Chapter 122

Security Command Headquarters.

"Report to the Commander!" the Chief of Staff rushed in, "Sun Lingyun's two regiments are breaking through toward the French Concession."

Yang Chengdong stood before the sand table, his expression grim. He drew a circle on the map with his finger: "Let Zheng Shihao's Seventh Mixed Brigade give chase with all force; we must stop them before they enter the French Concession..."

"But the French Concession side..." the Chief of Staff said worriedly.

"I know." Yang Chengdong snorted coldly, "but we can't worry about that now. Once these two regiments get into the concession, it's tantamount to giving Sun Lingyun a foothold."

"Understood." the Chief of Staff nodded, "as for the city defenses..."

"The Fifth Brigade will handle it." Yang Chengdong marked a few more spots on the map, "the focus is these directions. Especially the Kunshan direction, Qin Chang'an's Security Regiment could enter the city at any moment."

Yes!

"Tell Zheng Shihao." Yang Chengdong's eyes flashed with a cold glint, "once we take these two regiments, immediately bring a regiment into the French Concession and seize Qin Chang'an and Sun Lingyun together."

"This... this might be too risky?" the Chief of Staff exclaimed in surprise, "the French Concession side will surely not agree..."

"Hmph." Yang Chengdong gave a cold snort, "once we capture Sun Lingyun's forces, the French Concession won't dare to shelter them anymore. As for Qin Chang'an..."

He walked to the window, gazing at the distant gunfire: "That brat surely can't sit still now. If his Security Regiment dares to enter the city, let him see what real war is."

"Commander." the Chief of Staff hesitated, "the Beijing side..."

"Don't worry." Yang Chengdong showed a faint smile, "I've already sent a telegram. As long as we pacify this rebellion, the Beijing authorities will naturally support us."

At that moment, an officer from the communications office ran in: "Report to the Commander! Brigade Chief Zheng called: they have already encircled the Seventh Regiment's breakout route and are launching a fierce assault."

"Good." Yang Chengdong nodded, "tell Zheng Shihao, no matter the cost, we must take those two regiments."

"Also." he added, "have the artillery company of the Fifth Brigade ready. As soon as we spot Qin Chang'an's Security Regiment, open fire immediately."

Yes!

Yang Chengdong returned to the sand table. He knew this was a gamble. If they could settle the battle before dawn, Shen City would fall completely under his control. But if Sun Lingyun's troops entered the French Concession, or if Qin Chang'an's Security Regiment fought its way in...

"Pass on my orders." he suddenly said, "have the Intelligence Section closely monitor the French Concession's movements, especially the Public Administration Bureau side; report any abnormality immediately."

"Also." his eyes turned sharp, "have Zheng Shihao prepare an assault team. If we really need to go into the French Concession to make arrests, it must be swift, precise, and ruthless."

Gunfire outside the window grew denser. Yang Chengdong knew this sleepless night would decide Shen City's fate. And he had no retreat.

Boom!

A shell exploded in front of the Seventh Regiment's position, mud and shrapnel flying everywhere.

"Report to the battalion commander!" the signalman lunged to Xiao Yun's side, "Zheng Shihao's Twentieth Regiment is charging from the north! We..."

Before he could finish, a burst of machine-gun fire raked the emplacement. Xiao Yunqi poked his head out and his face turned ashen. The Twentieth Regiment is Zheng Shihao's main force, the entire regiment equipped with twelve domestically made 7.92mm machine guns. Now these guns are sweeping wildly, suppressing the Seventh Regiment's breakout route.

How many casualties in the third company?

"Half a platoon of brothers... are gone." the signalman's voice trembled, "four machine gunners have been killed, and..."

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The rapid rifle fire cut him off. Soldiers of the Twentieth Regiment closed in from both flanks, no longer making reckless charges as before, but advancing in small groups using the cover of streets and buildings.

"Damn it!" Xiao Yunqi gritted his teeth, "let the Second Company's Schwarzlose machine guns lay down suppressing fire! First Company, get ready..."

Boom!

Another shell. This time it directly hit the Second Company's machine-gun emplacement, two heavy machine guns and five gunners killed on the spot. Blood spattered the wall, slowly trickling away in the rain.

"Battalion commander!" the deputy battalion commander stumbled over, "the eastern route has been cut off! The Twentieth Regiment's mortars..."

How many do we have left?

"Less than three hundred." the deputy battalion commander wiped blood from his face, "First Company suffered the heaviest losses, Second Company's fire points have been knocked out half, Third Company..."

Amid the dense gunfire, the Seventh Regiment's breakout route grew ever narrower. They were now like trapped beasts, desperately struggling in the Security Army's fire net.

Inside the French Concession, Sun Lingyun received the latest battle report.

"The Ninth Regiment has been almost annihilated..." the signalman's voice choked, "only fewer than a hundred broke through to the vicinity of the concession. As for the Seventh Regiment..."

Speak!

"They have come under heavy encirclement by Zheng Shihao. Battalion Commander Xiao is wounded but still directing the fight. They..."

A huge explosion cut off the signalman's words. It was the Security Army's mortar, wildly bombarding the Seventh Regiment's position.

On the battlefield, Xiao Yunqi leaned against a broken wall. His left arm had been hit, but that wasn't the worst. The worst was that their ammunition was about to run out.

"Battalion commander!" a soldier covered in blood crawled over, "First Company has fewer than forty left! The machine-gun squad has only..."

Bang!

A bullet struck him in the head; the soldier fell backward, dead with eyes open.

"Order the troops!" Xiao Yunqi shouted through gritted teeth, "concentrate all firepower, prepare for one final breakout!"

The rain fell harder. Under the illumination of artillery fire, corpses littered the streets—some from the Security Army, but more were brothers of the Seventh Regiment. Their German-made rifles and machine guns exerted tremendous power, yet faced with Zheng Shihao's heavy encirclement, they were ultimately outnumbered.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three consecutive shells fell, the Seventh Regiment's position nearly leveled. Amid the smoke came Zheng Shihao's shout:

"Surrender! You're already surrounded!"

Xiao Yunqi wiped blood and rain from his face, glanced at his watch. There was still an hour until dawn. If they couldn't break through to the French Concession before daybreak...

"Brothers!" he seized a Mauser rifle, "follow me!"

Charge!

The Seventh Regiment's remnants, under Xiao Yunqi's lead, launched their final charge. Their Mauser rifles fired rapidly, for a moment suppressing the Security Army's firepower.

But Zheng Shihao had prepared in advance.

"Machine-gun squad! Open fire!"

Twelve machine guns roared in unison, a dense hail of bullets sweeping the street. The Seventh Regiment's soldiers fell in rows, blood staining the rain red.

"Cover! Cover!" Xiao Yunqi hoarsely shouted.

Two surviving Schwarzlose machine guns began to counterfire. Their immense power for a moment suppressed the Security Army's fire points. Seizing the opportunity, the Seventh Regiment's remnants began to break through toward the French Concession.

"Boom!"

"A mortar shell exploded in the crowd. Flesh and blood flew, and screams rose and fell."

"\"Battalion Commander! \" The deputy battalion commander lunged to Xiao Yun's side, \"Ammunition... ammunition is almost gone! \""

"Xiao Yun rose and looked around. His subordinates fought desperately in blood and fire, but the Security Army's encirclement kept tightening. The horizon had begun to lighten, and the direction of the French Concession seemed within arm's reach, yet still far away..."