Chapter 124: with translation of chapter title

"Young Commander!" Li Yong rushed in, "The Security Regiment is already exchanging fire with the Fifth Brigade at the east gate!"

Qin Chang'an stood by the window, gazing at the artillery fire rising in the east. He knew that once this battle began, there would be no turning back.

"Casualties?"

"Chief of Staff Xu's telegram says..." Li Yong's voice trembled a little, "In the first wave of the strong assault we lost two platoons, nearly a hundred men. The machine-gun squad suffered half casualties, the artillery company..."

"Speak!"

"One field artillery piece was destroyed, the artillery crew... all perished."

Qin Chang'an clenched his fists. He knew the assault on fortified positions would be brutal, but he didn't expect casualties to mount so heavily in less than an hour of fighting.

"And the Fifth Brigade?"

"At least one battalion has been crippled." Li Yong continued, "Our German-made rifles have long range, and with accurate artillery fire they suffer heavier casualties. But the fortifications are too solid; it's hard to break through in a short time."

"Brother Lu." Qin Chang'an turned to Lu Xiao, "It's your turn."

Lu Xiao had been waiting for these words. He immediately picked up the phone: "Connect to Nanjiang."

The phone was connected quickly.

"Order Deputy Commander Xie of the Fourth Army: immediately march on Shen City." Lu Xiao's voice was urgent, "Remember, you must reach the west of the city before nightfall!"

After hanging up, Lu Xiao looked at Qin Chang'an: "The Fifth and Seventh Brigades of the Fourth Army are the Lu family's old core. Although their equipment doesn't match the Sun faction's, they fight without holding back."

Qin Chang'an knew this was true. The Nanjiang Fourth Army is the Lu family's direct lineage, famed for strict discipline. The two brigades together number six thousand, all veteran soldiers.

"What's the specific deployment?"

"The Fifth Brigade is slightly better equipped, with eight 75mm field guns and twenty domestically made machine guns." Lu Xiao said, "They will advance from the northwest. The Seventh Brigade will flank from the southwest, cutting off Yang Chengdong's retreat."

Before his words finished, another telegram arrived.

"Chief of Staff Xu reports: in the second wave of the offensive we lost another three hundred plus." Li Yong's hands were shaking, "But they finally broke open a gap. The Fifth Brigade's defenses have been pierced, and urban combat has begun..."

"Casualties will only grow worse." Lu Xiao said in a low voice, "Urban combat is the bloodiest. The Fifth Brigade will surely set up machine-gun strongpoints on the streets; every step forward will exact a price."

Qin Chang'an closed his eyes. Having studied modern tactics in Britain, he knew the cruelty of urban combat. But this was a price that had to be paid.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Continuous explosion sounds came from the east. That was the artillery of both sides bombarding each other back and forth. Amid the thick smoke, cries of anguish and shouts rose and fell.

At this moment, toward Nanjiang, the Lu family's Fourth Army was swiftly advancing on Shen City. Six thousand veteran soldiers trudged through the morning dew, shouldering their rifles, marching toward Shen City, which was about to become a battlefield.

"Boom!"

Another artillery shell exploded on the street. Fifth Brigade commander Zhang Zhi Yuan stood on the city wall, gazing at the situation ahead.

"Report, brigade commander!" the chief of staff ran over, "The Security Regiment has launched another wave of attack. This time they split into several squads, coming from different directions..."

"I see." Zhang Zhi Yuan raised his binoculars. The Security Regiment's tactics were special—not traditional massed charges, but dispersing and using street blind spots to continually infiltrate.

"This Qin Chang'an." He lowered his binoculars, "He's actually quite capable."

"Brigade commander?"

"Look at their tactics." Zhang Zhi Yuan pointed ahead, "They advance in dispersed waves, alternating cover, each soldier seeming to have had special training. This isn't a Security Regiment—it's practically a regular army."

