Although the Second Artillery Brigade entering Pudong was just an empty frame, there was actually only one artillery battalion with only twelve 75mm caliber Bufus Mountain Cannon, the commander of the Second Artillery Brigade, Cai Zhonghu, was a rare artillery expert in the national army. He made good use of the vegetation and terrain of Pudong, ordered the artillery to stay in the bamboo forest during the day and attack decisively in the evening, posing a great threat to the Japanese army in Shanghai and the Japanese warships on the Huangpu River.

On August 15, the reason why the 19th Brigade was able to defend the Honghe Road and Bridge position was that at the critical moment, the Second Artillery Brigade ventured to bombard the Izumo cruiser and several gunboats on the Huangpu River, forcing the Izumo cruiser and several gunboats to turn the gun ports to suppress the Second Artillery Brigade. The 19th Brigade managed to defend the position by chance.

In addition, Cai Zhonghuo also secretly set up several observation posts on the top floor of the American-English Tobacco Company in Pudong, the top floor of Jesus Cathedral and Puxi. The reason why the Second Artillery Brigade was accurately known as the Pudong God Cannon was inseparable from the close observation of the observation post. Some veterans recalled that even the Japanese army on the ship could hear the phone ringing of the forward observation post.

Cai Zhonghu set up an observation post at the former site of the East Fort, which is separated from the Wusong Fort, because it is tightly tied to the Wusongkou and is the only way for warships from various countries to enter and exit the Huangpu River. At the same time, it is facing the sea outside Wusong. If there is any wind and fire, the Second Brigade cannon will be able to get the news in time and prepare in advance.

Near noon, Cai Peiyuan, the commander of the Second Artillery Regiment, hurried into the command center and reported to Cai Zhonghuo: "The brigade seat, Sun Shengzhi called from the observation post of the East Fort, saying that a large number of Japanese ships were gathered outside Wusong, including the Izumo cruiser, and at least a dozen warships and a large number of gunboats. The little Japanese seemed to be showing signs of landing in Taiwan at gunpoint!"

"What did you say?" Cai Zhonghu's face suddenly darkened when he heard this, "I want to land in Taiwan?"

Several artillery officers from the brigade department quickly spread out the map and circled the location of the artillery Taiwan on the map with red pencils.

"It's here." Cai Peiyuan pointed to the red circle and said to Cai Zhonghu, "Last night, the 61st Division stationed in Wusong Town had already defeated a squadron of the Japanese. Zhong Song Brigade, which was transferred from the South City to defend, would not arrive in Wusong until tomorrow morning at the earliest. I was worried that the Wusong security team opposite could not hold on. Can you consider giving some artillery fire support?"

Cai Zhonghu nodded and agreed: "The second company and the third company are too far from Taiwan. It is probably too late to change the deployment temporarily. I call Sun Shengzhi immediately and order the 1st company to provide necessary artillery fire support. However, to grasp the principle, we must first ensure our own safety and then consider providing necessary support."

"Yes!" Cai Peiyuan stood at attention and took the order.

Watching Cai Peiyuan leave, Cai Zhonghu hurried into the telecommunications room next to him and said to the steward who was guarding the telephone switchboard: "I'm asking for the Longhua Group Army Command."

Cai Zhonghu is also a veteran who has been through the battlefield for a long time. He suspected that the large-scale assembly of Japanese ships outside Wusong may be a precursor to the Japanese army's large-scale increase in troops to Shanghai, so he had to report to Zhang Fakui immediately.

Zhang Fakui is also one of the few wise and brave generals in the national army, but he has always been loyal to Wang Jingwei, so he has never been valued by Chairman Jiang.

After receiving Cai Zhonghu's report, Zhang Fakui immediately made the same judgment as Zhang Zhizhong, believing that the Japanese Navy's assembly outside Wusong was not an isolated incident. All signs indicate that the Japanese army is about to launch a large increase in troops to Shanghai! If the 9th Army in Puxi does not make tactical adjustments as soon as possible, it is likely to suffer a big loss!

Zhang Fakui called Nanjing with another phone call and found Chen Cheng, the commander-in-chief of the front enemy.

The commanders in charge of the two front-line armies insisted that the Japanese army was about to launch a large increase in troops to Shanghai, and Chen Cheng did not dare to neglect them. He quickly took Bai Chongxi to Chairman Chiang's official residence. At this time, Chairman Chiang was giving German consultant Farkenhausen money to the German consultant Farkenhausen. This afternoon, Farkenhausen was going to Nanxiang to personally command the Iron Fist plan.

I heard that the Iron Fist plan was cancelled, and the 11th Division that had just arrived in Shanghai and the 96th Division, which was originally scheduled for the Iron Fist plan, had to be transferred to Baoshan. Along Wusong, Farkenhausen shook his head and said to Chairman Jiang: "No, no, no, the Iron Fist plan will directly affect the direction of the battle situation in Shanghai and must not be cancelled."

Bai Chongxi was always dissatisfied with Chairman Jiang's partial trust in foreign consultants, and immediately retorted: "Whether the Iron Fist plan can achieve good results like General Farkenhausen said. If the 9th Army does not make tactical adjustments, once the Japanese army lands along Wusong, Baoshan, the consequences will be unimaginable."

After listening to the translation, Farkenhausen was very dissatisfied and waved his fists and roared: "First of all, I want to explain that the Iron Fist Plan is a strict combat plan. If the Chinese army can do it according to my requirements, it is definitely not a problem to wipe out the Japanese army in Shanghai. Then what I want to say is that even if the Japanese army landed in Wusong and Baoshan, the Kuomintang army also had enough time to adjust its deployment, because the water network in Songhu area is dense, which will pose a huge obstacle to the Japanese army's mobility."

