Chapter 1 Lin Fan Accepts the Order

Lin Fan, after receiving the order, immediately set out with three infantry regiments, leaving only three anti-aircraft companies and one aviation squadron in Xiangyang.

The three infantry regiments he led this time were still the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Regiments of Ji Wudi's reserve force. Of the ten reserve regiments in total, only the Ninth and Tenth Regiments remained in Jurong.

The marching route of the three regiments was decided on the spur of the moment.

After Lin Fan arrived in Xiangyang with his troops, the area was swarming with the various warlord forces under the Fifth War Area.

The reconnaissance teams sent out by the Special Forces Brigade were constantly being stopped by sentries and blockades from various units.

After this happened repeatedly, the Fifth War Area issued an order: without orders, no unit was allowed to conduct reconnaissance activities across regions.

This was, in effect, a ban targeting the Special Forces Brigade, as only they had this habit.

Upon arriving at a new location, they would immediately familiarize themselves with the surrounding terrain, mountains, and rivers.

It was precisely because of that ban that Lin Fan now only knew that Xiangyang was a hundred *li* from Xinye, and that the marching route was issued by the Fifth War Area's staff department.

The guide was also sent by the Fifth War Area. There was one good thing about the current situation: the Japanese troops were beating the Nationalists into a collapse.

In many places, the Nationalist troops had already retreated, and the Special Forces Brigade could once again send out reconnaissance teams according to their own ideas.

The three infantry regiments sent out dozens of reconnaissance teams, which spread out ahead to report the situation to the main force.

On the first day, the Special Forces Brigade marched more than fifty kilometers at top speed. The three infantry regiments arrived at Xinye, which by this time had been occupied by the 18th Regiment of the 29th Infantry Brigade of the Japanese 3rd Division.

Regimental Commander Ishii Kahosaku had only occupied Xinye on May 10th. He left the Hino Haruo Battalion to garrison the area, while he led the main force onward.

According to Lin Fan's plan for the Special Forces Brigade, the Japanese were now divided into two attacking routes, south and north.

The spearhead of the southern route attack was already at Xinye. Lin Fan wanted to block the Japanese spearhead at Xinye first, preventing it from advancing further.

The Fifth War Area's staff department received this battle plan and immediately approved it. Li Zhongren felt somewhat indebted to this unit and specifically called Lin Fan to tell him:

"This time, you are going without reinforcements or cooperation. You are fighting alone.

If you can wait three days, I can mobilize three divisions to cooperate with you in three days."

It wasn't that the Fifth War Area didn't have troops, but the units for coordinated operations were still in the rear and couldn't be deployed in time.

If Lin Fan could wait for three days, there would be units to cooperate with the operation.

Three days? How far would the Japanese vanguard advance in three days!

Lin Fan couldn't wait when it came to fighting the Japanese. He reported to Li Zhongren on the phone, "The enemy won't give us time. This time, the Japanese's combat method is very different from the past.

They are implementing a concentrated attack on one point, with rapid breakthroughs. From the beginning of the attack until now, the Japanese's offensive has never stopped.

The Special Forces Brigade is willing to break the Japanese spearhead first!"

Since Lin Fan had stated his position so clearly, Commander Li Zhongren couldn't persuade him any further. In fact, he was also very conflicted in his heart: in the current situation, a unit was indeed needed to block the Japanese vanguard.

Only by stopping the momentum of the Japanese offensive could the Fifth War Area's units gradually strengthen the rear defense line and establish new defensive positions.

As the three infantry regiments of the Special Forces Brigade advanced towards Xinye, they constantly saw retreating soldiers of the Fifth War Area along the way.

When these retreating soldiers saw the Special Forces Brigade, a unit with distinctly different weapons, equipment, and morale, advancing against the tide, many Nationalist soldiers told them:

Xinye ahead has already fallen. The main force is retreating. You should turn around and go back quickly!

"We're going to fight the Japanese!"

"We're also fighting the Japanese, but we got beaten by the Japanese." The retreating soldiers felt that the statement made it sound like they weren't going to fight the Japanese as well.

