Chapter 227: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 227 The Honest Devils

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Navy Staff Officer Lv Muzhi stood dumbfounded on the spot, unsure whether he should issue such orders to the fleet.

Commander Gu Qingchuan coughed once: "Follow the Army's instructions; use destroyers, cannonboats, and gunboats to cover the 101st Division and the 11th Division in the Changshu area as they break through the Wufu Defense Line!"

"Hmph!" Matsui Iwane finally heard what he wanted to hear, flicked his hand, and left the Sihang Warehouse.

Asahiko bowed to Gu Qingchuan, said "Arigato," and followed behind Matsui Iwane, leaving as well.

In the waters of Chang Jiang Baimaokou, warships of the Japanese Third Fleet gathered in clouds.

Gu Qingchuan remotely commanded from the mouth of the Yangtze River, personally issuing orders to the commander of the detached fleet that had advanced to the waters east of Changshu:

"All ships take note, I am Gu Qingchuan. According to the joint plan with the Army, I order: all destroyers, cannonboats, and all gunboats, form the First Fire Support Group.

Target: the defensive fortifications along the river, observation posts, and possible artillery positions of the support army on the line from Fushan to Mei Li Zhen east of Changshu.

Use a barrage of shells to cover the 11th Division's attack, extending successively into the deep area.

Beware of friendly forces, repeat, beware of friendly forces!"

Frontline at Changshu, headquarters of the Japanese 11th Division.

Division Commander Lieutenant General Yamamuro Sōbu was also deploying; he spoke into the telephone, contacting Lieutenant General Yamamuro Sōbu of the 11th Division on the flank: "Yamamuro-kun, my forces will attack the line from Fushan to Mei Li as the main assault; your forces shall coordinate along the riverbank and apply pressure toward Zhi Tang to pin down enemy troops."

Ito Masanishi responded: "Understood; my 101st Division's right-wing regiment will launch a simultaneous attack, keeping the battle line even."

At nine in the morning, on the waters of the Yangtze River, the Japanese naval guns roared in unison.

Shells from 150mm and 120mm naval guns, with piercing whistles, streaked across the sky and fiercely struck the fortifications of the 23rd Group Army from the waters on the flank.

On the front, two divisions of the Army also bombarded with artillery fire; the enormous explosions continued without cease, firelight and smoke columns rose unceasingly, and the earth of the riverbank trembled.

Before the bombardment had ceased, three red signal flares rose from the position of the 101st Division.

Japanese infantry, guided by tanks, leaped from their positions and, howling, charged toward the smoke-filled positions of the defending army.

Inside Changshu City, headquarters of the 23rd Group Army of the Sichuan Army.

Telephone rings, the ticking of telegrams, and the reports of staff officers intertwined.

The dull thunder of cannon fire from afar outside was heavier and more enduring than any previous day.

An operations staff officer rushed in carrying the frontline telephone record he had just received: "Report to the Commander! The devils' navy has joined the war! The forward positions along the line from Fushan, Mei Li, to Zhi Tang are under fierce naval bombardment; the shelling hasn't ended, and the devil infantry and tanks have already begun a large-scale offensive, not giving us any chance to show our heads at all!"

Liu Xiang stood before a large map, brows tightly furrowed; just as he was about to issue an order to reinforce with reserves, a cipher staff officer quickly walked in and handed him a telegram: "Commander, urgent telegram from Lu Commander of the Ninth Group Army!"

Liu Xiang quickly took the telegram and unfolded it, his eyes scanning the words.

"To Brother Fu Cheng: Japanese naval guns can reach the waters of Changshu at Chang Jiang Baimaokou; the enemy holds air and sea superiority, and the flank of the Wufu Defense Line has been exposed.

To slug it out in a war of attrition is exactly what the devils want. To preserve our living strength, for the plan of protracted resistance, I suggest your forces may shift toward the Xicheng Line as circumstances allow.

I hope you will prioritize the overall situation, temporarily avoid the enemy's sharp edge, trade space for time, and maneuver with the enemy. Our forces have already dealt a heavy blow to the enemy's Third Division in the Suzhou direction, which can somewhat ease pressure on the eastern front.

