Chapter 40 Strengthening Connections

  Not long after, Xiao Haixuan drove up with 350 sets of military uniforms and arrived at Lishan. As the car entered the warehouse, Zhang Lieyang smiled and said: "My big uncle, you've finally come! I've been waiting until the flowers have wilted!"

  "How dare you say that! Last night, in the middle of the night, my father and I were summoned back to the troops! I rushed over from headquarters at dawn!" Xiao Haixia said with a smile.

  "What's the current situation of the battle?" Zhang Lieyang asked anxiously.

  "This morning, Japanese planes took off from the 'Nagato' aircraft carrier anchored in the Huangpu River and bombed Zhabei, a suburb of Shanghai. Many places in Zhabei are on fire. The exact situation is not clear yet!" Xiao Haixuan replied seriously.

  Zhang Lieyang and Xiao Haigang chatted for a while before Zhang Lieyang ordered Zhang Xiangwu, "Xiangwu, have the brothers change into these military uniforms! We're setting out immediately, our target is Shanghai, we're going to kill ghosts!" Upon hearing Zhang Lieyang's words, Zhang Xiangwu rubbed his hands together and laughed, saying, "Young master, don't worry! All the brothers here have been training for so long, it's time for them to show off their skills!" As he spoke, Zhang Xiangwu led the men in distributing the military uniforms from Xiao Haigang's vehicle.

  After everything was ready, Xiao Haixuan took out a military officer's certificate and a pass from his own upper pocket and handed them to Zhang Lieyang, saying: "Once you enter Shanghai, everything will depend on yourselves!"

  Zhang Lieyang took over the pass and military ID, saying: "Don't worry! Dealing with a few little Japanese is still very easy for us!" With that, Zhang Lieyang led his men to set off.

  Xiao Haiya returned home and told Xiao Shixiong that Zhang Lieyang had already set off with his men. Then, Xiao Shixiong picked up the direct dial phone on the table to call Jiang Guangnai and said: "Jiang brother, I also have no way to fully support you! I can only send my guard company to help you! Although there are fewer people, it is also a sincere intention from me!"

  "Brother Chongyai, thank you! At this moment, I, Jiang Guangnai, only have you to lend a helping hand! Alright, brother won't say anything more! If brother doesn't die after the war, will definitely repay brother Chongyai properly!" With that, Jiang Guangnai hung up the phone.

  Soon, Zhang Lieyang brought people to Shanghai. After arriving in Shanghai, Zhang Lieyang handed the address of Tang Wanyue's grandmother's house to Zhang Xiangwu and said: "Xiangwu, you bring thirty brothers to safely pick up the people from the Tang family and send them to Ningbo. After that, you hurry back and meet with us!"

  "Alright! Young master, don't worry!" Zhang Xiangwu said as he left with thirty people. Soon after, Zhang Lieyang arrived at Jiang Guangnai's command center. As he entered the command center, Zhang Lieyang reported: "Reporting to the commander-in-chief, I have come under the orders of our military seat Xiao Shixiong to receive your command!"

  Jiang Guangnai put down the red pen in his hand and said: "You all go to the back to rest first! Wait for my orders at any time!"

  "Yes!" Zhang Lieyang said and left!

  On the evening of January 29, 1932, the Japanese army, due to the strong resistance from the Nineteenth Route Army, reluctantly accepted the mediation of Britain and the United States and temporarily ceased hostilities.

  At night, Zhang Xiangwu brought people to Zhang Lieyang's residence and said: "Young master, when we arrived at Tang Miss's grandmother's house, it was already deserted! Later I asked the people around, they said that not long after the Japanese army fought, all the people in Tang Miss's grandmother's house escaped!"

  "Alright! Take the brothers to rest!" Zhang Lieyang said, walking over to the phone at the barracks and dialing Xiao Shi-xiong's number. "Uncle! The Tang family's people fled not long after the battle started! Please send someone to intercept them on the road to Ningbo!"

  "Alright! Don't worry! Come back early after the battle!" said Xiao Shi Xiong as he hung up the phone.

