Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 200 Recapture of Dingxiang
The fighting on the front lines continues.

After receiving permission from the general command to fire, the First Column, which had been holding back for a long time, launched another attack. The soldiers mustered all their strength and fired 75mm high-explosive shells like they were free.

In an instant, the low city wall bricks and tiles flew up, dust rose everywhere, and the Japanese soldiers were blown into the air.

Due to the long range of the artillery, the only one that could be put to use was the Shanxi-made 122mm howitzer.

But its power was considerable; a single high-explosive shell blasted a large breach in the city wall.

Zhang Hu handed over command to Deputy Commander Wu Guangsheng, and led several guards to the front line, seizing the opportunity:
"Brothers! Charge!"

"Kill the Japanese devils and avenge our fallen fathers and sisters!"

The first battalion was the first to rush out.

The second and third battalions were not to be outdone and followed closely behind.

The roar of artillery fire completely drowned out the soldiers' shouts as they charged forward, but this did not affect their morale.

On the contrary, it will boost the soldiers' confidence.

These cannon shots were fired from our own side. One more round of bombardment would eliminate at least a hundred or two hundred Japanese soldiers. A few more rounds would blow all those damned little devils into the sky.

"Da da da--!"

While the artillery barrage was in full swing, the heavy machine gun team behind them was not to be outdone. The machine gunners abandoned burst fire and pulled the triggers, continuously sweeping the city walls.

The Japanese soldiers who survived the shelling, as soon as they peeked out to observe the situation below, were riddled with bullets before they could even get a clear look.

"Load! Hurry, hurry, hurry!"

The machine gunner turned around and shouted, "The 150-round ammunition belt in front of us is about to be emptied!"

Such dense barrage could only be achieved by the domestically produced Changzhi Type 1938 heavy machine gun. If it were the Japanese Type 92 heavy machine gun, it would probably empty 20 rounds in just two or three seconds.

It's simply impossible to maintain sustained firepower.

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July 30, 12:10 AM.

Wang Feng rode a white horse past the ruins of the city wall.

After entering the city, soldiers lined both sides of the road in neat rows. As soon as they heard the sound of horses' hooves, they straightened their backs and looked straight ahead.

A gentle breeze swept by, causing the red flag to flutter and stirring up dust and the stench of blood in the air.

As soon as Wang Fenggang passed through the city gate, what came into view were the corpses of ordinary people on both sides of the road.

Zhang Hu strode over and snapped to attention: "Reporting, sir! My unit has wiped out the Japanese troops in the city!"

The sound was deafening, not only for Wang Feng to hear, but also for the people secretly watching from afar.

Wang Feng nodded: "Yes, compile a list of the names and household registrations of these sacrificed people, and make sure they are properly buried. You will personally supervise this matter. I will only give you half a day!"

Zhang Hu saluted:

"Yes!"

Wang Feng added, "Also, see if there are any craftsmen in the city who can place a stele here."

Zhang Hu responded.

After giving these instructions, Wang Feng raised his head. Without him saying anything, he only needed to slightly shake the reins, and the white horse, as if it had a spirit, slowly walked towards the city with small, quick steps.

Behind them, the main force also began to slowly enter the city.

The further you go, the more people gather on both sides of the road to watch.

But unexpectedly, this time when they entered the city, there was no cheering, singing and dancing, no bustling crowd as in the past. The whole city was unusually quiet. Apart from the sounds of horses' hooves and footsteps, almost no other sounds could be heard.

Wang Feng surveyed his surroundings.

He seemed to see fear on the faces of the people.

"Fang Yuan, have all the Japanese troops in the city been cleared out?"

Wang Feng was somewhat surprised. From an overhead view, there were no more "red dots" in the entire city of Heze, proving that the enemy had been completely wiped out.

Could it be a system bug?

Zhao Fangyuan said in confusion, "They've all been wiped out. Those traitors from the puppet government ran away as soon as the siege started."

Wang Feng frowned: "A traitor?"

Zhao Fangyuan: "It was the puppet troops in the city. After Heze fell, the Ministry of Internal Affairs intelligence team began to collect intelligence. According to them, less than a week after the fall, the North China puppet government intervened in its management. It seems that the Japanese wanted to use this place as an outpost to cross the Yellow River."

Wang Feng: "I remember there were only two companies in the city. With such a shortage of troops, how could the Japanese army allow the puppet troops to desert in the face of battle?"

Zhao Fangyuan: "Perhaps they want to go out and deliver a message."

Wang Feng frowned, sensing that this matter was not simple.

Zhao Fangyuan was also puzzled: "Perhaps it's a mutiny. The main force of the Japanese army is eager to defend the city and may not be able to spare the time to suppress the puppet troops who have retreated without authorization."

"Anyway, there will be no way to prove it in the end. After the puppet troops escape back, they can explain themselves no matter what."

"They're like reeds in the wind, easily swayed; they're all cowards who cling to life. How could they possibly risk their lives for the Japanese?"

Wang Feng: "Are these puppet troops recruited from the city's residents?"

Zhao Fangyuan shook his head: "It doesn't seem so at the moment. The initial puppet troops were all transferred from Beijing and Tianjin, but a group was also recruited in the city. They were disbanded before the training was even finished."

