Chapter 3: Ambitious and Thirsty for the Blood of Japanese Slaves

  The sun rises in the east, shining brightly on the earth. Ye Zhi's eyes are fixed intently on the telescope, his first time in battle, and to say he wasn't nervous would be a lie! But he couldn't show it on his face, because he was an officer, with countless pairs of eyes watching him from behind.

  On the one hand, the vanguard and rearguard of the Brave Character Camp had already broken through the Japanese artillery positions, but unfortunately, the Japanese infantry battalion that was attacking Moon Peak Mountain returned in time to reinforce, the war had reached a white-hot state, both sides were fighting fiercely for every inch of land, and some areas had already seen bayonet fights.

  Standing on a small mound, Ye Zhiwei's personal guards were behind him. He spat out the small grass in his mouth and slowly put down his binoculars. In his heart, he muttered to himself: Although this little Japanese hasn't experienced any major battles or military experience, their military quality is indeed impressive. After the Meiji Restoration, Japan's national education has become widespread, surpassing China in many ways, making them not to be underestimated. He had clearly caught the enemy off guard, but now it's turned into a stalemate.

  Ye Zhi Kui wielded his whip with force, a decision made in his heart. He turned around, mounted his horse, and the warhorse neighed loudly as it received the command. Looking at the faces of his personal guards and the young cooks and servants before him, he saw the youthful and inexperienced countenances - this was his last military strength, yet he had to lead them onto the battlefield, even though some of them still held pots, ladles, and long-handled clubs in their hands.

  "Brothers, the ones fighting in front are our brothers who eat from the same pot as us. Now, they're fighting to the death, in extreme danger. Tell me, can we rest easy at the back?" Ye Zhi Kui shouted with a wave of his hand.

  The Huai Army was different from later armies in that it came from all over the country. The vast majority of them were fellow villagers, and they knew each other very well.

  The warriors below had already understood the current situation before they were summoned. Upon hearing Ye Zhiyuan's roar, the commander of the Imperial Guard hastily responded: "I am willing to fight alongside the general!"

  "I wish to break the enemy with the general!" A louder voice followed, so it is said that the bodyguard team is the commander's small cotton-padded jacket. In order to understand the commander's thoughts at all times, after the bodyguard captain's echo, everyone can shout out loud and neat slogans.

  Ye Zhi Kui nodded in satisfaction, his hand pressed down to stop everyone's shouting. His eyes scanned the crowd, and then he said seriously: "Brothers! Yellow sand is worn out with a hundred battles, how many people can return from ancient wars? I, Ye Mou, make a vow here. As long as all of you brothers don't die today, from now on, as long as I, Ye Zhi Kui, have a mouthful of food to eat, I will never let any of you brothers go hungry! Now! All of you brothers, follow me and kill the enemy!"

  Ye Zhiyuan took the lead by a length of one horse and galloped down. Behind him came wave after wave of shouting and killing sounds.

  Cheng Huan Yi, the Qing army's general camp, was filled with a cacophony of sounds as many old generals were racking their brains over the war situation. Suddenly, a hurried footsteps echoed, followed by a sharp and urgent report. "Report... General Nie! A messenger from Yuefeng Mountain has arrived, saying that Ye Shao is leading his troops to provide reinforcements, and the enemy's offensive has been temporarily halted."

  Nie Shicheng immediately stood up from his seat, stroked his beard, nodded three times and said: "No wonder I heard the enemy's cannon fire getting smaller. In that case, pass down the order to withdraw 500 men from the left wing to the right wing, and have the Korean army fill in the left wing. I will personally lead the 500 men and coordinate with the troops from Yun to attack from both sides." When his subordinates tried to dissuade him, Nie Shicheng glared at them and scolded: "I am not old yet, my knife is still sharp, why can't I fight?" He then led his troops away.

  Yuè Fēng Shān, Yè Zhī Kuí was leading the Imperial Guard and a group of veteran soldiers forward in a fierce charge. What is the Imperial Guard for? To protect the commander-in-chief, so whether Yè Zhī Kuí was willing or not, he had already been tightly protected by the Imperial Guard at the center. The Qing soldiers fighting at the front saw their commander arrive to reinforce them and suddenly their morale surged, each one of them as if they had drunk chicken blood, charging forward bravely. In this world, there are only generals who fear death, no soldiers who fear death. In these people's hearts, even the high-and-mighty Yè Shǎo had arrived, what else did they have to fear? At most, twenty years later, they would be another good Han.

  The vanguard and rearguard officers were the fierce and powerful Wu Dashan and the old general Wu Xiujie. Wu Dashan, who was originally leading the vanguard, charged forward with the most ferocity, already engaging in close combat with the Japanese army, his entire body covered in bloodstains, unclear whether they were his own or those of the Japanese. At this moment, Wu Dashan saw Ye Zhikui coming to reinforce and became even more excited, wiping away the blood and sweat on his face, waving the large knife in his hand, and loudly shouting: "Brothers, Ye is right behind us! Be like men, don't lose face for old Wu, kill, kill, kill! Come on, Japanese devils, taste the flavor of my blade!" Wu Dashan slashed left and right, each strike drawing blood. The Japanese were also a pack of wolves, immediately surrounding him with five people, raising their bayonets and charging forward. At this time, both sides were exhausted, fighting with spirit, fighting with willpower.

  The devils were numerous, and Wu Daxian was careless for a moment. His belly was stabbed with a hole, and three of the five devils who surrounded him fell down. Wu Daxian didn't hesitate, stuffed his intestines back into his abdomen, gritted his teeth, turned around and killed another devil. Unfortunately, at this time he felt that all his strength had been exhausted, his legs softened, and one foot knelt on the ground. He panted heavily, staring fiercely at the last devil. The devil was not afraid of death but was intimidated by Wu Daxian's ferocity for a moment and did not dare to approach him.

  Bang, bang, two sounds, the last little Japanese also fell to the ground. However, Ye Zhikui arrived just in time and took a big step forward to help up Wu Dashan. Looking at this general covered in blood, Ye Zhikui's eyes were filled with tears.

  Ever since Ye Zhi Kuai arrived at this strange and chaotic place, he felt that he didn't fit in with the people here. He thought of himself as ignorant and uncouth, and his subordinates were no better. With his past life's personality of being a cold and distant orphan, he felt like an outsider looking in, just like someone watching a movie or playing a game. For victory, he could ignore any sacrifice, but at this moment, he suddenly realized that although they were ignorant and uncouth, they were loyal and brave. He had given them only a tenth of his true heart, yet they had returned ten times as much in kind.

  Looking at the warriors fighting around him, looking at his comrades fallen in a pool of blood, Ye Zhi Kui only then felt that this was so real.

  "Yeshao, I... I, Old Wu, killed three... three Japanese officers today. I, Old Wu, am not a coward!" Wu Dashan struggled to hold up three fingers for Ye Zhikui to see, startling him out of his daze.

  Ye Zhi Kui's face slid down a tear, and he said with blurred eyes: "Yes, you Wu Da Shan are not a coward, you are a loyal and brave good man, Loyal and Brave Wu Da Shan, come! Have Wu Shao Officer carried away, others, follow me to kill the enemy!"

  With a swish, Ye Zhikui drew out his personal treasured sword and gazed at the little Japanese in front of him. Without hesitation, he charged forward. Today, even if it meant dying with these brothers, it would not be a waste to have come here, Ye Zhikui thought to himself.