Chinese martial arts! Grandmaster

Chen Jie, along with Miao Feng and Yan San, headed to the 'Southern Trading Company' in Songjiang Prefecture.

Unexpectedly, I came up empty-handed.

Shinobu Nakajima was not at the 'Southern Trading Company', and all the Black Dragon Society intelligence agents who had infiltrated the 'Southern Trading Company' had been withdrawn.

Chen Jie quickly mobilized the troops stationed at Ximentang to block all the city gates of Songjiang Prefecture.

but,

After all, it was still a step too late.

Shinobu Nakajima seemed to have been prepared and made a hasty escape.

Chen Jie looked at the empty 'Southern Trading Company', his gaze becoming serious.

She escaped this time, but it will be much more difficult to catch her next time.

This woman is too shrewd. Although Chen Jie's martial arts skills are enough to overwhelm her, she poses a greater threat to Ximentang than Yokoyama Sora and Nanzo Mitsuko.

The Black Dragon Society's Daqian branch had already fallen apart after Hengshan Kong was killed by Chen Jie.

but,

After Shinobu Nakajima took control of the Black Dragon Society's Daqian branch, the Black Dragon Society quickly broke into smaller units and infiltrated various parts of the Ximen Hall.

The Ximen Tang undercover team has been investigating for a long time, and so far they have only discovered the 'Southern Trading Company' stronghold in Songjiang Prefecture.

Chen Jie believed that the Black Dragon Society had hidden strongholds in other places, including Nanjing, Tianjin, and Beijing.

While Chen Jie was in Songjiang Prefecture, the battle in Hanzhong and Ezhou became increasingly fierce.

The two sides have been fighting fiercely for a day.

On the city wall of Ezhou, Ozawa Kaiki, the commander of the Japanese Allied Forces, was extremely anxious.

Looking at the two trench defense lines below the city wall that had long been destroyed by bombs, he wondered if he should abandon the defenses outside the city and withdraw all the troops back into the city.

Judging from the current battle situation, the defensive fortifications outside the city have become a meat grinder for the Allied Forces of the East, causing them to waste their manpower.

We definitely can't hold the city. If we don't withdraw our troops and continue fighting like this, the troops on both lines of defense outside the city will be completely wiped out.

Even if the Sakata River troops responsible for the second trench defense line were completely wiped out, it wouldn't matter.

but,

The main force of the garrison outside the city consisted of twenty heavy machine guns and one hundred Japanese field guns.

These are all important weapons for defending Ezhou Prefecture.

If Ximentang breaches the two lines of defense outside the city and seizes the heavy machine guns and Japanese field artillery, the losses will be enormous.

Ozawa Kaiki observed the battle situation outside the city through his binoculars and finally made up his mind to withdraw all the troops stationed outside the city back to Ezhou City.

Defending within the city walls would certainly result in far fewer casualties than defending outside the city.

but,

Ozawa Kaiki was well aware that withdrawing troops under the cover of Ximentang's cannon fire was an extremely dangerous move.

The defenders of the second moat outside the city were holding on with their previous fervor.

Once an order to withdraw is given, it will be a huge blow to morale.

With morale low, the army would collapse like a house of cards, and it was very likely that Ezhou would fall and the entire front would crumble.

not to mention,
The south gate of Ezhou City has been sealed off, leaving only a small gate for soldiers to enter and exit.

If the tens of thousands of troops stationed outside the city were to retreat back into the city through the small gate, it would take at least an hour.

therefore,

Even if we retreat, we must ensure that the suicide squad holds off Ximentang's attack so that the main force stationed outside the city can enter.

The most urgent task is to withdraw.

Otherwise, if the garrison outside the city is defeated, the morale of the troops inside the city will also easily collapse.

Next,
Ozawa Kaiki made a decisive deployment, ordering his subordinate Colonel Kobayashi Tadakatsu to lead a thousand elite troops out of the city to provide support and withstand the attack from Ximentang, allowing the main force stationed in the moat defense line outside the city to withdraw back into Ezhou City.

have to say,

Ozawa Kaiki has extensive experience in leading troops in combat and is very decisive.

At this point, abandoning the defensive positions outside the city and concentrating forces inside would be most advantageous for the Allied Forces of the East.

