Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 240 Crossing the Yangtze River
7 month 16 day.

1:30 AM.

Along the Yangtze River.

Countless shells landed on the sandbar in the middle of the river, and the explosions ignited the night sky, sending sand and stones flying everywhere.

The troops stationed on the island were an elite regiment under the 189th Division.

Less than fifteen minutes after landing on the island, before they could even begin to build positions, they were hit by the first wave of artillery fire.

Soldiers who couldn't get out of the way were blown up and thrown about.

Regimental Commander Yu Jingyan was extremely anxious: "Quickly! Organize the troops to take cover!"
"Damn those Japanese devils, they've sent a telegram to the division headquarters: the Japanese have begun their attack!"

Nearby, the communications soldier was scrambling to get things done.

Yu Jingyan looked towards the battlefield ahead.

The scale of the Japanese artillery bombardment was unprecedented. Since the outbreak of the War of Resistance against Japan, he had followed the 84th Army to fight in many places and participated in countless battles, but this was the first time he had directly encountered such fierce artillery fire.

The shelling lasted for about ten minutes.

Yu Jingyan took a breath and stood up, looking disheveled: "Staff Officer Zheng! Staff Officer Zheng!"

"Commander, Staff Officer Zheng has been killed in the bombing!" a young voice called out.

Yu Jingyan's heart tightened; he could tell that the person who said those words was one of his guards.

"Go quickly and gather all the battalion commanders, hurry!"

"Yes!"

The guard ran a few steps forward and suddenly pointed ahead: "Sir, fog has risen on the river!"

Yu Jingyan frowned.

Is fog rising from the river?
how can that be!

Why would fog suddenly rise on the river so late at night?
Yu Jingyan immediately raised her binoculars, and then her expression changed drastically: "That's not fog, it's the Japanese smoke bombs!"

The guard was taken aback: "A smoke grenade?"

Yu Jingyan: "Go quickly, run to inform all battalions to prepare for the blocking battle immediately!"

The guards realized what was happening and took off running frantically towards the front line.

With the staff officer dead, Yu Jingyan spread out a map and began to command the battle alone.

The shelling had just ended, and he didn't yet know the situation of the various battalions at the front.

However, based on the casualty figures reported by the regimental headquarters, the situation in the battalions at the front is probably not satisfactory.

--------

189th Division.

Ling Yaxi, mounted on his horse, brandished his whip and loudly urged his soldiers on:
"Hurry! Let's go!"

On the dirt road.

The soldiers, carrying rifles, trudged forward with difficulty, their feet sinking into the mud. A thin layer of sweat covered their foreheads, and their heavy breathing even drowned out the sound of their footsteps.

Even so, those who fall behind are always a minority.

Ling Yaxi listened to the distant rumble of cannons and felt extremely anxious.

Although no telegram has been received from the advance troops, it can be roughly guessed that the Japanese army's river-crossing offensive has begun.

"Damn those Japanese devils, they really know how to fight!" Ling Yaxi muttered to himself.

Just by listening to the sound of artillery fire, he could tell that the Japanese army had probably mobilized all the heavy firepower of the entire division for this operation.

Otherwise, it would be impossible to bomb to this extent—the sound could be heard from such a distance.

Thinking of this, Ling Yaxi wished he could fly to the front lines immediately, but he was helpless and could only keep urging them:
"Advance quickly! Reach the battlefield within one hour! Five dollars reward for everyone!"

The saying "A generous reward will surely bring forth brave men" was uttered, and the marching speed, which had been gradually decreasing, immediately picked up again.

------

Wang Feng lit a cigarette: "Fang Yuan, order Zhang Hu to have them withdraw."

Zhao Fangyuan: "Now? Didn't we say before that they should hold out for one day before retreating?"

In the smoke-filled command room, Wang Feng smiled bitterly: "It's no use. The Japanese have changed their tactics. If we hold out any longer, we might not be able to withdraw."

From an overhead perspective.

Wang Feng saw the overall deployment of the Sixth Division.

Five minutes ago, the battle to cross the river officially began.

Approximately two battalions of Japanese soldiers, riding in requisitioned ships and various other vessels prepared in advance, rapidly approached the island in the river under the cover of smoke bombs.

Smoke grenades are generally used by the defending side.

Except in very special circumstances, the attacking side will never use it.

However, crossing the river to fight is a special case.

Japanese soldiers floated on the river in boats, with no cover to hide in, making them no different from live targets.

With experienced machine gunners, they could set up heavy machine gun positions on the high ground of the mudflats and stockpile ammunition, and launch a frenzied massacre against the Japanese troops on the river.

