The Japanese aircraft climbed beyond Dong Sanshao's effective range. He lay flat on his back, helplessly watching them drone overhead like flies. Savage combat now consumed the position. Chen Ruqi's two battalions had already lost over half their men to Japanese bombs and artillery. Now they faced devil soldiers vastly outnumbering them while enemy planes continued relentless bombing. The battle situation deteriorated catastrophically.

　　Unable to engage aircraft, Dong Sanshao resumed targeting devil soldiers. He could have inflicted massive casualties had Regimental Commander Chen Ruqi not roared "Retreat!" But seeing the desperate peril, Chen Ruqi ordered immediate withdrawal into trenches.

　　The Second and Third Battalions provided rear-guard cover with four light machine guns, shielding the retreat int

　　The 77th Division comprised two brigades and four regiments:

　　230th Brigade commanded by Major General Hu Yuliang

　　459th Regiment (Commander Jiang Taiheng)

　　460th Regiment (Commander Chen Ruqi)

　　231st Brigade commanded by Major General Xi Bingjun

　　461st Regiment (Commander Zhao Kefu)

　　462nd Regiment (Commander Long Yunbi)

　　Current Deployment:

　　Major General Hu Yuliang led the 459th and 462nd Regiments alongside General He Ping's 16th Division, advancing east of Liusi Bridge. Their mission: capture Pengze County and flank Japanese forces attacking Liusi Bridge – specifically Lieutenant Colonel Sasaki's 1st Regiment assaulting the position.

　　Commander Chen Ruqi's 460th Regiment defended positions east of Liusi Bridge. After detecting Japanese forces near Chenjia Bridge, Division Commander Peng Weiren ordered the nearest unit – Chen Ruqi's 460th Regiment – to dispatch one battalion (Commander Jiang Lifu's 1st Battalion) to intercept.

　　Major General Xi Bingjun simultaneously led the 461st Regiment (Commander Zhao Kefu) toward reinforcement.

　　Japanese Forces:

　　The assault on Chenjia Bridge was conducted by the Hata Detachment's 2nd Regiment.

　　Critical Development:

　　The Japanese 106th Division's 111th Brigade, escorted by the 21st Torpedo Boat Squadron, successfully landed at Madang. They secured Lieutenant Colonel Sasaki's rear flank at Liusi Bridge. Despite mustering over 15,000 troops (16th Division plus two regiments), Chinese forces were completely blocked east of Liusi Bridge by the 111th Brigade – unable to advance.

　　After withdrawing remaining troops to trenches, Commander Chen Ruqi urgently reported to Division Commander Peng Weiren. Peng issued an absolute order: "Hold Liusi Bridge at all costs. Breach means court-martial!"

　　Chen Ruqi knew Peng had no reserves. Faulty intelligence caused catastrophic deployment:

　　Liusi Bridge was originally assigned a full brigade

　　Intelligence claimed Hata Detachment rotated with 106th Division's 147th Regiment

　　Ninth War Zone Command planned to recapture Japanese-held Pengze County using He Ping's 16th Division, then encircle Liusi Bridge

　　Analysis suggested Hata Detachment would bypass Liusi Bridge to attack Hukou

　　Thus, only Chen Ruqi's 460th Regiment remained at Liusi Bridge. The 459th had withdrawn with Brigade Commander Hu to support the Pengze offensive.

　　This fatal troop deployment error would plague the Nationalist Army's frontal resistance against Japan repeatedly. The Liusi Bridge crisis represented merely the tip of the iceberg. Division Commander Peng Weiren could only accept this helplessly. Military strategy was decided at higher echelons; he remained merely its executor.

　　Flawed strategy bred catastrophic defensive arrangements. Now Liusi Bridge reaped its bitter consequences. Regimental Commander Chen Ruqi knew the position was lost. Retreat was imperative – delay meant annihilation. Though foreseeing the outcome, Colonel Chen Ruqi stood firm at his post. His sole escape route led to Hukou, currently defended by the 26th Division of the 43rd Army under Commander Liu Yuqing.

　　Losing Liusi Bridge meant Hukou's gates would swing open to Japanese invasion. The city would inevitably fall next.

　　Chen Ruqi steeled himself for death. But he remembered the raw recruit sharpshooter – Dong Sanshao. This boy was an irreplaceable treasure. His capture by Japanese forces was unthinkable. After brief reflection, Chen Ruqi sprinted to Dong Sanshao's position. Kneeling to eye level, he stated: "Dong Sanshao, you're not formally enlisted. Withdraw now."

　　Dong Sanshao's heart leapt, but Chen Ruqi's resolute eyes revealed the truth: Liusi Bridge was falling. This was an order to survive. "Desertion brings shame!" Young Master Dong Yaoting's voice echoed in his mind. He resented how those words surfaced at such moments. Damn you, Second Young Master! He cursed inwardly.

