Chapter 124

The old devil Jida, having just received the reply from the brigade headquarters, was, to tell the truth, in a state of utter bewilderment. "Your Excellency, Battalion Commander! The Brigade Commander states that not only will they not dispatch reinforcements to us, but he also demands that we annihilate the encroaching Chinese troops at maximum speed! If we delay the progress of the frontline battle, not only will you, Excellency, but our entire battalion will face severe punishment!" The situation had escalated so suddenly that the Japanese signalman, having translated the telegram, was himself at a loss for what to do. Recovering from his initial panic, the old devil Jida turned deathly pale, his legs trembling uncontrollably. He had never imagined the Brigade Commander would hold him in such high regard. In his heart, the old devil Jida even began to suspect that perhaps his usual displays of excessive confidence at headquarters had led the brigade to misjudge his actual capabilities.