Chapter 113

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

The conflict at Hongqiao Airport later came to be called the Hongqiao Airport Incident by the Japanese and the Xia Guo Army.

The Japanese nerves were greatly stimulated; fortunately, they no longer bothered to hide it, and the Japanese Navy's Third Fleet, which had long been waiting in the outer waters, began to close in on Shanghai.

However, once news of the Hongqiao Airport Incident reached the upper echelons of the Guo Fu Army, it caused no small amount of panic.

The President sent an electric message to Minister He of the Ministry of Military Administration asking: "Stillness, how did things blow up like this?"

After Minister He soothed the President, he called Jing Hu Garrison Commander Zhang Zhizhong: "Wenbai, I fear this is going to cause trouble."

Zhang Zhizhong then found Lv Muzhi: "Wei Yue, restrain yourself as much as possible; stop while you're ahead."

Lv Muzhi called Chu Yunfei: "Did our brothers suffer losses?"

Chu Yunfei proudly puffed out his chest at Hongqiao Airport: "In this battle against the Japanese, my forces won a complete victory."

"Good, keep it up. Continue standing by at Hongqiao Airport and await further orders."

"Yes!"

With such maneuvers by Lv Muzhi—building fortifications and killing Japanese soldiers—the commotion was huge, and naturally his superiors summoned him to a meeting to align their understanding.

Inside the temporary headquarters of the Ninth Group Army in Nanxiang Town, the atmosphere was tense.

Zhang Zhizhong pointed to the Liuhe-Wusongkou Line marked on the map, his brow furrowed as he looked at Lv Muzhi:

"Wei Yue, you unilaterally built anti-landing fortifications and deployed obstacles along the Liuhe-Wusongkou Line. This is too rash! It seriously violates the armistice agreement and is tantamount to giving the enemy a handle; it will easily provoke the Japanese."

Lv Muzhi walked to the large military map, his expression calm, and pointed with his command stick at the Songhu area: "Commander Wenbai, it is not that I, Muzi, am being rash; the situation simply forces us to prepare for the worst. To put it bluntly, the situation in Songhu is heading toward loss of control, and will eventually spiral completely out of control."

"The little Japanese deliberately intruded into Hongqiao Airport to create trouble. They've used this trick many times before—missing soldiers, sabotaged railways, and now they deliberately create conflict at Hongqiao Airport. Don't you find this eerily familiar?"

"The little Japanese succeed every time, and this time is no exception. Since the situation will spiral out of control sooner or later, why cling to the armistice agreement?"

"The wolfish ambition of the Japanese is to seize Shanghai, strike at our economic lifeline, then sail up the river and march straight on Jinling to destroy the political center."

Lv Muzhi moved his command stick to the Hongkou District area, where the Japanese Marine Corps Command Headquarters was located: "At present, these two thousand Japanese marines in the city appear isolated, but they are actually a nail driven into our heartland, and also a huge decoy."

"Their mission is, once war breaks out, to rely on sturdy fortifications and hold out for reinforcements, firmly tying down our main forces."

Then the command stick slid toward the Yangtze River Estuary: "The Japanese's true killing move lies in their powerful transport capability."

"If their reinforcements are to land quickly and enter the Songhu battlefield, there are only two best locations:"

"First, the wharf areas along the Huangpu River such as Yangshupu, which are already within the Japanese sphere of influence and difficult for us to interfere with;"

"Second, the long beaches of the Liuhe-Wusongkou Line. Constrained by the armistice agreement, and because our army was relatively weak at the time, we had not built fortifications there for several years according to the agreement, but we can no longer wait; we must build defensive lines immediately."

The command stick struck heavily at the Liuhe-Wusongkou Line: "The terrain here is relatively flat, making it easy for landing craft to storm the beach, and it is located on the left wing of our main force. If the Japanese successfully land here, they can pincer the Hongkou stronghold from inside and outside, or advance directly west to cut the Jing Hu line and outflank our army's rear!"

"By then, we would be on the defensive. Deploying defenses now may seem provocative, but it actually strangles the Japanese throat and forces them to launch a costly frontal assault on the battlefield I have preset!"

