Chapter 205

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Liu Xiang tightly gripped Lv Muzhi's hand, a gratified smile on his face, "You fought well in Shanghai! I heard the little devils suffered a big loss at your hands, with over ten thousand of them felled at Jinshanwei alone? That truly boosts the morale of us soldiers!"

Lv Muzhi modestly waved his hand, "Brother Fu Cheng, you flatter me. It's all thanks to the officers and men fighting to the death. After all, the devils have sturdy ships and powerful guns, and are well-trained; they cannot be underestimated."

"Hey, don't be so humble!" Liu Xiang pulled Lv Muzhi over to the combat map, "Your achievements—who in the whole country doesn't know about them? Jinling's side has also given much praise. Tell me, how do you plan to fight this next battle?"

Lv Muzhi pointed to the winding defensive line on the map and said, "Brother Fu Cheng, please look. Our current strategy is to trade space for time. For this first Kunshan-Taicang Defense Line, we will only offer limited resistance, aiming to wear down and delay the Japanese army, luring the devils deep in, while other troops fully enter the Wufu Line and Xicheng Line. The real killing move lies behind in these two lines, the Wufu Line and the Xicheng Line."

Lv Muzhi's finger pressed heavily on the position of the Wufu Line: "Here is where we will prepare the first hard nail for the devils. The fortifications are sturdy, the firepower deployment is complete, and with the rear at our backs, supplies run smoothly. I want to stop the devils' offensive momentum completely right here!"

Liu Xiang carefully studied the map, nodding repeatedly: "I understand what you mean. Let the devils get a taste of success on the Kunshan to Taicang Defense Line first. Once they become arrogant and reckless, they'll crash headlong into our true copper walls and iron walls! Excellent strategy!"

"Brother Wei Yue, rest assured! My brothers of the Twenty-third Group Army have long been itching for a real fight with the devils! Raising soldiers for a thousand days, using them for a single moment."

"This Wufu Defense Line, entrust it to me, Liu Fu Cheng, and you can rest a hundred percent assured! As long as I have a breath left, I will never let the little devils easily cross it... cough, cough!"

Lv Muzhi hurried forward to pat Liu Xiang's back: "Brother Fu Cheng must take care of his health. I heard Jinling's side asked you to stay in the rear to recuperate. Health is the capital of revolution..."

"Jinling's officials advised me to recuperate in the rear, but I flatly refused. After so many years of internal strife, our reputation is not very glorious. Today, serving the country, how can I remain safe and comfortable in the rear?!"

"Besides, my men are out there. How can I rest easy leaving them to fight the devils alone?"

"When I led my brothers out of Sichuan, I swore an oath: if the enemy army does not retreat from our borders, the Sichuan Army swears not to return home... cough, cough!"

"My Twenty-third Group Army's six divisions of Sichuan boys—nothing else, just a streak of unyielding stubbornness! I will definitely make the devils get their heads battered and bloodied before the Wufu Line!"

The two exchanged a smile, having already made the worst preparations for the impending fierce battle.

Just as Lv Muzhi and Liu Xiang were discussing the defense of the Wufu Line, the main commanders of the Third War Zone Headquarters also arrived in Suzhou one after another.

Gu Zhutong walked quickly into the command post and immediately stepped forward upon seeing Lv Muzhi.

"Wei Yue, you've come at just the right time," Gu Zhutong got straight to the point. "The War Zone Headquarters, in consultation with Jinling's side, has decided that, besides the Commander of the Ninth Group Army, you will also concurrently serve as Commander of the Yangtze River Defense, responsible for the defense of the Yangtze River section downstream of Jinling."

Lv Muzhi accepted it calmly. The Yangtze River Defense was of great importance. Before the war began, he had already deployed strict controls along the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The river was now full of naval mines, which could greatly slow down the speed of the devils' fleet sweeping along the Yangtze.

