Spy Wars: I am the Captain of the Military Police

"Get ready for battle! The Japs are coming!" The distant observation post shouted a warning.

The resting soldiers quickly took up their positions.

Although the fortifications are dilapidated, they are better than nothing.

Li Changshun was in charge of a heavy machine gun that had been repaired with great difficulty. Although the gun mount was unstable, it could at least fire.

The Japanese army apparently also discovered the national defense fortifications, and the attack formation became cautious.

The first thing that came was the artillery preparation. The shells landed accurately around the fortifications, shaking the bunkers.

"Anti-artillery! All anti-artillery!"

After the bombardment, the Japanese infantry began to attack.

What comforted the defenders was that although these unmaintained fortifications were a bit shoddy, the foundation was still there.

The Japanese artillery bombardment could only leave some traces on these permanent fortifications.

Bullets hitting concrete only leave white spots.

"Attack!" The lieutenant colonel who was temporarily in charge of this remnant army gave an order and all the firearms of the defenders opened fire at once.

Li Changshun operated a heavy machine gun. Although the unstable gun mount resulted in poor shooting accuracy, he still successfully suppressed a Japanese attack group.

Other soldiers also relied on the wreckage of fortifications to resist tenaciously and miraculously repelled the first Japanese attack.

But the good times didn't last long.

The Japanese army quickly brought in flat-fire artillery to accurately bombard the firing holes in the fortifications.

Bunker after bunker was destroyed with precision, and the casualties of the defenders increased sharply.

To make matters worse, the soldiers discovered that there was a lack of communication channels between the fortifications, and each firepower point had to fight on its own.

The Japanese army quickly discovered this weakness and began to defeat it one by one.

The bunker where Li Changshun was located was also hit by a shell, the heavy machine gun was destroyed, and his two assistants were killed on the spot.

He dragged his injured arm out of the ruins and saw that the entire defense line was riddled with holes.

"Brothers! Even if the fortifications are fake, our bullets are real! Even if the bunkers are made of paper, our flesh and blood are not!" Someone shouted to boost morale.

The soldiers held their rifles with their bodies and continued digging fortifications with shovels.

If there is no cover, rely on the craters; if there is no machine gun, use cluster grenades.

On this false national defense fortification, a real bloody battle is taking place.

As night fell, the Japanese army temporarily stopped its attack.

The bodies of soldiers from both sides were lying all over the battlefield.

Li Changshun counted the number of people and found that another one-third of the manpower had been lost.

He sat on the collapsed shelter, looking at the half piece of hard biscuit in Erwazi's hand.

The cakes had become moldy and stale, just like the hopes they had once placed on them. In the distant darkness, the Japanese army's bonfires continued like the bloodthirsty eyes of a pack of wolves.

He remembered the words of Company Commander Fang Xiaoshu: "At this moment, those who hold back the devils and save the seeds are real men."

Perhaps, these dilapidated fortifications did serve their purpose after all. They gave the soldiers a reason to fight and an excuse to die.

On this line of defense, true courage is blooming.

. . . . . . . . . . .

At 5:30 a.m. on November 12, 1937, the sky over Shanghai was just beginning to turn pale, and the Expeditionary Force Headquarters was already brightly lit.

After several days of fierce fighting, the main force of the Chinese army finally retreated, but there was no trace of joy on Matsui Iwane's face.

The command room was filled with a strong smell of tobacco and a tense atmosphere.

The battle map covered the entire long table, densely marked with the positions and advance routes of each unit.

The staff officers looked tired, but they all forced themselves to wait for the final instructions.

Matsui Iwane stood in front of the map, his eyes bloodshot, and the baton in his hand knocked heavily in the direction of Taicang and Kunshan.

"Immediately give orders to all divisions!" His voice was hoarse and rapid, with unquestionable determination: "The 2nd Division, 9th Division, 12th Division, 13th Division and other frontal attack forces immediately pursue in the direction of Taicang and Kunshan!

We must not allow the Chinese army to have a chance to breathe!"

Chief of Staff Major General Iinuma Mamoru quickly recorded the order, but with a frown on his face, he cautiously reminded: "Commander, the divisions have suffered heavy casualties after days of fierce fighting.

The 9th Division suffered more than 30% casualties, and the 13th Division's ammunition supply had not yet fully arrived.

The soldiers are exhausted. Should we rest for half a day and wait...?

"No!" Matsui Iwane slammed his hand on the table, causing the teacups on it to buzz. "The Chinese army retreated in an orderly manner. If we give them time to build a defense, we will pay a greater price! Pursue them immediately!"

He walked quickly to the battle map, pointed his finger heavily at Taicang, and spoke quickly and firmly: "The 9th Division will pursue along the Shanghai-Taicang Highway and must reach Taicang before this evening.

The 2nd Division detoured towards Liuhe, cutting off the Chinese army's retreat towards Changshu.

The 13th Division advanced along the Beijing-Shanghai Railway Line, with Kunshan as its target.

The 12th Division follows as a reserve force, ready to support all parties at any time."

Chief of Operations Colonel Gongping Kuangwu immediately marked the advance routes of each division on the map, and the staff quickly recorded them and began to draft specific combat orders.

The radio in the communications room began to buzz, and encrypted messages were transmitted to the headquarters of each division via radio waves.

"What about the 101st Division?" Deputy Chief of Staff, Colonel Toshimichi Kamimura, said with a hint of hesitation in his voice.

The 101st Division suffered the heaviest casualties in the Battle of Yunzaobang, and several regiments had lost their combat capability.

Matsui Iwane thought for a moment, then glanced at Itai Yudai, who was sitting idly in the corner. A cold glint flashed in his eyes. "The 101st Division suffered the heaviest casualties. Let them go to Shanghai to rest and recuperate."

He paused, his tone suddenly becoming gloomy. "At the same time... order them to 'clean up' the city and ensure there are no remaining resistance forces."

Everyone present knew what the so-called cleansing meant - it meant bloody suppression and massacre, the final conquest of the city of Shanghai.

"Commander," Iinuma Mamoru said cautiously, "Should we consider the presence of an international observation group? There are quite a few foreign journalists in the concession..."

Matsui Iwane interrupted coldly: "The Imperial Army's actions do not need to depend on the opinions of foreigners! Follow orders!"

"Hi!" The officers responded in unison, but the atmosphere became noticeably more solemn.

Orders were issued quickly.

Japanese troops began to regroup on roads in the suburbs of Shanghai.

The roar of tank engines broke the tranquility of the early morning, and the infantry dragged their tired bodies to regroup.

Although exhausted, no one dared to disobey the military order.

At the 9th Division headquarters, Division Commander Yoshizumi Ryosuke immediately deployed after receiving the order: "The 6th Brigade will be the vanguard, advancing rapidly along the Hutai Highway, and the 18th Brigade will follow.

The artillery regiment provides fire support, but do not delay your advance while waiting for the artillery!"

Similar scenes were repeated in each division.

Although the officers and soldiers were exhausted, the order to pursue had been given and the war machine began to run at full speed again.

In downtown Shanghai, the 101st Division began to take over important strongholds.

Division Commander Masayoshi Ito looked at the order in his hand with a complicated expression, and finally could only sigh helplessly and began to deploy the cleanup operation.

The morning sun finally rose fully, but it illuminated a devastated city and roads leading to more killing.

Just as the pursuit order was given, the signalman ran into the conference room in a panic, holding a telegram that had just been translated in his hand.