Chapter 1 17 November 1937, Four O'Clock in the Morning

Lin Fan led his special forces squadron, cruising on Taihu Lake.

This was a decision made after discussion among the captains. They believed that at night, in such darkness, even if there were Japanese devils, they wouldn't encounter them.

The fastest it would take them to travel this hundred-plus *li* (Chinese mile) stretch of waterway was two and a half hours.

Since they couldn't clearly see the situation ahead at night, they had to go even slower, estimating they'd reach their destination around daybreak.

From the moment they entered Taihu Lake, the captains of the eight steamers had ordered everyone on board to remain silent.

Smoking was forbidden.

The only signal between the eight ships was a single windproof lantern hanging at the stern of each ship, guiding the following vessels to stay on course and not get lost.

The captains were so cautious because news had arrived that Wujiang had fallen on the sixteenth.

The Japanese gunboats could now freely enter and exit Taihu Lake, and it was rumored that some fishing boats had already been sunk by Japanese gunboats.

Lin Fan had only made one request to the eight captains: stay close, keep the eight ships close together. The distance between each ship shouldn't exceed ten meters.

He was the big boss with the money, so the captains had to agree to Lin Fan's request.

Lin Fan was now sitting at the stern of the fourth ship, with a machine gun and a mortar tube at his feet.

If they really encountered Japanese gunboats tonight, capturing two of them would be the most perfect outcome.

Captain Komorita Kaito was patrolling the waters of Taihu Lake in a Type A high-speed boat.

This was a small transport boat, fourteen and a half meters long, two point seven meters wide, and one point eight meters deep.

Its full load displacement was seven tons, with a maximum speed of fifty-six kilometers per hour, powered by a four-hundred-horsepower diesel engine.

With a full load of fuel, it could travel for six hours.

Captain Komorita Kaito had just departed from Wujiang, with orders to transport the eight soldiers on board to Wuxi.

These eight soldiers were now wearing ordinary National Revolutionary Army uniforms, and holding Chiang Kai-shek rifles. The only thing that could expose their identities was:

The fact that they carried a radio.

Captain Komorita Kaito was not familiar with Taihu Lake, and driving on such a lake at night, there were no reference points anywhere.

Even the starry sky overhead was obscured by a dark cloud.

Just when he really didn't know what to do, several lights flickered ahead.

Regardless of whether those lights were from fishing boats or something else, Captain Komorita Kaito wasn't afraid.

He had eight Imperial warriors by his side.

The soldiers of the special forces squadron had been on edge since entering Taihu Lake. Even in the pitch-black night, on the rocking boats that made people drowsy, there was at least one squad on each ship on guard.

Lin Fan watched the boat rushing towards them in the distance, its bow equipped with a searchlight.

He had already made a preemptive judgment: Japanese devils!

In the current situation, NRA soldiers and ordinary people wouldn't dare to brazenly travel on Taihu Lake with such bright lights.

Wasn't this just openly shouting: Come and hit me! Come and hit me!

Lin Fan ordered Feng Junya in a low voice, "Prepare for battle!"

He also ordered Wu Xiaobao, "When they rush towards us like that, as it slows down to stop, immediately fire a flare."

The entire direct detachment of more than one hundred people woke up, and they all moved closer to the direction the Japanese devils were rushing from.

The entire ship immediately tilted towards the boat with the bright lights.

The captain, who had been told not to speak loudly when they set out, cried out in alarm, "Go back! Go back!"

Lin Fan also ordered, "Return to your positions!"

They were on a boat, and if everyone stood on one side, the whole boat would capsize.

Fortunately, the boat rocked for a while before finally stabilizing.

The captain of the lead steamer, trembling, was already preparing to accelerate.

The steamers following behind also began to panic; they were preparing to flee separately in the face of disaster.

Every man for himself.

Chen Sichuan coldly pointed his gun at the captain, "Slowly stop! Don't move."

The same thing was happening on several other ships.

This was something Lin Fan had instructed when they boarded: Taihu Lake was too big, and if they encountered Japanese devils, allowing these boat bosses to run around randomly...

It would take the special forces squadron several days to regroup.

Just now, things were a little chaotic. The eight ships, originally in a single file, were now squeezed together.

