Republic of China: German-equipped divisions massacred as warlords guarded the nation's borders

December 31, 1925, evening.

Shanghai, Chen Mansion.

Chen Zijun changed into a black military uniform, with his ever-present Mauser C96 pistol tucked into his waistband. He stood before the French windows of his study, his gaze sweeping over the bustling Shanghai nightscape.

It's beautiful and bustling.

But tonight, Chen Zijun had no interest in looking at these things.

He only has one thing to do tonight.

Picking up people.

Outside the window, three armored cars and two military trucks full of soldiers were lined up in the yard, their engines humming softly. At the four corners of the yard, guardsmen, armed with MP18 submachine guns, scanned the surroundings with eyes as sharp as hawks.

"Young Master, the convoy is ready."

The newly appointed adjutant, Hu Qiankuan, strode in, stood at attention, and saluted.

"The entire guard battalion has been mobilized and three layers of security have been set up around the train station. I personally led two platoons of elite troops to ambush in the freight warehouses on both sides of the platform, all of them were mixed MP18 and MG34 firepower teams."

"Where's Mo Lanzhi?" Chen Zijun asked without turning his head.

"Since early this morning, Staff Officer Mo has been monitoring the movements of the spies in the Japanese concession. At 2 PM, news came back confirming that the 'Sakura' special forces team consists of twelve people and is currently hiding in an abandoned warehouse in Hongkou District. They are equipped with Japanese military swords, hand grenades, and two Nambu Type 14 pistols."

Chen Zijun's lips curled up slightly.

saber?

These Japanese assassins actually want to engage in hand-to-hand combat on his turf?

"interesting."

Chen Zijun turned around, picked up the military cap on the table, put it on his head, and strode out.

"Set off."

……

Shanghai South Railway Station.

This train station, located at the southern end of the old town, is usually noisy and crowded, packed with travelers from all directions and laborers carrying loads on shoulder poles.

But tonight, the entire train station has been cleared out.

The plaza in front of the station was deserted. The ground, which had once been filled with food stalls and rickshaws, was now deserted except for rows of military trucks painted in gray camouflage. Dozens of high-powered searchlights shone white beams from the tops of the trucks, illuminating the entire plaza as if it were daytime.

On the platform, Imperial Guard soldiers stood guard every three steps.

They were all wearing M35 steel helmets, German-made military boots, and carrying loaded submachine guns. No one spoke, no one smoked, and no one even coughed.

This doesn't look like they're picking someone up; it looks more like they're fighting a war.

When Chen Zijun stepped out of the bulletproof car, the soldiers on the platform straightened their backs in unison.

He was not wearing a general's uniform or white gloves.

He was dressed only in a black military uniform, with a Mauser pistol at his waist and eyes so cold they could freeze a person to death.

"Hu Qiankuan".

"arrive!"

A bespectacled officer from years ago strode out of the shadows of the freight warehouse and snapped to attention.

"Reporting to the Young Marshal! The First and Second Companies of the Guard Battalion are all in position. One platoon is lying in ambush in each of the freight warehouses on both sides of the platform, equipped with four MG34s and twelve MP18s. The plaza outside the station is blocked off by armored vehicles; not even a rat could escape."

Hu Qiankuan's voice was filled with an excited, bloodthirsty tone.

He couldn't be happier that group of Japanese came to their deaths.

"Okay." Chen Zijun nodded, glancing at his watch. "7:42. The special train will arrive at 8:00. Eighteen minutes to go."

He glanced around the platform, his tone as casual as if he were asking what to eat for dinner.

"Remember, don't let them draw their knives before you make your move. Damn it, what era are we living in? I'm going to teach these bastards what it means to be human in the sun. Tonight, I'm going to let these Japanese bastards come to my territory and learn what it means to 'Those who offend our mighty Han, though far away, shall be punished!'"

"yes!"

Hu Qiankuan grinned, turned around, and disappeared into the darkness.

……

7:55.

From the tracks at the end of the platform, the distant wail of a train whistle could be heard.

woo-

The sound was deep and long, echoing in the night, like a giant beast roaring and charging from afar.

Two bright headlights pierced the darkness as a special train, belching white steam, slowly pulled into the platform of Shanghai South Railway Station.

at the same time.

In the waiting room at the southernmost end of the platform, twelve "coolies" dressed in coarse cloth short jackets stood up silently.

Their eyes were cold, and their movements were perfectly synchronized, unlike those of real laborers.

The short, stocky man at the head of the group squinted slightly, and slowly reached his right hand into the sack at his waist, touching the cold hilt of the military knife.

The target is on that train.

Cao Yu, former President of the Republic of China, leader of the Zhili clique of Beiyang warlords, and future father-in-law of Chen Zijun.

Killing him would severely damage Chen Zijun's political foundation!

"Ikuzo!"

The short, stocky man let out a low growl.

Twelve people moved at the same time!

They tore open their coarse cloth clothes, revealing the Japanese military swords strapped tightly to their bodies! The gleaming blades reflected a blinding, cold light under the searchlight!

"Banzai—!!"

The suicide squad members let out frenzied howls and charged toward the slowly approaching special train, brandishing their sabers!

There was no fear in their eyes, only a fanatical will to die.

In their minds, this was a kamikaze attack where lives were exchanged. They would die, but Cao Yu had to die too!

however.

They had barely taken ten steps when they rushed out.

A cold voice rang out from the platform.

"Fire."

Chen Zijun didn't even raise his hand.

He simply stood there with his hands in the pockets of his military uniform, his tone as indifferent as if he were issuing a perfectly ordinary order.

next second.

Da da da da da da—! ! !

The doors of the freight warehouses on both sides of the platform suddenly flew open!

