Chapter 171: Kunshan 2

On the morning of October 28, the 259th Brigade, heading toward Kunshan, wound its long column along the mud‑soaked countryside roads of Jiangnan in autumn. The soldiers wore weary faces and tattered uniforms, yet the formation remained orderly and most weapons and gear were carried.

Li Nian'an rode a similarly weary, dark‑red warhorse, and gave one final glance back toward Luodian. Beyond the horizon, artillery still boomed, firelight flickered faintly, and the defending units were clearly engaged in a fierce rear‑guard battle against the relentless Japanese forces.

"Brigade Commander, the preliminary figures are in," Chief of Staff Wang Weilin rode up to catch up, riding side by side with Li Nian'an. His arm bandage had already been changed, but his complexion remained grim. "In this Luodian defensive operation, which lasted seven days, our brigade suffered 473 dead, 768 severely wounded and evacuated, and over a thousand lightly wounded who remained on the front line. Preliminary estimates put Japanese casualties at over 600, with two tanks destroyed and several armored vehicles knocked out."

Li Nian'an gave a slight nod, his face revealing no emotion. Yet behind each number lay familiar faces and living lives.

"What is the actual troop strength of each battalion and company now?" Li Nian'an asked, more concerned about the units' current condition.

"After the en‑route... reception and reorganization," Wang Weilin chose his words carefully, "the brigade now has about 8,700 combat personnel, equipment is largely complete, heavy weapons losses are minimal, but ammunition consumption is huge and urgently needs resupply."

"8,700…" Li Nian'an calculated silently; this exceeded the core force he had extracted from Luodian. The troops taken in through "reception" and broken down, under strict retraining and the leadership of the 259th Brigade's original Backbone Members, were being rapidly assimilated.

He shifted tone and asked the long‑circling question in his mind: "Has my father, or rather the War Zone Headquarters, issued any more detailed intelligence report on this redeployment? Why such haste, even before a solid hand‑over defensive line could be established, we were ordered to abandon Luodian and head straight for Kunshan? Kunshan is important, but not the current front's focal point."

Wang Weilin shook his head: "The War Zone Headquarters' official order was vague, merely stating a 'global strategic adjustment.' However… last night I used the radio to contact an old classmate from the 18th Army, and he vaguely mentioned that in recent days higher command has been unusually focused on the Hangzhou Bay direction, especially the Jinshanwei area, with both navy and air force dispatching reconnaissance forces, though he did not know the specifics."

"Hangzhou Bay… Jinshanwei…" Li Nian'an muttered, as if chewing over the two place names. Suddenly, as if struck by lightning, he yanked his warhorse hard, his complexion turning pale, "Bad! Quickly! Bring the map!"

The nearby guard immediately retrieved a large Military Map from his case and spread it on the saddle. Li Nian'an's fingers darted across the map, first tapping Jinshanwei, then tracing a possible advance northward and westward—Songjiang, Qingpu, Kunshan… His finger finally pressed heavily on Kunshan's location, his pupils snapping shut and fine beads of sweat seeping from his temples.

"Chief of Staff! Our previous assessment may have been wrong!" Li Nian'an's voice carried unprecedented gravity, "The Japanese true killing move is not a frontal assault on Luodian or Dabao, but here—Jinshanwei! They intend to launch a large‑scale landing operation there!"

"What?! How could that be?" Wang Weilin was startled, nearly leaping from his horse, "Jinshanwei's waters are complex, the shoals are vast, not suitable for a large landing! Moreover, that area is not our defensive priority…"

"The most dangerous spot is often the safest, and the least likely direction can yield the greatest effect!" Li Nian'an spoke at breakneck speed, his thoughts unusually clear, "Look at the map! If the Japanese mass forces successfully land at Jinshanwei, a northward push could cut the Shanghai‑Hangzhou Railway, a westward thrust could strike Jiaxing and Wujiang directly, forming a massive pincer with their frontal assault. Our hundreds of thousands of troops would be trapped like dumplings, suffocated in the narrow Su‑Hu corridor!"

