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

Kenji Doihara is the head of intelligence; if even he doesn't know something, then no one else will know.

Utsunomiya Akihiro said cautiously:

"On the surface, there are 20,000 men, but the estimated number is between 25,000 and 30,000. They have a fully-fledged artillery regiment equipped with a large number of German and American weapons."

It is rumored that Zhao Yunwen's father is a veteran of the Tongmenghui (Chinese Revolutionary Alliance), a wealthy businessman from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and currently the head of the Zhao Group in the United States. The American weapons were presumably acquired by his father.

Akihiro Utsunomiya had his own sources of information, and Kenji Doihara didn't deny it. Instead, stroking his mustache, he said:

"Yoshi, Utsunomiya-kun, your judgment is correct. The 107th Division has been divided into two parts. The part that is blocking the 3rd Mixed Brigade should be a detachment, while the main force is in the Lanfeng and Yangguji line."

The Imperial Army has two infantry regiments in the Lanfeng direction, which is sufficient in terms of manpower, but lacks firepower.

The heavy artillery brigade is tied down by Xue Boling's forces and can only provide limited support to Sakai-kun. They can only call for air support now and immediately send a telegram to Terauchi headquarters requesting tactical guidance.

Kenji Doihara pinned his hopes on aerial bombardment, unaware that Zhao Yunwen had been on guard against him all along. It was just a matter of whether Hisaichi Terauchi would dare to send the planes out of their nests.

To win the Battle of Lanfeng, Zhao Yunwen spared no expense, even setting up anti-aircraft guns. With fewer aircraft, he used artillery to bombard the enemy, preparing multiple options.

At the headquarters of the Yudong Corps, Xue Boling's expression was grim, his eyes never leaving the map. The encirclement and annihilation of the Doihara Division was proving extremely difficult, and he himself was under immense pressure.

Chief of Staff Wu Yizhi advised him:

"Commander-in-Chief, the Doihara Division has been basically decimated, and the Qixian defense line is in grave danger. Since Commander Chang has ordered us to abandon the plan to encircle and annihilate the 14th Division, we should stop while we're ahead."

Ending the battle at this point would not be a loss.

Xue Boling wavered slightly, then his eyes sharpened.

This is the best opportunity to annihilate the Doihara Division, an opportunity that would make us famous throughout history. How could we let go of such a tempting prize?

He didn't rush to express his opinion, but instead asked:

"If Qixian is lost, in your opinion, can Zhao Yunwen stop the 16th Division from advancing north?"

I only need three days!

Wu Yizhi didn't answer directly; he wouldn't dare make such a guarantee. Instead, he said tactfully:

"It depends on how many troops the 16th Division sends north. If it's just a brigade, the 107th Division can hold them off for three days."

The implication was that if the entire division marched north, along with the Third Mixed Brigade, they shouldn't make things difficult for Zhao Yunwen. Five divisions couldn't stop them; why should one division be expected to?

Xue Boling fell silent, pacing back and forth, while Wu Yizhi stood quietly with his hands at his sides, as if afraid of disturbing them.

This was a difficult decision, as it concerned the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, as well as his personal honor and future.

Chiang Kai-shek was worried about the loss of over 100,000 Central Army troops, who were his most prized possessions, and he was already having second thoughts.

If we keep fighting and win, everything will be fine. But if the Doihara Division breaks through, the Lanfeng Campaign will end in a disastrous defeat, and the Pinghan Railway will be lost.

Unless... Chiang Kai-shek will not take this step until the very last moment, as it would be against the will of Heaven.

"Staff Officer Wu, send a telegram to Zhao Yunwen and ask him. I need a definite answer from him!"

Wu Yizhi turned and left, and Xue Boling's gaze returned to the map, focusing on the small city of Lanfeng.

Zhao Yunwen didn't keep Xue Boling waiting long; his reply telegram contained only a few words. After reading it, Xue Boling's gaze hardened, and he said loudly:

"Order all units to launch a full-scale attack and annihilate the Doihara Division at all costs."

"Send a message to the 64th Army: They must hold Qixian County."

Xue Boling finally made up his mind to do everything he could to encircle and annihilate the Doihara Division. Li Delin had severely damaged the Fifth and Tenth Divisions at the last moment, and he could do the same!

On the nameless mountain ridge, the 323rd Brigade's blocking position was filled with the incessant sounds of gunfire and shouts of battle.

After retreating three times in succession, the 323rd Brigade stopped retreating and used the favorable terrain to launch a strong attack on the 3rd Mixed Brigade.

Genichi Tamura arrived with his brigade headquarters and took over command.

The situation of the Doihara Division is very bad. They can no longer afford to slack off and must reach Lanfeng City as soon as possible.

The nameless mountain ridge is right at the exit of Wolf Valley; once it's breached, the land will be flat and open.

