A Journey Through the Flames of War in the Republican Era

Compared to other central army and local warlord forces, the Training Corps bore a strategic mission. Since its formation, it had basically not participated in the civil war with warlords and the CCP, and had little combat experience, especially lacking experience in fighting against truly modern enemy forces.

As the Battle of Shanghai intensified, the nation's enthusiasm for resisting Japanese aggression and saving the country surged.

The Military Commission regarded the Training Corps as a "seed force" and did not intend to deploy it to the Shanghai-Nanjing battlefield. Instead, it selected an infantry regiment, an artillery battalion, and other directly subordinate companies to form a reinforced regiment, which was used as a reserve force for Zhang Wenbai's Ninth Army Group.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to train reinforcements from various places in Nanjing, Song Hongfei conspired with Qiu Yu'an, the newly appointed chief of staff of the Training Corps, to bring in two infantry regiments, a supplementary regiment, and a large number of newly recruited soldiers from the Training Corps for training, to act as the hypothetical enemy forces, and to serve as training partners throughout the process.

All soldiers and officers received rotational training in air defense, artillery protection, and gas protection, and completed tactical training and realistic combat exercises from the squad and platoon levels to the regimental level.

During this period, junior officers and combat backbone were continuously drawn from various units of the brigade to supplement the Second Regiment participating in the Shanghai-Nanjing battlefield for rotational combat, which enabled the Second Regiment to maintain strong combat effectiveness in the nearly two months of fierce fighting.

Captain Gui Shuaizhen traveled day and night from Europe back to China, and it was already October.

Chief of Staff Qiu Yu'an and Song Hongfei reported on the training situation to Gui Shuaizhen. Looking at their tired faces from working day and night these past few days, Gui Shuaizhen said with great emotion, "You've worked hard. You deserve the most credit for the brigade's current situation! Come on, let's go to the training ground."

The training ground was bustling with activity and everyone was full of energy.

The soldiers leaped and rolled, shouting and yelling, their enthusiasm for training soaring.

The soldiers roared "Kill! Kill! Kill!" at the top of their lungs on the parade ground, their shouts sending chills down everyone's spines.

"The morale is soaring!" Gui Shuaizhen said with satisfaction.

Chief of Staff Qiu Yu'an said: "The new recruits of the newly formed 2nd Supplementary Regiment have completed their basic training and are now conducting tactical training in sync with the 1st and 3rd Regiments."

Gui Shuaizhen watched the soldiers train intently and asked, "The training intensity is much higher than before, and there's only half a day of rest and relaxation each week. Can the soldiers' bodies handle it?"

Song Hongfei replied, "Time is of the essence. The training of new recruits for the brigade is being carried out simultaneously with all the troops that have come to Nanjing for reorganization. The Ministry of Military Affairs attaches great importance to this, and the food supply is sufficient, so the soldiers can manage."

The highest levels of the Military Commission also knew the principle that the emperor would not starve his soldiers, so they personally ordered that the troops participating in the training be provided with unprecedented food to ensure that the soldiers had enough physical strength.

At this critical juncture, everyone saw things clearly, and no one dared to covet the rations intended for the troops about to go to the battlefield.

Gui Shuaizhen nodded and said, "It's not easy to do this in such a short time. Hongfei, you have to carry the burden on both shoulders. You've really worked hard."

"There's nothing we can do about it. We don't have enough equipment, so we have to make up for it with tactics!" Song Hongfei said with a bit of bitterness. "From equipment and training to tactics, we are far behind the Japanese army. If we want to defeat the enemy, we have to catch up! The soldiers in training also know the principle of 'the more you sweat in peacetime, the less you bleed in wartime.' Although the training is very tough, they can all persevere."

Gui Shuaizhen nodded and said, "A fine sword is forged through tempering, and the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from bitter cold."

Qiu Yu'an and Song Hongfei exchanged a glance and said, "The entire brigade is now training hard and preparing for battle at any time."

Gui Shuaizhen looked at them and smiled, saying, "Don't ask me about this. The higher-ups have their reasons for not letting us go. We can only be prepared at all times, sharpening our weapons and waiting for the day to break."