The Special Forces Brigade arrived at Yueying, outside Xinye City, at five o'clock in the afternoon after a forced march.

Lin Fan ordered the troops to rest for fifteen minutes, with the Seventh Regiment going to Wutuan, the Eighth Regiment to Liuying Village, and the Sixth Regiment staying at Yueying. At 5:40, the three regiments would simultaneously begin artillery preparation for Xinye.

At six o'clock in the afternoon, the three infantry regiments simultaneously launched an attack on Xinye.

This time, Lin Fan didn't even leave a reserve team, but he had prepared a backup plan.

Zhu Qingmao, the aviation squadron leader at Xiangyang Airport, had been waiting for orders. The entire aviation squadron, with twelve fighter planes, twelve bombers, and twelve ground-attack aircraft, had been fully fueled and loaded since Lin Fan set out with his troops. Upon receiving Lin Fan's order: planes take off!

Thirty-six planes immediately took off from the airport and soared into the blue sky.

Battalion Commander Hino Haruo had never imagined sitting idly in the city, only for cannonballs to rain down from the sky!

Although they had a bit of difficulty when they occupied Xinye, after they captured it, the main force of the 18th Regiment continued to pursue the retreating Nationalist main force.

Theoretically, no Nationalist troops would dare to counterattack.

"What kind of unit is this?"

The Japanese soldiers of the entire Hino Battalion were mobilized. Two months ago, they had been beaten like stray dogs in Jurong, each praying to survive.

At that time, they were afraid to hear even the sound of gunfire, let alone fight.

After the battle in the Jurong area ended, many new recruits were replenished in the past month. In the recent ten days of fighting against the Fifth War Area, the entire battalion had not only won victories again and again, but also re-established their confidence in victory and the courage to fight.

Now, when these Japanese soldiers heard the sound of cannons, they all entered their combat positions, waiting to welcome the infantry charge that would soon arrive.

Sergeant First Class Kusakawa Yuto said to Sakuragi Eimon, "I bet this attacking unit will retreat by 6:30."

"They're starting artillery preparation now, it will take at least a quarter of an hour to bomb. Can their infantry hold out for half an hour?

Impossible! This unit must have just arrived in Xinye and doesn't know how powerful we are."

Sakuragi Eimon agreed, "That makes sense. We didn't spot this unit in the morning, which means they just arrived here.

Such exhausted troops, so eager for quick success, will definitely retreat quickly."

The two Japanese junior soldiers were happily discussing the fate of the unit attacking Xinye today amidst the booming sound of cannons.

It wasn't that they were arrogant, but they had seen many such scenes in recent days: the Nationalist counterattacks always came with a fierce momentum like a rising tide, and after one wave of charging,

they would retreat in a panic like a receding tide, leaving behind a scene of chaos.

The situation was a little different today. Before the artillery bombardment had ended, a group of warplanes flew in from the horizon.

This excited the Japanese soldiers of the Hino Battalion, "Our warplanes! Our warplanes!"

Battalion Commander Hino Haruo was still depressed, "I haven't even requested guidance from the air squadron, and they've taken the initiative to send planes over?

The air squadron is being too good to me this time!"

Facing these bombers head-on, Company Commander Nagakubo Isamu felt a sense of powerlessness in his heart. He didn't even issue an order to take cover.

Such an order was unnecessary. The Japanese soldiers under him had long been well hidden, just waiting for the bombing to end so they could begin their performance.

Battalion Commander Hino Haruo was also an understanding man. He knew what these newly arrived planes overhead meant.

Although he didn't understand why this unit suddenly appeared on the battlefield after ten days of fighting,

his position was higher, and he knew that if the Nationalists hadn't stabbed the Special Forces Brigade in the back during the Battle of Jurong, the 3rd Division wouldn't have been able to retreat from the battlefield so easily at that time.

The Special Forces Brigade, which had been stabbed in the back by the Nationalists, had reappeared in front of him. This was not a good sign.

