sense of betrayal instantly spread throughout his body.

Zhang Zhongguo closed his eyes, taking a painful deep breath.

Subordinate troops acting like this... preserving their strength like this, holding onto their forces for self-interest.

To disregard the life and death of comrades and the survival of the nation is truly disappointing.

Standing beside Lu Fan, Zhang Tingshu was already furious at Song Zheyuan's chaotic orders.

Now, hearing that his father's former subordinates had acted this way, his face instantly turned pale.

He stared fixedly at the telegram from Zhuozhou, his eyes filled with extreme shock and disappointment.

Finally, it turned into a cold, deathly silence and deep disillusionment.

He felt an unprecedented despair toward this utterly corrupt, fragmented system.

A thought grew wildly in his heart like weeds—perhaps, true hope really wasn't here anymore... "Heh heh~~"

Lu Fan let out a cold, mocking laugh, breaking the suffocating silence.

He walked out of the room, scanning the indignant Security Team Members, his gaze sweeping over Li Zhenshan and Ah Fu.

Finally, it landed on Zhang Tingshu's face, filled with disappointment.

"Security Team, all of you! Prepare for pursuit!" Lu Fan's command carried a chilling killing intent.

"They don't dare pursue, but we do! They want to let the tiger return to the mountains, but we will uproot the weeds. Let's go!"

"Kill~~~"

All Security Team Members, whether lightly wounded or having just experienced bloody battle, roared in unison, their voices shaking the roof tiles.

Each of their eyes burned with unyielding fighting spirit.

In the blink of an eye, the Security Team had formed neat ranks, ready to depart.

Lu Fan turned to Zhang Zhongguo and Zhao Dengyu, clasping his fists: "Military orders are as firm as mountains; the two of you are bound by duty. Lu Fan understands."

"But the Japanese invaders are brutal. Letting them return will only lead to their resurgence. My Security Team is not part of the chain of command and is not bound by this order."

"We will forge our own path on this pursuit."

Zhang Zhongguo looked at this well-equipped, high-spirited iron-blooded squad before him.

Then he looked at the absurd telegram in his hand, his eyes filled with complexity.

There was helplessness, guilt, and deep admiration.

He clasped his fists heavily, his voice hoarse: "Boss Lu, this journey is extremely dangerous. You must be careful! I... am ashamed!"

"Boss Lu's righteousness is admirable. I, Zhao, am incompetent and can only wish you warriors success from here! Please... take care!"

Zhao Dengyu also forced himself to stand straight, saluting solemnly.

"Thank you, Generals. Until we meet again!" Lu Fan said no more, turning and striding out of the command center.

Engines roared as the Security Team charged out of Wanping City without hesitation.

Following the direction of the Japanese Army's retreat, they plunged into the unknown night.

Zhang Zhongguo and Zhao Dengyu stood on the city wall, watching the two vehicles disappearing into the distance, their hearts filled with mixed emotions.

"Brother Zhongguo..." Zhao Dengyu's voice carried a hint of choking, "Tell me... who are we fighting for in this war?"

Zhang Zhongguo didn't answer, only gripping the cold city wall battlement tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

His gaze followed the distant dust until it completely disappeared into the horizon shrouded in twilight.

A great sorrow and sense of powerlessness, like a cold tide, completely overwhelmed him.

After a long while, Zhang Zhongguo spoke: "Division Commander Zhao, I leave Southern Camp to you. I'm going to find Old Song for an explanation!"

With these words, he resolutely left.

Meanwhile, inside the Tianjin Garrison Headquarters.

Lieutenant General Kiyoshi Katsuki's face was ashen, staring fixedly at the mark representing Southern Camp on the operational map.

The carefully drawn red arrows on the map, representing the encirclement from all sides, now seemed mocking and glaring.

He had just received an urgent report from the front line: the plan to besiege Southern Camp had completely failed.

The Fengtai stronghold was attacked and set ablaze, the Majuqiao troops collapsed on the flank, the attacking forces suffered heavy losses, and were forced into a full retreat.

"baka! baka!!" Kiyoshi Katsuki's roar exploded in the solemn Headquarters.

He grabbed the battle report on the table and tore it to pieces, the paper fragments flying like snowflakes.

The staff officers held their breath, bowing their heads, not daring to make a sound.

"It's that mysterious unit again!"

Kiyoshi Katsuki slammed a fist on the map at Southern Camp's location, his voice trembling with extreme anger and frustration.

"It's them again, appearing like ghosts, destroying logistics and command nodes, disrupting my perfect deployment."

"This damn unit, what are the Kamikaze Team doing~~ Shita Kinu, what exactly are you doing?"

His eyes burned with mad fury and deep hatred.

This well-equipped, tactically bizarre unit had become the biggest stumbling block and disgrace in his North China campaign.

Just then, a staff officer almost stumbled in, his face flushed with an unusual excitement.

"Report, Commander! Urgent military intelligence!"

"Yoshi~~~" Kiyoshi Katsuki read the telegram, a look of confidence appearing on his face.

He immediately turned and ordered: "Immediately telegraph the 16th Division. Their tank units are all under the command of the Kamikaze Team. They must eliminate this resistance force."