The lingering echoes of the grenade explosions still reverberated through the valley, and the already tense battlefield was instantly ignited into a new, chaotic frenzy. Seeing their grenadiers wiped out in an instant, the Japanese Army commander flew into a hysterical rage. He shrieked, waving his command sword as he personally drove his men forward, fueling an increasingly frantic offensive. Standing at his makeshift command post, Matsui Ichiro stared at the battlefield through binoculars, his eyes bloodshot and his face twisted into a gnarled, dark mask of fury. He had never imagined that this surprise attack—which he had expected to win with ease—would meet such stubborn resistance, resulting not only in heavy losses but in the battle slipping rapidly from his control.
Matsui Ichiro’s brow furrowed into a tight knot as his mind raced. After only a moment of deliberation, a flicker of resolve crossed his eyes. He raised his command sword, the blade glinting with a cold, lethal light in the dim air, and spun around to bark orders at the smoke-blackened messenger beside him. "Listen, pass the order immediately: have the remaining cavalry abandon their flanking maneuver and pull all forces back, retreating out of the valley at maximum speed! The infantry will provide cover fire; they must not let the enemy break through our lines. We must clear the battlefield before nightfall! Also, notify the artillery squadron that once the Imperial soldiers have safely withdrawn from the…
Chapter 420