Zhou Tong guided Dong Sanshao into the city. In the courtyard behind the 26th Division headquarters, Dong Yaoting, Zhang Facai, and Zhang Hanzhi craned their necks toward the gate entrance. Since being quartered here, their movement had been restricted. Sentries guarded the gates, forbidding unauthorized passage. Both the 26th and 77th Division headquarters were stationed within Hukou city, but the 26th's main combat force garrisoned the Longtan Mountain position.

　　Longtan Mountain stood merely kilometers from Hukou – like Liusi Bridge, a critical gateway to the city. The 77th Division defended east of Hukou, the 26th Division west, forming a protective arc. Chenjia Bridge served merely as a flank position of the Liusi Bridge defenses. When the 461st Regiment reached Chenjia Bridge, Battalion Commander Jiang Lifu of the 460th Regiment's 1st Battalion had already fallen – a bullet through the center of his forehead from Yamashima Yukio. Chenjia Bridge was lost.

　　Major General Peng Weiren ordered Zhao Kefu's 461st Regiment to retake Chenjia Bridge. Thus erupted a ferocious battle at this obscure location between Lieutenant Colonel Sasaki's 1st Regiment and Zhao Kefu's 461st Regiment.

　　Lieutenant Colonel Sasaki felt savage satisfaction watching Yamashima Yukio covertly eliminate Chinese commanders. Earlier, Dong Sanshao's marksmanship had infuriated him. Now through binoculars, he witnessed a Chinian major drop dead from Yamashima's bullet. Battalion Commander Jiang Lifu had already perished at Chenjia Bridge.

　　Sasaki ordered heavy artillery bombardment. The 461st Regiment, newly arrived at Chenjia Bridge, endured savage shelling. One-third of its troops were killed or wounded. Sasaki then commanded Captain Yamaguchi Keisuke's gas unit to fire poison gas shells. Unprepared, the 461st Regiment and 460th's 1st Battalion inhaled the toxic fumes. Amidst the gas-induced chaos, Yamashima Yukio's bullet struck 461st Regiment Commander Zhao Kefu. Yellow smoke obscured the sniper's aim – the shot missed vital organs. Chenjia Bridge fell as the 461st Regiment collapsed. Only 200 soldiers remained during the retreat. Regiment Commander Zhao Kefu was severely wounded.

　　The 77th Division's remaining regiments and the 16th Division were pinned down east of Liusi Bridge by the Japanese 106th Division's 111th Brigade, unable to reinforce. Seizing the moment, the Hata Detachment's 2nd Regiment advanced from Chenjia Bridge to join the 1st Regiment. They concentrated forces to assault the 26th Division's Longtan Mountain position.

　　Yamashima Yukio advanced with the Hata Detachment. As Zhou Tong brought Dong Sanshao to their quarters, Longtan Mountain's base swarmed with Japanese troops. A brutal battle loomed.

　　Location: Hukou

　　26th Division Commander Liu Yuqing's headquarters stood in Hukou, one kilometer from the 77th Division command post. When Zhou Tong returned with Dong Sanshao, Dong Yaoting rushed over, glaring:

　　"Goddamn! You made it back?"

　　Dong Sanshao nodded grimly:

　　"Nearly kicked the bucket."

　　Zhang Hanzhi ran to him, clutching his hand, tears streaming:

　　"Sanshao-ge! Thank heaven you're safe!"

　　Dong Sanshao met her eyes:

　　"Liusi Bridge can't hold. Regiment Commander Chen ordered me back. Gate guards detained me as a spy. If Commander Zhou hadn't waited..."

　　Dong Yaoting cursed:

　　"Fucking madness! Why detain you?"

　　Zhou Tong smiled:

　　"Enough. He's back. Come to Nanchang with us?"

　　Dong Sanshao suddenly kicked Zhang Facai's backside:

　　"You goddamn bastard! At Majiazhuang's rear mountain, when Little Shimei couldn't walk, Young Master asked you to carry her. You fucking ignored him! No loyalty!"

　　Zhang Facai jumped up, rubbing his butt:

　　"Your Young Master was itching to carry that girl himself! Think I didn't see? I've been around! Know romance when I spot it!"

　　Dong Sanshao froze. Zhang Facai was right – Young Master fancied Little Shimei. He recalled Songjiazhuang: Dong Yaoting's forced matchmaking, the girl fleeing to Chongqing, Yaoting's hidden relief. He laughed:

　　"Sharp tongue! If true, I apologize!"

　　Zhang Hanzhi flushed crimson:

　　"Zhang Facai! Shut your filthy mouth!"

　　Her eyes darted toward Dong Sanshao, who pretended not to notice. He asked Dong Yaoting:

　　"Young Master, what's our plan?"

