Chapter 121

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

On the Lion Lin Fortification Position, Huang Wei, commander of the Sixty-Seventh Division, held up binoculars to observe the sea surface.

This battery, reinforced by Lv Muzhi, had now been replaced with new shore defense cannons.

Four 150mm shore defense cannons introduced from Keluobo Company of Hans State were hidden behind reinforced concrete cover, their muzzles pointing toward the shimmering Yangtze River Estuary.

Huang Wei patted the thick gun barrel and nodded in praise: "Brother Weiyue really considers our friendly frontline troops—the shore defense cannons and field positions have all been prepared in advance!"

"Enemy ships spotted! Distance nine thousand, enemy ships within range!" came the alarm from the observation post.

On the sea surface, the Wang Jingwei Regime's landing convoy was approaching, with several destroyers in the lead and more than ten transport ships following behind.

At this time, on the bridge of the light cruiser Ryutsu of the Wang Jingwei Regime's Third Fleet, the Japanese gunnery officer was observing the Lion Lin Fortification Position and calculating firing data.

"Target shore defense fortifications, Turrets One and Two, prepare." The captain ordered.

"Captain, is full firepower coverage needed?" the adjutant asked.

"No need."

Captain of Ryutai shook his head: "According to Commander Gu Qingchuan's requirements, control the naval gunfire frequency and prioritize gun barrel life. I believe the brave soldiers of the Eleventh Division can charge onto the shore beach position."

Under moderate artillery fire support from the fleet, the landing craft of the vanguard troops of the Wang Jingwei Regime's Eleventh Division began approaching the coast.

However, the Japanese soon discovered that the beachhead was covered with obstacles set up in advance by Lv Muzhi's troops: rows of steel triangular stakes, spiked iron cages everywhere, and concrete anti-tank obstacles, all placed in the shallow water area.

The landing craft were blocked by the obstacles and could not charge directly onto the beach, so the Japanese infantry had to jump off the landing craft, holding their guns and wading through the water to attack Huang Wei's position.

"Baka! Where did these obstacles come from?" the Wang Jingwei Regime squadron leader on the landing craft exclaimed.

Some reckless small landing craft tried to bypass the obstacles but got stuck on them.

The Japanese charged through the water; their clothes were scraped into rags by the barbed wire, and their bodies were scraped bloody.

Huang Wei judged the timing right, saw the little Japanese had approached the beachhead, and ordered firepower to open fire to block them.

Light and heavy machine guns swept the exposed little Japanese with fierce fire, and blood mist exploded all over the beachhead.

The 150mm shells from the shore defense cannons simply bombarded the Japanese charging columns wading ashore nearby, sending up water columns and scarlet blood and flesh all over the beachhead.

The Wang Jingwei Regime soldiers trapped among the obstacles were caught between advancing and retreating, able only to shrink back behind steel frames and concrete obstacles, which made them perfect live targets for the shore defense cannons.

One shot from the shore defense cannon directly blew the little Japanese hiding behind into pieces and flung them into the air.

Huang Wei hurriedly stopped them: "Save the shore defense cannons for the Japanese warships—what about the mortars! Immediately cover the shore beach position!"

Boom—

The shore defense cannon let out a deafening roar, firing at the Japanese convoy; a transport ship was hit directly and immediately billowed thick smoke.

The Japanese destroyers immediately counterattacked, but the concrete cover of the Lion Lin Fortification Position was one and a half meters thick and half-buried underground; without a large amount of naval gunfire, it was impossible to damage the Lion Lin Fortification Position at all.

Huang Wei directed the battery to concentrate fire, specifically striking the transport ships carrying infantry.

"That large transport ship on the right is lowering landing craft—fire at it!"

The second salvo from the shore defense cannons was even more accurate; a 150mm armor-piercing shell penetrated the transport ship's hull and exploded inside the hold, blowing the Japanese soldiers on deck into pieces of blood and flesh. The ship began to list, and the landing boats hanging on both sides were sunk to the river bottom, with Japanese floating all over the river.

