Chapter 118

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

After the Japanese Hongkou Command was taken down, Shanghai City no longer had a place for the Japanese Marine Corps.

But the Japanese retaliation and counterattack that followed were what the Xia Guo military needed to worry about most, because the Japanese combined sea, land, and air counterattack that came next was the real main event.

What Lv Muzhi did was merely secure an opening victory for the Songhu situation, removing a nail the Japanese had driven into Songhu City.

Although the little devils were beaten by Lv Muzhi's fierce flurry of blows until they saw stars, they had already begun preparing a comeback.

In Japan, Emperor Tianhuang ordered General Matsui Iwane to serve as Commander of the Shanghai Expeditionary Army, leading the vanguard Third Division and Eleventh Division to attack Shanghai.

On the high seas, the Combined Fleet led by the battleships Nagato and Mutsu was carrying the Shanghai Expeditionary Army's ground forces, preparing to land at Shanghai.

As Commander of the Shanghai Expeditionary Army, Matsui Iwane also had under his jurisdiction the Third Fleet, the Combined Fleet transporting troops, and the Army Aviation Unit.

General Matsui Iwane set out from the home islands with two divisions' worth of troops, together with the Combined Fleet.

Senior officers of the Shanghai Expeditionary Army rode the battleship Nagato toward the waters near Songhu; carrier aircraft took off to provide cover, the fleet deployed in formation, anti-aircraft guns pointed at the sky, leaving Xia Guo's air force little opportunity to exploit.

Dozens of warships large and small formed up and, on the vast boundless sea, the Wang Jingwei Regime forces set out for the Songhu Battlefield.

Inside the naval commander's quarters aboard the battleship Nagato, General Matsui Iwane was conversing with the Captain.

Outside the window, the massive fleet was sailing through the East China Sea.

The Captain reported, "Commander, Nagato's draft is too deep to approach the coast; we need to transfer to lighter vessels at the Zhoushan Archipelago."

Matsui Iwane nodded: "Notify all units to prepare. I have already contacted Third Fleet Naval General Gu Qingchuan to rendezvous."

At this moment, Gu Qingchuan led the Third Fleet to join up.

Although the Third Fleet had lost its flagship Yunhao and three other ships, its main strength remained; the number of warships still exceeded twenty.

After the flagship Yunhao sank, Fleet Commander Gu Qingchuan ordered the warships to blockade the Yangtze River Estuary, preventing Xia Guo's torpedo boats from sallying out to attack again.

When Gu Qingchuan came aboard Nagato, he happened to run into Third Division Commander Lieutenant General Fujita Susumu.

"Commander Gu Qingchuan, I heard Yunhao sank? What happened?" Third Division Commander Lieutenant General Fujita Susumu spread his hands, feigning a very surprised look, "The Navy's Third Fleet can't even protect its own flagship?"

Gu Qingchuan's face turned iron-blue: "What do you know! The Chinese used despicable sneak attack tactics... the enemy torpedo boats had the cover of American warships!"

"Enough!" Matsui Iwane cut off the two men's dispute, "Now is not the time for infighting. Commander Gu Qingchuan, tell us the enemy's situation."

Gu Qingchuan took a deep breath: "The enemy main force is Lv Muzhi's Youth First Army, superbly equipped. They possess a large amount of German-style equipment, even 155mm heavy artillery. According to the latest intelligence, the enemy also has BF-109 fighters, Type 38T tanks, and torpedo boats assisting in operations.

At the start of the battle, we gained no advantage in air superiority; on land, we were targeted by the enemy's Youth First Army, and the Marine Corps was totally annihilated; at sea, we were besieged by torpedo boats inside the Huangpu River."

Eleventh Division Commander Lieutenant General Yamuro sneered: "The Navy always exaggerates. You mean Lv Muzhi has a small tri-service force, with sea, land, and air all covered?

Five years ago my Eleventh Division came to Songhu, and the enemy's elite Central Army wasn't still beaten by us until they threw away helmets and armor? As for today's crushing defeat, what the real cause is, I think everyone knows perfectly well."

"You!" Gu Qingchuan glared, "You Army people fundamentally don't know what enemy you're facing!"

Matsui Iwane raised a hand to stop everyone's wrangling: "According to the latest intelligence, Lv Muzhi's troops are indeed advanced in equipment, their firepower allocation even surpasses my Third Division. This is what he previously went to great lengths to conceal. In this operation, if we want victory, we need close Army-Navy coordination."

General Matsui Iwane turned to Fujita Susumu: "Fujita-kun, this time the Navy needs the Army's tactical guidance. All units must give their utmost."

Fujita Susumu grinned crookedly, deciding to give the Navy a good demonstration of how to return to Songhu: "Hai! I will certainly guide the Navy well!"

Gu Qingchuan was also helpless at the moment, but he indeed needed a favor, so he stood at attention and saluted: "Commander Matsui, please have the Army provide tactical guidance as soon as possible! The Third Fleet will fully cooperate with the landing operation. I have already applied to the home islands for two thousand Marine Corps personnel; they can arrive at the battlefield this afternoon."

Matsui Iwane walked to the chart: "Our objective is to land along the Liuhe to Wusongkou line. Constrained by the ceasefire agreement, the enemy has no permanent defensive fortifications on this line."

Gu Qingchuan nodded: "Correct. The enemy has two batteries on this line: one is Shizilin Battery, one is Wusongkou Battery. When my Third Fleet entered the Huangpu River, it already destroyed Wusongkou Battery. Now only Shizilin Battery remains on this line.

According to intelligence from Marine Corps Major General Dawa Qichuan, the Liuhe to Wusongkou line sits at the Yangtze River Estuary, an alluvial plain with soft soil unsuitable for building fortifications. We should land on this line, but we must move fast, because the enemy has already set up temporary fortifications there."

General Matsui Iwane nodded: "The Navy handles artillery preparation and air support; the Army executes the landing operation. Open a landing field on the Liuhe to Wusongkou line as quickly as possible!"

Lieutenant General Fujita Susumu stepped forward: "Commander, we currently hold command of the sea, that is beyond doubt, but who holds air superiority is truly hard to say; carrier aircraft alone are still insufficient;

We must seize the airfield at Gongda Textile Mill. Gongda Textile Mill Airfield sits beside the Huangpu River, allowing the Third Fleet to bring Marine Corps soldiers to attack. Then aircraft from the home islands, the Peninsula, Manchuria, and other places can land at Gongda Textile Mill, replenishing our land-based aviation strength and regaining air superiority!"

"Correct. I plan a two-pronged attack: one route, the Army main force lands on the Liuhe to Wusongkou line; the other route, the Third Fleet leads two thousand Marine Corps soldiers aboard warships into the Huangpu River to seize Gongda Textile Mill Airfield as our military airfield."

"Commander Matsui, there may be enemy torpedo boats on the Huangpu River!" Gu Qingchuan warned.

"No need to worry. Negotiations with the United States, Great Britain, and France have been completed; they will remain neutral, and to protect the safety of the Concessions, they will blockade the Huangpu River around the Bund. Neither our nor Xia Guo's military forces may pass through."

Only then did Gu Qingchuan set his mind at ease; this way he could safely lead the fleet back into the Huangpu River.

General Matsui Iwane rubbed his hands in anticipation: "Aimed at Lv Muzhi's little tri-service force, I have already prepared a combination punch!"