Skoropadskyi stood at the edge of the tree line and watched the road.
Russian infantry was retreating along it in a long column. Wagons rolled slowly forward while wounded soldiers moved between them. Some walked on their own, leaning on rifles, others were supported by their comrades.
Dust hung over the road like a gray cloud.
Krasnov rode up beside him.
— "The column stretches for almost a kilometer."
Skoropadskyi nodded.
— "They need time."
At that moment another rider appeared from the road.
The officer was riding fast. His horse was breathing heavily when he stopped nearby.
— "Colonel."
— "Report."
— "The division commander is coming."
A few minutes later a small group of riders approached.
At their head rode a general.
He stopped his horse beside Skoropadskyi and looked toward the field ahead.
Japanese infantry was already visible between the hills.
Gray figures were moving forward steadily.
— "They are moving quickly," the general said.
— "We can delay them," Skoropadskyi replied calmly.
The general looked at the tree line, the wagons with machine guns, and the cavalrymen already dismounting.
He understood the plan immediately.
— "How many men do you have?"
— "Two cavalry regiments."
The general nodded.
— "I will leave you one infantry regiment."
He pointed toward the road.
— "This one has barely fought yet."
— "That will be enough."
The general studied him for a moment.
— "Hold them."
— "We will try."
The general turned his horse and rode back toward the road.
Soon the infantry regiment began taking positions in front of the tree line.
Soldiers lay down in shallow folds of the ground.
Some quickly dug into the earth with their bayonets.
Others placed ammunition beside them.
The cavalry took the second line.
Their horses stood behind the trees.
Cavalrymen held carbines and watched the field.
Machine-gun crews set their weapons between the trunks.
Krasnov studied the field.
Japanese infantry was approaching.
Officers walked ahead of their columns.
— "They think we are already broken."
— "Let them come," Skoropadskyi replied.
He turned to the machine-gun crews.
— "Wait."
The soldiers lay motionless.
The wind moved lightly through the branches.
The Japanese continued advancing.
When the distance shortened, their formations spread into attack lines.
The first shots came from the Russian position.
The infantry regiment opened fire.
Rifles cracked almost simultaneously.
Several Japanese soldiers fell.
But the rest immediately dropped to the ground.
Seconds later they began moving again.
They rose, ran several steps, and dropped again.
The battle quickly intensified.
Bullets began striking the trees of the forest line.
Splinters flew in every direction.
A cavalryman beside Skoropadskyi fired his carbine.
The Japanese were already halfway up the slope.
Some fired almost at point-blank range.
Russian infantry answered with steady volleys.
The ground in front of the position was quickly scattered with bodies.
But the Japanese continued advancing.
Suddenly several Japanese soldiers rose and rushed up the slope.
They were already close to the tree line.
Russian infantry fired almost at point-blank range.
But one of the attackers still managed to reach the position.
A Russian soldier struck him with the butt of his rifle.
Both men fell into the mud.
Another Japanese soldier appeared at the edge of the line.
A sergeant fired directly into his chest.
— "Hold the line!" someone shouted.
The soldiers fired almost without pause.
But it was clear they could not hold forever.
Skoropadskyi carefully watched the distance.
The Japanese were getting closer.
He turned to the machine-gun crews.
— "Machine guns."
— "Ready."
He looked across the field one more time.
— "Fire."
The machine guns opened fire.
The roar spread across the entire tree line.
Long bursts swept across the advancing infantry.
Several Japanese soldiers fell immediately.
The rest pressed themselves to the ground.
But within seconds they began moving forward again.
Japanese officers shouted commands.
The attack continued.
The gunners worked quickly.
— "Belt!"
A new ammunition belt slid into place.
Empty casings fell across the ground.
The barrels began to smoke.
After several minutes an infantry officer ran toward Skoropadskyi.
— "Colonel!"
— "Report."
— "The divisions have almost cleared the road."
He looked toward the field.
— "Give us ten more minutes."
— "Hold your line," Skoropadskyi said.
The officer nodded and ran back.
The infantry regiment continued holding the position.
Japanese soldiers climbed higher up the slope.
Russian soldiers fired almost point-blank.
A sergeant shouted to his men.
— "Don't let them through!"
Some soldiers were already using their last ammunition.
Still the Japanese kept advancing.
Krasnov looked toward the road.
The long column of retreating troops was already disappearing behind the hills.
A scout ran up a few minutes later.
— "Colonel!"
— "Report."
— "The divisions are clear."
Skoropadskyi nodded slowly.
He turned to the infantry officer who had returned.
— "Your regiment withdraws."
The officer looked at him for a moment.
Then nodded.
— "Understood."
Soon the infantry regiment began retreating.
Soldiers rose from their positions and moved quickly toward the road.
Some covered the withdrawal with the last volleys of rifle fire.
Now only the cavalry remained in the tree line.
Krasnov watched the field.
— "Now they will come faster."
— "Then we delay them a little longer," Skoropadskyi said calmly.
The cavalrymen continued firing their carbines.
Japanese infantry advanced again.
The battle was now very close.
Bullets whistled between the trees.
One of the machine-gun gunners turned toward Skoropadskyi.
— "We're almost out of ammunition!"
Skoropadskyi nodded.
— "Prepare to withdraw."
Krasnov nodded sharply.
Cavalrymen moved toward their horses.
Machine-gun crews continued firing short bursts to cover the movement.
Japanese soldiers were already climbing the slope.
Skoropadskyi looked at the guns.
There was no time to remove them.
— "Destroy the machine guns."
The crews obeyed immediately.
Soldiers removed bolts.
Others smashed the mechanisms.
One machine gun was thrown onto the ground.
Another was broken with rifle stocks.
Japanese soldiers were already very close.
— "Faster!"
Cavalrymen mounted their horses.
Krasnov jumped into the saddle and looked around.
— "Everyone ready?"
— "Ready."
Skoropadskyi mounted his horse.
He gave one last look at the forest line.
The destroyed machine guns lay scattered among the trees.
— "Withdraw!"
The cavalry began moving.
First at a trot.
Then faster.
Several minutes later Japanese infantry reached the tree line.
But the Russian cavalry was already retreating down the road.
Shots still echoed behind them.
On the next hill Skoropadskyi stopped his horse.
Krasnov rode up beside him.
He looked back.
Japanese soldiers were already occupying the forest line.
— "The divisions escaped."
Skoropadskyi nodded.
For several seconds he watched the battlefield.
Smoke still rose above the trees.
Krasnov removed his cap and wiped sweat from his forehead.
— "Bloody slaughter."
Skoropadskyi said nothing.
He continued watching the distant smoke.
Krasnov spoke again quietly.
— "If we had stayed five minutes longer…"
Skoropadskyi finished the thought calmly.
— "Then no one would have escaped."
For a moment they were silent.
Krasnov looked toward the road again.
— "At least the divisions got away."
Skoropadskyi nodded slightly.
— "Then it was worth it."
He turned his horse.
— "Let's move. We still have to catch the army."
The cavalry rode on.
Behind them the battlefield slowly faded into the distance.