Chapter 138: The Calculation of Yoshiyoshi Kanetsuke

"Pass down the order and have the soldiers take advantage of the Japanese withdrawal to get some rest. Since the Japanese have just lost six armored vehicles, they likely won't launch a fierce assault for a short while. However, they are undoubtedly brewing a more ferocious counterattack and will never let this go, so we must remain highly vigilant!"

Chen Qingzhi instructed, "We must be especially on guard against enemy warplanes! Since their tanks are ineffective, they will likely resort to aerial bombing. Tell the men to be prepared! Additionally, arrange for the anti-aircraft machine cannon company to be deployed in concealment. Once the Japanese planes arrive, we'll hit them hard!"

"Yes!" Hearing Chen Qingzhi's command, an officer saluted excitedly and hurried off to transmit the orders.

"Brother Chen, seeing how calm you were just now, did you know the outcome all along?" Su Zuxin stepped forward at this moment, asking with a curious look.

He was referring to the use of the anti-aircraft machine cannon company against the Japanese tanks. Hearing this, Chen Qingzhi smiled helplessly and nodded.

"Well, well, Brother Chen! Considering how well I've treated you, you really kept me in the dark! Making me so anxious just now—were you purposely making a fool out of me?" Su Zuxin pointed at Chen Qingzhi and chided him with a smile.

"Brother Su, you're doing me a great injustice. Given the critical situation just then, and since you'd never witnessed the power of the anti-aircraft machine cannons, even if I had told you, you wouldn't have believed it. It was far better to let the facts speak for themselves!" Chen Qingzhi replied with a wry face.

"You, oh you..." Hearing this, Su Zuxin didn't quite know what to say. After all, he truly hadn't believed it at the time, so he had no grounds for complaint now.

"Still, where on earth did you get those weapons? Goodness, they pack one hell of a punch against the Japs! It's just a shame there are so few of them. If you have more, get a few batteries for me too, and I won't have to fear Japanese tanks ever again!" Su Zuxin asked excitedly.

"Brother, I cannot disclose where I acquired them," Chen Qingzhi said. "These are anti-aircraft guns specifically designed to deal with aircraft. They have a very high rate of firing and formidable power, making them exceptionally effective against armored equipment as well."

At this point, Chen Qingzhi smiled slightly and added, "As for dealing with tanks and ground targets, it's basically like using anti-aircraft guns to shoot mosquitoes—every single shot is bound to hit."

"True!" Su Zuxin nodded in agreement.

"Then can you manage to procure a few more? And share some with your brother when the time comes? Don't worry, whatever the procurement cost is, I'll pay you every single penny!" Su Zuxin's eyes gleamed with eager anticipation.

Seeing the look in Su Zuxin's eyes, Chen Qingzhi chuckled. "What is Brother saying? You've taken such good care of me, and we're fighting the Japanese together—bringing up money makes it so vulgar!"

"How about this? I don't have many on hand right now, but once I acquire more, I'll set aside a few for you and have them hauled straight to your camp!" Chen Qingzhi promised.

Upon hearing this, Su Zuxin clapped his hands together and exclaimed joyfully, "Splendid! Good brother, I certainly didn't misjudge you!"

While the two men were chatting leisurely, the atmosphere among the defenders of Dingyuan stood in stark contrast to the gloom weighing heavily on the Japanese side.

Inside the Command Headquarters of the Japanese 9th Division:

Kojika Ryōsuke gazed at the low-spirited soldiers outside, a dark and gloomy look crossing his eyes. Then, turning his gaze to Ibusaka Jiro, who stood submissively before him, trembling and not daring to move a muscle, Kojika's anger flared up instantly.

"Useless! A bunch of good-for-nothings! I gave you such massive support, even assigning the armored car platoon to assist your assault. And look at you—not only did you fail to capture Dingyuan County, but you also got more than half of the armored car platoon destroyed! Tell me, what use does the Empire have for a useless fool like you?" Kojika roared furiously.

Spittle sprayed directly onto Ibusaka Jiro's face. As he spoke, Kojika lashed out with a hard backhand slap across Ibusaka's face. "With so many of our troops dead, tell me, why didn't you die on the battlefield?! Why weren't you killed by the Chinese army?!"

The hatred burned fiercely inside Kojika's heart!

Ibusaka's 36th Infantry Regiment had suffered heavy losses, and all the other assaulting units had sustained casualties as well. These losses, combined with the 7th and 35th Regiments previously annihilated by the Chinese forces, meant that without him quite realizing it, nearly half of his 9th Division had been wiped out!

Ever since the establishment of the 9th Division, the troops had never suffered such a disastrous defeat!

It was all because of this bunch of good-for-nothings!

They were utterly incapable of accomplishing anything yet proficient at ruining everything!

By this point, Ibusaka Jiro had lost all his previous arrogance and confidence. He stood there, his face ashen and his spirits completely crushed, letting the spittle spray onto his face without even daring to wipe it away.

The slap delivered by Division Commander Kojika Ryōsuke burned fiercely, and he could already feel the cheek beginning to swell. Yet, he still did not dare to make the slightest movement, merely keeping his head lowered in silence.

Deep down, however, a seed of bitter resentment began to sprout.

He dared not resent Kojika Ryōsuke; his hatred was directed entirely at the defenders of Dingyuan!

Ibusaka roared inwardly: *Why?! Why did this group of lowly Chinese dare to resist? Why couldn't these Chinese just obediently line up to be slaughtered by the warriors of our Empire?*

*Why must they resist?*

*How dare they resist!*

*Since the Imperial army has arrived, these lowly Chinese should have simply handed over their wealth and women, then lined up to await their slaughter. By what right do they resist?!*

*It is all because of them!*

*If not for their resistance, I could have taken Dingyuan, been promoted to Brigade Commander, and enjoyed a smooth and prosperous military career from then on.*

*But now!*

*Everything is ruined!*

*It is all because of the Chinese army—they have destroyed everything I had!*

Ibusaka knew that after this battle, he had been branded as incompetent in the eyes of the Division Commander. His military career would likely stall permanently at the regimental commander level, and he might even be ostracized and cast aside by the General himself!

All of this was thanks to the Chinese army!

At this moment, violent waves churned within Ibusaka Jiro's heart. The fury inside him escalated continuously, swelling and gathering like an active volcano on the verge of erupting!

Once it reached the critical threshold, it would unleash a torrent of destruction!

Right now, consumed by rage, Ibusaka's face was severely distorted, and his entire body trembled involuntarily. His reason was on the verge of being completely obliterated by anger!

Although Ibusaka kept his head lowered, Kojika Ryōsuke was no ordinary man. As the commander of the 9th Division and a seasoned veteran who had spent half a lifetime in the military, he had seen countless people and possessed terrifyingly astute judgment. Naturally, he saw through Ibusaka's current state at a single glance.

Far from being alarmed, however, a flash of joy crossed his mind.

Once Ibusaka Jiro was driven to lose his reason by rage, he would undoubtedly unleash a ferocious combat capability. When that time came, throwing him into another attack against the Chinese forces would surely render them unstoppable.

As for whether Ibusaka would be utterly destroyed in the end, Kojika did not care in the least!

In his view, Ibusaka was nothing more than a piece of trash—a useless tool who ruined more than he achieved!

If such a useless tool could make a final contribution to himself and the Empire before meeting his end, it would be his supreme honor.