Episode 21
After we started
to attack the arsenal in Laiyang,
we may be involved in close combat in street.
In street battle, Type 38 rifles will be unwieldy.
We need 12 Mauser pistols,
not the pistols made in Shanxi,
but those newly made in Germany.
Mausers imported from Germany.
It’s a difficult task.
Dalong.
Here.
Pass my order
to assemble officers above company level
in regiment headquarters.
Yes.
Dalong, could you tell us
why we are summoned?
I have no idea.
Please tell us.
I really don’t know.
Reporting to duty.
Come in.
Everyone, listen,
take off your gun,
and put it on the table.
I...
It’s an order.
Weiguo, take the guns you need.
Regiment Commander, why?
Why should our guns be taken away?
A squad will attack the arsenal in Laiyang.
All members of the squad
should be equipped with German Mausers.
Reporting to duty.
Chief of Staff, did you ask for me?
-Sit down. -Yes.
Weiguo will set out tomorrow morning
with a dozen people.
All of them are experts of tactics.
But I am still worried.
Chief of Staff, I have something to say.
I always think
Weiguo’s plan is too risky.
Do you think he can make it?
To tell the truth, I don’t know
how does Weigue plan to launch the attack?
If I were him,
I wouldn’t fight in such a risky way.
But now that the regiment council of war
has approved of his battle plan,
we should implement the plan
without any reservation.
Yes.
Mr. Xu, as you see,
from Laiyang to Qifengkou
there is an open plain.
After launching the strike in Laiyang,
Weiguo’ll have to withdraw quickly.
Otherwise, mechanized troops of Japan
will come to intercept them.
If this happens,
despite the talent and braveness
of squad members,
they cannot possibly resist the Japs.
Yeah. In the open plain,
they cannot even fight back.
Mr. Xu, we have to send out a troop
10 miles away from Qifengkou
to aid them in the retreat.
You’ll take charge of it.
Ok.
In carrying out this mission,
you should alter your combat method
according to the situations.
While you must do your best
to protect Weiguo and his men,
you should avoid direct combat on the plain
with the Japanese army.
On in this way, can we reduce casualties. Clear?
I’ll complete the mission. I’ll go now.
Wait a second.
Come back.
What’s the matter?
Why are you in such a hurry?
You
should really learn from Weiguo.
You should fight with tactic.
Ok. I got it. I’ll go.
Enemy forces guarding the arsenal in Laiyang
amount to a detachment,
which is about 180 soldiers.
They are on 4 shifts.
40 to 60 Japs are on each shift.
6 Japs guard the gate.
After passing the gate,
there is a barricade equipped with machine gun.
And on the west and east sides of the yard,
there are two heavy machine guns.
On top of the roof
are a 6.5mm machine gun and a searchlight.
Two teams of Japs patrol the yard.
Each team consists of 8 soldiers,
who are equipped with Type 38 rifle.
Commander Qiu will lead a troop
to set explosions in strongholds outside Laiyang
so as to attract Japs’ attention.
I guess two squads of Japs guarding the arsenal
will be pulled to the explosions.
That means
the forces we are faced with
are about 90 men.
We’ll slip into Laiyang in the afternoon
and launch the attack at 3 in the morning.
After the attack, go back in the same route.
Shuisheng, Erhu, Sanhe,
Dayong, and Laitouzi.
The five of you will cover us in the retreat.
Each of you should take a cartridge.
Clear?
If there is no problem with this,
we will set out in half an hour.
Ok.
Stop. Who are you?
What is the password tonight?
Say it.
Say the password.
Yamamoto is drunk again. Leave him alone.
Leave him alone.
It must be the Eighth Route Army.
Don’t worry.
They are wasting their time.
They cannot do anything serious. It’ll be fine.
Oh, it is Kobayashi.
Password.
Kobayashi, are you mad?
Cann't you recognize me? I’m Kikurai.
Password.
At the foot of Mount Fuji.
Cherry trees are blossoming.
Doctor Kikurai, I’m terribly sorry.
It is my duty.
Kobayashi, you are too stubborn.
We see each other every day.
We both serve for the Emperor
and the Great Empire of Japan.
We should try our best to fulfill our duty.
