Chapter 90

In He Zhengdao's view, given Zhou Hunyuan's seasoned military experience, he would certainly be worried about the Red Army launching a night attack. Last night, many of the Nationalist troops in the town didn't get much rest. The reason was that the artillery fire from the Independent Division's First Regiment kept them from sleeping.

Faced with the intermittent artillery fire throughout the night, even Zhou Hunyuan was very concerned that the Independent Division might launch a night attack on Douding. Due to this concern, he had prepared several reserve forces behind the front-line defensive positions.

The purpose was that if the Red Army launched a surprise attack, these reserve forces could quickly move in to reinforce. However, apart from the continuous artillery fire from the First Regiment, the Red Army in other directions made no offensive moves at all.

The more this happened, the more the defending troops on the front lines were on high alert. Even Zhou Hunyuan, after concluding that the Red Army would not launch another attack, only then did he rest a bit in the temporary command post.

The Guizhou troops, who were as anxious as the Nationalist troops all night, would be startled awake by each artillery attack. In their view, even though they were in the town, they were still very worried that the Red Army would break through the Nationalist defensive lines.

But no one expected that He Zhengdao would, in the early morning, lead a few ethnic minority guides to bypass the Nationalist defensive positions, take the mountain paths, and stealthily enter Douding, launching a fierce surprise attack.

Seeing the Guizhou reorganized division directly routed by the artillery fire, He Zhengdao, leading two reconnaissance battalions, immediately knew this was a rare opportunity. He commanded the two reconnaissance companies to launch a surprise attack on Zhou Hunyuan's command post.

At the same time, the Independent Division's forces, which had surrounded the area from three sides, also launched a fierce offensive. Faced with the Red Army's sharp attack from the front and the gunfire from the town behind them, the defending troops found themselves in a difficult position.

On the way, He Zhengdao, who had not encountered much resistance, saw the blocking forces finally appear ahead. He immediately ordered, "Speed up, charge into the command post in the town and capture Zhou Hunyuan alive! Fire!"

He Zhengdao, holding a light machine gun, fired a burst, killing two Nationalist soldiers who had exposed themselves. The other reconnaissance battalion soldiers, moving in groups of three, provided covering fire as they advanced. They used a combination of long and short guns, with grenades leading the way.

Even though these blocking forces were Zhou Hunyuan's guard battalion, in this situation, the guard battalion soldiers were also stunned. As they retreated, the battalion commander rushed into the command post to urge Zhou Hunyuan to leave quickly.

Upon learning that the troops defending Shuicheng had been defeated, Zhou Hunyuan knew that if the Independent Division's First Regiment broke through, the Guizhou troops in the town, who were already in disarray, would be unable to resist the three-sided encirclement by the Independent Division.

Knowing that speed was essential, He Zhengdao, seeing the Nationalist troops hiding behind the forward wall, using crossfire to block their assault, ordered, "Give me some grenades!"

The guard accompanying him quickly handed over the grenades he was carrying. He Zhengdao took one and said, "Open the cap! Assault team, get ready to charge. Speed is crucial!"

As he spoke, He Zhengdao aimed at the gap in the wall and threw a grenade with the pin pulled into the wall. Without giving the defenders a chance to react, a loud explosion killed two enemies hiding behind the wall.

At this moment, the other reconnaissance battalion soldiers fighting with He Zhengdao saw the grenades in his hands as if they had a targeting scope. One after another, they were accurately thrown into the enemy-held wall.

"Brothers, charge!"

As the last machine gun fell silent, the assault team, which had previously failed, immediately charged forward under the leadership of their captain. They quickly crossed the intersection of the wall, and soon the sound of intense gunfire echoed ahead.

"Brothers! Follow me! We must block them at the command post!"

When Zhou Hunyuan ordered the burning of documents and telegrams, he suddenly heard intense gunfire and explosions outside the command post. Hearing the gunfire, Zhou Hunyuan knew he had no chance of escape.

He drew his pistol and said, "Prepare for battle!"

For Zhou Hunyuan, he was well aware of how much the Red Army hated him. Being cornered by the Independent Division in the temporary command post was something he had not anticipated. His only option now was to delay and wait for reinforcements.

