Leitao hid behind a large tree and quickly reached into his ammunition pouch, pulling out a high-explosive anti-personnel grenade. His eyes were locked on the position of the Japanese Army mortar team. With practiced fingers, he pulled the safety pin, counted to one, then suddenly turned and threw it with all his might toward the mortar crew.
"Boom!" With a deafening explosion, the grenade burst among the Japanese mortar team. The blast wave knocked the surrounding soldiers to the ground, and shrapnel flew in all directions, obliterating the mortar. Several soldiers collapsed to the ground, groaning in pain, and for a moment, chaos erupted in the Japanese rear.
Hu Hansi seized the opportunity. He shouldered his light machine gun, stood up from the depression, and planted his feet—left leg forward in a lunge, right leg braced firmly—gripping the gun tightly as he unleashed a torrent of fire toward the Japanese line. His index finger pulled the trigger repeatedly, his teeth gritted as he absorbed the shoulder-jarring recoil. "Brothers, charge!" he shouted while firing. "Wipe these bastards out!" Taking advantage of the Japanese disarray, he hunched over and moved forward in a rapid, zig-zagging sprint, utilizing craters and rocks as cover.
Chapter 263