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

After ending the call with Gao Hong, Long Fei began to check whether each army was strictly following his instructions to maintain a distance of at least four kilometers from the Japanese.

After receiving a positive reply, Long Fei asked Commander Li to also confirm the exact location of the Nationalist army that had outflanked them.

Unlike the Dragon Flame Legion, the Nationalist Army did not possess real-time communication equipment with a range of over ten kilometers.

Commander Li and Bai Chongxi looked at Long Fei's walkie-talkie with obvious envy.

Upon seeing this, Long Fei immediately ordered the soldiers to take the backpack walkie-talkie down and place it in front of Commander Li.

"Commander Li, this is the latest communication equipment from abroad. It can make real-time calls within a thirteen-kilometer range."

Commander Li examined it carefully and couldn't help but sigh.

"This is great stuff! This device is more convenient than a radio; you can make direct calls."

Bai Chongxi couldn't help but sigh, then got up and walked to the wired telephone set up on the city tower to make a call and inquire.

The command's communications personnel immediately sent a telegram to each unit for final confirmation.

Soon, the Nationalist army units sent telegrams back, reporting that they had encircled the Japanese forces on both the east and west flanks.

Bai Chongxi hurriedly reported to Commander Li, at which point Long Fei solemnly reminded him.

"Sirs, please inform your troops that they must not attack the Japanese without orders, lest they be accidentally injured by my new weapons."

Now that things had come to this, Commander Li had no choice but to follow Long Fei's instructions, so he nodded to Bai Chongxi.

Bai Chongxi had no choice but to make another phone call, ordering the radio operator to relay the order to all units.

Although the Japanese encountered resistance from the Nationalist army along the way, the resistance was not strong.

Often, as long as the Japanese launched a full-scale attack, the Nationalist army would quickly collapse.

Moreover, the Nationalist army's sniping firepower weakened with each attack.

This led the newly arrived Tadao Yoshizawa and Yoshiharu Ozaki to make a clearly wrong judgment.

They believed that the Nationalist army lacked ammunition and was no longer able to stop the Imperial army's offensive.

Although Isogai Rensuke and Itagaki Seishiro, who had always believed that the National Army was no match for them, have now become cautious and conservative.

But the facts forced them to agree with the views of the two brigade commanders.

When the two groups of Japanese soldiers met up about seven or eight kilometers away from Taierzhuang.

The four of them immediately gathered together to discuss the matter.

Rensuke Isogai spoke first: "Taierzhuang is not far ahead. Let's discuss the specific attack strategy."

Tadao Yoshizawa said nonchalantly, "Isoya-kun, what's there to discuss? The Chinese army is short of ammunition and can't stop our attack at all."

Yoshiharu Ozaki also said self-righteously, "Yoshizawa-kun is right. My 13th Independent Mixed Brigade is willing to be the vanguard and launch the first attack on Taierzhuang."

The complete annihilation of the Sakamoto and Seiya detachments left Isogai Rensuke and Itagaki Seishiro still shaken.

Therefore, they acted somewhat conservatively.

Itagaki Seishiro kindly reminded them, "Although the Chinese army is outdated in terms of weaponry and equipment, their individual combat capabilities are also inferior to those of our excellent Imperial soldiers."

"But they are cunning by nature. I think it's safer to send out a reconnaissance unit to investigate first."

Isoya Rensuke, of course, sided with Itagaki Seishiro and immediately expressed his agreement.

“Itagaki-kun is right. Anyway, it won’t take much time. We can launch an attack after we’ve investigated the situation.”

Isogai Rensuke and Itagaki Seishiro were, after all, lieutenant generals and division commanders, while Yoshizawa Tadao and Ozaki Yoshiharu, despite being brigade commanders of independent mixed brigades, only held the rank of major general.

Therefore, seeing that Isogai Rensuke and Itagaki Seishiro were adamant in their stance, they could not openly oppose them and had no choice but to nod in agreement.

Immediately, Yoshiharu Ozaki took the initiative to send out a reconnaissance team, ordering them to immediately move forward and conduct reconnaissance of Taierzhuang.

The Japanese reconnaissance squad immediately set off to search for and advance towards Taierzhuang, conducting reconnaissance along the way.