Some army idiots who couldn't swim shouted for help, and life rings floated all around the transport ship.

At the same time, at Wusong Trestle Bridge Wharf, Luo Zhuoying, commander of the Eighteenth Army and commander of the Ninety-Eighth Division, personally supervised the battle.

Most of Wusong Trestle Bridge Wharf was wooden floating bridge wharves; Luo Zhuoying ordered all wooden wharves demolished and concentrated firepower on the hardened concrete wharf.

On the wharf, soldiers were nervously deploying defenses.

The Japanese landing convoy appeared in the outer sea off Wusongkou; it was already late at night.

Japanese destroyers Chunfeng and Songfeng and some torpedo boats began concentrating fire on the shore defense fortifications.

The naval guns fired a round at random, setting the round logs on the wharf ablaze and igniting a roaring fire; this conveniently helped Luo Zhuoying, as the firelight illuminated the Japanese attacking figures.

There was no heavy artillery on the wharf; Luo Zhuoying ordered all troops not to expose themselves easily and to wait until the little Japanese landed before concentrating fire to attack.

A battalion of the Third Division was landing; the battalion commander saw the roaring fire on the wharf but heard no gunfire or cannon fire, and couldn't help feeling suspicious.

"Something's wrong! There must be an ambush!" the Japanese battalion commander stared at the wharf.

"Hey! Get ready, we're about to dock!" the naval officer steering the ship urged, "The enemy must have fled; you army men hurry up, I still need to transport other regiments!"

The Japanese battalion commander was very impatient but had no choice; there were not many transport ships, so they could only transport in batches. The superior command ordered him to take Wusong Trestle Bridge Wharf, and he couldn't delay too long.

The water at the wharf was relatively deep, and the army couldn't just go down directly.

"Prepare to dock!" the accompanying naval commander ordered.

The cargo ship slowly approached the wharf; seeing no movement inside, several sailors jumped into the water, trying to use ropes to secure the ship to the wharf, then lower the gangway or plank for the army to disembark and land.

The Japanese army landed one after another, and the other two transport ships also approached the shore.

"Qiaoqiao Squad! Advance to reconnoiter the wharf warehouse!" the battalion commander waved his command sword and sent men to check the wharf.

Seeing the little Japanese had sent men to search, Luo Zhuoying could no longer wait and directly ordered to open fire.

The officers and men of the Ninety-Eighth Division hid behind the wharf warehouses and temporary cover, waiting silently.

At Luo Zhuoying's order, all firepower on the position erupted simultaneously.

Machine gun bullets swept across the landing troops, and mortar shells burst among the dense Japanese ranks.

"Pay attention to cover, quickly call the destroyers! Request tactical guidance!" the Japanese battalion commander lay on the ground, loudly requesting support.

On the Japanese destroyer Chunfeng, the captain received the emergency request for aid from the landing troops and, without hesitation, ordered the naval guns to strike the wharf.

But it was just late at night; the gunnery officer suggested: "Captain, it's too dark; I'm afraid we can't hit anything."

"Baka, even if we can't hit, we must fire; at least make some noise, otherwise the army will think our navy isn't putting in effort!"

"Hai!"

The destroyers in the Rear immediately began bombing the Wharf; anyway, it was pitch black and nothing could be seen, so all they had to do was open fire at the bonfires on the Wharf!

But at this moment, the Little Devils were engaged in mixed combat with Luo Zhuoying's Troops on the Wharf; once the cannons opened fire, quite a few naval guns exploded among the Little Devils.

The Qiaoqiao Squad searching ahead suffered the most disastrous losses; as soon as they landed, they were struck by the defenders' dense firepower, and were also heavily bombarded by their own naval guns.

Watching this, Luo Zhuoying laughed heartily: "Good! Dog bites dog—the Little Devils' own naval guns, why should we bear the brunt of them?!"