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

Shanghai, Longhua Garrison Command.

At 2 a.m., the torrential rain outside the window showed no signs of stopping; in fact, it was pouring down even harder.

The lights were on in the highest-level, top-secret conference room of the headquarters.

Chen Zijun sat behind a massive rosewood desk, his face as cold and hard as iron. On the desk in front of him lay the top-secret document from the Japanese headquarters, which had just been urgently deciphered and translated overnight by the Military Intelligence Bureau—[Project Kikusui].

Two heroines, Mo Lanzhi and Su Guiying, one the director of the Military Intelligence Bureau and the other the deputy director of the Intelligence Department of the Military Intelligence Bureau, along with Chief of Staff Shen Li, all stood solemnly in front of their desks.

"Young Marshal, this plan is extremely malicious!"

Su Guiying pointed to several key coordinates on the document, her voice trembling slightly with extreme anger: "With the Third Fleet's complete annihilation in the East China Sea, the Japanese high command is under immense pressure from the right-wing military. They urgently need to create a large enough incident in the Far East, especially in Shanghai where interests are most concentrated, to divert attention and provide a pretext for rearmament intervention!"

"According to the 'Kikusui Plan,' the Special Higher Police have secretly bribed some foremen, preparing to incite a large-scale strike and demonstration by Chinese workers at the 'Naiwai Cotton Mill,' the largest Japanese-owned enterprise in the International Settlement, early tomorrow morning!"

"But this is just a decoy! The Special Higher Police actually have nearly a hundred fully armed Japanese ronin and retired veterans lying in ambush inside the textile factory! Once the striking workers gather, these ronin will change into civilian clothes, split into two groups, one group will blend into the crowd and open fire to create chaos, while the other group will pretend to be our people and carry out a large-scale bloody massacre of the unarmed Chinese workers!"

Su Guiying took a deep breath: "They plan to use the blood of hundreds or even thousands of Chinese workers to create an extremely tragic massacre! Then they'll pin the blame entirely on the 'mob' and us, completely disrupting social order in Shanghai. We're constrained by being mostly Chinese citizens, making it difficult to suppress them, and the public won't know the truth, so this conflict will only escalate. Then, under the pretext of 'protecting the lives and property of Imperial citizens,' they'll legitimately dispatch the Japanese army and navy stationed outside Wusongkou to forcibly land in Shanghai!"

"In this way, we are constrained by the strikes and demonstrations against the people in Shanghai, and are unable to carry out defensive operations. On the other hand, they can also lure more uninformed people, providing them with intelligence and even routes..."

After listening to Su Guiying's report, the air in the conference room seemed to instantly drop to freezing point.

Shen Li gasped, cursing, "These Japanese dwarfs are utter beasts! They want to repeat the tragedy of that year, using the lives of ordinary Chinese people as stepping stones for them!"

Chen Zijun didn't speak; he just stared quietly at the system panel that popped up on his retina.

[Unlimited Pay-to-Win System]

[Host: Chen Zijun]

Current military rank: Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces of the Five Southeast Provinces (Marshal-level)

Current available funds: £222 million

[Overview of troops under command]:

- Army: The Central Reorganized 10th Army Division, also known as the 1st German-equipped Division (full strength); the Newly Reorganized 2nd Division of the National Defense Force, also known as the 2nd Newly Reorganized Army Division of Zhejiang Province (full strength, German-equipped); the Newly Reorganized Independent Armored Brigade of the National Defense Force; the German-equipped Heavy Artillery Brigade; the Tax Police Corps; the Shanghai Garrison Air Defense Brigade; and the River Defense Artillery Brigade.

- Navy: Shanghai Independent Fleet, First Special Submarine Squadron

Looking at the terrifying balance of over two million pounds and the 100,000 elite troops under his command, armed to the teeth, Chen Zijun's lips suddenly curled into an extremely cruel and tyrannical sneer.

"Playing dirty tricks on my turf?"

Chen Zijun slammed his hand on the table with a loud "bang," which made the teacups on the table jump.

"Do they think I'm like those spineless cowards in the Beijing central government, only good at sending protest telegrams and playing those disgusting tricks of political compromise?!"

Chen Zijun abruptly stood up, kicking over the chair behind him, his eyes burning with a fierce warlike rage: "Since these demons and monsters want to play, then I'll just flip the table over for them today!"

"Shen Li!"

"Here!" Shen Li stood at attention abruptly, his eyes also filled with murderous intent.

"Immediately issue my orders! Mobilize the 1st Armored Battalion of the Independent Armored Brigade! Immediately surround the cotton mills inside and outside the city! At the same time, mobilize the newly formed 3rd Division of the National Defense Army to completely blockade Shanghai. Tell the 3rd Division that whether they can complete their reorganization and obtain the designation of the newly formed 3rd Division of the National Defense Army depends on their performance this time." Chen Zijun's voice was as cold as ice, exuding an unquestionable domineering air. "The entire army is on first-level combat readiness! Live ammunition prepared!"

"Young Marshal, the Japanese-owned textile factory is located within the International Settlement..." Shen Li hesitated slightly, "...According to the treaty, our regular troops cannot..."

"To hell with the treaty! To hell with the International Settlement!"

"This is Shanghai, my Shanghai!"

Chen Zijun rudely interrupted Shen Li, his eyes flashing with a crazed glint: "In my Shanghai, at this point, you're talking to me about treaties? Whoever has the bigger cannon is in charge! Tell the armored battalion to march straight into the International Settlement! Surround the Japanese-owned cotton mills!"

"If any of the concession police dare to stop me, I'll run them over with my tracks!"

"Remember my words!" Chen Zijun said, each word distinct and filled with murderous intent. "There are no civilians or expatriates in there, only armed terrorists intending to overthrow Shanghai! When you get there, do not accept surrender, do not negotiate! Use machine guns and artillery to mow down those Japanese ronin who are preparing to carry out a massacre!"

"Yes! Crush them!" Shen Li roared, turning around and rushing out of the conference room like a whirlwind.

……

Three in the morning. On the edge of the International Settlement.

The streets were deserted in the torrential rain, with only the streetlights casting a dim, yellow glow.

Suddenly, the earth began to tremble violently.

That was the terrifying sound of steel tracks crushing over a stone pavement!

"Rumble, rumble—"

Under the horrified gaze of the concession police, German-made Type I and Type II light tanks, painted with the Iron Cross emblem and the Blue Sky with a White Sun flag, as well as SdKfz.222 wheeled armored vehicles, like a steel torrent bursting out of hell, tore through the darkness of the rainy night and brutally smashed the wooden barricades at the edge of the concession!

The blinding beams of searchlight intertwined, illuminating the entire street in a stark white light.

"Halt! This is a public concession jointly administered by the British Empire, the United States of America, and other nations! Chinese troops are strictly prohibited from entering!"

A dozen or so Indian police officers (red-headed Indians) wearing peaked caps and British officers, armed with batons and ridiculous revolvers, were desperately blowing their whistles in the pouring rain, trying to stop this terrifying armored force.

Their response was a cold, dark 20mm cannon barrel!