Blood-Red Front

After the meeting, Lin Zhiyuan prepared to take a car back to Niutou Mountain.

At this moment, Qiu Yu'an leaned over and said, "Brother Zhiyuan, could you give me a ride?"

"Brother Yu'an, please get in the car," Lin Zhiyuan said. "Your bodyguard will sit in the truck behind."

"The guard can let him ride the horse," Qiu Yu'an said. "I still need to take my horse back."

"Okay." Lin Zhiyuan nodded.

The two rode together in one car out of Kyoto.

After leaving Kyoto, Lin Zhiyuan asked, "Brother Yu'an, what are your thoughts on the current situation?"

Upon hearing Lin Zhiyuan describe the situation, Qiu Yu'an immediately began to curse.

"Damn it, Commander-in-Chief Chiang is a coward!"

"What a great opportunity! If we wait for the 18th Division to arrive before trying to break through, who knows how many casualties we will have to pay."

"I also think now is the best opportunity." Lin Zhiyuan nodded. "The 7th Regiment of the 9th Division is crossing the river alone. As long as the pontoon bridge is blown up, although the support is close at hand, it will be as far away as the ends of the earth."

"If we can wipe out the 7th Regiment, the 9th Division will be less likely to advance recklessly during the pursuit, which will create a good opportunity for us to defeat the 14th Brigade's breakout."

"It's a pity that Commander-in-Chief Chang doesn't listen to us," Qiu Yu'an sighed.

"I'll go back and report him!" Lin Zhiyuan said confidently. "We can't let him do whatever he wants with the lives of hundreds of thousands of people."

Lin Zhiyuan knew perfectly well why Qiu Yu'an, who had a horse, chose to ride in the same carriage as him instead of riding it.

However, he didn't care; everyone was concerned for the safety of the hundreds of thousands of troops in Kyoto.

"Brother Zhiyuan, you are truly righteous." Qiu Yu'an clasped his hands in a fist salute. "If the higher command really orders a breakout, my 5th Division is willing to follow Brother Zhiyuan's unified command."

"Brother Yu'an understands justice well."

Along the way, the two discussed possible action plans until they arrived at the Yushan position.

"I'll leave everything to Brother Zhiyuan." Qiu Yu'an got out of the car.

"Brother Yu'an, don't worry. Above the Ministry of Military Affairs is the General Staff Headquarters and the President. Chang Zhongshi can't drag hundreds of thousands of brothers into a fire pit."

After saying goodbye to Qiu Yu'an, Lin Zhiyuan returned to Niutou Mountain.

Upon entering the command post, Lin Zhiyuan immediately told the communications officer, "Send a message."

Lin Zhiyuan explained the current situation and Chang Zhongshi's plans in detail, and also elaborated on his own plans.

The communications officer condensed and organized the information and handed it over to Lin Zhiyuan.

Lin Zhiyuan wrote with a flourish, "Send the telegram immediately!"

"Should it be sent to Dean Lin?"

Lin Zhiyuan nodded subconsciously, but changed his mind the moment he spoke, "Send it to my father and tell him to go find Minister Ren of the Political Department first."

In terms of political status alone, Lin Xing was above Ren Huasheng, but Lin Xing was, after all, a civil official, so Ren Huasheng could play a greater role at this time.

Ren Huasheng was somewhat surprised to see Lin Xing visiting him so late at night, and he was even more surprised after seeing Lin Zhiyuan's telegram.

He had strongly opposed the decisive battle in Kyoto, but it was Chang Chung-shih and Chen Zai-chi who made guarantees, and together with other conservatives, that Chen Zai-chi finally agreed to fight a battle in Kyoto.

The political department had also made preparations for the retreat in advance. Who would have thought that Chang Zhongshi would send away all the ships just for a better-sounding title?

Without any hesitation, Ren Huasheng and Lin Xing immediately requested an audience with Chen Zaizhi.

