Chapter 123: City Defense Crossfire

"Bang!"

Inside Sun Gongguan, Lu Xiao slammed a fist onto the table.

"When are you going to wait until?" he stared at Qin Chang'an, "The Seventh Battalion and the Ninth Battalion are about to be completely annihilated!"

Qin Chang'an stood by the window, watching the distant gunfire, his expression fluctuating.

"Do you think Yang Chengdong will let us go?" Lu Xiao continued, "Once Sun Lingyun's two battalions are wiped out, his next move will be to enter the French Concession to capture people. At that point..."

"The French Concession won't agree." Li Yong said from beside.

"Heh." Lu Xiao sneered, "You're too naive. Yang Chengdong has already colluded with the Yanjing side. If he enters the Concession under the pretext of 'clearing the rebellion', do you think the French would turn against Yanjing for our sake?"

The room fell silent for a moment. The distant artillery grew increasingly dense, clearly the battle had entered a fevered stage.

"There's only one way now." Lu Xiao lowered his voice, "Your Kunshan Security Brigade should charge in from the east. Two thousand elite troops are enough to tie down the main force of the city defense army."

"And then?"

"Then..." Lu Xiao's eyes flashed with a hint of brilliance, "Our Lu Family's two divisions will charge in from the west. Yang Chengdong's full attention is on Sun Lingyun's forces, he wouldn't expect us to..."

"You mean..." Qin Chang'an turned around.

"Exactly." Lu Xiao nodded, "Once your Security Brigade assaults strongly from the east, the city defense army must fall back. Then our two divisions can surge straight in and capture the Security Command Headquarters!"

Qin Chang'an fell into thought. It truly was an opportunity. Yang Chengdong had now committed his main force to encircle Sun Lingyun's troops, leaving the city defenses relatively weak. If at this moment...

"Time waits for no one." Lu Xiao glanced at his watch, "Dawn is approaching. Once Yang Chengdong deals with Sun Lingyun's forces, he can redeploy troops to reinforce the city defenses. Then..."

"But..." Qin Chang'an was still hesitating.

"What are you still worrying about?" Lu Xiao grew a bit impatient, "The Security Army was originally the Qin family's legacy. Now Yang Chengdong has betrayed, do you intend to just watch him..."

Before he could finish, another burst of dense gunfire came from outside.

"Young Commander." Li Yong also spoke, "If we don't act now, it'll truly be too late."

Qin Chang'an closed his eyes. He knew this was a life‑or‑death decision. Ordering the Security Brigade into the city would mean a complete break with Yang Chengdong, with no room for retreat.

But if he didn't...

"Give me the phone." He suddenly opened his eyes.

Li Yong hurriedly handed over the phone. Qin Chang'an took a deep breath and lifted the handset:

"Connect to Kunshan."

Lu Xiao showed a faint smile. He knew Qin Chang'an had finally made up his mind.

"Hello, this is Qin Chang'an." After the line connected, Qin Chang'an's voice was unusually firm, "Order the Security Brigade to depart immediately, attack Shen City from the east. Remember, you must..."

Outside Kunshan City.

Two thousand Security Brigade soldiers had assembled before dawn. This unit was personally formed and trained by Qin Chang'an after returning from studying in Britain. He combined the advanced doctrines of British military academies with traditional tactics to forge this elite force.

Each soldier was equipped with a German Mauser rifle, and officers above company commander carried a revolver. Sixteen Schwarzlose heavy machine guns were allocated to the companies, along with six 77 mm field artillery pieces. Unlike ordinary units' chaos, every Security Brigade soldier had undergone rigorous tactical training and was adept at operating in complex terrain.

"Did you receive the order?" Security Brigade Chief of Staff Xu Zhiyuan asked. He had been Qin Chang'an's classmate at the Military Lecture Hall and was later invited to help form the Security Brigade.

"Yes." Deputy Brigade Commander Chen Jinshan nodded, "The Young Commander said over the phone to advance toward Shen City immediately, breaking into the city from the east."

"Relay the Young Commander's orders." Xu Zhiyuan drew his command saber, "All units, charge! Follow the preset plan and prepare for urban street fighting!"

The two thousand soldiers quickly formed ranks. They had all undergone specialized urban combat training, a subject Qin Chang'an had emphasized. At this moment, his foresight was finally coming into play.

"Notify all companies." Chen Jinshan said, "According to the Young Commander's tactics, disperse the heavy machine guns, artillery prepare for point fire. After entering the city, immediately employ guerrilla tactics to avoid being encircled."

In the distance, towards Shen City, the glow of fire could be seen. The artillery flashes reddened half the sky.

"Increase speed!" Xu Zhiyuan shouted, "We must reach the east of the city before dawn!"

The two‑thousand‑strong column rushed through the rain. This elite force, personally forged by Qin Chang'an, was advancing toward Shen City at maximum speed. Every movement and tactical arrangement reflected the Young Commander's military foresight.

The sounds of horse hooves and footsteps echoed in the rain. Within Shen City's French Concession, Qin Chang'an waited for the troops he had poured his heart into, to reclaim the Qin family's legacy.

The eastern horizon was already turning pale. A new day was about to unfold in blood and fire.

"Security Army outpost spotted ahead!"

The scout's report came in. Dawn was hazy, the rain easing. The Kunshan Security Brigade was still two kilometers from Shen City's east gate.

"Report to the Chief of Staff!" The communications soldier handed over the telescope, "The Fifth Brigade's defensive line is complete. They have positioned on the wall..."

"I see it." Xu Zhiyuan squinted. The Security Army had set up six machine‑gun nests on the wall, and at least two field artillery pieces. Below the wall, a battalion stood in tight formation.

"Relay my orders." Xu Zhiyuan set down the telescope, "Artillery company, prepare; everyone else execute the Young Commander's urban tactics."

Soon, six 77 mm field guns were pushed into position. The Security Brigade's other units split into small groups, using the terrain for cover. This was a tactic Qin Chang'an had drilled repeatedly.

"The Security Army has sent troops." Chen Jinshan said.

A cavalryman bearing a white flag approached: "By order of Fifth Brigade Commander Zhang, the Kunshan Security Brigade may not enter the city! Otherwise..."

"Otherwise what?" Xu Zhiyuan sneered, "This is the Qin family's territory; when will it be Yang Chengdong's turn to decide?"

"Then don't blame us for being impolite!" The cavalryman turned his horse.

"Prepare!"

Both sides issued orders almost simultaneously.

"Boom!"

The Security Brigade's field artillery fired first. The first volley hit a machine‑gun nest on the wall. But the Security Army quickly responded, two 75 mm field guns began bombarding the Security Brigade's positions.

"Attack!" Xu Zhiyuan drew his command saber.

Security Brigade soldiers began advancing in dispersed groups. They moved in threes, covering each other and using terrain to close on the wall. This tactic made the Security Army's machine‑gun fire hard to concentrate.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

A burst of gunfire erupted. The German Mauser rifles had superior range, and the Security Brigade's suppressive fire kept the Security Army soldiers from exposing themselves.

"Boom!"

Another shell exploded. This time the Security Army's field artillery hit the target, and a squad of the Security Brigade was blown to pieces.

"Machine‑gun team! Cover!"

Sixteen Schwarzlose heavy machine guns began to roar. They were dispersed at different positions, and crossfire blocked the defensive line on the city wall.

;"Kill!";

The shouts of killing from both sides rose and fell in the dawn light.