Gu Zhutong then conveyed orders to the others: "What I say is both the order of the Third War Zone Headquarters and the meaning of the old man. Now, the northern section of the Wufu Line around Changshu is garrisoned by Liu Fu Cheng's Twenty-third Group Army, while the southern section, the Suzhou region, is guarded by Wei Yue's Ninth Group Army."

"The Xicheng Line in the rear is garrisoned by Xue Yue's Nineteenth Group Army and Liao Lei's Twenty-first Group Army."

Lv Muzhi immediately asked: "Then what is the current battle situation on the first line of defense, the Kunshan to Taicang Defense Line garrisoned by the Fifteenth Group Army?"

At this moment, Chen Cheng interjected: "Luo Zhuoying's Fifteenth Group Army is covering the withdrawal of the main forces along the Kunshan-Taicang line."

"The troops have now withdrawn almost completely. The devils' Third Fleet has entered the Yangtze River Estuary and is fiercely bombarding the flank of the Fifteenth Group Army. The situation is still quite critical."

Upon hearing this, Lv Muzhi immediately suggested: "The Fifteenth Group Army should be ordered to withdraw to the rear of the Wufu Line as soon as possible. Our troops have already completed their deployment on the Wufu Line and can fully cover them."

"After passing the Kunshan to Taicang Defense Line, I have already arranged strict defenses along the Yangtze River waterway. The devils' fleet dare not easily advance deep."

Gu Zhutong nodded: "Do it that way. Immediately send a telegram to Luo Zhuoying, ordering the Fifteenth Group Army to alternate covering and advance toward the Wufu Line!"

At this time, inside Kunshan City, the Fifteenth Group Army Headquarters was busy.

"Report to the Commander! The devils' Third Fleet has opened fire on the Yangtze River again. My 114th Division's position has suffered heavy losses!"

"On the front, the Japanese Ninth, Eleventh, and Thirteenth Divisions are launching fierce attacks, but the various units are still fighting tenaciously!"

Luo Zhuoying stood before the map, his brow tightly furrowed. His flank leaned against the Yangtze River Estuary and had been bombed by the Third Fleet all along. It was very easy for the little devils, under the cover of naval guns, to directly break through his defensive line.

The Chief of Staff walked quickly over: "Commander, an urgent telegram from the War Zone Headquarters orders us to immediately advance toward the Wufu Line!"

Luo Zhuoying took a deep breath: "Finally, the retreat order has arrived. Relay orders to all units: according to the predetermined plan, alternate covering and withdraw."

"Tell the brothers below that the main forces are already waiting to cover us on the Wufu Line. We covered them, and now it's their turn to cover us. Hold on for just a little longer!"

Orders were quickly issued. On the frontline, the officers and men of the Fifteenth Group Army, under Luo Zhuoying's deployment, began their withdrawal operation.

"Division Commander, the devils are charging up again!"

"Hold them! Don't let the devils break through our blocking position! There are still brother units transferring behind us!"

Along the Yangtze River banks, the devils' naval guns kept booming, shells falling like raindrops on the retreat route.

"Quick! Speed up! Pass through this open area!"

"Engineers, blow up this bridge! Delay the devils' pursuit!"

On the front battlefield, the Japanese three divisions surged forward like a tide.

"Kill the chicken! The Chinese army is running!"

"Pursue! The Chinese army has its day today? Finally it's our turn to open a killing spree!"

"Don't let the Chinese run!"

However, the rear guard units of the Fifteenth Group Army fought exceptionally tenaciously. They relied on every piece of favorable terrain, blocking layer by layer, to buy precious time for the main force's withdrawal.

"Report to the Regimental Commander, the Chinese army's resistance is very tenacious. We cannot break through quickly!"

"Damn it! Break through at all costs! We absolutely cannot let them withdraw smoothly!"

Luo Zhuoying, in the headquarters, according to intelligence, watched the constantly changing battle lines on the map and commanded calmly: "Tell the Eighteenth Army to hold on for two more hours! The Fifty-sixth Division can begin to withdraw. The Fifty-first Division is responsible for covering..."