The explosions outside grew more violent, spreading from the southwest to the south and southeast of Langcheng. The barrage raged from 6:00 AM until past 7:00 AM, with thunderous impacts still echoing periodically.
Inside the bunker, the soldiers sat in the gloom, smoking. Before the war, very few of them knew how to smoke, but once the first shells fell, everyone learned fast. Thanks to yesterday’s scavenging run, most of them had a steady supply.
In just one day, Langcheng had become a ghost town. Most civilians had fled, and those who remained were largely the elderly, who had made their peace with life and death. Because the Eastern Spirit Empire was wealthy, the refugees generally had the means to survive in other cities, provided they could get there.
“Breakfast! Food’s here!” At 7:30 AM, soldiers arrived with steamed buns, porridge, and a meat soup. The logistics were holding for now. But as they started eating, a cacophony of small arms fire and heavy explosions erupted from the southern districts.
“It’s started,” Hu Hao noted. “The enemy is pushing into the city.”
The men nodded grimly. After eating, they went back to lying on their mats. Without a specific combat order, they were stuck in limbo.
By noon, the sounds of battle from the south hadn’t ceased for a second. Just as Hu Hao’s group finished their midday meal, a group of officers entered the bunker.
“ALL HANDS, ATTENTION!” A Brigadier General stood at the entrance, his voice booming. The soldiers simply sat on the floor, looking at him with vacant expressions.
“I SAID ATTENTION!” The General saw they weren’t moving and raised his swagger stick to strike a nearby soldier. The soldier was faster—he leveled his rifle directly at the General’s chest.
“You—!”
Clack-clack-clack! The General’s guards immediately chambered rounds and aimed at the soldier.
Clack-clack-clack! Instantly, every soldier in the bunker leveled their rifles at the officers in the doorway.
“Misunderstanding! Everyone lower your weapons! Lower them!” Li Jingsong came rushing from the rear, shouting at the top of his lungs.
“Lower yours first,” the soldier on the floor told the guards, a defiant smirk on his face.
“The Army Commander is here! STAND UP!” the Brigadier General roared, waving his guards back. The soldiers lowered their weapons, but they didn’t stand.
Li Tianyuan entered the bunker, hands behind his back. He surveyed the 2,000 men sitting on their mats, rifles across their laps, watching him with cold, hard eyes.
“Brothers,” Li Tianyuan began, his face grave. “We have to move. Our front-line units are breaking, and the reinforcements are still hours away. The Allies have committed three full corps to the assault on Langcheng, supported by massive artillery and armor. We are needed on the line.”
The soldiers acted as if he hadn’t spoken. They just sat there.
“You are soldiers! Act like it! ALL HANDS, STAND UP!” Li Tianyuan roared in frustration. No one budged.
“Jingsong, what is this? What kind of unit are you leading?” Li Tianyuan turned on his son, furious that his authority was being ignored.
Li Jingsong walked forward with a sigh. He knew he couldn’t command these men. He bypassed his father and the Regimental Commanders and walked straight to the corner where Hu Hao was lying down, still reading his geography book as if the world wasn’t ending.
“Hu Hao, I lost the bet. We’re being sent in. You have to lead them,” Li Jingsong said. Li Tianyuan followed him, recognizing the young Captain.
“Sigh.” Hu Hao sat up slowly. “Why are you telling me? You’re a General, I’m a Captain. Give the order. It’s not like I’m holding them back.”
“I know that,” Li Jingsong said helplessly. “But if you don’t go, they won’t either.”
“Commander,” Hu Hao said, looking at Li Tianyuan. “I’m not the one telling them to sit. I don’t have that kind of power.”
“I never imagined,” Li Tianyuan said, looking around the bunker, “that you could build this kind of influence in just a few days. I regret giving Zhang He that favor. If I had kept you at Headquarters, maybe things would be different.”
“Same outcome,” Hu Hao waved him off. “Against this tide, even a god couldn’t change the tactical reality.”
“Perhaps. But the fate of the 27th Army might have been different,” Li Tianyuan admitted.
“Why? People talking trash about us already?” Hu Hao asked with a grin.
“There’s nothing left of our army,” Li Tianyuan sighed. “The other division was made a reserve, but they were thrown into the meat grinder at 9:00 AM this morning. I don’t even know if they still exist. Langcheng is out of men. The southeast flank is critical. Jiang Kai, the Southwest Combat Zone Commander, is personally directing the defense, and he’s out of reserves. We are the last ones left. I didn’t want to send you back in, but I have no choice.”
“What a mess,” Hu Hao muttered. He wanted to curse, but he knew it wouldn’t change anything.
“Brothers!” Hu Hao stood up and looked out over the sea of soldiers. “What do you say? Are we going or not?”
The entire bunker went silent, focusing on him.
“Hao-ge, if you say go, we go. If you say stay, we stay. We don’t care who’s asking!” one soldier yelled.
“Yeah! We follow you!”
“Alright. Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Hu Hao said. “Look, we’re soldiers. The country is in trouble. I won’t give you a speech about grand ideals. I’ll give you a reality check: if the Allies break through here and reach the other provinces, they’ll reach your homes. Right now, families can flee north. But if the Allies win, there’s nowhere left to run. You know what they’re like—they’re here to take everything. So, we fight.”
The soldiers remained silent, absorbing his words.
“I know none of you want to go. Neither do I! I’m scared too,” Hu Hao continued, and the men cracked a smile. “I’m fresh out of the Academy. My classmates are all sitting in air-conditioned staff offices right now. And here I am, about to put my head on the chopping block. You think I don’t feel cheated?”
The laughter grew.
“So let’s go. Brothers, if you’re with me, stand up!”
One by one, the soldiers rose until all 2,000 were on their feet. Li Tianyuan and his staff watched in stunned silence.
“Listen up! A few points for the mission!” Hu Hao barked. “First, we take the APCs. When we arrive, the drivers must hide the vehicles immediately. Do not leave them in the street. Hide them or lose them.
Second, the moment you dismount, fan out. Cover each other. If you see a tank, a machine gun nest, or an armored car, take it out instantly. Do not let them open fire. We suppress their heavy weapons or we die.
Third, if you’re wounded—especially in an exposed area—do not scream. Stay still. Once the boys clear the sector, they will come for you. And listen to me: if you see a brother down, you save him. We are brothers. We don’t leave anyone behind. We’re men, not gods; we might be the ones on the ground next, and we’ll want someone to come for us, right?”
“RIGHT!” they roared.
“Good. Cooks! Bring the steamed buns! Eight per man. Put four in your stomach now and the rest in your packs for later. Don’t overeat—you’re going to be moving hard, and you’ll just vomit it up if you’re too full.
Final check: top off your magazines. Every man carries at least 120 rounds in their webbing. Everyone helps the heavy weapons teams carry extra ammo. Fill your canteens. Medics, check your kits! MOVE!”
“SIR!”
As the soldiers began their final preparations, Hu Hao turned back to the stunned Generals.