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

"We've come all this way, not as mere spectators, but as the general reserve force for the campaign. I think some people are worried that the 107th Division will take credit for their efforts!"

Deputy Division Commander Lu Ping was no longer the greenhorn he had been a few months earlier. Before going to Shanghai, he was just a lieutenant colonel and chief of staff of the security regiment. In just six months, he had risen through the ranks alongside Zhao Yunwen, becoming a major general and deputy division commander, Zhao Yunwen's undisputed second-in-command.

As his position rose, his horizons broadened considerably, and he became acquainted with some of the infighting and backstabbing within the Nationalist Army.

Zhao Yunwen was no pushover; having lived two lives, he knew the Nationalist army's true nature perfectly well. He simply smiled faintly and said:

"Commander Xue's banquet has already begun, and the distinguished guests have taken their seats early. It's already quite kind of them to leave us a seat at the table for the hangers-on; no matter what others think, we just need to do our best."

Lu Ping was Zhao Yunwen's staunch supporter. He knew his boss too well; he was the kind of person who wouldn't do anything without a reason. Even if Xue Boling was the one hosting the dinner, Zhao Yunwen wouldn't bother to offer his hospitality.

So he tentatively asked:

"Does the division commander not think Commander Xue can swallow up the Doihara Division? He is a famous general in our army, and his subordinates are all outstanding graduates of the Whampoa Military Academy. Even if he can't completely annihilate the 14th Division, he shouldn't be able to overextend himself, right?"

If Zhao Yunwen didn't have God's perspective, he would also have this question. It's no exaggeration to say that, judging from the strength on paper, Xue Boling has the two kings and four twos and four aces. Even if Doihara Kensuke has a few bombs, he shouldn't lose too badly.

"Old Lu, the problem might lie with some of my famous old classmates. Some of them were terrified after being beaten in Shanghai and Nanjing."

The elite units of the Training Corps, the 87th Division, the 88th Division, and the Tax Police Corps were all left in Nanjing. They were all newly formed units, mainly composed of new recruits, and were not what they used to be.

Faced with the heavy artillery barrage of the Doihara Division, if someone were to run away at a critical moment, then Commander Xue's carefully woven encirclement would become a broken net. What would he use to annihilate the super-strengthened 14th Division?

Furthermore, Kenjiro Doihara was a veteran spy and an expert on China; he was even more familiar with the terrain around Lanfeng than most of the Nationalist army generals.

Zhao Yunwen's analysis was like a wake-up call for Lu Ping, who then continued:

"I understand. A six-pronged attack sounds impressive, but if any one of them goes wrong, the Doihara Division, that wild boar, will break through the net and turn around and bite us."

Then we'll have a chance as the reserve team. You didn't actually plan this all along, did you? You're not here to plug the hole for Commander Xue, are you?

The two knew each other very well, and Lu Ping guessed Zhao Yunwen's thoughts with great accuracy. Xie Polu, on the other hand, was completely confused, as there was still a gap between him and Zhao Yunwen.

Fortunately, as the chief of staff, he didn't need to know these things; he just needed to do his job.

The 107th Division is now strong and well-equipped, and Zhao Yunwen, with the system's assistance, is naturally much more confident. He straightened his back and said:

"The 107th Division isn't here to clean up other people's messes. We have only one objective: to cripple the Doihara Division!"

Lu Ping felt a sense of familiarity; this was the old Zhao he knew—domineering, his low-key demeanor was just a facade.

The 107th Division never played a supporting role; it always fought against the elite Japanese troops.

Yangguji, the defensive line of the 27th Infantry Brigade, was attacked by the main force of the 27th Army from the east, west and north. The offensive was like a tidal wave.

The Japanese troops held their ground in the fortified villages of Yangguji, Shuangtaji, and Maoguzhai, fighting fiercely and inflicting heavy casualties on the attacking forces.

The Nationalist army was generally good at defense but not at offense, and often relied on sheer courage without any tactics.

Gui Yongqing threw the main force of the Training Corps into Nanjing. If it weren't for Zhao Yunwen's strong intervention, all the elite troops trapped in the city would have been slaughtered by the Japanese. He was the only one who escaped.

The current 27th Army was formed based on three new recruit regiments (7th, 8th, and 9th Regiments) trained by the Training Corps in Hunan Province. Later, He Jingzhi, the uncle, used his connections to bring in several elite units, which gave it its current strength. It comprises the 36th, 46th, and 106th Divisions (formerly the Northwest Army), the 61st Division, and is attached to the 200th Division's armored reconnaissance battalion. The battalion commander was originally supposed to be Qiu Fengzi, but Zhao Yunwen snatched the position and replaced him with someone else.

Other armies had two infantry divisions, but the 27th Army had four, making it the largest in terms of organization. There was no other way; the person in charge of the organization was his uncle.

