Deadly Intent: A Powerful Novel Depicting the Final Fate of the Japanese Kwantung Army

Author: Luo Xuepeng / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Hunger gnawed at the nerves of all the refugees. Everything edible—plant stalks, insects, and crawling creatures—was consumed. All the Japanese who followed Major Mizuno in flight were malnourished and weak, with some so severely affected that they could no longer control their limbs. As they passed through a valley, they horrifyingly saw corpses scattered across the slopes by the riverbank, emitting a foul stench. Crossing the valley and entering the hilly area, they saw nothing but corpses in the distance, their bodies covered only with dirty loincloths. Weapons, helmets, military uniforms, backpacks, and boots had all been stripped away by unknown people. Just four days after Chief Hiraoka had killed his own child with his subordinates, Major Mizuno also reached the end of his life. The old man, too, was struck down by dysentery. His emaciated body alternated between icy cold and feverish heat. He finally tumbled off his horse.
Upon hearing the news, Major Mizuno immediately rushed to his father’s side. The father, already thin as a few withered sticks, lay prostrate on the ground, his dirty white hair dangling over his face. Hien knelt beside him, unable to cry. "It’s time for my father to go," he gasped, glaring at Mizuno. "I must follow him." "No, father, please be strong," Mizuno said, trying to comfort him. "No difficulty can defeat you. You’ll pull through!" The father shook his head weakly. "Don’t comfort me. I don’t want to be a burden to you. Look at Hien—these days, she’s almost being worn down by this useless waste of space. Son, if you truly have filial piety, just shoot me."
Mizuno bent his knees and knelt beside his father. "You bastard!" the father roared hoarsely. "If you want to be a true Imperial soldier, you must learn to be stone-hearted. Are you even inferior to a woman? If you can’t do it, give me the gun." Mizuno stood up but did not give his father the pistol. Instead, he handed him an unexploded wooden-handled grenade. Pulling a crying Hien behind him, he turned and walked away. A few minutes later, a loud explosion echoed behind them. Hien staggered back, looking over her shoulder, but Mizuno did not turn back.
Here, Mizuno made a decision that would bring him great satisfaction for a long time. He selected two hundred men from the survivors and formed a team with the dozens of police under Chief Hiraoka. He ordered the rest to seek out the Soviet Red Army or the Chinese army and surrender voluntarily.
Most of them were already ready to die. Like this, what was there to fear from death?—many settlers harbored such thoughts. Mizuno asked Hien to lead the surrender, but she clung to Mizuno, unwilling to leave. Even the usually composed Major Mizuno lost his composure, his eyes brimming with tears. "If you don’t take the lead, none of them will leave. This life is unbearable. Go surrender. You’ve never spilled Chinese blood, and you might still survive. You know, I never ask for anything in my life. Now, I’m asking you just this once. Hien, take the lead!" Hien collapsed to the ground, weeping uncontrollably.
Mizuno, suppressing his grief, addressed the dense crowd. "Go, all of you. Only surrender can save you. Find the Chinese army—they may be more merciful than the Soviets or the Mongols. They might not kill you!" A chorus of weeping rose from the crowd. Many bid farewell to one another. But a group of young women stepped forward at this moment. Leading them, Eriko Yuki passionately shouted at Mizuno, "Why won’t you let us women fight on? We can shoot and throw grenades too! We’re no worse than you men in battle! Besides, without women, how will you men survive? Even if you hide in the old forest and live a life of slash-and-burn, we women will still have to carry on the family line for you!"
"Yuki is right. Let’s go with you!" the young women roared. Even Gashan spoke up for the women. "Captain, let them come with us. Young women like these, if they fall into the hands of the Soviets, their fate will be even worse than the men’s."
In the end, Mizuno left fifty young women behind. This way, he had a mobile, well-armed force of about three hundred people. After parting with the locals, Mizuno breathed a sigh of relief. With such a team, he no longer had to avoid areas with smoke. Now, they needed to actively advance toward inhabited areas and seize all the supplies necessary for survival.
Mizuno regained his role as a battlefield commander. He spread the military map on the ground and held a brief military meeting with Captain Kazikawa, Lieutenant Ohara, Captain Gashan, Chief Hiraoka, and Advisor Takeuchi.
Chief Hiraoka, who was familiar with the area, pointed to the map. "This is the Samuka South Manchurian Railway Logging Camp, about seventy li from here. There are over sixty Japanese foremen there. I’ve visited them often and know them well. Even if they’ve left, we might find some grain, salt, and matches in their homes."
Salt had become far more tempting to everyone than food. A week without salt, stuffing themselves with wild vegetables, fruits, and insects, had caused all their legs to swell. Walking felt like floating on cotton.
Seventy li—they walked for three whole days. The setting sun cast a glow over the desolate logging camp. In the timber yard, logs piled up like mountains. Several red pines, wider than car tires, lay on the ground, their sawed ends covered in dense clusters of mushrooms. Wooden houses in the et style were scattered across the slopes. They saw dogs running about in front of and behind the houses, and everyone’s hearts tightened—nervous yet elated. Dogs meant people—whether enemies or friends, they had to bravely approach.
Armed with guns, Mizuno and Hiraoka cautiously approached the nearest wooden house. Just as they reached the door, a loud "Woof!" echoed as two startled dogs lunged out. Mizuno leaped aside, and Hiraoka shouted, "Damn it, it’s wolves!" Hiraoka fired, killing one wolf, which fell to the ground. Another wolf, wounded, scrambled into the forest. In an instant, wolves burst out of almost every house, gunshots mingling with wolf howls and women’s screams, filling the logging camp.
Mizuno and Hiraoka entered the house and gasped. On the ground lay five skeletons, stripped bare, two large and three small. Five heads, each with a wooden wedge driven into the wall, stared at them with empty eye sockets. Every house was the same—the Japanese at the logging camp had been killed without a single survivor. Who had done it—Soviets? Mongols? Chinese? Soldiers or civilians? Fortunately, they had found salt, as well as food and medicine!
That night, the valley was filled with the strong aroma of meat. Three people died from overeating rice and wolf meat. Mizuno quickly issued an order: "No gluttony!"
At midnight, as dawn approached, Mizuno needed to relieve himself and stepped outside. Unbeknownst to him, strange noises came from the nearby timber yard. Suspecting an enemy raid, Mizuno quietly drew his gun and crept toward the sound. He froze, his eyes widening in shock. Under the moonlight, he clearly saw Eriko Yuki, naked, leaning against a log pile, tightly embracing Gashan, both in a state of ecstasy. They moved frantically, as if they had already ascended to paradise.
Ah, youth is still so wonderful, Mizuno sighed inwardly, then silently walked away under the moonlight.
They stayed at the logging camp for two days. On the third morning, a vibrant group appeared before Mizuno. Before setting off, Mizuno took a bullet and placed it in his jacket pocket. Many others imitated him, placing bullets in their own pockets.
P115-118