Chapter 579: Plan Two

On the coastal high ground, MacArthur, holding a telescope, watched the fierce battle on the beachhead, his face solemn, and ordered through the communicator: "Relay the order, the reserve unit must immediately reinforce the beachhead, must hold the position, we must not let the Little Devil set foot on the island! The anti‑aircraft artillery units continue firing, harassing the Japanese Army's carrier‑based aircraft, they must not be allowed to support the beachhead!"

"Received!" a reply came from the other end of the communicator, and then the American Army reserve unit surged toward the beachhead in a steady stream, replenishing frontline troops.

The anti‑aircraft artillery kept booming, and another Japanese carrier‑based aircraft was hit, spewing thick smoke as it fell into the sea; the remaining aircraft, seeing this, no longer dared to approach the coast lightly, only circling at a distance, unable to provide any support to the Japanese forces on the beachhead.

Nan Yun Zhongyi stood in the command cabin, watching the grim battle on the beachhead, trembling with rage, and roared at Cao Lu Longzhijie: "Why? Why can't we take this tiny beachhead? How can the American Army's firepower be so strong?"

Cao Lu Longzhijie lowered his head, his tone heavy: "Commander, the American Army's defensive fortifications are too solid, the fire is dense, and their reserve unit keeps reinforcing. Our landing troops have suffered heavy losses and cannot break through their defensive line."

"Baka!" Nan Yun Zhongyi slapped the control panel, shouting, "Keep charging! Deploy all available forces; even if we sacrifice the 2nd Division, we must take Brisbane!"

But he knew in his heart that Japanese casualties were mounting, the landing troops were already in a desperate situation, and taking Brisbane was as hard as scaling the heavens.

The Japanese Army launched charge after charge, only to be repelled by the American Army each time.

A young American soldier, Tangmu, had his arm struck by a Japanese bullet, blood gushing; he gritted his teeth, quickly bandaged it, kept his rifle in hand and shouted to his comrades: "Don't give up! We will definitely hold the position!"

His comrades responded en masse, their firepower did not wane, firmly suppressing the advancing Japanese troops.

"Tap tap tap—"

Japanese machine guns also raked wildly; an American soldier was hit and fell, clutching his rifle to the end, murmuring: "Hold… must hold…".

Yuehanxun looked at the fallen comrade, anger flaring in his eyes, and shouted to the soldiers: "For our comrades, for Brisbane, kill them!"

On the sea surface, Japanese landing craft grew fewer, and the remaining craft dared not approach the beachhead lightly, only lingering at a distance.

On the beachhead, corpses lay everywhere, both American and Japanese soldiers, blood staining the whole shore, the air thick with the scent of blood and gunpowder.

Cao Lu Longzhijie, seeing the carnage, urged again: "Commander, we cannot continue like this. Landing troops have suffered terrible losses; further charges will only add casualties, and the American Army's reserve unit keeps reinforcing—we have no chance of victory."

Nan Yun Zhongyi fell silent, his gaze fixed on the beachhead, eyes full of resentment and fury; he knew Cao Lu Longzhijie was right, but he could not bear to abandon the fight.

At that moment, the communicator crackled with an urgent message: "Commander! Southeast Asia front urgent telegram—Nan Hua and the China Expeditionary Force have broken through our Thai‑Myanmar defensive line, approaching Manggu; the Southern Army urgently needs Combined Fleet support!"

Nan Yun Zhongyi shivered, his face turning even darker; on one hand the Brisbane landing battle, on the other the Southeast Asian crisis, he was caught in a dilemma.

On the beachhead, Yuehanxun saw the Japanese forces gradually retreating, exhaled a sigh of relief, and shouted to the soldiers: "The Little Devil has retreated! We have held the beachhead!"

The American soldiers cheered in unison, despite being wounded and exhausted, their joy could not be hidden; they waved their weapons, their shouts echoing across the coast.

Tangmu leaned against the trench, looking at his comrades, a smile spreading on his face; though his arm still ached, he knew they had held the position, held the gateway to Brisbane.

Mi Le walked over, patted his shoulder, and said with a grin: "Well done, kid, you're a hero!"

Tangmu shook his head, replying: "No, we're all heroes; we held this together."

Nan Yun Zhongyi stood in the flagship's command cabin, watching the battle before him, his complexion growing ever gloomier, fists clenched, nails digging into his flesh.

He had never imagined the American Army's defense could be so solid; what he thought would be an easy capture of Brisbane had become an insurmountable barrier for the Japanese.

"Baka yaru!" he roared into the communicator.

"Carrier‑based aircraft units launch again; even if we sacrifice all our fighters, we must destroy the American Army's defensive works!"

At this time, the Japanese carrier‑based aircraft units had already lost many planes; the remaining aircraft dared not approach the American anti‑aircraft fire network.

Japanese planes merely dropped bombs and withdrew.

Landing troops suffered even heavier casualties; the 2nd Division's soldiers lost at least three thousand men in the first wave of the landing operation.

Continuing to charge Brisbane was clearly irrational; the Japanese soldiers still on the shore were barely holding the edge of the beachhead, defending in a ragged manner.

Cao Lu Longzhijie stepped forward again, his tone urgent: "Commander, we cannot persist stubbornly! Carrier‑based aircraft losses are severe, landing troops have almost lost combat effectiveness, and our supply lines are being harassed by American submarines; ammunition and food are nearly exhausted."

"More importantly, the Southeast Asia front urgently needs our support; if we linger any longer and Manggu falls, we will completely lose our foothold in Southeast Asia!"

Nan Yun Zhongyi closed his eyes, his heart full of resentment; proud all his life, never having suffered such a crushing defeat, yet he also understood Cao Lu Longzhijie's facts. He slowly opened his eyes, his voice cold and heavy: "Relay the order: carrier‑based aircraft units withdraw, landing troops cease charging, hold the edge of the beachhead, await further commands."

"Hai!" Cao Lu Longzhijie answered promptly, immediately transmitting the order.

Japanese carrier‑based aircraft withdrew to the carriers, the remaining landing troops also stopped charging, curling up at the beachhead's edge, unwilling to move, only able to defend passively.

At this moment, the Combined Fleet was tightly pinned in the Brisbane sea area, unable to pull away toward the Thai seas, forced to watch the Southeast Asia front deteriorate.

"Execute Plan Two, land on Sunshine Coast, advance from north to south, no retreat!"

Soon, the Japanese began to carry out Nan Yun Zhongyi's second plan; the carriers continued to draw American fire at Brisbane, while the destroyers and transports behind moved northward, landing from Sunshine Coast.

Because the United States had placed a large number of heavy guns in Brisbane, American warships also dared not get too close.

Along the Brisbane coastline, American soldiers still held the trench, vigilantly watching the Japanese on the beachhead, daring no slack.

Yuehanxun, holding a telescope, watched the Japanese huddled on the beachhead and said to the soldiers: "The Japanese have no strength left to charge, but we must not let down our guard; they may launch another attack at any moment. We must hold the position, never give them an opening!"

"Understood!" the soldiers replied in unison, though exhausted, their eyes remained steadfast, weapons constantly aimed at the beachhead, ready for any renewed Japanese assault.

The anti‑aircraft artillery unit also remained on alert, barrels pointed at the sea, preventing Japanese carrier‑based aircraft from striking again.