Chapter 258: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 258 A Fair Duel

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Zijin Mountain, Zhang Fei Brigade position, the devils launched another offensive.

Artillery fire turned the hilltop over again and again, the Sixth Division's attacks came wave after wave.

The devils did not use poison gas this time, but launched a conventional offensive.

Matsui Iwane believed Lv Muzhi truly possessed a large quantity of chemical weapons, so he hoped to reach a tacit understanding with the Xia State Army not to use poison gas against each other, also sparing each other.

After all, the casualties caused by poison gas put enormous pressure on logistics.

Zhang Fei discovered at the frontline command post on Zijin Mountain that the devils were no longer using poison gas; he was stunned at first, then grinned: "Commander Lu is truly far-sighted. When the little devils think you possess large-scale chemical weapons, you'd better actually have them!

Even better if you don't! We'll match soldier against soldier, cannon against cannon, and see whose is harder!"

Yuhuatai, 88th Division position.

The fighting here was equally fierce.

Part of the Japanese 16th Division, under tank cover, launched several charges against the outer positions of Yuhuatai.

The 88th Division was after all the earliest German-equipped division, with a solid foundation and rich combat experience among officers and men; relying on sturdy fortifications and interlocking fire, they repelled the Japanese attacks time and again.

Many Japanese corpses and burning tank wrecks were abandoned on the position.

Qiu Qingquan led a squad of military police, leaving Xiaguan Wharf to patrol around.

Sun Yuanlang's 88th Division was his key inspection target; a squad of military police patrolled along the communication trench to inspect and supervise the battle near the frontline command post.

He happened to see Sun Yuanlang crouching in a temporary cover, holding binoculars to observe ahead, constantly issuing orders to adjust fire to the staff officer beside him.

After the devils opposite were repelled, Qiu Qingquan walked over, picked up the water cup on the table: "Commander Sun, you've worked hard, have some water to soothe your throat."

Sun Yuanlang turned and saw it was Qiu Qingquan, understanding he was Lv Muzhi's special envoy; he let out a long breath: "Thanks, Yu'an. These little devils are like cowhide candy—once they stick, you can't shake them off; fortunately, they didn't use poison gas this time."

Qiu Qingquan said half-jokingly: "Commander Sun, you're personally holding the front line this time. Why not find a comfortable place in Jinling City to listen to some music and calm your nerves?"

Sun Yuanlang's face turned red instantly; fortunately, the grime on his face made it hard to see clearly, and a hint of embarrassment flashed in his eyes. How could he dare go to the pleasure quarters to listen to music again: "Brother Qiu, don't say such things!

In the past... in the past I, Sun, was muddle-headed and made a mistake!

What time is it now? Jinling is in imminent danger! I, Sun Yuanlang, am also a proper seven-foot man, a Whampoa graduate; even if I were shameless, I wouldn't dare disgrace this uniform at this time, right?

Besides, Commander Lu said long ago that if I were executed under battlefield discipline, I'd have no place to hide my face.

One more thing: if Commander Lu can lead everyone through this ordeal, his future is limitless. I, Sun, still hope to follow the commander..."

Qiu Qingquan nodded and stopped teasing: "Commander Sun, it's good that you think this way. Yuhuatai is the southern gate of the city, extremely important; Commander Lu and Commander Tang are watching!"

"Rest assured!" Sun Yuanlang straightened his back and picked up the binoculars again: "As long as my 88th Division has one living person, the devils won't dream of crossing Yuhuatai!"

The Japanese Central China Area Army Headquarters was set in a temporarily requisitioned landlord's mansion south of Jinling, with radio antennas covering the roof, staff officers coming and going in a hurry.

Matsui Iwane stood with his hands behind his back before a large combat map, silent for nearly ten minutes.

On the map, blue arrows representing Japanese attacking forces drew several semicircles around the Nanjing Defense, but every arrow advanced slowly.

Without poison gas, Matsui Iwane could no longer enjoy the feeling of advancing.

"Report to Commander-sama!" The operations staff held the just-summarized battle report: "Statistics for today's full-day attacks.

Zijin Mountain direction, the Sixth Division reports: launched five attacks, achieved no results, own casualties exceeded eight hundred.

Yuhuatai direction, the 16th Division and Kunisaki Detachment jointly attacked, captured two outer positions, but the enemy's core fortifications resisted stubbornly; our tanks lost four vehicles, infantry casualties about seven hundred.

