The 26th Division comprised two brigades with under 10,000 men. Its structure included:

　　Four regiments

　　One signals company

　　One engineer company

　　Each regiment contained:

　　Three infantry battalions

　　One mortar company (four mortars)

　　Each battalion contained:

　　Three infantry companies

　　One heavy machine gun company (four guns)

　　Each company contained three platoons. Each platoon had one light machine gun. Soldiers carried rifles – some so antiquated their rifling was nearly worn smooth. Others lacked parts, requiring ropes to secure bolts. Some carried double-barreled rifles of unknown origin.

　　The division possessed:

　　No artillery

　　No logistics support

　　No field hospital

　　This was the 26th Division defending Longtan Mountain – Hukou's gateway – under General Liu Yuqing. Against Japanese combined land-sea-air assaults with aircraft and artillery, holding this position seemed implausible.

　　The 77th Division (General Peng Weiren) and 16th Division (General He Ping) remained pinned east of Liusi Bridge by the Japanese 106th Division. With Liusi Bridge and Chenjia Bridge lost, Hukou's gates stood open. Longtan Mountain remained its sole barrier.

　　The 26th Division consisted entirely of Sichuan-born soldiers. At Shanghai, General Liu Yuqing led this force to inflict over 4,000 Japanese casualties. Only 600 of his men survived. This poorly-equipped but valiant Sichuan force earned national pride. Though outgunned, these straw-sandaled soldiers excelled in broadsword close combat.

　　Their broadswords took Japanese heads. After fierce fighting, positions littered with rolling heads and headless corpses spurting blood.

　　At Hukou headquarters, General Liu knew Japanese forces pressed against Longtan Mountain. His division mustered 8,000 men total. With one reserve regiment in Hukou, only three regiments – nearly 6,000 men – held Longtan Mountain.

　　Battle loomed with certain defeat, yet the 26th Division stood resolute. An evening breeze drifted across the trenches as a pall of grim determination settled over Longtan Mountain. Stars pierced the night sky. One figure melted into the darkness, inching up the mountain's rear slope—Lieutenant Yamashima Yukio, a man steeped in war crimes.

　　At 22:30, Yamashima reached a vantage point 500 meters from the defenses. His cold gaze swept the blacked-out position. Three regiments of soldiers leaned against trench walls, suspended in the suffocating silence before death's arrival—unaware when the Japanese onslaught would come.

　　Yamashima scanned desperately for light, knowing only illumination would betray command posts. The position remained pitch-dark. His sniper scope was useless in the void. After crawling fruitlessly for over an hour, he abandoned the mission, slithering back downhill.

　　Yamashima's infiltration failed because General Liu Yuqing had ordered absolute blackout—preventing Japanese targeting of lit areas for bombardment. That command unknowingly spared the three regimental commanders from his rifle.

　　At precisely 06:00 on July 3, 1938, Major General Hata Shigeyoshi launched the assault. Forty-eight field guns of the heavy artillery regiment unleashed earth-shattering bombardment, heralding the Hata Detachment's renewed offensive.

　　Under Japanese artillery fire, Longtan Mountain's surface temperature soared. Three Sichuan regiments huddled in trenches, unable to raise their heads. Tsunamis of dirt and gravel choked the air, visibility dropping below ten meters. Hundreds of Sichuan soldiers – vibrant moments before – vanished without trace. Blasted skyward by shells, their bodies disintegrated into falling shreds of flesh. Countless nameless warriors perished thus, leaving only sacrifice.

　　Today, as we enjoy peace, remember them. Remember our forebears who stopped steel-clad devils with their flesh – unnamed, unknown, unforgettable!

　　The bombardment ceased after twenty minutes amid obscured terrain. Aircraft swooped low, strafing and bombing simultaneously for twenty more minutes. Hata then ordered infantry charges.

　　After forty continuous minutes of shelling, Longtan Mountain lay churned into ruin. Half of the 5,000 Sichuan soldiers were dead – severed limbs, headless torsos, mangled remains. This was a man-made hell crafted by goddamn Japanese devils. The 26th Division hadn't fired a shot before losing half its men. The outcome was clear.

