108: Chapter 108: The Man Remains on the Position

It was essentially impossible for the remaining men to hold this first line of defense.

However, as long as even one of them remained...

They would not let the Japs set foot across their position.

As long as they lived, the position remained; if the Japs wanted to take it, they would have to step over their corpses.

"Brothers, the Japanese tanks are coming. Are you afraid to die?" Battalion Commander Zhang Yan looked at the twenty Suicide Squad Chinese Soldiers below him and asked with a solemn expression.

"We are not!" the twenty soldiers shouted in unison.

One soldier shouted particularly loud, his voice filled with determination.

Hearing that soldier's voice, Battalion Commander Zhang Yan nodded with satisfaction.

"Today may be the day we sacrifice ourselves, but as long as we live, the position remains. I do not ask that future generations remember our achievements, but I also do not wish to leave behind shame and regret."

"If we don't fight, what future will China have? Our descendants will surely be exterminated by the Japs!"

"Our sacrifice today is for the sake of future generations; we die with no regrets!"

Battalion Commander Zhang Yan's voice was loud. The surrounding Chinese Soldiers heard the Battalion Commander's words and stood up one after another.

Looking at Battalion Commander Zhang Yan, they were either covered in dust or bearing wounds.

But their eyes were incredibly firm.

Looking at these Chinese Soldiers, Battalion Commander Zhang Yan's eyes filled with tears.

He had watched these soldiers grow through the ranks.

From a full complement at the start to less than a single company now.

These were the brothers he had personally led.

Many among them were even from his own hometown.

Yet, they had fallen here.

During the Battle of Shanghai, they had lost so many.

Now, they might be completely wiped out here.

"To this day, I still think of Xiang Yu, who refused to cross the East River."

He was in the same situation now.

His fellow townsmen who had come out with him had sacrificed themselves on the battlefield one by one; how could he have the face to return home?

However, before he could sink further into grief, the roar of Japanese tanks broke his thoughts.

He turned around and saw that the distant Japanese tanks were already very close to them.

Seeing this, he immediately shouted.

"The Japanese tanks are coming! Everyone, take cover!"

"Don't fight them head-on later; we only need to delay them. As long as they can't kill us all, we can't let them have it easy."

Battalion Commander Zhang Yan watched as the Japanese tanks gradually approached their position.

Behind the tanks, a group of Japanese infantry followed closely.

Watching the tanks close in, Battalion Commander Zhang Yan grew tense.

They had encountered Japanese tanks before on the Shanghai battlefield.

Back then, they had encountered them within the city.

In the city, Japanese tanks were easier to deal with, though it still cost a heavy price.

But on flat ground, the tanks had excellent visibility; it would be extremely difficult to rush up and blow them up.

They would not only have to face the tanks directly but also watch out for the Japanese infantry behind them.

If it were only the tanks, they would be manageable, but the infantry behind them were not so easy to handle.

With the tanks clearing the way in front, the Japanese infantry charged forward quite brazenly.

Before entering the position, the tanks began firing their cannons toward them.

Fortunately, Battalion Commander Zhang Yan had already ordered the soldiers to disperse and hide in various places.

The tank shells did not cause many casualties.

Corpses were scattered all over the position.

It was hard for the gunners in the Japanese tanks to distinguish who was alive and who was a corpse.

They could only bombard the position at random.

Hitting whoever they could.

By now, the twenty members of the Suicide Squad were already lying prone at the very front of the position, ready.

They used the bodies of their fallen comrades to shield themselves.

This measure was a desperate necessity.

The trenches had been leveled by Japanese artillery fire; the only things they could use as cover were their comrades' corpses.

On such a fierce battlefield, they used whatever they could, no matter what it was.

Though this was somewhat disrespectful to the deceased comrades.

After all, they were dead, yet their bodies could not be kept intact.

However, on the battlefield, the dead must make way for the living.

Besides, if one's corpse could save a comrade's life after death, those fallen brothers surely wouldn't mind.

Soon, the Japanese tanks entered the position.

From the rear positions, dozens of soldiers suddenly opened fire.

They aimed at the Japanese infantry behind the tanks.

The Japanese tanks reacted quickly, moving forward continuously and crushing the corpses on the ground.

They fired their cannons while moving.

Seeing the tanks enter the position, the Suicide Squad soldiers immediately crawled toward them, clutching explosive packs.

At that moment, one Suicide Squad soldier stood up and threw himself under the tank's chassis with an explosive pack.

He pulled the fuse while holding the explosives.

Then, a loud explosion rang out from beneath the Japanese tank.

The rolling heatwave from the blast knocked the Japanese soldiers behind the tank to the ground.

The Japanese tank was immediately disabled.

The crew inside the tank were also dazed by the blast, appearing to be injured.

A large hole was blown in the tank's chassis; if someone took the chance to crawl underneath now, they could throw a grenade inside and kill the Japanese crew.

This sudden loud noise did not interrupt the Japanese offensive.

There wasn't just one Japanese tank; there were twelve in total.

Only one had been destroyed so far.

The Japanese soldiers behind the remaining eleven tanks immediately became alert after seeing one tank destroyed.

Because these tanks were the only thing the infantry could rely on.

Without these tanks, the Japanese infantry would have to face the bullets directly.

In the back, the Japanese infantry sharpened their focus.

The remaining Suicide Squad soldiers tried to find opportunities to rush the tanks, but they were all gunned down halfway.

No further results were achieved after that.

Under the suppression of the Japanese tanks, the position was lost bit by bit.

Soon, only the last trench remained.

By now, there were fewer than ten soldiers left beside Battalion Commander Zhang Yan.

The status of the other soldiers was unknown.

Battalion Commander Zhang Yan felt immense grief in his heart, but his face remained calm as he watched the Japs closing in.

As long as he was still there, he would never allow the Japs to pass through his position.

The battle continued.

The soldiers around him fell one by one.

Soon, only he and a young soldier were left.

The young soldier had six grenades strapped to his chest.

"Battalion Commander, I'll still be your soldier in the next life."

After saying that, he charged toward a Japanese tank with the grenades.

Battalion Commander Zhang Yan watched him charge; the Japs kept firing at him.

Bullets hit the young soldier, but they still couldn't stop his forward pace.

He finally fell in front of the tank, but the Japanese tank didn't stop.

The young soldier spat out blood, several holes in his chest gushing red.

He pulled the pin on the grenades.

An opening was blown into the front of the tank's chassis.

The battle lasted until evening.

The first line of defense was ultimately not held.

Battalion Commander Zhang Yan and all the soldiers under his command were killed in action.