CHAPTER 19: FIRESTORM AT PENGZE (PART EIGHT)

　　Hands clamped over mouths and noses, the trio dashed back to the shack. Master Zhang and Hanzhi stood unharmed. Dong Yaoting scanned the sky—the wind blew southwestward, carrying the poison gas downhill. Their shelter sat windward, sparing them.

　　Dong San-shao uncovered his face, gasping: "Master! Japs released poison gas! Soak cloth—cover your mouths! Lucky the wind’s downhill, or we’d be corpses!"

　　Old Zhang frowned. "Poison gas? Kills when breathed?"

　　"Exactly! No time!" San-shao urged. "Hanzhi—move!"

　　Dong Yaoting stepped closer. "We feared you wouldn’t know, Master. Had to warn you and Little Sister."

　　Warmth flooded Zhang Jinzhi’s chest. "Good lads... loyal disciples!"

　　Hanzhi ripped a rag into five strips, drenching them in cold water. As she finished, deafening battle cries erupted from the streets.

　　Dong Yaoting froze at the battle cries. "Master! Little Sister! Stay put! Japs breached the walls—charging into the city!"

　　Zhang Jinzhi hefted his dadao. "Let them come! These ruins will run red with their blood! My family’s vengeance awaits!"

　　"My family"—his slain son and grandchildren. Dong Yaoting said nothing. To San-shao: "Guard them here." He dashed out with Zhang Facai.

　　San-shao’s fists clenched empty-handed. Left my rifle on the battlements… If Japs storm in…

　　Hanzhi’s gaze pinned him. "San-shao… you ran back first. They followed you?"

　　He nodded absently, eyes locked on the doorway, ears straining for footsteps.

　　"So… we were your first thought?" Tears welled in her eyes. "You raced to us?"

　　Outside—boots pounded. San-shao tensed for combat. Hanzhi pressed: "Tell me!"

　　San-shao burst: "Yes! Mid-shooting, Zhou screamed 'Gas! Cover mouths!' My first thought? You both. So I ran."

　　Hanzhi’s tears fell freely. Old Zhang understood—this "coarse" lad hid a tender heart. And his granddaughter? Lost in the first bloom of love.

　　Dong San-shao’s words hung in the air as Dong Yaoting and Zhang Facai burst inside. "Master! Japs breached the west wall!" Dong Yaoting gasped. "Commander Zhou’s retreating east! We’re trapped!"

　　Zhang Facai thrust a rifle at San-shao. "Here! Zhou’s runner fetched this from HQ—dropped dead from Jap gas halfway!"

　　Dong Yaoting’s eyes blazed red, face smeared black with soot. "Fucking 167th Division! Collapsed in thirty minutes! Zhou’s men fled Pengze too! Whole city—gifted to Jap devils!"

　　San-shao silently accepted the rifle. "Don’t know this type. And that messenger 'accident'? Too damn convenient!"

　　"We took our escape route!" Zhang Facai spat. "Found a corpse! Your master made me grab it! Take it or choke!"

　　As San-shao cradled the weapon, Dong Yaoting stepped closer. "Spot anything special?"

　　San-shao examined it. "Extra glass piece here. Longer barrel too."

　　"Sight through it!" Dong Yaoting urged.

　　San-shao raised the rifle—right eye against the scope.

　　A Jap soldier stared directly at him.

　　He pulled the trigger.

　　The silenced shot tore through the Jap’s forehead. He collapsed, eyes wide with terror, blood bubbling from a perfect hole.

　　Dong San-shao stared in shock. He lowered the rifle, straining to see where the Jap soldier fell—invisible to the naked eye. "Young Master! I killed one... but can’t see him?!"

　　Dong Yaoting paled. "Fool! That shot exposed us! Japs will swarm us now!"

　　San-shao ignored the danger. "This rifle’s uncanny! That Jap was 500 meters out! Scope magic!"

　　Zhang Facai scoffed. "Deaf too? Silent rifle— extra pipe acts as suppressor!"

　　Dong Yaoting slapped his forehead. "Christ! No bang!"

　　

　　While they fled, Hota Shigeichi’s artillery hammered the southwest. Simultaneously, 13th Gas Company’s lewisite crept through Pengze. Ignoring officers’ orders to cover their mouths, unwitting soldiers inhaled the yellow haze.

　　As the gas spread, the beastly Hota ordered continuous bombardment. Except for distant areas near the walls, Pengze drowned in gas and shrapnel. Buildings crumbled. Women, children, elders—blown apart or poisoned. Pre-war tranquility became hell on earth.

　　Xue Weiying fled toward the east gate, a gas mask clamped over his face, guarded by his entourage. Zhou Ziyu simultaneously shielded Division Commander Zhou Qiduo in retreat. Though termed "breakout," this was full-scale flight.

　　Hota’s tactical pivot enabled this:

　　Originally, 1st Regiment blocked the east gate

　　Hota diverted them west with artillery cover

　　Only a skeleton force remained east

　　Two divisions stampeded through—fleeing toward Hukou

　　

　　Hota’s real genius lay behind:

　　A single battalion pinned down the Nationalist 16th Division’s assault

　　His focus: Shattering the west gate defended by Xue’s cowardly 167th Division

　　

　　Meanwhile, Dong Yaoting and Zhang Facai raced to assess defenses. They passed a dead soldier clutching a rifle.

　　Dong Yaoting froze—expertise igniting. "German Mauser Kar98k sniper rifle! 5-round staggered magazine, 3.9kg, 755m/s muzzle velocity, 800m effective range!"

　　This was Zhou Ziyu’s runner—dead from gas poisoning.

　　As Dong Yaoting seized rifle and ammo pouch, Zhang Facai pointed:

　　Corpse-littered battlements—not one defender standing

　　Gas-masked Japs slaughtering fleeing troops at the west gate

　　Dong Yaoting knew Pengze was lost. He sprinted back to the shack.

　　San-shao cradled the Mauser like a cherished relic. Silent kills at 500 meters? This was sorcery.

　　Dong Yaoting shook the ammo pouch—bullets rustled inside. "Hundreds of rounds here—all for this rifle." He untied the pouch. Brass cartridges gleamed.

　　"Now what?" San-shao asked.

　　Outside, running footsteps and women's shrieks mixed with machine gun stutter.

　　"Zhang Facai—ideas?" Dong Yaoting’s voice held no plan.

　　"How in hell would I know?" Zhang Facai spat. "City’s taken. Can’t parade down main street with this rifle! Strip the uniforms. Play civilians. Hide here ’till the storm passes."

　　Old Zhang pointed to the dirt floor. "Lads—this shack’s got a cellar. Dug for storing sweet potatoes. You three hole up down there. Hanzhi and I will cover topside."

　　Dong Yaoting’s face lit up. "We stay!"

　　

　　The cellar—carved for winter storage—

　　Stayed warm in winter, cool in summer

　　Stone slab cover couldn’t seal completely (oxygen needed to prevent rot)