Yangguji was just a village. The main force of the 61st Division attacked it several times without success. Major General Zhong Song, the division commander, was very annoyed and personally formed a suicide squad, determined to take down the Japanese stronghold.

Hundreds of suicide squad members had already lined up, each of them strapped with grenades; it was all or nothing.

Zhong Song picked up a bowl of strong liquor, raised it above his head, and said loudly:

"Brothers, this battle is a life-or-death struggle. I have nothing to give you. Giving you a few dozen silver dollars would be an insult to you."

If it were for the money, none of you would have signed up, but the amount of money involved wouldn't be small.

Fifty silver dollars for each of you. I will personally send them to your homes after the war. This is your money for risking your lives!

Now, with just a bowl of strong liquor to bolster my spirits, I am invincible!

"Raise your bowl—chicken down!"

The suicide squad members raised the strong liquor above their heads in unison, offered it to their ancestors, and then drank it all in one gulp.

Zhong Song smashed the empty wine bowl on the ground, and the others followed suit, showing their determination to die.

After the ceremony was completed, Major Luo Jie, the suicide squad leader, coldly shouted:

"Brothers, we've drunk our fill of wine and paid homage to our ancestors. Follow me to fight the enemy, and we'll meet again in the next life!"

After Luo Jie finished speaking, he turned around neatly and ignored Zhong Song. The superior officer spoke very nicely, but in the end, it was a junior officer like him who risked his life.

His only hope was that Zhong Song wouldn't break his promise. He and his brothers in the suicide squad didn't need the money, but their families did.

Especially for soldiers from ordinary families, in this era of war, 50 Yuan Shikai silver dollars could save a family's life. This was not a legal tender that even dogs would despise.

Luo Jie graduated from the ninth class of the Whampoa Military Academy. His family owned thousands of acres of fertile land. As the second son of a landlord, fifty silver dollars wouldn't be enough for him to squander in one night.

Luo Jie, holding his Mauser pistol high, charged ahead, followed by the others. Zhong Song solemnly saluted their departing figures.

These were the most elite soldiers in the entire division, many of whom were officers who graduated from the Whampoa Military Academy and were his junior classmates.

After putting his hand down, Zhong Song coldly shouted:

"Chief of Staff, fire! To send our brave soldiers off!"

The artillery, which the entire division had assembled long ago, bombarded the Japanese positions to provide fire support for the suicide squad.

Luo Jie led his suicide squad into the enemy's territory under heavy artillery fire. Many of them even fell under their own artillery fire. The effect was obvious; they stormed into the village before the enemy could react.

Zhong Song excitedly pumped his fist; perhaps Luo Jie and the suicide squad really could bring them a surprise!

Under the cover of artillery fire, the suicide squad stormed into the enemy lines. The initial assault went smoothly, breaking through two lines of defense and penetrating deep into the village.

The Japanese battalion commander was startled by the suicide squad's attack and hurriedly mobilized his troops to intercept them, even sending his reserve fourth company into the fray.

The more the Japanese soldiers were fought, the more they appeared. Suicide squad members kept falling, some even detonating cluster bombs on their bodies to take the Japanese soldiers with them.

As Luo Jie's men dwindled in number, Zhong Song, worried about the fate of the suicide squad, ordered the active regiment to follow up.

As soon as they reached the open ground, the Japanese heavy artillery shells came crashing down, all of them 150mm heavy howitzers, each one exploding over a large area.

The main assault regiment suffered heavy casualties and was unable to cross the open ground. The Japanese had already realized what was happening and called for artillery support.

The main assault force made several attempts to break through but failed, suffering hundreds of casualties, and had to give up.

Zhong Song slammed his fist heavily on the command table. The retreat of the main attack regiment meant abandoning the suicide squad. Now it was up to them.

After two hours of bloody fighting, Luo Jie was covered in blood and only a few dozen men remained by his side.

The Japanese soldiers surrounded them from all sides, and Luo Jie knew that the suicide squad's final moment had arrived.

He threw away the Mauser pistol, now empty of bullets, and picked up a Type 38 rifle dropped by a dead Japanese soldier; the bayonet on it exuded an aura of death.

"Brothers, follow me and kill the Japanese devils!"

"Kill them!"

"Thrust, thud!"

The two torrents collided heavily, and Luo Jie stabbed down two Japanese soldiers in succession before being pierced through the body by several bayonets.

His vision blurred, and his soul returned to his hometown hundreds of miles away, where the beautiful girl who had waited for him for five years because he had run away from his arranged marriage to apply for military school was walking towards him.

"Yarnan, I'm sorry..."

With the last daredevil falling, the 61st Division's offensive ended in failure once again.

The chief of staff of the 27th Army headquarters rushed over to report:

"Commander, something terrible has happened! The Japanese are using their superior artillery fire to launch a counterattack, and Maji has fallen!"