Chapter 348: Yichang, the Day the Japanese Army Command Was Attacked

The smoke over Gulou Square has not yet cleared, and Yao Quanyi and Hu Lian are beneath the broken wall, giving each other a brief introduction. Both are drenched in blood and grime, yet they smile at each other, needing no further words; the recapture of Yichang is already settled.

If at first Hu Lian were moved by a colonel regiment commander, there would be complaints.

Even if he is his own brother‑in‑law.

But once the fighting began, Hu Lian no longer thought that way; he even believes he could lead troops to retake Nanjing and strike Tokyo.

The 11th Division is itself elite; back then the German‑equipped division only wore M35 steel helmets, still mainly using standard rifles.

Now Hu Lian looks at his own 11th Division, which is more German than the Germans, perhaps to be held as an infantry division, the only things lacking are artillery and Tanks.

The German army's company‑level firepower is still mostly MG34, while Hu Lian's 11th Division has already been equipped with MG42 General Machine Guns.

At that moment, a few rag‑clad Yichang civilians staggered in, fell to their knees, tears streaming, and shouted, "Officer! The Little Devil regiment commander is still in the city! At the old Salt Administration site! That blue‑brick building with the Sun flag!"

"Salt Administration?" Hu Lian's eyes narrowed. "East of the city?"

"Yes! Right by the east side, there are Sandbags and Barbed Wire!" the elder trembled, pointing eastward.

Yao Quanyi immediately pulled out a map, his finger pressing hard on the "Salt Administration" spot, which is the Japanese Army's 13th Division headquarters, high ground with wide sightlines and backed by the riverbank, convenient for retreat. Nei Shan Yingtailang proved cunning as expected; even if the whole front collapsed, he still tried to hold the last strongpoint or wait to cross the river and flee.

Yet Yao Quanyi was prepared: his rd Battalion commander Xu Ziliang was advancing from the east.

Yao Quanyi also heard the gunfire; it seemed the Little Devil regiment commander was indeed at the east side, otherwise the artillery fire would not be so intense.

In fact, Nei Shan Yingtailang and the division staff had already escaped Yichang through the North Gate, the "North Look Gate".

"What about the troops?" Yao Quanyi asked.

"Not many left, but they're all hard‑liners," the elder's voice trembled. "Someone just shouted 'Long live the Emperor', clutching a Hand Grenade and charging into the street."

Before the words finished, a muffled bang sounded from afar, followed by wails and cries, as another Japanese Army "human bomb" attack succeeded.

Hu Lian's brows knit: "Fanatics are increasing; street‑fight risk is extremely high."

Yao Quanyi's eyes flashed: "Just what I want."

He turned to Hu Lian, voice firm: "Division Commander Hu, you lead the main force to cleanse the northern city's remnants, seal the riverbank, prevent Nei Shan from crossing the river. The Salt Administration is mine."

Hu Lian paused briefly, nodded: "Alright! I'll temporarily hand the 33 448th Regiment to your command. Remember, don't let him get away."

"Don't worry," Yao Quanyi said with a slight smile, "Street fighting is my forte."

At this moment, the battle had turned completely one‑sided.

Toward Dianjun Mountain, the 11th Division's 34th Regiment was landing in transport boats one after another, fresh troops pouring into the city; behind the dock, Jiang Anguo's civilian labor team kept supplying ammunition day and night to the front—bullets, Hand Grenades, piled at the temporary supply point.

The firepower advantage has completely crushed the Japanese Army's remnants.

The Little Devil cannot understand: the once invincible "Imperial Japanese Army", why is it so vulnerable tonight?

Air raids, artillery, landings, war drums, street fights, popular support.

The Huaxia army managed to stage a three‑dimensional, nationwide participation, fire‑and‑will double‑crushing modern war. Their proud "Bushido" crumbled like paper before the roar of MG42s and the sweep of Tommy guns.

In desperation, many fanatics chose to "shatter like jade".

