Chapter 119: Gunfire Echoes Through Shen City

Bang!

Qin Chang'an slammed his fist on the table, the teacup tipped over, and scalding tea spilled across the table.

"Uncle!" he gritted his teeth, "You actually…"

"Young Commander, stay calm!" Li Yong's face turned pale, "Now is not the time to lose our temper. The Security Command Headquarters has already completely fallen into Yang Chengdong's hands, and our bases within the city also…"

"Speak!"

"Yi He Trading House is surrounded by the Security Army, the brothers inside have already…" Li Yong's voice trembled, "The whole army is annihilated."

"What about the dock?"

"The Third Regiment raided the dock warehouse; all the ammunition we stored there was seized. Not a single guard brother escaped."

Qin Chang'an staggered back a step, as if someone had struck his chest hard. He never imagined, even in his dreams, that Yang Chengdong would come so quickly and so ruthlessly.

"What about the northern district camp?"

"It has already been surrounded by the First Regiment." Li Yong's voice quivered, "Zhang Zhi Yuan issued a warning: if we don't surrender, they will launch a forced assault."

"What about the eastern district?"

"Wang Deming's Third Regiment also…"

"Enough!" Qin Chang'an flipped the table with one hand.

Gunfire crackled outside the window, and the night sky over the French Concession was illuminated brightly.

"Young Commander." Sun Lingyun pushed the door open, his face solemn, "Yang Chengdong intends to exterminate completely."

"It's not just the Security Command Headquarters." Xu Jishi hurried in, "He hasn't even spared our assets in Shen City. The Great World Tea House, Yongxing Money Bank, Yi He Trading House… all places linked to the Fourth Young Master have been seized by the Security Army."

"You old dog!" Qin Chang'an snarled, "You've been lying in wait for twenty years, finally revealing your true face."

"Young Master." Xu Jishi handed over a special edition of the Shen City Daily, "Take a look at this."

Qin Chang'an took the newspaper, and saw the front page emblazoned in bold letters:

"Security Army Cleanses Criminal Elements! Commander Yang personally commands, single‑handedly destroys multiple black evil strongholds"

"Black evil forces?" Qin Chang'an sneered, "What a backhanded strike!"

In the newspaper, Yang Chengdong, under the banner "Maintain Shen City Public Order", mass‑arrested "criminal elements". Those captured were all the Fourth Young Master's confidants in Shen City.

"The streets are already in chaos." Xu Jishi said, "The Security Army is searching everywhere, claiming to capture 'gang members'. The common folk are staying indoors, afraid to go out."

"Yang Chengdong's move is clever." Sun Lingyun sneered, "Under the banner of 'anti‑bandit', he nets all our people."

"Young Master." Xu Jishi lowered his voice, "What do we do now? Should we…"

Boom!

A deafening blast cut off his words. Everyone rushed to the window and saw a thick plume of smoke rising from the northern district direction.

"Northern district camp…" Li Yong's complexion changed drastically.

"It's over." Sun Lingyun sighed, "It seems the stubborn resistance has been forcefully assaulted."

Qin Chang'an pressed both hands on the windowsill, his knuckles whitening. Shen City, the foundation his father built single‑handedly, is being lost in a single night…

Cries and wails rose from the streets. Security Army soldiers were searching house to house; anyone with even a hint of suspicion was forced onto military trucks.

"This is not anti‑bandit." Qin Chang'an snarled, "This is a purge!"

"Young Master." Xu Jishi suddenly said, "Just received word, Yang Chengdong has telegraphed Longjiang, saying he is 'clearing rebel elements'."

"Rebel elements?" Qin Chang'an laughed, a chilling laugh, "What a rebel element. I want to see who is rebelling!"

"Chang'an." Sun Lingyun placed his hand on his shoulder, "Calm down. Right now the most important thing is…"

Before he could finish, another burst of rapid gunfire came. This time, it came from the eastern district direction.

