Siheyuan: Hang Jia Dongxu, smash Banggeng to death!

Chow Yun-fat and Lung Wu stayed in Beiping for a few days, exploring the city after its liberation, but ultimately chose to return home.

It just goes to show that everyone has their own ambitions.

Long Wu held a string of candied hawthorns in his hand, eating them as he remarked, "Brother Fa, do you think the history there will change after we go back?"

Chow Yun-fat shook his head. "I don't know, maybe, but Commander Lin said this is a parallel world, so it shouldn't be."

Lung Wu then asked, "Was it the right thing to keep Sing-jai?"

"Maybe." Chow Yun-fat looked at the soldiers training in the distance. "They need him here. Everyone has their own pursuits and their own ideals."

That evening, Stephen Chow treated them to dinner.

A few dishes and a pot of wine.

After a few rounds of drinks, Stephen Chow asked, "Brother Chow, are you really not staying?"

Chow Yun-fat shook his head. "If we don't stay, we have to go back. Chongchong is waiting for you."

Stephen Chow lowered his head. "Tell her for me that I'll go back to her after I finish fighting the war."

"Tell her yourself."

Chow Yun-fat pulled a letter from his pocket; it was written by Chongchong. "She asked me to give this to you."

Stephen Chow took the letter, his hands trembling slightly. Instead of opening it right away, he put it in his pocket and said, "Thank you, Brother Chow."

The next morning, with Lin Tian's help, Fa Ge, Long Wu, and the others left 1932.

Lin Tian said "Take care" indifferently, without trying to stop him.

Some people are destined to go back, and some are destined to stay.

……

March.

The beacon fires have been sounded.

Lin Tian stood in front of a huge military map, where the densely marked red strongholds were all occupied areas of the small fry in North China.

These days, we've been preparing and working on this map. Only by knowing where the dangers are can we avoid accidentally injuring our own people when tanks are rampaging through the area.

Brigade Commander Chen, holding the latest intelligence, said, "Sir, the enemy forces in North China number about 200,000, mainly distributed in major cities such as Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, and Baoding."

They had been operating in North China for many years, with strong fortifications and sufficient troops.

If our army marches south from the Northeast, it will first need to capture Shanhaiguan, and then proceed westward. The entire route is flat, which is suitable for tank swarm assaults.

However, North China is densely populated with many cities, unlike the sparsely populated Northeast.

If we were to use the air force to bomb indiscriminately as we did in Northeast China, we fear we would harm innocent civilians and destroy our own homes.

Lin Tian frowned slightly. "North China is our own land. We can't fight like we did in the Northeast."

The troops were instructed that this operation would primarily involve ground forces, with the air force only responsible for reconnaissance and precision strikes, and not for large-scale bombing.

Tanks led the way, infantry followed, recapturing city and town by town, minimizing civilian casualties and property damage as much as possible.

"yes!"

"Also," Lin Tian turned around, "tell Ma Yongzhen that the Independent Regiment will be the vanguard, with the advance troops departing tomorrow, and our main force following three days later."

Upon receiving the order, Ma Yongzhen immediately convened a meeting of the Independent Regiment, which was attended by Zhao Dazhuang, Liu Liuliu, Dajun, and Zhou Xingxing.

The map was laid out on the table, with the marching route marked in red and blue pencils.

"Brothers!"

Ma Yongzhen's voice was loud and clear: "The commander has ordered our Independent Regiment to act as the vanguard. The advance troops will depart tomorrow, with the target being Shanhaiguan."

Zhao Dazhuang was the first to stand up: "We've been waiting for this day for a month. It's time for us to take care of those Japanese devils in North China."

Dajun and Zhou Xingxing nodded.

The Independent Regiment set off before dawn the next morning.

Tanks led the way, followed by infantry.

Ma Yongzhen sat on the first tank, holding binoculars in his hand.

Shanhaiguan, the First Pass Under Heaven.

The ancient city walls looked particularly majestic in the morning light.

The Japanese flag fluttered atop the city wall; it was a symbol of a comfortable life.

Ma Yongzhen put down his binoculars, his face grave. "Pass down the order to prepare for the attack."

The garrison at Shanhaiguan was a large battalion, about a thousand men.

They set up machine guns on the city walls, dug trenches, and prepared to defend to the death, but these small things were no match for the tanks.

"fire!"

The tank cannon fired without warning.

The cannonballs struck the city wall, sending bricks and stones flying.

