Chapter 27: Li Yunlong Beheads the Bandit Leader; The Generalissimo Plans a Northwest Campaign to Micro-manage Operations-Guerra de Resistência: Estrela de Huangpu, Subjugando Li Yunlong no Início(As coisas mudaram, e as pessoas também não são mais as mesmas.)

"Comrades, charge!"

"The comrades of the First Column are just ahead! Kill them!"

Despite being armed with crude weaponry, the soldiers of the Western Route Army took the lead, rushing toward the Ma Clique army and the Nationalist forces like tigers descending from the mountains.

The Ma Clique army and the Nationalist forces, already shattered from their previous engagement with the First Column, collapsed rapidly in the face of the assault from the over ten thousand soldiers of the Western Route Army.

Seeing this, the officers and soldiers of the First Column at Baizhang Pass felt their fighting spirit soar instantly.

"Kill!"

Stepping through the craters left by mortar fire, the Red Army soldiers pressed forward relentlessly. Facing the chaotic retreat of the Nationalist forces, Commander Hu realized that victory was no longer possible.

The Nationalist forces quickly withdrew from the battle. As the saying goes, "Better the friend dies than I." Having clashed with the Red Army many times, Commander Hu knew their formidable nature well and had kept an escape route open. Sensing the shift in the tide, he simply chose to flee.

With the Nationalist forces gone, the Ma Clique army, their morale already broken, became the sole target for the wrath of the Red Army soldiers.

"Damn it! Damn it!"

"Those Nationalist officials run as fast as rabbits."

"Damn those bastards!"

Seeing the Nationalist forces abandon the field, Boss Ma of the Ma Clique army was green with rage. With the Nationalist withdrawal, the collapse of his forces became absolute.

"Commander, we must retreat!"

"Retreat!"

"If we don't go now, we won't get away. These Red bandits are too fierce."

Boss Ma’s trusted aide urged. Boss Ma whipped his horse, his teeth gritted so hard they nearly shattered.

"Retreat!"

Under the cover of his men, Boss Ma fled in terror.

"Li Yunlong!" Su Changqing, his face smeared with blood, lowered his binoculars and handed them to Li Yunlong. "Look, the one fleeing in that direction—that must be Boss Ma of the Ma Clique. The First Column suffered such heavy casualties all because of that bastard. Now, I’m giving you a mission: take the cavalry battalion and flank him. I want the head of Boss Ma."

Hearing this order, Li Yunlong’s eyes lit up, his expression instantly becoming one of intense excitement.

"Commander! You can rest assured, that bastard won’t escape."

Having held back his rage for long enough, Li Yunlong grabbed a submachine gun and vaulted onto his horse.

"Comrades! Follow me! Don’t let that bastard Boss Ma get away!"

"Yes!"

Although the cavalry battalion had suffered significant losses, they remained a potent force. Led by Li Yunlong, they charged in the direction Su Changqing had indicated. By this time, the battle was drawing to a close.

***

After the reinforcements led by Su Changqing’s senior arrived, the Nationalist forces withdrew, and the Ma Clique army disintegrated entirely. The rest of the battle was like autumn leaves swept by the wind; the scales of victory had tilted completely in favor of the Red Army.

"Changqing! You're wounded?" His senior asked with immediate concern, spotting the blood seeping from Su Changqing’s left hand.

"A minor injury, nothing to worry about! It’s a good thing you arrived quickly, senior. Otherwise, the First Column might have been wiped out here." Su Changqing smiled at his senior. Though the First Column had paid a heavy price, they had saved the lives of over twenty thousand Red Army soldiers, altering a tragic history. Su Changqing felt a sense of relief.

Hearing this, his introverted and taciturn senior stood straight and offered Su Changqing a military salute.

"Changqing! On behalf of the Western Route Army and all twenty thousand of its soldiers, I thank you and the comrades of the First Column." He turned to his men. "All units, attention! Salute!"

As the senior officers of the Western Route Army expressed their heartfelt gratitude, Su Changqing’s gaze drifted back to the battlefield at Baizhang Pass. Two thousand vibrant lives of the First Column had been left here. Without their sacrifice, the Western Route Army would not have survived.

"Senior, you should thank the Red Army soldiers lying on this battlefield! They are the most lovable people of all."

The senior nodded, and they looked out over the blood-soaked field. Tears soon blurred their vision. Even at a glance, one could see the sheer brutality of the fighting. Those brave soldiers had clung to their enemies even in death, choosing to perish together. There were bayonet wounds through chests and bodies riddled with bullets. Some were blown to pieces, scattered across the field. Yet, they had not retreated a single step. They were true heroes.

"When our cause succeeds in the future, we will build a martyrs' cemetery at Baizhang Pass to commemorate these most lovable people." The senior looked at Su Changqing again. "Changqing, a telegram came from headquarters. That man who interfered with the command has been detained by guards. If not for his arrogance and meddling, the Western Route Army would not have faced total annihilation. The organization intended to put him on trial, but he escaped while using the latrine. The organization will provide you and the First Column with an explanation for this."

Su Changqing nodded, saying nothing. Through his system, he already knew the man's precise location, so he was not worried.

"Senior, now that the battle of Baizhang Pass is over, I wish to take the First Column back to rest and reorganize. We have been severely weakened. Furthermore, after this defeat, the Ma Clique will likely lack the courage to provoke us on a large scale again. It is time to implement the proposal for establishing a base area."

The senior nodded in agreement. "You are right, Changqing. Headquarters thinks the same. With the Japanese invaders looming, we have considered your suggestion. If we can establish a new base area to recover our strength, the First Column will grow even stronger."

As they spoke, Li Yunlong galloped toward them.

"Commander! Chief Commander! Look!" Li Yunlong threw a severed head onto the ground.

"This is?" the senior asked, perplexed.

"The Ma Clique! Boss Ma’s head! The old bastard tried to run, but I shot him off his horse, and then one slash with my saber sent the old beast to hell."

The senior was delighted. "Well done! Ha! With Boss Ma dead, the Northwestern Ma Clique won't dare to get involved with the Nationalist forces again. Excellent work! Li Yunlong, I shall report your merits to the organization!"

The senior laughed heartily, while Su Changqing remained calm. Looking coldly at the severed head, he muttered, "That old bastard got off too easy." Knowing the atrocities Boss Ma had committed, Su Changqing had wanted to skin him alive, but the Red Army had discipline and could not act with such savagery. Still, seeing his head severed provided a measure of justice.

Meanwhile, in Nanjing, a teacup was smashed against the wall.

"The situation has turned out like this? The Ma Clique is so incompetent? So easily defeated? Idiots! Fools!"

After venting his rage, he calmed down. "It seems I must take a trip to the Northwest. I cannot sit by and watch the Red bandits grow in power. If they are left unchecked..."