One man's resistance against Japan, I mobilized a million people to aid Shanghai.

Shanghai's Hongkou District, once an extremely prosperous area, has now been completely transformed into a battlefield.

After Zhang Zhizhong, commander-in-chief of the Ninth Army Group, received the order from the Presidential Palace to launch a full-scale attack and eliminate the remaining enemy forces, the most elite units of the National Revolutionary Army, the 87th, 88th, and 36th Divisions, as well as the Tax Police Corps, launched a general offensive against key strongholds such as the Gongda Cotton Mill and Huishan Wharf, which were entrenched in the area.

Gunfire became the sole dominant theme of this land.

The entire sky above Hongkou was shrouded in thick black smoke and scarlet flames all day long.

The National Revolutionary Army's German-made 150mm heavy howitzers, mountain guns and field guns of various divisions, and even mortars, relentlessly poured thousands of tons of steel and gunpowder onto the Japanese positions.

The sturdy reinforced concrete building collapsed in the violent explosion.

"Attack! Attack! Take over the Gongda Cotton Mill and avenge our fathers and brothers!"

Countless soldiers in gray uniforms rushed towards the enemy's barrage of fire like a flood bursting its banks.

The Japanese soldiers were completely plunged into despair.

The headquarters was captured by the 853rd Regiment, the command center was destroyed, and the morale of the Japanese troops was low. They were like headless flies and could not form an effective offensive.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the National Revolutionary Army quickly infiltrated and encircled the Japanese, cutting off their supply lines and gradually eroding their positions.

Even after losing their only soldiers, the remaining Japanese troops remained ferocious, putting up a final resistance with their strong fortifications.

They engaged in fierce hand-to-hand combat and street fighting with the Nationalist soldiers who stormed into every building and every barricade.

The final battle took place at the Gongda Textile Factory building.

This was the core defensive position of the Japanese army on the eastern front, where at least half of their garrison force was stationed.

The building was riddled with holes inside and out. The exterior walls were riddled with bullet holes, all the windows were shattered, and the Japanese flag on the flagpole on the top floor was torn to shreds by the shelling.

The 88th Division, the most valiant and heavily armed division, finally broke into the factory compound after paying a heavy price.

The Japanese had laid out numerous obstacles and firing positions within the compound, attempting a desperate last stand.

But the Nationalist soldiers were willing to risk their lives, even if it meant their own death, to blow up the Japanese strongpoints.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

The continuous explosions destroyed the Japanese firing positions.

With a loud "boom!", the last heavy machine gun emplacement on the ground floor was destroyed by Nationalist soldiers using explosives.

......

"This battle has demonstrated the might of our nation; the loyalty and bravery of our entire army are as clear as the sun and the moon!"

In addition to detailed battle reports, the application also included many photos taken at great personal risk by frontline reporters.

The Nationalist soldiers cheered on the roof of the Gongda Textile Factory, there were mountains of Japanese weapons, captured wounded Japanese soldiers, and exclusive reports on the 853rd Regiment. They gave the 853rd Regiment great praise, saying that its glory was forged in iron and blood.

......

Just as the whole of China was celebrating, the Japanese were shrouded in an atmosphere of extreme oppression and anger in their newly reorganized temporary command post at their secret base.

Matsui Iwane narrowly escaped, but upon learning that the Hongkou Marine Corps had been completely annihilated and that places like the Gongda Cotton Mill had fallen one after another, he was so angry that he almost vomited blood.

"Baka yarou!!"

He roared madly in his makeshift command post, hacking at the tables and chairs around him with his military knife, sending splinters flying.

The surrounding staff officers fell silent, heads bowed, unable to look directly at him.

What a disgrace! This was the greatest humiliation Matsui Iwane had ever experienced in his decades of military service.

He had victory in his grasp, but he never expected the empire to suffer such a crushing defeat, and he himself almost died.

Now, at this critical moment when the Empire is about to launch a landing operation, intending to attack from both inside and outside, its backyard is on fire and its core stronghold has been uprooted.

If this continues, the empire's plans for hegemony will suffer enormous damage.

If we cannot launch a pincer attack from both inside and outside, we can only fight a protracted war with the main force of the National Revolutionary Army on the Shanghai battlefield. This will be a protracted war in which both sides will suffer heavy losses.

This was completely unacceptable to Matsui Iwane, who had boasted that he would conquer China in three months.

"Damn it!! This is all the fault of those Chinese in the 853rd Regiment!"

Matsui Iwane's eyes flashed with resentment and a hint of barely perceptible fear.

This unassuming 853rd Regiment, in his meticulously planned battle, delivered the most fatal blow!

They launched a night raid on the headquarters and won seven battles in a row, capturing the headquarters with their remaining troops, which indirectly led to the final annihilation of the Hongkou garrison.

Such a terrifying fighting style made Matsui Iwane feel threatened like never before.

"This 853rd Regiment must be annihilated! I want to tear them to pieces!!"

at the same time.

At the Imperial Conference, Sugiyama Genriku and others faced immense pressure from the Emperor and the elder statesmen.

"What is Matsui Iwane doing? The Empire has committed so many troops, yet they can't even hold Shanghai. Isn't he afraid of facing a military court?"

Questioning and criticism are spreading among the higher-ups.

The Minister of the Army immediately stepped forward and stated that he would definitely reprimand Matsui Iwane and guarantee that he would retake Shanghai as soon as possible, help the Empire open up the southern front, and destroy China.