Chapter 178: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 178 Stop, Don't Fight Anymore!

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

"Commander! The Tianya Brigade has been totally annihilated! ~"

On the Mutsu Battleship, Commander Matsui Iwane received this unbelievable news, another major defeat following the destruction of the Heavy Artillery Force.

"Commander, Division Commander Yamamuro Sōbu and Division Commander Ito Masanishi request to withdraw from Jiangwan Town!"

Commander Matsui Iwane had not yet emerged from the gloom of the Tianya Brigade's annihilation when another piece of bad news arrived from the frontline.

"What, what's going on?!" Commander Matsui Iwane asked.

"The enemy has deployed heavy troops in the Hongkou direction. Division Commander Yamamuro Sōbu and Division Commander Ito Masanishi find it difficult to continue advancing, and moreover, their right flank faces the enemy's German-equipped 36th, 87th, and 88th Divisions—extremely dangerous. Both division commanders request to withdraw from Jiangwan Town and return to their original attack position!"

Commander Matsui Iwane gritted his teeth. A few days ago, he had been full of ambition, determined to stir up a storm in Shanghai City, but unexpectedly, the army collapsed like a mountain, and the two offensives he had launched were defeated so quickly.

After much thought, Commander Matsui Iwane no longer dared to risk his remaining troops lightly: "Alright! Order the Yamamuro Sōbu Division and the Ito Masanishi Division to retreat to the rear, and do not expand Emperor Chuo's casualties!"

When Commander Matsui Iwane's order reached the frontline, Yamamuro Sōbu and Ito Masanishi had already begun organizing their retreat; if they continued fighting, it would become a fight to the death!

The rain in the sky grew heavier and heavier. The five Japanese Infantry Groups cobbled together by the devils covered each other as they withdrew. Qiu Qingquan watched the devils begin to retreat and laughed: "Hmph, want to escape?! Even if you want to escape, you must first have one of your dog legs broken! Report to Lu Commander: the enemy facing us at Hongkou is implementing a general retreat. We can have the three German-equipped Divisions on the flank harass them and expand our victory!"

Lv Muzhi sat in the rear command post and finally breathed a sigh of relief: "Finally, the little devils' offensive has been defeated once again. Order the 36th, 87th, and 88th Divisions to set out from Miaoxing Town and attack the flank of the enemy's retreat route. Qiu Qingquan will dispatch pursuit troops from the front. Let the little devils walk in and crawl back!"

In Miaoxing Town, Division Commanders Song Xilian, Wang Jingjiu, and Sun Yuanlang of the three German-equipped Divisions received Lv Muzhi's order and began sending troops to attack the devils' flank.

Song Xilian was very excited: "Very good. Jiangwan Town will ultimately return intact to Zhao!"

Wang Jingjiu was also very excited: "Lu Commander's strategy is divine. This time the little devils have bitten a hard bone. This time we must smash all the little devils' teeth!"

Sun Yuanlang: "Commander Weiyue is mighty. Brothers of the 88th Division, charge with me!"

Seeing this battle turn from an initial disadvantage to an advantage, Sun Yuanlang could no longer wait and ordered the soldiers of the 88th Division to launch an offensive against the retreating enemy.

Song Xilian and Wang Jingjiu saw this and also ordered their troops to fiercely pursue and attack the 101st Division of the 11th Division.

Yamamuro Sōbu and Ito Masanishi fought while retreating. Both had already retreated to the far rear, only their own troops remained at the front to conduct blocking actions.

At this moment, both men were completely soaked by the rain, their trouser legs full of mud, looking extremely disheveled!

"Report to Division Commander! The regiment of our division responsible for the rearguard has been tightly bitten by the enemy!" A staff officer reported to 101st Division Commander Ito Masanishi.

Ito Masanishi looked pained: "How is it? Can you withdraw?"

"Hard to say. Among the enemy's pursuing forces are three German-equipped Divisions with strong combat power..."

Yamamuro Sōbu shook Ito Masanishi's arm: "We can't worry about them anymore. We'd better hurry back to the Yangtze River Estuary. In the end, we still can't do without the Navy!"

Ito Masanishi slapped his thigh in distress: "This way, we've lost so many people for nothing!"

"It's not that the Navy is powerless. Those bastards. We must change this situation!" Yamamuro Sōbu cursed.

