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

Long Fei knew what Zhu Ci was thinking, so he deliberately said it.

"Sun Tzu's Art of War states: 'The art of war is such that if you have ten times the enemy's strength, surround them; if you have five times their strength, attack them; if you have twice their strength, divide them.'"

"Our forces are only one-third of the Japanese's, so I understand why Commander Zhu lacks confidence."

Long Fei's words implied that Zhu Ci was afraid, which was more painful for the hot-blooded Zhu Ci than being killed.

"Commander Long, I may lack confidence, but that doesn't mean I'm afraid to fight the Japanese Kuniki Detachment to the death."

"We all have two shoulders and one head, so who's afraid of whom?"

Long Fei wasn't actually trying to provoke Zhu Ci. Seeing how agitated he was, he quickly offered him a cigarette.

"Commander Zhu, I don't want you to lead the 528th Regiment to fight the Japanese to the death."

"The Japanese Kuniki Detachment advanced all the way, leaving the other Japanese units at least 20 or 30 kilometers behind."

"In that case, we will have at least an hour to encircle and annihilate the Guoqi Detachment."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yaoxian's expression turned somewhat solemn. To be honest, he didn't believe that Long Fei's small force could annihilate the Guoqi Detachment in just over an hour.

Zhu Ci shook his head repeatedly: "Commander Long, let alone more than an hour, it would take ten hours to do it."

Long Fei didn't want to waste his breath arguing on this point, so he continued.

"Look, Xin'an Town is bordered by Taihu Lake to the west and the Wangyu River to the east. Moreover, this area is full of wetlands, which is not conducive to the Japanese tanks and armored vehicles in combat."

"Therefore, we just need to get to Xin'an Town in advance, make proper arrangements, and wait for the Guoqi Detachment to walk right into our trap."

Zhu Ci still questioned, "Commander Long, even if the Japanese Kuniki Detachment enters our trap, what will we use to encircle and annihilate them?"

Long Fei smiled mysteriously and said slowly, "The reason I mentioned Sun Tzu's Art of War just now was to illustrate a point."

"In ancient times, the difference in strength between the two sides was not too significant, which is why the principle of 'surround them if they are ten times stronger, attack them if they are five times stronger, and divide them if they are twice as strong' was summarized in military strategy."

"Now that we've entered the era of firearms, the gap in weaponry, the difference in individual combat capabilities, and the differences in intelligence, tactics, logistics, and other aspects make it not difficult to win with fewer troops."

"Sixth Brother, Commander Zhu, the Guoqi Detachment has more than 6,000 troops, as well as tanks, armored vehicles, cavalry, and a considerable number of heavy weapons such as mountain guns, heavy machine guns, mortars, and grenade launchers."

"So you think we can't win, but if I tell you, my Dragon Flame Army has 150mm self-propelled howitzers, heavy tanks, and 132mm rockets."

"We also have 60mm mortars, more than 300 light and heavy machine guns, 700 or 800 submachine guns, and hundreds of rifle grenades and other weapons. Do you still think I'm daydreaming? Do you still think we can't win with fewer troops and annihilate the Guoqi Detachment?"

"What... Commander Long, there's no joking in the military, you can't be joking."

Startled, Zhu Ci stood up abruptly and asked Long Fei for confirmation again.

Long Fei smiled and said, "Commander Zhu, please rest assured. We have purchased a large number of advanced weapons when we returned to China to fight against the Japanese pirates. Moreover, our Longyan troops' logistics support team has already transported these weapons and equipment to the vicinity of Xin'an Town."

Now, Zhu Ci went from doubting to being skeptical, and finally chose to believe.

Zheng Yaoxian was also very excited upon hearing this, and he slammed his fist on the ground, saying fiercely.

"Guoqi Detachment, I swear to you! The more arrogant you are now, the more miserable your deaths will be later."

Just as he was getting excited, Zhu Ci suddenly remembered something.

"Commander Long, even if we have so many good weapons, how can we get to Xin'an Town before the Guoqi Detachment? We definitely won't make it on foot."

"Don't worry, our Dragon Flame Unit is a mechanized unit. I have quite a few military trucks. If Commander Zhu decides to lead his troops into battle, then please assemble the team and prepare to depart."

