Chapter Fifty-One: Landing

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  July 18th, dawn, official residence conference room.

  It's really uncomfortable to be woken up from sleep, but being able to sit next to the chairman and listen to Zhang Zhizhong's fairly steady voice is 99% of national officials' dream come true, it's just that the content is a bit depressing.

  "Last night at 20:34, the Cavalry Corps sent a telegram that the main force of the Cavalry Corps launched a surprise attack on the enemy's 2nd Mixed Brigade (mainly the 15th Brigade of the 1st Division) near Guyuan, and part of the Cavalry Corps simultaneously attacked the command post of the Chahar Garrison of the Kwantung Army in Guyuan. The telegram was cut off suddenly at 20:39 while communicating and has not been restored until now."

  At 1 am, Ri Koro, the head of the Japanese Special Service Agency, proposed to Song Zheyuan that the 29th Army withdraw from Beiping immediately, which was flatly rejected by Song.

  "At 3 am, the Japanese army launched a comprehensive attack on Guang'an Gate, Langfang, Tongxian, Tuanhe, Tianjin and Dagang. It is said that Langfang has already fallen, and our troops in Tianjin are counterattacking under the command of Li Wentian (Deputy Commander of the 38th Division)."

  "At around 4 am, the Navy reported that a large enemy fleet was approaching the mouth of the Huangpu River. The Navy temporarily laid mines and hit the target twice at around 5:40, estimating that two enemy ships were damaged."

  "Ten minutes ago, just received a report that a large fleet of warships has entered the mouth of the Huangpu River and is conducting a blanket bombardment of both banks; the Navy requests permission to lay mines in the Huangpu River tonight, please approve, Chairman."

  "Approved! We've already suffered a crushing defeat, what's there to hesitate about!" Old Chiang bellowed orders in a rage, still half asleep.

  Zhang Zhizhong waved his hand and an aide immediately ran out to pass on the order.

  "How many troops does Pingjin have?" Old Chiang asked.

  "Due to our army's offensive in Chahar, the enemy's attack was brought forward, and now on the Pingjin front there are only the 5th and 20th Divisions (each missing a regiment), the Garrison Force (equivalent to an augmented brigade) and the 11th Mixed Brigade; the 6th and 10th Divisions are still in transit. I suggest that according to plan, Sun Lianzhong and Guan Linzheng's two units be sent north as reinforcements."

  "Hmm, just two and a half divisions think they can swallow the 29th Army's one million strong army? The 30th and 52nd Armies don't need to rush...". Old Chiang paused for a moment, "Maybe putting the main attack on the western front isn't certain either. Appoint Song Zheyuan as the commander-in-chief of the First Army Group, give him three army numbers, and let them divide it themselves!"

  "Yes."

  "What's going on with the 5th Cavalry? Didn't they say yesterday that they won a great victory?"

  "Yesterday, the main force of the enemy's 1st Cavalry Division was annihilated by Fu Yisheng-led 35th Army and Cavalry 1st Corps. The battle report of the 5th Cavalry Corps only mentioned that the independently operating 11th Cavalry Brigade destroyed most of the artillery battalion of the 1st Infantry Division."

  "What's going on with the 5th Cavalry? Even if they failed to attack the enemy, there should be a report. How could they have lost contact instead? Won't they be defeated instead?" Old Jiang glanced at me and said.

  I can only get up now, "Chairman, I thought the 5th Cavalry would not be defeated. Since they dared to launch two main attacks at the same time, they must have been very confident. Moreover, the enemy in Guoyuan lacks combat effectiveness and solid fortifications, so it's definitely not a match for the 5th Cavalry. I think there's a problem with the radio station. I remember that the Military Affairs Department only gave the 5th Cavalry 3 radios, plus the original 1 radio of the 7th Cavalry Division, and each of the 5th and 11th Cavalry Divisions occupied 1 radio during the Duli action, leaving only 1 radio for the main force of the 5th Cavalry. It's possible that their military department's radio is broken."

  "This is it! Well, that's all for North China; as for Shanghai and Jiangsu, does anyone have any suggestions?"

