The War of Resistance Against Japan: Special Operations Battalion Traverses Shanghai and Slaughters

Long Fei stopped him and said, "Brigadier Chen, wait a minute. I think you should send a telegram to your superiors now."

"Tell me that your 37th Brigade, after a bloody battle, has completely annihilated the 13th Regiment of the 11th Brigade under the 6th Division of the Japanese army."

"We are now preparing to lead our troops to launch a preemptive attack on the Japanese 36th Brigade at 2:00 PM."

Chen Defa was a little confused: "Brother, didn't you tell me not to ask for instructions or report to my superiors before? What's going on..."

Long Fei chuckled: "Brigadier General Chen, times have changed. The situation is different now. You're not asking for instructions or reporting now, but reporting your battle achievements."

"Ah... Brother, I understand what you mean. I'll report it right away."

Chen Defa immediately understood Long Fei's intention and happily strode away.

Long Fei is making the 37th Brigade famous by wiping out an entire Japanese regiment with the strength of a brigade.

Throughout the entire Shanghai battlefield, no Nationalist army unit could achieve this; neither the German-equipped divisions nor the Tax Police Corps could.

Once this telegram is sent, Chen Defa will become a hero, and the 37th Brigade will become famous throughout the world because of this battle.

In addition to various rewards from the Nationalist government, the brigade will likely be expanded into a division or even an army.

The Japanese troops that landed in Hangzhou Bay yesterday were the 10th Army, which was formed by the 18th Division, the 114th Division, the 6th Division, and other units. The commander was Lieutenant General Yanagawa Heichi.

The Nationalist government divided the troops participating in the Battle of Shanghai into three armies: left, center, and right.

The Nationalist troops defending the north bank of Hangzhou Bay were known as the Right Wing Army, commanded by Zhang Fakui, and comprised the Eighth and Tenth Army Groups.

Zhang Fakui was a famous general during the Northern Expedition. He served as the commander of the Fourth Army of the Iron Army and commanded the Battle of Ting Siqiao and the Battle of Wuchang.

The Eighth Army originally consisted of four divisions and one brigade, but as the war progressed, their forces were continuously being redeployed.

By the time the Japanese landed, the Eighth Army Group actually had less than one division left, along with a small number of local armed forces.

Although the 10th Army Group was fully organized, its troops were not withdrawn.

However, they were already exhausted from fighting the Japanese 6th Division and had no energy left to assist the 8th Army in its defense.

Therefore, the Eighth Army's defensive positions have been almost completely lost, with most of them occupied by the Japanese 18th and 114th Divisions.

The 10th Army Group, apart from Chen Defa's Independent 37th Brigade, which severely punished the Japanese 6th Division.

Other units fought extremely hard, suffering heavy casualties and constantly losing positions, with their defensive lines retreating again and again.

Liu Jianxu, commander-in-chief of the 10th Army Group, had just been given a severe scolding by Zhang Fakui over the phone.

Zhang Fakui gave Liu Jianxu a death order: to stop the Japanese 6th Division at all costs.

In addition, Zhang Fakui comforted Liu Jianxu, saying that the higher command had already mobilized two divisions to reinforce the Eighth Army Group.

Liu Jianxu put down the phone, lit a cigarette, and pondered how to stop the attack of the Japanese Sixth Division.

He was even prepared to sacrifice his life for his country.

Just as he was about to issue the order to fight to the death to all units, the communications soldier of Chen Defa's unit happened to make a phone call to the army group headquarters.

Chen Defa made a phone call.

"I am Chen Defa, commander of the 37th Independent Brigade. I have an important battle report to Commander Liu."

The person who answered the phone was a deputy chief of staff of the army group, who handed the phone directly to Liu Jianxu.

"Commander Liu, Chen Defa has a battle report to give you."

Liu Jianxu thought that Chen Defa's 37th Brigade couldn't hold out and called to request a retreat, so he picked up the phone and angrily berated him.

"Chen Defa, let me tell you, don't even think about retreating. You have to hold them off for me, or you'll be court-martialed."