I hope you will decide prudently.

Your younger brother, Lv Weiyue."

After reading the telegram, Liu Xiang handed the telegram to his confidants and remained silent for a long time.

The Chief of Staff and several division commanders looked at him, waiting for his decision.

"Commander, what Lu Commander said is reasonable," said the Chief of Staff. "Our men are good lads who followed you out of Sichuan to fight the devils; they cannot all be buried under the devil's naval guns.

We have already paid enough on the Wufu Line; we can still kill a wave of devils on the Xicheng Line. This account must be calculated clearly."

However, an impatient division commander said: "Commander! Our Sichuan Army has never been cowardly! The devils have naval guns, but we have lives! At worst, we'll fight it out with those damn bastards! If we withdraw now, won't the brothers in front have bled in vain?"

Liu Xiang slowly raised his head, stopping everyone's quarrel: "Stop arguing, Brother Wei Yue is right. Fighting the little devils cannot rely solely on hot-blooded courage.

The devils want to use naval guns to force us into a hard fight with them, but we will not fall for this trick!"

He walked to the map and tapped his finger on the Wangyu River: "Pass on my orders:"

"First, order the 145th Division to immediately march at forced-march speed to the preset positions on the north bank of the Wangyu River, and control all usable ferry crossings and boats along the bank.

The division's task is to establish a bridgehead, cover the main force's river crossing, and protect the security of the north bank's flank; move quickly!"

"Second, all armies and divisions on the frontline must firmly hold their current positions, relying on remaining fortifications and deep deployment, to block layer by layer and inflict heavy casualties on the enemy's living strength.

Pay special attention to anti-tank defense; make good use of the anti-tank guns for me! Before the covering is ready, no one is allowed to retreat a single step without permission!"

"Third, the order of withdrawal is as follows: after nightfall tonight, the first batch: the 146th Division, the 147th Division, the second batch......

After the last unit crosses the river, the engineers shall immediately blow up all major bridges over the Wangyu River, and lay obstacles and landmines to delay the Japanese pursuit."

"Fourth, throughout the entire withdrawal process, all units must maintain radio silence, strictly control lights, and act swiftly and in order.

Officers must be truly responsible; any chaos, scrambling to cross, or abandoning the wounded will be dealt with by military law!"

Liu Xiang finished speaking in one breath, then looked at his Chief of Staff and the various division commanders.

"Yes! Commander!" everyone answered in unison, quickly dispersing to convey the orders.

In the headquarters, only Liu Xiang and the map remained; he covered his mouth and coughed a few times, then said to himself: "Brother Wei Yue, this game of chess is truly long; farewell, Xicheng Line!"

That day, the 23rd Group Army fought a bloody battle with the Japanese during the day and began a general withdrawal in the evening.

Inside Suzhou City, the Ninth Group Army also began to mobilize troops; the three divisions before them, having learned from the previous lesson of the Third Division being severely mauled, none dared to easily advance and pursue, instead posturing as if waiting for Lv Muzhi to withdraw before moving forward to take over the positions.

According to the original plan, the 101st Division and the 11th Division would cooperate with the navy to open a gap on the eastern side of the Wufu Line; to avoid being encircled, the Ninth Group Army would retreat backward, at which time the 13th, 16th, and 9th Divisions facing the Ninth Group Army should pursue like hyenas and tear a piece of flesh from Lv Muzhi's Ninth Group Army.

Unexpectedly, the three divisions facing Lv Muzhi were surprisingly honest, appearing to see off the Ninth Group Army on its way.

Commander Matsui Iwane urged from the rear with one telegram after another: "Order the 9th Division to advance immediately and pin down the Ninth Group Army, expanding the battle results!"

"The 13th Division, outflank the right wing of the Ninth Group Army; do not let the support people escape!"

"The 16th Division......"

But the three division commanders at the Frontline were taking their time, afraid of following in Third Division's Fujita Susumu's footsteps.

Who knew what formation Lv Muzhi had laid ahead? Whose fault would it be if they stepped on a mine? Better to obediently take over the Position!