"Report! The enemy's 36th Division is attacking from the flank with great ferocity. Both Division Commanders, please withdraw quickly!" A regimental commander ran in to urge them.

Yamamuro Sōbu and Ito Masanishi looked at each other, not expecting them to catch up so quickly.

"Wait!" Yamamuro Sōbu said: "We've fought for so long. From beginning to end, how many shells did the Navy fire? Their two thousand naval infantrymen never appeared at all! These naval infantrymen are all holed up in Qiujiang Wharf, leaning against the Navy's warships behind them, sleeping soundly!"

Ito Masanishi nodded: "That's right. Let's go to Qiujiang Wharf to find them!"

Yamamuro Sōbu also reached an agreement, pulling his troops directly to Qiujiang Wharf. On one hand, to huddle together for warmth and accept the fleet's protection; on the other hand, to demand an explanation and blame the Navy for this defeat.

On Qiujiang Wharf, the devils' two thousand naval infantrymen wore raincoats and were on alert everywhere. More than a dozen destroyers and cannonboats were anchored on the water surface. Many sailors on the ships were hiding from the rain inside the ship cabins, enjoying delicious sailor's meals. Compared to the army at the frontline, it was like two different worlds.

After the devils' naval infantry landed at Qiujiang Wharf at the end of August, they did not continue advancing but instead operated Qiujiang Wharf, built fortifications, and handled logistics, appearing as if they intended to retire at Qiujiang Wharf.

Gu Qingchuan left the 14th Destroyer Squadron and 15 warships of the 11th Squadron of the Third Fleet stationed at Qiujiang Wharf to jointly defend with 2,000 naval infantrymen.

However, a shout from the lookout post broke the Navy's peaceful days, and the entire wharf immediately sounded alarms.

"A large number of enemy troops discovered in the southwest direction! Oh no, and also Army Idiots!"

The captains of the destroyers and cannonboats were alarmed. Looking toward the southwest direction, they saw the Army Idiots running wildly toward their Qiujiang Wharf, but behind them, they could vaguely see German-equipped Divisions of the Xia Guo Army following, with some Japanese units already caught up in the Xia Guo's German-equipped Divisions.

The rain was too heavy, and the air was full of water mist. The sailors' binoculars were not very effective.

"Eight-gag, this group of idiots actually used the trick of inviting wolves into the house. The Army, this group of idiots, has ill intentions!" The captain of a destroyer cursed.

Other Japanese captains were also very dissatisfied. Originally, the Navy and the naval infantry at Qiujiang Wharf had reached a tacit understanding with Lv Muzhi's troops: Lv Muzhi would not actively provoke the naval infantry and warships at Qiujiang Wharf, and the naval infantry would also stay quietly in the wharf without going out.

But now, the 11th Division and the 101st Division actually brought Lv Muzhi's troops directly to Qiujiang Wharf. What exactly does the Army want to do?!

The Navy was complaining, but Yamamuro Sōbu and Ito Masanishi had already entered Qiujiang Wharf. Without saying a word, they directly demanded the naval infantrymen go out to block Lv Muzhi's three German-equipped Divisions.

"What? What are you saying, Division Commander? We are under the direct leadership of Commander Gu Qingchuan. Our task is to protect Qiujiang Wharf." A naval infantry battalion commander said.

This made Ito Masanishi very dissatisfied: "We are fighting to the death at the front, while you are resting and recuperating at the rear. Is this something humans do?!"

While speaking, more and more defeated army soldiers entered Qiujiang Wharf. The dusty army soldiers saw the clean and tidy naval infantrymen and were furious.

The two sides pushed and cursed at each other in the rainstorm. The Japanese dissatisfaction was immediately amplified, and the scene became uncontrollable.

"A group of cowards, only knowing to squat on the wharf and watch the show!"

"Eight-gag ya lu, what are you saying, you blockhead? You simpleton, do you think you can be Lv Muzhi's opponent?!"

The army and naval infantry began to clash. Seriously, they even came to blows, exchanging punches and kicks, holding the first free-for-all brawl between the army and navy on the wharf.

On the warships, the sailors were dumbfounded. A great enemy was at hand, but their own people were fighting internally!

A destroyer captain shouted through a megaphone: "Stop! Don't fight anymore! Stop quickly!"