The Flames of Resistance Against Japan in Jiangnan

The Security Command under Shi Lei, which had returned from the border area between Zhejiang and Jiangxi, was immediately ordered to defend the areas of Xinchang, Ninghai, and Xiangshan with strict fortifications and to guard them at all costs, forbidding them from leaving their lines without authorization. They were to be extremely vigilant against the Red Army's potential attacks on the Ningbo and Hangzhou areas, especially the hometown of the Commander-in-Chief. Any incident in such a situation would be a grave offense, deserving of death.

At the same time, Chen Dayuan, the commander of the Quzhou militia, was dispatched to lead three regular militia units to Wenzhou to participate in the battle.

The Jinhua militia commander, Jiang Rusong, was ordered to mobilize 4,000 militiamen to search and advance.

The commander of the Wenzhou militia, Yu Shiji, was ordered to concentrate 3,000 militiamen and hand them over to the Zhejiang East Garrison Division for command.

The mission to attack the Red Army's positions and recapture Quanzhou was carried out by the Zhejiang East Garrison Division, the Independent Regiment of the Pacification Commissioner's Office, and the Zhejiang East Security Division, under the full command of Wang Tiebin.

After dictating the order, Gu Zhutong let out a long sigh and said to Wang Tiebin:

"Commander Wang, now is the time to avenge our defeat! I hope your unit will not disappoint me again!"

Wang Tiebin quickly said loudly:

"Commander-in-Chief, please look forward to the performance of my division!"

After the meeting, the generals of eastern Zhejiang hurriedly went to various places to deploy defenses. Gu Zhutong watched everyone leave, muttering to himself:

"Xu Wenqing, I think this time you'll be lucky to escape with your life!"

Xu Wenqing led his division headquarters and artillery battalion forward hastily, illuminated by torches made of pine resin and bamboo, like a sharp arrow piercing the darkness before dawn and breaking through the night, rushing towards Mengshan.

Upon reaching the vicinity of Mengshan, Xu Wenqing dismounted and began walking, intending to take the opportunity to check the outpost deployment of the 57th Regiment. After advancing into Wenzhou, he consulted with the political commissar, chief of staff, and others, and ordered the 19th Division to maintain vigilance at all times during encampments, regardless of fatigue. In addition to visible posts, mobile and covert sentries were required, and in enemy-occupied areas, covert sentries personally overseen by military and political leaders were to be deployed. Where conditions permitted, artillery duty was also to be arranged.

Just as they approached the foot of the mountain, the sound of a gun being cocked suddenly rang out near a large tree by the roadside, followed by a loud shout:

"Halt! Which group are you from?"

"Hey, this is the 19th Division Headquarters! I'm the division commander's bodyguard. It's Commander Xu!"

Guard Zhong Shi answered immediately.

The soldier who had shouted the call slowly approached with his gun at the ready. After seeing the group clearly, he turned around and whistled. In the darkness, many dark figures gradually rose up around the mountain road, saluted their commander, and then disappeared into the night.

Xu Wenqing smiled slightly, quite satisfied with the arrangements made by the group leader Chen Hong.

Led by the sentry, Xu Wenqing walked onto the position, waving to stop the regimental commander from reporting the news, and quietly watched his resting subordinates. The atmosphere on the position was somewhat oppressive and tense during the long night. Thanks to the emphasis from the officers and the experience of the veterans, everyone understood the importance of resting well before battle and conserving strength. Apart from the necessary sentries, the rest of the 57th Regiment soldiers lay in twos and threes in the trenches, clutching their rifles, resting. The snoring of some soldiers, exhausted, rose and fell, occasionally mingled with the mournful chirping of unknown birds, as if they knew their homeland was about to be ravaged.

The biting cold wind raged through the dark night, causing the sleeping soldiers to curl up even tighter. Xu Wenqing took off his coat and gently covered it with a young soldier with a childlike face.

Under the flickering torchlight, Xu Wenqing gazed at the team he had personally led out of difficulties, which had endured numerous hardships yet grown rapidly, and a sense of immense satisfaction welled up within him. He was even more determined to train the 19th Red Army Division into a force that could not be broken or disordered under any circumstances, a team capable of fighting bravely and skillfully.

As dawn broke, a red sun emerged from the eastern mountains. The morning was clear, and a heavy frost overnight had blanketed the ground in white. Xu Wenqing stood on Mount Meng and carefully examined the surrounding terrain once more.

At the foot of Mount Meng, there is a row of bunkers, with undulating hills on both sides covered with pine trees of varying heights. The leaves have not yet all fallen, and the pine trees and shrubs all over the mountain form a natural concealment.

The bunkers built by the Zhejiang Army were all circular, with walls about 50 centimeters thick, which could withstand bullets. Most of them had two layers of firing ports, and a few were low bunkers. The bunkers were spaced three to five hundred meters apart, so they could cover each other. The 57th Regiment arranged a platoon to guard each bunker, a squad to stand guard inside, and the rest to rest and wait for orders in the fortifications.

Looking at the defensive fortifications built by the Zhejiang Army on and below the mountain, Xu Wenqing felt a surge of respect. The bunkers and trenches were crisscrossed, allowing the troops to move in and out freely. Just by looking at these fortifications, it was clear that the Zhejiang Army was indeed well-disciplined. "Grandma Gu" was not a name given lightly.

Looking at the sturdy fortifications, Xu Wenqing smiled broadly, feeling an urge to fight the Zhejiang army to the death. Unfortunately, the strength of the 19th Red Army Division and the tasks it was assigned prevented him from doing so.

Chen Hong, the acting commander of the 57th Regiment, reported the enemy situation to Xu Wenqing:

"Commander, the White Army's Zhejiang East Garrison Division is approaching us. Scouts report that they camped in the Datang area last night and are less than ten kilometers away from us."

"It seems the enemy may launch an attack by noon at the latest. Whether we can hold out for two days depends on the combat effectiveness of your 57th Regiment. Today, the mountain guns of the artillery battalion will not participate in the battle. We should use our best resources where they are most needed!"

Acting delegation leader Chen Hongli is answering:

"Yes, Commander, rest assured, our 57th Regiment will repel the enemy's attack!"

Xu Wenqing glanced at the Jinsha River following behind him and asked:

"Xiao Jin, how's the paperwork going?"

With a flushed face, Jinshajiang smiled shyly and said:

"Reporting to the commander, it's alright, it's alright."

"Come on, let's go see our comrades together."

Xu Wenqing patted him on the shoulder and said.

By this time, the officers and soldiers of the 57th Regiment had woken up one after another. After having breakfast, they returned to their positions. Xu Wenqing walked along the trenches, shook hands with the soldiers one by one, greeted them warmly, and told them to take advantage of the break before the battle to rest and conserve their energy.

When the sun was high in the sky, the Zhejiang army appeared in the 57th Regiment's field of vision, and finally the White Army set up camp a few kilometers away from Mengshan.

Shortly after lunch, the air raid sentry on the hill sounded the alarm. Soon after, an old-fashioned German-made Junkers biplane trainer was seen flying over at a leisurely pace, hovering around Mengshan. After circling in the sky for a while, the plane suddenly roared and swooped down, the dust kicked up by its wings scraping Xu Wenqing's face.

Xu Wenqing looked up at the antique that could only exist in a museum in his previous life. He turned around, took the machine gun from the machine gunner next to him, and fired a burst of bullets at the plane, which was so frightened that the plane quickly climbed up and flew away.