Even if I'm a useless bum at Whampoa Military Academy, I'll be invincible in the War of Re

Zhao Yunwen's decision was not made on a whim; he dared to take on the tough task of Hongkou Park because he had solid confidence in his abilities.

For this expedition, he brought the second and third infantry battalions, plus a fully-equipped artillery battalion, totaling more than 2,300 men—and the real trump card was the luxurious artillery battalion he had built himself.

The equipment of the security regiment's artillery battalion was unparalleled on the Shanghai-Nanjing battlefield:

The six 75mm M1923 Schneider mountain guns, weighing only 657 kg, can be disassembled into six major parts for transport by mules and horses, making them highly mobile and flexible. However, their effective range is as high as 9800 meters, making them an indisputable weapon for assaulting fortified positions. Each gun costs 6000 contribution points to exchange for in the Time and Space Mall. In addition, there are 12 81mm mortars, two Type 92 infantry guns captured in a previous ambush, and 20 60mm bazookas.

The bazooka equipped with an infantry gun was practically a tailor-made weapon for destroying Japanese bunkers and machine gun emplacements!

Looking at the group of officers whose expressions were gradually easing, Zhao Yunwen confidently began to analyze the battle situation:

"Brothers, the Japanese 150mm heavy howitzers look intimidating, but they are long-range weapons! As long as we get close enough to attack them and get right under their noses, those heavy guns will be nothing but scrap metal. If we launch a night raid, the Japanese planes will be useless after dark, and the accuracy of their naval guns will also be greatly reduced."

"The real threat lies in those bunkers, pillboxes, and machine gun emplacements. As for their tiny tanks, they're sitting ducks at night! The key to this battle is to break through the Japanese outer defenses, which consist of machine guns, bunkers, and barbed wire. Once our infantry can advance into the park, the Japanese naval guns and heavy artillery will be useless, leaving them at our mercy!"

As Zhao Yunwen dissected the problem layer by layer, the previously somber crowd instantly gained confidence.

Second Battalion Commander Wang Guohua, a graduate of the sixth class of the Whampoa Military Academy, immediately stepped forward and loudly volunteered for the mission:

"Commander, the main attack is handled by our Second Battalion! The Third Battalion will provide support from both flanks. I guarantee we'll finish the battle before dawn!"

Battalion Commander Zhou Tiancheng, a senior alumnus of the fifth class of the Whampoa Military Academy, was immediately displeased upon hearing this, his eyes widening: "Why should your Second Battalion be the main attacker? Don't you know how to respect your seniors?"

"Battalion Commander Zhou, there are no fathers and sons in the army. The main attack is decided by the most capable, not by seniority!"

The two argued heatedly on the spot, their faces turning red. Zhao Yunwen then spoke in a deep voice, making the final decision:

"Alright, stop arguing. Second Battalion, launch a frontal assault; Third Battalion, flank from both sides. No distinction between primary and secondary; whoever breaks into the park first will get the credit! I'm telling you this upfront: you can argue all you want, but you absolutely cannot act recklessly. The lives of our brothers are more precious than any achievement!"

He then issued detailed battle plans:

"The artillery battalion provided full support throughout the operation, the mountain artillery company was used in a concentrated manner, and the mortars and rocket launchers were divided into two and reinforced to the two infantry battalions."

The two captured Type 92 infantry guns were assigned to the 2nd Battalion. The general offensive was scheduled for 1:00 AM sharp. Before then, all units secretly approached the enemy, trying to get as close as possible to their doorstep.

"To minimize casualties, the attack formation should not be dense; advance in multiple waves and echelons. The mountain artillery company must prepare heavy fire; bombard them relentlessly, fire twelve rounds, and then immediately move to a new position; once all the Japanese firing positions are exposed, fire another twelve rounds to completely overturn their outer perimeter!"

The night grew darker, and the world became pitch black.

The 88th Division continued its fierce offensive against Chizhi University, and the Japanese artillery in Hongkou Park was also busy, constantly pouring shells toward Chizhi University, exposing their positions completely, practically giving the security regiment directions.

At the artillery position of the 2nd Security Regiment, six Schneider mountain guns were lined up in a row, their dark muzzles pointing directly at Hongkou Park. The firing parameters had already been calibrated and were just waiting for the order.

Artillery Battalion Commander Liu Meisheng raised his binoculars, gazing at the Japanese artillery positions with impunity. A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips: "They're really outrageously arrogant, firing openly. Do they really think we're helpless? Today, I'll teach them a lesson they won't forget!"

"Target—Hongkou Park, twelve rapid-fire rounds, fire!"

"Fire! Bomb them!"

The earth trembled violently, and the six mountain guns roared simultaneously, their shells whistling through the night sky as if they had eyes, precisely striking the Japanese positions.

The park was instantly engulfed in flames and explosions rang out one after another. The Japanese army was completely stunned by the sudden artillery barrage—they never expected that the Chinese army's artillery was already right at their waist, and that it was so powerful and deadly!