In his office, looking at the telegram, Chen Zaizhi said with disappointment, "Zhongshi's thinking is too simplistic."

No one who can reach a high position is a novice. Chang Zhongshi's plan is obvious at a glance. He is gambling with the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers.

Without any hesitation, Chen Zaizhi made a decision directly.

"The General Staff should formulate a breakout plan. Since Lin Zhiyuan is willing to act as the vanguard, then the two reserve regiments of the Training Corps should be reinforced into the 404th Detachment, and he should be in charge of the 404th Detachment and the 5th Division to carry out the mission of annihilating the newly formed 7th Regiment."

"Then I'll call Lin Zhiyuan back."

……

"Sir, Minister Ren has sent a reply." Guan Jianchu walked over with the telegram.

"The higher command has approved the breakout of the entire army. The 404th Detachment and the 5th Division will be the vanguard. They are strictly ordered to annihilate the 7th Regiment of the newly formed army before the main force withdraws to Kyoto, and to launch an offensive against the 14th Brigade. The remaining troops will join the battle until the 14th Brigade of the newly formed army is annihilated or defeated."

"In addition, Minister Ren also asked the 404th Detachment if they had any other needs."

林致远一点都不客气，直接开口道：「给参谋总部回电，我希望炮8团1营、炮10团1营、炮35团可以由我直接指挥。除此之外，我还需要3个通灵手。」

At this time, Xia's independent artillery units in Kyoto consisted of only two 150mm howitzer battalions and one 75mm independent field artillery regiment.

The 8th Artillery Regiment was equipped with eight 150mm howitzers produced outside the Great Wall, which were relatively outdated and could only fire at a range of 6 kilometers.

The 10th Artillery Regiment is equipped with eight Prosen 150mm howitzers with a range of up to 15 kilometers, making it a crucial force on the eastern flank of the Kyoto front in suppressing the heavy artillery of the Hatsushō Army.

The 35th Artillery Regiment was equipped with 36 75mm field guns (modeled after the Kremlin), with a range of 8 kilometers.

Guan Jianchu was taken aback when he heard Lin Zhiyuan's outrageous demands.

"It's unlikely that the 404th Detachment would be in charge of so many artillery pieces," Guan Jianchu said.

"Even if you can't give us direct command, it would be helpful if you could provide us with a few rounds of support," Lin Zhiyuan said. "Since it's a request, let's make it first."

"All right."

Guan Jianchu sent Lin Zhiyuan's request back.

The General Staff Headquarters naturally could not agree to Lin Zhiyuan's request.

The psychic warriors are one thing, but these independent artillery units are strategic forces at the theater level; how could they possibly be entrusted to a division for command?

However, Ren Huasheng was also aware that Lin Zhiyuan would need a certain amount of offensive force in the upcoming battles. Therefore, he overruled objections and reinforced the 1st Battalion of the 8th Artillery Regiment into the temporary combat group of the 404th Detachment and the 5th Division.

This delighted Lin Zhiyuan.

"Tell the 1st Battalion of the 8th Artillery Regiment that they don't need to come to Niutou Mountain. Let them disguise themselves and move to Yushan to operate together with the 5th Division."

"Okay." Guan Jianchu nodded and picked up the phone to relay the order.

Lin Zhiyuan then looked at Shang Kebing.

"You are to lead the three new psychics. You must immediately establish the psychic code with them and make contact with the psychics of the 5th Division and the 8th Artillery Regiment. Your role will be very important from now on."

At this time, Xia Jun did not have the ability to make radio calls. Once a war broke out, the installation of wired telephones might not be able to keep up with the speed, and telegrams were too cumbersome. Telegraphs were the most convenient means of communication.

"Don't worry, young master, we will definitely complete the mission."

Shang Kebing looked very serious; this was the first time Lin Zhiyuan had ever paid so much attention to her.

Lin Zhiyuan rubbed Shang Kebing's head and walked to the phone. "Connect to the 5th Division."

……