Zhang Zhizhong pondered for a moment, then pointed to the north bank of the Yangtze River: "In your opinion, is it possible for the Japanese to land in this direction and outflank us?"

Lv Muzhi shook his head decisively: "Absolutely impossible! Commander Wenbai, please look. The core objective of the Japanese first phase is a quick victory: seize Shanghai and threaten Jinling."

"If they chose to land north of the river, I ask you, how would they threaten Shanghai and Jinling? They would first have to face the wide Yangtze River as a natural barrier, need to gather a large amount of river-crossing equipment, organize complex amphibious transfers, take a long time, and face enormous logistical pressure."

"This completely contradicts their tactical logic of seeking a quick victory. Therefore, on the Songhu battlefield, the Japanese have no possibility of landing north of the Yangtze River."

"By comparison, landing at the Liuhe-Wusongkou Line can directly threaten the flank of our Songhu defensive line, with efficiency many times higher? As long as the Japanese army commander in charge of reinforcements is not a fool, he will certainly choose this place as the main landing site in the early stage."

After hearing this, Zhang Zhizhong nodded slightly, clearly agreeing with Lv Muzhi's analysis.

But the worry on his face did not lessen: "Even if the land deployment is as you say, the Japanese possess absolute air and sea superiority."

"The range of their warship guns is long and their power great, and the carrier-based aircraft of their aircraft carriers can bomb and strafe our positions at any time."

"Our army lacks effective countermeasures, and our officers and men will probably have to hold on bitterly under enemy fire. This... how should we deal with it?"

Hearing this, Lv Muzhi nodded and said: "Commander Wenbai's concern is well-founded. Our air and sea inferiority has long been a major worry for our army. Although we cannot reverse this inferiority, I have already made some preparations for it."

"Given the threat of Japanese carrier-based aircraft and land-based air forces, I used my cooperative relationship with the Hans State and my own funds, combined with loans and minerals, to introduce 100 of the Hans State's latest BF-109 fighters early on and established the Southwest Air Force."

"This type of fighter is maneuverable, climbs fast, has strong firepower, and its performance comprehensively surpasses the Type 96 Carrier Fighter currently mainly equipped by the Japanese."

"I have organized them into three fighter battalions, each battalion commanding three squadrons, each squadron about 9-10 aircraft, plus one directly subordinate squadron. Two battalions are deployed at Jiaqiao Airport in Hangzhou, and one battalion at Suzhou Airport, forming a mutually supporting posture, able to support the skies over Songhu at any time."

"At the start of the war, cooperating with the President's air force to seize air superiority and cover our ground forces and cities is not an extravagant hope!"

Zhang Zhizhong was very surprised: "Southwest Air Force? How have I never heard of it? With so many fighters entering the country, how could I possibly not know?"

Lv Muzhi explained: "The pilots and aircraft were trained abroad. This plan was secretly launched four years ago. The members are aspiring youths from all over, and many overseas Chinese. The Southwest Air Force returned to the country less than half a month ago, and moreover Sichuan Province is relatively closed off, so it is normal not to know the news."

"I see. This way, we at least have someone to shelter us from the wind and rain above our heads."

Lv Muzhi smiled, then pointed to the Yangtze River waterway schematic: "As for the threat of the Japanese fleet, to clash head-on with their main ships would be like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Ten years to build an army, a hundred years to build a navy. With only a few years of investment, it is absolutely impossible to build a powerful fleet."

"But I took another path. Through special channels, I have purchased and assembled about 100 S-type Torpedo Boats and established the Yangtze Torpedo Boat Battalion."

"These boats are small in size, fast, and highly concealed. Each boat is equipped with two Type 450mm Torpedoes."

"I have organized them into several Torpedo Boat Squadrons, secretly deployed in several secret river branches and harbors on the south bank of the Yangtze River Estuary and the north bank of Hangzhou Bay."

