Chapter 472

  For the annihilation of an entire cavalry squadron, Lieutenant General Ito Takeo was furious: "Hachiga! Kawaguchi! The excellent warriors of our great Japanese Empire are killed by the Chinese like this! You will take full responsibility!"

  "Respected General, the Chinese are too cunning! They use a small number of snipers to attack our Imperial warriors, then lure our cavalry away and set up an ambush halfway."

  "The Chinese are too despicable! They don't even dare to engage us in a fair fight!" Lieutenant Commander Kawaguchi explained.

  "Our Kwantung Army is about to launch a large-scale attack, I won't punish you for now! Remember, the Chinese are very cunning!" Tatara Jirō said, "You may go down!"

  "Hai!" Captain Kawaguchi stepped down.

  The Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army, with Jinzhou as its center, frequently used small units to harass the Kwantung Army and puppet troops, annihilating a portion of Japanese forces and large numbers of puppet troops, killing many traitors, leading the Japanese Kwantung Army to believe that without taking Jinzhou, it would be impossible to maintain "peace" in Northeast China.

  November 23, 1931, one of the militarist leaders, the culprit of the September 18th Incident, Lieutenant General Honjō Shigeru, commander of the Kwantung Army, ordered an attack in the direction of Jinzhou, preparing to cut off the connection between Chinese troops inside and outside the pass, so as to eliminate the Chinese resistance forces in the three northeastern provinces at the gate of Shanhai Pass.

  "Honjō Commander-in-Chief wired the Army Ministry: Honjō Commander-in-Chief believed that he could not sit idly by and watch the Jinzhou garrison be annihilated, so he decided to quickly defeat Zhang Xueliang's army near Jinzhou and control the Shanhai Pass line. Under this decision, the Kwantung Army Headquarters ordered the 2nd Division to leave one unit in Qiqihar and have the entire army turn west to attack Liaoxi."

  The 4th Mixed Brigade of the Japanese Army, the 39th Independent Mixed Brigade and the 2nd Independent Guard Battalion set out from Shenyang on November 26, 1931, along the North Ning Line "with great fanfare" towards Jinzhou. It was only natural that with this small number of troops and without carrying heavy weapons, it would be impossible to capture Jinzhou. However, after the September 18th Incident, several hundred Japanese soldiers could defeat the Northern Grand Camp with nearly 10,000 men, bringing the arrogance of the Kwantung Army to its peak.

  The 12th and 20th Divisions of the Northeast Army, along with Shen Rui's armored train unit, engaged in fierce battles with Japanese troops near Dahu Mountain.

  The Japanese armored train that came to reinforce encountered the Russian-made armored train of the Northeast Army, and the two armored trains engaged in a fierce artillery battle. The commander of the Japanese armored train, Itagaki, was killed by a 75mm mountain gun.

  The Japanese army dispatched bombers to bomb the Northeast Army's armored train, although it was bombed and injured, but failed to destroy the thickly armored armored train. The wounded armored train was forced to withdraw from Guannei.

  The battle for the vicinity of Dahu Mountain lasted from 10:00 on the 26th to 16:00, and the Japanese army failed to capture it. This probing attack ended in defeat for the Japanese, who realized that their forces were still insufficient to take Jinzhou. Ben Zhongfan then sent another telegram to the military department, requesting reinforcements be sent to the three eastern provinces.

  Upon receiving the telegram for help from Honjō Shigeru, the military department which had already tasted the sweetness of aggression naturally supported the actions of the Kwantung Army. Soon, batches of Japanese warships began to transport troops through Dairen to Manchuria, and the Japanese army stationed in the Korean Peninsula also entered Manchuria in batches, preparing to launch a large-scale attack on the entire Northeast.

  In late November, the defensive battle was won, and the victorious Northeast Army soldiers were immersed in the joy of victory. However, Li Bin couldn't be happy at all, he knew that with the Japanese character, they would definitely not give up easily, and there was still about a month's time before he would face the most severe test.

  On December 15, under the pressure of the people across the country, student protests, and internal pressures within the National Government, as well as calls from various military leaders to resist Japan, Chiang Kai-shek was forced to step down, resigning as Chairman of the National Government, Premier of the Executive Yuan, and Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

  Chiang Kai-shek stepped down due to the "non-resistance policy", which dealt a huge blow to Zhang Xueliang. The original criticism of Chiang's "non-resistance policy" was now shifted to Zhang, who became the target of public criticism as the "general of non-resistance".

  Demoralized Zhang Xueliang had lost the will to resist and was determined to hold on to Jinzhou, the last stronghold in Northeast China. He ordered the 12th and 20th Divisions to retreat completely, preparing to flee. As the regular Northeastern Army began its withdrawal, Zhang Xueliang also refused to give the volunteer army an official designation, thinking that this would prevent the Japanese from feeling directly confronted by Chinese troops. Little did he know, however, that this would provide the Japanese with a pretext, allowing them to declare that there were no government forces in Northeast China and, under the guise of "bandit suppression", freely operate in the region while the Northeastern Volunteer Army received no support domestically or internationally!

