The Mysterious Soldier of the Anti-Japanese War

Chapter 238 Sato Shinoo's Moment of Despair

Lei Tao's face was solemn. He jumped down from the rock and quickly informed the team members of the situation: "The Japanese cavalry is coming in large numbers. Quickly disperse and hide. Wait until the cavalry triggers the mines in the minefield, then quietly leave. Remember, you must remain absolutely silent while hiding. Our lives depend on it."

The soldiers sprang into action, their movements swift and silent. Some crouched low in the dense undergrowth, using the branches and leaves to conceal themselves, their eyes alert as they watched the movements of the Japanese cavalry. Others clung to thick tree trunks, curling up as tightly as possible, weapons clutched tightly in their hands, ready to respond to any emergency.

As the Japanese cavalry drew closer, the clatter of their hooves resembling the beat of drums, shaking the ground slightly. Every soldier held their breath, their hearts pounding in their chests, not daring to breathe.

As the Japanese cavalry squadron reached the area, where the smoke had not yet completely cleared, they were met with a horrific scene. The bodies of Japanese soldiers lay scattered across the ground, their blood spilling out, staining the earth red and emitting a pungent stench. Severed limbs and arms were scattered everywhere, creating a horrifying scene.

Cavalry Captain Sato Shinoo sat atop his towering warhorse, his brow furrowed, his eyes revealing a solemn and uneasy expression. He quickly scanned the battlefield and immediately gave the order: "All of you, dismount and inspect these bodies for any survivors. Quickly!"

Several cavalry soldiers, receiving the order, quickly dismounted and carefully moved among the corpses. Their expressions were serious, their eyes filled with tension and reluctance. With each corpse, they reached out with a trembling hand. Some soldiers crouched down and gently felt for breath in the fallen soldier; others pressed on the carotid artery, trying to sense any signs of life.

At this moment, a cavalry soldier, somewhat burly, was turning over a body that had been blown to pieces, completely unaware of the danger approaching. His movement moved the body, and underneath it, a mine lay quietly, waiting to be triggered.

With a soft click, the mine's fuse was activated. Instantly, a dazzling flash of fire erupted beneath the soldier's feet, followed by a deafening explosion. The soldier was instantly engulfed by the powerful blast, his figure vanishing in the flames.

This was just the beginning. As the first mine exploded, the powerful force and vibration triggered various other mines hidden in the surrounding area like a domino effect. Booby traps exploded one after another in the bushes and under the earth pits, and flames rose and fell, forming a sea of ​​​​inferno.

Sato Shinoo's face suddenly changed, terror gripping his heart. He stared wide-eyed and screamed at the top of his lungs, "Danger! Retreat!" He yanked at the reins with all his might, trying to force his horse to turn and gallop. However, the explosion spread like a surging tide, spreading rapidly in the blink of an eye. The shockwave, like a tsunami, relentlessly shook everything in its path.

His warhorse was running at high speed, and was frightened by the violent vibration. It raised its front hooves high, neighed loudly to the sky, and trembled all over. It completely lost control and threw Sato Shinoo heavily to the ground.

Sato Shinoo fell to the ground with a thud, sending up a cloud of dust that made him cough. His helmet tumbled to the side from the impact. Heedless of the pain, he scrambled on his hands and knees, finally hopping behind a large rock. As he lay flat on the ground, he heard several shrapnel whistling past him like sharp blades, whizzing past his head, followed by a series of "puffs" as they lodged themselves deeply into the branches of the large tree behind him.

At the same time, a pressure-activated mine, struck by the earth and rocks stirred up by the explosion, detonated instantly. Shrapnel flew in all directions like steel needles, slicing the belly of a nearby warhorse that hadn't managed to avoid it, sending it neighing and falling. Meanwhile, a jumping mine, also triggered by the vibrations of the explosion, leaped high into the air before exploding with a bang, fatally striking the Japanese soldiers who had tried to lie down for cover.

At the same time, the bombs strategically placed between tree trunks and beside rocks were detonated one by one. One bomb, struck by the blast's airflow, triggered a chemical reaction within it, and the entire bomb exploded like a volcanic eruption. Large fragments of shrapnel, swirling with blazing flames, flew toward the retreating Japanese cavalry, instantly severing one of them in half...

