You were tasked with guarding the Sihang Warehouse, and you brought out a Tiger tank?

Behind the North Station, artillery positions.

Lin Feng stood next to a Type 38 75mm field gun that had just been inspected and hadn't even had time to be repainted.

This cannon was a trophy captured during the previous night raid.

At the gun emplacement, several artillerymen were skillfully operating the cannon that the Japanese had made.

What they held in their hands were not the simple firing tables commonly used by the Great Xia army, but a beautifully printed Japanese "Type 38 Field Artillery Firing Manual" stained with blood and a special artillery slide rule (pictured).

These were also spoils of war from that night, taken along with the lives of the Japanese artillerymen.

"Commander, all parameters have been calculated."

The field artillery battalion commander put down his slide rule and reported to the instructor:

"Target: Flanking and rear of the Japanese 7th Regiment, distance 3200 meters, correction..."

The data he reported was frighteningly accurate.

The quality of the system soldiers, combined with the precision firing tables compiled by the Japanese themselves, made for a perfect combination.

Lin Feng chuckled and waved his hand:

"Alright, let's use the Japanese cannons to send them on their way. We'll use the original ingredients to cook the original food!"

"Fire!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

More than a dozen captured Japanese mountain guns and field guns roared simultaneously.

The shells traced parabolic arcs as they crashed into the Japanese 7th Regiment, which was struggling to hold on.

"Boom!"

The Japanese infantry guns had just crawled into a waterlogged pit and set up their positions, but before they could even fire, they were blown away by a barrage of fire.

The Japanese soldiers were completely dumbfounded.

The sound of those cannons... why does it sound so familiar?

Isn't this our own Type 38 field gun?

"What?! That was our artillery? Was it friendly fire?"

"Damn it, is the artillery regiment blind?! Firing at their own men?!"

The communications soldier of the 7th Regiment cursed wildly over the radio, but all he got in response was more intense artillery fire.

Under the tearing action of MG42s, the pinpointing attacks of StG44s and G43s, and the bombardment of their own artillery, the 7th Regiment of the Kanazawa Division, known as the "hardest bone," finally collapsed.

They had to switch from rear guard to front guard, taking turns providing cover, and carrying the bodies of the fallen, they retreated from the battlefield in a sorry state.

Zhang Wenzhong poked his head out of the trench, looking at the group of soldiers of the First Battalion who seemed to have descended from the heavens, at the strange-looking weapons in their hands, and at the terrifyingly accurate artillery support in the distance.

He opened his mouth wide, unable to close it for a long time.

"Wow...we won...we won just like that? Wars can be fought like this?"

"Just who are these Brigade Commander Lin's direct subordinate units? They're incredibly powerful!"

-----

The heavy rain was still falling, but even denser than the rain was the Japanese artillery fire.

The Japanese Independent Field Heavy Artillery Brigade No. 5, this behemoth, finally bared its fangs.

Dozens of 240mm heavy howitzers and 150mm cannons roared in succession.

Each shell that landed was accompanied by a tremendous tremor that shook the earth.

The North Station, whose main building was already riddled with holes, collapsed completely like building blocks under this devastating blow, and the resulting dust and smoke blotted out the sky, even obscuring the rain.

At the same time, the Japanese 3rd and 9th Divisions, like two sharp iron pincers, fiercely clamped down from both flanks.

Inside the Ninth Army Headquarters, the telephones rang incessantly, all carrying bad news.

"Report: The 87th Division's flank has been breached, and they are retreating towards the Suzhou Creek line."

"Report: The Tax Police Corps has suffered more than half its casualties. Requesting withdrawal from the battle for rest and reorganization."

The operations staff, drenched in sweat, moved swiftly across the enormous battle map, each holding a small red and blue flag.

As one by one the blue flags representing the Nationalist army's defenses were pulled down and replaced with the red Japanese flags, a shocking battle line map was revealed to everyone.

The entire defensive line was collapsing, like a torn fishing net.

However, on this shattered map, there is an unusually conspicuous blue nail, firmly embedded in that location known as the dead zone—the North Station.

There, a huge, dangerous salient was formed, standing alone in the Japanese encirclement.

"Um?"

Commander Zhu Shaoliang stared at the blue dot, his brow furrowed: "The 1st Honorary Brigade... is it still holding out there?"

He couldn't believe it.

Commander Zhu actually had his own opinions about this unit that had recently been touted as a miracle in the newspapers.

In his view, this was just a lucky security brigade that won a battle with a favorable wind and reaped a great advantage.

When it comes to this kind of brutal, attrition-driven meat grinder moment, the resilience of ragtag armies has never been reliable.

"Haven't they retreated yet?" Commander Zhu turned to the chief of staff, his tone tinged with suspicion. "Could it be that Lin Feng has already run away and hasn't dared to notify headquarters? Local troops have done this kind of thing quite often."

The chief of staff shook his head, his expression complex. "Commander, I just called to confirm. Brigade Commander Lin answered the phone personally. He said the troops are still holding their ground. And..."

The chief of staff paused, then pointed to the faint rumble of artillery fire coming from outside the window: "The gunfire in the background of the phone call is very intense; it doesn't sound like a play, nor does it sound like they're running away."

"Oh?"

Commander Zhu stroked the stubble on his chin and smiled.

That smile carried a hint of surprise, a hint of relief, and more of a cold, calculating "this knife is really useful."

"Well said, when the nation is in peril, we think of the loyal and virtuous; when the country is in turmoil, we recognize the true ministers."

Commander Zhu sighed:

"Although Lin Feng came from a ragtag background, his loyalty and integrity surpass those of some division commanders in the Central Army."

"Truly worthy of being called heroes of our Whampoa Military Academy! So loyal to the Party and the country, so loyal to the leader!"

According to normal military logic, since both flanks had collapsed at this point and the North Station was isolated, a retreat should have been ordered immediately to level the battle line and avoid being surrounded.

but……

Commander Zhu glanced at the urgent telegram that had just arrived from Nanjing on the table, and his eyes turned cold.

That was a handwritten order from the Supreme Commander:

"In order to cooperate with the upcoming Nine-Power Treaty Conference in Brussels and to win the sympathy and intervention of the international community in order to punish the Japanese invaders' aggressive acts, the Ninth Army Group must hold firm to the Zhabei and Jiangwan lines to the end and show the world the determination of the soldiers of Great Xia to defend their homeland."

Even if it's down to the last man, we must not retreat lightly.

For the sake of that elusive international reputation, for the sake of that non-existent hope of mediation, someone has to die, someone has to fill that bottomless pit.

And now, the most suitable candidate is this loyal and brave 1st Honorary Brigade.

"Pass down the order."

Commander Zhu said calmly, "Call Lin Feng and commend him for his heroic performance. Tell him that for the sake of the country and the nation, he must hold the North Station. Even if it's just for a day or an hour, it's a huge contribution to the Party and the country."

Will this order lead to the complete annihilation of this newly emerging elite force? Will thousands of young lives be sacrificed needlessly?

Haha, just kidding...

Commander Zhu never thought of that.