Chapter 609: Indonesian Campaign

Zhou Haitong led the Marine Infantry Regiment, boarding a transport ship, and under the escort of Jiang Zhiyuan's Pacific Fleet, slowly arrived at the coastal waters off Ju Gang.

Standing on the deck of the command ship, Zhou Haitong gazed at the distant Ju Gang, his eyes sharp, his hand gripping the battle map tightly.

Zhou Haitong said to the staff beside him, "The strategic value of Ju Gang needs no further explanation; capturing Ju Gang will not only yield abundant energy and resources, but also completely sever the Japanese Army's supply line on Sumatra Island."

"Send the orders down; each regiment prepare for landing. The Pacific Fleet will provide fire support, first destroying the Japanese Army's coastal artillery and shoreline defenses, clearing obstacles for the landing troops."

"Understood!" the staff bowed and replied immediately, swiftly relaying the orders.

Later, Zhou Haitong convened a combat deployment meeting and, in a low voice to the Regiment Commanders of each regiment, said, "The Japanese 38th Division has set up a tight coastal defense; the coastal artillery and bunkers are our greatest obstacles."

"First Regiment will handle the frontal fixation of the Japanese Army, drawing its fire; Second Regiment and Third Regiment will flank from both sides, seek weak points in the Japanese defenses, and force a landing."

"Artillery Regiment, stand by for orders."

"After the fleet precisely strikes the Japanese coastal artillery and bunkers, each unit must, before high tide, break through the Japanese shoreline defenses and seize the beachhead."

The Regiment Commanders answered in unison, "Mission will be accomplished!"

At this moment, Jiang Zhiyuan's Pacific Fleet had completed fire‑support preparations; destroyers and escort ships lined up in a row, the main guns trained on the Japanese shoreline fortifications, and carrier‑borne aircraft rose one after another, ready to commence bombing.

Zhou Haitong looked at his high‑spirited troops and shouted loudly, "Brothers, Ju Gang is right ahead; inside are the oil and rubber looted by the Japanese Army, and everything Nanko needs!"

"Unleash the might of our Marine Infantry Regiment, crush the Japanese Army, capture Ju Gang, and bring glory to Nanko!"

"Capture Ju Gang! Bring glory to Nanko!"

The soldiers shouted in unison, their voices deafening, echoing across the sea.

With a single command from Zhou Haitong, Jiang Zhiyuan's Pacific Fleet launched the first attack.

"Boom—boom—boom."

The main guns roared, shell after shell striking the Japanese coastal artillery positions and bunkers with precision; flames shot skyward, thick smoke billowed, and the Japanese fortifications were instantly reduced by more than half.

Carrier‑borne aircraft swooped in, bombing the Japanese trenches and landmine fields; Japanese soldiers were blown apart, fleeing in all directions, their morale in chaos.

Sano Chūgi stood inside the command post, watching the artillery outside the window, his face pallid, his heart filled with shock and anxiety.

"Baka! How can Nanko's fleet have such firepower!" he roared at his adjutant.

"Immediately mobilize the reserve units, reinforce the defenses, and hold the coastal artillery positions; we must not let Nanko's forces land!"

"Aye!" the adjutant bowed and replied, then turned to relay the orders.

But by this time the Japanese Army had already been suppressed by Nanko's fire to the point of being unable to lift its heads; the reserves, as soon as they moved, were bombed by carrier aircraft, suffering heavy casualties.

"Landing!" Zhou Haitong seized the aircraft, gave the order, and the landing craft carrying the Marine Infantry Regiment's soldiers raced toward the Ju Gang beachhead.

The soldiers, brandishing submachine guns, eyes steadfast, faces bearing a belief in victory, surged toward the beachhead under the fleet's fire cover.

The remaining Japanese soldiers fired wildly, trying to stop Nanko's troops from landing, but the fleet's main guns and carrier aircraft suppressed them completely, leaving them scrambling for cover in the trenches, shooting indiscriminately.

"Brothers, charge!" the First Regiment commander leapt first from the landing craft, his submachine gun sweeping continuously, leading by example and rallying morale.