Seeing the chaos ahead, Komorita Kaito knew that the people in front were afraid.

Seeing that the distance was close, he slowly stopped the boat, using the momentum to drift towards the cluster of ships ahead.

There were several steamers in front. If he could capture them and take them back, it would be a great achievement.

Seeing that the opposing ships, though not turning off their lights, had cut their engines and were drifting towards them,

Lin Fan estimated that the distance between them was about one hundred meters, and ordered, "Flare!"

Wu Xiaobao immediately fired the shell.

Komorita Kaito didn't expect the other side to fire a signal flare.

The Japanese soldiers on his boat also didn't expect it. They had originally thought the other side were fishermen, but they hadn't expected them to fire a flare.

Who were these people? Did they even need to ask?

Squad Leader Fukabori Shu had been nervously watching the fishing lights ahead.

When he saw the flare rising, he immediately ordered:

"Fire!"

Regardless of what was in front of them, they would fire first.

He was the first to fire.

Lin Fan had originally wanted to wait for the flare to light up before seeing exactly who was coming from the other side.

Now, there was no need to bother with who they were.

Counterattack was the right thing to do!

This wasn't just Lin Fan's idea; it was the idea of all the soldiers on the eight ships.

From the muzzle flashes of the guns firing from the other side, Lin Fan could already see that there weren't many people on the other side.

At least a hundred guns returned fire at the Japanese devils who had fired first.

This sudden encounter battle was over as soon as it began.

The ships that had clearly cut their engines a moment ago suddenly started up again.

Using the light of the flare, Lin Fan could see Captain Komorita Kaito anxiously operating the controls.

Trying to escape.

This time, Lin Fan didn't have time to act.

"Bang!" A gunshot rang out, and no one knew who had fired it.

Many people saw: the busy Japanese devil suddenly fell down, never to move again.

Lin Fan directed his own ship to slowly approach the speedboat that had suddenly appeared before their eyes.

Looking at the nine corpses on the boat, eight of them were wearing National Revolutionary Army uniforms, and they were carrying a radio.

Only the captain on this boat was wearing a Japanese uniform.

Lin Fan understood at a glance: This was a Japanese reconnaissance team, probably tasked with going behind the NRA's lines to scout for intelligence.

"Clean up the battlefield, take this boat with us."

This battle didn't last long. The boat bosses who had been frightened by the arrival and wanted to flee in all directions...

Didn't mind the offense of having guns pointed at them just now. This time, they very consciously returned to the forward formation of a single file.

The captured speedboat was now captained by Lin Fan.

When it was dawn, this fleet had breakfast in Wuxi.

Lin Fan asked the captains, "Does anyone want this boat we captured last night?"

These captains were all shrewd. They immediately understood from Lin Fan's words: This officer wanted to sell it for money.

The captain of the lead boat, Yin Chengwang, said with a smile, "Officer! This boat was seized from the Japanese devils.

The situation is unclear and uncertain right now.

If, I mean if, the NRA retreats...

If the Japanese devils see this boat, we'll be punished along with our relatives."

Lin Fan nodded with a smile, "I was careless, I didn't consider that."

Yin Chengwang said with a smile, "We small families don't dare to buy it, but there are big families in this city of Wuxi.

In the current situation, if they want to escape, such a boat can't be bought even with money."

Time! What Lin Fan needed most now wasn't just money, but also time.

He thought for a moment, "We have to go to Jiangyin, we don't have time to wait for people to come here."

Yin Chengwang looked at Lin Fan, "I wonder how much the officer wants for this boat?"

Lin Fan thought for a moment, "Whoever sells this boat, I'll give him ten percent of the take.

But it has to be fast, we're only stopping in Wuxi for an hour.

In addition, you have to take us to Jiangyin."

Yin Chengwang thought for a moment, "From Wuxi to Jiangyin, you have to add money, another one hundred and fifty yuan per boat."

Lin Fan agreed.

The men of the special forces squadron disembarked to rest briefly.

Yin Chengwang and several other captains gathered together, whispering and discussing how to sell the boat.

Who to sell it to!

Of course, the Wang family of Wuxi.

With the captains having made their decision, Yin Chengwang and another captain, Bu Hongchang, went together to Liyuan to see the master of the house.

