Defying Orders, Vol. 2 cover

Defying Orders, Vol. 2

Rating 3.8
Word count
260K words
Chapters
79
ISBN
9787550257726

Tags

Summary

As the Eighth Route Army's armed work team arrives, the villagers of Dawu Village in southern Hebei are no longer bystanders. Once resigned, wavering between survival and family lineage, they now fight the Japanese, battle puppet troops, and hunt bandits in battle after battle. Every young man with a drop of courage in his blood volunteers to join the work team, to give this land a breath of its own: every invader who seizes our territory and humiliates our people must pay in blood. With comrades growing in number, the team consolidates its positions. Mo Tianliu and his men secretly learn Japanese and sow discord, and their ingenious surprise attacks leave the enemy reeling. But the respite is short: a heavy snow that seals the mountains gives the Japanese a chance to recover, see through Tianliu's schemes, and mass their troops for a decisive battle. The work team is cornered once again, fighting to cover the villagers' retreat.

Editor's review

Zhou Jianliang's "Defying Orders 2" continues the hard-edged military style of the "Defying Orders" series. Set against the backdrop of the War of Resistance Against Japan, it portrays the tenacity and resourcefulness of Chinese soldiers in desperate situations through detailed battlefield description and complex character development. This book is not only a military novel but also a literary work that probes human nature, loyalty, and sacrifice. The author, Zhou Jianliang, a veteran military enthusiast and writer, is extremely rigorous in his command of military detail; weapons and equipment as well as tactical arrangements withstand scrutiny, creating a strong sense of immediacy for readers. Compared with the first volume, "Defying Orders 2" advances its plot more tightly and complicates its character relationships further. The moral dilemmas and strategic choices facing the protagonist are deeper, lifting the story beyond simple confrontation between enemies and elevating it to reflection on the nature of war. For readers who enjoy historical war fiction, the book offers ample professionalism and entertainment; for readers seeking depictions of human nature, the struggles and growth of the characters in extreme circumstances are also worth savoring. Overall, "Defying Orders 2" is a highly accomplished series work that combines readability with thoughtfulness, suitable for readers who resonate with that period of history or are interested in military narrative.

Who it's for

A good fit for

  • Readers with a strong interest in the history of the War of Resistance Against Japan
  • Military enthusiasts who enjoy hard-core military detail and tactical description
  • Literary readers who appreciate complex character relationships and stories of moral dilemma
  • Readers seeking tense, exciting long-form fiction with tightly paced plots

Not a good fit for

  • Readers uncomfortable with war themes or who prefer light reading
  • Readers hoping to see a completely idealized heroic protagonist

Reading tips

  1. It is advisable to read the first volume of "Defying Orders" first to better understand the characters' backgrounds and the story's threads
  2. When reading, pay some attention to the historical background but do not overfocus on details; enjoy the tension of the story itself
  3. The book contains many combat scenes; slow down where appropriate and visualize the scenes to enhance immersion

About the publisher

Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. China · Founded in 1993

Beijing United Publishing Co., Ltd. is a publisher known for its literature and history titles, with 2,065 books in the collection. Its publishing covers foreign literature, contemporary Chinese prose and essays, history, folk literature, and cultural books. Its list ranges from Sima Qian's complete edition of the Records of the Grand Historian to foreign classics such as The Book of Disquiet, All Quiet on the Western Front, Snow Country, The Stranger, and Jean-Christophe, as well as modern Chinese works including Teahouse and Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk. Its authors and translators include Yasunari Kawabata, Fernando Pessoa, Erich Maria Remarque, Jin Xinyi, Zhou Miao, and Chen Chao. Public information is limited, but its catalogue reflects a balance between Chinese and foreign literary classics and historical and cultural works.