Chen Defa immediately realized that Liu Jianxu had misunderstood and hurriedly explained.

"Reporting to Commander Liu, this morning our Independent 37th Brigade launched a feint attack on the 13th Regiment of the 11th Brigade of the Japanese 6th Division, and then lured the enemy to Linting Town."

"Finally, the Japanese 13th Regiment was completely annihilated in Linting Town. This is a report. In addition, my unit requests to continue the advance northeast of Linting Town and launch an attack on the Japanese 6th Division 36th Brigade from the rear to relieve the defensive pressure on the front line."

"What did you say? Your entire brigade wiped out an entire Japanese regiment?"

Liu Jianxu's first reaction was that it was impossible; this was absolutely impossible.

It should be noted that since the start of the war, the National Revolutionary Army has never annihilated more than one battalion of the Japanese army.

Not to mention annihilating an entire Japanese regiment. How could Chen Defa's brigade, with only a few men, possibly achieve that?

“Chen Defa, I’m warning you, if you lie about military intelligence or claim military merits, I’ll shoot you.”

Chen Defa is now full of confidence because what he said is true.

Although his 37th Brigade was merely a spectator, the Japanese 13th Regiment was indeed completely wiped out right under his nose.

"Commander Liu, what I said is true. If the Japanese 13th Regiment had not been completely annihilated, I would be willing to accept military law."

Hearing Chen Defa speak with such certainty, Liu Jianxu couldn't help but believe him to some extent.

"Okay, I will investigate what you said. If it is true, I will recommend you for commendation."

"But you said you wanted to lead your troops to attack the Japanese 36th Brigade from the rear? Are you crazy?"

Chen De realized he was just learning and immediately put it into practice, speaking in Long Fei's tone.

"Commander Liu, I think we can't just defend ourselves and passively take a beating. Our weapons and equipment and the combat capabilities of our soldiers are not as good as the Japanese."

"Therefore, we should adopt flexible and mobile tactics to eliminate the enemy's manpower and delay their offensive."

"Moreover, I am confident that I can deal a heavy blow to the troops under the 36th Brigade of the Japanese army."

In the past, if a brigade commander had openly educated the army group commander, he would have been reprimanded, and Liu Jianxu would not have listened.

But with the battle situation so dire, the 10th Army's defenses could collapse very soon.

Therefore, Chen Defa's point of view touched Liu Jianxu.

After a moment of contemplation, Liu Jianxu thought to himself, if the 37th Brigade really annihilated the Japanese 13th Regiment, it would mean that this unit was extremely powerful.

If they can inflict some damage on the Japanese 36th Brigade, it will at least alleviate some of the pressure on other units.

At this point, we might as well try anything, since the 37th Brigade only has three or four thousand men anyway, so we might as well let them give it a shot.

Success would be ideal, but even if the entire army is wiped out, the losses for the 10th Army Group would not be too great.

Furthermore, even if these few thousand people were placed on the front lines, they would be wiped out in half a day at most.

"Alright, Brigade Commander Chen, I agree to your request for combat. Fight well for me. If you do well, I will not only reward you, but I will also recommend you for merit. When we get back, I will treat you to a celebratory drink."

"Yes, thank you, Commander Liu. The officers and soldiers of the 37th Brigade will live up to your expectations."

On the Japanese side, Taro Sakai, the commander of the 11th Brigade, was the first to receive the report.

It is said that the 13th Regiment has caught up with the Chinese army and occupied Linting Town.

He sat in the temporary command post, secretly pleased with himself, patiently waiting for the regimental commander, Yasuyuki Okamoto, to report on the battle results.

But a short while later, deafening cannon fire could be heard from Linting Town.

"Baka! Are artillery shells free? Bayonets and bullets are enough to deal with these Chinese pigs."

But soon after, the dense sound of MG34 machine guns rang out, "rat-a-tat-tat... rat-a-tat-tat..."

Taro Sakai stood up abruptly, asking in alarm.

"What kind of gunfire is that? Our light and heavy machine guns don't make that sound. Send someone to find out immediately."

Just kidding, the MG34 is known as the devil's roar, and that's no exaggeration.