I don’t call it stubbornness.
As you know,
the arsenal issued martial law 3 days before.
Without special permission of Major General,
no one shall get out of the arsenal.
Kikurai, where are you going?
I have to leave the arsenal on business.
If that is the case,
Kikurai,
please show me the permit.
We’ll go out next time.
You’re not on business.
You’re just going out to sleep with girls.
Your conduct disgraces the Imperial Army.
General. General.
General.
Remember you are a soldier.
You should behave like a decent soldier.
16 strongholds to the east of our town
have just been attacked at the same time.
These spots have been napalmed.
Some are still burning.
Fuck.
Pass my order to
all troops in Laiyang.
Tighten the security.
Be prepared for combat.
Yes.
Assemble. March on.
Password.
At the foot of Mount Fuji.
Answer.
Cherry trees are blossoming.
Password.
At the foot of Mount Fuji. Answer.
Cherry trees are blossoming.
Jie Zhao.
It is full of ammunition.
How can we blow it all?
Set the time.
It is 3:30.
Jie Zhao and I will each lead a group.
Remember to put the bombs
on oil drums and munitions.
You have 15 minutes to place the bombs.
Set the timing of explosion
at 30 minutes.
Clear?
Yes.
-Let’s go. -Ok.
What the hell are these?
Where are the munitions?
Shut up. Move.
My Gosh.
It is wonderful.
Daling.
Take the machine gun
and enough bullets.
Leave the rest.
Platoon Leader.
Don’t you know I was a farmer?
If I take all these to Hill Hutou,
I will be a millionaire.
Are you still a farmer?
Can you take all these away?
Blow them all.
Are you sure?
Blow them.
My Gosh.
Well.
Blow.
If you don’t obey the order,
you won’t be in the next mission.
Let’s go.
How is it going?
Ammunition is found.
Bombs are set in oil stocks.
Let’s go.
Password.
At the foot of Mount Fuji.
Cherry trees are blossoming.
Assemble.
At ease. Attention.
March.
Password.
At the foot of Mount Fuji. Answer.
Cherry trees are blossoming.
Wait a minute.
Give me a light.
It seems that your squad has just come here.
Tell your soldiers
to pay full attention in the patrol.
Be on the alert.
Recently, Eighth Route Army from Hill Hutou
attacked our troops frequently.
We have suffered great loss.
You should be aware of the importance
of protecting the arsenal.
Everyone should take it seriously.
If anything goes wrong,
all of you will be sentenced to death.
Yes, I see.
Button up.
You. Button up.
Button.
What’s your name?
Why are you dressed sloppily in patrol?
Did you hear me?
What is your name?
Fuck.
Attack.
Withdraw.
Catch them.
Attack.
They are from Eighth Route Army.
Catch them.
Switch the gun.
Zhuzi, shoot the machine gunner.
Yes.
Sir, more and more Japs are coming.
We cannot resist it.
Cartridges.
Dali. Fire cover.
Everybody, withdraw.
Withdraw.
Attack.
Huzi. Shoutian.
Comrades. Get on the car.
Ok.
Withdraw.
Explosion. Look.
Good job.
Weiguo.
He is somebody.
3rd Company.
Yes.
Let’s go to their aid.
Yes.
Sir, Daling is not on the car.
What?
Jie Zhao. You’ll lead them to retreat now.
I’ll look for Daling.
No. You have to take the lead.
We’ll go back to look for him.
Can you speak Japanese?
It is chaotic now.
At least, I can escape by myself. Can you?
Squad leader. Squad leader.
We’ll come with you.
Shut up.
Jie Zhao.
Take good care of them.
Ok. I won’t argue with you.
But remember
you must come back safe and sound.
Huzi. Stay here.
Withdraw.
Jie Zhao.
Platoon Leader.
How is it going?
We’ve made it.
We already heard the explosion.
Well done.
Where is Weiguo?
Yeah.
During the retreat,
Dali Yang was found missing.
Weiguo went back to look for him.
He asked us to meet you here.
Commander, shall we wait for them here?
Here. No, we cannot wait here.
It is too near to the arsenal.
Before long, with the reinforcements,
Japs will enlarge the search zone.
It is too dangerous here.