The machine guns on the city wall fell silent, and the small town was devastated by the bombing.

Tanks rolled across the moat, infantry followed behind, their battle cries deafening.

Zhao Dazhuang, carrying a machine gun, charged to the front and roared as he opened fire.

A few days later, when they peeked out from their bunkers, they were riddled with bullets.

Liu Liuliu followed behind, her heart pounding, but she didn't stop walking.

The army used their special abilities to locate the enemy's position ahead and guide the tank fire.

Stephen Chow uses mind-reading to access the prisoners' memories and obtain information about the distribution of firing positions on the city wall.

The two worked together seamlessly and were of great help.

"Charge!"

The soldiers rushed up the city wall and engaged in hand-to-hand combat.

The bayonet plunged into the Japanese soldier's chest, and blood spurted out.

The battle lasted for two hours, and Shanhaiguan was liberated.

The Japanese flag was torn down and replaced with the flag of the Chinese Independent Brigade.

When the news reached Nanjing, Chiang Kai-shek was holding a military conference at his official residence.

A map of North China was spread out on the table, and the generals sat around it, their faces solemn.

"Chairman, the Huaxia Independent Brigade has already moved south from the Northeast. The vanguard has captured Shanhaiguan, and their main force is following closely behind. It is estimated that they will arrive in the North China Plain within half a month."

Chen Cheng pointed at the map, his voice urgent, "At this rate, it won't be long before they control the entire North China region."

Chiang Kai-shek said in a deep voice, "Issue the order: the Central Army across the country shall begin fighting the Japanese. The troops in North China shall immediately launch an attack on the Japanese army. We cannot let them take all the credit."

"But Chairman Chiang, our equipment..."

"Didn't we just purchase a batch of equipment from Lin Tian?"

"Chairman, we have a lot of people too, and many of our weapons need to be replaced."

"If it's not enough, we should ask the United States for help. We can't wait any longer. If we wait any longer, the Chinese Independent Brigade will take over the whole of China."

"At that time, how will we face our people? Will China belong to Lin Tian or the government?"

Chiang Kai-shek issued a nationwide mobilization order to resist Japanese aggression.

The various units of the Central Army began to assemble in North China, forming a massive force, especially the Beiyang Fleet.

The atmosphere inside the cave dwellings in Yan'an was also lively.

The boss, with a pipe dangling from his lips, was beaming with delight.

"The Huaxia Independent Brigade has marched south to North China. Chiang Kai-shek can't sit still anymore and has issued a mobilization order to fight the Japanese. It's time for us to take action too. Notify all units to launch an attack on the Japanese army across the country."

The chief of staff nodded and handed over a list.

"Boss, Commander Lin sold us another batch of weapons at a very low price, practically giving them away. This batch of weapons is enough to equip two divisions, greatly increasing our strength."

The boss laughed heartily, slapped the table, and stood up. "Commander Lin is a true friend, a wonderful person indeed."

Tell the troops to fight well, don't embarrass us, and drive the poor people out of North China, out of China.

The various units of the Ninth Route Army also launched attacks on Japanese troops across the country.

When news of Lin Tian's army's departure reached Tokyo, the military headquarters was in an uproar.

Hideki Tojo slammed his fist on the table and stood up, roaring, "You bastard! That damned Lin Tian brat, I'll make him die!"

"What about North China? Can North China be defended?"

"The North China Front Army is putting up a full-scale resistance, but the enemy has tank superiority and air support, so the situation is not optimistic."

Moreover, the government has also issued a mobilization order to resist the Japanese pirates, and both the Central Army and the Ninth Route Army have begun their offensive. The Empire's plans in China are probably...

"What are you afraid of?"

Prime Minister: "I'm afraid all our efforts will be in vain."

Hideki Tojo slumped in his chair, his face ashen.

After thinking for a long time, he gritted his teeth and ordered troops to be transferred from Southeast Asia and the Pacific to aid China.

The troops there cannot be moved, but if they don't return to reinforce, China will truly be lost.

The empire's decades of hard work will be destroyed in an instant.

After the meeting, Hideki Tojo stood alone by the window, clutching a telegram in his hand—a telegram from the front lines.

With the fall of Shanhaiguan, North China is in grave danger.

He knew that China was beyond saving.

Those bombs falling from the sky, those impenetrable tanks, those lightning-fast fighter jets—these were the empire's nightmare.

He was unwilling to give up and wanted to struggle.

……