Sato Shinoo, huddled behind a large rock, his heart pounding. Cold sweat dripped from his forehead and streamed down his cheeks. Looking up, he saw the once orderly cavalry formation shattered by the explosion. Soldiers screamed in agony, their horses bolted in all directions, and broken limbs and flying earth and rocks scattering in the flames and smoke.

Sato Shinoo was filled with regret, his teeth clenched tightly, his cheeks puffing slightly from the exertion. His eyes were wide and bloodshot, a glint of fear and resentment mingling. Recalling the events leading up to his departure, he had fully believed he was simply chasing a group of twenty or so anti-Japanese youths escorted by only a dozen Chinese soldiers, confident they would be easily annihilated and meritorious service to the Empire. Who could have imagined that, simply because of his underestimation of the enemy, he would have walked headfirst into such a deadly trap...

Lei Tao glanced back at the direction of the explosion and saw the tragic plight of the Japanese cavalry. A hint of relief appeared on his tense face. He immediately turned around and shouted to his team members: "While they are in such a mess, hurry up and leave! We must keep our distance from them!"

The team members quickened their pace, weaving through the forest. They knew every second saved was a safer second. Someone in the team accidentally tripped over a tree root, scraping their knee, but without a word, they climbed up and continued chasing. Someone else scratched their face on a branch, blood streaming down their cheek, but they simply wiped it away and returned to the frantic evacuation.

Half a minute later, the explosions finally subsided, but Sato Shinoo remained motionless, as if time had stood still. After a long moment, he lifted his head slightly. The cold sweat on his forehead, mixed with dirt, trickled down his cheeks like tiny, serpentine worms. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with fear and hesitation, and cautiously poked his head out.

The sight before him made him gasp, his stomach churning, and he nearly vomited. The battlefield was dead silent, the charred earth, as if cursed by a demon, emitting a chilling aura. The bodies of Japanese soldiers and horses lay scattered across the battlefield, their bodies strewn everywhere, like a gruesome scene from hell. The pungent smell of gunpowder and blood mingled, filling his nostrils and making him feel dizzy.

He trembled as he scanned the battlefield. Amidst this mortal hell, he was pleasantly surprised to find over thirty warhorses and an equal number of Imperial cavalry warriors, seemingly blessed by luck and spared. Some of the cavalry slumped to the ground, their eyes hollow, as if their souls had been drained away. Some stood motionless, their weapons drooping limply at their sides, their faces etched with the terror and bewilderment of surviving. Others supported each other, trying to recover from the chaos and terror. The surviving warhorses, too, trembled, their eyes filled with fear, and pawed the ground anxiously.

Sato Shinoo took a deep breath, suppressing the fear and grief within him. Gathering all his strength, he trembled and stood up. His legs felt heavy as if they were filled with lead, and they trembled slightly. Every step he took felt like stepping on soft cotton, weak and limp. He struggled to hold onto the boulder, and after a long pause, he staggered towards the nearest warhorse.

The horse was also covered in dust, its once smooth fur now stained with mud and blood. Its eyes showed endless fear, but fortunately, there were no obvious scars. Sato Shinoo soothed him softly, his voice trembling with a barely perceptible tremor: "Don't be afraid, buddy..." He stretched out his trembling hands, grabbed the reins, and tried to climb onto the horse. But the first time, his legs gave way, and he fell directly to the ground, raising a cloud of dust. He gritted his teeth, gripped the saddle tightly with both hands, his knuckles turning white from the effort, and tried again. This time, he tried his best, using the strength of his arms, and finally succeeded in climbing onto the horse.

He sat upright on his horse. Though his legs still trembled, his gaze gradually regained its former sternness and majesty. He glanced around at the surviving soldiers, his heart filled with despair and unwillingness. Then, he raised his whip and lashed it hard on his horse's rump. He galloped towards the thirty or so surviving cavalrymen and shouted, "Assemble! Get ready!" His voice echoed across the empty battlefield, a little hoarse and exhausted, yet with a stern command.