November 23, 1937, in front of the Hui Mountain position on the Xicheng Defense Line:

The Chitose Shigetō Detachment suffered its greatest casualties since landing.

Detachment Commander Chitose Shigetō could no longer restrain himself and rushed here from the rear.

He stood inside the command post of the 1st Regiment, quietly watching the ground in front of Battalion Commander Shi's position, which was covered with corpses in the slowly darkening evening.

Detachment Commander Chitose Shigetō stood quietly like that, motionless for a long time.

The chief of staff of the 1st Regiment, Ōigawa Yōhei, trembled as he stood beside him.

Closest to the detachment commander was Gorobe Naoiya, the commander of the 2nd Regiment, his face full of disdain and dissatisfaction.

At this moment, a soldier waving a Red Cross flag emerged from the position of the National Revolutionary Army.

The soldier waved the Red Cross flag in this direction, slowly walking towards them.

Detachment Commander Chitose Shigetō finally awoke from his stillness: "Go out and see!"

He personally led the way, his face betraying no emotion.

The group walked out of the command post for at least five hundred meters.

They waited quietly there as the National Revolutionary Army soldier was brought over.

Bu Hongzhuang was a daring man. Battalion Commander Shi had just said that there were so many Japanese corpses in front of the position, the Japanese should be made to clear them away.

The Japanese were now scared by the beatings and had not sent anyone out to collect the bodies.

It was decided to send someone to the Japanese side to deliver a message: If you send people without weapons to collect the bodies, we won't fire!

Bu Hongzhuang volunteered at the time, willing to serve as the messenger.

He wanted to see the expressions on the faces of the Japanese when they heard the message.

After walking nearly a kilometer from his own position, Bu Hongzhuang was stopped by a team of Japanese soldiers.

The team of Japanese soldiers did not make things difficult for him, only asking what he was doing.

After learning Bu Hongzhuang's purpose, the expressions of these Japanese soldiers clearly softened a lot.

Perhaps they were thinking that they too would eventually be like those lifeless corpses lying in front of the position!

They also hoped that if they died in battle, a commander of the National Revolutionary Army would have mercy and send their bodies back.

At least they wouldn't have to lie in front of the position, constantly enduring artillery bombardments and the trampling of subsequent attacking soldiers.

When Bu Hongzhuang came before Detachment Commander Chitose Shigetō, he recognized him as a Japanese major general from the insignia he wore.

Detachment Commander Chitose Shigetō asked kindly, "What does the honorable envoy have to say?"

Bu Hongzhuang had never imagined that the Japanese major general would not be furious when he saw him.

On the contrary, he was like a modest gentleman.

Bu Hongzhuang was stunned for a moment before speaking, "Our battalion commander said that there are too many corpses from your side in front of the position.

Our side, based on humanitarian principles, allows you to send four hundred unarmed personnel to collect them.

Those soldiers have done their best and should no longer be left to decompose in the wilderness!"

Chitose Shigetō said solemnly, "Please convey my respects to Battalion Commander Shi. He is a true soldier.

My side will immediately send people to collect them!"

All the senior officers of the entire Chitose Detachment watched Bu Hongzhuang stride back.

Detachment Commander Chitose Shigetō coldly ordered Chief of Staff Ōigawa Yōhei, "Have the supply soldiers of the 1st Regiment immediately go up and collect all the corpses."

Chief of Staff Ōigawa Yōhei finally breathed a sigh of relief, "Report to the detachment commander, should we take advantage of their unpreparedness and suddenly launch an attack to seize Hui Mountain?"

"Slap!" A crisp slap landed on Chief of Staff Ōigawa Yōhei's face.

Detachment Commander Chitose Shigetō's anger completely erupted, "Baka!

Do you have any honor as a soldier?

Although Tang Jingzhong is a native, he still knows to die on the road of attack.

You, a disgrace to the Yamato race, the entire regiment's infantry died on the road of charge.

You, as the regimental chief of staff, are still alive.

This is a shameful miracle!

Do you know why for so many years, it has been the natives who have been the regimental commanders, while you, as a member of the Yamato race, can only be the chief of staff?

Because you simply do not have the Bushido spirit of the Yamato race, nor do you have the slightest sense of honor as a soldier!"