What about Weiguo and Daling?
We may retreat by 10 miles.
If they come here later
without seeing us,
they must be heading for Qifengkou.
We’ll wait for him there.
Ok. Don’t hesitate anymore.
Let’s go.
Japs. Come on.
I have brought something for you.
Catch him alive.
Ok.
Daling. Are you there?
Platoon Leader, why are you here?
Platoon Leader.
What’s up?
I was running out of here
when my leg got injured
by a bullet.
Let me see it.
Can you move?
I am all right.
Good.
I will help you out.
Hurry up.
Listen, those inside,
the Imperial Army treats captives well.
If you surrender and put down the arms,
your lives will be spared.
Platoon Leader.
There is no way for me to escape.
Leave me alone.
Escape by yourself.
I’ll cover you.
Bullshit.
Save your energy for fighting the Japs.
Platoon Leader.
I think
we will die together.
Are you scared?
No. It is just...
I cannot fight the Japs anymore.
Dali Yang.
You’ve bothered to death.
But when fighting the Japs, you are somebody.
Platoon Leader, in the other world,
I’ll keep troubling you.
Just the two of us.
Are you ready?
I’m ready.
Take the cannon here.
Listen, those inside,
if you don’t surrender now,
we will fire a canon.
What is it?
Company Commander. Come here.
Daling. Let’s go.
Fire.
Hurry up. Search carefully.
Fuck.
Let's go. Catch them.
It is about dawn.
Why aren’t they back yet?
Company Commander. Shall we look for them?
Comrades.
Withdraw.
Company Commander.
The order for us is to wait for Weiguo.
Jie Zhao. Look at the time yourself.
Since they parted with you,
it has been three hours.
If they will be back, they should be here now.
Look around, it an open field.
What if Japs come here after dawn?
None of us can escape.
I cannot let the whole company take the risk
for these two guys. We have over 100 men.
Company Commander,
could you reconsider it?
Reconsider?
What should I reconsider?
The order I receive
is to meet your squad here.
Now, I’ve seen the squad back.
As a comrade, I want to save them either.
But as a commander,
I have to think for the entire company.
Just think what a big attack
you made last night.
How could Japs do nothing about it?
Obey the order.
Company Commander.
Get out of my way.
Shoutian. Why are you doing?
Lay down your gun.
Mr. Xu.
How dare you leave without our Second Master?
I’ve explained why we should retreat.
And let me tell you
Weiguo is now a Platoon Leader in our army.
He is no longer a bandit.
Shoutian. Calm down. Put down your gun.
Calm down. How can I calm down?
Shoutian.
You are not a bandit.
You are a soldier of Eighth Route Army.
It’s the duty of a soldier to obey the rules.
Put down your gun.
Guangrong.
How dare you order me?
How dare I order you?
I am your Commander.
Take away his gun.
Who dares?
Let me go.
Shoutian. Calm down.
Company Commander.
I’ll take several men to see what’s happening.
You can retreat now.
Am I your Commander?
Jie Zhao.
Jie Zhao. Listen to me.
You are a party member.
As a party member,
you have the right to have your own opinion,
but you have to take the order.
Commander, I know the principle of the party,
but I cannot just leave Weiguo behind.
I would take any punishment,
but I have to go.
Who else wanna go with me?
-I’ll go. -I’ll go. -I’ll go.
Commander, I’ll talk with you later.
Set out.
Jie Zhao.
Jie Zhao. This is the battlefield.
If you disobey the rule,
I’ll shoot you.
Company Commander,
I has been with you ever since the Long March.
If you have the heart to shoot me,
go ahead.
Set out.
Yes.
You guys. What are you doing?
Withdraw. Don't stand there.
Hurry up.
Jie Zhao. Jie Zhao. Jie Zhao.
Platoon Leader. Maybe, they’ve gone.
Japs are coming.
Let’s take cover.
Are you all right?
Fine.
Get off.
Take it with you. Take care.
Wait for us here.
Forward.
Shit.
Cartridges. Ready.
Forward.
Hold on.
Where are they?
At 1 o’clock direction.
Forward.
Help me.
Are you all right?
Fine.
Let’s go.
Come on.
Hold on.
Damn you.
Huzi.