Chapter 16

The next day, as the sky brightened, Hu Hao heard someone say that the Japanese were already preparing to move out. This made Hu Hao even more determined to go to the front, but he was afraid that Colonel Zhang wouldn't let him. If he went on his own, he would probably be punished. Hu Hao thought for a moment and finally came up with a way to convince Colonel Zhang.

"Brother, Brother," Hu Hao called out as he walked to the table where Colonel Zhang was looking at a map.

"What do you want now? Are you trying to say you want to go to the front again? I told you, no, stay here and behave," Colonel Zhang said without lifting his head, continuing to look at the map with a magnifying glass, frowning from time to time.

"Brother, I heard outside that the Japanese are already preparing to move out," Hu Hao asked.

"Right, the news came in this morning. The Japanese have already gathered this morning, and they had breakfast earlier than usual. So we expect them to move out today," Colonel Zhang said.

"Then, Brother, I need to go to the front to check on the mines I laid. If the Japanese find a way to defuse them, I need to re-lay them before they do," Hu Hao said.

Colonel Zhang looked up at Hu Hao, who made him uneasy. He said softly, "Brother, what's wrong?"

"Are you still not giving up? You really want to go to the front, can't you just stay here?" Colonel Zhang shouted, waking up the political commissar and the chief of staff who were still sleeping nearby.

"Oh, sorry, I was just scolding Second Lengzi, I didn't notice," Colonel Zhang said, giving Hu Hao a glare as he saw that he had woken them up.

"What's going on between you two? Why are you arguing so early in the morning?" the political commissar asked as he got up.

"This kid wants to go to the front to observe the Japanese, but I won't let him. He keeps nagging me!" Colonel Zhang said.

"Brother, I just want to check on the mines, not to observe the Japanese," Hu Hao defended.

"It's the same thing. Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. You just want to go and fight the Japanese. In a few days, when the Japanese get here, you'll have plenty of chances to fight," Colonel Zhang said.

"Brother, Commissar, I really want to check on the mines. I need to see if the Japanese can defuse them. If they can, then all my work will be for nothing! So if I find out they can defuse them, I'll have to change the method and re-lay them," Hu Hao said.

Colonel Zhang, hearing this, asked skeptically, "Really?"

"Really, more real than gold," Hu Hao nodded firmly.

Colonel Zhang paced back and forth for a while and then asked, "You're not trying to trick me, are you? You just want to go to the front?"

"No, I really want to check on the mines. I promise I won't shoot," Hu Hao assured.

"Alright, you take Xiao Li and the others to go and observe. If you need to re-lay the mines, they can help," Colonel Zhang said.

"Great!" Hu Hao immediately went to find Xiao Li.

They arrived at a spot about 400 meters from where the mines were laid. Hu Hao signaled them to stop and find cover. He looked into the distance and saw that the Japanese were already forming up outside the city. Hu Hao joined the others and said,

"Everyone, start digging foxholes. Dig deep enough to hide two people. Cover the top with thick logs and branches, then cover with soil. Make it thick and leave an entrance. Dig one every 200 meters. I'll dig here, and you dig behind me. Once you finish one, move on to the next."

With that, he started digging at his observation point. It took about an hour to finish the foxhole. By then, the Japanese vanguard was almost at the minefield.

Hu Hao quickly hid and observed the Japanese. The vanguard consisted of about 3,000 men, likely a regiment. Hu Hao cursed under his breath, "Damn, even a Japanese regiment has more men than our entire regiment. How are we supposed to fight this?"

The Japanese vanguard stopped at the broken road. A Japanese officer with the rank of colonel came forward and, seeing the rough road, cursed, "Bakana, cunning Chinese soldiers, to do such a despicable thing."

"Colonel Sakai Ichiro, the road ahead is completely destroyed. Should we notify the rear units to stop advancing and wait for the engineers to repair it?" a lieutenant colonel asked.

"Yes, notify General Kaneyama that the road ahead is completely destroyed and request the engineers to assist," Colonel Sakai Ichiro said.

While they were talking, Hu Hao had already aimed his rifle at the colonel, but the lieutenant colonel blocked his view. Hu Hao couldn't shoot. As soon as the lieutenant colonel turned away, Hu Hao pulled the trigger.

The colonel's head exploded, and he fell to the side.

"Enemy attack!" The Japanese quickly took cover, aiming their guns at Hu Hao's direction and firing continuously. Hu Hao had to stay low in his foxhole.

"Damn, are bullets free? They're shooting like crazy!" Hu Hao cursed from inside the foxhole.

After a while, the Japanese stopped shooting. Hu Hao slowly poked his head out and saw the lieutenant colonel, surrounded by several soldiers, checking on the colonel, who was already dead.

"Bakana, immediately report to the regimental commander that our vanguard has encountered a destroyed road and requests engineer assistance. Additionally, Colonel Sakai Ichiro of the 59th Regiment was attacked by an enemy sniper and has unfortunately been killed. Request assistance from higher command," the lieutenant colonel shouted to the communicator, looking around nervously.

Hu Hao didn't aim at the lieutenant colonel but at the communicator. He took another shot, and the communicator was killed.

"Bakana, charge in this direction!" the lieutenant colonel pointed at Hu Hao's direction.

Soon, over a hundred soldiers charged in Hu Hao's direction. Hu Hao shouted happily in his heart, "Come on, come on, taste the lunch I prepared for you."

"Boom!" A Japanese soldier accidentally stepped on one of the mines Hu Hao and his team had laid. This mine was connected to an explosive charge. Within a 30-meter radius, no Japanese soldier could stand. Even those outside this range were injured by the shrapnel from the explosive charge, which Hu Hao had packed with gravel. The explosion sent gravel flying everywhere. Those with good luck were only injured, while those hit in the head or vital organs were killed instantly.

Hu Hao was satisfied with his work and continued to shoot. Since the Japanese were now much closer, he didn't aim carefully, shooting one after another, making the Japanese unable to lift their heads.

Gradually, the Japanese in front started to retreat, but their luck was not good. On their way back, they triggered another mine, killing over ten more.

"Bakana, use the mortars!" the lieutenant colonel shouted.