"Their mission is not to fight a decisive battle with the Japanese fleet in broad daylight, but to use poor visibility conditions such as night and fog, or wait until Japanese warships approach the beaches to support landings, to launch surprise attacks with wolf-pack tactics! Not seeking to sink battleships or aircraft carriers, but to target their cruisers, destroyers, and troop transports!"

Listening to Lv Muzhi's exposition and looking at the markers on the map representing air fighters and surface fast boats, Zhang Zhizhong cast the warnings from the President and Minister He to the back of his mind.

Zhang Zhizhong heavily patted Lv Muzhi's shoulder: "Wei Yue, Wei Yue! I thought you were only good at training troops and building fortifications. I didn't expect you to have also secretly developed this in the air and sea domains!"

Zhang Zhizhong then asked where the money for the planes came from. After all, the Pacific Foundation's money could only be used to buy American goods, but the planes were from the Hans State. Lv Muzhi just shook his head and kept it secret.

Lv Muzhi did not tell Zhang Zhizhong that the money for the planes was advanced by his own father-in-law using his own money to pay for the goods. Then Lv Muzhi used US dollars from the Pacific Foundation to import scarce American goods. These goods all went to his father-in-law, who sold them domestically for cash. In this way, the Pacific Foundation's money, after passing through his father-in-law's hands, could be used to purchase materials from countries other than the United States.

At Yangshupu Wharf on the Huangpu River, Third Fleet Commander Gu Qingchuan had already led his fleet into the Huangpu River.

Dark clouds hung low over the river surface. The massive hull of the Japanese Navy Third Fleet flagship, the Yunhao Armored Cruiser, anchored arrogantly in the middle of the river. Its tall masts and thick gun barrels sent chills down one's spine.

This old but sturdy warship had come to the Shanghai battlefield five years ago. Now it had become a symbol of Japanese military might, and this time it was using the same old trick again.

To the west of the Yunhao, at the confluence of the Huangpu River and the Wusong River (an alias for the Suzhou River), American and British warships lay across the river, heavily on guard against the Wang Jingwei Regime's Yunhao Armored Cruiser, clearly very unwelcoming of the Japanese navy.

In the fully equipped commander's cabin aboard the Yunhao, Wang Jingwei Regime Third Fleet Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General Gu Qingchuan held an emergency meeting with Marine Corps Commander Major General Okawa Shichiden, who had just rushed over from land.

"The Chinese are too arrogant! One of my squadrons has lost more than half its strength, and the enemy is hiding a powerful force!" Okawa Shichiden said anxiously, hoping Commander Gu Qingchuan could give him some confidence.

Gu Qingchuan stood by the porthole, watching several other Japanese warships cruising on the river, and further off, faintly visible American and British warships flying the Stars and Stripes and the Union Jack, smiling: "Okawa-kun, since I've arrived here, the situation is already clear. The Hongqiao Airport incident—the blood of Imperial Japanese soldiers cannot be shed in vain."

"Although those idiots in the Army are slow to act, this time they have no choice but to follow suit. My Third Fleet has already entered the Huangpu River according to plan, to provide your troops with the most direct naval gunfire support."

"As for those American and British devil warships, they are merely posturing now, nothing more than wanting to protect their interests in the Concession and warning us not to affect their turf."

"As long as we do not actively attack the Concession, they will absolutely not go to war with the Imperial Japanese Navy over the Chinese. Just a bunch of paper tigers, nothing to worry about!"

Okawa Shichiden's expression eased slightly, but there was still a hint of hidden worry: "Your Excellency Commander is wise! With the powerful artillery fire of the fleet as our backing, the morale of the Marine Corps officers and men is greatly boosted."

"It's just... the Chinese army's reaction this time is unusually tough, and there are suspicious fortification activities along the Liu River and Wusongkou line. This is a violation of the armistice agreement. This humble officer worries..."

Gu Qingchuan waved his hand, interrupting him, a contemptuous smile on his face: "Okawa-kun, you worry too much. Landing is the Army idiots' business. We should provide artillery support when we should. Under the current circumstances, what I must guarantee is your safety. I will keep my flagship Yunhao docked at Huishan Wharf to guard the Songhu battlefield."

