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

After the meeting, Long Fei told them to wait patiently because Xue Boling's personnel transporting weapons and equipment had not yet arrived.

Then, Long Fei asked Xu Peng to convene a meeting of all officers of division level and above in the corps.

Since the First and Second Armies were currently stationed in Shangqiu and Lanfeng, Chen Yiding and Zhu Ci were unable to attend the meeting, so Long Fei could only send the resolution to them by telegram after the meeting.

Once everyone had arrived, Long Fei began to speak.

"I've called this meeting because there are a few things I need to convey."

"First, Commander Shang's 32nd Army, with more than 20,000 men, has joined my Dragon Flame Legion."

“I organized them into the Ninth Army, and Song Kentang, the former commander of the 141st Division, served as the army commander.”

"I will replace their weapons, equipment and pay tomorrow. As for training, we will start when we get to Shanxi."

"Secondly, annihilating the Doihara Division temporarily resolved the crisis in Wuhan and also prevented the Nationalist government from making the ridiculous decision to breach the Yellow River dike and use water as a weapon."

"Therefore, I have decided to set off tomorrow and advance the entire army toward Shanxi."

"Now that the Japanese have basically occupied the entire Shanxi province, I have decided to temporarily refrain from engaging them in battle and instead send the entire army north from Zhengzhou into the Taihang Mountains."

"After marching to the mountainous areas near Xiyang and Heshun, we will find a suitable place to set up a base and then conduct intensive training for the entire army for a month."

Do you have any objections to my arrangements?

Long Fei had already explained the reasons for going to Shanxi to everyone.

Moreover, Long Fei's idea of ​​not engaging the Japanese in battle for the time being, but instead establishing a base and training troops, was also very practical.

Therefore, no one raised any objections.

Seeing that no one objected, Long Fei then went on to talk about the third thing.

There's something that's been stuck in my throat for me, and I have to get it out of my mouth.

"The National Government is really disappointing. They lost three provinces before and did not declare war on Japan."

"Now half of China has been occupied by the Japanese. Although the Nationalist government is fighting fiercely, it has not yet declared war."

"Declaring war demonstrates the nation's attitude and determination, and can also better unite the strength of compatriots across the country."

"Therefore, since the National Government dares not declare war, then our Dragon Flame Legion will declare war."

"What do you think?"

The question raised by Long Fei elicited differing opinions among those present.

Fifth Army Commander Liu Anqi spoke first: "Army Commander, shouldn't declaring war be a government action? Isn't it inappropriate for us to declare war in the name of the army corps?"

Ding Zhipan, commander of the Fourth Army, also expressed his agreement.

"Yes, Commander, we only have one legion, with about 100,000 people at the moment. I also feel that it's not quite right."

Long Fei didn't speak immediately, but looked at the others to ask for their opinions.

Many generals within the corps, having previously served in the Nationalist Army, still held some respect for the Nationalist government leadership, so their opposition was understandable.

However, the Sichuan and Yunnan armies of the Eighth Army clearly agreed with Long Fei's decision.

Sun Zhen of the Eighth Army said, "I think the corps commander is right. Half of the country is gone, and they still haven't declared war. What kind of nonsense is this?"

Wang Mingzhang immediately chimed in, "That's right, isn't this a joke? We don't even dare to declare war. What will the world think of us? We'll just become a laughing stock."

Zeng Zesheng, a member of the Yunnan Army, also said excitedly, "That's right. I don't know what the Nationalist government is doing. As a country, they have no backbone or integrity."

At this point, Liu Wei and Xu Peng also expressed their opinions.

Liu Wei said, "The sacredness of national territory and sovereignty is inviolable. Back in the Han Dynasty, a scholar named Chen Tang wrote in his memorial to Emperor Yuan of Han after defeating the Xiongnu Chanyu Zhizhi: 'His head should be hung in the streets between the residences of barbarians to show the world that those who offend the mighty Han, no matter how far away, will be punished!'"

"Is our national government really inferior to a mere scholar from two thousand years ago?"

Xu Peng then added, "The political commissar is right. To date, our Dragon Flame Legion has killed more than 280,000 Japanese soldiers."

"Although our troop strength is inferior to that of the National Revolutionary Army, our achievements are unmatched by the National Revolutionary Army."

"Since the National Government is not declaring war, then our Dragon Flame Legion will raise our arms and shout, and declare war on Japan."

Liu Wei and Xu Peng's words stirred everyone's blood, and even some of the former KMT generals who had previously opposed them changed their minds.

The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause, and Long Fei's decision was met with widespread support.

"Alright, then please have Political Commissar Liu write a declaration of war and tell the world that the Dragon Flame Legion of China is officially declaring war on Japan."

For Liu Wei, this was something he could do effortlessly.

"Commander, I think the declaration of war doesn't need to be too long, just concise and powerful. What do you all think of this version?"

“Now the Japanese pirates have invaded our country, occupied our land, slaughtered our compatriots, humiliated our sisters, and plundered our wealth.”

"This is intolerable! The Dragon Flame Legion of China hereby declares war on Japan! The Dragon Flame Legion will advance wave upon wave, bravely and relentlessly, fearless of sacrifice, to fight to the bitter end, drive out the Japanese invaders, and restore our homeland!"

After Liu Wei finished reading, everyone stood up solemnly, clapping and shouting in unison.

"Expel the Japanese pirates and restore our land...Expel the Japanese pirates and restore our land..."

Around noon, the regiment from Xue Boling's First Army Corps that came to transport weapons and equipment finally arrived in Zhengzhou.

Long Fei had already retrieved the weapons and equipment he had given them from the system warehouse and placed them all outside the city.

Xue Boling and Wang Yaowu pulled Commander Shang along to the outskirts of the city.

They looked on in disbelief when they saw the mountain of weapons and equipment piled up before them.

Xue Boling touched this and that, looking like he had never seen the world before.

Then, he asked timidly, "Commander Dragon Legion, is this really a gift for us?"

Long Fei nodded with a smile: "Of course, I keep my word. These are all for your First Army Corps."

Then, Long Fei took the initiative to introduce himself to them.

"These are one hundred American-made GMI trucks. After transporting the weapons and equipment back, they can also be used to transport soldiers. I've provided you with one hundred tons of gasoline, enough for you to use for a while."

"This is an American-made 155mm howitzer with a range of up to 36 li (approximately 18.5 kilometers) and tremendous power. I've also provided you with this half-track tractor, and I've given you 2,000 shells."

Next, Long Fei introduced Xue Boling and Wang Yaowu one by one.

After Long Fei finished introducing everything, Xue Boling was so excited that he choked up.

"Commander Long, I don't know how to thank you enough. I won't say much, but I promise you that I will repay you with a victory and the heads of those Japanese devils."

"Okay, I'll wait and see."

Long Fei certainly believed in Xue Boling's promise.

Not long after, Xue Boling led his troops to participate in the Battle of Wuhan, where they fought a bloody battle against the Japanese 106th Division at Wanjialing and ultimately won the great victory at Wanjialing.

The Japanese 106th Division was eventually disbanded due to its near-total loss.

Furthermore, Xue Boling later utilized the "Heavenly Furnace Strategy" and these ten large-caliber howitzers.

They won three consecutive victories in the Battle of Changsha.

However, on the fourth occasion, because the Japanese army amassed a large force, Xue Boling was unable to fully utilize the essence of the "Heavenly Furnace Strategy" when outnumbered, and Changsha was occupied by the Japanese.