Chitose Shigetō forcibly suppressed his anger and did not draw his gun to execute Ōigawa Yōhei on the spot.

Battalion Commander Gorobe Naoiya had originally wanted to speak, but in this situation, who dared!

Not a single person opened their mouth.

Just now, all of them had seen that those who had fallen on the road of attack were all corpses of imperial soldiers.

Chitose Shigetō's remaining anger had not subsided, "A regiment, more than four thousand people, have all died on the road of attack.

Are the defending soldiers on the opposite side afraid of a mere four hundred people suddenly attacking?"

That was the key point!

Battalion Commander Gorobe Naoiya understood.

Chief of Staff Ōigawa Yōhei also understood.

They understood: Perhaps it was not about the honor of soldiers, perhaps it had nothing to do with the Bushido spirit, but simply because the defending soldiers on the opposite side could allow thousands of elite soldiers to fall on the road of attack.

They could also allow a mere four hundred soldiers to fall again.

After venting his anger, Chitose Shigetō finally let out a long breath:

"Tomorrow, no matter what, I will stand in front of the Hui Mountain position.

The same goes for you, you cannot stand there alive.

Let your corpses be like Captain Tang's, your corpses must also stand in front of the position."

After Chitose Shigetō finished speaking, he watched the supply soldiers he had sent out in front of the position light torches and busily lift the soldiers' corpses onto carts.

Cart after cart of corpses were constantly being transported to the rear.

He lifted his foot and headed back to the command post.

Chief of Staff Ōigawa Yōhei's face was already swollen, and he said in a garbled voice:

"The defending soldiers on the opposite side are very accurate! This afternoon, six aircraft guided by the air force were all shot down by them.

The three tanks sent by the general had not even been able to reach the battlefield.

They were blown up by the defending soldiers from a distance."

Detachment Commander Chitose Shigetō pointed to the battle map, "Where are your artillery positions?"

Chief of Staff Ōigawa Yōhei pointed to the map, "Directly in front of the defending soldiers' position, the distance between the two sides is one thousand five hundred meters."

"One thousand five hundred meters? They even dare to rush out and seize the cannons?" Chitose Shigetō muttered to himself.

Battalion Commander Gorobe Naoiya had always been dissatisfied that the native Tang Jingzhong had become the commander of the 1st Regiment.

Now that he knew that he had actually allowed the National Revolutionary Army on the opposite side to rush out one thousand five hundred meters to steal his own cannons,

He simply couldn't believe it was true.

It was just that the detachment commander was in a bad mood today, and Battalion Commander Gorobe Naoiya did not dare to speak.

Afraid of getting beaten!

He just quietly watched Detachment Commander Chitose Shigetō point out the directions on the map.

Hui Mountain had become a demon in the detachment commander's mind, and he was determined to capture this place tomorrow.

In order to achieve his goal, Chitose Shigetō had already ordered all the artillery units of his detachment to concentrate here.

At the same time, he once again requested Commander Yan Junliu to send a heavy artillery unit.

The Japanese 15th Independent Field Heavy Artillery Brigade, Brigade Commander Major General Kamikawauchi Seiro.

This time, the 15th Independent Field Heavy Artillery Brigade acted very quickly. After receiving the order, they immediately began to take action.

Major General Kamikawauchi Seiro led the entire brigade, which had a total of twelve Type 88 150mm cannons.

This type of cannon was produced and manufactured by Japan itself, with a caliber of 149.1 mm, a barrel length of 5,963 mm, a firing line height of 1,415 mm, and a total length of 9,090 mm when firing.

The barrel weighed 3,555 kg, and the entire cannon weighed 10 tons in combat.

The elevation angle was -5 degrees to +43 degrees, and the direction angle was 20 degrees to the left and right.

The firing speed was one round per minute, and the maximum range was 18,500 meters.

The Kamikawauchi Seiro Brigade was also equipped with eighteen Type 38 120mm howitzers.

The caliber of this type of cannon was 120 mm, and the shells weighed a full forty kilograms.

The maximum range was 14,500 meters.

All thirty of these cannons required mechanized transportation to move.

Now, with the order from Commander Yan Junliu, Kamikawauchi Seiro

The 15th Independent Field Heavy Artillery Brigade led by him was deployed overnight.

