Chapter 128: Two Eras, Seeds of Doubt

Su Zuxin’s words resonated in Chen Qingzhi’s ears like a clarion call.

Looking at Su’s reddened eyes and trembling frame, Chen’s initial smile faded, replaced by a solemn expression. He followed Su’s gaze toward the horizon. He saw the magnificent landscape of his motherland, the vast expanse of the earth, and he seemed to hear the collective cry of four hundred million compatriots. Piercing through the veils of time, he even caught a glimpse of the motherland a century into the future.

Spanning the century, Chen Shengqing—Chen Qingzhi—looked back at Su Zuxin with profound depth in his eyes and said in a low, resonant voice, "Division Commander Su, wouldn't it be lonely to admire this grand landscape all by oneself?"

Su Zuxin was taken aback. Before he could respond, Chen continued, "If you do not mind, Brother Su, I would be honored to join you in traversing this vast land. What do you say?"

Su was stunned, but a smile soon bloomed on his face. He pointed at Chen and burst into hearty laughter. Chen followed suit, and their laughter rang out, clear and resonant, echoing across Dingyuan, across the land, and perhaps even through the ages.

This was a connection between two generations, bridging a century. This was two eras, struggling together for a single, shared goal.

Fang Xiaodong looked on in astonishment, then smiled, and the tension on Zhang Zhisong’s face finally softened into a faint curve.

...

Japanese 9th Division Headquarters.

Yoshika Ryosuke sat in his chair, his face dark, glaring at the soldier before him with intense displeasure.

"Was the Chinese army truly routed by your 36th Regiment?" Yoshika asked in a low, gravelly voice.

Pinioned by the Division Commander's gaze, the soldier grew flustered and panicked. He had intended to tell the truth, but seeing the grim look on Yoshika’s face, he checked himself, gritted his teeth, and replied, "Yes, Your Excellency. Under the command of our Regimental Commander, we took the Chinese positions after a single fierce assault. The Chinese lost their ground and, unable to hold, were forced to retreat to Dingyuan County."

He knew he could not waver now; otherwise, the Division Commander would show him no mercy. He had to stick to the story his Regimental Commander had instructed him to tell.

Yoshika’s eagle-like eyes fixed upon the soldier, a chill emanating from his gaze that made the man’s hair stand on end. He felt as if he were being watched by a hawk, its sharp talons ready to crush his skull at any moment.

After a long silence, just as the soldier felt he might collapse, Yoshika finally shifted his gaze and said coldly, "If that is the case, the 36th Regiment deserves a reward. After this battle, I shall see to it."

"Hai! Thank you, Your Excellency!" Following the intense ordeal, the soldier nearly collapsed to the floor. He bit his lip to steady himself, his voice trembling as he spoke.

However, no sooner had he finished than he heard Yoshika’s icy, emotionless voice: "For the upcoming assault on Dingyuan, your 36th Regiment will lead the charge. You must capture the city swiftly and thoroughly. Should you delay the Empire’s grand strategy, there will be no mercy!"

"Hai! Please rest assured, Your Excellency. I shall return and inform the Regimental Commander immediately!" the soldier stammered.

Yoshika waved him away. The soldier felt as if he had been granted an amnesty, bowed hurriedly, and scrambled out. Once outside, he let out a long, shaky breath, trying to calm his racing heart. Inside that headquarters, under the crushing aura of Yoshika Ryosuke, he had felt as if the air had frozen, making it impossible to breathe. He feared that had he stayed a moment longer, he might have suffocated to death.

With this thought, he cast a lingering, fearful glance back at the headquarters. Even in the bright daylight, it looked like a cold, predatory beast, its maw agape, patiently waiting for its next prey.

...

*Crash!*

A porcelain pot shattered against the floor as Yoshika threw it in a fit of rage.

"Your Excellency, what has caused your anger?" Nakagawa Hiroshi, who had been observing the map nearby, walked over and asked.

"Baka! Fools! To think that Takezaka Jiro would dare to deceive me! Do they think I would have withheld the credit if he had simply told the truth?" Yoshika bellowed, his face flushed with fury.

Nakagawa paused, a meaningful expression crossing his face. He curled his lip slightly and said softly, "Your Excellency, inflating one's achievements is common enough; surely you have seen it many times before. It should not be cause for such anger. I suspect there is another reason."

Yoshika offered a bitter laugh. "As expected, nothing escapes you, Chief of Staff."

Nakagawa smiled faintly. "Your Excellency, what is truly happening?"

"Hmph!" Yoshika’s bitter expression hardened into a scowl. He stared at Nakagawa and said, "The situation is unnatural."

Nakagawa looked puzzled, but before he could speak, Yoshika continued: "I do not mean the Xuzhou Campaign; I mean the situation at Dingyuan County."

"Think about it. The Chinese were holding the southern defensive line to the death, yet they abandoned it quietly. Is that not strange? If you tell me they were incapable of further combat, I simply do not believe it."

"They had at least a battalion at the southern line and an entire division garrisoned inside the city. If they wanted to reinforce, moving a regiment or two would have been effortless."

"That is the crux of the problem. They did not reinforce; they retreated. If there is nothing suspicious about this, I would be a fool to believe it."

Nakagawa nodded in silent agreement.

Yoshika continued, "I am angry because, while the Chinese retreat is clearly suspicious, Takezaka Jiro chooses to lie about the details to claim a petty merit. If we grow negligent because of this triviality, we may suffer a crushing defeat later."

"Takezaka’s actions are small, but they expose a flaw in our 9th Division: they are all far too shortsighted."

Yoshika walked to the entrance of the headquarters and gazed at the distant Dingyuan County. The sun was setting, casting a hazy red glow over the city, as if it were draped in a magnificent, blinding armor.

"I have a premonition," Yoshika said quietly, still looking at the city in the sunset. "The battle for Dingyuan will not be so simple."

The scenery was beautiful, but it was destined to be drowned in the fires of artillery.