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

"Brothers, see you in the next life!!"

Zhang Fakui watched the Japanese soldiers surge towards him, bid his final farewell to his men, and then prepared to pick up his bayonet and die with the Japanese soldiers.

Just then, divine soldiers descended from the sky!

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

A piercing whistling sound followed by endless explosions.

Zhu Yong led the naval fleet and finally arrived at the battlefield.

The 203mm main guns of heavy cruisers such as "Ashigara" and "Haguro" roared with earth-shattering force!

The 140mm secondary guns of light cruisers such as the "Tenryu" and "Yubari" also spat out continuous tongues of fire!

All the carrier-based aircraft were deployed and swooped down on the Japanese positions.

In an instant, the Japanese attack launch positions, artillery clusters, and supply depots on the outskirts of Songjiang were completely covered by the steel storm from the sea.

A massive fireball, carrying mud, sand, debris, and human remains, shot into the sky, creating a huge gap in the Japanese encirclement.

This sudden blow was completely unexpected by Heisuke Yanagawa, commander of the Japanese 10th Army.

He never expected that the Chinese fleet would appear in Hangzhou Bay to provide fire support to Zhang Fakui. He had previously received information that the Chinese navy had been blockading the East China Sea.

"Baka!!"

"Baka yarou!!"

Liu Chuan almost ground his teeth to powder.

He was just a hair's breadth away from turning the tide of the entire Battle of Shanghai and ending the Battle of Shanghai, but unexpectedly, he suffered a devastating blow at the height of his success.

At this moment, the Japanese soldiers gathered together and launched an attack on the National Army. They had no cover to hide in and could only withstand the bombing by the Chinese navy.

But how can flesh and blood withstand a storm of steel?

Moreover, these naval guns are all super-large caliber guns; a single shot can destroy everything within a 50-meter radius.

Zhu Yong's relentless bombardment lasted for a full forty minutes.

The battlefield was a scene of utter devastation.

The Japanese communications were thrown into chaos, the attacking forces suffered heavy losses under heavy artillery fire and air raids, the command chain was broken, and the plan to outflank the enemy completely failed.

Having narrowly escaped death, Zhang Fakui seized this fleeting opportunity and unleashed a deafening roar in his already hoarse voice.

"Brothers! Our navy is here! The Japanese are defeated! Charge! Take back Songjiang!!"

The remnants of the Eighth Army, who had originally been prepared to die, unleashed astonishing energy, launching a massive counterattack against the chaotic Japanese troops like a flood bursting its banks.

The survivors of the Eighth Army cheered with joy, and the entire Songjiang County was transformed into a sea of ​​jubilation.

However, Zhu Yong, standing on the "Ashigara", did not show much joy on his face.

For this rescue mission, the fleet has almost exhausted its already precious ammunition reserves, and now less than 10% remains.

There were no ports or naval bases nearby, so Zhu Yong's ammunition could not be resupplyed.

In other words, after this battle, Zhu Yong will be at a complete disadvantage in naval warfare. With the warships under his command, he will have almost no chance of winning against the combined Japanese fleet.

......

Upon hearing the shout, Minister of Military Affairs He Yingqin immediately stepped forward to examine the telegram.

"Chairman, please take note: Our navy arrived at Hangzhou Bay early this morning and launched a devastating artillery barrage and air raid as the Japanese were preparing to besiege the Eighth Army Group. The enemy's offensive order collapsed, and they suffered heavy casualties."

"In this battle, the initial estimate is that nearly 60,000 enemy soldiers were killed or wounded. Our troops also suffered heavy casualties, but morale is extremely high."

Inside his office, Chiang Kai-shek sat in a chair, sighing deeply.

He Yingqin's sudden intrusion and shouts startled him at first, then angered him. But upon hearing the words "Great Victory at Songjiang," his anger instantly turned into utter disbelief.

"What? Jingzhi, explain yourself! What great victory?"

Chiang Kai-shek's voice suddenly rose, filled with ecstatic joy.