Before the infantry charge had even begun, Battalion Commander Hino Haruo had already sent out a request for reinforcements.

He sent this telegram to Regimental Commander Ishii Kahosaku, "My battalion is under attack by the Special Forces Brigade's air squadron in Xinye! Please provide immediate support!"

Regimental Commander Ishii Kahosaku was so shocked when he received the telegram that his hand trembled.

His entire regiment had already captured Tanghe and was resting at this time.

Upon receiving this telegram, he could no longer allow the regiment to rest in Tanghe. He immediately reported to Division Commander Yamawaki Masataka that Xinye had been attacked by the Special Forces Brigade.

As expected, Division Commander Yamawaki Masataka's order was, "Ishii Kahosaku Regiment, immediately return to Xinye."

Captain Lei Wenshan led the bomber squadron and had already bombed the Hino Haruo Battalion's defenses three times. At this time, the Sixth Regiment had already charged up.

Company Commander Kubota Isamu braved the artillery bombardment and saw that the attacking infantry had finally begun their charge. He immediately began to order, "Machine guns! Machine gun fire!"

His company's defenses were left behind by the Nationalist troops. This kind of specially prepared defense line had an open area in front of the trenches.

All the bushes and trees in this open area had been cleared, making it completely unsuitable for attack.

Now, seeing the attacking troops charging into this open area, Company Commander Kubota Isamu immediately ordered the machine guns to fire.

Looking at the densely packed crowd rushing up in front, the effect of machine gun fire was, of course, very good.

"Da da da! Da da da!" The sound of machine gun fire rang out!

As soon as the bombers left, Feng Wencheng led the ground-attack aircraft and began the planned strafing.

Each ground-attack aircraft's four machine guns swept along the Japanese defenses all the way.

The Japanese soldiers of Kubota Isamu's company, who had just opened fire, were immediately shot to pieces.

Just as he issued the order, Sakuragi Eimon and Shimozumi Yuto were carrying it out. Before the machine gun could even start firing, the machine gun fire from the air arrived.

Sakuragi Eimon instinctively lay prone on the ground, narrowly avoiding this round of strafing. Shimozumi Yuto was not so lucky. He had been hit and fell to the ground, groaning loudly.

He called out, "Sakuragi-san! Save me!" Sakuragi Eimon frantically took out a bandage and wrapped it around the wound on Shimozumi Yuto's chest.

The roar of Squad Leader Shizueya Taro came, "Machine guns! Machine guns! Quick!"

He couldn't help but be anxious: the charging troops had already rushed to within about 150 meters of the defensive line.

If they didn't launch a strong counterattack, those soldiers would rush into the defensive line.

Looking at the densely packed crowd in front, if it really came to close-quarters combat, his squad would not be a match at all.

Kusakawa Yuto picked up his machine gun and began to fire.

The Sixth Regiment's charge still inherited the Special Forces Brigade's mature combat methods: the way was cleared with carts fitted with heavy machine guns.

The Japanese machine gun bullets hit the shield in front of the cart, making a tinkling sound.

This sound made the soldiers, who were new to the battlefield, very nervous, always afraid that the bullets would pierce the iron plate and hit them in the next moment.

Company Commander Feng Maoxun of the First Company charged at the front of the troops, encouraging loudly, "Don't be afraid! The Japanese bullets can't pierce this shield.

Heavy machine guns, suppress the Japanese fire. Keep pushing the cart forward. Keep pushing forward.

The Japanese have already cleared the way for us. This flat open ground is perfect for our carts to go up."

Fang Tangjing, who was pushing the cart, felt his hands trembling. Squad Leader Wei Yongnian at the other end sensed his nervousness.

He also spoke up, "Don't pay attention to the Japanese bullets. They're already anxious.

They've fired so many bullets at our cart, but we're still moving forward. The Japanese are the ones who are anxious at this point, not us.

Our carts can move forward, but their trenches can't move backward!"

What he said made sense, of course. Hearing the squad leader say this, Fang Tangjing gradually felt less nervous.