Along the way, the Japanese reconnaissance team did not encounter any Nationalist troops. More than an hour later, they arrived smoothly not far from Taierzhuang.

After careful observation, the Japanese reconnaissance squad immediately reported the findings via radio.

After receiving the report from the reconnaissance team, Yoshiharu Ozaki immediately relayed it to the other three.

"My reconnaissance team has arrived at the city of Taierzhuang. They have not found any Chinese army defenses along the way."

"According to their observations, the Chinese army has withdrawn into Taierzhuang, and no defensive fortifications have been built outside the city, let alone defensive positions."

Rensuke Isogai found it rather strange.

"Hiss... Gentlemen, the Chinese army would definitely have deployed defenses outside the city in the past."

Seishiro Itagaki also questioned, "Isoya-kun is right. The Chinese army had previously set up defensive positions outside Linyi and Xiangcheng."

"Why is it that the Chinese army doesn't do this in such a strategic location as Taierzhuang? This is very unusual."

Yoshiharu Ozaki scoffed, "Isoya-kun and Itagaki-kun, I actually think they're not hard to understand."

"The Chinese army knew the power of our tanks and artillery, so they all retreated into the city of Taierzhuang, preparing to use the city's strong defenses to resist us."

Yoshizawa Tadao immediately agreed, saying, "Gentlemen, we must admit that the Chinese army is not stupid. After paying a heavy price in the war, they will certainly have learned something and improved."

“I agree with what Ozaki-kun said. The Chinese army knows that they cannot resist our tanks and cannons.”

"In order to reduce unnecessary casualties, we chose to use the city's defenses to resist, and then engage in street fighting with our army."

Tadao Yoshizawa and Yoshiharu Ozaki's analysis was so logical that Rensuke Isogai and Seishiro Itagaki had no way to refute it.

Finally, Isogai Rensuke sighed and asked, "So, in your opinion, what tactics should we use to attack Taierzhuang?"

Yoshiharu Ozaki confidently stated without hesitation.

"We should immediately march our troops to the walls of Taierzhuang, first use cannons to destroy the enemy's fortifications, and then use our chariot forces to launch a fierce attack on the city gates."

"Once the city gates are breached, the Chinese army will have no choice but to abandon the city's defenses and retreat into the city to engage in street fighting with our troops."

"The Chinese army is short of ammunition and has no advantage in street fighting against our army. I believe we can take Taierzhuang before dark."

Ozaki Yoshiharu's arrogant words really startled Isogai Rensuke and Itagaki Seishiro.

“Ozaki-kun, it’s already noon. We only have a few hours to take Taierzhuang before dark…”

Yoshiharu Ozaki was somewhat displeased to see that the two division commanders were actually questioning him.

"As I said, my brigade is willing to act as the vanguard, and your troops will provide cover from behind."

"After I break through Taierzhuang, you will come with me to fight your way in and wipe out the entire Chinese army."

Isogai Rensuke and Itagaki Seishiro exchanged a glance, their thoughts aligned.

Since you, Yoshiharu Ozaki, have made such a boast, then go and fight.

Anyway, if we win, everyone gets the credit; if we lose, you'll be the one to take the blame.

Although Yoshizawa Tadao wasn't that malicious, he thought that since Ozaki Yoshiharu was willing to take this risk, he could preserve the strength of his troops, so why not?

Therefore, Yoshiharu Ozaki's suggestion was adopted.

Subsequently, Yoshiharu Ozaki led his Independent Mixed Brigade No. 13 and began a forced march toward Taierzhuang.

The 5th and 10th Divisions and the Independent Mixed 3rd Brigade followed closely behind.

The Japanese soldiers' actions were all under the surveillance of the reconnaissance squads sent out by Long Fei.

So when the Japanese soldiers took action, Long Fei's walkie-talkie rang again.

"Reporting to the corps commander, after the Japanese sent out reconnaissance troops, the entire army is now marching rapidly towards Taierzhuang."

Long Fei put down the walkie-talkie and then spoke to Commander Li and Bai Chongxi.

"Sirs, the Japanese are here. The show is about to begin."