  Zhang Zhizhong stood up again and said: "Deng Xihou's telegram estimated that the Japanese army will land directly in the Wusong to Zhanghua area this morning. Our troops are prepared to abandon the defense along the river according to plan, leaving only a small number of troops to hold back, in order to avoid the Japanese navy's heavy artillery coverage; The main force is deployed on the Yanghang Town, Mengjiazhai, Jiangwan Town line," Zhang pointed one by one on the map, "ten miles away from the Huangpu River; and launch a counterattack at night."

  "Alright, let's do it! The all-out war of resistance starts from today, everyone work together!" Old Chiang yawned and walked away, "Ask Jian to prepare the declaration to the nation."

  At dawn, a group of destroyers were slowly moving westward in the Yangtze River, not far from the mouth of the Huangpu River. They were continuously firing into the river. What were they shooting at? The answer was already given by a destroyer behind them that had lost its bow - drifting mines!

  Although the powers prohibited laying mines in the Yangtze River and its estuary, two hours before the Japanese army re-entered the Yangtze River, the navy laid down more than 100 floating mines west of the Wusongkou. These floating mines drifted downstream with the current, soon colliding with two large Japanese destroyers, causing one to sink and the other to be damaged, at a cost to the Japanese of over two hours' delay in landing.

  At 8:40, a large fleet of aircraft carriers and cruisers were bombarding the shore with cannons, while the rì military landing troops finally arrived at their designated starting position. A large number of rì soldiers climbed down from transport ships along rope nets and boarded motorized or human-powered small boats to head towards the shore. A group of destroyers of various sizes patrolled vigilantly near the shore, ready to fire shells at any moment, but the shore was eerily quiet, as if there were no signs of life.

  In this strange atmosphere, around 9:00, the rì military's 3rd Division, 29th Brigade, and 18th Regiment first landed near Wusong Town without encountering any resistance. However, with the sound of explosions, the first batch of casualties appeared due to landmines! The rì military had entered a minefield!

  At the same time, the 11th Division, 10th Brigade, and 22nd Regiment, which landed at Zhanghua Bin slightly south, also encountered the same treatment. "Clear mines!" Each unit commander gave the order in unison! However, an even more frustrating event occurred afterwards - the mine-clearing soldiers who were searching forward with metal detectors were also constantly blown up by landmines along with the infantrymen.

  "Halt the advance!" and "Suspend the landing operation of the follow-up troops" were issued one after another from Fujita Makoto (Commander of the 3rd Division) and Yamamuro Munemitsu (Commander of the 11th Division).

  General Isoroku Takano, Commander-in-Chief of the Shanghai Expeditionary Army, stood silently on the bridge of the newly rebuilt battleship Kongō, gazing out at the mouth of the Huangpu River.

  "Report to General Headquarters, both Tōjō and Yamashita have ordered a halt on further troop landings, and are trying every means to clear the mines."

  "With just a few small landmines, can we stop tens of thousands of elite troops at the riverbank? Where is our army's bravery?"

  The Chief of Staff said cautiously: "Your Majesty is very concerned about the serious casualties our army suffered in the early period, and specially instructed our army to reduce losses. Last night, the Kwantung Army... Generals Fujiwara and Yamashita also did so to reduce the casualties of officers and soldiers... The landing troops have absolute superiority with naval cover, there will be no problem."

  "What about after landing? Our army still needs to advance inland. Judging from the combat effectiveness displayed by the Chinese military in recent days, we have seriously underestimated them!" Matsui Iwane thought for a moment: "I order the 3rd and 11th Divisions to fully occupy the beachhead before nightfall today and prepare to defend against the Chinese army's nighttime counterattack; do not advance further inland until the 9th Division arrives and lands!" The chief of staff responded with some surprise.

