China is a peace-loving nation that is developing the material basis for a post-imperialist global order - Danny Haiphong, a left-wing American journalist.

Outskirts of Yamaguchi

August 7th, 2025
11.30 JST

".... Jiaolong 4, we need (static) The Canadians and Japanese (static) their attack! (static) casualties!"

"Comrade Captain, the second platoon said they are seven minutes out!" 

Captain Xiaojun slammed his hand on his thigh, before he went on to his radioman inside the company commander version of the ZBD-04 he was assigned, with extra radios and other communication gear in exchange of lesser troop carrying capability.

"Curses! Tell that mongrel Yangzhou I will put a bullet in his head if he's not here in five, understand?"

It required a couple of change of frequencies for Xiaojun to finally be able to reach Colonel Junhua. "Jiaolong lead, this is Jiaolong 4-6, my men and Comrade Major Huang's are under heavy drone and mortar attack and need fire support, over!"

"...Move your troops to the northern ford and cross there, then head for Funakata Farm, The Tiangong is sending you the coordinates, Comrade Major Huang will detach a platoon of his tanks to support you."

"Jiaolong Lead, what about the town area? We cannot leave it undefended, where are our artillery??"

"Negative, Jiaolong 4-6, It's (static) not yet in position. I say (static), you (static) flank to the northern ford... Trust the 1st Battal... (static) Out!"

I hope he's aware on what he's doing with those drones and mortars are pounding us! Xiaojun grumbled. "Order 4th Company to move north, we rendezvous at the ford!"

..................................................................................................................................................

Major Gu Huang

4th (Tank) Battalion, 18th Heavy Combined Arms Brigade, 104th Special Group Army

That's why when we're moving to this area from Yamaguchi city proper, there were no ambushes from the hills down there, only few scout drones. Instead those people were waiting for us here before unleashing their drones! Sneaky bastards just like ninjas of old, unlike those portrayed in Naruto.

Our left flank was battered, and sketchy report also indicated our brigade HQ were now under Japanese artillery fire, but hope was not yet lost. I gave the leeway to my two platoon leaders to keep the Canadian light armor at bay in cooperation with a platoon worth of the 18th' remaining ZTZ-96s while the mixed group of infantry engaged the enemy's counterpart.

In light of the Colonel's instruction, while keeping my heads, I had detached First Lieutenant Guo Lijua's Third Platoon to support Xiaojun's attack northwards, straight towards the hills and that farm area where those drone launchers were thought to be there.

"Be advised, UAV confirmed that the immediate threat to your unit is a company of Type 10 tanks. They are in this area, the most lethal tank in Japanese arsenal. Destroy them if necessary."

Not long those Japanese tanks made themselves known by disabling several tanks, one of them was 1st Tank Company's commander.

"...We can hold, comrades... continue with the fight. Bailing out!"

The plea from Captain Hu Bagua to his company, but also the rest of the combined arms battalion could not be clearer. 

I ordered my driver to find a way through the town - even with garbled information suggested that surviving element of the 1st Battalion as well as the 2nd Battalion of the 18th had secured a defensive position in a close combat around the town's community center supported by PPZ-10 mortar carriers. They managed to do so with what we have currently. 

I found myself approaching a T-intersection. In this two-lane road typical of small towns you cannot be too careful, as in two separate occasions I had intercepted two anti-tank rocket fired by Japanese infantry as well as one missile aimed at the rooftop of this tank, which I replied with my heavy machine guns along with accompanying infantry. Seconds later, several mortar rounds landed at the direction of JIGDF soldiers and their adjuncts recognizable with their generally older weapons and in some cases, lack of uniform, hence the mention of partisans.

They called such component as the National Guard, equivalent in training and role as our Party's Militia back home.

The heavy 120mm mortars - added with the fact that few shots were laser guided rounds - suppressed the enemy fire, allowing us to advance further.

Then we sighted the one we're hunting for. However, looking at the Hitomaru up close and personal still sent a chill down my spine as much when I first encountered South Korean advanced tanks, much more as in this case, the Japanese tank managed to open fire first. Luckily the frontal armor held well. However after that shot, the Hitomaru backed off. 

I decided to call for extra infantry and if necessary, a swarm. With our heavier artillery and air support wasn't available yet, I ordered my driver to turn right, and then another Hitomaru greeted me from another corner. We won't take any chances this time to the point I jerked the commander's override and traversed the turret at the Hitomaru's direction.

"Fire!"

I opened my eyes after a few moments of it went shut, ready for the worst outcome. Instead my sight was greeted by the smoking Type 10 on my left side. Those things had exceptional mobility tailored to this place's rough terrain, and strong firepower and advanced fire control system at a cost of their protection but most important tradeoff of those tanks were their smaller ammo capacity, 36 rounds or 34 if the said tank was loaded with gun launched ATGMs, versus 41 to 42 in our ZTZs.