  Li Bin, as the chief of staff of the volunteer army, had no right to control Zhang Xueliang's Northeastern regular forces. The only thing he could do was to use his limited power to defend Jinzhou with all his might and give the Japanese invaders a bigger blow!

  Li Bin ordered, on the one hand, to let the engineering battalion set up explosives and landmines on the ice surface of the Daling River, strengthening the final construction of various defensive works. At the same time, he let the Righteous and Brave Army cavalry launch a surprise attack, destroying the railway line from Fengtian to Jinzhou everywhere, in order to slow down the Japanese army's advance.

  An armored train stopped at Jinzhou Station, with a steam locomotive panting heavily.

  Wearing the uniform of a Northeast Army lieutenant colonel, Li Bin walked into the station. He wanted to persuade Liu Hanshan, the captain of this armored train, to listen to his dispatch. Li Bin knew that Liu Hanshan was a hot-blooded man, and if he went to persuade him himself, there might still be a chance to make him listen to his dispatch.

  The soldiers at the station saluted Li Bin, and after Li Bin returned the salute, he walked up to the last carriage to meet Liu Hanshan.

  This armored train consists of four cars, the first car is a flatcar, on which are placed rails and repair equipment for repairing railways along the way; the second car is a machine gun car, divided into two layers, the upper layer is a small turret with two 45mm mountain guns and four Maxim heavy machine guns, the lower layer has more than twenty shooting holes that can be equipped with Maxim heavy machine guns and Czech-style light machine guns. Behind the machine gun car is an armored steam locomotive, with the coal-water car facing the enemy; The third car is a cannon car, also divided into two layers, the upper layer has two 75mm mountain guns and two 45mm mountain guns, the lower layer has more than ten shooting holes that can be equipped with Maxim heavy machine guns and Czech-style light machine guns. The last car is an armored personnel carrier and command car, which also has shooting holes on all four walls for soldiers to shoot from inside out, and there are several hatches on the roof that allow observation of outside movements.

  If we can get this armored train, the firepower of the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army will be greatly enhanced. At that time, those thin-skinned tanks that the Japanese deployed during their attack would simply be eggshells in the face of the firepower of this armored train.

  However, the Japanese planes would pose a great threat to this powerful armored train. If Liu Hanshan was not willing to listen to his command, then this armored train would not play a big role either.

  Li Bin got on the car, Liu Hanshan saw him and immediately bowed to him: "Master, how did you come here?"

  Li Bin returned the courtesy and said straightforwardly, "Brother Hanshan is unwilling to follow other troops to retreat, but willing to stay and jointly defend against the Japanese invaders with the Righteous Brave Army. I, Li Bin, deeply admire him!"

  "The Japanese invaders are trampling our three eastern provinces! They're slaughtering our compatriots, as long as we're still Chinese, we'll resist to the end!" Liu Hanshan replied with a loud and clear voice.

  "Alright! Since General Han Shan is unwilling to retreat back inside the pass, I wonder if General Han Shan would be willing to listen to my deployment?" Li Bin asked.

  "No! Although I am willing to stay and fight against the Japanese invaders, I am still General Shao's man! I can only follow General Shao's orders!" Liu Hanshan replied.

  "Alright! What if General Shao wants your armored train to withdraw back inside the pass?" Li Bin continued to ask.

  "No way! No way! General Shao will not let my armored train retreat back to Guannei!" Liu Hanshan felt a bit painful at this time, he hugged his head and shook it repeatedly, saying "General Shao is not that kind of person!"

  "That's good. I'd like to ask Hanshan brothers one question: Why have the 12th Brigade, the 20th Brigade and other armored trains all withdrawn back inside the pass?" Li Bin asked.

  Liu Hanshan was speechless, and Li Bin took advantage of the situation to continue questioning: "Do you know who suffered the greatest blow when Chiang Kai-shek stepped down? Who originally issued the order not to resist? And now? Who is the spearhead pointing at?"

  Look at Liu Hanshan being speechless, Li Bin continued: "The Japanese invaders occupied our three northeastern provinces, slaughtered our northeastern compatriots, and even many of our Northeastern Army soldiers sacrificed under the Japanese invaders' guns! But the Japanese invaders' ambition is not limited to the three northeastern provinces. Their attack on Jinzhou is aimed at opening the door to the interior and exterior of the pass! They are plotting to destroy our entire China! I don't know if Brother Hanshan is willing to be a slave to a lost country!"

  "No! I'd rather die in battle than be a slave to an invading country!" Liu Hanshan stood up, his eyes streaming with hot tears.

  "Alright! But every one of our warriors is precious! No one can be sacrificed in vain! I hope Brother Hanshan can listen to my arrangements, so that I, Li Bin, can guarantee the safety of this armored train to the greatest extent, and also give the Japanese devils the greatest blow! Remember, to eliminate more enemies, we must first preserve ourselves!"

  Liu Hanshan gave a military salute: "Commander, I Liu Hanshan and all the hundred or so hot-blooded men on this train are willing to follow your command!"

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