A Journey Through the Flames of War in the Republican Era

"Our army has an advantage in light weapons, so we should make more use of close combat, mobile warfare, and night combat, and try to avoid trench warfare tactics where heavy troops are locked in a stalemate, so that the enemy's advantage in heavy firepower cannot be brought into play," Song Hongfei added.

The Type 24 semi-automatic rifle and general-purpose machine gun have been in mass production for more than a year. In addition to the Training Corps, the most elite reorganized divisions, such as the 36th Division, the 87th Division, the 88th Division, and the Tax Police Corps, have also been fully equipped with them.

Song Hongfei also knew that other units had just changed their equipment this year and had not yet been able to fully implement the advanced tactical and technical training promoted by the Training Corps after the Battle of Xijing. They also could not fully understand the changes in tactics and techniques brought about by the new firearms.

This is why he was so eager to come to the front lines to understand the actual combat situation after the new guns were equipped.

In fact, the commanders of the other units, including Wang Youping, Song Yingguo, Sun Yuanliang, and Huang Pingjia, also felt that their units lacked junior officers and sergeants who understood modern tactics. So, taking advantage of the fact that Commander-in-Chief Gui Shuaizhen was visiting Europe, they set their sights on the Training Corps and offered high prices to poach people, promising that as long as someone came, they would be promoted one rank, soldiers would be promoted to sergeants, squad leaders to platoon leaders, and platoon leaders to company commanders.

This infuriated Zhou Zhenqiang, their old classmate and deputy captain from the first cohort. The training brigade itself needed to expand. These days, talent is a treasure, something that can't be found easily. How could they let others poach the talent they had painstakingly cultivated?

Zhou Zhenqiang glared at them angrily, treating them like thieves, and muttered to himself, "Back then, you, Song Hongfei, pioneered the way for the 3rd Regiment by poaching people from other places. Well, now they've poached from your own backyard."

However, Zhou Zhenqiang also realized that there was a big difference. Back then, others were willing to lower their prices to come, but now others are offering high prices to send their own troops.

Because of the prestigious reputation and good benefits of the Training Corps, most people were unmoved. The officers preferred to be platoon leaders in the Training Corps rather than company commanders in other units.

Only a very few veteran sergeants harboring dreams of becoming officers were tempted, after all, there's a world of difference between soldiers and officers. Since it concerned the future of the soldiers, and the very purpose of the Training Corps was to serve as a seed force to spread to other units, Zhou Zhenqiang had no choice but to reluctantly give up his dream.

The mention of the new semi-automatic rifles and machine guns finally dispelled the gloomy atmosphere in the 87th Division headquarters, and everyone's expressions brightened.

Previously, only the Training Corps piloted the replacement of the new rifles, leaving the soldiers of the 87th Division only able to look on with envy. But once they themselves were equipped, the semi-automatic rifles and general-purpose machine guns, with their high accuracy, light weight, simple structure, strong reliability, and powerful firepower, became irresistible to them.

There's another, less-than-public reason that makes all the soldiers in the newly equipped units incredibly grateful to Song Hongfei, the designer of the new rifle. Due to the recoil of the semi-automatic rifle during continuous fire, soldiers need more demanding and rigorous training to master it, which also places higher demands on their physical fitness. Slender soldiers would first face psychological resistance, making it naturally difficult for them to master.

Under Song Hongfei's leadership, the Training Corps strictly prohibited the withholding of rations and pay, ensuring that every penny of the food allowance went directly into the soldiers' mouths. The soldiers of the Training Corps were strong and vigorous, full of energy and spirit. For the same height, they weighed nearly 8 kilograms more than soldiers in ordinary units, so mastering the new guns was of course no problem.

The commanders of the other units also understood this. While they couldn't say that embezzlement of rations and pay had been completely eliminated, at least the food rations of each unit had been greatly improved. They were now genuinely eating two dry dishes and one soupy dish every day, with oil, vegetables, and more meat. This alone made Song Hongfei's reputation in these reorganized divisions soar to its peak.