  On February 3, 1932, the war resumed and the Japanese army was repelled. On February 5, the Japanese army occupied Harbin. From then on, the Japanese army occupied the entire three northeastern provinces. In just a few months from September 18, 1931 to February 5, 1932, 130 million square kilometers of land fell! More than 30 million compatriots became slaves of a lost country! More crucially, Japan now had a comprehensive forward base for attacking China, creating the necessary conditions for achieving its goal of waging war to sustain itself! The large amount of supplies and food transported back from Northeast China also alleviated Japan's increasingly severe economic crisis at home, while further solidifying Japan's national determination to expand externally. On February 10, Japan successively dispatched a mixed brigade and division to Shanghai to participate in the war, and twice replaced its commanding officer to strengthen command. Starting on the 20th, the Japanese army launched a comprehensive attack on Wusong, Jiangwan, and Zhabei.

  On February 13, 1932, at the position of the 119th Regiment, 60th Division, 19th Route Army on Zhabei Road, Shanghai, after a fierce bayonet fight, Battalion Commander Fang Zhenghai picked up the phone and called the regimental headquarters, saying: "Regimental Commander, I am Fang Zhenghai! Can you send me some reinforcements? I don't have enough men now!"

  "You little brat, don't shout at me! If I had a reserve team on hand, I would have sent it to you long ago! If you're really short of men, then I'll personally be your reserve team!" With that, Zhu Zhiming, commander of the 119th Regiment of the 60th Division of the 19th Army of the National Revolutionary Army, hung up the phone.

  The phone had just hung up when Jiang Guangnai walked in and asked: "What's the situation now?"

  Looking at the incoming Beijing-Shanghai Garrison Commander Chen Ming-shu and General Commander Jiang Guangnai, Zhu Zhiming thought for a moment, furrowed his brow and said: "Report to the commander and general commander! Now we are only short of reserve troops! All the soldiers I can dispatch have been deployed! Even the groom and cook have gone up!"

  Upon hearing Zhu Zhi Ming's words, Jiang Guang Nai thought for a moment before saying: "I'll give you an enhanced company right now! But you can't disperse this company and use it!"

  "How did you suddenly become so powerful?" Commander Chen Mingzhu of the Beijing-Shanghai Garrison Command asked in surprise.

  "I've never told you, it was Xiao Shixiong who sent troops to support Shanghai! It's his guard company! Originally I didn't want to use them, but now everyone is short-handed, I really had no choice but to use them!" Jiang Guangnai said seriously.

  "It's still Brother Chongyuan who thinks of everything!" Chen Mingzhu said calmly.

  At this time, Jiang Guangnai connected the phone to Zhang Lieyang's residence and soon received the order. Zhang Lieyang brought more than 300 armed guards to the headquarters of the 119th Regiment of the 60th Division of the 19th Army. Seeing the heavily armed guards, Chen Mingzhu and Jiang Guangnai couldn't help but widen their eyes!

  Just as they were in a daze, Zhang Lieyang walked up to them and was about to report when Jiang Guangnai said: "From now on, you will be under the command of Zhu Zhiming! I hope you fight bravely against the enemy!"

  Before Zhang Lieyang could speak, Zhu Zhiming said to him: "I'll have the communication team's soldiers take you to the position on Qiujiang Road! That is our most heavily guarded location!"

  "Director Zhu, don't worry! We guarantee to complete the task!" With that, Zhang Lieyang led his men and set off immediately.

  As they watched Zhang Lieyang and his men leave, Chen Mingzhu seriously said to Jiang Guangnai: "Jiangnan, Chongyai has indeed sent us his most elite troops!"

  "Yes! Chong Ya is taking out his own heart's meat to help us!" Jiang Guangnai replied dully.

  When Zhang Lieyang and his men arrived at the Qiujiang Road battlefield, they saw a large number of Japanese devils crazily charging towards the position. Seeing this scene, Zhang Lieyang immediately ordered: "Sweep away the little Japanese!"

  Upon hearing the order, the special warfare team members of the Household Division quickly raised their automatic weapons and swept towards the Little Devils. Under the strong pressure of the Household Division's vitality, the devils who had just rushed halfway retreated! Zhang Lieyang and his men immediately took advantage of this gap to walk into the defensive fortifications.