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

At the Qixian town defense line, the Independent Mixed Third Brigade finally encountered a tough opponent and was temporarily assigned to the 58th Division of the 64th Army.

58师隶属于74军，因为作战需要，64军下属的156师调出，作战主力是155师、187师和临时配置的74军58师，187师是从归德城撤出来的部队，属于第8军序列。

The 61st Division under Zhong Song was deployed to the west of Qi County to cover the right flank of the 64th Army; the 102nd Division under Bai Huizhang was a mobile reserve stationed in Taikang, south of Qi County, ready to move north to support the defense of Qi County at any time.

In another timeline, the 64th Army also had to defend Yangguji and Shuangtaji. After Zhao Yunwen captured the defense of Yangguji, the 155th Division was also responsible for the defense of the outer perimeter of Qixian County.

The 187th Division on the outskirts failed to stop the offensive of the 3rd Mixed Brigade and was defeated, allowing the Japanese troops to reach the city's defense line.

The Japanese relentless attacks put immense pressure on the 58th Division. Division Commander Feng Shengfa, a graduate of the first class of training, looked grave. Chief of Staff Colonel Yang Shaoren came to report:

"Commander, the defense line north of the city is in dire need of attention. Under the bombardment of the Japanese artillery, the 343rd Regiment has suffered heavy casualties. The brothers are about to break down. We request reinforcements."

Feng Shengfa said with a cold face:

"We have to hold on even if we can't. The 344th Regiment is under a lot of pressure too, and I have no reinforcements for them."

Tell Brigade Commander Fang that I'm handing over the north of the city to the 172nd Brigade. Even if we wipe out the entire force, you have to hold them off for me.

Commander Li has already said that the 107th Division reinforcements are on their way. We must hold on and not embarrass ourselves!

When Feng Shengfa mentioned the 107th Division, he had mixed feelings. During the Battle of Shanghai, he was the deputy commander of the 88th Division, and Zhao Yunwen's 2nd Security Regiment was attached to him. At that time, Zhao Yunwen was worlds apart from him.

In just over six months, his old classmate, who was widely recognized as a good-for-nothing, had become a lieutenant general and division commander of a first-class division, with a far-reaching reputation. Now, he was even more hoping that Zhao the good-for-nothing would come to his aid.

If he can't hold the line, he won't be able to face his old classmates.

Major General Motoichi Tamura, the brigade commander of the 3rd Mixed Brigade, was equally furious. They were a unit temporarily drawn from the Kwantung Army, belonging to the 2nd Division, and consisting of the 16th and 30th Regiments, with an attached battalion of the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment, the 2nd Cavalry Battalion, as well as engineers, supply units, and other units, totaling more than 9,000 men.

They were incredibly strong, even when they were fighting three divisions, they still felt they had the upper hand, but they couldn't stand up for themselves when they encountered the slightest setback.

This wasn't just Tamura Genichi being arrogant; he had the ability to back it up. In another timeline, the 3rd Mixed Brigade single-handedly took on five divisions, capturing Qixian in just three days and defeating the garrison. This demonstrated the formidable fighting power of the Kwantung Army.

Tamura Genichi cursed:

"You bunch of good-for-nothings! You haven't even taken over the tiny Qixian County in a whole day. You've completely disgraced the Kwantung Army."

Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Michitaka Kono defended the main attacking team, saying:

"General, the 58th Division guarding the city is no ordinary force. It belongs to the 74th Army and is one of the elite forces in China. It cannot be treated as an ordinary army."

Tanaka Genichi said with a look of disdain:

"In the face of the Kwantung Army, China has no elite troops, they are all trash!"

Tell Iseki-kun that I'm giving the 16th Infantry Regiment one more chance; they must capture the county town before nightfall.

Lieutenant Colonel Michitaka Kono dared not utter any more words and went directly to issue orders. The 3rd Mixed Brigade consisted of two infantry regiments: the 16th Infantry Regiment was to attack the north of the city, the 30th Infantry Regiment was to provide perimeter security, and the 2nd Cavalry Battalion was to protect the brigade headquarters and artillery.

After receiving the order, Colonel Iseki ordered the troops to withdraw. The 16th Infantry Regiment did not use its full strength. Major General Tanaka gave them a strict order, so he had to have the artillery bombard them again before the new offensive.

No sooner had the Japanese infantry withdrawn than the soldiers of the 58th Division caught their breath, than 12 Type 38 75mm field guns from the 3rd Field Artillery Battalion launched a fierce bombardment of the positions north of the city. Shells rained down, destroying entire sections of the positions north of the city, and the 343rd Regiment suffered heavy casualties.

As soon as the artillery fire spread, the entire Japanese 16th Infantry Regiment surged forward, numbering two to three thousand men, completely filling the front of the northern position. The soldiers of the 343rd and 344th Regiments fought back desperately, and the battle intensified, with casualties rising sharply.