The piercing air raid siren blared, and the Japanese troops hurriedly moved into position to engage the enemy. They opened fire haphazardly with both light and heavy fire, but in the pitch black, they couldn't find their targets, and their counterattacks were chaotic and disorganized. Not only did they achieve no effect, but they also completely exposed their own firing positions to the security regiment's artillery.

Under the precise concentrated fire of the mountain artillery, Japanese bunkers were blown up one after another, a large number of soldiers were blown to pieces, and the outer defense system was shattered and scattered.

As soon as the artillery barrage extended, the security regiment's infantry launched a fierce attack, their shouts of battle deafening, creating an atmosphere as if tens of thousands of ambushers were simultaneously charging out.

The Japanese command structure was momentarily paralyzed, with each unit losing unified command and forced to fight independently. The darkness amplified their fear, and the soldiers could only bolster their courage by blindly firing indiscriminately, the gunfire dense yet utterly chaotic.

Countless tongues of fire erupted from the Japanese positions as they fired flares in quick succession, illuminating the night sky as if it were daytime. Large numbers of dark figures could be seen rapidly approaching the defensive line. Meanwhile, the security regiment's artillery shells, trailing plumes of fire, precisely struck the Japanese strongpoints, one after another, collapsing the bunkers and tearing the Japanese lines apart bit by bit.

Inside the command post of the Japanese 4th Battalion, Major Aota, the battalion commander, was overwhelmed by the sounds of gunfire from all directions. The experienced officer even recognized the model of a Schneider mountain gun from the artillery fire. His face turned deathly pale, and he screamed in terror:

"Baka yarou! This is the main force of the Chinese! How did they manage to sneak in?!"

Artillery commander Lieutenant Colonel Noguchi, his face as black as the bottom of a pot, shouted sternly:

"Qingtian-kun, it's no use saying this now. We must stop the Chinese! If they break in, we'll all die! Quickly call for naval artillery support! Tell them that Hongkou Park is under attack by tens of thousands of elite Chinese troops, and we request urgent fire support!"

At the side wall of the park gate, several machine gun salvos blocked the path of attack, instantly suppressing the assault by the 2nd Battalion's assault company. The soldiers lay prone on the ground, letting the scorching bullets whiz past their heads, not daring to raise their heads.

But the Japanese machine guns didn't get to roam free for long.

A 70mm armor-piercing round whistled through the air, accurately striking the machine gun emplacement embedded within the wall. It instantly tore through the sturdy concrete protection, exploding violently inside the emplacement. The massive shockwave reduced the wall to rubble. The machine gun was twisted into a pretzel, the gunner either killed or wounded, and the firing point was completely silenced.

The Type 92 infantry gun was indeed a pillbox killer, hitting its target every time! With ten bazookas firing simultaneously, the Japanese outer defense line was already shaky and full of holes.

Seeing that the machine gun fire had been destroyed, the assault company commander immediately ordered the spearhead platoon to charge again. The park's wall had already been breached in several places, and the defense line was completely exposed. But just as the brothers of the spearhead platoon were about to reach the foot of the wall, several hidden bunkers of the Japanese army suddenly bared their fangs—light and heavy machine guns emerged from their firing ports and opened fire on the spearhead platoon, killing more than ten men on the spot.

The remaining soldiers quickly took cover, and the machine gunners opened fire with their M1918 Browning automatic rifles, but the bullets struck the solid concrete bunker like a tickle, unable to penetrate. The assault company's offensive was once again suppressed, and casualties continued to rise.

The company commander, his eyes blazing with rage, roared, "Where's the rocket launcher? Blow up those sons of bitches' bunkers!"

Several bazooka gun crews quickly advanced, bullets whizzing around them. Using skillful tactical maneuvers, they crawled low and leaped rapidly, inching closer to the wall. While the bazooka's theoretical range was four or five hundred meters, to ensure effective destruction of the bunker, they had to penetrate within a hundred meters—undoubtedly a perilous situation with a slim chance of survival.

To cover the advance of the rocket launcher group, the assault company's three M1919 medium machine guns opened fire at full speed. The dense rain of bullets drew the attention of the Japanese troops, creating a valuable opportunity for the artillery group to advance.

Closer and closer!

After suffering two casualties, the first bazooka crew finally reached effective firing range, and the gunner decisively pulled the trigger without hesitation.

"boom--!"

The violent explosion instantly tore apart the main Japanese bunker, the machine gun fire ceased abruptly, and the defenders inside were killed on the spot. The firepower of the Japanese defense line dropped sharply. Other artillery groups seized the opportunity to advance, and rockets flew accurately towards the various bunkers. Firelight flashed continuously in the darkness, and one firing point after another was destroyed.

The channels for attack have been completely opened!

The assault company commander, his spirits soaring, raised his arm and shouted, "Sound the charge! All troops, attack!"

The resounding bugle call pierced the deep darkness, and the officers and soldiers of the security regiment, like tigers descending the mountain, launched a final, desperate charge towards the core position of Hongkou Park!