Guanghua Gate and Zhongshan Gate directions: the enemy Training Corps and attached units relied on city wall fortifications with dense fire deployment; the Ninth and Thirteenth Divisions' multiple assaults all failed, casualties being tallied..."

The tenacity of the Jinling defenders far exceeded Matsui Iwane's expectations.

Especially the Youth Army directly controlled by Lv Muzhi and several German-equipped divisions—well-equipped, high morale, relying on fortifications they had built, they fought in a cunning and fierce manner.

"What about the Chinese Army's losses?" Matsui Iwane did not turn around, his voice muffled.

"Uh... enemy casualties must be higher than ours, but specific numbers are hard to estimate precisely.

However, their core organizations, such as the Training Corps, the 88th Division, the Youth Army, etc., have not collapsed, and their resistance has not significantly weakened." The staff officer answered cautiously.

A senior staff officer from the 11th Division couldn't help but step forward: "Commander-sama! The Chinese Army resists stubbornly; terrain and fortifications favor them.

If we keep gnawing at them like this, even if we take Jinling, the losses of our divisions will be extremely heavy, and we'll probably need a long time to refit before regaining combat effectiveness.

Don't we still have special smoke? Since it was used before with significant effect, why not continue using it!"

Many officers in the command post quietly turned their eyes toward Matsui Iwane.

Poison gas, this great killer that once helped them tear a gap in the Xicheng Line, had since the telephone conference seemed to be shelved.

Matsui Iwane slowly turned around, his face gloomy as he glanced at the staff officer: "Special smoke? Do you think what Lv Muzhi said on the phone was just bluffing?"

"Our people confirmed in the city that foreign journalists are very active, and many commercial institutions are also operating.

Hans State's Siemens Factory, United States' Standard Oil Company warehouse... these places—if our shells deviate even slightly, it could cause diplomatic incidents! Not to mention, Lv Muzhi clearly warned that if we use special smoke on a large scale, he will take equivalent measures.

Do you know what that means? It means once the Jinling urban area becomes a battlefield filled with poison gas, those who die won't only be Chinese soldiers and Chinese civilians.

If those foreign journalists, merchants, and even diplomatic personnel suffer casualties, the Imperial General Headquarters will immediately receive protests from over ten countries!

By then, even if we take Jinling, I, Matsui Iwane, and all of you present will probably not escape responsibility; I, Matsui Iwane, will become an international war criminal!"

The headquarters fell silent. The staff officer who had proposed using poison gas kept his head down, not daring to speak again.

If poison gas were truly used, perhaps some results could be achieved, but this would be risking General Matsui Iwane's future; Matsui Iwane could not bear such great responsibility.

"What about the Navy? Any news from Commander Gu Qingchuan? Where is his fleet? Why can't they provide effective naval gunfire support for the Jinling city walls?" Matsui Iwane suddenly asked.

The communications staff officer quickly stood up: "Report to Commander-sama! We just communicated by telegram with the Third Fleet Headquarters an hour ago.

Commander Gu Qingchuan replied that due to the waterway near Jiangyin being severely blocked by sunken ships, large vessels find passage extremely difficult and dangerous.

Currently able to advance to the river surface about forty kilometers downstream of Jinling are mainly destroyers, cannonboats, and some modified light vessels.

But on that stretch of the Yangtze River, our fleet encountered stubborn resistance from Chen Shaokuan's First and Second Fleets of the Chinese Navy, as well as frequent harassment from the Yangtze River Torpedo Battalion under Lv Muzhi.

Chinese Air Force aircraft also frequently appeared, bombing and strafing our warships and fighters taking off from aircraft carriers.

Commander Gu Qingchuan stated that at least two to three more days were needed before it might be possible to clear the main resistance on that stretch of river and advance the artillery fire to a distance threatening the Nanjing City Wall.

"Two to three days? That wouldn't be until mid-December!" Matsui Kenichi pounded the desk, mumbling to himself.

"Yes, Your Excellency Commander!"

"In the end, we still can't do without the navy... Order each division to strengthen vigilance, have the Army Air Force closely watch the Pukou and Xiaguan directions, and prevent the enemy from making a large-scale northward crossing of the river."

"Wait for the navy to arrive, then launch a large-scale operation against Jinling City together!"

"Hai!" The officers responded in unison; in the end, they still had to wait for Gu Qingchuan's Combined Fleet naval support.