Before his words finished, a burst of concentrated gunfire rang out. The Security Regiment's German-made rifles have long range and high precision, keeping the Fifth Brigade's soldiers from daring to expose their heads.

"That little brat." Zhang Zhi Yuan sneered, "I heard he studied abroad in Britain. No wonder he's cooked up all these tricks."

"Brigade commander, should we..."

"Pass on my orders." Zhang Zhi Yuan interrupted, "Redirect the Third and Fourth Main Regiments to the east city. Have them set up machine-gun strongpoints on the streets, with defenses at every intersection."

"Yes!"

Soon, the two regiments' forces began to move. Although the Fifth Brigade's equipment is inferior to that of the Security Regiment, it makes up for it in numbers. The two main regiments total three thousand, one and a half times the size of the Security Regiment.

"Let's see how they fight this time." Zhang Zhi Yuan narrowed his eyes, "Even if they have some skill, two thousand men trying to storm our defenses is just courting death."

"Report!" the signal corpsman ran over, "The Security Regiment's artillery has opened fire again! This time..."

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Three consecutive artillery shells precisely struck the street defenses. A machine-gun strongpoint just set up by the Fifth Brigade was blown to pieces, several machine-gunners dying on the spot.

"Damn it!" Zhang Zhi Yuan gritted his teeth, "Where did their artillery train? How can their aim be so wicked!"

"Brigade commander." the chief of staff said, "Should we also bring out our field artillery..."

"No way!" Zhang Zhi Yuan firmly refused, "The artillery must be kept. In case..."

He didn't finish, but the chief of staff understood his meaning. The situation in Shen City is now complex; who knows if there won't be other changes.

"Have the Third and Fourth Regiments hold the position to the death." He ordered, "Even if we're wiped out, we cannot let these people break in!"

"Yes!"

Zhang Zhi Yuan raised his binoculars again. Through the gun smoke, he saw the Security Regiment's soldiers continually infiltrating. This force is indeed a tough nut to crack, but with two main regiments defending here, they dare not think of breaking through.

At least, that's what he thought.

Fourth Bureau Chief Office.

"Speak." Lin Yu sat behind his desk, fiddling with a copper coin.

"Sun Lingyun's two battalions have been nearly wiped out." Zhou Wei stood before the desk, "The Seventh Battalion suffered over half casualties, the Ninth Battalion is even worse, with fewer than a hundred still putting up a last-ditch resistance. Xiao Yunqi that stubborn sort, leading the remnants, is still trying to break out toward the French Concession."

"What about the French Concession side?"

"Nothing much for now." Zhou Wei shook his head, "The Public Administration Bureau has held several meetings, but none have taken a clear stance. Among the Four Young Masters, Liu Wen does move about in the concession, but..."

"His father is the Garrison Envoy; he certainly won't act rashly now." Lin Yu sneered, "Go on."

"On the east side of the city, Qin Chang'an's Security Regiment is fighting the Fifth Brigade. Zhang Zhi Yuan has already sent two main regiments over, but the Security Regiment's firepower is fierce; they can't be taken down quickly."

Lin Yu put down the copper coin: "Casualties?"

"Both sides have suffered considerable losses. The Security Regiment lost four to five hundred, while the Fifth Brigade side is worse, at least seven hundred killed or wounded. This Security Regiment indeed has real skill."

"And Lu Xiao?"

"He's been inside the French Concession, staying with Qin Chang'an." Zhou Wei paused, "But... our people have noticed that large-scale troop movements seem to be underway in the Nanjiang direction."

Lin Yu stood up and walked to the window. The cannon fire in the distance continued, smoke obscuring half the sky.

"The four young masters have joined forces." He said calmly, "Qin Chang'an's security regiment attacked from the east, Sun Lingyun's troops are holding off outside the French Concession, Liu Wen is active inside the concession, and as for Lu Xiao..."

"Nanjiang's troops?"

Lin Yu turned around, his eyes sharp, "These four won't admit defeat so easily."