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

A dozen minutes later, Zhang Yinwu seemed to have made a difficult decision.

He said to Wu Jiamo, "Commander Wu, we have no problem fighting the Dragon Flame Legion to the death. However, just in case, tonight you will lead the Seventh Regiment to launch a preemptive strike from the South Gate, creating the illusion that our unit is breaking out and attracting the enemy's attention."

"As for me, I led a group to break out to the east. The Dragon Flame Legion doesn't have many troops, so there must be gaps in their encirclement."

"As long as I can break through their encirclement, I can enter Henan territory, and then the Dragon Flame Legion will be unable to reach me."

Although Wu Jiamo readily agreed on the surface, he had ulterior motives in his heart.

Nobody's stupid. Zhang Yinwu's decision was clearly an attempt to slip away and escape with his own life.

He left the Third and Seventh Regiments behind to hold the enemy back, clearly treating them as cannon fodder.

After Wu Jiamo left, he found Zhang Chao, the commander of the Third Regiment, and told him about Zhang Yinwu's decision.

Zhang Chao immediately said, "Old Wu, the commander wants our two regiments to be used as human shields."

Wu Jiamo smoked a cigarette and nodded with a sinister smile.

Zhang Chao thought for a moment and then said, "Old Wu, go negotiate and find out exactly how we offended the Dragon Flame Legion."

"I don't know. They didn't say it explicitly. They also gave the commander a deadline of 8 a.m. tomorrow, or they would wipe us out."

"Hiss... Old Wu, why don't you just surrender after you launch your attack tonight? I don't want to fight anyway. Going to war with the Dragon Flame Legion is like lighting a lantern in a latrine—it's suicide."

This was exactly the result Wu Jiamo wanted, and now that Zhang Chao had taken the initiative to surrender, it suited his wishes perfectly.

"But if we surrender, I'm afraid we won't be able to follow the commander anymore?"

Zhang Chao waved his hand and shook his head, saying, "No, we have more than 8,000 men in our two regiments. If the commander wants to stay in the National Revolutionary Army, he can't do without troops."

"Let's surrender first, pretend to submit to the Dragon Flame Legion, and then find an opportunity to escape with the troops. We're free to do whatever we want, nobody can stop us."

Around 9 p.m., Wu Jiamo led the Seventh Regiment and quietly slipped out of the south gate, then fired shots into the sky.

Upon hearing the fighting break out, Zhang Yinwu hurriedly led a group of men out of the east gate.

Xie Qiang and Chen Yiding were in command post contacting various reinforcements, but all reported that no reinforcements from the militia had appeared.

Chen Yiding comforted Xie Qiang, saying that the militia forces in various places were far apart and would not be able to appear on the outskirts of Lingchuan until tomorrow at the earliest.

Just then, a report came from the front that the militia in the city intended to break out from the south gate.

Strangely, the other party fired into the air.

Xie Qiang thought for a moment and chuckled to himself, "The militia is putting on a good show for us by feinting to the east while attacking in the west. Order all units to be on high alert and not let a single militia member escape."

Sure enough, Xie Qiang received another report shortly afterward.

It is said that the militia that came out of the South Gate has surrendered voluntarily, and another militia unit appeared at the East Gate, but it has been defeated and fled back into the city.

Zhang Yinwu led a group, fully expecting to break through the encirclement of the Dragon Flame Legion by surprise.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they made contact, the Dragon Flame Legion's powerful firepower rendered him completely helpless.

Let alone breaking through the encirclement, the more than four thousand people couldn't even lift their heads.

Left with no other option, Zhang Yinwu had to order a retreat back into the city.

As a result, apart from the four or five hundred who were killed or wounded, the rest of the group lay on the ground and scurried back like rats.

When Zhang Yinwu returned to the city still in shock, he discovered that something terrible had happened.

Because at this moment, only the regiment that had just withdrawn remained in the city, while the three regiments that remained had disappeared.