Liyuan is located on the shores of the scenic Lihu Lake in Wuxi City. It covers an area of 123 mu (Chinese acre), and it took Wang Yuqing and his son nine years to build.

For Yin Chengwang and the others, this person was a *hao*, a *tuhao* (nouveau riche).

They went full of hope, but returned disappointed.

The man wasn't short of money, and simply didn't want to buy a boat of unknown origin.

The eight captains dejectedly boarded the boat and continued forward.

Lin Fan hadn't expected that his more than one thousand men could directly return to Jiangyin by waterway.

Thinking of how hard it was on the road from Jiangyin to Jiaxing, he now understood: Southerners travel by boat.

Traveling by boat meant using boats as a means of transport.

During the day, they traveled much faster, reaching Jiangyin in two hours.

Lin Fan could only leave the captured spoils of war on the dock.

Li Xian took more than a dozen soldiers into the city of Jiangyin to pick up the watches they had ordered the last time they were there.

He also had to purchase some meat.

When Lin Fan led the current special forces squadron to the outside of the Jiangyin Fortress defense zone,

They were stopped again.

The sentry on guard said with a wry smile, "Company Commander Lin! It's not that we brothers won't let you in.

It's just that when you left, there were only a little over one hundred of you, and now you're coming back with more than a thousand.

I really don't have the courage to let you in!

I've already reported it, and someone from above will be here soon. Company Commander Lin, please sit here and wait a while.

Company Commander Lin, you've worked hard along the way, drink water! Drink water!"

Lin Fan smiled and really sat down to wait!

The special forces company had returned to Jiangyin Fortress again!

When Commander Xu Kang heard the report from Staff Officer He, he immediately stood up, "Let's go! Let's go greet them!"

Today was the seventeenth. Just the day before yesterday, the fifteenth, Kunshan had fallen.

Despite the NRA's valiant resistance, it ultimately failed to hold the Wufu Line.

Yesterday, Wujiang had fallen!

The Wufu Line, which had been planned to hold for one to two years, was broken by the Japanese army in less than a week.

Now, as a bridgehead on the Xicheng Line, the second line of national defense, Jiangyin Fortress was already the front line of defense for the capital.

This time was completely different from before. In the past, Jiangyin Fortress had only faced attacks from the air and from the Yangtze River.

This time, the Japanese devils could launch a three-dimensional attack on Jiangyin Fortress from the sea, land, and air.

At this time, the special forces company was still able to return as promised.

Commander Xu Kang was naturally happy.

Staff Officer He Hesong saw that the commander's brow, which had been furrowed for many days, had now relaxed.

He was also a little excited in his heart, and he carefully said, "Company Commander Lin has brought back a few too many people this time."

Xu Kang said unconcernedly, "Our current situation is like Han Xin commanding troops - the more, the better!

I'm only afraid of having too few people, when have I ever been afraid of having too many?"

He Hesong shook his head with a wry smile.

Commander Xu Kang saw from afar on the hilltop that there were many soldiers standing outside the fortress.

He couldn't help but be startled, "Did Company Commander Lin bring all of those back?"

He Hesong said, "Yes! That's why the guards didn't dare to let them in easily."

Commander Xu Kang laughed, "This Lin Fan, he has a knack for being a soldier! He's only been gone for a few days, and his unit has suddenly expanded tenfold.

Look at those soldiers, how orderly!

They have combat power. I estimate that he pulled over an entire reorganized regiment from that unit."

As he spoke, he walked down the hill.

When Lin Fan saw Commander Xu Kang coming down in person, he quickly stood up.

Salute!

Commander Xu Kang returned the salute, "You've traveled thousands of *li* (Chinese mile) in the past few days, I've been worried about you all along.

It's good that you're back! Did the brothers suffer any casualties?"

Lin Fan reported with a heavy heart, "Three wounded, seven dead!"

Xu Kang hadn't expected the special forces company's casualties to be so...

So few. He had heard rumors that the fighting in Jiashan and Jiaxing was very bitter and fierce.

Otherwise, in the current situation, Generalissimo Chiang wouldn't have given the entire 128th Division a commendation and a reward of forty thousand yuan.

He couldn't find the right words for a moment, and could only forcibly change the subject, "You brought back so many people, does their original unit know?"