The 30th Infantry Regiment, responsible for perimeter security, focused its main efforts on the 61st Division to the west of the city and the 106th Division in Taikang. Both sides' troop deployments were overt, including the 107th Division to the northeast.

On the outer perimeter of the 3rd Mixed Brigade, Captain Kanda was resting with his eyes closed, while the 16th Infantry Regiment was engaged in fierce fighting, and they were just bored bystanders.

He didn't seem worried about the 107th Division coming to reinforce from the northeast. In the eyes of the Kwantung Army officers, the Chinese troops were all trash, and their arrival would only be a way to give them credit for their war effort.

The executive officer was the first to feel the ground shaking and quickly said to Captain Kanda:

"Kanda-kun, something's wrong. Listen, is there an earthquake?"

Captain Kanda immediately pricked up his ears to listen, his face changed drastically, his eyes instantly filled with fear, and he screamed:

"It's cavalry, a cavalry force! Prepare for battle!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a volley of shells rained down. This was the mortar group attached to the cavalry regiment, mainly used to assist the cavalry in breaking through defenses. There were a total of 12 20mm mortars, with strong firepower.

The Japanese machine gun positions were covered, their guns destroyed and their men killed.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the cavalry regiment launched a mass charge, crashing into the Kanda Company's position like an overwhelming wave.

The Japanese infantrymen were terrified, their faces ashen. Despite being the invincible Kwantung Army, they were still intimidated by overwhelming force, as infantrymen have a natural fear of cavalry.

They fired indiscriminately, inflicting minor casualties on the cavalry, but this did nothing to stop the cavalry formation from approaching, and they were quickly overwhelmed.

Swords flew, and Japanese soldiers were slaughtered, their heads rolling down the ground. A hundred or so infantrymen were lambs to the slaughter in front of a thousand cavalrymen.

The battle was a foregone conclusion. Kanda's company was almost completely wiped out, while the cavalry regiment lost only a dozen or so riders. The outer perimeter of the Japanese was easily torn apart, and the cavalry regiment drove straight in, its advance aimed directly at Tanaka Genichi's brigade headquarters.

Tanaka Genichi was stunned by the sudden turn of events and asked in horror:

"Damn it, where did all these Chinese cavalry come from? What is the 30th Infantry Regiment doing?!"

Chief of Staff Michitaka Kono didn't know what had happened either, but that was no longer important. The most urgent task was to stop the Chinese cavalry's offensive, otherwise the consequences would be unimaginable.

"General, the Chinese cavalry number as many as two thousand. The second battalion in the front is too scattered and may not be able to hold them off. The first and third battalions on the flanks should be recalled immediately to encircle the Chinese cavalry."

Tanaka Genichi forced himself to suppress his panic and said calmly:

"Yosh! Order the 2nd Cavalry Battalion to prepare for battle, and immediately assemble the 30th Infantry Regiment. I'll make sure the Chinese cavalry group doesn't return alive!"

Although the attacking Chinese cavalry numbered two to three thousand, Tanaka Genichi was not worried. He also had several hundred elite cavalrymen from the 2nd Cavalry Battalion by his side. With a combat strength difference of 1 to 6, he was confident that he could defeat the invading Chinese cavalry.

The infantry regiments that were recalled to the outer perimeter were only as a precaution, to assist the cavalry battalion in annihilating the Chinese cavalry.

The Second Battalion in the north was scattered across several guard posts, forming a fan-shaped defense. Each stronghold had only one infantry company, which was no match for the cavalry regiment's charge. The cavalry regiment quickly reached the front of the 3rd Brigade headquarters.

The 2nd Cavalry Battalion stretched across the area, and the brigade headquarters positions were also filled with machine guns and artillery. Supply corps and engineers were all deployed, and even the brigade headquarters staff took up arms. This was the last line of defense, and Tanaka Genichi naturally hoped that it would not be needed.

Now it's up to the 2nd Cavalry Battalion. Two other infantry battalions on the outskirts have been ordered to come to their aid, but it will take time.

Major Yoshio Hirano, commander of the 2nd Cavalry Battalion, sat on his tall horse. Despite being at a significant disadvantage in terms of troop strength, Hirano firmly believed that he was the one with the advantage.

During the Battle of Guide, the 2nd Cavalry Battalion stole the show, chasing and attacking thousands of fleeing Chinese soldiers, which gave them a false sense of security.

Hirano Yoshio was a traditional cavalry commander who longed for a true duel with the Chinese cavalry, a battle settled with sabers, which he believed was the proper role of cavalry.

He raised his gleaming saber high above his head, stiffened his thick neck, and roared:

"Cavalry battalion—Attack!"

The opposing cavalry commander snorted coldly:

"You're courting death, then let me show you the might of the Chinese cavalry."

"Cavalry regiment, attack!"