Moreover, due to the ripples on the river, the boats rocked back and forth, making it extremely difficult for the Japanese soldiers to fire accurately, even if they wanted to retaliate.

Japanese commanders wouldn't be foolish.

Therefore, using smoke grenades to cover the way forward is almost the best option.

Additionally, fifteen minutes before the start of the Yangtze River Crossing Campaign.

About a regiment of troops was withdrawn from the front lines and, after a short rest, immediately headed to the river crossing point.

It seems they're planning a roundabout strategy, cutting off the retreat routes of Jiangnan (episode 27) and Zhang Hu's forces.

Wang Feng was also unsure whether the 189th Division could withstand the Japanese attack.

Zhao Fangyuan: "Sir, should we also withdraw the troops stationed in Jiangbei from episode 27?"

Wang Feng: "Okay!"

The troop redeployment in the rear is nearing completion, and there is no longer any need to hold the Anqing defense line. They should withdraw as soon as possible and prepare for the defense of the Madang area.

Zhao Fangyuan saluted: "Yes!"

After saying that, he immediately turned around and hurriedly walked outside.

Inside the command post.

Wang Feng lit another cigarette, but even so, he couldn't stop yawning.

Count the days.

I feel like I haven't slept for three days.

"Retreating to Jiangnan won't be so easy," Wang Feng muttered to himself, his brow furrowed as he focused on the view interface.

The current situation is not optimistic.

In this operation, the Japanese army deployed all its naval and land forces. If naval aviation is also included, then all three main branches of the military were mobilized.

Whether it was Zhang Hu's troops on the Qianshan defense line or some of the troops from the 27th Division in Jiangbei, crossing the Yangtze River and successfully reaching the south bank was no easy task.

To think that it could be accomplished overnight is nothing short of a pipe dream.

But when daytime came...

If the retreat is discovered by the Japanese army, the Japanese navy will likely send surface ships to intercept it.

In the bombings of the past few days, the Toba, a ship under the Third Fleet of the Navy, sank and the Atake caught fire.

Currently, in the Anqing area, the only inland river gunboats still capable of fighting are the "Sumida" and other small vessels.

And what about our side?
There was absolutely no naval support. Control of the river was in the hands of the Japanese army from beginning to end.

Wang Feng sighed, "We need a blocking force."

------

The battle on the river lasted all night.

Aside from eating, Wang Feng devoted almost all his energy to the bird's-eye view.

As the battle intensified, the 6th Division no longer concealed its true intentions and continued to reinforce the crossing battlefield. By dawn, approximately a brigade's worth of troops had been mobilized.

The 189th Division managed to hold its ground on the island in the middle of the river, but once the Japanese naval air force joined the battle during the day, the situation became unpredictable.

The Sixth Division increased its troop deployment, giving the frontline of the Qianshan defense line a brief respite.

Zhang Hu is mobilizing boats and organizing the main force to cross the river.

Zhao Fangyuan strode over: "Sir, the General Staff has notified the Air Force that they will send two fighter squadrons today to help us gain air superiority."

Wang Feng: "Only two squadrons?"

Zhao Fangyuan nodded: "According to news from the rear, the Japanese army has resumed bombing over Wuhan. More than half of the air force squadrons in the entire Central China region have been transferred there. Only two fighter squadrons can support us."

Wang Feng responded with an "Oh".

He had recently received news of the Japanese air raids on Wuhan.

"Let's leave it at that for now. Where is the navy?"

Zhao Fangyuan: "Half an hour ago, the Navy received a telegram that the fleet had left Wuhan and would arrive in Madang in about two days."

"Sir, judging from the terrain, Madang doesn't seem to be suitable for naval warfare. Bringing the navy here might not be very effective."

Wang Feng turned his head to look at the map.

What Zhao Fangyuan said made sense.

From the topographic map, the Madang section of the Yangtze River waterway resembles a wasp waist, with a narrow river surface and rapid currents, making it not an ideal battlefield.

Not only would their own navy be unable to get through, but even the mobility of the Japanese navy would be restricted.

Moreover, Chiang Kai-shek never intended for the navy to participate in the battles surrounding Wuhan. In the Madang section of the waterway, he laid at least a thousand mines, creating an "isolation zone".

Wang Feng: "In a decisive battle, we are not at an advantage. The minefield in the Madang section can shield the Japanese. I called the navy, mainly to provide ground fire support."

Zhao Fangyuan grinned: "Sir, take a look. This is a telegram from Wuhan."

Wang Feng raised an eyebrow: "What good news is it that makes you so happy?"