"As for those few broken ships of the Chinese, they aren't even worthy of tickling the Yunhao, and their coastal defenses? Under the roar of Imperial Japanese naval guns, any earthen fortification will be reduced to powder. Don't forget, the Guo Fu Army's greatest enemy besides us is corruption. What kind of good fortifications can they build? Hahaha!"

Gu Qingchuan turned around, looking at Okawa Shichiden full of confidence: "In addition, the domestic mobilization order has been issued!"

"The Imperial Japanese elite Army divisions, the Third Division and the Eleventh Division, are being mobilized urgently! The first batch of Marine Corps reinforcements will arrive in the Songhu sea area shortly."

Okawa Shichiden's heart calmed down slightly.

Third Fleet Commander-in-Chief Gu Qingchuan patted Marine Corps Commander Okawa Shichiden on the shoulder: "So, Okawa-kun, hold on! Let the Chinese smash their heads bloody in front of your fortress!"

"As long as you can hold out, Imperial Japanese tanks will roll in from the sea and crush this land completely! Victory must belong to the Great Wang Jingwei Regime Imperial Japan!"

"Hai!" Okawa Shichiden shouted loudly, stood at attention, full of confidence that his two thousand Marines would hold the stronghold and wait for the situation to turn around.

The Japanese reinforced troops on the Huangpu River, and the Xia Guo Army was not to be outdone.

Early the next morning, residents of Shanghai City were surprised to find that the Xia Guo Army, which had not appeared for five years, had returned to Shanghai City and appeared on the streets of Shanghai City.

"Hey, isn't that the stinky-foot patrolman Xiao Zhang who used to patrol the train station? How did he change into a set of clothes and become a soldier? He looks quite spirited."

A busybody citizen recognized the former policeman, who had transformed into a fully armed soldier, greatly surprising the common people.

"The battle is about to begin. Citizens, either return to your hometowns in the countryside or go to the Concession. Bullets have no eyes. Please leave quickly! Especially do not go to places where the Japanese gather, Xia Guo citizens!"

Soldiers promoted everywhere on the streets, mobilizing the common people to leave dangerous areas.

After the Third Fleet entered the Huangpu River, Ninth Group Army Commander-in-Chief Zhang Zhizhong, seeing the situation deteriorate, simply moved the army directly into Shanghai City, completely throwing the armistice agreement out the window.

Five years ago in the January 28 Resistance War, Zhang Zhizhong led the 87th and 88th Divisions in a bloody battle with the Japanese in Shanghai City, but in the end he also suffered a defeat. The upper levels signed the armistice agreement, and the Guo Fu Army lost the power to station troops in Shanghai City, only able to guard Shanghai City in the form of police and Security Regiments.

Five years ago in the Resistance War, Zhang Zhizhong led the 87th and 88th Divisions in a bloody battle against the Japanese soldiers in Shanghai City, but in the end he still came away empty-handed; the upper echelons signed a truce agreement, and the Guo Fu Army lost its power to station troops in Shanghai City, only able to remain within Shanghai City in the form of police and Security Regiments.

"Push the Japanese Marine Corps into the Huangpu River, push them into Wusongkou! Shanghai City has no place for them!" Zhang Zhizhong slapped the table with one palm, looking at Lv Muzhi.

"Push the Japanese soldiers' Marine Corps into the Huangpu River, push them into Wusongkou! Shanghai City has no place for them!" Zhang Zhizhang slapped the desk with one palm, and looked at Lv Muzhi.

But soon the superior poured cold water on Zhang Zhizhong.

"Report to the Commander-in-Chief and Deputy Commander-in-Chief. Commander He is calling, requesting that we must not act rashly. The United States and other major powers have already intervened in mediation..."

Zhang Zhizhong exploded at once: "What Commander He calling? This is clearly the President's order. Wei Yue, what do you think we should do?"

Lv Muzhi nodded: "The Japanese also seem not to be acting rashly. They appear to be waiting for the result of diplomatic mediation. But we cannot stop. The army continues to advance, threatening the Japanese Marine Corps Command Headquarters."

Zhang Zhizhong was very happy: "Wei Yue, you decide which unit to send."

