Chapter Eleven: Every Inch of the Land, Every Drop of Blood

Hearing Chen Qingzhi speak with such resolute determination, Huzi knew he could not dissuade him and could only shake his head helplessly, giving up on trying to persuade him further.

Unexpectedly, Chen Qingzhi continued, "Huzi, as the company commander, I cannot leave, but you are different! Your skills in martial arts are exceptional—there's no reason for you to die here with us. It would be better for you to break through the encirclement, find a good unit, and continue fighting the Japanese invaders! Why must you stay here and perish with us?"

Chen Qingzhi truly admired Huzi's martial prowess. The way Huzi had wielded his broadsword just moments ago had left Chen Qingzhi in awe. His blade flashed with unpredictable ferocity, impenetrable and disciplined—surely the work of a master’s tutelage. If such talent could be preserved, it could play a great role in the future.

That was why, in this moment, Chen Qingzhi spoke as he did.

Yet upon hearing these words, Huzi only shook his head and said, "Commander, what are you saying? My life was saved by you—how could I abandon you now and survive alone?"

"Wouldn’t that be condemning me as heartless and ungrateful?" Huzi’s voice was loud, his face steadfast as he declared, "From the moment you saved me, my life has belonged to you! Now you ask me to break out alone—I simply cannot do it!"

His words rang out forcefully, carrying an undeniable sense of finality.

Chen Qingzhi realized that Huzi had made up his mind.

At this, Chen Qingzhi nodded, his own spirits rising with heroic fervor. "Very well!"

"In that case, let us stand our ground here at Zhonghua Gate and fight the enemy with all we have. Let the Japanese see the blood and unyielding courage of Chinese men!"

He swept his gaze around, taking in the Japanese soldiers nearby—watchful, yet cowed by the fierce presence of Chen Qingzhi and Huzi, hesitant to advance. He could not help but shout, "Brothers, Nanjing is right behind us—our families, our compatriots, are behind us! We have reached the point where there is no retreat; since there is nowhere left to go, then we have no reason to fall back! Let us show our blood and valor, defending this position with our very lives!"

"Every inch of our land is paid for with blood! If the Japanese want to pass through Zhonghua Gate unscathed, let them first ask if we will allow it!"

"Brothers, the time has come to sacrifice ourselves for the nation—to answer our country’s call! Let our blood flow until it runs dry—there will be no ceasefire until death!"

"We swear to live and die with this position!" Chen Qingzhi summoned every ounce of strength and roared these words.

At his call, the soldiers holding the line at every point echoed in unison, "We swear to live and die with this position!"

"We swear to live and die with this position!"

Though only two or three hundred soldiers shouted, the force of their voices rivaled that of a mighty army. Their cries connected heaven and earth, and even the smoke of battle seemed to scatter before their spirit.

This was the courage to face death without hope of survival.

This was the heroic resolve to defend the homeland, even at the cost of one’s life.

This was the unyielding determination of Chinese men.

Let my blood soak the mountains and rivers! Let my life protect the peace of the nation!

"Kill! Kill the Japanese!" Chen Qingzhi bellowed, his roar like that of a fierce, bearded lion.

"Kill! Kill the Japanese!" The soldiers echoed as one. Though only a handful of the first battalion remained, their morale soared at these words, and they shouted without hesitation.

Though the enemy was many and they were few, though the enemy was strong and they were weak, as long as they yet lived, there was no way the Japanese could pass through their lines unchallenged, to burn, kill, and loot at will!

They would use their lives to say "No" to the invaders!

The Japanese army was formidable, but in the end, they were flesh and blood; a bayonet through the body was still death. The soldiers, resolved to die, held no fear. As long as one was willing to risk everything, even the Japanese would pay a bitter price.

The remaining soldiers’ faces were set with unwavering resolve, their will to fight surging. In their eyes, Chen Qingzhi saw only the certainty of death—there was not a trace of hesitation or cowardice.

"Brothers, attack!"

With a furious roar, Chen Qingzhi charged at the nearest Japanese soldier. The others, free of any attachment, driven by the resolve to die, threw themselves into the fray. Though they were outnumbered and outmatched, they inflicted ever greater losses on the enemy.

"Baka! Die!" A Japanese soldier drove his bayonet into a Chinese soldier’s body, his face twisted in a terrifying grimace—but the wounded man showed no fear. Even stabbed, he rallied his last ounce of strength, thrusting his rifle and impaling the Japanese soldier, who collapsed to the ground.

Blood gushed from the Japanese soldier’s mouth, his face contorted in terror. His hold on his rifle failed, his body slumped, and he fell lifeless to the earth.

Having slain his foe, the Chinese soldier exhaled heavily, gritting his teeth against the searing pain as he yanked the embedded bayonet from his own body.

At once, blood poured forth.

Crimson quickly stained his abdomen, streaming down his trousers and pooling on the ground until the very earth was dark with blood.

Yet the soldier seemed not to notice.

His face was pale, his body wavering, but he forced himself upright with his rifle, standing firm. As more Japanese soldiers charged toward him, his eyes blazed with fighting spirit.

"Kill!" His voice erupted like thunder, so fierce that the nearby Japanese faltered, their faces blanching as they shrank back from his presence.

Two Japanese soldiers eyed the man warily, but for a time, neither dared approach. After a tense standoff, seeing the Chinese soldier unmoving, one finally mustered his courage and kicked him to the ground—only then realizing the man had already stopped breathing.

He had propped himself up with his rifle, determined to die on his feet—that, living or dead, a Chinese man must stand tall.

This heroic resolve left the two Japanese soldiers aghast, fear flickering in their eyes.

Since arriving on the battlefield in the Republic, they had swept all before them in every engagement, never meeting serious resistance. Yet today, this small detachment had displayed an unbreakable will.

Even in death, they blocked the enemy’s advance, willing to trade life for life, inflicting heavy losses upon the invaders.

In all their previous battles, the Japanese had never encountered anything like this.

In such a moment, even these Japanese soldiers could not help but feel a creeping dread.