However, despite Ozawa Kaiki's excellent tactical arrangements.

The final result was beyond his expectations; the problem lay with Sakatagawa.

Sakata River was a notorious opportunist on the battlefield.

He was very different from other Japanese soldiers.

He was not a top student who graduated from the Japanese Army Academy, nor did he obtain his current status through connections.

have to say,

His opportunistic style had been invincible on the battlefield in the past, earning him numerous military achievements.

He was more courageous than anyone else in any battle he could win.

but,

If the situation turns unfavorable, he runs faster than anyone else.

There was never any concept of Bushido in his mind.

He was already quite unhappy when Ozawa Kaiki ordered him to leave the city and guard the second line of defense.

The defenses are now completely indefensible, and the city gates of Ezhou are sealed off, with only a small gate for entry and exit.

Simultaneously,

With the warlord behind him on high alert, he could only lead his troops and grit his teeth to hold on.

However, although Sakatagawa likes to speculate, his judgment of the battle situation is very accurate.

He figured that Ozawa Kaiki definitely wouldn't keep the main defensive force outside the city to hold off Ximentang's cannons.

The troops stationed outside the city were equipped with Japanese field artillery and heavy machine guns, as well as several thousand elite soldiers.

but,

After the city gates were sealed off, there was only one small gate left, and the firepower from the West Gate was becoming increasingly fierce.

If they were to retreat in the end, more than a third of their elite troops would certainly be unable to retreat into Ezhou City.

Once the small gate next to the city gate is completely blocked, all the guards outside the city will have no choice but to surrender.

Sakatagawa observed the situation through his binoculars, thinking that he absolutely could not be the last one to fall during the retreat.

therefore,

He ordered his troops to put up a fierce resistance while moving toward the city gate.

Once the small door next to him opens, he will lead his personal guards to retreat back to the city first.

Save your life first!
really,

Just as Sakata River and his personal guards arrived at the city gate, the drawbridge was lowered and the small gate opened.

Hula——!
Sakatagawa saw such a good opportunity, how could he possibly miss it?

He led his elite troops and was the first to head towards Ezhou City.

He was surrounded by more than two hundred elite guards who protected him as he retreated inside.

Just then, Colonel Tadakatsu Kobayashi, who had just received orders from Ozawa Kaiki, led a thousand elite troops out of the city to block Ximen Tang's attack.
Unexpectedly, the two Japanese armies met at the city gate drawbridge.

Although Kobayashi Tadakatsu's forces numbered only one thousand, the suspension bridge was only this large.

Both sides went in and out, neither giving way, and the two sides ended up blocking each other.

The elite troops under Kobayashi Tadakatsu were originally intended to leave the city to meet and cover the retreat of the main force outside the city.

but,

Sakata River surprisingly led his elite troops in a retreat, blocking the path to the suspension bridge.

If it's just routine troop movements, it won't have much of an impact. Both sides can back down and adjust the order of entry and exit, and the problem can be resolved quickly.

but,

Now that the drawbridge has just been lowered, as Sakata River and his men climbed onto it, all the soldiers stationed at the second line of defense outside the city realized that they could retreat back into the city.

With Ximentang's firepower growing stronger, who would want to continue waiting to die outside the city?

therefore,

All the Allied soldiers in the fortifications outside the city retreated to the drawbridge into Ezhou city.

In an instant, the south gate drawbridge of the entire city of Ezhou was completely blocked.

Kobayashi Tadakatsu, leading a thousand elite troops, was trapped at the suspension bridge and unable to get out.

Ozawa Kaiki, who was directing the retreat from the city wall, was furious when he saw this scene.

Originally, if Kobayashi Tadakatsu had gone out of the city to provide support, most of the main force of the defending troops on the outer defense line could have retreated back to the city.

The plan was flawless, absolutely perfect.

Unexpectedly, Sakata River's actions have thrown everything into chaos.

However, there was no better way at the moment, so he could only order Kobayashi Tadakatsu to step back and let Sakatagawa lead his men into the city first.

Then,

Ozawa Kaiki ordered the supervisory team to capture Sakata River and bring him to court-martial.

