The Flames of Resistance Against Japan in Jiangnan

Duan Kejing stopped writing. Somewhat surprised, he asked the political commissar, who was engrossed in digging:

"Zu Shan, this isn't the old Soviet area. People don't need any propaganda to come and help. How come the people are so conscious?"

"I asked around. Not long ago, our fraternal troops suppressed local tyrants and bullies here and distributed food to the masses. They've come to repay a debt of gratitude!"

The regimental political commissar straightened up and answered with a smile.

Commander Duan wiped his sweat and said with a look of satisfaction:

"That's great. We can finish repairing the fortifications ahead of schedule, and the soldiers can get some rest!"

"Old Duan, this time the enemy, the Jiangxi Garrison Division, is a formidable force; they won't be easy to defeat!"

While working, Liu Zushan discussed the ambush mission with his partner:

"Thanks to the division commander for replenishing our weapons and ammunition, otherwise this battle would have been difficult. I was afraid we would have run out of ammunition before we even completed our mission!"

Duan Kejing sighed with longing:

"The division commander is a genius! His methods of winning battles with fewer troops are unpredictable and impossible to fathom!"

"Three regiments have been concentrated in the Jinhua area. Judging from their posture, the division commander is determined to cripple the White Army's Zhejiang East Independent Division!"

Liu Zushan deeply agrees:

"I never even dared to dream of this before!"

"We must defend the southern gate at all costs. We must ensure our main force has no worries about its rear!"

Duan Kejing secretly made up his mind.

With the selfless help of the surrounding people, the Independent Regiment finally repaired the three blocking positions after a day and night of hard work. The exhausted soldiers ate a quick meal and fell asleep in the trenches, their snores deafening until the roar of reconnaissance planes in the sky woke them up.

After the two top military and political leaders of the Independent Regiment arranged for their troops to be concealed, they dared not rest. Instead, they personally took up positions within the first line of defense, constantly receiving reports from the 3rd Battalion, which was harassing the enemy.

"Commander, the vanguard regiment of the Jiangxi-West Garrison Division is already thirty li away from here!"

"Twenty miles from here!"

"Only ten miles away!"

"The enemy's 1st Regiment of the Jiangxi Garrison Division has set up camp south of Sucun!"

The position was six li (approximately 3 kilometers) from Su Village. Duan Kejing knew the brutal test was about to begin. He exchanged a glance with the political commissar. He then loudly commanded:

"Communicator, order the troops to move into position and prepare for battle!"

Li Xin received a reconnaissance report from the Air Force stating that "the main force of the Red Army has already arrived in Huangling, and is constructing fortifications in the Liling area!"

He immediately ordered his troops to take the route through Pingding and advance rapidly towards Taojialing Township, attempting to break through the Red Army's positions from the middle.

After setting up camp and resting briefly, the 1st Regiment of the White Army's Jiangxi-West Garrison Division launched its attack, beginning with a barrage of artillery fire. A dozen or so enemy mortars bombarded the area relentlessly, the dense shells practically turning the entire hillside around the position upside down. The charging enemy advanced, following the shelling, until they reached the front of the position. They began their uphill assault from the foot of the hill, with many junior officers of the Jiangxi Army armed with machine guns, forming a stronghold. Each officer was surrounded by nearly a platoon of soldiers, who huddled around him, hunching over as they climbed upwards.

The first volley of mortar fire didn't severely damage the positions of the Independent Regiment of the 19th Division. As soon as the shelling stopped, the comrades emerged from their trenches, shaking off the mud. They began repairing the damaged fortifications, checking their weapons and ammunition, all with renewed vigor. Gripping their weapons tightly, they waited silently, ready to deliver a heavy blow to these arrogant White Army soldiers.

By this time, the attacking Jiangxi troops had climbed halfway up the mountain. A dark mass of enemies, initially crouching low, cautiously fired as they climbed. Seeing no reaction from the position, they assumed the Red Army had been almost completely wiped out. Overconfident, they straightened up, howling, and charged up the mountain. They were now completely within the Red Army's effective firing range, just a few dozen meters away from the edge of the trenches.

Regimental Commander Duan Kejing fired first, taking down an enemy soldier, and shouted:

"Hit me hard!"

Immediately, both light and heavy weapons opened fire, felling a large number of the enemy in the first few ranks. The sudden burst of firepower from the Red Army caught the Jiangxi Army off guard. Unaware of the defenders' strength, the enemy left dozens of corpses on the hilltop before rolling down the mountain.

After the first attack was repelled, the enemy readjusted their deployment, reorganized their forces, and committed even more troops, launching another wave-like attack up the mountain. One wave was repelled, and another surged forward. Giving the Red Army no opening, the Independent Regiment of the 19th Division of the Red Army received substantial supplies of weapons and ammunition from the division's logistics department. Although their close-quarters firepower was fierce, they still couldn't completely defeat the overwhelmingly superior enemy. From long-range shooting to close-range grenade throwing, and then to face-to-face bayonet fighting, after decimating a large number of the White Army's 1st Regiment of the Jiangxi Garrison Division, the Independent Regiment of the 19th Division, in order to minimize its own losses, voluntarily abandoned the first line of defense near dusk and withdrew to the second line.

As night fell, Hu Qinghai, commander of the 1st Regiment of the enemy's Jiangxi-West Garrison Division, ordered his troops to camp near Songshan. The enemy lit numerous bonfires on the territory they occupied. Surrounding Songshan from three sides, the enemy prepared to launch a major operation under the cover of darkness: to outflank the Red Army from both flanks to the north, cutting off the defenders' retreat, and then encircling the isolated garrison on the hilltop.

"Reporting to the commander, a regiment of the Red Army has occupied the Nantianmen area, seemingly intending to join forces with the Red Army on the other side!"

The guard force sent someone to rush into the command post to report the situation they had discovered.

Hearing that the main force of the Red Army was approaching, Hu Qinghai was greatly surprised and immediately ordered his chief of staff to instruct the radio to send a message to the division headquarters:

"Telegram to the division commander: The main force of the Red Army has assembled around Luojialing and is preparing to attack our regiment."

"Our regiment is strong, and we have the support of the division's artillery battalion. Even if the Red Army comes to attack, they may not be able to wipe us out. The regimental commander might even be able to make a great contribution!"

The chief of staff of the enemy's 1st Regiment looked relaxed and said dismissively.

Hu Qinghai, the regimental commander of the enemy's 1st Regiment, was relieved, but still requested to report to the division commander. As a close subordinate of Division Commander Li Xin, he deeply understood the importance of consulting his superiors on everything, big or small, to make them believe that he had everything under control.

Upon entering Huangling, the Red Army dispatched small units to maintain contact with the enemy's First Regiment, which then put up increasingly fierce resistance. Therefore, Li Xin, who had already led his troops to Hualing, judged that the Red Army seemed to be waiting for its main force to arrive, which might be disadvantageous to the First Regiment. Upon receiving Hu Qinghai's intelligence report, Li Jue became even more certain of his judgment and instructed Hu Qinghai:

"The First Regiment should immediately withdraw to the south of Huangling City, so that the Red Army will find nothing, and then the entire division should launch a counterattack against the Red Army!"

"Commander, it's snowing. We shouldn't retreat now!"

The chief of staff of the enemy's 1st regiment pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and said with some concern:

"Commander, it's snowing right now, and the troops are close to the Red Army. A night retreat could cause chaos, severely impacting morale. Even worse, the Red Army might take advantage of the situation to attack, and then it will be too late to regret it!"

"Reply to the division headquarters that our unit insists on not withdrawing and has decided to confront the Red Army in place."