Lin Fan laughed, "Commander, don't worry! These brothers are all from the 128th Division. Division Commander Gu personally assigned them to me."

"The 128th Division? That division that just received a commendation?" Xu Kang was shocked.

"Yes! We have few people, and the 128th Division is responsible for the defense on both sides of the railway.

It's the front line of the Japanese devils' attack, so we've been fighting alongside the 128th Division.

Fortunately, we didn't disgrace Commander Xu and Division Commander Sun.

Division Commander Gu still looks favorably on the soldiers of our special forces company.

Knowing that we were coming back to assist in the defense of Jiangyin, he transferred two regiments to supplement my company."

He Hesong curled his lips, "Two regiments reorganized into one company, a company of more than a thousand people, do you believe that yourself?"

Commander Xu Kang asked sensitively, "Two regiments?"

Lin Fan nodded and said seriously, "Two elite regiments! They were all but wiped out.

All the regimental commanders, battalion commanders, company commanders, and platoon leaders, none of them survived, they were either killed or seriously wounded.

There were also few squad leaders left in the two regiments.

When the men were given to me, Division Commander Gu took away the few remaining squad leaders."

After listening to Lin Fan's introduction, Xu Kang was in awe, "The *ganjun* (ragtag army) are indeed the *ganjun*."

He thought of his own unit's past.

If the Young Marshal had allowed his men to rise up in resistance, the Japanese devils wouldn't dare to be so rampant now.

The weapons, equipment, and training level of his Northeastern Army were much stronger than those of the 128th Division, a *ganjun* unit.

But they dared to fight the Japanese devils with broadswords and Phoenix-made rifles.

Looking back at the hundreds of thousands of troops in the Northeast...

When a general is incompetent, it exhausts the three armies!

Xu Kang said to the guard, "Let them pass!"

He then instructed He Hesong, "Arrange their camp."

Lin Fan said at this time, "Near my camp last time!

I want to guard those cannons."

Commander Xu Kang looked at Lin Fan, "Come with me!"

He then ordered He Hesong, "Don't let anyone come over."

They were going to say some small secrets between the two of them.

Commander Xu Kang looked around to make sure no one was there, and said to Lin Fan in a low voice, "What is your purpose in bringing so many people in here?

Can't Jiangyin Fortress really be defended?"

Lin Fan said in a low voice, "How many days did the Wufu Line in front hold?"

Commander Xu Kang was speechless.

Lin Fan said, "No matter how strongly Jiangyin Fortress is built,

It can't cope with the Japanese devils' three-dimensional sea, land, and air offensive.

Not to mention that the Japanese devils will also surround and attack from three directions on land."

"Are you saying that this line of defense can't be held either?"

Lin Fan said in a low voice, "Commander Xu should have heard about the current morale.

If the war had just started, or if we were in the ascendancy in the middle, returning to defend the line of defense...

The morale would still be there, and perhaps we could have defended for a few more days.

As it is now, the whole country, from top to bottom, avoids the Japanese devils like tigers.

This is simply not a unit that can fight a hard battle, it can be supported.

Along such a long line of defense, the Japanese devils only need to open one point to be able to break in.

I brought so many people back this time with only one idea: to take the cannons away when Jiangyin Fortress is breached."

"Impossible! We will take the cannons away ourselves." Commander Xu Kang flatly denied.

Lin Fan didn't argue with him, "I'm just making a preparation. If you can't take them away at that time, please, Commander, allow us to take the cannons away.

That's better than blowing them up or leaving them for the Japanese devils."

Commander Xu thought for a long time before nodding, "Okay!"

Lin Fan immediately said, "I need to make some preparations. With the Commander's permission, I'm confident that I can take all eight German-imported anti-aircraft guns on the entire Jiangyin Fortress.

But I need at least twelve cars."

Commander Xu Kang's face changed, "You're asking for too much."

Lin Fan calculated the accounts for the Commander, "Eight cannons will require eight cars to tow them.

The spare parts and shells for these cannons cannot be left for the Japanese devils.

There are also the American-imported searchlights and rangefinders.

Adding these things together, twelve cars really isn't too much."

"Have you never thought about it, what if my superiors order us to withdraw these cannons ourselves?" Xu Kang's face was not good.