Four MG34 general-purpose machine guns opened fire simultaneously!

Orange-red flames shot out simultaneously from four directions, and the crossfire instantly enveloped the twelve charging figures on the platform!

Bang bang bang bang!

The sound of MP18 submachine guns firing in rapid succession followed immediately!

The elite snipers of the Imperial Guard peered out of the warehouse windows, through the cracks in the doors, and even from the roof, unleashing a dense hail of bullets on the group of suicide soldiers who had just drawn their swords!

The scene was nothing short of a one-sided massacre.

No.

It doesn't even qualify as a massacre.

That was crushing.

The first suicide soldier was shot in two by the rapid fire of the MG34. His upper body flew three meters away while still in the posture of swinging his knife, but his lower body fell to his knees on the spot, and blood gushed out from the cut like a fountain.

The second suicide bomber tried to throw a grenade, but his right arm was blown off by a bullet along with the grenade. The grenade exploded in mid-air, and shrapnel from it embedded itself in his own face.

The third, the fourth, the fifth...

The twelve Japanese assassins fell in less than seven seconds, from the moment they drew their swords to the moment they collapsed.

Seven seconds.

Only the clanging of spent shell casings hitting the ground and the nauseating stench of blood remained on the platform after the smoke cleared.

Twelve mangled corpses lay scattered on the platform. Some were riddled with bullet holes, others were unrecognizable. Shiny Japanese military swords lay strewn about, their blades splattered with the blood of their owners.

No one could get to the train.

No knife can hurt anyone.

The so-called "Cherry Blossom" special forces, in the face of Chen's army's modern automatic firepower, were like a group of madmen charging at tanks with bamboo poles.

ridiculous.

sad.

Pitiful.

……

hiss--

The train's airlock emitted a long hiss as the carriage doors slowly opened.

Shen Li was the first to jump off the train.

The cold-faced chief of staff glanced at the pieces of flesh and bullet casings scattered on the platform without even frowning.

"Young Marshal." Shen Li stood at attention and saluted, a slight smile playing on his lips. "The person has been safely delivered. Nothing went wrong along the way, except that President Cao had a great appetite and ate all the braised pork on the special train."

Chen Zijun couldn't help but chuckle.

"Alright, stop joking. Help him down."

Shen Li turned around, respectfully extended his hand, and helped an elderly man in a gray long robe with gray hair and beard down from the carriage.

Cao Yu.

Former President.

The old man, who once sat in a chair in Zhongnanhai, was now trembling slightly.

It's not because of old age and physical decline.

It was because he had just witnessed the massacre on the platform through the train window, which lasted only seven seconds.

He had seen warlords fight, seen the Beiyang Army soldiers engage in firefights, and seen the Anhui clique and the Zhili clique exchange rifle fire at the gates of the Forbidden City.

But he had never seen this style of play before.

That wasn't war. That was assembly line execution.

Cao Yu took a deep breath, raised his head, and looked at the young man standing amidst the shards of flesh and bullet casings, his hands in his pockets, his face calm as if nothing had happened.

Chen Zijun.

My future son-in-law.

This kid... is far more terrifying than I imagined.

"uncle."

Chen Zijun stepped forward, bowed slightly, and called out in a gentle tone.

The scene at that moment was extremely eerie.

A platform littered with corpses.

A young warlord with a gentle smile on his face.

A former president, trembling all over.

"Good...good lad..."

Cao Yu's voice was a little hoarse, and he subconsciously tightened his grip on Chen Zijun's outstretched hand.

The hand was warm and strong, as firm as an iron clamp. It was completely different from the cold voice that had just ordered the slaughter of twelve people.

"You must be tired from your journey, Uncle." Chen Zijun helped the old man walk towards the bulletproof car, his tone filled with the respect due to a junior. "The house in Shanghai has been prepared. Sister Cao has been talking about you these past few days."

Cao Yu opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end he just patted Chen Zijun's hand.

It took him a long time to finally manage to squeeze out a sentence.

"With you here...with you here, I feel at ease."

Chen Zijun smiled but didn't say anything more.

He opened the car door for Cao Yu and invited the old man to sit in the back seat. Then he got into the car himself and sat in the passenger seat.

The bulletproof car slowly drove out of Shanghai South Railway Station.

Outside the car window, the brightly lit Shanghai skyline stretched out at night. Neon lights flashed, cars and people thronged, a dazzling spectacle that almost made one feel disoriented.

Cao Yu sat in the back seat, looking out the window at the dazzling Shanghai skyline, then at the young man sitting upright in front of him, and remained silent for a long time.

Finally, the old man spoke.

"Little Chen."

"Uncle, please speak."

Cao Yu's gaze became distant and profound.

"In my life, I've been president and I've been a prisoner. I've witnessed too many heroes rise and fall in chaotic times. But a young man like you... this is the first time I've seen one like you."

He paused.

"I know you aspire to rule the world."

Chen Zijun did not deny it.

A faint, aged smile appeared on Cao Yu's lips.

"I have nothing else. But I have my old subordinates and generals in the north, as well as my connections and networks... If you need them, just ask."

The carriage was quiet for a moment.

Chen Zijun glanced at Cao Yu's eyes in the rearview mirror.

That was an old politician's final act of shrewdness and decisiveness. He saw through the overall situation, chose the strongest horse, and then placed all his bets on it.

"Thank you, Uncle," Chen Zijun said calmly.

His gaze pierced through the windshield and landed on the brightly lit Bund in the distance.

north……

There is still so much to do there.

But there's no rush.

Take it one step at a time.

Little did he know that Cao Yu was secretly thinking: "He wouldn't even call me father-in-law."