Lv Muzhi looked at Zhang Zhizhong: "Commander Wenbai doesn't need to say more. I will send someone."

Zhang Zhizhong felt a bit embarrassed and explained: "You going and me going might be different. I want to take action, but acting without authorization might lead to accountability. If you go, explaining with a few telegrams probably won't cause any big trouble."

"I propose we should strike on two fronts. My Second Division Third Brigade will advance on the Marine Corps Command Headquarters, coordinating with the Heavy Artillery Regiment, targeting the Japanese Marine Corps."

"The First Division Chu Yunfei Brigade will advance on the Yangshupu area, coordinating with the Torpedo Battalion, looking for an opportunity to attack Huishan Wharf."

"In this way, the two combat forces of the Japanese in Shanghai City will be wiped out by us, and we will successfully push them into the water!"

Zhang Zhizhong had doubts: "Is your Torpedo Battalion deployed on the Yangtze River? As far as I know, the Yangtze River Estuary is also guarded by the Japanese navy. They just dare not enter the Yangtze River because of the power of the Yangtze River Defense fortress guns."

"The Japanese are at the Yangtze River Estuary. How can your Torpedo Battalion pass through the Yangtze River Estuary and enter the Huangpu River?"

Lv Muzhi shook his head: "One of my torpedo squadrons has already been stationed in Taihu Lake. The Jiangnan Water Network is crisscrossed and is originally one body. The torpedo boats do not draw much water. I long ago took the opportunity of building national defense works to dredge the waterways, ensuring the torpedo boats can pass through."

"The Huangpu River-Dianshan Lake-Cheng Lake-Taihu Lake originally had river networks connecting them. The Yangtze River and Taihu Lake also have the existing Grand Canal and Xicheng Canal connecting them. I didn't spend much effort. The torpedo boats can pass through Taihu Lake and quickly enter the Huangpu River."

After hearing this, Zhang Zhizhong sighed that since Lv Muzhi served as Shanghai-Songhu Garrison Commander, he had done a lot of construction in national defense works. Moreover, Lv Muzhi had also undertaken the construction of several fortresses on the Yangtze River Defense. How they would play a role in the future would still depend on the situation of the Songhu battlefield.

Qiu Qingquan led the Third Brigade, advancing all the way toward the Japanese Marine Corps Command Headquarters.

The troops finally stopped at Bazi Bridge. Bazi Bridge was still 1.3 kilometers from the Japanese Marine Corps Command Headquarters. The Japanese had built some street barricade defense lines in front.

"Commander Qiu, the little devils across are telling us to stop. I heard the superiors are mediating. Should we fight?"

Qiu Qingquan glanced at his field telephone: "Not urgent. Contact the Heavy Artillery Regiment and the Armored Tank Regiment. Tell them the Second Division Third Brigade has arrived at the designated location. Ask them to get ready."

While Qiu Qingquan was making contacts, the little devils across Bazi Bridge turned on mockery mode.

Around Bazi Bridge, the Japanese had stationed more than five hundred men, about a battalion's strength.

Japanese soldiers, relying on the giant Yunhao ship five kilometers behind them for backing, and hearing that international mediation was underway, believed that according to the personality of the Xia Guo Army commanders, they would absolutely not act without authorization.

Some Japanese soldiers set up a phonograph behind the sandbag fortifications. A few Japanese soldiers danced a clumsy dance to the melody. Others made faces at the Chinese army positions and shouted obscenities.

Some Japanese soldiers set up a phonograph behind the Sandbag Fortification; several Japanese soldiers followed the melody and jumped a clumsy dance, and still others made faces at the Chinese Army Position, shouting obscenities.

"Go back and drink milk!"

"Our Great Wang Jingwei Regime Locust Army is invincible under heaven!"

Qiu Qingquan held up binoculars in the distance: "Hmph, an understrength battalion. That's all the Japanese Marine Corps has!"

Qiu Qingquan had a cigarette in his mouth, squinted at his field telephone, and grabbed the wireless telephone handset: "Yangtze River, Yangtze River, this is Wusong River. The dishes are ready. Prepare to start the feast!"