Wang Feng nodded absentmindedly, then immediately switched the perspective to an overhead view.

As Zhao Fangyuan said, a dense row of "red dots" is moving rapidly northward, about five or six kilometers north of Heze City. Let's switch back to reality.

Wang Feng looked around again. The puppet troops had all run away. So what were the people in the city afraid of?
Could it be that you're afraid of me?

They were still afraid that the army was only temporarily using Heze as a transit point and would not occupy it for long, and that the Japanese army would still make a comeback. They were afraid that because of their current performance, they would suffer a terrible reckoning later.
Zhao Fangyuan: "Sir, should we tell the people? After the Japanese army occupied this place, they are said to have committed many inhumane acts. Even the puppet troops are riding roughshod over the people."

Wang Feng sighed: "It's no use. The war has already hurt the people enough. No one will believe you just by talking."

"Fang Yuan, if you want to gain the trust of the people, you can't just rely on words. No matter what you say, you must eventually put it into action."

Zhao Fangyuan nodded: "Yes, thank you for your guidance, sir!"

Wang Feng: "Lead the troops to the barracks, let them rest briefly for one night, and head to Puyang tomorrow!"

Heze used to have a division of troops stationed there, so there was a place to set up camp and they didn't have to sleep on the streets.

Zhao Fangyuan responded.

Wang Feng: "Notify everyone not to disturb the people in the city. Tell the Ministry of Internal Affairs to investigate this matter thoroughly. Anyone found to be in violation will be dealt with severely!"

Zhao Fangyuan saluted: "Yes!"

The large contingent snaked its way into the city, forming a long line, their footsteps echoing in unison, as if they came from a single voice.

"Tattoo!"

The clatter of hooves was loud and clear. Although there was no cheering, in order to cultivate a good image in the hearts of the people, Wang Feng still stood tall and looked around.

His gaze swept across the faces of every ordinary person.

Sometimes confidence arises inexplicably.

On the eve of the Battle of Xuzhou, in order to stabilize public morale, Li Zongren would ride his horse around the bustling city every day, no matter how busy he was with military affairs, to create the impression that he was still confident even with the Japanese army pressing in.

This proved to be very effective.

After a week, the restless public sentiment in Xuzhou was successfully calmed down.

This act was captured by media reporters and quickly published in major newspapers, spreading rapidly throughout major cities in the Fifth War Zone.

Soon, the people and the army of the Fifth War Zone united as one, and at the social level, the tone of the military and civilians working together to overcome the national crisis was quickly established.

This indirectly contributed to the victories in the subsequent battles.

A woman ran out from the crowd, blocked Wang Feng's path, and knelt down on the ground with a thud: "Lord Wang, please save my daughter!"

I'm begging you!

One person took the lead, and immediately several more people, men and women, emerged, including an elderly man who was over seventy years old.

They all knelt on the ground as well.

"Sir, please!"

"My daughter has been kidnapped by the Japanese, and we don't know if she's alive or dead!"

"grown ups."

Wang Feng frowned, temporarily ignoring the strange title "Sir," and turned to Zhao Fangyuan: "What's going on?"

The abduction of women appears to be an isolated incident.

Zhao Fangyuan's expression was grave, and he said in a deep voice, "Sir, I'll go check it out!"

Wang Feng jumped off his horse and strode to the people: "Get up, get up. This is the Republic of China, not a feudal society. You don't need to call me sir."

"Come on, get up and talk to me first."

As he spoke, Wang Feng reached out to help them up.

The first woman to emerge, tears welling in her eyes, said, "That soldier..."

Wang Feng smiled and said, "Just call me Commander."

The woman wiped away her tears and sobbed twice: "Sir, my name is Yu Xiuzhi. My husband died at the foot of the city wall, and my daughter was kidnapped by Japanese soldiers a few days ago."

The people behind him immediately said:
"My family was the same. The Japanese devils were arresting people on the street, and we didn't dare to leave the house!"

"That's right. It's been eight or nine days already, and I don't know if she's alive or dead. My husband, father, and mother are all gone. If my daughter dies too, how am I supposed to go on living?"

"Don't worry, folks. We represent the government. Now that we've driven out the Japanese devils, we certainly won't stand idly by," Wang Feng quickly said, then looked at the people on both sides of the road. "If anyone else is in this situation, feel free to tell me!"

After saying that, he waved to someone behind him.

Wu Guangsheng ran over quickly.

Before the other party could even stand still, Wang Feng shouted, "Take a few soldiers and wait here for a while. Record all the people who have suffered this at home and who come to us. Make sure there are as many as possible, and don't miss a single word!"

"Go tell Zhao Fangyuan that the troops should not go to the military camp for now, but immediately conduct a city-wide search. Turn the whole city upside down if you have to, find the kidnapped civilians, alive or dead!"

Upon hearing this, all eyes immediately turned to Wang Feng.

Wu Guangsheng snapped to attention and saluted: "Yes, sir!"

Wang Feng turned to look at the people in front of him and said softly, "Don't worry, folks, we will find out the truth soon and give you all an explanation."

"Thank you sir!"

"Sir, please have mercy! I'll kowtow to you again!"

Wang Feng immediately stepped forward to help him up: "This matter...sigh...we're too late."

(End of this chapter)