"Comrade Major, shall I engage the coax?" My gunner referred to the Japanese crew that had just bailed from their disabled tank.

"Don't waste your ammo at them, we're advancing, and this is an order!"

Sergeant Suifang looked at me in disbelief for a couple of seconds before he relented with a "Yes, comrade Major." reply. Then my radio crackled on the battalion frequency.

"Excellent work, each loss of these tanks will be a blow for the Japanese effort. Your company were doing a good job as far, Jiaolong 1-6, Keep it up, Jiaolong leader out."

He's right, other tanks of my company backed by infantry - minus the detached 3rd platoon - had reported kills as well against the opposing tank company. We went deeper into the town center, as my radio crackled again; this time from Xiaojun.

"We had captured the farm and destroyed the drone launchers. Those Imperialists had no chance against our forces. Jiaolong 4-6 out!"

"Jiaolong Leader here. Great work, Captain, but don't lose your focus yet. Also be advised, we have finally established the comm with our battalion guns, precision fire battery [AFT10 ATGM carrier], and a flight of GJ-11 attack drones covered by a J-16 squadron from Yamaguchi-Ube plus a flight of J-20s directly from China conducting fighter sweep. Call them when needed. 9th Medium Combined Arms Brigade had also sent it's battalions to reinforce us."

"About time those comrades come, Comrade Colonel."

It's time for repositioning, just when my attached infantry platoon leader reported a chilling sight on the battalion radio. Leopard 2 tanks approaching. That further reinforced the fact that the Canadians meant business. Promptly I called for artillery support while Xiaojun and the rest of the infantry from multiple battalions held the Allies in place in a fierce house to house combat.

"Strike is moderately effective, repositioning." The artillery died out, but the Allies were still coming hard and fast, the fact that just like the Abrams and the Type 10, German-made Leopard 2A6s were an equal match with my ZTZ-99.

Colonel Junhua's emphasis on patience had paid off too, as the aggressive Canadians came to my sight. A silhouette, wedge in shape like the Type 10 but overall larger.

"Comrade gunner, target that Leopard at our one!" I called. I'd already ranged the Canadian MBT to ensure they could effectively hit it.

"Fire!" I shouted when the gunner confirmed the digital number: 3800 meters.

"Sabot away!" Suifang punctually replied. He aimed for the mantle around the gun barrel, one of the weaker points in the Leo 2's armor. I ordered the crew to reposition as soon as the shot was out, anticipating a shot from the Canadian. The town forced each other's tank to roll in pairs. The Leopard 2 suffered a serious hit from the well-aimed shot, mortal I assumed when the gun didn't fire a second, corrected shot.

"Good kill, comrade!" I said over the internal comms. The gunner worked on the autoloader and in light of my instruction, he made sure that the apparatus loaded a fresh SABOT.

Two GJ-11s flew overhead, launching it's land attack missiles on the enemy armor column. Even with the fact that our 122mm artillery were outgunned and had already taken casualties from drones and Japanese counter-battery fire, added with brigade level 155mm caliber were finally in position taking over some of their duties, the PLZ-07s nonetheless were still firing in anger.

One more Leopard fell to my crew, and we were ordered forward for the river area, just in time for a drone feed showed the vanguard element of the 9th Medium Combined Arms Brigade arrival with their ZBL-08 wheeled combat vehicles.

"Be advised" Junhua began. "With 9th Medium had arrived and considering mountainous terrain ahead, command had dispatched also a heliborne battalion of the 45th Mountain Combined Arms Brigade to hunt for Japanese partisans and their regular army backers along Tokusagamune mountain range alongside 1st Battalion of the 9th Medium, while it's second battalion will advance with us."

"This is Jiaolong 4, those people can't hide forever, and our comrades will deal with them. If only..."

"Cut it, Comrade Captain. we're about to advance to Nabekura then Tokusa Station. To expedite our crossing, Group Army command has detailed a bridgelayer supported by a composite air defense battery that include a pair of anti drone lasers to this area. Your objective now is to clear enemy forces from the riverbank before the bridgelayer can be deployed!"

Upon the arrival of the said second battalion, passing wrecked Canadian and Japanese armor, the combined PLAGF force bounded along like mad for the next settlement, called Nabekura, also centered on it's train station. The first order is to cross the Abu River, a perfect place for the enemy to set up a second line of defense. Under intermittent artillery barrage, I waited for something to go wrong...but no mines. I didn't question it and instead kept an eye on my and my crew part of the fight, just in time as I spotted a flash to my left. Out of habit I rotated the turret that way so the gun was ready. I bit my lower lip in anticipation.