"This is just your wishful thinking. What if the Japanese army was prepared?" Bai Chongxi was also angry and turned his head to Chairman Jiang and said, "Mr. I think it is extremely unwise and irresponsible to think that the Japanese army is not prepared for the water network in the Songhu area. We must make the worst plan."

"Okay, okay, you don't need to say more." Chairman Jiang obviously prefers the views of German advisers and said somewhat disapprovingly, "General Farkenhausen is a famous German military strategist. Jiansheng, you should believe in his judgment. The Iron Fist plan is implemented according to the original plan. As for tactical adjustments, I will talk about it later."

Chairman Jiang has extraordinary superstitions about foreigners.

Bai Chongxi and Chen Cheng looked at each other and could only smile bitterly.

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Pudong, East Fort observation post.

Sun Shengzhi, the battalion commander of the 1st Battalion of the Artillery, had received an order from the regiment headquarters, and was firing the four Bufus Mountain Cannons hidden deep in the reed marsh through flags.

However, Sun Shengzhi always felt that the attacks obtained by relying solely on the artillery mirror across the river were not accurate enough, so he called Liu Genshuo, the company commander of the 1st Company of the Artillery, and ordered him to swim across the other side of the river. First, he contacted the security team on the other side, and second, he guided the artillery to shoot on the spot by telephone.

This was almost a mortal task. Sun Shengzhi gathered several observers in the observation post and lined up to see Liu Genshuo off. The two newly enlisted observers burst into tears. Ye Ruxue, a battlefield reporter from the Mile Review, who was interviewed at the observation post of the East Fort, even cried with pear blossoms.

Liu Genshuo said nothing, hugged and said goodbye to everyone one by one.

After Ye Ruxue hugged Liu Genshuo, she cried and said, "Corporate Liu, remember to come back alive. I will give you an exclusive interview in the future."

"From the future?" Liu Genshuo said tragically, "How can we soldiers have any future?"

After saying that, Liu Genshuo turned around and left. Within a moment, his figure had already passed through the reed marsh, waded through the mud flats, and soon submerged into the Huangpu River.

The Huangpu River is still turbid, but the tide is rising higher and higher.

Ye Ruxue could not retract her gaze at the disappearing river surface of Liu Genshuo for a long time. Another figure suddenly appeared in her mind. That day at the Honghe Road and Bridge position, the security officer who was crying silently at the corpses all over the ground also said the same thing. The soldiers had no future, because on the day after that, they had already died in battle.

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On the other side of the river, Zhu Xia also arrived at Taiwan with more than 200 remaining soldiers gathered.

At this time, the tide had begun to rise outside Wusong, and the water level was rising rapidly, which meant that the Japanese army's landing was about to begin.

Xu Shijiu pulled Zhu Xia to a secluded and deserted place.

This time, Xu Shijiu had a bad intuition when defending Taiwan. He knew that he could not escape, and the veterans of the 19th Brigade were still the ones who couldn't help him.

"Old Zhu, I'll ask you in the future." Xu Shijiu had a faint smile on his face, and his tone seemed extremely relaxed, but the meaning he showed in his words was not relaxed at all. Zhu Xia felt heavy in his heart, like a big stone pressing down, making him unable to breathe.

"Ajiu, you should worry about the affairs of the 19th Brigade yourself." Zhu Xia shook his head and said, "I am the chief of staff of the 61st Division. I have to stay here to share life and death with all the officers and soldiers of the division, and share life and death with the cannon Taiwan positions."

Xu Shijiu smiled and said, "Old Zhu, please believe me. It is more useful to stay in Wusong Town. You are a talented student at Lu Da Gao. Strategic planning is your strength. When it comes to charging, you are far inferior to a veteran of the army like me, so don't fight with me. I am more suitable for guarding Taiwan."

Zhu Xia was silent, he must admit that Xu Shijiu is indeed more suitable to guard Taiwan than him.

The only thing Zhu Xia was worried about was that the remaining soldiers of the 61st Division and the Wusong Security Team, which were gathered in Taiwan, would disobey Xu Shijiu's command. Xu Shijiu knew Zhu Xia's concerns and smiled and said, "Whether it is the 61st Division or the Wusong Security Team, they are all veterans. They all know their responsibilities and know what to do."

Zhu Xia nodded silently, obviously he was convinced by Xu Shijiu.

It is no secret that Zhu Xia is afraid of death, but if the country needs it and the nation needs it, he can still grit his teeth and sacrifice his young life. As a party and the country soldier, since he put on this military uniform, their lives no longer belong to him. Soldiers should shoulder the mission of a soldier.

What is the mission of a soldier? The mission of a soldier is to repay his family and defend his country, and to use the steel guns in their hands to eliminate the enemy. When the enemy's bullets come, they have to stand in front of the people. When the enemy's bayonets come, they have to face their chests without hesitation and protect the old, young, women and children behind them by death.

However, as Xu Shijiu said, Zhu Xia would only have one more small pawn in the artillery Taiwan, but if he stayed in Wusong Town, the 61st Division would have one more chief of staff educated by the military academy.

It is not easy for the Party and the State to cultivate a senior staff officer.

Zhu Xia pursed his lips tightly and patted Xu Shijiu on the shoulder.

Xu Shijiu smiled and said, "Old Zhu, when the Anti-Japanese War is victorious, you take a boat to pass by Wusongkou and see waves like mountains. That is my old friend who is here to come to see you, haha."
Chapter completed!