"W-where did these Heavenly Soldiers and Generals come from?"
Master Wang turned to look at his own men.
Their clothes were tattered, their bodies smeared with blood, and the weapons in their hands were a hodgepodge: Hanyang Mades, Old Barrels, and even Type 38 Arisaka Rifles captured from the enemy.
The contrast was like heaven and earth.
"Th-they're our people!"
Someone recognized the flag at the head of the column and cried out excitedly.
"It's the Eighth Brigade of the New First Army! It's Commander Chu!"
The troops soon entered town. Their leader, a broad-shouldered officer, swung down from his horse and strode over to Master Wang, giving him a crisp military salute.
"Chu Shixin, commander of the Eighth Brigade of the Feng Army New First Army. By order of the Army Commander, I've come to relieve you!"
Master Wang looked at the imposing officer before him, then at the well-equipped, impeccably ordered troops behind him. His eyes suddenly reddened.
Reinforcements.
Real reinforcements had finally arrived!
"Good... good... welcome, Commander Chu!" Master Wang was so excited he could barely get the words out.
The Eighth Brigade's soldiers quickly took over the defenses, while the Forest Guard Army, students, and ordinary townspeople withdrawing from the battlefield were sent to rest in the rear.
The Eighth Brigade's quartermaster had also brought a large supply of food and medicine.
When steaming cans of meat and white-flour steamed buns were placed in their hands, many people burst into tears on the spot.
They had gone far too long without a hot meal.
"My god, these... these are troops from our Feng Army? They're better equipped than the Japanese!"
"Look at their spirit! Every one of them is like a little tiger!"
Liu Weiguo, a company commander in the Eighth Brigade, looked at the "friendly