　　Dong Yaoting, secretly pleased his crush was exposed, answered:

　　"Before you returned, I requested Commander Zhou: all three of us join the Bureau in Nanchang. She agreed. Right, Commander Zhou?"

　　Zhou Tong nodded. Dong Sanshao eyed Zhang Facai:

　　"What about him? Won't he join us?"

　　Zhang Facai shook his head despondently:

　　"Commander Zhou says I'm unfit. We part ways here."

　　Hearing the despair in his voice, Dong Sanshao turned to Zhou Tong:

　　"Commander Zhou, we four crawled from death's grip together. May he come?"

　　Zhou Tong studied Dong Sanshao, her smile lingering. She remembered Dong Yaoting standing beside her when she'd rejected Zhang Facai earlier. Why hadn't he spoken up?

　　"You want him included?" she asked.

　　Dong Sanshao didn't hesitate:

　　"Absolutely. We're blood brothers forged in combat. I traded blows with him during basic training. Sworn brothers don't part ways."

　　Warmth spread through Zhou Tong's chest. Zhang Facai's eyes welled. He shouted hoarsely:

　　"Dong Sanshao! You goddamn bastard! I'll follow you to hell and back!"

　　Dong Sanshao understood now – Yaoting hadn't lifted a finger for him earlier. He grinned:

　　"Zhang Facai! Don't be ungrateful! Where Young Master goes, I follow. This chance comes from him – I'm just the messenger."

　　Dong Yaoting stood speechless. Zhou Tong cut in:

　　"Enough. You'll all come to Nanchang. We'll find Zhang Facai's place there."

　　A soldier entered, saluting sharply:

　　"Commander Zhou, Division Commander Liu requests you immediately."

　　Zhou Tong departed without looking back.

　　***

　　Location: Liu Yuqing's Command Post, Hukou

　　Division Commander Liu Yuqing met her with strained courtesy:

　　"Commander Zhou, Liusi Bridge and Chenjia Bridge have fallen. Japanese forces mass at Longtan Mountain's base. Military Commission orders Hukou held at all costs. Army Commander Guo Rudong marches here with reinforcements. For your safety, I advise immediate evacuation."

　　Zhou Tong absorbed the gravity:

　　"Commander Liu, Bureau Director Dai ordered my presence here. But I've witnessed your troops' valor firsthand. My report will reflect that. We depart for Nanchang tomorrow."

　　Liu Yuqing's relief was palpable:

　　"Apologies for our wartime accommodations."

　　Zhou Tong's smile didn't reach her eyes:

　　"The honor is mine. Farewell."

　　As she left, Liu snapped at his guards:

　　"Keep them contained! No incidents!"

　　The command post shuddered violently. Artillery thunder rolled across the city.

　　Liu roared into the sudden chaos:

　　"Get me Longtan Mountain HQ – NOW!"

　　***

　　Location: Major General Hata Shigeyoshi's Forward Command Post

　　Hata fixed his gaze on Lieutenant Colonel Sasaki (1st Regiment) and Colonel Izō Saburō (2nd Regiment):

　　"Take Longtan Mountain before dusk falls. Imperial Navy 11th Squadron, 2nd Combined Air Group, 3rd Air Squadron, and 15th Air Group will provide coordinated support. This is a tri-service assault. Intelligence confirms:

　　Longtan Mountain defended solely by 26th Division

　　77th and 16th Divisions pinned east of Liusi Bridge by General Matsuura's 111th Brigade, 106th Division

　　Swift and total victory is imperative!"

　　After concluding his briefing, Major General Hata Shigeyoshi checked his watch: "17:40 now. Night assault inadvisable. Commence operations precisely at 06:00 tomorrow. Artillery barrage initiates." Lieutenant Colonel Sasaki returned to his command post and ordered a guard: "Summon Yamashima Yukio." While awaiting the sniper, cunning flickered in his shadowed eyes.

　　Five minutes later, Yamashima arrived. Sasaki commanded: "Yamashima-san. The opposing position holds the Chinian 26th Division. Eliminate their commander tonight." Yamashima Yukio bowed slightly: "Executing your orders, Lieutenant Colonel." Sasaki dismissed him with a wave.

　　Dusk settled over Longtan Mountain's base in eerie stillness. Cooking smoke curled skyward, coalescing into tiger-shaped clouds. Yamashima sat secluded at the mountain's foot. He laid his sniper rifle across his thighs, withdrew a long-stemmed tobacco pipe, and lit it. Save for the mustard-yellow uniform, he resembled any Chinese farmer tending fields at twilight. Yet this farmer readied for night-killing. Puffing his pipe, he awaited darkness.