Chapter 160: A Day in Luodian 1

Before dawn on August 18, 1937, on the garrison parade ground of the Jurong Independent Regiment, three thousand troops stood solemn as pines. Fine rain sprinkled on the steel helmets, sliding down the shoulder seams of the German‑style uniform. Li Nian'an stood on a hastily built wooden platform, his gaze sweeping each young and resolute face. Behind him, the regimental flag fluttered in the morning wind.

"Brothers!"

His voice pierced the rain veil, echoing across the silent parade ground.

"An hour ago, the order arrived. The Japanese have reinforced Songhu to one hundred thousand, and the Third War Zone commands our unit to immediately advance to the Luodian front."

A slight stir rose among the ranks, then the dead silence returned.

"I know among you some have just married, some are only sons, some have elderly mothers still bedridden." Li Nian'an's voice lowered, "But once war breaks out, the land knows no north or south, age knows no old or young; all bear the duty to Defend the Land!" He paused, "I, Li Nian'an, am twenty‑three this year, and have left no heir for the Li Family."

A faint murmur rose from below the platform.

"But none of that matters now." His voice became resonant again, "We do not seek war to fight, yet with a strong enemy pressing, only by shedding blood to guard the nation can we stop war with war!"

"Someone asks, why must we fight? I tell you—abandoning our land and sovereignty makes a people a perpetual sinner!" His voice rose sharply, "Until peace is utterly hopeless, we will not abandon peace. Until sacrifice reaches the final moment, we will not speak of sacrifice lightly. But now, this is the final moment!"

Rainwater ran down his hat brim, splashing droplets onto his rank star.

"We are a weak nation, yet we cannot fail to preserve the nation's life, nor shirk our historical duty! Today we march to Songhu to tell the Japanese—Huaxia soldiers would rather shatter like jade than survive like broken tiles!"

"Resist to the end! Sacrifice to the end!" Below the platform, Wang Yaowu raised his arm and shouted.

Three thousand bayonets rose together, cold steel flashing through the rain: "Resist to the end! Sacrifice to the end!"

He slipped on white gloves and gave a final sweep of the crowd:

"Remember, today we are not going to die, we are going to tell the Japanese—Huaxia's land is not their playground! Depart!" He walked slowly across the platform, his army boots thudding heavily in the standing water.

The bugle tore the sky. As the troops began boarding in order, Li Nian'an called Wang Yaowu to his side:

"Everything arranged?"

"According to your orders, each soldier wrote a home letter, stored in the Regimental Headquarters Safe."

"What about the relief funds?"

"They have already been disbursed to each family at double the standard."

A day later, en route to the front, the convoy trudged through muddy roads. Li Nian'an stood in the open‑top command vehicle, holding a telescope to survey the terrain. In the distance, the sky toward Shanghai had been stained dark gray by smoke.

"Regimental commander, the Reconnaissance Platoon reports that on Luodian's east side a Japanese Vanguard Unit has been spotted, about a battalion's strength." The communications soldier handed over the Document.

Li Nian'an spread the map, pencil drawing several arrows around Luodian Central Elementary School: "Order First Battalion to seize the high ground of Luodian Central Elementary School, Second Battalion to construct an anti‑tank position on the left wing, Third Battalion as reserve."

He turned to Wang Yaowu: "Deputy Regiment Commander, you take the Artillery Company to establish an artillery position at the rear. Remember, without my order, you may not fire."

"Understood!"

The convoy kept moving, the road flanked only by fleeing civilians. An elderly woman knelt by the roadside, repeatedly kowtowing toward the military vehicle. Li Nian'an turned his face away, his fingers gripping the edge of the map tightly.

The next day, August 20, 1937, at 4:30 a. m., the Luodian front, fine rain cloaking Luodian in the deathly silence before dawn, only the sound of mud water dripping from the edges of the Trench. Li Nian'an stood at the gap of the observation post, his eyes blood‑shot beneath the German M35 Steel Helmet yet still as sharp as an eagle's. In his hand he held a freshly decoded Japanese Document—the main force of the Eleventh Division was moving toward Luodian.

"Regimental commander, First Battalion reports the forward positions are ready." Wang Yaowu lowered his voice, passing the telescope, "Japanese reconnaissance troops are active frequently; it seems today they will act seriously."

Li Nian'an did not answer immediately; his gaze swept over the open ground in front of the line, scarred countless times by artillery. This spot lies only twenty kilometers from Wusongkou, the last natural barrier on the road to Shanghai's urban area. An hour earlier, when he led the Independent Regiment to take the defense, he understood what this position meant.

"Order all battalions to deploy according to Plan Three." He finally spoke, his voice hoarse yet firm, "Tell the Artillery Company that without my signal, not a single shot may be fired."

At the same time, three kilometers away inside the Japanese Eleventh Division headquarters, Lieutenant General Shanshi Zongwu was staring at the battle map, lost in thought. The cautious commander tapped repeatedly at Luodian's location with his finger.

"What is Colonel Ito's Third Regiment still waiting for?" he suddenly asked, his voice unusually cold inside the tent.

Chief of Staff Tanaka Takayoshi quickly bowed, "General, the Chinese Army's positions are heavily fortified; Colonel Ito requests artillery support before advancing."

Shanshi Zongwu snorted, walking to the tent entrance. In the distance, the Luodian position was faint in the dawn, like a coiled giant beast.

"Order the Artillery Battalion to begin fire preparation in one hour. Tell Colonel Ito, I want to see the Imperial flag planted on Luodian's position before noon."

At 5:45 a. m., the Japanese artillery position, twenty‑four Type 38 150 mm howitzers slowly raised their barrels. Battery commander Major Ono Jiro swung his command flag down sharply, a deafening boom instantly tearing the morning's quiet.

When the first salvo struck the Independent Regiment's forward line, the entire Good Earth trembled. The civil engineering works shattered in the explosion, and the pre‑set dummy position was instantly engulfed by flames.

In the observation post, Li Nian'an held the telescope steadily, letting the mud above him fall in clumps.

"First Battalion, casualty report?"

"Report, Regimental commander, per your order, only an observation post remains; the main force is in the Anti‑Artillery Bunker."

"Very good." A hint of sternness crossed Li Nian'an's mouth, "Notify each company to prepare to receive the infantry charge."

The bombardment continued for forty minutes. When the Japanese artillery began to swing backward, a sharp whistle sounded on the line.

"Enter the line! Quickly!"

Soldiers poured out of the Anti‑Artillery Bunker in single file, rushing into firing positions. German MG34 Machine Gun were mounted on carefully designed sloped side positions, forming a crossfire network. The mm Anti‑tank Gun quietly emerged from its shelter, the gunners nervously adjusting their fields of fire.

At 6:30 a. m., the Japanese Third Regiment attacked the position, Colonel Ito Yoshio lowered his telescope, a satisfied expression on his face. In his view, after such fierce artillery preparation, the Huaxia defenders should have been reduced to almost nothing.

"First Battalion, advance!"

Twelve Type 95 light tanks roared out of the position, followed by a dense mass of infantry. Japanese soldiers bore Type 38 rifles with bayonets fixed, advancing in a standard skirmish line.

The Independent Regiment's position remained a scene of dead silence.