　　Amidst the chaos, Yamashima Yukio hid in treetops. Through his scope, he hunted commanders. Twelve shots in ten minutes. A cold smile touched his lips. Among the dead: three deputy regimental commanders, three battalion commanders, six company commanders. Only regimental commanders escaped.

　　Location: 26th Division Headquarters, Hukou

　　Division Commander Liu Yuqing received Regimental Commander Zhao Fenggang's report: Japanese sniper eliminated twelve officers, inflicting massive casualties. Liu immediately went to Zhou Tong's quarters in the rear courtyard.

　　Zhou Tong saluted Division Commander Liu Yuqing:

　　"Commander Liu! What brings you?"

　　Liu fixed on Dong Sanshao's sniper rifle:

　　"May I borrow your man?"

　　Zhou hesitated:

　　"Commander Liu?"

　　Liu's face tightened with urgency:

　　"For the Party! Send him to Longtan Mountain! Japanese sniper killed twelve officers – company commander rank and above!"

　　Before Zhou could respond, Dong Sanshao stepped forward:

　　"I'll meet this devil sniper." He grabbed his rifle.

　　Dong Yaoting blocked him:

　　"We go with you!"

　　Dong Sanshao shook his head sharply:

　　"No! Against a true sniper, you're dead weight! Stay with Young Master. Frees me to fight. I'll be damned if I can't take him!"

　　Zhou intervened:

　　"Commander Liu, grant me a moment. He'll go afterward."

　　Liu withdrew.

　　Zhou locked eyes with Dong Sanshao:

　　"You're our only fighter. Kill him or not – come back alive. Then to Nanchang."

　　Zhang Hanzhi clutched his hand. Dong Yaoting looked away. Dong Sanshao shook her off:

　　"Speak plain! Stop clinging like a child!"

　　Zhou stifled a laugh:

　　"Go swift. Return swift."

　　Zhang Facai pressed:

　　"Sure you don't need me?"

　　Dong Sanshao grinned:

　　"Not cut for it. Covering you would get me killed. Then you'd bear the fucking blame!"

　　Zhang Facai fell silent, eyes glistening.

　　Dong Sanshao knew time bled away. Clutching his sniper rifle and ammunition, he sprinted from the courtyard. A jeep idled at the 26th Division headquarters gate. Division Commander Liu Yuqing paced anxiously beside it. Spotting Dong Sanshao, he implored:

　　"Young brother! Aid our Sichuan comrades! Kill that goddamn devil sniper!"

　　Dong Sanshao met his gaze:

　　"No promises, Commander. But no defeat either."

　　Liu roared at the driver:

　　"Go! Deliver our sniper to the front!"

　　The title "our sniper" swelled Dong Sanshao's chest with fierce pride. Killing intent surged.

　　"Fuck your mother, devil sniper! You die here!"

　　The driver sped recklessly. Twenty minutes later, they halted 500 meters behind Longtan Mountain position. Without a word, Dong Sanshao charged uphill.

　　Deafening battle cries shook the air. Three Sichuan regiments clashed with Japanese troops in brutal bayonet combat. The position was a slaughterhouse – severed limbs, mangled corpses, congealing blood. Dong Sanshao retched violently, vomiting watery bile.

　　Collapsing, realization struck:

　　Can't join the fray. That devil sniper lurks nearby.

　　Scanning left and right, he crawled toward the eastern woods.

　　Sunlight glinted off metal in the trees.

　　Scope reflection?

　　He inched toward the gleam.

　　***

　　Yamashima Yukio hid in eastern treetops. Through his scope, he hunted Chinese commanders. Wind rustled leaves, brushing his rifle lens. Sunlight pierced the canopy, casting blinding glare across his sight picture.

　　Below, bayonet combat raged. Yamashima's scope settled on three lieutenant colonels fighting with broadswords against Japanese bayonets. He steadied his breath to eliminate them.