Upon receiving the order, Kobayashi Tadakatsu's men retreated, while Sakata Gawa led over two hundred elite guards and was the first to enter Ezhou City.

He finally breathed a sigh of relief and was very happy.

Unexpectedly, this speculation went very smoothly.

Fortunately, I had made preparations in advance and entered the city first when the drawbridge lowered. Otherwise, once the area outside the city was in complete chaos, it would have been very difficult to enter the city again.

The guards who followed Sakata River into the city were secretly relieved.

There was no other way; the shells from Ximentang were too terrifying. Every minute we stayed outside the city was an increase in danger.

but,

Just as Sakata River led his troops into Ezhou City, an unexpected team of supervisors arrived.

Without any unnecessary words, they took down Sakata River directly.

The supervisory team was acting under orders and had an arrest warrant.

therefore,

Sakata Gawa's personal guards dared not make any rash moves and could only watch helplessly as Sakata Gawa was taken away by the supervisory team, bound hand and foot.

"broken--!"

Sakata Kawai was so anxious that cold sweat poured down his forehead.

Being arrested by the supervisory team at this point is definitely on Ozawa Kaiki's orders, and the chances of survival are slim.

this moment,
Sakata River felt a pang of regret; he should have known that Ozawa Kaiki would order the supervisory team to deal with him.

Then,

Within the city's outer moat defenses, they should surrender directly to Ximentang.

Habit is second nature.

Even at this point, Sakatagawa was still thinking about speculative ventures.

Although Sakatagawa has been arrested, the current situation cannot be changed by the internal chaos within the Eastern Allied Forces.

Previously, due to Ozawa Kaiki's strict orders to hold the city at all costs, the garrison outside the city had no way to retreat and had to fight desperately.

Now the small gate of Ezhou city is open, and the drawbridge is lowered.

The garrison outside the city finally saw a glimmer of hope and naturally did not want to continue fighting to the death with Ximentang.

Their fighting spirit vanished instantly; no one wanted to just go and die.

then,

All the garrison troops outside the city began to retreat into Ezhou City.

No one wanted to continue fighting Simon.

For a while,
The entire defense line outside the city was in complete chaos. All the Japanese Allied Forces were retreating desperately, squeezing into the city, afraid of being left behind.

The scene that Ozawa Kaiki feared has finally come to pass.

The elite troops of Ximentang, who were attacking from outside the city, saw that the defense line of the Japanese Allied Forces was in complete chaos. How could they miss the opportunity to strike a fallen enemy?

Da da—da da—!
Next,
Lin Song led the elite Ximentang Special Operations Regiment in a fierce attack towards the south gate of Ezhou City.

Heavy machine guns, artillery, assault rifles, and hand grenades all opened fire.

At this time, the Japanese army was so crowded at the drawbridge where they were retreating that it was completely blocked by water.

Therefore,
At this moment, Ximentang's crossfire unleashed its greatest power.

The heavy machine gun fire resulted in an almost absolute crushing defeat.

The grenade exploded at that moment, sending flesh and blood flying everywhere after it was thrown.

Despite the Japanese troops stationed outside the city desperately crowding towards the gates of Ezhou.

However, under the intense firepower of Ximentang, the casualties were heavy.

In less than a few minutes, the elite special forces of the Ximentang Special Operations Regiment gradually advanced to within fifty meters of the south gate of Ezhou.

When Ozawa Kaiki, who was directing operations from the city wall, saw this, he was extremely anxious.

this moment,
He knew it was too late to get the main force stationed outside the city to retreat back to Ezhou.

If the drawbridge isn't taken down soon, Ximentang might just storm into Ezhou City.

therefore,

Ozawa Kaiki quickly ordered the drawbridge to be lowered, and at the same time ordered the cannons and heavy machine guns on the city wall to open fire at full speed to prevent the Ximentang army from approaching the city wall.

But the suspension bridge was full of people, so how could it possibly be raised?

When Ozawa Kaiki saw that Ximentang's elite troops had already occupied the second line of defense in the moat outside the city, he knew that the situation was critical.

We can't delay any longer; the drawbridge must be raised.

then,

He decisively ordered a fierce barrage of fire at the troops on the suspension bridge.

Whether it was the Japanese army, the army under Hong Chaoge, or the local militia.

