Outside the Zhonghua Gate, Pude Temple.

Pude Temple, as the name suggests, is known to be a temple, and the scale is not small.

Because it is also a Buddhist country, after the Japanese army arrived, although the Pude Temple was requisitioned as a barracks, the monks in the temple were not infringed, and the temple property was not damaged.

The Sanzang Hall in Pude Temple was already crowded with devils at this time.

Hatta Takayuki leaned against the steps, basking in the warm sun, and was almost asleep.

Yes, that's right, this Hatta Takayuki is the artillery squad leader who was interviewed by Hibino Miko in the first place.

But now, Hatta Takayuki is no longer an artilleryman, but has been transferred to the 3rd Squadron of the 1st Infantry Brigade under the Kumamoto Wing as a squadron leader.

Supposedly, Takayuki Hatta, who was born as an artilleryman, should not be the chief officer of an infantry unit.

However, due to the large shortage of officers after the re-establishment of the Kumamoto Wing, and the fact that all the artillery equipment of the Kumamoto Wing had been lost in the city, it was no longer meaningful to keep the artillery, so Shigeta Shigetoku simply transferred all artillery officers like Hatta Takayuki to the infantry unit, and the officer was promoted to the rank of commander at all levels.

Hatta Takayuki became an infantry squadron leader in this way.

It is said that Hatta Takayuki, as the leader of the artillery squad, lost the artillery, and instead of being shot, he was promoted to a higher rank, so he should be happy.

However, at this moment, Hatta Takayuki was really not happy.

Because he was so tired that he could fall asleep standing up, and he was so tired that he didn't have the strength to be happy.

No, as soon as the newly appointed wing captain Akutsu Kan finished his training, the queue had just been disbanded, and Hatta Takayuki sat down on the steps of the main hall and began to take a nap.

Just as Hatta Takayuki was drowsy, a figure approached.

Approaching was a stocky private, with a box of biscuits in his hand.

"Squadron Leader, this is the chocolate I found from a store." Private said courteously, "Shake the rope (please)." ”

Hatta Takayuki opened his eyes and saw that it was his herald Hojoji, so he waved his hand and said, "Hojo-kun, I don't want to eat, you better eat it yourself." ”

Hojoji put the biscuits back with some regret and said, "Squadron Leader, I heard about Miss Hibino's interview with you from NHK's radio program, but unfortunately, Miss Hibino was killed by the Shina people. ”

Hatta Takayuki ignored Hojoji and continued to nap him, taking every opportunity to nap.

As a veteran, Hatta Takayuki has deeply realized how important it is to maintain physical strength on the battlefield! And if you want to maintain your strength, you must get enough sleep!

Therefore, it is necessary to take every opportunity to take a nap!

Hojoji, who had just come from the Supplementary Corps, didn't know this, and Hatta Takayuki didn't bother to tell him, because before being educated by the cruel reality, no recruit could remember the advice of the veteran!

Hojoji continued to babble and asked, "Squadron Leader, where is your hometown?" ”

Hatta Takayuki naturally didn't answer, but Hojoji didn't mind, and said to himself: "That, I'm from Otsu Town, Kikuchi County, Kumamoto Prefecture, squadron leader, the scenery of our Otsu Town is beautiful." ”

Hatta Takayuki still ignored it, and even let out a slight snoring sound.

Hojoji was still talking, and when he was about to say more, a sharp whistle suddenly sounded outside the main hall.

"Huh? Whistle? Rally outpost?! After two seconds, Hojoji finally reacted, and was about to turn around and wake up Hatta Takayuki to assemble outside the main hall, but found that Hatta Takayuki, who was originally leaning on the steps and napping, had already disappeared, and looked back quickly, only to find that Hatta Takayuki had already reached three meters away.

Almost at the moment when the assembly whistle sounded, Hatta Takayuki jumped up reflexively.

While running briskly towards the outside of the main hall, Hatta Takayuki yelled without looking back: "Hojo-kun, keep up!" ”

Hojoji reacted at this time, and hurriedly picked up the 38 big cover that was resting at his feet and ran outside the main hall, but after running less than two steps, he turned back again, picked up the steel helmet from the ground and buckled it on his head, and then turned around and ran out.

By the time Hojoji rushed out of the main hall, the 1st Infantry Squadron had already completed its assembly.

Seeing that Hojoji was the last to join the ranks, Hatta Takayuki just shook his head and did not reprimand.

Not long after the completion of the formation, the order of the brigade headquarters came down, and in this attack, their 3rd Infantry Brigade would be the first to enter the city as the vanguard of the Kumamoto Wing, and their 1st Infantry Squadron, as the vanguard of the 3rd Infantry Brigade, would be the first to enter the city from the Zhonghua Gate and launch an attack on the Shina Army in the city.

Since the 6th Division was no longer artillery, there was no stage of artillery preparation.

After receiving the order, Hatta Takayuki immediately led nearly 200 infantry of the 1st Squadron to rush towards Zhonghua Gate along the straight street outside the South Gate.

The Zhonghua Gate and the city wall were garrisoned by Japanese troops, so there was no attack outside the city.

In less than five minutes, the 1st Squadron, also known as the Hatta Squadron, drove into the city through the Zhonghua Gate.

For Hatta Takayuki, this is the second time he has entered the city, so he doesn't have a special feeling, but Hojoji behind him is the first time to enter Nanjing City, and he can't help but exclaim immediately.

"Wow, it's so big, it's so prosperous." Hojoji shouted, "It's much more prosperous than Kumamoto Prefecture." ”

What a hillbilly who has never seen the world! Hatta Takayuki scolded disdainfully in his heart, and then opened his throat and shouted loudly: "Listen, when it will move forward, don't go to the middle of the street, go on both sides, it's better to stick to the walls of the buildings on both sides!" Also pay attention to the top of your head! ”

However, almost no one is listening to Takayuki Hatta.

The corners of Hatta Takayuki's mouth bloomed with a grim smile, and he immediately waved his hand and shouted, "Forward!" ”

The entire squadron immediately divided into three echelons and advanced north along the Zhonghua Road.

Hatta Takayuki noticed that except for a very few backbone veterans, almost no one listened to him, all of them walked in the middle of the street with their rifles held high, seeing this scene, the smile on the corner of Hatta Takayuki's mouth became more and more cold, these stupid recruits always have to wait until they have suffered the big losses of the Chinese army before they will grow!

At that moment, Hatta Takayuki walked to the side of Zhonghua Road and walked forward against the shops next to the street.

At this time, only the footsteps of the 1st Squadron as it marched forward and the sound of soldiers talking among themselves could be heard on the street, and in the northern, western, and northeastern directions of Nanjing, there was a faint rumbling of artillery.

Listening to this rumbling cannon, Hatta Takayuki's face immediately fell.

Damn, before the other divisions launched the attack, they were all prepared for artillery fire, but their 6th Division was not prepared for artillery fire, how could this battle be fought?