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

Zhao Yunwen strode back to the regimental headquarters and immediately issued the combat pre-combat order upon entering.

The security force was certainly not some divine intervention, but through his thirteen years of quiet management, it had long since become a terrifying force unknown to anyone.

In terms of equipment, firepower, tactical skills, and logistical support, he completely overwhelmed the German-equipped division, which was known as the elite of the National Revolutionary Army—this was the source of his confidence to take on the deadly mission.

The reason he was willing to stay in the security force and develop his skills in a lowly manner was that he did not want to participate in the civil war and did not want to point his gun at his compatriots.

Secondly, the security regiments were not part of the regular army, and their food and pay were mostly raised by local gentry, giving them a great deal of autonomy. As long as they didn't cross the red line and protected the territory and its people, the higher-ups generally turned a blind eye and let them do whatever they wanted.

With the continuous rewards from the "Resist Japan" system and the abundant wealth of southern Jiangsu, Zhao Yunwen managed to transform a security force into an anomaly.

The regiment has nearly 4,000 members, is well-equipped, and undergoes rigorous training. Its junior officers are either graduates of the Whampoa Military Academy or military talents recruited from overseas at great expense. Its military philosophy is far ahead of its time.

Even more astonishing is that the literacy rate of the soldiers in the regiment is almost 100%, which is unimaginable in any regular army in the country.

Over the past three years, the Second Security Regiment has honed its combat experience by suppressing bandits and maintaining local stability. Coupled with the continuous boost from Zhao Yunwen's system talent, the unit's combat strength has increased dramatically, becoming far stronger than most people imagine.

Once all the staff officers and messengers had left, Zhao Yunwen's aura suddenly changed.

His previous muddle-headed, timid, and useless demeanor had vanished, replaced by a chilling killing intent that had been suppressed for over a decade, almost solidifying into a tangible form.

"I've endured this for so long, it's time to use you as a sacrifice."

The night of August 12th.

East of the Bazhi Bridge, the position of the 12th Company of the 3rd Battalion of the Japanese Navy Special Landing Force was sparsely lit and heavily guarded.

Japanese patrols roamed back and forth between the north and south sides of the bridge. Inside the bunker, the heavy machine guns were pointed at the west side of the bridge, bullets loaded but not yet fired.

Bazhi Bridge, formerly known as Bao'an Bridge.

The old wooden bridge was destroyed in the January 28 Incident. The current bridge is a reinforced concrete bridge rebuilt in 1933. It is 8.3 meters long and 9.5 meters wide, with a single span across the river.

The bridge bottom is 4.25 meters high, allowing passage for 7-ton ships and heavy trucks. It is a vital passage into Zhabei District.

Following the Hongqiao Airport incident, the Japanese army evacuated all of the more than 20,000 Japanese residents in the surrounding area into the concessions, sharpening their knives and making it clear that they intended to start a war in Shanghai.

The ceasefire agreement following the January 28 Incident clearly states that neither China nor Japan may station troops in Shanghai.

However, the Japanese army quickly tore up the agreement and, under the pretext of "protecting their nationals," stationed thousands of marines under the unified command of the Third Fleet.

The Nationalist government could only respond indirectly by deploying troops in China under the guise of security regiments and police corps. These forces appeared to be public security troops, but in reality, they were all elite units.

After receiving the order, Zhao Yunwen did not delay at all. Half a day in advance, he secretly moved the entire group to a hidden place on the west side of the bridge to lie in ambush and wait for nightfall.

In another timeline, the 88th Division did not begin its deployment until dawn, right under the noses of the Japanese army. It was immediately subjected to heavy bombardment by naval guns, and the battle was forced to begin ahead of schedule.

Zhao Yunwen will not give the Japanese that chance.

He planned to seize the bridge under cover of night, strike first, and catch the Japanese army off guard.

The company stationed at Bazhiqiao is a platoon of the Japanese Third Battalion, which is divided into three squads on rotation. This month, it happens to be Watanabe's squad that is stationed there.

Lieutenant Naoki Watanabe, dressed in a navy blue naval uniform with his family heirloom katana at his waist, was on night patrol.

The Japanese Navy has always prided itself on its aristocracy, with officers often coming from prominent families. They frequently disdain using standard-issue swords and prefer to display their status with ancestral knives.

The Japanese Marine Corps had a unique organizational structure, with battalions directly subordinate to companies and platoons. The Shin Special Marine Corps was also a temporary formation, with a battalion of about 500 men, and was even equipped with imported MP28 submachine guns, making them quite well-equipped.

These Japanese soldiers, all former naval officers, have always been arrogant and looked down on the army, especially the Chinese army. They believed deep down that the Chinese people dared not and could not lay a hand on them.

On the surface, Watanabe was meticulous in his night patrols, but in his heart, he didn't believe that the Chinese army would dare to launch a strong attack on the Japanese concession.

In his eyes, not to mention the weak Chinese army, even the Western powers would not dare to easily take action against the Japanese concessions.

To launch an attack is tantamount to declaring war. Do the Chinese have the guts to do that?

A contemptuous smile curled at the corner of his lips. He glanced at the sentry and noticed him distracted. His face immediately darkened, and he slapped him twice across the face.

The sentry was shocked to realize that he was right in front of him; such negligence could be fatal on the battlefield.