"Immediately notify the Propaganda Department! All newspapers and radio stations, front page headlines! Publicize the Songjiang Victory with all our might! Let the whole nation know!"

"Our army is about to launch a full-scale counter-offensive and recapture Shanghai!"

"Yes, Chairman!" He Yingqin replied hastily, his face flushed.

"Call Yang Yong immediately! No! I want to personally call them to commend them!"

After Chiang Kai-shek finished speaking, he excitedly walked to his desk, picked up a brush, dipped it in thick ink, spread out the letter paper, and began to write himself.

"The news of victory in Songjiang has inspired the whole nation! You were entrusted with a critical mission, fought bravely, turned the tide, and saved the nation from collapse. Your achievements in this battle will be recorded in history, enough to terrify the Japanese invaders and strengthen the prestige of our army."

"The naval officers and soldiers bravely ventured into perilous situations and provided crucial fire support; their achievements are truly remarkable! Yang Yong is hereby promoted to Marshal of the Republic of China Navy, with the rank of First-Class Admiral!"

"May you hone your skills on the battlefield once more, and achieve even greater feats! Respectfully yours, Chiang Kai-shek!"

When He Yingqin saw that Chiang Kai-shek was going to promote Yang Yong to the position of Admiral of the Navy, he was so shocked that he couldn't close his mouth.

In the Kuomintang regime, the position of Marshal was extremely rare.

"Chairman, this...this isn't appropriate, is it?"

Chiang Kai-shek chuckled and said:

"Perfect, absolutely perfect."

"I will not only promote him to Admiral of the Navy, but also award him an additional 500,000 yuan in legal tender! All officers and men in his fleet will receive double pay!"

At this point, Chiang Kai-shek was completely blinded by the overwhelming victory.

The gloom of the past few days has been swept away.

"Jingzhi, a fighter jet! A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has arrived!"

"The Japanese 10th Army has suffered a heavy blow and its morale has collapsed. The flanks of its Zhabei and Hongkou troops are completely exposed! Our army should seize the momentum of this great victory and drive the Japanese invaders down the Huangpu River in one fell swoop!"

He Yingqin felt a slight chill. As the Minister of Military Affairs, he was even more aware of the true situation of the front-line troops, and he knew very well that the front-line troops were exhausted, suffered heavy casualties, and urgently needed rest and replenishment.

He opened his mouth, as if to remind him, "Chairman, casualties in various units..."

"Don't mention casualties to me!"

Chiang Kai-shek abruptly waved his hand, interrupting him, "Why was the 108th Division able to overcome the difficulties and charge in and out of the Japanese rear seven times?"

"Our army has just achieved a great victory, and its morale is high. Now is the perfect time to advance! The Japanese invaders have suffered such a heavy blow, and their morale will surely collapse! Pass on my orders!"

"Order Zhang Fakui's Eighth Army Group to reorganize briefly and immediately send a strong force to attack and advance northeastward from Songjiang, sweeping away the remaining enemy and threatening Minhang and Longhua."

"Order Yang Yong to immediately lead the naval fleet, overcome all difficulties, blockade the mouth of the Yangtze River, cut off enemy maritime reinforcements, and seek an opportunity to enter the Huangpu River to support our urban troops in their counterattack with naval guns."

"Move all the reserve teams up there."

"The Training Corps, the Tax Police Corps, and the reinforcements from various provinces that have just arrived—a total of twenty divisions, approximately two hundred thousand troops—are to depart immediately!"

"Using Songjiang as our forward base, we will divide our forces into two routes: one will advance north along the Shanghai-Hangzhou Railway, and the other will cross the Huangpu River eastward to coordinate with our forces on the front lines, forming a three-sided encirclement of the enemy entrenched in Shanghai!"

"I will liberate Shanghai within half a month! I will completely drive the Japanese pirates out of Songhu!"

Chiang Kai-shek became more and more excited as he spoke, as if he had already completely liberated the entire city of Shanghai.