Meanwhile, Wu Jiamo and his 7th Regiment were the first to surrender, followed by Zhang Chao's 3rd Regiment, which also surrendered outside the city.

More than 8,000 people were disarmed, and Wu Jiamo and Zhang Chao were brought before Xie Qiang.

Xie Qiang chuckled and teased, "You two regimental commanders are more pragmatic than your Commander Zhang."

Wu Jiamo, having had prior contact with Xie Qiang, quickly chimed in.

"The Dragon Flame Legion is renowned for its power; we dare not be your enemy."

Upon hearing this, Xie Qiang's expression darkened, and he questioned Xie Qiang.

"I don't understand what Commander Wu is saying. According to your logic, you only choose the enemy based on whether you can win or not, without considering their identity?"

"Or I would put it this way: the Japanese are powerful, so you dare not fight against them, but instead fawn over them and secretly make peace with them."

"But you regard the Eighth Route Army as enemies, so you provoke and kill them in every way."

At this moment, a thought suddenly flashed through Wu Jiamo and Zhang Chao's minds: could it be that the Dragon Flame Legion had come to stand up for the Eighth Route Army?

At this point, Zhang Chao cleverly retorted, "Deputy Commander Xie, we are not hostile to the Eighth Route Army. It's just that they are not completely obedient to their leadership, which has led to contradictions and conflicts."

Xie Qiang didn't want to listen to the other party's nonsense and shouted back.

"Don't bother explaining to me. I don't want to hear it or accept it. All I know in the Dragon Flame Legion is that whoever messes with the Eighth Route Army or the New Fourth Army, we'll mess with them too."

After saying that, Xie Qiang turned to Chen Yiding and said...

"Commander Chen, as we agreed, select those passionate young people and ambitious individuals from the militia."

"Those who are willing to join the Dragon Flame Legion to kill the Japanese devils can stay; those who are not can leave with travel expenses."

"As for the others, deal with them as appropriate."

Xie Qiang's words greatly worried Wu Jiamo and Zhang Chao.

"Vice Commander Xie, what about us? We have already surrendered and are willing to join the Dragon Flame Legion."

Before Xie Qiang could answer, Chen Yiding and the soldiers around him all burst into laughter.

That smile sent chills down Wu Jiamo and Zhang Chao's spines.

Xie Qiang took two steps forward and pointed at them with his finger, saying disdainfully.

"It is true that you have surrendered to our army. Our Dragon Flame Legion has strict regulations for prisoners of war: those who commit heinous crimes will be executed on the spot, and those who commit minor crimes will be subject to labor reform."

"As for what you're saying about being willing to join my Dragon Flame Legion, sorry, we're not garbage collectors, we don't want your kind."

"what……"

Xie Qiang's answer completely thwarted Wu Jiamo and Zhang Chao's plans, and the two collapsed to the ground in despair.

At Chen Yiding's signal, four soldiers came forward and escorted Wu Jiamo and Zhang Chao to the more than 8,000 prisoners.

Then Chen Yiding announced: "We have found out that Zhang Yinwu, the commander-in-chief of the Hebei militia, previously led his militia to surround and massacre more than 400 people from the Seventh Detachment of the Third Column of the Eighth Route Army stationed in Shen County."

"This act is heinous, a crime that arouses the wrath of both gods and men, and is unforgivable."

"I hereby announce that Wu Jiamo, Zhang Chao, and the other 32 officers involved in this crime will be executed on the spot."

The reason Chen Yiding knew so much about the participants was because Commander Liu told him this personally when Xie Qiang went to the Eighth Route Army to deliver silver dollars and weapons.

After Xie Qiang returned, he told Long Fei the truth, and Long Fei instructed him that these people must be severely punished.

Wu Jiamo and Zhang Chao are now filled with regret, but unfortunately there's no going back.

Thirty-four people were lined up and executed after a burst of gunfire.