"You bastard! If I were Chinese, you'd be a corpse by now!"

Nakano Tsutomu's cheeks burned from the beating, and he felt wronged, but he could only bow his head and respond repeatedly.

He only squinted for a moment, and it was said that he would be ambushed by the Chinese—how could that be?

The Japanese army had strict discipline and a clear hierarchy. When he was beaten, he could only repeatedly admit his mistakes.

West of the bridge, the ambush position.

Zhao Yunwen stood with his eyes closed. In his mind, the system's three-dimensional mini-map covered the entire battlefield in real time. The location of every Japanese soldier, every firing point, and every patrol route was clearly visible, even more accurate than aerial reconnaissance.

He glanced at his watch, the hour hand slowly moving past its designated position.

"action."

To ensure a surprise attack and avoid alerting the enemy, this operation will primarily involve a night raid. The regimental reconnaissance company will serve as the spearhead, with the 1st Battalion providing support and the 2nd and 3rd Battalions standing by as backup.

Company Commander Xiao Jianyun personally led the assault team of more than 20 elite soldiers. Their main weapon was the MP38 submachine gun, and they carried Mauser 20-round guns on their waists. They were also equipped with hand crossbows, melee daggers and other cold weapons. They wore German M35 steel helmets with a matte finish, and were armed from head to toe.

Twenty-six dark figures split into two groups, left and right, and under the cover of night, they silently crept to the riverbank. They then submerged into the water, like ghosts of the night, and stealthily made their way to the opposite bank.

The river was only ten meters wide, and they reached the other side in no time. Xiao Jianyun raised his hand to signal, and the whole team immediately submerged in the water and held their breath.

Not far away, the footsteps of a Japanese patrol approached. The sergeant in charge cautiously peered out, listened carefully for a moment, and finding nothing amiss, led his team away.

Once the footsteps had completely disappeared, the dark figure reappeared from the water like a ghost. With a few clicks of the specially made wire cutters, the barbed wire fence on the riverbank was severed, and the team members, biting their daggers, silently made their way ashore.

The carnage began in the silent night.

One by one, the Japanese outposts on the perimeter were silently slit in the throat. The movements were swift and efficient, and the coordination was impeccable. Not even a muffled groan could be heard.

After taking down two patrol posts, reconnaissance squad leader Liu Wei turned on a faint light to signal the main force on the opposite bank of the river.

A large number of reconnaissance soldiers then waded across the river. Xiao Jianyun left a few men behind to provide support, while the main force continued to clear out sentries, both visible and hidden, to pave the way for a subsequent attack on the bunker.

The reconnaissance company's mission was to capture Bazhiqiao without alerting the main Japanese force.

Once the gunfire begins, the Japanese troops in Hongkou, Yangshupu and other places will be alerted, and the infiltration plan of the 262nd Brigade of the 88th Division will be completely exposed.

It can be said that the Battle of Bazhiqiao was crucial to the success or failure of the first battle of the Songhu Campaign.

Zhao Yunwen entrusted the most critical and dangerous task to his most elite reconnaissance company.

The progress at the front was far smoother than expected. Outposts, both visible and hidden, were eliminated one after another, and more than a dozen Japanese soldiers were killed, but this still did not alert those inside the main bunker.

After patrolling all night, Naoki Watanabe was exhausted.

At 2:15 a.m., he rushed into the main bunker and fell asleep immediately, completely unaware that death had already crept up to his door.

Sentinel Nakano Tsuyoshi initially tried to stay alert, but waves of fatigue washed over him, and his head became dizzy. He didn't even notice Xiao Jianyun touching him from behind.

The next second, a large, iron-like hand tightly covered his mouth, and with a flash of cold light, a dagger precisely pierced his neck. Nakano's body twitched twice, and he instantly stopped breathing.

Xiao Jianyun confirmed the other party was dead, gently put the body down, waved his hand, and several team members followed closely behind, sneaking into the bunker through the rear passage.

The strongest fortresses are often the easiest to breach from within.

Inside the bunker, the machine gunner stared intently at the bridge, seemingly on high alert, but in reality, he was so tired he could barely keep his eyes open. Maintaining an aiming posture for an extended period would be difficult even during the day, let alone in the dead of night.

The assault team pounced on their prey like hungry tigers.

The darkness provided the perfect cover, and Watanabe's squad of Japanese soldiers were wiped out one by one in the dead silence before they even had a chance to react.

Naoki Watanabe was fast asleep, perhaps still dreaming of sweeping away the Chinese, when he was killed with a single blow and his soul returned to heaven.

2:45 a.m.

The reconnaissance company, with zero movement and zero exposure, annihilated all 54 members of Watanabe's squad and completely controlled the Bazhiqiao position.

On the west side of the bridge, Zhao Yunwen appeared calm, but his fingers unconsciously tapped his thigh repeatedly.

This was the first time the security regiment had clashed head-on with the Japanese army, and there was no room for error.

The chief of staff rushed over, his voice trembling slightly as he suppressed his excitement:

"Commander! The reconnaissance company... has succeeded!"

Zhao Yunwen suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze flashing with a sharp light, and his suppressed excitement turned into a low growl:

"What are you waiting for! The whole group—cross the river!"