Chapter 97: Entering The City
“Extra! Extra… The Japanese 33rd Brigade has suffered heavy losses… Cavalry company, tank company, and artillery battalion completely annihilated by our army!”
“Extra! Extra… Nanjing Security Regiment faces strong enemy, fearless of hardships, destroys 20 Japanese heavy guns, dozens of tanks, kills thousands of enemies…”
Today’s Xuzhou shed its recent gloomy atmosphere and suddenly became lively, with countless young people taking to the streets to celebrate the victory of the Nanjing Security Regiment.
Many young people in student uniforms folded newspapers into megaphones, veins bulging on their necks as they shouted the good news, oblivious even as sweat beads rolled down their flushed cheekbones into their collars.
In a window-side elegant seat in a teahouse not far away, Li Zongren, who rarely appeared in public, sat by the window, watching the excited crowds bustling on the street, and smiled to Sun Lianzhong, commander of the 2nd Army Group sitting beside him: “Brother Fang Lu, the rain has passed and the sky is clear. It’s not bad to come out for a walk occasionally. What do you think?”
Sun Lianzhong smiled and said: “The commander is absolutely right. I’ve been cooped up in the command post these days, feeling like I’ve got mold on me, all damp and sticky. Coming out to bask in the sun feels much more comfortable all over.”
“Hahaha…”
Li Zongren smiled and pointed at him with his finger, first personally picking up the teapot to pour him a cup of tea, then pouring one for himself, took a sip, and showed a satisfied expression on his face.
Seeing Li Zongren’s very good mood, Sun Lianzhong couldn’t help but ask curiously: “Commander Li… Is that Su Yaoyang and his Security Regiment really that formidable? I somehow don’t quite believe it!
The intelligence also says he has a tank unit. Is it real or fake?”
Li Zongren laughed heartily: “Fang Lu, Su Yaoyang and his Security Regiment are almost entering the city now. Won’t we see clearly soon enough whether it’s real or fake?”
“That’s true.” Sun Lianzhong smiled wryly. Such an obvious lie that could be seen through at a glance couldn’t fool anyone. It would be clear as day once the troops entered the city.
“Here they come, here they come… The Security Regiment is entering the city!” Suddenly, a tsunami-like cheer erupted from outside.
Amid waves of cheers, nine majestic M24 Chaffee tanks slowly drove over, each with a tank commander standing on the turret, wearing a tank helmet, black armored soldier uniform, and large headphones.
“Look quick… Tanks… Those are our tanks…” A young man shouted excitedly.
“What tanks or whatever, that’s the little devils’ term. This thing should be called tank… Tank… You get it?” Someone nearby scolded loudly.
“Tank or whatever, as long as it’s China’s, it’s good!”
“Haha… That’s true.”
“Everyone look, why is there a foreigner standing on the first tank?”
“Hey… It really is… Brown hair, blue eyes, a real foreigner.”
As the saying goes, laymen watch the excitement while experts watch the details. The ordinary people on the street saw John half-exposed on the turret and just treated it as a spectacle, but for experts, there was plenty to analyze here.
Li Zongren and Sun Lianzhong, sitting by the window on the third floor of the teahouse, exchanged a glance. Sun Lianzhong couldn’t help saying: “Commander Li, I’ve heard that Security Regiment commander Su Yaoyang has extremely deep ties with foreigners. Seeing it today proves it. Even the tank unit’s instructor is a foreigner.”
Li Zongren suppressed his inner surprise, then chuckled, “Fang Lu, as the saying goes, cats have their paths and rats have theirs. If he can get support from foreigners, that’s his ability.
In my view, as long as it helps the war effort, it’s a good thing. What do you say?”
“Commander Li is absolutely right.” Sun Lianzhong nodded repeatedly, then his eyes darted around and he suddenly whispered: “Commander Li, our 2nd Army Group has heavy tasks and is in dire need of a unit with assault capabilities. Could you see if you could assign…”
“No!”
Before he could finish, Li Zongren interrupted him.
“Fang Lu, don’t set your sights on the Nanjing Security Regiment.
I plan to place this unit directly under the 5th Theater Command.
A unit like this should be positioned at the most critical spot!”
Seeing Li Zongren’s resolute expression, Sun Lianzhong knew he had no hope.
He showed a disappointed look on his face: “This Security Regiment has at most two or three thousand men. Is there really need to be so tense about it?”
Li Zongren just smiled faintly, without arguing with him, but in his mind, he began calculating how to use this ace unit.
While Li and Sun were watching the newly entered Security Regiment, the Japanese spies hidden in the crowd were also secretly grinding their teeth.
Soon, a telegram from Xuzhou arrived in the hands of Central China Expeditionary Army Commander Hatano Shixiu.
To the esteemed Commander:
After days of covert reconnaissance, this subordinate has obtained detailed intelligence on the Nanjing Security Regiment’s armaments. The unit is commanded by Su Yaoyang, with about 4,000 troops. Its equipment is far superior to expectations, almost entirely American-made.
The infantry main force is equipped with Garand M1 semi-automatic rifles, with strong sustained firepower and excellent individual combat capability. In addition, the regiment has nine M24 “Chaffee” tanks, highly mobile, equipped with 75mm guns, posing a serious threat to our army’s tanks.
For transportation, the unit also has over a hundred American-made trucks and troop carriers ensuring rapid mobility, with extremely smooth logistics support.
Particularly noteworthy is that the regiment is equipped with Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft guns, quantity unknown, but anti-air positions have already been established, posing a potential threat to our air forces.
Additionally… Today, no subordinate artillery units were seen. This subordinate suspects the artillery has been hidden and should hasten further reconnaissance.
In summary, Su’s unit’s combat power far exceeds that of ordinary local security forces, with mechanization even superior to some Nationalist elite units. Suggest headquarters attach great importance, and if necessary, deploy heavy artillery or air forces for preemptive strikes to weaken the threat.
Respectfully submitted by Night Owl
March 23, Showa 13.
Although Su Yaoyang didn’t know he had been targeted by the Japanese, out of a soldier’s intuition, he also realized that showing off too much wasn’t a good thing.
After leading the troops to parade once around the city, he quietly took them to camp in a valley 50 kilometers outside the city suburbs.
What? Why not settle down inside XZ city?
Bro… Don’t you see what kind of troops are stationed in Xuzhou city now?
Those are all the Guangxi clique troops that followed him in the early years. You, an outsider Security Regiment, also want to stay in the city? Dream on.
It’s already generous of them to let you parade in the city and gain some prestige. Don’t be too greedy.
While Su Yaoyang was busy settling the troops, a phone call summoned him back to Xuzhou city.
