Chapter 184

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

After Prince Asaka Yasuhiko brought the navy and army together, he began organizing troops, creating a show of force on the front battlefield of Shanghai to draw the attention of the Xia Guo Army, thereby preparing for the assault on Jinshanwei.

The Jinshanwei area belonged to Zhang Fakui's Right Wing Army order of battle; after days of reinforcements, it now had the Eighth Group Army, the Tenth Group Army, and a brigade of Zhang Fei's Youth Army.

These troops were stationed across the vast region from Pudong to Hangzhou Bay, protecting the right wing of the Songhu campaign.

On the main Songhu battlefield across the Huangpu River, Lv Muzhi of the Central Route Army and Chen Cheng of the Left Wing Army had not suffered too much, allowing Zhang Fakui's Right Wing Army to defend the flank with peace of mind.

Along the long coastline of Hangzhou Bay, about forty kilometers of area were suitable for large-scale landings; among them, the Jinshanwei area where Zhang Fei's brigade was mainly stationed had hard sandy beaches, most suitable for large-scale landings.

On this forty-plus kilometer defensive line, Lv Muzhi had long since built complete anti-landing fortifications; Zhang Fakui was stationed here, arranging five infantry divisions plus Zhang Fei's Youth Army brigade for defense.

To detect enemy movements in time, Zhang Fei arranged a large number of soldiers disguised as fishermen around the Zhoushan Archipelago east of Hangzhou Bay, going out to fish daily while observing whether there were any movements of Japanese warships nearby.

"It's almost the end of October; will the little devils land at Hangzhou Bay?" Inside the Right Wing Army command headquarters, a division commander asked.

Zhang Fakui sat in the main seat, his expression calm as he said: "Whether the little devils come or not, we just need to do our own work well; among the left, center, and right armies on this Songhu battlefield, each must perform their duties—none can be missing."

Zhang Fei said: "According to Commander Lu's estimate, the little devils seem to be about to carry out landing operations around Hangzhou Bay in recent days, for no other reason than that they cannot break the situation within Shanghai City and will surely find a way to open another battlefield."

Commander Zhang Fakui nodded: "Inside the anti-landing fortifications of Hangzhou Bay, the 55th, 62nd, and 63rd Divisions of the Eighth Group Army, plus the 45th and 52nd Divisions of the Tenth Group Army, and Zhang Fei's Youth Army brigade—no matter what, you cannot easily leave Hangzhou Bay, lest the devils take advantage of our troop shortage to land."

Zhang Fei thought for a moment: "Before launching a formal landing battle, the devils will surely make a big move on the battlefield within Shanghai City, even crossing the Huangpu River to threaten our Pudong, drawing our troops at Hangzhou Bay to the Pudong area, thereby creating a troop shortage at Hangzhou Bay; we must pay utmost attention to this."

Zhang Fakui agreed wholeheartedly: "Wei Yue and I have already discussed this; the devils may use a feint to lure us away; no matter what, the troops executing anti-landing operations must be pinned down in the Hangzhou Bay area, and we absolutely cannot fall for the little devils' tricks."

On the Mutsu Battleship, Prince Asaka Yasuhiko stood between Commander Matsui Ine of the Army and Commander Gu Qingchuan of the Navy, saying: "It has been decided; the country will newly form the Tenth Army, with one hundred thousand troops for the Hangzhou Bay landing battle; on our front at the Songhu battlefield, we must create a strong show of force to cover the flank landing!"

Commander Matsui Ine lowered his head and said: "I will once again organize forces to launch a fierce attack on the Luodian area, drawing the attention of the Xia Guo Army; at the same time, I will send the Shigetō Detachment east across the Huangpu River into the Pudong area, drawing Zhang Fakui's forces to Pudong!"

After hearing the plan, Prince Asaka Yasuhiko expressed agreement: "The Army General Staff has already transferred the Sixteenth Division to join the Shanghai Expeditionary Army; Commander Matsui, you order them to go upstream along the Yangtze River and try to land at Baimaokou, threatening Chen Cheng's rear!"

After hearing this, Gu Qingchuan immediately said: "The Army needs warship support; just speak up, Prince Asaka Yasuhiko is here, I absolutely will not shirk in the slightest!"

"Also, my Marine Corps has not done nothing over the past month; the Gongda Spinning Mill Airfield, once destroyed by Lv Muzhi, after more than a month of repairs, can now station aircraft; dozens of planes from the home air force landed yesterday, and our air power has been strengthened."

Prince Asaka Yasuhiko was very satisfied: "Very good, that's how it should be; do not spare the naval guns; the Army cannot represent the Locust Army, nor can the Navy represent the Locust Army; only when the Navy and Army are bound together is it the true Locust Army!"

"When the time comes, if the Navy needs to replace gun barrels, I will personally suggest to the Emperor to increase the Navy's funding! Commander Matsui Ine......"

"Hai!"

Prince Asaka Yasuhiko looked at Matsui Ine with deep meaning, his expression sinister as he said: "To open the situation as soon as possible, regarding the use of special shells, you may let loose as much as possible; as long as we can inflict heavy damage on the enemy, international reputation and such, we can set aside!"

"Yes! I will immediately issue the orders!"

On the Shizilin beachhead at the Yangtze River Estuary, Lieutenant General Fujita Susumu, commander of the Third Division, was overjoyed, because the reinforcements for his troops had finally arrived.

The Third Division had fought in Shanghai for over a month and finally received troop reinforcements.

"Division Commander, the first batch of two thousand reserve soldiers has been replenished!" A staff officer stepped forward to report.

Fujita Susumu was very happy: "Yoisho, these reserve soldiers are all trained soldiers and can well restore our combat power; now we have the strength to fight again!"

Previously, of the Third Division's four infantry regiments, the Sixth Regiment lost its regimental flag and was wiped out; Ying Sen Xiao's Regiment suffered over half casualties in the melee at Yangxing Town, and the remaining half had not yet emerged from Yangxing Town; other regiments also suffered hundreds of casualties; the Third Division's losses were great.

Now that troop reinforcements had arrived, the fighting could continue; moreover, other divisions with heavy losses, such as the 101st Division and the Eleventh Division, had also received corresponding reinforcements.

Boom—

Tank after tank rolled off the landing ships; Fujita Susumu observed the tanks before him and asked: "I haven't seen this tank before; is it a new model?"

A squad leader of the Tank Unit replied: "Report to the Division Commander, this is our army's newly produced Type 97 Medium Tank, a medium tank!"

A staff officer stepped forward to explain: "The Army General Staff has reassessed the Songhu campaign and adjusted some of our equipment; this Type 97 Medium Tank is to make up for our armored combat strength; in terms of fighter planes, a batch of newly developed Type 97 Fighters has also been deployed, hoping to make up for our combat deficiencies!"

"Good! Very good! Those fellows at the General Staff have finally done something sensible; Lv Muzhi's martial prowess is terrifying; we must catch up!"

While the two were chatting, the Sixteenth Division from North China had already arrived at the Yangtze River Estuary aboard warships.

Regarding the Sixteenth Division, Commander Matsui Ine of the Army had other arrangements.

"Division Commander, Commander Matsui Ine requires our Sixteenth Division to board warships, go upstream along the Yangtze River Estuary, circle to the rear of Chen Cheng's Left Wing Army, and land at Baimaokou!" said the Chief of Staff of the Sixteenth Division.

After hearing this, Division Commander Nakajima Imao frowned tightly: "Land at Baimaokou? Before this, the Shanghai Expeditionary Army has never penetrated deep into the Yangtze River Estuary, right?"