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

The Lone Army Battalion was a force that Zhao Yunwen valued highly. Putting aside the various sentiments and lingering regrets of later generations, just the fact that hundreds of thousands of troops had retreated while they were willing to stay behind to cover the retreat, and that they remained true to their original aspirations despite being confined to the enemy camp for several years, made him determined to have them.

Moreover, there are 17 officers who graduated from Whampoa Military Academy. This is a treasure trove of troops. It's easy to recruit them, but difficult to win their hearts. This is one of the reasons why he came here in person.

Another reason was that he wanted to personally command this breakout battle, to show the soldiers of the isolated battalion his abilities, and to ensure that the Japanese troop deployment was under his control.

Only by severely damaging the pursuing forces will the Security Corps have enough room to maneuver near Kunshan.

The Japanese troops on the western and southern fronts wouldn't arrive for another day, so he decided to exploit the time difference and eliminate the enemy on the eastern front before the Japanese troops from the other two directions arrived.

"Commander Xie, I need you and the brothers of the isolated battalion to act as bait."

Zhao Yunwen then explained his plan, and Xie Jinyuan nodded repeatedly, immediately expressing his agreement:

"Commander-in-Chief, the isolated battalion guarantees to complete the mission!"

Zhao Yunwen nodded and said:

"The Japanese pursuers on the western front will arrive in two hours at the latest. They have already dug some fortifications in the southern suburbs, so you just need to reinforce them a bit more."

In addition, I will reinforce you with a machine gun platoon, equipped with 4 M1919 Browning medium machine guns, plus 3 mortars, to suppress the Japanese machine guns.

All the captured Japanese weapons are yours. Add a batch of domestically produced ammunition and grenades, and that should be enough.

"Commander, with these heavy weapons and ammunition, I am confident that I can hold off the Japanese and create opportunities for the main force."

"Time is of the essence, the position is now in your hands!"

After Zhao Yunwen finished speaking, he withdrew from the position, taking Battalion Commander Yang and all the wounded with him. Su Wanqing naturally went along to take care of them as well.

After Xie Jinyuan gathered all the company commanders and conveyed the mission, the troops began to repair the fortifications. The First Battalion left their entrenching tools with them, so they were able to dig trenches much more efficiently.

Yang Guai didn't know why he had to stay behind to block the Japanese, but he was just a squad leader. Although he was cursing, his hands were never idle.

With the right tools, they quickly deepened and widened the fortifications left by the Japanese, and had a greater sense of security while hiding in the trenches.

The Kumagai Battalion finally broke through the minefield and reached the west side of the southern outskirts of the position, whereupon they launched a probing attack.

Lieutenant Kamei Tsuyoshi said in a deep voice:

"Kumagai-kun, the Chinese are behaving strangely. After breaking through the Imperial Army's blockade, they not only did not leave, but instead adopted a posture of holding out to the death. I am worried that there is a conspiracy."

"Kame-kun, you overestimate them. Where did all these schemes come from? They just defeated the Qingpu garrison, and we caught them off guard. We can only hold them off for now and withdraw after dark."

If they run away now, they'll easily be pursued and killed by the Imperial Army. Staying behind to hold them off is the best option, and the Chinese commander is a capable man.

Major Kumagai's analysis was very logical and insightful, and Captain Kamei listened with repeated nods of approval, praising him highly:

"Oh dear, I was overthinking it. It was Kumagai who saw the plight of the Chinese. With only a few hundred of their remaining soldiers, lacking guns and ammunition, the Imperial Army could wipe them out with a single charge."

Major Kumagai agreed wholeheartedly and didn't take the isolated battalion's resistance too seriously; the probing attack was merely a formality.

Inside the field command post, Xie Jinyuan looked at the dozens of furtive Japanese soldiers, a playful smile appearing on his lips.

"A few dozen people trying to probe my capabilities? Do they really think my 524th Regiment is made of clay!"

"Lei Xiong, notify the machine gun platoon not to expose themselves yet, and to await my orders!"

Lei Xiong immediately sent someone to notify the machine gun platoon, and then asked:

"Commander, are the machine gun platoon now under our command?"

"Company Commander Lei, can't you be a little more ambitious? The regimental commander has already said that after joining up with the main force, the isolated battalion will be retained as a whole, with an additional artillery company equipped with four 82mm mortars and two 92mm infantry guns."

Each company is equipped with three light mortars and six Browning medium machine guns!

Lei Xiong was thrilled; this equipment was even more impressive than that of the 88th Division. He said in a flattering tone:

"Commander, let me be the artillery company commander. I was in the artillery section at Whampoa."

Xie Jinyuan knew Lei Xiong would be tempted, so he decided to keep him in suspense a little longer and put away his smile, saying:

"Let's talk after we've finished fighting."

Just as the two were talking, the Japanese skirmishers had advanced to the front of the position, and Shangguan Zhibiao gave the order to open fire.