They shouted "Long live His Majesty the Emperor!", clutching Type 97 melon Hand Grenades, bursting from ruins, cellars, even homes, lunging at Huaxia soldiers.

Even the snipers on the rear wall, ever vigilant, could not avoid a few slipping through.

The battlefield was too chaotic: firelight, smoke, cries, gunfire intertwined into a sea of chaos.

Just ten minutes earlier, a Japanese Army Second Lieutenant disguised as a wounded soldier had slipped into a rescue team, nearly detonating a Hand Grenade. If Yao Quanyi had not spotted him, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"All units, attention!" Yao Quanyi barked over the radio, "If you encounter suspicious personnel, fire a warning shot first, then approach! Better to kill a mistake than to trust blindly!"

The Independent Regiment leaves no prisoners in this battle; with street fighting so chaotic, Yao Quanyi must first guarantee the safety of his Independent Regiment soldiers, not risk his men for a few uncertain Japanese Army prisoners.

Precisely because of that, Yao Quanyi ordered that until the war ends, the Independent Regiment needs no prisoners. Whether dead or half‑dead, a Little Devil will get a popcorn on his head!

But the 11th Division is different; Hu Lian still shows a hint of mercy, perhaps with his own plan, and does not kill the Japanese Army prisoners.

The orders were transmitted, and each unit executed immediately.

At this moment, Yao Quanyi had taken command of the 33 448th Regiment. He quickly reorganized the troops:

Using Squad as the unit, three per group, advancing in a "pin" formation;

Each group equipped with one submachine gun, four Hand Grenades, and one signal pistol;

Snipers occupied the high ground, watching windows and rooftops;

Combat engineers marched with the unit, ready to blow obstacles at any time.

He knows the essence of street fighting: it's not who is braver, but who is more patient, meticulous, and knows how to use every inch of terrain.

The troops silently closed in on the Salt Administration.

On both sides of the street, broken walls and ruins loomed like the bones of a giant beast; moonlight was obscured by smoke, the whole city fell into a strange dimness. Footsteps on the rubble emitted a faint "crack!" that quickened the heart.

Suddenly, a metallic clash rang from a forward alley—someone!

The 33 448th Regiment's knife‑troop immediately crouched low, MP40 barrels aimed at the alley mouth.

Opposite side, the same dead silence.

Both sides saw each other's silhouettes, but the darkness prevented identification.

Friend or Little Devil?

Time seemed to freeze.

One second, two seconds, three seconds…

"Illumination flare!" Yao Quanyi growled from the rear.

"Bang!"

The signal pistol fired skyward, illumination flares shooting up one after another.

In an instant, the whole street lit up like broad daylight!

The blinding light pierced the darkness, revealing five Japanese Army soldiers opposite, steel helmets on, holding Type 38 rifles, staring up in shock!

"Tatata—!"

The 33 448th Regiment's Squad Leader did not hesitate to pull the trigger. The MP40 spat fire, bullets weaving like silver threads, instantly turning the five Little Devils into a sieve. Someone had just raised a hand grenade; the arm was already broken, the melon grenade rolled to his feet.

Prone!

Boom!

The blast wave flipped the rubble, but the Huaxia army was already prepared; all troops went prone, with no casualties.

The Squad leader of the 33 448th Regiment felt as if he had survived a disaster, "Luckily we reacted quickly, otherwise we would all be doomed."

This was only a small victory in the Yichang street battle.

"Clear the battlefield! Continue the advance!" Yao Quanyi ordered calmly.

The soldiers rushed forward, reloading, searching bodies, and confiscating weapons. A rookie stared at the twisted face of a dead enemy on the ground and couldn't help dry‑vomiting. An old soldier patted his shoulder: "Just get used to it. They burned our village, killed our mothers."

The unit kept advancing, stopping every ten meters, checking every window, and throwing a Hand Grenade into every door; to verify whether any compatriots were inside, they would first ask a question, and if no one answered, they would greet them with a Hand Grenade.