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

"Did you all see that? Only Japanese soldiers wear these kinds of loincloths."

"Speaking of this kind of loincloth, it actually originated from the Warring States period of our China, when it was called 'Dubi'."

"It was introduced to Japan after the Tang Dynasty. This kind of loincloth has become standard equipment for Japanese soldiers. It has four functions."

"First, it is a symbol of soldiers; second, it represents adulthood; third, it is used for battlefield first aid; and fourth, it is used to surrender as a white flag."

When everyone heard Long Fei say that the Japanese could use this loincloth to surrender, they all burst into laughter.

"Those little devils are shameless; they actually surrendered with their underwear up."

Gan Yini, supporting Gan Honglie, also came over to watch. After listening to Long Fei's explanation, she added something else.

"Commander Long is right. I have read Sima Qian's Records of the Grand Historian, which contains a detailed account of this. This thing is called the 'Dubizhen'. It is said that the first person to wear the 'Dubizhen' was Sima Xiangru."

Long Fei gave Gan Yini an admiring look, then asked loudly.

"So, these so-called Nationalist soldiers are not only all short and stocky, but they're also all wearing loincloths. Now you believe they're Japanese soldiers, right?"

With Long Fei's explanation and Gan Yini's additions, the two spoke with reason and evidence, so everyone naturally chose to believe them.

After binding the Japanese soldier who was impersonating a Nationalist army lieutenant, Long Fei instructed Xie Qiang to hand him over to Zhu Ci.

Upon arriving in Jinling City, Zhu Ci reported to his superiors and handed over the man, then interrogated him to obtain more information.

This information was irrelevant to Long Fei, but it might be very valuable to the Nationalist army defending Nanjing.

Seeing that most people had eaten and received food and silver dollars, Long Fei arranged for vehicles to transport the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled refugees, as well as the wounded soldiers among the defeated troops, to Nanjing City.

Meanwhile, the Special Operations Battalion, the New First Battalion, and Zhu Ci's 528th Regiment marched on foot.

In order to protect Gan Honglie, Gan Yini, and Zhigalev during the journey, Long Fei asked Xie Qiang to send a squad of soldiers to accompany them.

Before getting on the bus, Gan Honglie and Gan Yini found Long Fei to say goodbye.

"Commander Long, thank you again for saving my life. I will report this to my godfather when I get back, and he will definitely thank you in person."

“Mr. Gan, don’t be so fussy. I already said it was just a small favor, there’s no need for all these thanks.”

Gan Honglie smiled and didn't say anything more.

Gan Yini then asked Long Fei, "Commander Long, will you also be going to Jinling City?"

Long Fei hummed in agreement and nodded.

"Then how can we find you?" Gan Yini's bright, sparkling eyes seemed somewhat anxious.

Long Fei pondered for a moment, and finally told Gan Yini.

"After we arrive in Nanjing, we will be with the 528th Regiment of the 264th Brigade of the 88th Division of the National Revolutionary Army. If you really need to find me, come to the unit's garrison."

"Okay, I got it. Goodbye."

After carefully memorizing the instructions, Gan Yini said goodbye to Long Fei, then turned around and helped Gan Honglie onto the truck.

Zhigalev stepped forward and gave Long Fei a tight hug.

"Dragon, my good brother, we'll meet again in Jinling City. I'll treat you to vodka from our Rakshasa Kingdom then."

After saying that, Zhigalev pulled out his pistol from its holster and handed all the bullets he had to Long Fei.

"This is my sidearm; I'm giving it to you as a souvenir."

Long Fei did not refuse, nodded and smiled, and reached out to take it. Upon closer inspection, it was a Tokarev TT33 pistol.

"Thank you, this is a good gun. There is a saying in China: 'It is impolite not to reciprocate.'"

As they were talking, Long Fei took out two pistols, a Luger P08 and an M1911, and handed them to Zhigarev.

Zhigalev looked at Long Fei with surprise: "Oh, Long, my good brother, are these two guns a gift for me?"

Seeing Long Fei nod with a smile, Zhigalev immediately accepted it.

He held it in his hand and examined it carefully for a moment, then looked up at Long Fei and exclaimed in surprise.

"I really like these two guns. I will keep them with me at all times. Thank you."

Long Fei then handed over another four hundred bullets.

"Zhigarev, take the bullets. Take care. Until we meet again."

As the convoy slowly drove away, Zhu Ci whispered to Long Fei.

"Commander Long, you just said that you would be with my troops when we get to Jinling City? But I only reported a little over seven hundred men. Suddenly there are more than a thousand more. How am I supposed to explain this to my superiors?"

Looking at Zhu Ci, Long Fei thought to himself, "This man is brave in battle, but unfortunately he is too straightforward and rigid."

"Commander Zhu, your regiment is supposed to rest and replenish in Nanjing. Many units were wiped out in the Battle of Shanghai. Just tell your superiors that you are gathering remnants of various units along the way."

“Relieving troops is definitely in short supply right now. You suddenly have over a thousand more men, which means your superiors can give you a thousand fewer new recruits. Why not take advantage of it?”

Zhu Ci scratched his head and chuckled, "Hehe, Commander Long's analysis makes sense. How come I didn't think of that?"

After Long Fei and his men finished surveying the terrain of Tangshan Town, they continued their march toward Jinling City.

The journey of more than 20 kilometers took only a few hours, and everyone arrived safely outside Jinling City before dark.

Zhu Ci hurriedly went into the city to report for duty. Zheng Yaoxian told his fourth brother that he was going back to report, so he also bid farewell to Long Fei and left.

Two hours later, Zhu Ci hurriedly returned, saying that the higher-ups had assigned a temporary residence and that everyone should rest there.

After arriving at the base and making arrangements, Long Fei immediately convened a military meeting overnight with officers of company rank and above from the Special Operations Battalion and the New First Battalion.

"I know everyone has been working hard lately, but the situation is urgent and there are some things we must decide on immediately."

"Today's meeting has three agenda items. First, should we directly bomb the Japanese supply depot in Tangshan Town, or follow Chief of Staff Gao's suggestion and find a way to smuggle out the poison gas bombs and supplies inside?"

"Second, the Battle of Nanjing will soon begin. How can we, while assisting the defending troops in resisting the Japanese, find a way to transport the soldiers and civilians in the city to the north bank of the Yangtze River before Tang Shengzhi, the commander of the Nanjing Garrison, orders the city to be abandoned?"

"Third, after crossing the river, where should our Longyan troops go?"

As soon as Long Fei finished explaining the meeting agenda, Liu Yuqing couldn't sit still any longer and was the first to ask a question.

"Commander, in the second item on the agenda, you said that General Tang would issue the order to abandon the city? The commander-in-chief of the defense of Nanjing has not yet been appointed by the National Government. How do you know it is General Tang? And how can you be so sure that he will issue the order to abandon the city?"

Long Fei knew he couldn't tell Liu Yuqing the truth about this, so he explained.

"Deputy Regiment Commander Liu, many of the most prestigious senior generals in the National Revolutionary Army are now serving as commanders-in-chief of various war zones."

"Nanjing is the capital of the National Government. Considering the political, military, and international influence, it is necessary to send a person of sufficient importance to serve as the city's defense commander."

"As it stands, General Tang is the Director of the Executive Department of the Military Commission and also serves as the Director of the Military Law Enforcement Department. Therefore, I believe the National Government will most likely appoint him as the Commander-in-Chief of the Battle of Nanjing."

"As for whether General Tang will issue the order to abandon the city, that is my speculation, because from the current situation and purely from a military point of view, there is no need to defend Jinling City, nor can it be defended."