Movement Two
Makoto is led to an inner room, where an enormous quantity of dynamite packages and grenade bundles are being rigged. However the most impressive phenomena is the one who is doing all the works, is actually a girl, girls in military uniform is already an extreme rare scenery, not to say this one is working on those deadly stuff with high efficiency.
"Major." The girl pauses her work, stands up and salutes.
Major salutes back: "Corporal, I found you an assistant." He introduces Makoto and the girl to each other: "Corporal Makoto Ito from International Company, and this is our demolition specialist, Corporal Kotonoha Katsura. She was once a volunteered medical teacher from Japan, but discarded former nationality and enlisted herself to army as a demolisher after Manchurian Incident for she insists this is the only way to seek redemption for her fatherland. Her skills of using explosives are second to none."
The female demolition specialist with the name Kotonoha Katsura, shakes hand with Makoto, with a friendly smile.
"Even girls are pushed into war, what Japanese had done?!" Makoto is cursing internally.
"Tell him what to do, safely and quickly. We don't have an entire day." Major leaves an order.
One hour later, the contingent of Chinese National Revolutionary Army leaves their base of operation and advances to pre-selected ambush position, ready to kick Japs' asses in a solid way. They also left a nasty surprise behind for any Japanese visitors. Makoto looks back, the captured Nisshouki is being exposed on the long pole atop the two-story building, as if a thief got apprehended in public and is being put on a humiliating parade. Sergeant explained as: "This is a very conspicuous position to surrounding areas, when Japs saw their flag is being treated like this, they will be lured in like following a Pied Piper. We rigged the building full with explosives, they get in and touch the flag — ka-boom!"
Soon, they arrive at a wide road, wider than those run through resident blocks. This is the theater of ambush. Makoto and Kotonoha install improvised explosive devices, rigged from dynamites and grenades by them, into cars parked on roadsides and beneath manholes covers, with helps of others. Then they hide themselves on roofs of buildings like remaining soldiers, overlooking the road. The battle plan is waiting for Japanese convoy to enter the ambush ring, when the head of the convoy almost exits the road, explosives will be triggered, then all soldiers fire at will to anyone who's not killed by explosion, after one wave of firing, all personnel withdraw to the secondary foothold to continue the fight.
But another hours have passed, no Japs coming. Some soldiers begin to suspect if their plan will work. The major assures them, saying this road connects to city center, some Japs will definitely go this way.
Suddenly the sergeant hints Makoto: "Look there!" Makoto looks to the direction where sergeant points, he sees a white flag with a large red dot on center and a big black, tilted cross overlap on it, is being blown by wind over the two-story building afar, which had been converted into an over-sized powder keg. The flag shakes violently, and falls down, then immediately the building is blasted sky-high.
"Guess Japs got our message: No one visits Nanking without paying for ticket." Sergeant grins to expose teeth. Makoto gives him a thumb-up.
Time ticks, it's almost noon now, but still no joy of approaching Japs.
Finally a figure in cyan (color of Chinese National Revolutionary Army's uniform) runs along the road: "They're coming! A lot of them! Two tanks, four trucks full of infantries, and hundreds on foot!"
"Game time. Remember, do not tangle in battle for too long, run after first wave of firing!" Major passes down order again throughout command chain.
Japanese troops in muddy-colored uniforms appear at the end of the road. Six infantries as pioneer points, each of them are holding a Type 38 Rifle, behind them are two dowdy "Japanese tiny tanks" in a single file, then four trucks of infantries, followed by hundreds of their kind.
The Japanese infantries who don't have a ride are marching in two columns, along both sides of the road. They hold guns high, but obviously showing signs of exhaustion, some weaker individuals even have troubles to walk steady.
"They're not that tough as they think of themselves." Makoto concludes internally: "Days of cruel battle had squeezed them dry."
The hatch atop the first Japanese tank is opened, one of its crew extends upper half of his body out, he seems is happy about something.
"If you can survive the bombing, I'll take you as my first dish on today's menu." Makoto chooses him as first target.
Japanese formation moves forward on the road, like a swarm of lemmings. Soon the six pioneer points gets close to the other end of road.
Then those cars lying lifelessly on both sides of the road, inflate and burst as explosives planted inside them are detonated. The doors are detached from bodywork, like many flat-shaped cannon shells, sweep through the road, crushing anything in their paths. Glasses for windows, as well as metal skins, are torn into sharp pieces of high velocity, forming a storm of tiny darts.
At the same blink, road surface also erupts like multiple small volcanoes, use manhole covers as centers, asphalt layers are pulverized and are tossed to every direction by explosions.
Japs indeed got their asses kicked in a solid way. Although they're well trained, but not trained to deal with Kotonoha and Makoto's IEDs. Half of infantries are reduced to fragmentary minces mixed with glass and metal shards in an instant. Those vehicles' fates are not any better, they're literally overturned and crushed from multiple sides, decimating everyone on board.
Still many Japs survived the blasts, Makoto quickly fires all five bullets from his rifle, achieving five good kills. Meanwhile other Chinese National Revolutionary Army soldiers are bringing down their own preys.
Just as he inserts another stripper clip, someone grabs him and drags him backward.
It is the sergeant: "Withdraw! Withdraw! Quickly!" Makoto packs up his gun, runs to the backside of the building he is hiding, jumps down from edge, following others.