His hands stopped trembling, he felt strength in his legs, and the speed of pushing the cart also increased.

In fact, although the distance they charged was more than 300 meters, in the initial stage, the Japanese were strafed by ground-attack aircraft, and they had no chance to fire their guns at all.

Now, they had just fired for less than three minutes when they were suppressed by the heavy machine guns that had rushed up.

Then, the next round of strafing from the ground-attack aircraft arrived again.

Sakuragi Eimon hastily bandaged Shimozumi Yuto and quickly became Kusakawa Yuto's assistant gunner. The two Japanese soldiers cooperated in sweeping the charging troops.

They didn't expect that the cart at the front was invulnerable. It kept moving forward and was already 30 meters in front of the defensive line.

Next, it was the First Platoon's turn to perform. Platoon Leader Shen Han ordered, "Grenades! Throw!"

The soldiers who had been squeezed behind the heavy machine guns immediately threw out their grenades upon hearing the order.

The sounds of "Boom! Boom!" explosions were incessant.

After throwing two rounds of grenades, Platoon Leader Shen ordered, "Charge!"

At a distance of thirty meters, taking advantage of the Japanese's momentary confusion after the grenade explosions, the First Platoon immediately moved forward.

Company Commander Feng Maoxun also led his troops forward, rushing into the Japanese defenses in one fell swoop.

Company Commander Kubota Isamu had never imagined that his defensive line would be breached so quickly. He loudly ordered the Japanese soldiers to rush up and kill these Nationalist soldiers who had rushed onto the defensive line.

Squad Leader Shizueya Taro was already waving his command刀 at this time, lunging towards Lu Bohong, who had just rushed up.

Lu Bohong, as a new soldier who was on the battlefield for the first time, was still a little scared.

Although his submachine gun was already fitted with a bayonet, he first fired a burst of fire: da da! Da da da!

Five bullets were fired, and Squad Leader Shizueya Taro, who was waving his command刀 and charging forward quickly, stopped his charge.

His body swayed a few times, but he stubbornly managed to steady himself without falling.

Lu Bohong, however, did not hesitate. He saw that this Japanese soldier was already injured, and this was a good opportunity.

Taking several large strides forward in quick succession, he thrust the bayonet in his hand forward, shouting, "Kill!"

Squad Leader Shizueya Taro watched helplessly as the soldier in front of him thrust his bayonet towards him quickly.

He tried hard to wave his command刀 in an attempt to intercept it.

His injured body was no longer so obedient. Squad Leader Shizueya Taro watched as this fair-faced youth stabbed the bayonet into his chest.

The dissatisfaction and unwillingness in his heart erupted at this moment, and he shouted, "Ah!"

As this sound still echoed on the battlefield, Lu Bohong had already withdrawn his bayonet and then quickly thrust it in again.

Squad Leader Shizueya Taro, who was already injured, could no longer support himself. His legs weakened, and he knelt down in that position.

As Lu Bohong's bayonet was pulled out, he also fell forward, face down, and never moved again.

Having personally stabbed a Japanese soldier to death, Lu Bohong was much more mature and immediately rushed towards the next Japanese soldier.

He had now passed the battlefield adaptation period. Yamabao Sugimura heard Squad Leader Shizueya Taro's shout.

The ground-attack aircraft in the air, seeing that the first line of the Japanese defenses had already been breached here, did not stop and continued to strafe around Xinye.

The entire Japanese force in Xinye was the target of attack. These Japanese soldiers were now beginning to collapse!

Battalion Commander Hino Haruo sent another telegram to the regimental commander, "The Nationalist troops have captured the first line of defense. The brave soldiers have suffered heavy casualties and are unable to continue defending Xinye."

The purpose of the Japanese attack this time was not to occupy towns.

Regimental Commander Ishii Kahosaku immediately ordered, "Hino Battalion, withdraw from Xinye and retreat towards Nanyang!"

Battalion Commander Hino Haruo immediately ordered, "Retreat!"