They unleashed a barrage of firepower, catching the Japanese off guard. Twenty or thirty of them were wiped out. In just one exchange, the search team was crippled. It was too brutal.

"Baka yarou! I didn't expect the Chinese to have such fierce firepower. Didn't they say they were short of guns and ammunition?"

Major Kumagai secretly rejoiced that he hadn't acted impulsively, otherwise the losses would have been even greater.

Captain Kamei habitually shifted the blame:

"Kumagai-kun, it's all the fault of the British and those useless traitors in the Empire, who gave away too much equipment to the isolated battalion."

"No problem, one battalion of the Empire is enough to crush a Chinese division!"

There's no need to probe any further. Send Nakano Company to rout them, with infantry artillery platoons and machine gun companies providing support.

Major Kumagai spoke casually, saying that a few light machine guns were nothing to worry about.

Shortly after the Japanese launched their probing attack, a force of about two hundred men arrived, their killing intent comparable to that of a first-class division.

Xie Jinyuan no longer held back and ordered four Browning medium machine guns to open fire, providing fire support from 4 meters away and causing heavy casualties among the Japanese soldiers.

Yang Guai huddled in the trench, staring intently at the Japanese soldiers. He had never seen such brutal machine gun fire before; even the Maxim heavy machine gun couldn't compare.

Four machine guns pinned a company of Japanese soldiers to the ground, rubbing them in. The riflemen didn't even have a chance to fire. The Security Corps really had a lot of good stuff.

The Japanese machine gun squadron and infantry artillery platoon also joined the battle, gradually suppressing the defenders' firepower, and the infantry continued to advance.

Yang Guai finally had a chance to prove himself. Shangguan Zhibiao allowed him to shoot freely, specifically targeting the Japanese light machine gunners, grenade launcher operators, and officers, and granted him 80 rounds of ammunition.

Yang Guai did not disappoint Shangguan Zhibiao. He moved through the trenches, his shots hitting the mark every time, posing a threat to the Japanese no less than that of a machine gun.

Zhao Yunwen was visiting the wounded. Yang Ruifu's condition had improved a lot. Although he was still unconscious, Su Wanqing had assured him that he was okay, so Zhao Yunwen was relieved.

Su Wanqing finally met Zhao Yunwen and started tattling on him in front of Xiao Jianyun.

Zhao Yunwen put on a stern face and reprimanded Xiao Jianyun, giving Su Wanqing ample face.

"When you get back, go to the mess hall and fetch the iron pot yourself. Your company commander has been relieved of his post!"

Seeing that Xiao Jianyun had been dismissed from his post, Su Wanqing felt a pang of pity and quickly said:

"General Zhao, that's not what I meant. Just have him apologize."

Zhao Yunwen's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile, which he quickly suppressed, and he coldly uttered:

"Xiao Jianyun, apologize to Dr. Su! We are revolutionary soldiers, do you think we are warlords? Using guns to rob people is truly lawless."

Xiao Jianyun stood up straight, not daring to utter a single word, which made Su Wanqing feel very relieved.

"Dr. Su, I'm so sorry!"

Seeing that Xiao Jianyun's anger had subsided after being scolded, Su Wanqing waved her hand and let it go. She then brought up her family's concerns and her desire to go home.

Zhao Yunwen had long taken a liking to Su Wanqing. The Security Corps was in dire need of a doctor who was both responsible and highly skilled; otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen to operate on his beloved general.

"Dr. Su, I have a favor to ask. There are still hundreds of wounded brothers in the army. Could we stay at the Security Regiment for a while longer? We'll pay double the consultation fee!"

As for your family, I'll have the manager of Zhao's trading company go to the Su family to let them know you're safe. You can also write to your family, is that alright?

Su Wanwuqing was in a hurry to go back, but when she heard that there were still hundreds of wounded soldiers in the Security Corps, her professional ethics as a doctor made her unable to refuse, especially since these were heroes who were injured while fighting the Japanese.

"Okay, but you have to let me go once their injuries have stabilized!"

Seeing that Su Wanqing nodded, Zhao Yunwen immediately patted his chest and said:

"Of course, everyone knows my character; I keep my word."

Then he turned to Xiao Jianyun and said:

"I'm giving you a chance to redeem yourself. Take good care of Dr. Su's safety, and listen to Dr. Su!"

Xiao Jianyun's face immediately fell; it seemed the commander-in-chief was about to sell him out.

Su Wanqing made a funny face at Xiao Jianyun, still grinning foolishly even after being betrayed by Zhao Yunwen.

The military staff officer rushed over to report:

"Commander-in-Chief, the Japanese have gone berserk after being repelled and have committed all their forces!"

The fighter jet has appeared, and Zhao Yunwen waves his hand domineeringly:

"Notify Battalion Commander Qin that we can begin operations!"

Zhao Yunwen looked up toward the position, tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

[Add to bookshelf for follow-up updates] The ambush is out in full force, the hunt on the eastern front begins, see how the Japanese fall into a dead end!