On the other end of the wireless, Lv Muzhi was answering: "Yangtze River received. Approved to start the feast. 155-point heart will be delivered immediately."

Ten li outside Bazi Bridge, in Nanxiang in the suburbs of Shanghai City, an underground bunker disguised as a warehouse opened its doors. Cars pulled two companies of heavy artillery. Twenty-four Schneider M1929 155mm howitzers rolled out.

After the heavy artillery deployed, the black gun barrels rose. According to the firing data measured long ago, under Lv Muzhi's orders one by one at the scene, huge fireballs spewed from the muzzles.

After the Heavy Artillery deployed, the black cannon barrels rose, and according to the firing data measured long ago, Lv Muzhi gave the order down at Xian Chang one by one, and huge Fireballs spurted from the Cannon Muzzles.

At the same time, a tank company of the tank regiment, coordinating with two infantry companies, had passed two kilometers from the left wing of Bazi Bridge.

After several tens of seconds, a piercing whistle sounded above Bazi Bridge; the Japanese soldier who had been twisting his buttocks froze in place and looked up.

Boom boom boom!

The Japanese Army position that had just been singing and dancing instantly turned into hell; severed limbs and sandbags were thrown into the air together, and the Japanese soldiers wailed for their fathers and mothers as they fled in all directions.

A heavy artillery shell landed near the phonograph, blowing the Japanese soldiers and the machine into fragments.

Immediately after, the red brick building was directly hit; bricks mixed with machine gun parts flew all over the sky, and the nearby grenade launcher team had not yet reacted before being blown into the sky.

"Eight Gua! How dare these China Men..."

"Wasn't it said they were mediating?! Quickly call the Yunhao, request naval gunfire support from the Third Fleet!"

In the Nanxiang area, Lv Muzhi continued calling: "Calling Huangpu River, this is the Yangtze River, if you hear please answer."

On the other end of the radio, Chu Yunfei replied: "This is Huangpu River, my Huangpu River forward observation post has already discovered the traces of the Torpedo Battalion, preparing to launch a coordinated attack!"

Almost simultaneously, a strange scene appeared on the Huangpu River.

More than thirty boats that looked like fishing boats suddenly rushed out from behind the American warship USS Augusta; they were precisely the S-type torpedo boats of the Yangtze River Torpedo Brigade! Only they were disguised as fishing boats on top.

However, although the outside was a fishing boat, the speed could not fool people; this was obviously not the speed a fishing boat should have.

The Yunhao's lookout post was scared out of its wits: "Torpedo boats! Absolutely torpedo boats!"

The Yunhao had originally wanted naval gunfire support for Bazi Bridge, but at this moment it had no time to attend to others.

The Captain jumped with anxiety: "Armored motorboats approach/contact, adjust the naval gun angle!"

But the gunners were stunned—the torpedo boats were almost on the same route as the American warship; if they opened fire they would very likely hit the Americans, and even more fatal was that these torpedo boats came from the direction of the Concession; truly see ghost, shells hitting the Concession would simply be disastrous!

"Bastard! They calculated it well!" Commander Gu Qingchuan discovered the anomaly.

On the Jiangmian, Lieutenant Colonel An Bang, commander of the torpedo boat formation, laughed loudly: "Little Devil, Grandpa treats you to fish!"

Torpedoes one after another entered the water at the same time, drawing deadly white lines, heading straight for the Yunhao.

Other shallow-water cannonboats dared not act rashly, fearing shells would hit the Concession.

The Japanese soldiers' dozens of armed small boats quickly advanced to meet them, attempting to approach/contact and intercept the torpedo boats.

During this time, Chu Yunfei's Brigade on the shore launched an attack; the 75mm Mountain Guns bombarded Yangshupu, particularly the area around Huishan Wharf.

In the sky, there seemed to be a faint Japanese airplane engine roar.

Inside Jinling City, the President heard that the mediation had not yet yielded results, but the war had already begun; he was very angry.

"Who fired first?! What is Lv Muzhi up to?!"