Contents

  1. 版权信息
  2. 第一章 身后难为
  3. 第二章 坦承来意
  4. 第三章 榜样力量
  5. 第四章 宗族法度
  6. 第五章 一语道破
  7. 第六章 纷沓来投
  8. 第七章 岂甘人后
  9. 第八章 坐而论道
  10. 第九章 扬汤止沸(上)
  11. 第十章 扬汤止沸(下)
  12. 第十一章 釜底抽薪(上)
  13. 第十二章 釜底抽薪(中)
  14. 第十三章 釜底抽薪(下)
  15. 第十四章 只鳞片甲
  16. 第十五章 坚壁清野
  17. 第十六章 黑云压城(上)
  18. 第十七章 黑云压城(下)
  19. 第十八章 零敲碎打
  20. 第十九章 逼狗入瓮
  21. 第二十章 欲擒故纵
  22. 第二十一章 金钩香饵
  23. 第二十二章 狼狈齐来
  24. 第二十三章 步步为营
  25. 第二十四章 进退两难
  26. 第二十五章 饮鸩止渴
  27. 第二十六章 夜静更深
  28. 第二十七章 有心无心
  29. 第二十八章 杀出黎明(上)
  30. 第二十九章 杀出黎明(中)
  31. 第三十章 杀出黎明(下)
  32. 第三十一章 中心开花
  33. 第三十二章 学无止境
  34. 第三十三章 百村大会(上)
  35. 第三十四章 百村大会(中)
  36. 第三十五章 百村大会(下)
  37. 第三十六章 初学乍练
  38. 第三十七章 学以致用(上)
  39. 第三十八章 学以致用(中)
  40. 第三十九章 学以致用(下)
  41. 第四十章 争功诿过
  42. 第四十一章 里应外合(上)
  43. 第四十二章 里应外合(中)
  44. 第四十三章 里应外合(下)
  45. 第四十四章 奇思妙想
  46. 第四十五章 送上门来
  47. 第四十六章 狡狐伎俩
  48. 第四十七章 拦腰一击
  49. 第四十八章 虎头蛇尾
  50. 第四十九章 虎穴觅踪(上)
  51. 第五十章 虎穴觅踪(下)
  52. 第五十一章 怎样把戏
  53. 第五十二章 涂脂抹粉
  54. 第五十三章 看穿画皮(上)
  55. 第五十四章 看穿画皮(中)
  56. 第五十五章 看穿画皮(下)
  57. 第五十六章 诡异来客
  58. 第五十七章 各持己见
  59. 第五十八章 打草惊蛇
  60. 第五十九章 将计就计
  61. 第六十章 得寸进尺(上)
  62. 第六十一章 得寸进尺(下)
  63. 第六十二章 断头酒饭(上)
  64. 第六十三章 断头酒饭(下)
  65. 第六十四章 丧家之犬
  66. 第六十五章 计出连环(上)
  67. 第六十六章 计出连环(下)
  68. 第六十七章 恶毒绸缪
  69. 第六十八章 几入绝境
  70. 第六十九章 仙人指路(上)
  71. 第七十章 仙人指路(下)
  72. 第七十一章 临危受命
  73. 第七十二章 心头念想
  74. 第七十三章 善财难舍(上)
  75. 第七十四章 善财难舍(中)
  76. 第七十五章 善财难舍(下)
  77. 第七十六章 人心各异
  78. 第七十七章 众志成城(上)
  79. 第七十八章 众志成城(下)

FAQ

Can I read "Defying Orders 2" directly without having read the first volume?
Although the story of "Defying Orders 2" is relatively self-contained, character relationships and prior events are substantially established in the first volume. Reading in order is recommended for a more complete experience.
Is this book adapted from real history?
The novel is created against the backdrop of the War of Resistance Against Japan, but the characters and specific plotlines are fictional; it is an artistic historical narrative.
Are the war descriptions in the book excessively cruel?
The author strives to present war scenes realistically, and there is a certain degree of violence. The main purpose, however, is to show the radiance of human nature rather than to sensationalize bloodshed.

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About the author

周健良 Author

Zhou Jianliang is an author about whom limited public information is available. The existing records confirm only that four works are listed under this name: Kanging 1, Kanging 2, Kanging 3, and the Kanging (1-3 boxed set), which can be regarded as separate volumes and a collected edition of the same series. Judging from the common categories, Zhou Jianliang's writing mainly falls under "otherworld continent" and "war and military" fiction, suggesting that the stories are often set in imaginary worlds and revolve around military and combat plots, combining otherworldly imagination with military narrative. The representative works are concentrated in the Kanging series, which is also the core clue for understanding the author's writing. Because information such as dates of birth and death, nationality, and English name remains unconfirmed, this entry makes no inferences about the author's personal experience, educational background, or writing career. Readers should rely primarily on these four works and their categories when learning about Zhou Jianliang; further information remains to be made public.

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