At this moment, they all became the warlord's targets. He was determined to drive everyone off the drawbridge and raise it.

Next, the sound of heavy machine guns rang out.

Bullets flew everywhere as a fierce barrage of fire was launched at the suspension bridge.

The city's garrison troops who had stepped onto the drawbridge had to retreat and give up their place.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Ozawa Kaiki had the suspension bridge raised.

When the drawbridge was raised, the Japanese allied forces inside Ezhou City were completely cut off from the troops stationed outside the city.

The elite special forces of the Ximentang Special Operations Regiment stopped fifty meters away from the suspension bridge.

Lin Song was worried that the Japanese troops stationed outside the city who had not yet entered the city might become desperate and act rashly, so he dared not let the two sides get too close, and at the same time, he also avoided engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the other side.

Many Japanese soldiers below the drawbridge cursed at the guards on the city wall, demanding that they open the city gate and lower the drawbridge again.

in fact,

Ozawa Kaiki was also unwilling to let these Japanese troops outside the city die.

However, from his position on the city wall, he had a very clear view of the surrounding situation.

Ximentang's army had already occupied the two trench defense lines outside the south gate of Ezhou City and stopped fifty meters away.

Simultaneously,

The reinforcements from Ximentang arrived outside the city gates in a steady stream and began to set up artillery formations.

Boom, boom, boom—!
The suspension bridge was constantly under artillery fire.

Ozawa Kaiki dared not open the city gates at this moment. He could only use flag signals to order the defenders outside the city to push the Ximen Hall army back to the second line of defense, and then lower the drawbridge again so that everyone could retreat back into the city.

Although the idea was good, Ximen Tang's army was already at the city gates. Who would dare to fight Ximen Tang head-on?
Without the protection of trench fortifications, no Japanese army could retaliate against the overwhelming firepower of Ximentang.

Although Ximentang had already stopped fifty meters away, he did not aggressively rush forward.

but,

The soldiers of the Eastern Allied Army disobeyed Ozawa Kaiki's orders and instead gathered around the drawbridge, waiting for the city gates to be reopened.

Some of the more hot-tempered Japanese soldiers even started hurling insults at their commanders on the city walls.

They were soldiers of the East, the glory of the empire.

They could even pledge allegiance to the Emperor and sacrifice their own lives.

But how could these commanders abandon themselves at this time?

Many Japanese soldiers simply jumped into the moat and swam to the other side.

Even though there were many iron spikes in the moat, they were fearless and only thought about returning to the city as soon as possible.

Ozawa Kaiju, standing on the city wall, was now completely enraged.

He ordered the supervising troops to open fire, hoping to force the city's outposts to fight against Ximentang.

of course,

To prevent the Ximentang army from approaching the city gate, the Japanese Allied Forces' artillery and heavy machine guns opened fire on the Ximentang army.

At this time,

Ximentang occupied the moat defenses outside the two city gates and launched an attack on the city.

The artillery battalion quickly arrived and opened fire at full capacity, bombarding the south gate of Ezhou City.

Boom! Boom! Boom!
Once the artillery battalion of Ximentang opened fire, it immediately formed a suppressive fire force, blasting the Japanese Allied Forces on the city wall into a rout.

Artillery and heavy machine guns opened fire fiercely, with shells and bullets raining down on the city walls.

this moment,
Ximentang engaged in battle with the Japanese Allied Forces inside the city, but this caused great suffering to the Japanese garrison troops who were still outside the city and had not yet entered.

They originally numbered over 10,000, but now less than 3,000 remain, falling in droves as they are subjected to crossfire from both sides.

at this time,

On the outer side of the drawbridge and moat, a general under Hong Chaoge pointed at Ozawa Haishu on the city wall and shouted:

"You damn Japanese bastards! I'm fighting a bloody battle outside the city, and you won't let us get back in?"

"You want to use Ximen Tang to wipe out all the old guards of our Imperial Guard?"

"I'm going to make sure you don't get your way today!"

finished,

He shouted at his soldiers, ordering them to throw down their muskets and run toward the defensive line occupied by Ximentang.

As he ran, he raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

Simultaneously,

He shouted, "Don't shoot! We surrender!" (End of Chapter)