Chapter 173: War in Progress 2

November 3, Jinshan Guard Offshore, Japanese Tenth Army flagship "Izumo". The sea was not calm; gray waves rose and fell. The massive Japanese landing fleet, including transport ships, landing craft, and cruiser and destroyer providing fire support, resembled clusters of steel beasts, arranging an attack formation on the sea. Japanese Tenth Army commander Liu Chuanpingzhu, Lieutenant General, stood on the tall bridge of the "Izumo", holding a telescope, carefully observing the distant vague coastline. A confidence and coldness like a hunter about to haul in his net was on his face.

Major General Tian Daoshengwu, the chief of staff, respectfully reported, "General, the first wave landing force—the 6th Division 36th Brigade—has completed all transfers, the landing craft are ready. The 18th Division and the 114th Division will follow in turn." Excitement was still evident in his tone.

Liu Chuanpingzhu nodded with satisfaction, lowered the telescope: "Yao Xi! The Chinese Army command indeed, as we expected, has concentrated its main force in the Shanghai urban area. Jinshan Guard… they only have symbolic guard units here. Once my Japanese Tenth Army lands successfully and sweeps north, the 700,000‑strong Chinese Army main force in the Songhu Region will be trapped in the iron‑wall encirclement of my Imperial troops! This will be a victory worthy of the annals!"

"According to the latest intelligence, the Chinese Army appears to have detected our intentions and is hastily retreating west," Tian Daoshengwu added, "However, around Kunshan a unit designated 259 Brigade has appeared, its commander confirmed to be Li Yuxuan's son, Li Nian'an. This unit seems to be actively constructing fortifications."

"Li Nian'an…" Liu Chuanpingzhu mused. He had seen that name many times in battle reports, "the young Chinese commander who made the 3rd Division and the 11th Division both find it troublesome at Luodian?"

"Yes, General. He employs cunning tactics, excels at defense and counter‑attack, and his troops possess a strong combat will. We must be wary."

Liu Chuanpingzhu sneered, a hint of contempt in his voice: "A kid who leans on his father's patronage and a bit of cleverness—any trick is futile before absolute strength! My hundred‑thousand elite, landing with thunderous force, is not something a single brigade can stop. Order all landing units, stick to the original plan, advance at full speed! After landing, the 6th Division main force must swiftly thrust toward Jiaxing and Kunshan, without hesitation!"

Ha Yi!

Early morning of November 5, Jinshan Guard Beachhead. Before dawn, the deafening salvo of ship cannons opened the landing. The Japanese Navy Fleet's heavy artillery bombed the area near the coastline where Huaxia Army troops were suspected to be stationed, turning it into a sea of fire. Afterwards, countless landing craft, like blood‑thirsty shark schools, broke the waves and surged toward the designated beachhead.

The soldiers of the 6th Division 36th Brigade shouted as they leapt from the landing craft, waded through waist‑deep water, and rushed onto the sand. The anticipated fierce resistance never materialized; only sporadic, hurried rifle fire was quickly suppressed by Japanese firepower.

"Too smooth…" On the command boat of the 6th Division Headquarters, Division commander Gu Shoufu, Lieutenant General, held a telescope, watching the troops surge onto the beach as if entering an uninhabited realm. His brows furrowed slightly as he muttered, "Chinese Army… could they really be so foolish, utterly unprepared for this spot?"

Soon, the Vanguard Unit reported: only a few Chinese Army local security outpost sentries were found around the landing zone; they scattered at the slightest contact, and no solid defensive works of the main force were discovered.

Gu Shoufu's lingering doubt eased slightly, yet his years of military experience kept him vigilant. "Order the troops, do not linger! Immediately follow the planned route, rapidly advance toward Zhangyan and Tinglin! The 13th Regiment forms the left wing, the 47th Regiment the right wing; advance together, objective—cut the Shanghai‑Hangzhou Railway as quickly as possible! We must complete the encirclement before the Chinese Army main force fully reacts and establishes an effective defensive line!"

The Japanese landing troops' initial advance speed was extremely rapid, almost marching forward. Their swagger grew accordingly, convinced that the Huaxia Army had been utterly demoralized.

However, when the vanguard company of the 13th Regiment advanced to the outskirts of Zhangyan town, at a bend of a seemingly calm river, an abrupt anomaly erupted!

"Da da da da—!" "Bang! Bang! Bang!"

【7】 Dense, bean‑exploding machine‑gun fire suddenly erupted from the river's opposite bank, amid seemingly abandoned dwellings and reed thickets! At least four Type 24 Heavy Machine Guns and a dozen Czech Light Machine Guns formed a crossfire net, like an invisible scythe, instantly sweeping the two front rows of Japanese soldiers down! Bullets struck the bluestone road and soil, sending up dense smoke and dust.

The dense, bean‑exploding‑like machine‑gun fire suddenly rang out from a seemingly abandoned cluster of houses and reeds on the far side of the river! At least four Type 24 Heavy Machine Guns and a dozen or so Czech Light Machine Guns formed a crossfire net, like an invisible scythe, instantly sweeping the two front rows of Japanese soldiers off their feet! Bullets struck the bluestone road and the soil, raising a dense cloud of dust.

Almost simultaneously, several muffled artillery thuds rang out, and a few 81 mm Mortar Shells landed precisely on the area where the Japanese attempted to form battle formations; the explosions hurled mud and severed limbs in all directions.

"Enemy attack! Take cover! Find shelter!" the Japanese squad leader shouted hoarsely, scrambling to crawl into a roadside ditch.

"Report to the regiment commander! A solid Chinese Army position discovered ahead! Firepower is extremely intense!" the communications soldier, braving the shell rain, reported back.

"Which unit?!" the 13th Regiment commander Gangben Baozhi, Colonel, exclaimed, both shocked and angry.

Soon, forward soldiers, amid the shell rain, vaguely saw the enemy's position bearing a still‑tattered yet still fluttering flag, and some fortifications marked with conspicuous large white‑chalk characters.

The translator, trembling, said: "Flag… it's the Blue Sky White Sun Red Earth Flag! The position bears… "259 Brigade", also "Swear to Live and Die with Kunshan"!"

"259 Brigade! Li Nian'an!" Gangben Baozhi snarled, "So it's him! Order the artillery company, immediately locate the enemy fire point, bomb them flat! First battalion, flank around, find their weak spot!"

The Japanese response was swift; trained infantry quickly utilized terrain and cover, crawling forward and engaging Huaxia troops in a firefight. Artillery observers also began attempting to locate the 259 Brigade's fire point.

But the first blocking line arranged by Li Nian'an was exceedingly cunning. The position leaned on the river's water‑net, with a narrow front; fire points were expertly camouflaged and largely semi‑underground. Japanese hurried artillery could only achieve limited coverage. Moreover, the Japanese attempting to flank discovered they had fallen into an even more intricate network of water‑logged rice paddies, moving sluggishly and repeatedly triggering hidden traps and bamboo‑spike arrays.

From the outset, the battle fell into a brutal stalemate. The Japanese were surprised to find that this Huaxia force not only possessed firepower superior to ordinary units, but its soldiers shot with precision, its tactics were proficient, and, more importantly, its resolve to resist was extraordinarily stubborn, showing no sign of cowardice despite the Japanese overwhelming pressure.

Gu Shoufu, upon learning the vanguard was blocked and that the opponent was the old nemesis Li Nian'an, his face grew so dark it seemed it could drip water. "Order the 47th Regiment, intensify the offensive! Notify the air force, request tactical guidance! I want to see how long this Li Nian'an can endure under my 6th Division's iron hooves!"