Chapter 25: Boss Ma’s hair stood on end and cold sweat drenched his back; this army was truly terrifying.

Baizhang Pass!

Under the overwhelming barrage of artillery fire, the positions on the left and right flanks of the First Column were teetering on the edge of collapse. Artillery shells tore through the sturdy fortifications, while wave after wave of soldiers from the Ma Family Army and the Blue Sky Party surged forward. Although the fighting spirit of the Rainbow Army soldiers remained undiminished, their casualties were mounting—steadily and relentlessly.

The first and second lines of defense were abandoned one after another. To hold Baizhang Pass against the overwhelming numbers of the enemy, Su Changqing consolidated his limited forces to form a cohesive resistance. According to initial estimates, the number of enemy troops attacking Baizhang Pass would not exceed twenty thousand. However, current observations indicated that the enemy strength far surpassed that figure—it had likely doubled!

Ma Laoda of the Ma Family Army seemed possessed, throwing an enormous number of troops into the assault on Baizhang Pass. It was as if only by crushing Su Changqing and his First Column, grinding them into dust, could he quench the hatred in his heart. Faced with the enemy's increasingly ferocious offensive, Su Changqing had committed his "Reserve Regiment," the 18th Regiment, to the front lines. Even Ding Wei was on the front, engaged in an unprecedentedly intense battle against the enemy.

"Commander, the enemy is pressing in again. These bastards seem willing to pay any price to wipe us out," Staff Officer Song said, looking toward Su Changqing.

"There is no retreating now. The Ma Family Army has left a path open on the west side of Baizhang Pass," Su Changqing replied. "They likely want us to retreat from the west, where they have undoubtedly left a significant number of ambush troops. Retreating west is a path to certain death."

Su Changqing shook his head. For the soldiers of the First Column, holding the position offered a glimmer of hope. Retreating toward the west not only meant falling into the trap laid by the Ma Family Army and the Blue Sky Party but would also shatter the soldiers' morale. Once that fighting spirit was lost, it would be a devastating blow to the First Column. Their best hope was for the Western Route Army commander—his own senior—to arrive with reinforcements. Su Changqing simply had to hold on until that moment.

"Pass the order!" Su Changqing commanded, holding a Mauser rifle and addressing everyone present. "The Guard Company, the Cultural Troupe, the mess squad, and all staff officers—prepare for battle."

The First Column had conducted a forced march of seventy-two kilometers to reach Baizhang Pass, leaving most of their heavy weaponry behind, and their ammunition was running critically low under the constant pressure of the massive enemy force. Had it not been for this, the front-line positions would not have fallen into enemy hands so easily.

"Yes, sir!"

Gripping his Mauser, Su Changqing strode out of the command post under the cover of his guard platoon. By now, the fighting had reached the brutal stage of close-quarters bayonet combat. Su Changqing had to do whatever it took to push the encroaching enemy back—to force them back again and again!

He aimed his Mauser at a Ma Family Army officer creeping nearby. "Bang!" A precise shot rang out, and the officer collapsed.

The Guard Company following Su Changqing displayed formidable combat effectiveness. The positions that had appeared on the verge of collapse began to stabilize with the arrival of Su Changqing and his men.

"Damn it! Damn it all!" Ma Laoda roared in fury as he watched the hill that refused to fall. "Artillery Regiment! Aim for the opposite hill! Bombard them with everything you've got!"

The Ma Family Army staff officer hesitated. "Commander! Our own men are still on that hill. If we open fire, we will cause significant casualties to our own attacking forces."

*Slap!* Ma Laoda lashed the staff officer across the face with his whip. "Damn it, you think I don't know that? Those bastards! If our troops pull back, the Red bandits will know we're about to shell them. Once we start, those cunning bandits will hide in their dugouts. What point would there be in shelling then? My shells were bought with real gold and silver! Losing a few soldiers is worth it to use the shells I paid for! Now, get the order out!" He kicked the staff officer hard in the backside.

"Yes, Commander! I'm going, I'm going!" The battered officer scrambled to relay the order.

The artillerymen adjusted their guns and unleashed a barrage toward the First Column’s positions. "Boom, boom, boom!" Shells rained down upon the highland like a storm.

Hearing the thunderous blasts, Su Changqing realized the danger. "Take cover! Take cover! Hurry!" The brutality of Ma Laoda exceeded his expectations. Cursing under his breath, Su Changqing dove toward a nearby dugout.

"Boom!" A shell landed nearby, burying Su Changqing in a cloud of debris.

"Commander! Commander!" his guards and staff officers shouted in horror. If Su Changqing were killed, the heart of the First Column would be lost. The young guard, Lin Yu, dug frantically until he pulled Su Changqing from the pile of earth.

"Pah, pah, pah!" Su Changqing spat out dust and roared, "Damn those bastards of the Ma Family Army!" Though he knew that on the battlefield, bullets and shells didn't discriminate based on one's rank, a surge of rage burned in his chest. Seeing him safe, the others let out a collective sigh of relief.

"Commander, these bastards are truly ruthless! They didn't even care that their own troops were mixed in with us. They just shelled us anyway!"

Su Changqing sneered. "What kind of army is the Ma Family Army? They are nothing but bandits, a pack of beasts. After this barrage, they will surely try to launch an assault while we are reeling. Bring out our two cannons."

"Cannons? Not only those bastards have them!" Su Changqing said through gritted teeth.

Although the First Column had abandoned most of its heavy weaponry, Su Changqing had insisted on bringing two heavy cannons. He had refrained from using them throughout the battle, hoping to lull the enemy into believing they lacked heavy weapons. Now, it was time for these dogs to taste the power of artillery.

"Yes, sir!"

As the enemy soldiers swarmed up the hill like ants, the two cannons roared. "Boom, boom, boom!" The First Column soldiers, long suppressed and fueled by rage, unleashed their fire upon the enemy.

The earth-shattering thunder of the cannons caught the triumphant Ma Laoda off guard. He stood dumbfounded, watching as his charging soldiers were easily mowed down by the heavy artillery. His eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"Red bandits... those cunning Red bandits... they had heavy cannons all along... they were waiting... they were waiting this whole time..."

Listening to the deafening roar and seeing his own artillery units being ripped apart by the rain of fire, a chill ran down Ma Laoda's spine. In that moment, he realized he had chosen the wrong opponent. The "Red bandits" before him might be the most formidable enemies he had ever faced.