Chapter 65: The Death of Zheng Li in Battle

While the 339th Division and the combined forces of Ma and Sha were exchanging fire at the West Gate, in the exact opposite direction, Zheng Li was leading his own security regiment and Gu Huairun’s 63rd Army into fierce combat against the 7th Brigade of the Ma-Sha coalition.

Because Gu Huairun’s 63rd Army was not a standardized division—some of its personnel having been transferred from the former 77th Army—and its strength had already been considerably depleted during the defense of the South Gate, a massive numerical disparity remained between them and the 7th Brigade, even with Zheng Li throwing his entire security regiment into the fray.

"Army Group Commander, this is no way to fight! Our men are almost wiped out. Commander, we have to retreat; we must preserve a seed for our 15th Army Group." On the forward positions before the East Gate of Bozhou City, 63rd Army Commander Gu Huairun was earnestly trying to dissuade Zheng Li.

In less than half a day, more than half of the forces they had brought to retake the East Gate position had already been lost. If this continued, let alone recapturing the positions, even holding the existing ones would be extraordinarily difficult.

Zheng Li had also been to the front lines to inspect. The fighting was intensely fierce, and the brim of his cap was still stained with the blood of soldiers who had fought heroically just ahead.

"We cannot retreat now. If we pull back now, the 7th Brigade will drive straight through, and the garrison forces stationed at the South and West Gates will find themselves caught in a pincer attack. In that event, our 15th Army Group will be completely annihilated here."

Zheng Li had also entertained the idea of retreating, but viewing the overall situation, he understood that retreat was no longer an option.

The optimal window for retreat had been the very moment the East Gate position was breached. If the defenders at the South Gate had bought time, the garrison at the West Gate could have gradually fallen back to the Zheng faction's heartland.

But the situation was different now. Whether at the South Gate or the West Gate, forces were far from sufficient. Whoever withdrew now would simply be walking to their doom; not only would they fail to escape, but they would also face the risk of total annihilation by the enemy.

"Army Group Commander, you should withdraw first. As long as you are still here, our 15th Army Group is still alive. Leave this place to me; I will lead the brothers of the 63rd Army to hold this ground to the death, and not let a single enemy step into the city."

Gu Huairun was not born a military commander; he was a scholar of the liberal arts. Yet the resolute attitude he displayed at this moment was a true portrayal of the soldiers fighting valiantly across every front line in Bozhou City: as long as the city stands, we live!

Looking at Gu Huairun, whose face was blackened by smoke and grime, Zheng Li clenched his teeth until they trembled.

"Gu Huairun, you..." Zheng Li found himself lost for words.

Gu Huairun stood straight and tall, his eyes brimming with unwavering determination. "Commander, hurry and retreat. If in the future you still remember me, please build a gravestone for me in my hometown of Luzhou City."

Without uttering another superfluous word, Zheng Li heavily patted Gu Huairun on the shoulder, then quickly retreated toward the North Gate under the protection of a platoon of soldiers.

Simultaneously, Zheng Li issued orders to Li Liang at the South Gate, and to Qian Jiushan and Xue Yi at the West Gate, instructing them to seize any opportunity to withdraw rapidly from the front lines and avoid becoming bogged down in prolonged combat.

Upon receiving the order at the West Gate, Qian Jiushan immediately relayed it to the three division headquarters.

Division Commander Li Juichuan of the 339th Division was unable to calm his emotions for a long time upon receiving the retreat order. Prior to this directive, the 339th Division could no longer muster even a hundred men capable of forming a coherent defense.

Moreover, among those hundred men were several who had already been wounded. Li Juichuan had originally intended to order all personnel from the intelligence department to take up rifles and head to the front lines.

Yet now, having received the order to retreat, Li Juichuan found it difficult to accept for the moment, his heart churning turbulently.

"Division Commander, please hurry and retreat. I will have the 3rd Company stay behind to cover the rear, ensuring the safe withdrawal of everyone else in our division." Chief of Staff Zeng Guojiang felt as though his heart were being torn apart, but the battlefield changed in the blink of an eye, leaving no room for hesitation.

Ultimately, Li Juichuan let out a heavy sigh. "Very well, pass down the order. Have everyone retreat. Let the 3rd Company cover the rear. Call their company commander over; I have instructions for him."

Before long, the commander of the 3rd Company arrived. In truth, the 3rd Company’s establishment was no longer complete, as many of its mid-level officers had already fallen in battle.

Upon seeing the company commander step into the operations room, Ma Yuan was deeply shocked—it was none other than Chang Huailang.

Chang Huailang noticed Ma Yuan the moment he entered, but he said nothing, walking directly up to Li Juichuan and executing a crisp military salute.

"Division Commander, Chang Huailang, commander of the 3rd Company, reporting!"

Li Juichuan stepped forward and straightened Chang Huailang's uniform, his expression grave.

"Chang Huailang, do you know your mission?"

"I know. The 3rd Company will remain in position to ensure our entire division's withdrawal from Bozhou City." Before coming here, the messenger had already informed Chang Huailang of the company's impending assignment.

Looking at Chang Huailang before him, Li Juichuan continued, "As things stand, only your 3rd Company's organizational structure remains relatively intact. Therefore, this final defense is entrusted to you. I will not say much more."

"There is only one requirement: your company must ensure the retreat of the entire 339th Division, and indeed, the withdrawal of our entire 12th Army Group."

Chang Huailang could hear the heavy breathing of Li Juichuan right before him. He knew profoundly well that this upcoming battle would likely be his final one—and the final battle for the men of the 3rd Company.

Having endured the trials of these past years, Chang Huailang was no longer the simple-minded student he once was; the youthful naivety of those years had long since been ground away.

"Very well. That is all, Chang Huailang. My last words to you: you damn well better come back alive."

With those words, Li Juichuan turned and left the command post to prepare for the retreat. Only then did Ma Yuan get the chance to step forward.

The two men exchanged a smile, and unable to restrain himself any longer, Ma Yuan pulled Chang Huailang into a tight embrace.

Knowing what Ma Yuan meant, Chang Huailang heavily patted Ma Yuan’s back.

"Come back alive! I'll be waiting for you to drink with me!" Ma Yuan said softly. Chang Huailang nodded, then turned and left without looking back.

Soon, the 5th Army and Xue Yi's 37th Army at the West Gate withdrew entirely, and the garrison at the South Gate also pulled back, retreating along predetermined routes toward the North Gate.

Zheng Li, who had departed earlier, had already arrived outside the North Gate of Bozhou City. He glanced back at the city, his eyes filled with deep reluctance.

"I will fight my way back sooner or later!"

These were not just Zheng Li's thoughts; the surrounding soldiers of the 12th Army Group shared the exact same sentiment.

Yet right at that moment, an unexpected catastrophe struck. The vehicle carrying Zheng Li directly triggered a landmine, and the entire car erupted in a massive explosion.

The vehicle immediately behind failed to react in time to the scene, and by the time they processed what had happened, Zheng Li's transport had been blown to smithereens.

Left with no other choice, the remaining men could only gather what scorched fragments were left of their belongings inside the vehicle, and hastily fled Bozhou City by transport.

The various detachments that evacuated Bozhou City did not pause for a single moment, pressing straight on toward Luzhou City.

Meanwhile, the 3rd Company left behind to cover the rear and Gu Huairun's 63rd Army were quickly surrounded by the formidable Ma-Sha coalition forces. Ultimately, Chang Huailang's 3rd Company and Gu Huairun's 63rd Army were both wiped out to the last man by the coalition.

With this, the entirety of Bozhou City fell into the hands of the Ma-Sha allied forces.