The 323rd Brigade deployed a regiment on each flank, determined to hold off the Japanese. Once the nameless mountain ridge was lost, the 323rd Brigade would have no defensible position and could be allowed to advance to Yangguji.

The fighting in Yangguji was in full swing, and Zhao Yunwen dared not let them pass.

The Japanese did not deploy their forces evenly, but instead launched a feint attack on the eastern front while focusing their main attack on the western front.

The 645th Regiment was defending the western front. They lay prone in the natural gullies, relying on obstacles such as rocks and trees to hold off the 16th Regiment's attack.

Shells rained down, and the Japanese soldiers charged forward from the artillery positions, quickly reaching the front of the 645th Regiment.

Company Commander Shi Lei sustained multiple injuries but continued to direct the battle. The two sides exchanged fire at each other from a distance of several dozen meters, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides.

The Kwantung Army soldiers were all veterans with more than five years of experience, skilled in mountain warfare, and could hit their targets with every shot at a distance of 100 to 200 meters.

The 645th Regiment was originally the Training Corps, and was equally well-trained and experienced in combat. Shi Lei had crawled out of piles of dead bodies in the street fighting in Nanjing.

The Japanese soldiers advanced in alternating cover, getting closer and closer to the Fifth Company's defensive line. Shi Lei simply let them perform, and ordered everyone to prepare a hand grenade.

The Japanese soldiers quickly closed in, only fifty or sixty meters away. Just as they straightened up for their final sprint, Shi Lei roared:

"Drop the bomb—blow the son of a bitch to death!"

Dozens of grenades were thrown into the air, tracing beautiful parabolas before falling into the enemy ranks. A series of explosions instantly engulfed the Japanese soldiers at the forefront.

The defenders had a terrain advantage, able to easily throw grenades from a high vantage point, reaching distances of over fifty meters. Some grenades would bounce upon landing, explode, and spray hundreds or even thousands of bullets in all directions.

Ono's squadron suffered a great loss. Before they could even take their positions, a second and third wave of grenades came raining down on them. Ono was furious and yelled.

Wu Lei raised his arm and shouted:

"Brothers, kill them!"

The soldiers of the Fifth Company burst out of the smoke and charged toward the Japanese with murderous intent. They opened fire with submachine guns, rifles, and automatic rifles, and defeated Ono's company in just one exchange.

The company commander of the sixth company on the flank followed suit, leading his soldiers out to charge, followed by the fourth company...

The Second Battalion took the lead in launching a counterattack, no longer simply passively defending.

The retreating Ono Company dragged down the other Japanese troops, triggering a domino effect and threatening a complete rout.

Colonel Li Xikai, the regimental commander, keenly sensed an opportunity and loudly gave the order:

"Bugler, sound the charge! Counterattack! The whole regiment, go out and kill the Japanese devils!"

The loud bugle call rang out, and soldiers from the First and Third Battalions charged out of the ravines. The artillery company also stopped being bystanders and opened fire on the Japanese soldiers at the foot of the mountain, creating panic.

The 645th Regiment launched a full-scale counterattack, their agile figures filling the mountains and fields like a pack of cheetahs pouncing on the Japanese invaders.

The two battalions at the forefront of the 16th Infantry Regiment were defeated. The 646th Regiment on the right flank was inexplicably attacked. Regiment Commander Sui Youlan reacted quickly and ordered the entire regiment to launch a counterattack.

The 30th Infantry Regiment had been decimated before, leaving only a little over 1 men, most of whom were artillery, supply troops, and non-combat personnel from the regimental headquarters. They were no match for the 646th Regiment and were defeated without any doubt.

The 323rd Brigade launched a full-scale counterattack, and the two commanders, Qiu Fengzi and Zhao Yunwen, were still kept in the dark, especially Zhao Yunwen.

He was planning to wear down the Japanese a bit more, but as the fighting went on, he lost control and could only let them do as they pleased.

There's no turning back now that the arrow has been released. Since we've launched a counterattack, let's completely crush the Third Mixed Brigade and eliminate as many as we can.

"Baka yarou, what happened?"

"Useless, a bunch of useless trash!"

Tamura Genichi watched in disbelief from the rear. They were clearly on the offensive, but they were inexplicably pushed back by the 323rd Brigade and suffered a complete rout, unable to stop the attack.

Chief of Staff Michitaka Kawano said in a daze:

"General, defeat is inevitable. The Chinese have been holding back all along; they're plotting something!"

"What do we do? We have to hold on, or we're doomed!"

Tamura Motoichi still wanted to salvage the situation, but Lieutenant Colonel Kono ordered his men to carry him away, or he would be taken prisoner.

The Third Mixed Brigade suffered a complete rout, and the battle was decided dramatically. All that remained was to beat the fleeing enemy to a pulp.