Anti-War Game: Starting from Normandy Campaign-Chapter 547 - 261: The Republic in 1940

"Surrender!"

Bang! Bang!

Along with continuous gunfire.

Tang Xu ran and listened to the calls for surrender behind him, unable to resist turning around and aiming his gun at the pursuing Japanese Army:

"Surrender your mom!!!"

Bang!

A shot was fired, but it didn’t hit the head.

Watching the Japanese soldier clutching his shoulder and hiding, Tang Xu had no choice:

"Damn."

He turned and continued running towards the mountains.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sound of gunfire kept echoing in the forest, and the enemy’s encirclement grew smaller.

But upon reaching the mountain top, Tang Xu dared not continue running.

Because once down the mountain, it would be an open field, making him a moving target.

Tang Xu thought for a bit, tore a few pieces off his cap and clothes, and scattered them to distract the attention of the Japanese army’s dogs.

Meanwhile, he searched the surroundings and hid behind a rock to plan his next move.

Soon.

A wave of pursuing Japanese soldiers led the dogs to this place, but the two dogs were distracted by the scattered clothes and moved in several directions.

A few of the Japanese soldiers were unsure where to chase and split up to follow the dogs.

Tang Xu held his breath, watching as two Japanese soldiers led a dog closer, until it was less than 30 meters away and began barking furiously at the rock.

Tang Xu suddenly rose, pulled the trigger!

Bang!

One soldier fell.

Click! Click!

He pulled the bolt and aimed at the second soldier who hadn’t reacted yet, and pulled the trigger!

Bang!

The second soldier fell, releasing the dog which pounced.

Tang Xu drew his knife from his waist, stabbing through the charging dog, as it bit into him.

Luckily, the winter cotton clothes, though not thick, provided some protection.

Tang Xu exerted force, and as the dog felt the intense pain, it bit even more ferociously. Unable to control himself, Tang Xu rolled sideways, entangled with the dog.

But Tang Xu didn’t have time to kill the dog, and seized the chance to throw it off.

The dog flew.

Then he quickly crawled up and ran to the dead soldiers to grab grenades and bullets, picked up a rifle, and wanted to leave.

The stabbed dog tried to pounce again as Tang Xu used the bayonet on the enemy’s rifle to stab it.

He stabbed the dog once more, scaring it to retreat, and by then, soldiers from another direction caught up.

Bang! Bang!

Tang Xu quickly hid behind a tree, then loaded the rifle he’d just taken, popping out.

Bang——!

He missed.

But it scared the two soldiers into hiding behind a tree, giving Tang Xu the chance to speed up and run deeper into the forest.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

With the replenished ammo, Tang Xu started fighting back. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

For a moment, the woods echoed with gunfire from both sides.

Until dusk.

Two gunshots almost sounded simultaneously.

The enemy sergeant fell while Tang Xu clutched his shoulder, his rifle dropping to the ground, surrounded by an increasing noise.

The large enemy forces were closing in.

Tang Xu took a deep breath and struggled to get up, exhausted from nearly a day of guerrilla fighting.

The rifle and bullet he’d captured were spent, leaving him with only three grenades.

With the grenade’s safety looped on his finger.

Struggling northward, needing a place to hide and attend to his wound, or else he’d either bleed to death or freeze from exhaustion.

But in such condition, Tang Xu couldn’t possibly escape.

Snowflakes began falling at some unknown point.

The pursuing soldiers drew closer.

But Tang Xu’s steps grew heavier, with the wound bleeding constantly, soaking the cotton clothes, then quickly frozen by the cold.... His body temperature draining rapidly.

With a thud.

Tang Xu fell to the ground, using his last bit of consciousness to press the grenade against himself.

His vision blurred.

Then fell into darkness.

Returning to the game’s main menu, all discomforts vanished instantly, and Tang Xu became clear-headed, sighing at the main menu:

"Still nothing."

"No idea if the last grenade worked."

"Pity I can’t see it."

As consciousness blurred, Tang Xu placed his finger with the grenade safety under himself, wedging the grenade in his clothes.

If the enemy moves his body, the grenade might explode.

Though the enemy could be so cautious that it only blows his body apart.

But in any case, he wouldn’t see it.

Tang Xu sighed:

"To fight is death, not to fight is also death."

Tang Xu returned to Celestial Shark Live’s division page, seeing the live rooms and said:

"Anyone still surviving without a restart?"

"Almost everyone restarted, right."

Nothing could be done.

Japan’s approach was ruthless.

Since 1937, Japan implemented ’Group Tribe,’ moving masses of people, isolating the anti-Japanese forces from the populace.

Besides Europe’s empire sweeping through nations, Japan kept reinforcing its troops.

The anti-Japanese forces were moving toward the Soviet Union’s border.

Tang Xu watched the forums for a while, seeing other live streams of the anti-Japanese forces, finding none optimistic.

Further help was scarce, as individual power was insignificant.

After watching a while, Tang Xu restarted, choosing the anti-Japanese forces’ faction.

...

On the other side.

Also in the Republic, but over at the Red faction base.

Jiang Xuan, randomly assigned a Red role, was browsing the game forum’s European news and intelligence gathered in-game.

In the live room, Jiang Xuan looked at Europe’s situation on the forum and sighed to the Blue Star viewers:

"This timing really is...."

"So tough."

In 1940, the empire was rampaging through Europe, having just blitzed the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and about to blitz the French Federation.

It can be imagined.

If the blitz is successful in the French Federation.

The Republic’s situation would worsen.

Japan and the empire are in the same faction, during this period, the empire almost sweeping through Europe, certainly boosting Japan’s confidence.

It will be the Republic’s harshest two years.

Not to mention.

Discussions seen on the game forum can infer the Northeast Region’s situation.

Since 1939, the empire’s influence.

Led Japan to continually reinforce troops in the Northeast, increasing several times over a short span.

Originally capable of guerrilla fighting, the anti-Japanese forces faced dire circumstances, many forced into the Soviet Union to prepare for counterattacks.

Game NPCs naturally can’t know the future.

Therefore, these two years were the toughest for all ’Earth’ nations.

No choice.

The empire was just too fierce during this period.

Thinking the empire would soon blitz France then sweep through Europe, Japan is unsure of its reaction, but likely a large scale reinforcement.

From the Northeast Region, it was clear.

Though currently detained by the anti-Japanese forces, haven’t moved southward.

In such an environment.

While worldwide uncertainty loomed, the Red’s "On Protracted War" emerged, inspiring confidence in many.

Jiang Xuan chatted with the viewers.

Suddenly received combat orders.

Soon the troops departed, and Jiang Xuan explained the situation to the Blue Star viewers:

"Now, the Republic’s anti-war sentiment is low nationwide."

"Mainly influenced by Europe, considering this era, it’s entirely despairing, not knowing how to win."

"Currently, within the Blue faction, there’s a lot of surrender voices, affecting domestic conditions."

"The Red faction plans a large-scale raid to break the enemy’s blockade, boosting morale."

"We’re moving to the Shijiazhuang Region to sabotage the enemy’s railroad."

Jiang Xuan spoke, unaware yet.

This battle was later called the Hundred Regiments Offensive....