Zhao Fangyuan: "According to Wuhan, in order to strengthen the defense of the Madang area, the Chairman specially dispatched two 150mm howitzers from the 8th Artillery Regiment, three 20mm machine guns from the 42nd Artillery Regiment, as well as eight 75mm field guns and eight 47mm naval guns transferred from the 3rd Fleet, which was reorganized from the former Northeast Navy, to Madang to strengthen the fortress's firepower!"

Wang Feng gasped, "Two 150mm howitzers? Is there really such a good thing?"

Zhao Fangyuan nodded: "Although it can't compare to our artillery column, even a mosquito's leg is meat, and it's better than nothing!"

------

front.

Zhang Hu stood on a hill on the north bank of the Yangtze River, raised his binoculars, and gazed at the misty river surface.

"Which batch is this?"

Wu Guangsheng: "They started withdrawing at dawn. This is the seventh batch today. Our people haven't moved yet. The 84th Army has sent two brigades over there."

Zhang Hu frowned.

The moment the troops arrived in Qianshan, they began to requisition boats from villages and towns along the river. However, the Japanese had acted first, and by the time they arrived, there was practically nothing left.

Zhang Hu: "Order the frontline troops to speed up their progress and not delay!"

Wu Guangsheng: "Okay!"

"Om-!"

As the two were speaking, a buzzing sound came from the sky.

Wu Guangsheng looked up, his eyesight limited as he wasn't using binoculars: "Look, is that our plane or the Japanese plane?"

Zhang Hu shifted his view, looking in the direction the finger was pointing: "This... looks like the Japanese Type 97!"

Wu Guangsheng: "Type 97?"

"Flying so low, the pilot can see everything on the river. Won't we be exposed?"

Zhang Hu: "It doesn't matter. Urge all units to speed up their advance!"

“Da da da da—!”

Wu Guangsheng was right.

The Army Air Force's Type 97 fighter jet noticed the wooden boat on the river. After circling a few times, it immediately swooped down and began strafing wildly.

The bullets fell into the river, creating ripples.

On a wooden boat, several soldiers saw the plane swooping down on them and immediately raised their rifles to return fire, but as soon as they pulled the bolts, a hail of bullets enveloped them.

Wood chips mixed with blood splattered everywhere.

Seven soldiers, along with a wooden fishing boat, sank to the bottom of the river.

Japanese warplanes quickly climbed to higher altitudes.

ashore.

Zhang Hu gritted his teeth: "Damn those Japanese devils! They've gone too far!"

------

Zhao Fangyuan: "Sir, the Japanese have sent planes to bomb us again. The 189th Division's defenses are about to collapse!"

Wang Feng switched to a naked-eye view: "Where are our planes? Why haven't they appeared yet?"

Zhao Fangyuan: "I received a call five minutes ago. The Japanese army has dispatched about two air squadrons to attack Nanchang Airport. Our air support will probably be gone for the time being."

"Nanchang Airport was attacked by air?" Wang Feng slammed his fist on the table. "Such a big thing, why is it taking so long to report it?"

Zhao Fangyuan looked troubled: "Sir, we just received the news, but about an hour and a half ago, air combat began over Nanchang. We don't know if they knew about it but didn't report it, or if their communication facilities were destroyed."

Wang Feng rubbed his temples and calmed himself down: "Order the 189th Division to hold out for a while longer, and draw troops from the Anqing defense line to fill the gap."

Most pilots of that era came from wealthy families.

On the surface, the air force is a high-tech, high-quality branch of the military, and such a force must have very strict discipline.

Actually it is not.

Wang Feng of the Central Air Force didn't know much about it.

But he knew the local air force inside and out.

In essence, it was still a warlord army that had always been poorly managed.

The Central Air Force might be in a better position, especially since it is currently in a "honeymoon period" between China and the Soviet Union, with a large number of Soviet support pilots coming to China to not only guide tactics and assist in training, but also improve their level of standardization.

Countless people sacrificed their lives in the War of Resistance against Japan, in which they directly participated.
He was a true internationalist fighter!

Wang Feng added, "We must hold out for at least ten hours before we can retreat after crossing the river with Zhang Hu and the others!"

Zhao Fangyuan nodded: "Understood!"

Wang Feng switched to an overhead view, his gaze fixed on the battle on Jiangxin Island.

The enemy and friendly battle lines show that the Japanese vanguard had landed on the island and occupied nearly half of the entire Jiangxinzhou Island, and the 189th Division's defense zone was compressed into a corner.

In the sky, Japanese naval bombers were dropping bombs continuously.

Bombs rained down by the tonnes, and the flames of the explosions engulfed almost every inch of land.

Wang Feng frowned, hesitated several times, and then withdrew from the overhead view: "Fang Yuan, order the First Column to immediately stop crossing the river and launch a frontal assault on the Japanese army, penetrating deep into their rear!"

(End of this chapter)