The soldiers followed closely, leaping from the landing craft one after another, braving Japanese fire, charging toward the beachhead.

Many soldiers were hit and fell, yet none retreated; those behind immediately filled the gaps, continued the charge, paving the way forward with blood.

"Call Hawk!"

"Hawk received!" the airborne carrier aircraft replied.

"Coordinates 7, fire coverage!"

"Hawk, understood!"

One by one, the carrier aircraft turned, bombing Zone 7; beforehand, all the coastal defense lines had already been sectorized.

"Fuze, fire coverage!"

Zhou Haitong personally boarded a landing craft, leading the soldiers in the charge.

His gaze was sharp, his shots precise, felling many Japanese soldiers; his bodyguards stood tightly beside him, repelling wave after wave of Japanese counterattacks.

Second Regiment and Third Regiment, following the deployment, flanked from both sides, successfully located the Japanese defensive weak points, landed smoothly, and immediately launched attacks on the Japanese rear, cutting off their retreat.

The Japanese Army was attacked from front and rear, morale shattered completely; many soldiers laid down their weapons and surrendered, while only a few stubborn elements continued to resist.

Sano Chūgi learned that both flanks had been breached and the beachhead was about to fall, his heart filled with despair, yet he still ordered, "Hold to the death, never surrender!"

After more than three hours of fierce fighting, Nanko's Marine Infantry Regiment successfully seized the beachhead, completely destroying the Japanese Army's shoreline fortifications.

Then the forces split into three routes, launching an assault toward Ju Gang's city center.

Within the city, the Japanese Army used buildings and streets to engage Nanko's soldiers in street fighting.

The Marine Infantry Regiment's soldiers cleared the Japanese Army street by street, relying on superior equipment and tenacious spirit, advancing steadily.

Every meter forward was accompanied by fierce combat.

Zhou Haitong, while directing the assault, ordered, "Do everything possible to protect Ju Gang's oil facilities and rubber plantations; do not damage the resources, as they are the foundation of Nanko's future development!"

The soldiers kept the order in mind, and while clearing the Japanese, they carefully protected the island's resource facilities, preventing them from being destroyed by the flames of war.

At this moment, the high tide arrived as scheduled, and a ten‑thousand‑ton cargo ship slowly entered Ju Gang's port, delivering supplies to the Marine Infantry Regiment and further consolidating the landing gains.

Sano Chūgi led the remaining Japanese forces back to Ju Gang's oil refinery, hoping to use the refinery's structures for a final stand.

Zhou Haitong led his troops to encircle the refinery, shouting inside, "Sano Chūgi, you have no escape. Lay down your weapons and surrender; I can spare your lives. If you continue to resist, we will launch a full assault and completely destroy the refinery!"

Sano Chūgi looked at the heavily wounded soldiers beside him, then at the Nanko forces outside, his heart filled with despair.

He knew he was powerless to turn the tide; if he kept resisting, not only would his entire army be annihilated, but the oil facilities of Ju Gang would be destroyed.

When that time came, even in death he could not report back to the Japanese Headquarters.

The Marine Corps issued the final ultimatum, but Sano Chūgi, clinging to imperialist madness, launched a suicidal charge.

Both sides engaged in a melee at the refinery.

In the end, the Marine Corps emerged victorious.

When Zhou Haitong led the Marine Infantry Regiment into Ju Gang's city district, the townspeople poured out of their homes, faces lit with joyful smiles.

Many Chinese civilians stepped forward, offering water and food to Nanko's soldiers.

Zhou Haitong stood at Ju Gang's port, watching the destroyer slowly entering, then gazing toward the distant rubber plantation and oil refinery, a satisfied smile on his face.

In this attack on Ju Gang, Zhou Haitong's Marine Corps Division achieved a complete victory, not only thoroughly wiping out the Japanese Army in Ju Gang but also seizing abundant oil‑and‑gas resources and strategic supplies such as rubber and coffee, taking control of this highly valuable port.

The capture of Ju Gang not only supplied Nanko with ample strategic resources.

It also cut off the Japanese Army's last hope for resource resupply.