Bright Sword: The Flowers of War

Chapter 97 Entering the City
"Breaking news! Breaking news... The Japanese 33rd Brigade has suffered heavy losses... Its cavalry company, tank company, and artillery battalion have been completely annihilated by our army!"

"Breaking news! Breaking news... Facing a powerful enemy, the Nanjing Security Regiment, undaunted by danger, destroyed twenty Japanese heavy artillery pieces, dozens of tanks, and killed thousands of enemy soldiers..."

Today, Xuzhou has suddenly become lively, a stark contrast to the somewhat gloomy atmosphere of recent days, with countless young people taking to the streets to celebrate the victory of the Nanjing Security Corps.

Many young people in school uniforms folded newspapers into trumpet shapes, their necks bulging with veins as they shouted good news, completely unaware that beads of sweat were rolling down their red cheekbones and into their collars.

In a private booth by the window of a teahouse not far away, Li Zongren, who rarely appeared in public, sat by the window, watching the crowds coming and going on the street in high spirits. He smiled and said to Sun Lianzhong, the commander of the Second Army Group sitting next to him, "Brother Fanglu, the rain has stopped and the sun is shining. It's not bad to come out for a walk once in a while. What do you think?"

Sun Lianzhong laughed and said, "What you say is very true, sir. These days, staying in the command post for so long, I always feel like I'm covered in mold, all wet and damp. After coming out to bask in the sun, I feel much more comfortable."

"Hahaha……"

Li Zongren smiled and pointed at him with his finger. He first picked up the teapot and poured him a cup of tea, then poured one for himself. He took a sip and a satisfied expression appeared on his face.

Seeing Li Zongren's cheerful expression, Sun Lianzhong couldn't help but ask curiously, "Commander Li... is Su Yaoyang and his security regiment really that powerful? I don't quite believe it!"

The intelligence also claims he possesses a tank unit; is that true or false?

Li Zongren laughed heartily: "Fang Lu, Su Yaoyang and his security regiment are almost in the city now. Whether it's true or false, we'll find out soon enough."

“That’s true.” Sun Lianzhong smiled wryly. This kind of lie, which can be seen through at a glance, can’t be hidden from anyone. Once the troops enter the city, it will be obvious.

"They're here... The security forces are entering the city!" Suddenly, a deafening cheer erupted outside.

Amid cheers, nine imposing M24 Chaffee tanks slowly rolled in, each with a commander standing on its turret, wearing a tank helmet, a black armored uniform, and large headphones.

"Look... a tank... that's our tank..." a young man shouted excitedly.

"What do you mean by 'tank'? That's what the Japanese call it. This thing should be called a tank... a tank... do you understand?" someone shouted from the side.

"Whether it's armored vehicles or tanks, as long as they're from China, that's fine!"

"Haha...that's true."

"Look everyone, why is there a foreigner standing on the first tank?"

"Hey...it really is...that brown-haired, blue-eyed guy is definitely a foreigner."

As the saying goes, laymen watch the spectacle, while experts see the intricacies. When ordinary people on the street saw John with half his body sticking out of the turret, they just regarded it as a spectacle. But for experts, there was a lot to analyze.

Li Zongren and Sun Lianzhong, who were sitting by the window on the third floor of the teahouse, exchanged a glance. Sun Lianzhong couldn't help but say, "Commander Li, I heard that the head of the security regiment, Su Yaoyang, has very close ties with foreigners. Seeing him today, it's true. Even the instructors of the tank unit are foreigners."

Li Zongren suppressed his surprise and then chuckled, "Fang Lu, as the saying goes, cats have their ways and mice have their ways. The fact that they can get the support of foreigners is their own skill."

In my opinion, anything that helps the cause of the War of Resistance Against Japan is a good thing, don't you think?

"Commander Li is absolutely right." Sun Lianzhong nodded repeatedly, then his eyes darted around before he suddenly whispered, "Commander Li, our Second Army Group has a very heavy mission and is extremely lacking in a unit capable of attacking fortified positions. Do you think we could..."

"No!" Li Zongren interrupted him before he could finish speaking.

"Fang Lu, you shouldn't even think about targeting the Nanjing Security Corps."

I plan to place this unit under the direct command of the Fifth War Zone Command.

Troops like these should be placed in the most critical positions!

Seeing Li Zongren's resolute expression, Sun Lianzhong knew that he had no hope.

He looked annoyed: "This security force has at most two or three thousand men, is it really necessary to be so tense?"

Li Zongren simply smiled faintly and did not argue with him, but in his heart he began to plan how to use this elite force.

While Li and Sun were watching the security regiment that had just entered the city, the Japanese spies hidden in the crowd were also secretly gritting their teeth.

Not long after, a telegram from Xuzhou arrived in the hands of Hata Shunroku, commander of the Central China Expeditionary Army.

Your Excellency Commander:
After several days of covert reconnaissance, I have obtained detailed intelligence on the military equipment of the Nanjing Security Regiment. This unit, commanded by Su Yaoyang, has a strength of about four thousand men, and its equipment is far superior to expectations, almost entirely equipped with American weapons.

The main infantry force is equipped with M1 Garand semi-automatic rifles, which provide sustained firepower and excellent individual combat capabilities. In addition, the regiment possesses nine M24 Chaffee armored vehicles, which are highly mobile and equipped with 75mm cannons, posing a serious threat to our armored vehicles.

In terms of transportation, the unit also has hundreds of American-made trucks and troop carriers to ensure its rapid mobility and smooth logistical support.

Of particular note is that the regiment is equipped with Fu Bosi 40mm anti-aircraft guns, the number of which is unknown, but it has already constructed air defense positions, posing a potential threat to our air force.

Furthermore... I did not see any of his subordinate artillery units today. I suspect that his artillery has been hidden. I should seize the time to conduct another reconnaissance.

In conclusion, the Soviet forces possess combat capabilities far exceeding those of ordinary local security forces, and their mechanization level even surpasses that of some Nationalist Army elite units. It is recommended that the command attach great importance to this matter and, if necessary, deploy heavy artillery or air power to conduct preemptive strikes to weaken their threat.

Night Owl Knocks
March 23, Showa 13.

Although Su Yaoyang was unaware that he had been targeted by the Japanese, his soldier's intuition told him that drawing too much attention was not a good thing.

After leading his troops around the city, he quietly led them to a valley about 50 kilometers outside the city and set up camp there.

What? Why not settle down in XZ city?

Brother... don't you even look at what kind of troops are stationed in Xuzhou City these days?
Those were all Guangxi troops who followed him in his early years. You, an outsider from a security regiment, think you can live in the city? Don't even dream about it.

They've already been generous by letting you wander around the city and boost your reputation. What more do you want? You can't be too greedy.

Just as Su Yaoyang was busy settling his troops, a phone call summoned him to Xuzhou City.

(End of this chapter)