Chapter Thirty-Two: The Frontline

At the gates of Yuanzhou City, over a thousand students from the Medical College and the Military Academy gathered. Although their numbers seemed considerable, they appeared insignificant against the towering walls of Yuanzhou City.

Under the watchful eyes of several hundred students from Huali Military Academy and the Medical College, the advancing contingent of more than a thousand marched resolutely toward the front lines.

According to instructions from the country's leadership, this advance force organized by Huali Military Academy was stationed at Qinzhou City. Qinzhou lay merely a dozen miles from Huizhou City, the main battlefield, making it the very forefront of the war effort.

However, compared to Huizhou, Qinzhou could hardly be called a battleground. After a series of defeats, the national military department had jointly deployed the Fourth, Fifth, and Eighth Armies of the Imperial Guard—totaling one hundred thousand troops—to Huizhou, actively organizing its defense.

The defense of Huizhou was a battle that could not be lost. Victory would boost national morale; defeat was simply unacceptable.

The head of state personally issued a strict directive to Hu Weimin, commander of the Imperial Guard, ordering him to swiftly mobilize his forces, rally surrounding warlords, and coordinate efforts to encircle and defeat the foreign armies, defending every inch of the homeland.

Leading the hundred-thousand-strong force in Huizhou was Wu Qiong, a seasoned veteran with extensive combat experience, including overseas campaigns. The nation placed great trust in Wu Qiong's ability to organize the city's defense.

After several days and nights of marching, the advance force finally reached Qinzhou City.

What greeted Ma Yuan was a shocking sight: the city was scarred with cratered bomb holes, flames still flickering outside the walls, and in the corners, dark-faced men groaned in pain.

As they entered the city, a bleaker scene unfolded—dilapidated houses, ruined shops, empty streets devoid of any people. It was a stark contrast to the bustling prosperity of Yuanzhou City, profoundly shaking Ma Yuan.

The city’s garrison commander, Sun Hanmin, commanded about ten thousand men, though they were mere idlers, utterly incomparable to the disciplined Imperial Guard.

Sun Hanmin, tasked with receiving the advance force, was a man skilled in deception despite lacking real ability. He was sharp-eyed and insightful about battlefield dynamics but quick to flee at the first sign of danger.

Men like Sun Hanmin, cowardly and self-serving, were common in the country but untouchable. These warlords controlled their own forces and could be rallied to fight when needed; yet if provoked, they would retreat into the mountains, leaving the government powerless.

The truly loyal troops under the government were the Imperial Guard, led by Hu Weimin, and the National Guard, commanded by Wang He. Both commanders had been trained abroad, possessed high military acumen, and unwavering loyalty, making their forces the true regular armies.

The thousand-strong advance force was quartered in the St. Millie Church in Qinzhou. Originally a foreign church, it had been evacuated and abandoned when the war broke out.

Despite the numbers, the quarters were not overly cramped.

That evening, an eager Ma Yuan arranged to meet Liu Shishi in a small park outside the church. Since their departure, Ma Yuan and Liu Shishi had not met, as the Military Academy and Medical College students traveled separately with no opportunity to reunite.

Only now, with everyone settled, could they finally see each other.

“Ma Yuan, do you think this defense will succeed?” Liu Shishi asked softly, holding his hand. She longed for victory.

Ma Yuan squeezed her hand reassuringly. “It will succeed. We must believe in the Imperial Guard and in the government.”

Though he didn’t fully understand the inner workings of the government and military, from what his teachers and classmates said, the Imperial Guard’s strength was unquestioned. Thus, Ma Yuan was confident.

“But Mr. Li said the government and military are mostly run by warlords, making it very difficult to repel foreign forces. Many have come from all over the country to resist, but some have already become complacent before the fighting even began,” Liu Shishi confided, having paid close attention to such matters.

Ma Yuan clenched his fists. He understood this to some extent but was just a lowly military student, powerless to change the world.

Liu Shishi grasped his hand and whispered, “No matter what happens, I will stand by you.”

Tender moments were fleeting. After a night’s rest, the enemy launched an assault on Huizhou at dawn. Though the advance force was still in Qinzhou, the thunderous cannon fire echoed continuously, deafening all.

“The defense of Huizhou has begun,” sighed Fang Lei on the city tower of Qinzhou. As the third-year leader and overall captain of Huali Military Academy, he fully understood the daunting challenge ahead.

Though the Imperial Guard held Huizhou, internal factional struggles between the Imperial and National Guards complicated matters, fueling Fang Lei’s concerns.

The bombardment raged for half a day, stopping around noon.

At that moment, the advance force was ordered to assemble outside Qinzhou within an hour and proceed to Huizhou to assist logistics in rescuing the wounded.

After preparations, under Fang Lei and Li Xianqu’s leadership, the entire advance force set out for Huizhou, while Deng Shu remained behind as a reserve.

The defenders of Huizhou had fought fiercely all morning, suffering heavy casualties. Under relentless artillery shelling, the city was riddled with holes. More alarming than the ruined walls were the countless corpses strewn about.

Upon arrival, many students couldn’t suppress their nausea, vomiting at the horrific scene—something none had ever witnessed before. The devastation was truly harrowing.

Inside the field hospital, the wounded were already numerous, and more continuously arrived from the front. The facility was overwhelmed.

Soon, under Imperial Guard orders, the students were divided into five groups. Medical students remained to tend to the injured, while military students accompanied Imperial Guard troops to the front lines to help transport wounded soldiers.

This was an extraordinarily perilous task, as enemy fire could strike the transport routes at any moment, potentially killing them instantly.

Yet, on the faces of these students was an unwavering resolve. They had long awaited this day. Every one of them studied advanced military theory hoping for the opportunity to fight, though beneath their courage lay a quiet fear of losing their lives here.