Upon arriving at the Shanghai-Nanjing battlefield, the semi-automatic rifles and general-purpose machine guns demonstrated formidable combat power, filling the soldiers of the 87th Division with an unbelievable sense of surprise and delight.

"The new gun has powerful firepower! And it's also lightweight!"

"A heavy machine gun capable of continuous firing while on the move!"

"It can accompany infantry units on their advance, providing continuous machine gun fire!"

This was an unprecedented scene. Before the advent of the general-purpose machine gun, no one had ever imagined that a heavy machine gun could be used in this way.

This was also a unique weapon system that gave the National Revolutionary Army's front-line troops an advantage, causing the Japanese army to suffer greatly.

"The new guns can completely suppress the firepower of the Japanese light weapons, and the soldiers are full of praise for them!" said Deputy Division Commander Shen Fazhao.

"Semi-automatic rifles and general-purpose machine guns have the advantages of strong firepower, light weight, and great mobility and flexibility," Chief of Staff Xia Shengdao said.

The atmosphere immediately became lively, and the staff officers began a heated discussion.

"Commander Song is right. The Japanese have a lot of heavy artillery, and we are at a disadvantage in trench warfare. We are suppressed by enemy fire and can only take hits without being able to fight back."

"The Japanese Type 92 infantry guns are very accurate. Before their infantry launch an attack, they first use precise direct-fire artillery to target our heavy machine gun positions. Our 87th Division is equipped with general-purpose machine guns and has strong mobility, so the situation is better. Divisions like the 61st and 98th are equipped with Maxim guns, which are heavy and difficult to move. In less than a day of fighting, a brigade of the 61st Division had more than half of its heavy machine guns destroyed!"

"The Japanese grenade launchers are incredibly cunning, appearing and disappearing unpredictably, which is a real headache!"

Song Hongfei said, "We must play to our strengths and avoid our weaknesses. Our tactics should revolve around the advantages of light weapons. According to the actual combat verification of the Training Corps, an infantry squad equipped with semi-automatic rifles can defend a frontal width of up to 100 meters in field conditions. At the same time, we can increase the defensive depth to 100 meters. Relying on Czech light machine guns as the mainstay of firepower, with a semi-automatic firepower density of 40 rounds per minute, we can ensure the formation of a sufficient fire control network."

The officers at the 87th Division headquarters listened attentively, somewhat surprised, as according to previous infantry training manuals, the defensive position of an infantry squad was at most thirty or forty meters wide.

"Of course, this width is not fixed. It should be appropriately reduced according to the battlefield terrain and environmental conditions, to the extent that it does not hinder the squad leader's observation and command," Song Hongfei said solemnly. "The core principle is to disperse troops and concentrate firepower!"

The staff officers of the 87th Division pondered this. Based on the firepower density of semi-automatic rifles, a combat team of three Type 24 rifles could counter ten Type 38 rifles of the Japanese army. Dispersing the troops could prevent the enemy's concentrated artillery fire from causing casualties, while ensuring sufficient firepower to stop the enemy's charge.

Song Hongfei gestured on a blackboard.

"Positions should be deployed in depth, forming at least a deep configuration of forward outposts, main defensive positions, and reserve defensive positions, and constructing sufficient foxholes, shelters, and anti-artillery bunkers to prevent large-scale casualties from enemy heavy firepower. This applies to all levels, from squads and platoons to companies, battalions, and regiments."

"The Type 24 general-purpose machine gun has strong mobility. We should abandon the fixed deployment method like the Maxim gun and set up several machine gun firing points. We should not fire in one place for a long time, but move around in time to avoid being locked on by enemy artillery fire. At the same time, it can also achieve the effect of concealed killing of the enemy."

"The principle of troop deployment is to be in a deep echelon, with more troops stationed and fewer deployed. Only a small number of observation posts and sentry posts are left at the front, while the main force is hidden in well-protected concealed areas and anti-artillery bunkers in the rear. This allows for both troop deployment for preparation and mobile counterattacks, preventing casualties from the superior artillery fire of the Japanese army."