In the dark night, the entire brigade of more than four thousand Japanese soldiers busily deployed the artillery positions.

All the artillery of the Chitose Shigetō Detachment was also on the road overnight under Chitose Shigetō's strong order.

In any case, all the artillery had to be in place tonight.

Six aircraft had already crashed here, so Chitose Shigetō did not plan to have them guide the battle tomorrow.

This time, he also learned a lesson and ordered his artillery positions to be deployed 5,000 meters away from Hui Mountain.

Throughout the night, the Chitose Shigetō Detachment was busy preparing.

The supply team they sent out to collect the corpses busied themselves until 10:30 in the evening before haphazardly cleaning up.

They didn't know if they had cleared away all the Japanese corpses.

After all, it was dark and they couldn't see.

On this day, November 23, 1937, when Lin Fan led more than a thousand members of the Special Forces Detachment back to the Jiangyin Fortress,

It immediately caused a sensation: first, they had been out for a longer time than usual.

Second, they had been dragging one cannon when they left, and they were dragging four cannons when they returned.

And the twelve military vehicles were piled high with supplies.

The soldiers clearly showed signs of having been in battle.

This time, not only Fortress Commander Xu Kang was alarmed, but even General Liu Xing, the commander-in-chief of the entire Jiangyin defense line, was alarmed.

General Liu Xing rushed to the Special Forces Xiao Mountain Fort with his guard company.

Lin Fan was directing the soldiers to sort the captured supplies.

He had already given Li Xian a death order: Tomorrow, he must sell these captured leather shoes, belts, various protective gear, and the speedboats they had brought back in the past few days.

Regardless of the price!

The thousands of guns captured today must also be sent out through a safe route.

Lin Fan knew that in the time to come, the entire Xicheng Line would immediately disintegrate.

Even Nanjing would be occupied by the Japanese, so being able to send out a batch of these weapons at this time would be like making a profit.

When General Liu Xing arrived, Brigadier General Xu Kang naturally had to accompany him.

Staff Officer He Hesong introduced, "Company Commander Lin, this is General Liu Xing, the commander-in-chief of the Jiangyin defense line."

He then introduced to Commander Liu Xing, "This is Second Lieutenant Lin Fan, the company commander of the Special Company of the 88th Division."

Before coming here, Liu Xing had already learned about the origins of this Company Commander Lin Fan from Xu Kang.

Xu Kang and Sun Yuanliang had argued fiercely over this company, so they had investigated the origins of Lin Fan's company thoroughly.

They all knew that Lin Fan was a self-appointed company commander, and he had named the company himself, which was why it was so out of place.

The initial soldiers of this company were all deserters collected by Lin Fan, and they even knew that Lin Fan had shot two soldiers to establish his authority.

They had all inquired about it clearly.

To collect this information, Chief of Staff Zhang Boting had personally entered the refugee camp "taken in" by the 542nd Regiment.

Many details were learned from those Special Company soldiers who had initially refused to follow Lin Fan.

As for the sudden increase in the company's size to more than a thousand men after Lin Fan's return, they had also specifically inquired about it with Gu Jiaqi, the commander of the 128th Division.

Gu Jiaqi did not hide anything and directly admitted that these soldiers were the remnants of his two regiments, and that these soldiers showed some signs of being red.

This was a red unit!

Because of this, the National Revolutionary Army still only recognized Lin Fan's force of more than a thousand men as a company.

Commander Liu Xing looked at the soldiers of the Special Forces Detachment who were happily carrying the shoes and belts down, and asked in confusion, "How did you get these things?"

Before Lin Fan could reply, a soldier who was happily carrying things laughed and said, "We stripped them off the feet and bodies of the Japanese."

Liu Xing, Xu Kang, and their group of more than a dozen people all turned their gazes to Lin Fan.

Lin Fan, under those gazes, said loudly, "Report, Commander!

We are still very poor, and our people are still poor.

These shoes, clothes, and belts, if sent to the rear, can be washed and dyed and become good things."

Liu Xing pointed to the weapons that the soldiers were carefully carrying and asked, "What about these?"

Lin Fan said solemnly, "The situation in the War of Resistance is grim. If we seize one more gun from the front line, the Japanese will have one less.