Looking at the closed door, He Zhengdao, leaning against the wall, shouted loudly, "Zhou Hunyuan, I know you're in there. If you surrender, I might give you a chance to live."

"No way! There is only a dead Zhou Hunyuan, not a surrendered one! If you have the guts, come in!"

Hearing this, the reconnaissance battalion soldiers immediately said, "Commander, why waste time with this white dog? Bring up the mortars. Blow these bastards to pieces! This Zhou Hunyuan has killed so many of our comrades."

The soldiers' words made He Zhengdao hesitate. After all, Zhou Hunyuan was a high-ranking Nationalist officer. If he could be captured alive, it might be more beneficial to the Red Army. But his hands were indeed stained with the blood of the Red Army.

Thinking about this, He Zhengdao nodded and said, "Have the Third Company bring two mortars over! The Fourth Company, set up a blocking position around the command post. Ensure no Nationalist troops can break through to the command post before the battle ends."

"Yes, Commander!"

As the soldiers ran to bring the mortars, He Zhengdao said to the guard, "Take charge of the alert, I'll try to break through!"

"Commander, wait for the mortars!"

"Do you think a dead Zhou Hunyuan or a live one would be more beneficial to us? Don't worry, a few guns won't hurt me. Give me a rifle!"

As he spoke, He Zhengdao took a rifle from the guard and added, "Watch my attack! In this situation, without artillery, it's also easy to break through. Machine gunner, fire at the windows and door to draw their fire. Try to break the windows. Everyone else, stay alert and shoot anyone who shows themselves."

"Yes! Commander, be careful!"

"Alright, machine gunner, fire!"

Hearing He Zhengdao's order, the two machine gunners immediately opened fire. The wooden house could not withstand the bullets, and the soldiers outside could hear the screams inside.

At this moment, He Zhengdao bent down and quickly dashed into the courtyard. A Nationalist soldier hiding in the corner of the room saw He Zhengdao enter and was about to aim his gun.

But He Zhengdao rolled on the ground, and when the soldier aimed again, He Zhengdao, who had already rolled to the side, fired his rifle. The soldier, hit in the forehead, died with a look of disbelief.

The other soldiers providing covering fire were also amazed by He Zhengdao's accuracy. Even the reconnaissance battalion soldiers felt that their commander's marksmanship was exceptional.

Reaching the corner of the house, He Zhengdao saw the windows that had been blown apart and pulled out two grenades from his belt. After pulling the pins, he threw the sizzling grenades into the room.

As the grenades exploded, He Zhengdao swung his rifle and pulled out two pistols. He leaped into the smoke-filled room, firing rapidly as he entered.

The surviving staff officers in the room were almost all killed by his shots. When He Zhengdao saw the middle-aged man being protected by two officers, he knew it must be Zhou Hunyuan.

As he landed and stood up, He Zhengdao fired at the two shocked officers, killing them. When Zhou Hunyuan tried to fire, He Zhengdao shot his right hand.

After a brief observation, He Zhengdao found that the room was almost empty. The previous machine gun fire, grenade explosions, and close combat had left only one survivor.

Seeing the middle-aged man sitting on the ground, holding his injured arm, He Zhengdao quickly approached and kicked the pistol away from him. He said calmly, "You are Zhou Hunyuan?"

"Yes, who are you?"

"The person your Chiang Kai-shek wants to kill! Commander of the Independent Division, He Zhengdao! Surprised?"

Hearing He Zhengdao's introduction, Zhou Hunyuan, who had been injured by grenade shrapnel, knew he didn't have much time left. But he was still surprised, finding it hard to believe that He Zhengdao had such superior combat skills.

As the gunfire subsided, the door was kicked open by anxious reconnaissance battalion soldiers. Seeing the room full of dead bodies and the only survivor, the soldiers breathed a sigh of relief.

When He Zhengdao leaped into the room through the window, they were all terrified. If anything happened to their commander, the Independent Division would suffer a great loss even if they won the battle.

Now, seeing He Zhengdao standing well and the room with only a wounded Zhou Hunyuan, the reconnaissance battalion soldiers truly believed that their commander's combat skills were the best in the division!