Chapter 46: The Captive (Part One)

　　The guard dispatched by Guo Rudong to order Liu Yuqing’s retreat collapsed at the trenchline, foaming at the mouth. Despite his urine-soaked face covering, poison gas had seeped in during his sprint. He convulsed, then lay still.　　Silence gripped Meilankou. Division Commander Liu Yuqing scanned the defenses through binoculars. His soldiers huddled behind sandbags, urine-drenched rags pressed to their faces. Below, Japanese troops in gas masks advanced methodically.　　Liu snatched a submachine gun and charged toward the front. Guards tackled him mid-stride. "No, sir!"　　Three regimental commanders rose from the trenches, spraying bullets at the advancing Japanese. Enemy soldiers hit the dirt, returning fire. Chinese troops leve