"Of course I'll participate. I'll go assemble the team right now."

After Zhu Ci turned and left, Long Fei asked Zheng Yaoxian again.

"Sixth Brother, are you coming with us to Xin'an Town to see a good show, and then to Jinling City, or..."

Zheng Yaoxian thought about it carefully and then answered.

"I can send the intelligence to the acting director via radio. If I don't watch the big show of the annihilation of the Guoqi Detachment in Xin'an Town, I think I will regret it for the rest of my life."

Long Fei laughed heartily and joked, "Alright, then I welcome Sixth Brother and Fourth Brother to the front line to inspect the battle situation."

"Okay, I'll go tell Fourth Brother."

After Zheng Yaoxian left, Long Fei hurriedly retrieved seventy Gimxi trucks from the system warehouse.

Beiqiao Town is only 40 to 50 kilometers away from Xin'an Town, and it takes a little over an hour by truck.

Just as everyone was getting on the bus, Xie Qiang ran up to Long Fei.

"Commander, these are the sword and sidearm of Japanese soldier Giyu Akiyama, and this is the 6th Brigade's flag, which is only half intact. Can you help me put them in the system's storage room?"

"Xie Qiang, you're collecting Japanese war trophies. Are you planning to build a war memorial hall someday?"

Long Fei immediately guessed that Xie Qiang really had this idea, so while fighting the Japanese, he also collected spoils of war that he considered valuable.

"Hehe, Captain, you noticed that..."

Long Fei said solemnly, "This is a good thing, and I must support it. We must ensure that future generations of China remember this history, because forgetting is tantamount to betrayal."

The Nationalist army in Xin'an Town did not send troops to intercept the Japanese. Moreover, the retreating and scattered Nationalist army, lacking supplies, committed numerous robberies against civilians along the way.

However, the Nationalist army commanders could only turn a blind eye. If they were to actually punish these people under military law, they would feel reluctant, and they were also afraid of inciting a mutiny.

So when Long Fei and his group arrived in Xin'an Town, they found that the town was almost deserted, with all the residents having fled and only the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled remaining.

Looking at the remaining civilians, Long Fei felt a pang of pain in his heart.

He then decided to send a platoon of troops, along with all the wounded and civilians, to Nanjing ahead of him.

To Long Fei's embarrassment, although the system rewarded him with various weapons, ammunition, and food, it did not reward him with any silver dollars.

Long Fei wanted to give them some money, but unfortunately he was short of cash.

With no other option, Long Fei could only try to provide the wounded and civilians with as many compressed biscuits and canned food as possible, at least to help them get through this period.

Liu Yuqing sensed Long Fei's thoughts and difficulties.

When the Sichuan Army left Sichuan to fight against the Japanese, each soldier was given three silver dollars, while officers received between five and fifty dollars depending on their rank and position.

Liu Yuqing then gathered the entire New First Battalion together and began to mobilize them.

“Brothers, we have already risked our lives to fight the Japanese in Sichuan. These people are either old or sick. It would be difficult for them to survive without money if they were to leave their homes and flee.”

"So, we're going to give them our military pay. Do you agree?"

"I need... your consent..."

The officers and soldiers of the new battalion took out all the silver dollars from their pockets and handed them over.

Liu Yuqing, as the commander of the 26th Division and now the deputy regimental commander of the Longyan Army, had his guards donate all of his fifty silver dollars in military pay.

In no time, several thousand dollars were piled up in front of Liu Yuqing.

The actions of the Sichuan Army brothers immediately inspired the officers and soldiers of the 528th Regiment.

Without waiting for Zhu Ci to speak, they all silently took out their military pay from their pockets and placed it in front of Zhu Ci.

Liu Yuqing and Zhu Ci, carrying the silver dollars donated by the officers and soldiers, came to Long Fei.

"Commander Long, you can arrange these funds."

Long Fei was already in tears and didn't know what to say.

"Alright, I'll accept your kind offer. But consider this money a loan from me, Long Fei, and I'll repay it tenfold in the future."

"Xu Peng, take stock and make arrangements immediately. Give each civilian ten silver dollars, the wounded twenty silver dollars, and keep any left over for now."