Chapter 125: Turning Clouds with a Flip of the Hand, Bringing Rain with a Turn of the Palm

Fang Xiaodong’s eyes lit up at the thought. Unable to contain himself, he slapped his thigh and exclaimed in pleasant surprise, "Brilliant! This way, the Japanese devils' losses will certainly mount during their assault on the city, and their offensive efficiency will be greatly diminished!"

"And at that moment, the Japanese forces will find their vulnerabilities more easily exposed. If we spot their weaknesses, we can launch a proactive strike from the city and deal them a heavy blow!"

Fang Xiaodong hurriedly laid out his deductions. The more he spoke, the more excited and exhilarated he became. By the end, the look he cast at Chen Qingzhi was filled with profound admiration.

Fang Xiaodong was convinced. This time, he was completely and utterly convinced!

If the ambush at Twin Dragon Valley could be dismissed as a flash of inspiration, and the desperate defense of the city's south side was perhaps unremarkable, then connecting them all—combined with the strategic abandonment of the front lines in favor of holding the city—was nothing short of masterful.

From the moment the Japanese vanguard arrived, the Brigade Commander had already begun his orchestration. The ambush at Twin Dragon Valley wiped out the Japanese 7th Regiment, putting a sudden halt to their aggressive momentum.

The desperate defense at the south of the city prevented the Japanese from advancing even an inch, while on the front lines, it showed the enemy that their First Regiment possessed combat power equal to the Japanese, once again stalling their advance.

Those first two moves were significant, but this withdrawal from the front lines to hold the city was the finishing touch.

It left the Japanese, who were fully committed and prepared for a fierce assault, swinging at empty air. It rendered their confident plans futile, much like punching with all one's might, expecting a world-shaking collision, only to hit a pile of cotton. That sense of helplessness would surely be excruciating for the Japanese.

Link by link, scheme by scheme, the Japanese were being played perfectly.

After hearing Chen Qingzhi’s explanation, Fang Xiaodong grasped the full picture in an instant and could not help but gaze at his commander.

He saw the Brigade Commander standing with his hands behind his back, seemingly gazing at the distant battlefield. The aura of confidence and calm he exuded left Fang Xiaodong in deep awe.

This time, Fang Xiaodong’s horizons had truly been broadened. In his mind, he had inadvertently begun to compare Chen Qingzhi to a peerless strategist like Zhuge Kongming.

To hold an entire Japanese division in the palm of one's hand, to let them walk step by step into a grave of their own making without even realizing it until the end—such methods were nothing short of shocking.

Fang Xiaodong was thoroughly won over. He was deeply impressed by the brilliance of his Brigade Commander.

"Brigade Commander, your strategy is truly towering!" he exclaimed. "To toy with the Japanese devils until they die without ever knowing why—it’s absolutely masterful!" He then added urgently, "Brigade Commander, I will go gather the troops immediately and have them prepare to withdraw!"

"Schemes are but minor arts; the most important thing is to improve our own strength," Chen Qingzhi said. He patted Fang Xiaodong on the shoulder and added softly, "Go on, gather the troops and prepare for the withdrawal. I suspect the Japanese will launch their attack soon. You must get out as quickly as possible!"

"Yes!" Fang Xiaodong saluted, nodded, and turned to assemble his men.

As Fang Xiaodong went to gather the troops, Chen Qingzhi departed the position with his guards, heading back to Dingyuan. With the First Regiment about to withdraw, the Japanese would certainly launch a fierce assault on Dingyuan once they found the positions empty, and he needed to return to discuss the situation with Su Zuxin.

Back at the front, having heard Chen Qingzhi’s strategy, Fang Xiaodong was now fully in favor of the withdrawal and hurried to assemble his units. However, his order caused an uproar among his battalion commanders.

"Regimental Commander, we’re holding our ground just fine. Why pull back? If we retreat, won't these positions fall right into the hands of the Japanese?" protested Zheng Laoshi, commander of the First Battalion.

His battalion had suffered heavy casualties holding the line, almost reduced to a hollow shell. Now, to be told to retreat was something he found hard to accept. If they pulled back like this, wouldn’t the sacrifices of his men have been in vain?

"That’s right, Commander! We’ve held out for so long, and the Japanese can’t do a thing to us. Why the retreat?" The other two battalion commanders echoed his dissatisfaction.

"What are you bickering about?" Fang Xiaodong, who had initially found the order just as difficult to accept, glared at them. He hadn't realized that the plan would be this hard to sell to his subordinates.

"This order to withdraw comes from the Brigade Commander. As for the reason, it cannot be disclosed for now!" Fang Xiaodong stated firmly.

"The Brigade Commander?"

The battalion commanders were stunned. The Brigade Commander was their idol, a man they held in high esteem. Hearing that the order came from him, they hesitated. "If the Brigade Commander wants us to withdraw, is it because our casualties are too heavy and he wants to swap us out with another regiment?" one asked. "Commander, please talk to him. Our regiment can still fight. Can we stay?"

"Enough! You’re going to disobey the Brigade Commander’s orders now?" Fang Xiaodong snapped, his patience wearing thin. "This is a trap set by the Brigade Commander to lure the Japanese in. You don't need to know the details; just follow orders!"

"If you delay the Brigade Commander’s grand plan, none of you will be able to bear the responsibility!"

Hearing this, the battalion commanders quieted down. They wanted to fight, but they wouldn't defy a direct order from the top. Reluctantly, they returned to their units to prepare for the withdrawal, scolding their men to speed up, though the soldiers remained confused and agitated.