We plan to send these guns to the rear, and there will be one more force fighting the Japanese."

Liu Xing smiled, "I heard that you went out for training today?"

"Yes!"

"Don't be so restrained, tell us about the process!"

Lin Fan relaxed, "Today we were just doing routine training, planning to walk from Jiangyin to Wuxi.

To test the team's training ability.

When we reached Hui Mountain, we heard gunfire ahead, and the forward reconnaissance team reported that there were Japanese.

So we rushed up and fought the Japanese.

And picked up these things to bring back."

Liu Xing pointed to the three cannons, "These were also picked up?"

Lin Fan said without changing his expression, "The Japanese bullied our brother units for not having artillery.

They even set up their artillery positions 1,500 meters in front of our defense line.

So I sent out two squads to seize the six cannons from their artillery positions, along with their shells.

The brother units were too poor, they didn't even have cannons, so we left them three Type 92 75mm infantry guns and all the shells.

We also sent them dozens of machine guns.

We brought back the rest of the spoils."

Liu Xing asked calmly, "Why did you suddenly think of training in Wuxi?"

Lin Fan said, "This cannon has a quick movement function. I planned to train well normally, and then launch a surprise attack when the fighting starts, giving the Japanese navy a surprise."

"What do you plan to do?"

"We plan to take advantage of the opportunity to drag this cannon out of the Xiao Mountain position and move forward ten kilometers to catch them off guard," Lin Fan said confidently.

Facing Commander Liu Xing, Lin Fan did not tell him all of his plans.

The officers and soldiers who had come with Liu Xing and Xu Kang looked at the things the soldiers were carrying.

They were all secretly surprised: These shoes, every pair of them, had been taken off the feet of the Japanese.

How many Japanese had they killed?

At least several thousand.

Commander Liu Xing obviously considered things differently, "How were you able to seize these cannons from the enemy's artillery positions?"

Lin Fan explained, "We annihilated the attacking Japanese in front of the position.

We took advantage of the victory and continued to charge towards the Japanese artillery positions.

At the same time, we had our own mortars to stop the Japanese reinforcements.

Of course, the Japanese were unwilling to see their cannons being dragged away by us.

But in the face of the soldiers' brave counterattack and the artillery's accurate bombing.

Those Japanese were never able to break through the temporary defense line we had established.

That's how the cannons were seized.

Then the Japanese went crazy, and they launched a human wave attack on the Hui Mountain position.

Our original mortars, plus the six newly captured cannons, directly annihilated all the attacking Japanese."

Lin Fan spoke plainly, but those who heard him were shocked and speechless.

The Japanese's combat effectiveness was certainly not low.

This force was actually able to charge in and out, their combat effectiveness must be even stronger than the Japanese.

Lin Fan didn't like the cannons he brought back that much. In fact, he liked the three infantry guns he sent out.

Lightweight and easy to carry, that was its biggest advantage.

It was just that Lin Fan knew that Battalion Commander Shi and his men needed them on their defense line even more urgently than he did, so he had gritted his teeth and sent them out.

Now he gritted his teeth again and sent the three cannons he had just dragged back to the two commanders, letting them distribute them themselves.

Commander Liu Xing happily left with the three cannons and all the shells.

Lin Fan also sent out thirty heavy machine guns and one hundred rifles.

There were many different types of cannons on Xu Kang's fort, so he didn't care about such mountain guns.

However, he was very happy to accept the light machine guns that Lin Fan sent over.

Commander Liu Xing was now deployed on the defense line outside Jiangyin, so he naturally needed such cannons and machine guns, and he wouldn't嫌more, the more the better.

After sending away the officers who had come to inspect, the soldiers of the Special Forces Detachment began their routine literacy studies again.

This was something that could not be relaxed: learning was like sailing against the current, if you don't advance, you retreat.

Not only that, but after the literacy studies, the squad leaders of each squad were ordering their men:

"Physical training, no one can be missing!

Sweat more in peacetime, bleed less in wartime!

You have all seen these days that very few people are injured when we fight the Japanese.

This is the result of the sweat you shed every day."

That night, nothing happened to the Special Forces Detachment!

On the morning of the 24th, the soldiers of Battalion Commander Shi's battalion pointed to a black dot in the distant sky, "What is that?"