Chapter 231: Run Through the Jungle

Chapter 231: Run Through the Jungle



The War in Europe was progressing more or less than Bruno had initially expected it to. The frontlines had been stalled in the west, as Germany defended its own territory, and that of Luxembourg from repeated French invasion.

Meanwhile, France was slowly grinding their way through Belgium, a nation which had yet to ask for aid from the German Reich. At the same time, the British finally managed to land forces in France, albeit in the South, who were now marching northwest towards Elsass- Lothringen to aid the French Army who were still trying to break through them.

In Isonzo, the Germans and Austro-Hungarians continued to hold the line against the Italians. And in the Balkans, all-out war had broken out with the Serbian Provisional Army being attacked on both sides.

But if there was one mostly forgotten front of this war, that had been entirely opened up as a result in the shifts in Alliances. It would be the fact that the Imperial Japanese Army had begun attacking allied colonial territories in the east.

For example, French Indochina, where the Japanese were getting a taste of modern-20th century combat for the first time since Mukden. The introduction of beltfed general purpose machine guns had been a game changer in the East.

By the outbreak of the war, not only had the Japanese finished the development of the prototype which they showed Bruno years prior, but had also begun to put it into mass production. As a result, the Japanese soldiers currently slogging through the Jungles of French Indochina were equipped with far more firepower than the French were prepared to deal with.

Echoes of machine guns and bolt action rifles rattled throughout the heavily wooded areas. French soldiers shouted in their native language. The words were jumbled together in an incoherent mix of various thoughts and commands.

But most noticeable were the repeated cursing of the French Machine Gun crews who were desperately trying to get their puteaux machine guns to properly function. The weapon systems ate maybe five to seven rounds maximum before requiring an extensive clearing procedure.

Worst yet, some critical components of the firearm were prone to breakage, and when that happened, the weapon was dead in the water, so to speak. Because of this, one particular French machine gun crew kicked their weapon into the mud, as they retreated immediately after their weapon broke down on them.

Meanwhile, a Japanese machine gunner, spotting the French flee like roaches exposed to the light, picked up his relatively lightweight weapon and aimed down its sights while shouldering the bracing the stock against his shoulder.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Firmly holding it tightly while screaming in Japanese and firing at the fleeing French soldiers. The bullets struck the men in the backs as they hit the drenched soil, their bodies and uniforms soiled by the earth as much as their own blood.

Meanwhile, the Japanese riflemen chased after the fleeing French with bayonets affixed, ending the lives of the men who were cut down by machine gun fire, but not yet down with a single thrust to their hearts.

On board that vessel, Bruno had convinced the captain that Erich was a homosexual. Something that during this era was highly frowned upon. Needless to say, there was hell to pay for such a cruel and outright malicious prank.

Because of that, as the three men sat in the passenger seats of their Kübelwagen while advancing with the rest of the Army southward, Erich couldn't help but remind Bruno with an almost murderous glare that he still remembered this insult.

"You know, I had almost forgotten about this incident, but now that you have returned it to the forefront of my memories, I realized I have never quite forgiven you for angering me in such an unprovoked manner!"

Bruno chuckled as he heard Erich's threatening words. He knew Erich was an attack hound, one that was liable to attack its own master if not properly reminded of its place in the world. And because of this, Bruno smoked out the window before turning his head around to look at Erich. The gaze that Bruno gave his friend was chilling, while the tone in his voice bordered on

the sadistic.

"You see, that's the difference between you and me Erich, I don't get angry, I get even, and violence has always been something that I believe in.... If you have a problem with me, then we can settle this little grievance of yours, like men, at any time of your choosing.

But just be prepared to suffer the consequences of your challenge if you do wish to pursue this

matter..."

Understanding that he had just provoked the only man he had ever known who had more blood on his hands than himself, Erich instantly quelled his thoughts and looked away in a silent act of submission. Something that only caused the sadistic smirk on Bruno's face to grow into an even more wicked sneer.

After finishing his cigarette and tossing it out the window, he was quick to reward Erich for settling the matter without bloodshed.

"Alright, so I'll take it this matter is settled then? Yes? Good, as a result, I'll give you something you have wanted for a while now... I am tasking you with commanding the stormtroopers from here on out. You understand what I am saying, yes?"

Bruno had long since created specialized stormtroopers in anticipation of the war. And Erich had transferred back to the Army specifically to participate in such a unit who specialized in trench raiding. Unfortunately, until now he had been on a double secret probation because of his, shall we say, more chaotic tendencies.

This probation had him tied to Bruno as his personal adjutant. But now Erich was being sent back to the front lines like he so desperately desired. Meaning that Bruno had finally decided to let his mad dog off of his leash. And when he did so, the bodies that Erich and his men would stack up would d be enough to make their unit a legend.