Chapter 202

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Third Division headquarters, Fujita Susumu received news from Division Commander Matsui Iwane, and was also very dissatisfied.

Hawksen Xia Unit Commander came to request orders: "Division Commander, it has been investigated clearly. The Sihang Warehouse is now guarded by an enemy battalion, with extremely fierce firepower. I launched two attacks, neither made progress. Has the higher command approved our use of heavy artillery?"

"Baka! Useless! Idiots! Heavy artillery, heavy artillery, nothing but heavy artillery?!"

Lieutenant General Fujita Susumu, facing Unit Commander Hawksen Xia who came to request orders, rained down a torrent of curses.

"One unit! You have an entire unit of Imperial Warriors, yet you cannot take a warehouse held by one battalion of the Chinese army?! Hawksen-kun, has your bushido spirit been eaten by dogs?!"

Hawksen Xia explained with a stiff face: "Division Commander, it is not that we are incompetent! It is that the Sihang Warehouse's position is too tricky, right next to the Concession, and we simply dare not use heavy artillery and large aerial bombs! Moreover, the defenders' firepower is abnormally fierce, equipped with large numbers of automatic weapons and autocannons; our infantry charges are practically suicide……"

"I don't want to hear excuses!" Fujita Susumu rudely interrupted him: "Do you know how the outside world views our Third Division now? They say we are blocked by a few hundred remnants at the Suzhou River bank, becoming a laughingstock of the entire China Expeditionary Army! Commander Matsui Iwane just personally sent a telegram reprimanding me, saying we have disgraced the Army!"

"I don't care what methods you use! In short, within two days, I must see the Sun Flag planted on the roof of the Sihang Warehouse! No, no, no, absolutely cannot let them survive tonight. The enemy using just one battalion to pin down over a hundred thousand of us—this is simply an international joke. Understand?!"

"Hai!" Hawksen Xia lowered his head: "I understand! Even if we fill it with our lives, we must take the Sihang Warehouse!"

At the same time, inside the Sihang Warehouse.

Regimental Adjutant Xie Jinyuan was patrolling the defensive line along the reinforced corridor; the Sihang Warehouse building was guarded by a reinforced battalion.

The warehouse's internal structure had been extensively modified; windows were blocked with sandbags and steel plates, leaving only embrasures, and firepower points were set up at key positions.

Recalling the scene when Commander Lu inspected, Xie Jinyuan's heart still surged with emotion to this day.

Lv Muzhi, that young Group Army Commander, accompanied by Division Commander Sun Yuanlang, patted his shoulder and said: "You are from the Fourth Phase, I am from the First Phase. Sihang Warehouse, Senior Classmate, I entrust it to you!"

"Not only must you hold it, you must fight beautifully, show the might of our Xia Guo soldiers, and slap the devils hard across the face!"

The soldiers were busy in a tense and orderly manner. Before leaving, Lv Muzhi had inspected the Sihang Warehouse and left behind a large batch of equipment and some Youth Army soldiers.

The troops under Xie Jinyuan's command now had equipment far better than before: MP28 submachine guns, MG34 General Purpose Machine Guns, the powerful Browning M2 Heavy Machine Gun, 20mm autocannons, 37mm anti-tank guns—everything was available.

An anti-aircraft position had also been established on the roof. The forces guarding the Sihang Warehouse included both the 1st Battalion of the 524th Regiment of the 88th Division and Youth Army heavy weapon operators, totaling over eight hundred men—the true Eight Hundred Warriors!

These heavy weapons were all specially approved by Group Army Commander Lv Muzhi for them. Along with the equipment came weapon operators assigned by the Youth Army, responsible for operating those specialized weapons.

"Regimental Adjutant, do you think the retreat route Commander Lu arranged for us will really work?" Yang Fu, Battalion Commander of the 1st Battalion of the 524th Regiment of the 88th Division, walked over and asked.

Xie Jinyuan answered very confidently: "Of course, Senior Classmate—oh no, Commander Lu told me long ago. When the time comes, we just retreat into the Concession, and someone will pick us up."

A Youth Army machine gun platoon leader passing by couldn't help but say: "We Youth Army soldiers were promised by Commander Qiu when we came that as long as we didn't die under the devils' guns and cannons, we would definitely be able to return to the main force!"

Just as everyone was discussing animatedly, the telephone in the corner suddenly rang. Xie Jinyuan quickly walked over and picked up the receiver.

This telephone had been installed in advance by someone arranged by Lv Muzhi. The telephone line connected to the Concession, relayed through the Concession, and could contact the main force of the Xia Guo Army.

But the caller was neither 88th Division Commander Sun Yuanlang nor Ninth Army Group Commander Lv Muzhi, but a completely unfamiliar voice.

"Hello? Is this the Sihang Warehouse garrison?" The Chinese on the other end of the phone was somewhat stiff: "I am the US Garrison Commander in the Concession, Major General Simaisi."

Xie Jinyuan was very surprised and said: "General Simaisi, I am Regimental Adjutant Xie Jinyuan of the defending 524th Regiment. May I ask what instructions you have?"

"Adjutant Xie, I greatly admire your courage. Your General Lu has already greeted me, and I have also received instructions from relevant higher authorities.

At the appropriate time, convenience can be provided for your unit's withdrawal. At that time, you can still contact me through this telephone......

But I am still very worried. Your firepower display yesterday made the Xia Guo common people in the Concession cheer with joy, but it made me and the British Garrison Commander tremble with fear. Don't make things too big. Absolutely do not bring the flames of war into the Concession."

Xie Jinyuan smiled and said without humility or arrogance: "Thank you, General, for the reminder. We are only defending our own territory and striking the aggressors. As for the intensity of firepower, it depends on the scale of the Japanese attack. As long as the Japanese don't provoke us, we naturally won't take the initiative to challenge them. Major General Simaisi can rest assured on this point."

Simaisi on the other end of the phone seemed to choke for a moment, and finally could only say: "...... Alright, good luck to you. Remember our agreement." Then he hung up the phone.

Xie Jinyuan had just put down the phone when the roof observation post shouted urgently: "Report! The devils are coming up again! This time there are more of them, and they're carrying explosive packs and ladders, and there are several tanks!"

"Everyone to your positions! Prepare for combat!"

The sound of bolts being pulled and safeties being switched off instantly rose throughout the warehouse, and the soldiers quickly moved to their combat stations.

"Attention! The Japanese tanks are coming up!" The voice from the roof observation post was transmitted via radio: "Two Type 89 medium tanks, three Type 95 light tanks, followed by at least two squadrons of infantry!"

Xie Jinyuan grabbed the radio handset. He had only come into contact with this thing yesterday. With Commander Lu's equipment, Xie Jinyuan discovered that comparing people to people could simply make one furious!

The equipment of the German-equipped Division was already considered top-notch, but there was always something better!

"All anti-tank fire, prepare! Once the enemy crosses the warning line, fire at will!"

The Japanese tanks advanced cautiously. Two Type 89 medium tanks, three Type 95 light tanks, their tracks crushing gravel and rubble, followed closely by infantry crouching low.

"Advance carefully!"

The devils clearly feared the defenders' firepower, and their advance speed was not fast.