Chapter 102: Chen Qingzhi's Intentions

By dusk, the sun had fully set when the 9th Division finally arrived at the gates of Dingyuan.

Considering it was already night and the troops had endured a long march, Yoshika Ryosuke ordered the men to light fires, cook meals, and set up camp to rest for the night, deferring the assault on the county seat until the following day.

After issuing these orders, Yoshika Ryosuke, accompanied by Nakagawa Hiroshi and a few guards, stealthily made their way to a nearby highland. Through his binoculars, he surveyed the situation of Dingyuan.

The sky was dim, the moon obscured, and the vast landscape was plunged into darkness, with only the faint glimmer of distant stars providing any light.

Yoshika adjusted his binoculars, attempting to gauge the state of the defenders. Unfortunately, he could see little beyond a few flickering lights within the city walls and the vague, shadowy silhouettes of men on the defensive positions outside.

It appeared that troops were stationed outside the city.

"To think the Chinese troops have actually stationed their forces outside the city. Should I call them naive, or do they have something to rely on?" Seeing this, Yoshika curled his lips into a faint smile and remarked softly.

"No matter what they rely on, how can the Chinese troops compare to our 9th Division?" Nakagawa laughed. "Come tomorrow morning, we shall let them witness the true strength of the 9th Division!"

"Hai!" Nakagawa bowed.

"Indeed," Yoshika nodded. "Camp here tonight. Let the soldiers get a good rest and restore their spirits for the great battle tomorrow!"

"Hai!" Nakagawa agreed, though he hesitated for a moment before adding, "Your Excellency, while the soldiers rest, how shall we arrange the sentries? If the Chinese forces attempt a night raid..."

Nakagawa voiced his concerns.

"Arrange the sentries as we always have. Today, the priority is for the men to rest properly. As for the Chinese, there is no need to worry," Yoshika said, smiling rather than sharing Nakagawa’s anxiety. "We have an entire division stationed here, and with our sentries in place, if they dare to raid, it will play right into our hands!"

"The Chinese forces possess heavy firepower, but when it comes to night fighting and bayonet charges, can they match the warriors of our Empire? It would be better if they don't come, but if they do, we shall ensure they never return!" Yoshika declared confidently.

His confidence was not born of arrogance, but of experience.

Yoshika knew that the Republic’s troops were poorly equipped and suffered from abysmal rations, leaving many soldiers on the front lines gaunt and malnourished. Lacking proper nutrition, many suffered from night blindness and could barely see in the dark. His 9th Division, however, was different. While the Japanese rank-and-file rations were not luxurious, they received enough sustenance to maintain their health, and their night-fighting techniques were renowned throughout the world.

If the Republic’s forces attempted a raid, they would be no match for his men!

Because of these factors, Yoshika remained supremely confident. In his eyes, extra precautions or heightened sentries were entirely unnecessary. The 9th Division had marched a long distance, and the men were exhausted; the most urgent task was to ensure they were well-rested for the assault on Dingyuan.

"Hai. Please rest assured, Your Excellency. I understand," Nakagawa saluted.

Yoshika grunted, waved his hand, and began walking toward the camp, saying dismissively, "Enough, there is nothing more to see. Go back and get a good night's sleep."

***

At the Independent Brigade’s forward command post, Chen Qingzhi, Su Zuxin, and several regimental commanders were gathered. Their expressions were grave as they studied the map before them, lost in deep thought.

"Brigade Commander, the little devils have reached the city gates. I’ve taken a look—there are many of them. It seems the entire 9th Division has mobilized and arrived in full," Fang Xiaodong reported.

"Since they’ve mobilized their entire force and are at our doorstep, they must know that the 7th Regiment was wiped out by us," Tiger said, frowning. "Given the usual nature of these devils, they should have attacked by now. But instead..." He paused, "They haven't attacked; they've set up camp. This is truly strange."

It was not just Tiger who found it bizarre; everyone else felt it was incredible. Logically, upon learning of the 7th Regiment’s destruction, the Japanese should have been enraged and at least launched an attack under the cover of night. Instead, they had remained perfectly still while camping outside Dingyuan. It felt as if they were playing some kind of trick.

"In my opinion, the devils likely want to rest thoroughly and wait until tomorrow morning to launch their attack," Su Zuxin said, his brow furrowed. "They are surely furious, but the reason they haven't attacked is that they have traveled a long distance and are essentially a fatigued force. An immediate attack would not yield the results they want and might only increase their losses."

"Therefore, I believe they intend to rest well and gather their strength to take Dingyuan in one fell swoop tomorrow," Su Zuxin added. Having served for over a decade and spent half his life in the military, his rich experience allowed him to quickly discern the enemy’s intentions.

"Division Commander Su’s analysis is sound; I believe that is exactly what the Japanese are thinking," Fang Xiaodong agreed.

Hearing this, Wang Yachuan’s eyes suddenly lit up. He said excitedly, "If the devils want to rest, then we shouldn't let them have their way. What if we send our soldiers to launch a night raid?"

"Absolutely not!" Before Wang could finish his proposal, Su Zuxin flatly rejected it. Seeing Wang’s confused look, Su explained, "Even though the Japanese are tired, they are certainly prepared. If we rush into a raid, we will likely suffer."

Chen Qingzhi added, "Division Commander Su is right. The Japanese have camped outside our walls without even increasing their sentries. It could be that they are underestimating us, or it could be a deliberate trap to lure us into a raid."

Chen’s analysis drew nods of agreement from Su Zuxin and the regimental commanders.

Fang Xiaodong said, "If that’s the case, we definitely shouldn't raid. But are we just going to sit here and watch them rest? It’s damn frustrating!"

The Japanese were an exhausted force; missing such an opportunity to strike them felt like a tremendous waste. The commanders felt it was a pity, and even Su Zuxin shook his head in silence.

Watching this, Chen Qingzhi smiled slightly and said clearly, "Gentlemen, who said we aren't going to raid?"

"Since the Japanese are clearly trying to lure us into a raid, let us play along with their ruse. What’s the harm in sending our troops to mount an attack anyway?"