Never fight a battle you are not prepared for; only by being prepared can you avoid trouble.

When the officers and soldiers of the Training Corps saw that Commander Gui had returned, they all requested to go to Shanghai to participate in the battle.

As a combat unit, no matter how illustrious your reputation is, only by fighting a real battle against the Japanese army on the battlefield can you truly live up to your name, prove yourself, and earn the respect of other units that have fought their way out of the battlefield.

Captain Gui Shuaizhen naturally understood this principle very well.

At this time, the Training Corps was not only fully equipped and manned, but also had a newly formed supplementary regiment, making a total of 5 infantry regiments, a truly formidable force. The soldiers had undergone a full month of intensive pre-battle training, their morale was high, and they exuded the imposing aura of a fierce and powerful army.

As Gui Shuaizhen gazed upon his valiant and elite troops, a surge of emotion welled up within him, a feeling of pride burning within him, as if a fire were raging within him.

Becoming an invincible commander on the battlefield, establishing outstanding military achievements, and having brave and skilled soldiers who are renowned throughout the land—this is undoubtedly the ambition and dream of every military leader, and he was no exception!

Gui Shuaizhen was well aware that the operation against Japan would be the first time the Training Corps had clashed with an enemy possessing modern weapons, and it would be an unprecedented and enormous test.

He was particularly shocked when he saw the casualty statistics for the 2nd Regiment, and his heart ached so much that he trembled. It was a shocking number. The 2nd Regiment had been fighting for more than a month and had already undergone four rounds of troop replenishment, adding a total of 10 infantry companies. The infantry casualty rate exceeded 100%!

According to the original plan of the Military Commission, the protracted war of resistance required a large number of military talents, and the Training Corps, as the "seed force" of the whole army, should not be consumed on the battlefield too early.

For a long time, the Training Corps has not only trained a group of outstanding backbone non-commissioned officers, but its sergeant battalions have also trained a large number of grassroots squad leaders and backbone personnel for other Central Army units, with remarkable results.

The Military Commission plans to further strengthen the training of non-commissioned officers in order to effectively address the shortcomings of the general lack of command ability among the grassroots squad leaders of the National Army, and to enable the Training Corps to give full play to its role in "training".

Minister of Military Affairs He Jingzhi told Gui Shuaizhen, who came to report, that the original plan was to transfer the Training Corps to the rear, hold the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River, and expand it into the second phase of the War of Resistance as a strategic reserve force to carry out a protracted war of resistance west of the Pinghan and Yuehan lines and along the second geographical ridge.

Gui Shuaizhen returned from the Ministry of Military Affairs with orders and conveyed Minister He's instructions at a meeting of officers above the battalion commander level: "We now have two paths before us. One is to expand the army in the rear and promote everyone, with battalion commanders becoming regimental commanders and regimental commanders becoming brigade commanders. The other is to go to the front to fight and sacrifice for the country."

All the officers knew very well that going forward meant bloodshed and sacrifice, while going backward meant promotion and wealth.

Chief of Staff Qiu Yu'an spoke passionately: "For a long time, other units received salaries during the national crisis, while we received full salaries. In terms of equipment, we were among the best in the entire National Revolutionary Army. Now, units across the country are volunteering to join the war, but we are expanding our forces in the rear. Although it is an order, how can we not feel ashamed?"

Song Hongfei also said, "An army is raised for a thousand days to be used for one. Shedding blood on the battlefield is the true nature of a soldier! A truly invincible elite army cannot be built without going through several bloody battles."

These passionate officers were immediately filled with fervor and signed a petition, resolutely requesting to go to Shanghai to participate in the battle.

All officers and soldiers of the Training Corps volunteered to serve their country on the battlefield.

"Sacrificing oneself for the country in times of crisis, regarding death as returning home!" The top leaders of the Military Commission were deeply moved and could not help but applaud with great emotion.

Under the strong demands of the officers and soldiers, the principal could not ignore the troops' desire for battle, as that would undoubtedly affect morale.