"...Jiaolong 1-4's hit, 1-4's hit, down but non-catastrophic! Bailing out!" My first platoon leader reported after a burst of static, voice conveying he was dazed.

"Kill that Type 10, Comrades! Fire!" I shouted. 

"On the way!" Suifang replied, almost as if he were cursing the Imperialists ahead of us.

As the gun rocked, I radioed back that the recovery vehicles would be needed again on scene soon to help the stranded ZTZ. The gun rocked again, thanks to Sgt. Suifang had needed to send a second round out to finish off the Hitomaru. There were multiple casualties on the infantry alongside us, and along with Jiaolong 1-4, a late report came from Jiaolong 3-1 who reported that his wingman had suffered a catastrophic kill, courtesy of a Type 10 side shot from the slightly higher, left side.

"We got incoming enemy fighters, all units take cover!"

"This is Long Jin 1, popping smoke screen." reported the bridgelayer commander. 

As fast as lightning their planes passed through us. Those were Japanese F-2s, a derivative of F-16 Fighting Falcon dropping laser-guided bombs with primary target were the tanks.

Few were shot down, but they costed us a whole platoon.

.....................................................................................................................................................

"To all Jiaolong Actual, this is Bao Jun 5-1, our swarms are settling into position to provide observation and attack, how copy?" a new, unfamiliar voice said. Scattered calls off confirmation echoed back to the drone commander over the fighting.

"About time our swarm of drones came to our support! Too late, but maybe not so with those dogs are still around!" the exhilirated Xiaojun stated. 

The remaining 4th Battalion tanks reached the edge of the field, weaving through the next settlement of Nabekura with several burning hulks of Japanese and Canadian tanks and a few surrendering Coalition soldiers who'd escaped their machines. 

But their infantry and the remaining armor of the Imperialist force had us in their sight.

"It must be their rear guard." deduced Captain Xiaojun. From multiple direction, they had forced us into house to house fighting again, this time with the medium infantry battalion leading, out from the bridgelayer that had been laid.

From battalion frequency I overheard the Colonel's statement, thanks to the real time drone feed. "So this is what the Japanese called Bushido... I know what this means."

Yet this area has to be cleared, and soon I had my opportunity to fire my high explosive rounds at entrenched Japanese and perhaps Canadian infantry holding this narrow mountain pass. Others aimed their guns on the flanks, also with high explosives as well as shrapnel rounds. In the meantime, small swarms hunted down those who tried to retreat, with several of the tanks and APCs had been caught in that attempt either by tank fire, artillery, and most importantly drone swarms, burning or now motionless with their back ends to the sky. Only with the intervention of Coalition swarm above Tokusa that we were forced to halt and took cover from the marauding swarm.

Yet the counter attack was short lived. On it's wake, our swarm prevailed while losing almost half of it's constituents from the fierce dogfight, something that was helped by our cyber boys and girls somewhere behind our lines, electronically.

"Uh Jiaolong 3 Lead, what should we do about these guys trying to surrender?" one of my platoon leaders asked.

"...Move them on, I'll tell the infantry to round them up." I replied.

"Jiaolong Leader, should we advance to ensure they don't try anything? Please advise." I asked.

"Negative, negative (static) Halt at Tokusa. Brigade HQ's order, I repeat, we will stop in Tokusa and make it our camp until further notice." Junhua emphasized.

"Comrade Colonel, we had an opportunity to chase those dogs further, into Masuda. Their morale are low and are vulnerable!"

"Request denied, Jiaolong 4."

He's right. Although the swarm has been defeated, we were not in good position either. Mountain-spanning highways ahead were perfect area for ambushes, and their tanks' exceptional mobility could put us up in disadvantage in rough terrains.

.................................................................................................................................

"Comrade Major, I thought you were dead!" 

It's Captain Bagua, and what was left from his displeasure from missing the rest of the battle was wiped away with both of my presence and my deputy commander.

"Now you owed me two cans of beer." Before this deployment, Bagua and I had a little contest. Who scored more kill shall be given two cans of beer.

"The party is just getting started." Guakuo looked behind before added. "And this is the party that we might not be able to leave early. Let's be honest, we're stuck in here, comrades. The Japanese won't allow us to go further."

"What about our comrades in Iwakuni?"

"I have no idea, Comrade Major. I only hope they prevailed in that city that once housing a whole carrier air wing of those Imperialist Americans. Anyway, how about we head for your tent?"

"Okay." 

A little break shall be welcome in this ethereally beautiful but god-forsaken land...