"Once the enemy artillery fire ceases and their infantry launches an attack, our defensive forces will quickly move into their battle positions and, depending on the enemy's direction of attack, conduct defensive operations from the front or flanks. Alternatively, we can combine frontal blocking with flank counterattacks, dispatching elite combat squads for counter-attacks! This will prevent the enemy from capturing our defensive positions, or if they do manage to occupy our forward positions, we will counterattack and prevent them from establishing a foothold!"

This was a tactical concept of mobile defense, which was refreshing to the officers of the 87th Division present. However, it was still too profound for the officers who had long neglected to study modern warfare. Everyone was trying to think about these words.

"During the Battle of Xi'an, the Southeast Army continued to use single-line trenches, neglecting the depth and echelon deployment, as well as flank defense. Our Central Army used infantry guns and anti-tank guns to advance and fire directly, while long-range artillery fired under the direct command and guidance of forward observation groups, achieving excellent firepower results. Ultimately, we broke through one point, achieved a breakthrough in depth, and outflanked the enemy, causing the Southeast Army to collapse across the board!"

Having experienced the actual combat of the Shanghai-Nanjing battlefield, the officers of the 87th Division, after verifying what Song Hongfei said today, have gained a deeper understanding and experience.

Some officers who came from artillery backgrounds were greatly surprised when they heard this: "Indirect aiming firing method for artillery!"

The artillery officers were already somewhat ashamed of themselves, and couldn't help but admire them: "They truly deserve to be called a model training division; they have reached such a high level of training!"

Song Hongfei continued, "Taking a one-hectare, layered defensive position as an example, based on the common calculation that half of the projectiles hit, the Japanese long-range artillery would need at least 200 shells to achieve a suppressive effect, and 600 shells to cause destructive damage. If well-constructed anti-artillery fortifications are built, even 1000 105mm howitzers would hardly achieve a destructive effect!"

"Given the Japanese army's petty nature, did they have the resources to fire so many shells?"

Everyone couldn't help but laugh.

Song Hongfei's advanced ideas broadened the horizons of the officers at the 87th Division headquarters, giving them a refreshing experience.

Everyone felt they had gained a great deal and couldn't help but exclaim, "War is a vast subject, and there's truly no end to learning!"

Some people exclaimed, "Their training brigade always manages to win brilliant victories; they must have put in so much hard work!"

"No wonder Song Hongfei is so highly regarded by the highest levels of the Military Commission. He truly has the skills and the qualifications to do so!"

. . . . . .

A group of professional staff officers shared their opinions and offered suggestions on tactics and strategies for defeating the enemy, engaging in a lively discussion.

Wang Youping, commander of the 87th Division, was overjoyed and said, "This is a timely help! Dr. Song has taught us another lesson. We are truly grateful! My calling him 'little teacher' wasn't in vain! Staff Office, have you all recorded this?! This will be the operational guide for my 87th Division from now on. Distribute it to all brigades and organize all regiments, battalions, and companies to study and apply it carefully!"

For a long time, the National Revolutionary Army was deeply influenced by the outdated tactical concept of frontline trenches. In previous domestic conflicts, since neither side had much heavy firepower, there were naturally no serious consequences. However, on the Shanghai battlefield, when they encountered the combined firepower of Japanese aircraft, naval guns, and large-caliber howitzers for the first time, they immediately suffered heavy losses. The positional warfare turned into a tragic and extremely brutal meat grinder.

Song Hongfei was also deeply moved, hoping that today's efforts could save more soldiers' lives.

Looking at the defense zone map, Song Hongfei said to Wang Youping, "To be honest, this is also the first time I have faced the enemy's combined land, sea and air firepower. Although the principles are the same, the principles of air defense and artillery defense are to disperse troops and concentrate firepower, but what I said today is a bit like theoretical talk. Commander Wang, I want to go to the front-line defense zone of the 87th Division to experience it firsthand and verify it."

Wang Youping was deeply moved, thinking to himself that this young master, a top-level darling, was truly a person who set an example and was fearless.

He immediately declared loudly, "Since you have this intention, then I will go with you."

Song Hongfei drew a line on the map: "Let's go here then."