Another important reason was that the casualties on the Shanghai battlefield were too heavy, and batches of elite troops had been sent to fill the gaps. Now, the principal was almost at the point where he had no fresh troops to send. In addition, he also wanted to set an example for the various warlords, showing that he would not hide his elite troops, in order to demonstrate his determination to fight to the end.

The Military Commission ultimately approved the Training Corps' request to participate in the war, deciding to transfer the main force of the 1st and 3rd Regiments and all directly subordinate units to the Shanghai-Nanjing battlefield, and to separately form three supplementary regiments for reorganization and training in the rear.

This was a fairly clear signal, indicating that the Military Commission would expand the division into a Class A division with a three-brigade, nine-regiment system. Although it was not expanded into an army, it was in fact an army in terms of organization. The morale of the entire Training Corps was greatly boosted.

Gui Shuaizhen was also filled with pride and excitement, his feelings of triumph were indescribable. He was only waiting to make a name for himself in Shanghai and establish military merit, so that he could rightfully become the army commander in the future.

At this time, the Japanese army had deployed the 3rd, 11th, 101st, 9th, 13th, and Shigetō Brigades, two heavy artillery brigades, and one heavy artillery regiment to the Shanghai battlefield, along with the existing marines stationed in Shanghai, totaling nearly 200,000 troops. They possessed more than 300 artillery pieces, over 200 tanks, and more than 200 aircraft. Temporary airfields were also built at Sizhou Island, Shawo, and Gongda Cotton Mill.

With powerful combined land, sea and air firepower, the Japanese launched a full-scale offensive, first bombarding the Nationalist army's fortifications with superior air force and artillery fire, and then launching surprise attacks on the Nationalist army's positions with infantry accompanying tanks.

The National Revolutionary Army fought bravely, using grenades and bayonets to engage the Japanese army in fierce battles, constantly organizing counterattacks and repelling the Japanese army time and time again.

The two sides engaged in fierce fighting village by village, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries, and the battle was extremely brutal.

After several days of fierce fighting, the Japanese army broke through Wenzaobang and advanced southwards day after day with a very fierce offensive.

The 9th, 3rd, and 101st Divisions advanced in unison along the north bank of the Yunzaobang River, launching a frontal assault; the 11th Division maneuvered to the right flank, attacking the Yangjing River line; and the 13th Division served as a second-line force to monitor the flanks and rear, and as the general reserve. The four divisions formed a pincer movement, heading straight for Dachang Town, a key defensive point for our army.

Matsui Iwane, commander of the Japanese Shanghai Expeditionary Army, was gazing at the map with a smug and self-satisfied air. He saw that the area around Yunzaobang, Dachang, and Nanxiang was now surrounded by several large arrows of different colors.

This was Matsui Iwane's "Central Breakthrough" plan, which aimed to achieve a swift victory, cut off the connection between the National Revolutionary Army's Central Group Army and the Left Wing Group Army in one fell swoop, capture Dachang, outflank the Ninth Group Army's rear, annihilate the National Revolutionary Army, and completely occupy the area north of the Suzhou River.

The Third War Zone successively reinforced more than a dozen divisions to resist tenaciously and launched a brave and large-scale counterattack. The two sides fought fiercely, with artillery fire everywhere, the sound of killing shook the earth, and mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Although our army slowed down the Japanese advance and inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy, it failed to stop their frenzied offensive.

The Japanese army launched a fierce attack for days and had established several solid bridgeheads along the Wenzaobang embankment. They also planned to break through the Zoumatang line, sweep through Jiangwan, Dachang, and Zhabei, and take control of the area north of the Suzhou Creek.

The overall situation was extremely dire for the Nationalist army, which not only suffered heavy losses of its elite troops but also lost the initiative on the battlefield. The line from Jiangwan and Miaohang westward, through Dachang, to Nanxiang, had become the last line of defense for the Nationalist army to guard the area north of the Suzhou River.

With the situation turning against them, the defenses at Dachang were on the verge of collapse, and the defeat was beyond saving. If Dachang fell, the entire northern Songhu front would be completely destroyed.