In Nanjing City, Matsui Iwane, Commander of the Japanese Army's Central China Area Army, stood before a massive map, obsessively planning the city-entry ceremony and the memorial service for the Japanese soldiers killed in action. The room was dim, with only a few slivers of sunlight piercing through the window gaps, failing to dispel the oppressive atmosphere. Outside, the occasional hoarse cawing of crows seemed to portend an approaching storm.
Matsui Iwane squinted, his mind filled with visions of the Japanese Army's grand entry and the solemn, dignified memorial service. He imagined himself at the center of this magnificent spectacle, a manifestation of the Imperial Japanese Empire's power and glory. He felt a secret sense of triumph; this ceremony would deal a heavy blow to the people of Huaxia and serve as a crucial step in establishing the Empire’s authority on this land.
Just then, his adjutant rushed in, pale-faced and panicked. The adjutant snapped to attention, saluted, and reported with a trembling voice, "Your Excellency, Commander, we have just received news that an entire Imperial company, which had been encircling the remnants of the Huaxia National Security Army, has been wiped out!"
Matsui Iwane’s expression darkened instantly. His eyes widened in fury as he barked in Japanese, "Why? How did this happen?"
"Your Excellency, according to reports from the front, those remnants of the Huaxia Army are incredibly tenacious. They used the terrain to their advantage and inflicted heavy losses on our company. Furthermore, it is not yet clear if they have other support."
Matsui Iwane frowned, pacing back and forth, consumed by rage and suspicion. Where on earth did these remnants come from? How could they possess such combat power? Was there another force supporting them from the shadows? He began to weigh the possibilities while plotting his next move. Outside, the wind grew stronger, making the leaves rustle as if signaling the overture to the impending clash.
"These Chinese remnants are too bold," he declared. "They are challenging the majesty of our Great Japanese Empire. We must find them at once and exterminate them completely."
Gritting his teeth, Matsui Iwane ordered, "Immediately organize the Chinese traitors who are friendly to us and form a Japanese-puppet Investigation Corps. Use them to specialize in dealing with these detestable remnants."
The adjutant nodded. "Yes, Your Excellency. We will surely form this Investigation Corps as quickly as possible and round up all those remnants."
Matsui Iwane stopped and looked sharply at the adjutant, emphasizing, "These remnants must not be allowed to disrupt our entry ceremony and memorial service. Strengthen security in the city and ensure the smooth progress of the events. At the same time, intensify the search. You must find them and make them pay the price for resisting the Great Japanese Empire."
Following this, Matsui Iwane returned to the map, meticulously planning the details of the concurrent entry and memorial ceremonies. He decided the parade route would pass through Nanjing’s landmarks and main streets so the populace could witness the might of the Japanese Empire with their own eyes. The memorial service would be held in a spacious plaza, decorated with flowers and candles to cultivate a solemn and sorrowful atmosphere. He summoned several staff officers to assign tasks, demanding sufficient troops be deployed at the sites for security and that propaganda efforts be made to ensure the public recognized the Empire’s victory and its respect for the fallen. He specifically emphasized seamless scheduling to ensure a visually stunning impact.
Watching the adjutant depart, Matsui Iwane felt a surge of intense rage. He would never allow these remnants to ruin the ceremonies he had so carefully orchestrated; he would make the entire city of Nanjing feel the weight of the Empire’s rule. He silently swore to annihilate every one of them and make them pay the heaviest price for their actions. The room grew even more stifling, the oppressive atmosphere making it nearly impossible to breathe.
In this moment of mounting tension and crisis, Matsui Iwane and his adjutants began a rigorous deployment, while Leitao and his fellow soldiers made final preparations to sabotage the ceremony. A heart-pounding confrontation was about to unfold.
After receiving his orders, the adjutant moved quickly. He began by assembling the Investigation Corps, composed primarily of traitors. He posted notices throughout Nanjing, recruiting the cowardly and the greedy. Many traitors eager to serve the Japanese Empire responded, and soon a band of rabble was gathered. The adjutant provided them with basic training, teaching them to identify the traits of the Huaxia National Security Army remnants, how to track them, and how to report intelligence, all while promising generous rewards. Keen to curry favor with the Japanese, these traitors performed their duties with zeal. They scoured every corner of Nanjing, searching for signs of the remnants like starving wolves, using their familiarity with the city and their ties to the locals to sniff out leads, sometimes even posing as commoners to infiltrate crowds in search of hideouts.
Simultaneously, the adjutant arranged for a battalion of Japanese troops to conduct a dragnet search of the city. Moving in squads, the soldiers swept through the streets and alleys. They brutally broke into homes, ransacking them for clues while the terrified residents dared not speak. The soldiers glared at everyone they passed, interrogating them about suspicious individuals; any sign of resistance from the locals resulted in savage beatings. During the search, they focused on abandoned houses, warehouses, and basements, using bayonets to overturn piles of debris and flashlights to pierce the shadows, leaving no stone unturned. If they found any trace of the remnants, such as footprints or discarded items, they would grow excited and pursue the trail.
Under the adjutant’s meticulous arrangement, the Japanese search and the traitors' investigation work were tightly coordinated, forming a suffocating net over Nanjing. They remained convinced that under such high-pressure tactics, the Huaxia National Security Army remnants would be discovered and destroyed sooner or later.
Outside the window, the sky turned increasingly gloomy, heavy with dark clouds, as if a storm were about to break.