The more he spoke, the clearer his reasoning became, his gaze sharpening, "I get it! My father is preparing for the worst! He must have received concrete intelligence that the Japanese intend this! He ordered us to abandon Luodian and rush to Kunshan, not to defend the city itself, but to use Kunshan as a fulcrum, coordinate with other friendly forces, and swiftly establish a blocking line along Qingpu‑Songjiang‑Jiashan, firmly holding back the Japanese thrust northward and westward from Jinshanwei, thereby opening a lifeline for the main force's full westward withdrawal!"

Having grasped this layer, all doubts cleared, yet he also felt immense pressure and the urgency of time.

He no longer hesitated, immediately issuing orders to Zhang Cheng and the awaiting officers, his voice decisive:

"Relay to the entire army! Discard all non‑essential baggage, carry only weapons, ammunition and three days' rations, and accelerate the march again! Ensure arrival at Kunshan before tomorrow dusk!"

"Order the Cavalry Reconnaissance Company to depart first; upon reaching Kunshan, immediately cooperate with the Vanguard Unit to secure the Beijing‑Shanghai Railway Kunshan segment, the main hubs of the Su‑Hu Highway, and all vital bridges! Produce detailed topographic maps, especially of areas suitable for constructing defensive works!"

"Notify each division commander: during the march, convene an emergency operations meeting; before reaching Kunshan we must produce a preliminary blocking plan!"

"Additionally, in my name, send a report to the War Zone Headquarters and my father. The Document reads: 'The unit has discerned the enemy's strategic intent to land at Jinshanwei, and is advancing full‑speed toward Kunshan, vowing to block the south‑bound foe and ensure the safety of the main force's flank and rear. Unit, Li Nian'an, respectfully.'"

Orders cascaded down, and the already strained marching column accelerated again, like a torrent of iron rushing westward toward Kunshan. Li Nian'an sat on his horse, his gaze steadfast on the horizon.

Meanwhile, the Japanese Tenth Army Headquarters, on the rolling waves of the East China Sea, aboard the flagship Kashima Maru of the Japanese Tenth Army, Rear Admiral Liu Chuanpingzhu was conducting the final pre‑landing simulation with Chief of Staff Major General Tian Daoshengwu and others.

"Gentlemen, based on the latest aerial reconnaissance and intelligence summary, the Chinese Army's main force remains firmly tied to the line from Shanghai city proper to the Suzhou Creek bank," Tian Daoshengwu said, pointing at the map. "They seem still to underestimate the possibility of our landing at Jinshanwei. Only a small contingent is moving toward Jiashan and Songjiang, but the scale is limited and the movement sluggish."

Liu Chuanpingzhu's face showed a satisfied smile: "Excellent! This is exactly the effect we wanted. Choosing Jinshanwei catches them off guard! The Chinese Army's command, including its generals, still thinks in traditional linear defense."

He stepped to the map, his finger pressing firmly on Jinshanwei: "If my Tenth Army lands here successfully, a northward strike will hit Songjiang and Qingpu, cutting the Shanghai‑Hangzhou Railway. A westward push will seize Jiaxing, pressing straight to the Wufu Line. Then the seventy divisions of the Chinese Su‑Hu Expeditionary Force will become turtles in a jar! This will be a perfect strategic encirclement!"

"Your insight, Commander!" Tian Daoshengwu concurred, "However, we must not underestimate the Chinese Army's will to resist. According to battle reports from the 3rd Division, 9th Division and others at Luodian, the Chinese forces—especially the core Central Army units such as the Fifth Army and the Eighteenth Army—fight with great tenacity, excelling in street fighting and night counter‑attacks. Their commanders, like Li Nian'an in the Luodian sector, are tactically flexible and not to be dismissed."

"Li Nian'an?" Liu Chuanpingzhu raised an eyebrow, "The young Chinese general who gave the 9th Regiment a hard time?"

"Yes. Intelligence reports that, though young, he is heavily influenced by his father Li Yuxuan, and is said to have received military education from a German Advisor, employing unconventional tactics. The units he commands have maintained a relatively high level of organization even during retreat."

"Even the finest commander cannot overturn such a massive strategic disadvantage. When we land successfully and appear behind him, I'll be curious to see what salvation this young 'famed general' can still muster! Order all divisions to ready for landing, act with swiftness and decisiveness, and crush the Chinese Army's will to resist in one blow!"

"Hai!"

On the sea, the massive Japanese fleet, like a giant beast prowling in the dark night, silently surged toward the designated landing site.