　　Dong Sanshao shook his head. "Regiment Commander, I won't desert. I'll defend this position to the last with you!" The declaration rang hollow. Chen Ruqi saw through it immediately. He chuckled grimly: "Knowing you was my fortune. You've been fortunate too – served hours under my command, killed dozens of devils. The tide has turned. We're losing this ground. You must leave. Understood?"

　　Relief flooded Dong Sanshao's chest, though his face showed only grief. "Regiment Commander... what becomes of you?"

　　Chen Ruqi smiled faintly. "I'm bound to this position unto death. Go! Make for Hukou!"

　　Dong Sanshao abandoned pretense. Clutching his sniper rifle, he stood. Chen Ruqi pointed toward Hukou: "Follow this road. Thirty minutes at speed. An hour at pace. You'll reach it."

　　Dong Sanshao forced himself to feign reluctance. He withdrew from the position step by step, glancing back repeatedly. Five minutes later, he broke into a frantic sprint. Terror seized him – fear of dying here. Dying here would be fucking worthless! I'm Third Young Master of the Dong Estate! How could I perish in this shithole? Chaotic thoughts raced through his mind as his legs pumped furiously. Soon, Chen Ruqi lost sight of him.

　　Ten minutes after Dong Sanshao's departure, a Japanese aircraft landed on the position below. Out stepped a Lieutenant carrying a sniper rifle – Lieutenant Yamashima Yukio, hailed as the "God of Guns" within Japanese military circles. General Hata Shigeyoshi had directly called Commander-in-Chief Okamura Yasuji, reporting: "A formidable Chinian sniper has emerged. He eliminated all Junior Officers and above in my 1st Regiment, severely obstructing our Hukou capture operation."

　　Okamura Yasuji contemplated briefly before responding: "Lieutenant Yamashima Yukio will arrive at your position by aircraft within thirty minutes."

　　Now, Japan's military "God of Guns" stood at Liusi Bridge. Lieutenant Colonel Sasaki eyed the sniper rifle in Yamashima's hands, a faint smile touching his eyes. Yamashima saluted crisply. Sasaki returned the salute and pointed uphill: "Mr. God of Guns, a Chinian Army sniper hides up there. He's killed twelve Junior Officers and above from my regiment – plus countless soldiers!"

　　Lieutenant Yamashima Yukio was over forty. Unlike mustachioed Japanese soldiers, he remained clean-shaven with darkly tanned skin. His eyes gleamed with sharp, piercing intensity.

　　Yamashima coldly scanned the direction Lieutenant Colonel Sasaki indicated. Raising his sniper rifle, he searched through the scope for the Chinian sniper on the position. Nothing. He deliberately lingered over Dong Sanshao's three prepared ambush spots for several seconds before lowering his weapon. "The Chinian sniper has left," he stated flatly to Sasaki.

　　Sasaki stared in astonishment. "How do you know, Yamashima-san?"

　　Yamashima responded with a silent smile. He bent down, opened his pack, and pulled out a camouflage cloak. Securing it around his neck, he declared: "That sniper killed twelve of our commanders. I'll kill twelve of theirs." Without awaiting Sasaki's approval, he strode from the command post.

　　Sasaki seethed at Yamashima's arrogance – this disrespect for his authority, this lone-wolf operation. Fury burned in his eyes. Yet he swallowed his anger. This man came personally from the Commander-in-Chief. Endurance was mandatory.

　　Through binoculars, Sasaki tracked Yamashima – soon losing sight of him. Blinking hard, he finally discerned a turf-colored figure crawling toward the Chinian position. "Good luck, Yamashima-san," he muttered.

　　Regimental Commander Chen Ruqi never anticipated the Japanese deploying a sniper rivaling Dong Sanshao. Completely unprepared, he ordered troops to brace for final stand. His battalion commanders positioned men, watching Japanese movements below. But Sasaki delayed the assault.

　　Chen checked his watch: 5:00 PM. One hour remained before his promised dusk capture of Liusi Bridge to General Hata Shigeyoshi. At 5:10 PM, once Yamashima vanished, Sasaki ordered assault. Artillery bombardment commenced, followed by infantry charge. Chen commanded bayonet preparation. Soldiers fixed gleaming bayonets in unison.

　　Chen ordered bayonets because ammunition neared exhaustion.

　　Devil soldiers stormed the position. Chen vaulted from the trench, broadsword swinging as he charged. Behind him, soldiers surged forward, ready to die in brutal melee.

　　Yamashima lay concealed left of the position. His rifle tracked Chen Ruqi. A gentle trigger squeeze. A near-silent shot. Two seconds later, Chen fell, bullet through forehead. Final regret flooded him: I shouldn't have sent Dong Sanshao away. With him here, this devil couldn't have killed me. Colonel Chen Ruqi's last sight: blue sky with drifting white clouds. His heroic journey ended. His sacrifice remains etched in the Motherland's memory. Colonel Chen Ruqi, killed at Liusi Bridge, July 2, 1938, noon. A true Chinese hero. All Nationalist commanders depicted are historical figures, verifiable by records.