"Eastern district camp also…" Li Yong's voice trembled.

【9】 Qin Chang'an closed his eyes. He knew Shen City was doomed. The elders who had followed his father for years, the brothers who were loyal to him, would all meet their end this night…

Qin Chang'an closed his eyes. He knew Shen City was finished. Those elders who had followed his father for many years, those brothers who were fiercely loyal to him, would all... this night...

"Yang Chengdong!" He opened his eyes, his gaze flashing with deep‑seated hatred, "This vengeance, I will definitely avenge!"

"Report!"

A signal corps soldier rushed in: "News from the northern district camp: Zhang Zhi Yuan's troops have already surrounded our barracks!"

Sun Lingyun's eyes narrowed: "How many are they?"

"The First Regiment deployed in full, at least the strength of one regiment."

"Heh." Sun Lingyun sneered, "They think they can take my troops with those outdated Luan Yang Zao rifles?"

He walked to the map. The northern district camp was garrisoned by the Seventh Battalion he personally brought, all equipped with German 1898 Mauser rifles. Moreover, they also fielded eight Schwarzlose heavy machine guns, a heavy firepower even the Security Army lacks.

"Young Master." Xu Jishi whispered, "The Ninth Battalion in the eastern district is also surrounded. Wang Deming leads the Third Regiment…"

"No need to fear." Sun Lingyun, composed, "The Ninth Battalion's equipment surpasses that of the Seventh. Each squad is equipped with Vickers machine guns, firepower density three times that of the Security Army."

He was right. These two battalions are Sun family's elite, all equipped with weapons imported from Europe. The rifles are German 1898 Mausers and British Lee‑Enfield rifles, the machine guns are German Schwarzlose and British Vickers, and even the hand grenades are the latest European imports.

In contrast, the Security Army's gear is far inferior. Apart from a few officers wielding Luan Yang Zao Model 88 rifles, most soldiers still carry the old Model 79. As for machine guns, the entire Security Army has only a dozen domestically produced 7.92 mm machine guns.

"But…" Xu Jishi worried, "They have many men."

"So what if they outnumber us?" Sun Lingyun replied dismissively, "Each of my soldiers carries 200 rounds. Even if they have three times the numbers, how can they break through our fire net?"

Before the words finished, a burst of rapid gunfire came from the northern district direction.

"Report!" The signal soldier rushed in again, "The First Regiment has begun a probing attack!"

"Let the Seventh Battalion brothers give the guests a proper reception." Sun Lingyun sneered, "Let them witness what true firepower is."

Sure enough, the Security Army's wails soon echoed. The German Mauser's range and accuracy far surpass the Luan Yang Zao, and with the Schwarzlose heavy machine gun's suppressive fire, the First Regiment's probing attack was instantly repelled.

"Young Master." Xu Jishi suddenly said, "Over in the eastern district, Wang Deming seems to be adjusting the artillery battalion…"

"Artillery?" Sun Lingyun's eyes narrowed, "How many guns do they have?"

"It's said to be six 75 mm field guns."

Sun Lingyun frowned. That would be a trouble. Though his troops have strong firepower, if they were bombarded by artillery…

"; Order the Seventh Battalion and the Ninth Battalion." He said in a deep voice, "; While the sky is still dark, break out immediately."

"; Break out?" Qin Chang'an said in surprise, "; But…"

"; If we don't leave now, it'll be too late." Sun Lingyun said, "; Yang Chengdong, that old dog, will definitely concentrate all firepower to encircle us. Rather than being passively beaten, it's better to take the initiative and strike."

He walked to the map, pointing at a route: "; Let the two battalions break out toward the French Concession simultaneously. With our firepower, we can completely carve a bloody path."

"; But the Public Administration Bureau side…"

"; Don't worry." Sun Lingyun gave a faint cold smile, "; I've already arranged everything. As long as we can enter the French Concession, Yang Chengdong will have no way to deal with us."