  The Japanese army's landing in Shanghai was in trouble, while the attack on Pingjin, although outnumbered, advanced rapidly. At dawn, the 38th Division of the 29th Army counterattacked at Tianjin's Dongjizhen, East Station, and Haiguang Temple, but all failed; by 7 am, they lost Dagu Port; by 8 am, the transportation between Nanyuan and Beiping was cut off. At the same time, a large number of Japanese aircraft flew to various places to start bombing, and the inexperienced troops of the 29th Army fled in disorder. By 10 am, the defenders at Nanyuan were forced to retreat and encountered enemy bombers on the way, resulting in the deaths of Tong Lin'ge, Zhao Dengyu, and others who were left behind by Song Zheyuan to command the defense of Nanyuan. Song Zheyuan himself left a letter for Zhang Zizhong as the "Chairman of the Hebei-Chahar Political Affairs Committee" to take charge of military and political affairs in Pingjin before escaping with Qin Dechun and other high-ranking officials to Baoding. By 12 pm, the Japanese army captured Tianjin; at the same time, they entered Beiping, and the defenders, except for Liu Ruzhen's troops who broke through the encirclement, surrendered; by 2 pm, the Japanese army pursued the main force of the 29th Army southward through Lugou Bridge.

  (The above is true from July 28-30)

  "Is there any good news?" The old Chiang asked viciously in his office at the Presidential Palace.

  "Tong County's fake Hebei East Security Team has turned against us." Zhang Zhizhong followed up with an inopportune remark, triggering Chiang Kai-shek's anger: "This bunch of bastards! They still dare to call themselves national heroes? A million-strong army, not even willing to resist for a few hours, and they just ran away like that? Shameless! A bunch of losers!"

  Lin Wei suddenly ran in, "Report to the Chairman, news from the 5th Cavalry Division!"

  "Are they still there? Hurry up and read!"

  "On the evening of the 17th, at 8 o'clock, I led the main force of the 5th Cavalry Corps to launch a surprise attack on Guoyuan. After fierce fighting, we killed over 1,700 enemy soldiers below the rank of major general, captured 63 people, and seized a large amount of supplies. Our army suffered over 800 casualties.

  At the same time, the main force of our 5th Cavalry Corps launched an attack on the enemy's 2nd Mixed Brigade. After a fierce battle that lasted throughout the night, both sides suffered heavy losses. At dawn on the 18th, our 5th Cavalry Corps' main force occupied Guoyuan and marched north to support the final battle, killing over 4,300 enemy soldiers below the rank of major general, capturing over 200 people, and seizing a large amount of weapons and equipment. Our army suffered heavy losses, with casualties exceeding 4,000 people. Ma Junlong and Ma Biao, among other key cadres, were wounded in battle.

  Due to the destruction of our radio station, we were unable to report in a timely manner. This telegram was forwarded by the 5th Cavalry Division."

  "Isn't it dangerous?"

  "No, just raise them for a few months."

  "Good! Good! This bunch of cavalry will never forget my great training! The First Cavalry Division, ah! In those days I... Haha haha!" Old Chiang finally burst out laughing! But I had a bitter smile on my face. Such a miserable victory, with nearly two cavalry divisions suffering heavy losses: "This Ma Buqing has ruined the 5th Cavalry Corps in one go. How are we going to fight battles on the grasslands from now on?!"

  After having a good time, Old Chiang suddenly thought of it: "How is the situation in Songhu?"

  "The enemy is still gradually expanding the landing field, but our specially made landmines have caused significant casualties among the enemy's mine clearance soldiers, slowing down their landing progress. So far, it is estimated that only less than 4 infantry regiments and 2 artillery battalions have landed." Zhang Zhizhong said: "I suggest that we follow the plan to make another representation to the powers this evening, striving for the right to fight on the Huangpu River."

  "Hmm, no matter what the outcome of the negotiations is, tell Dishi Xiu that tonight's counterattack must be carried out!"

  "Yes!"

  Old Chiang was still very happy and smiled at me: "Zi An, your wooden box landmine really worked!"

  Was it true that Old Chiang had been beaten by the soldiers of the First Division when he was in power? I also laughed happily and said: "Hehe, the US has long studied the mine detector used by the enemy army, which relies on electric power to detect metal; this kind of landmine with almost no metal is just for this purpose; plus our specially made fake mines, with the technical level of the enemy army, it's all set!" In my heart, I secretly wished that from tonight's counterattack onwards.

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