Section 5, Northeast Beacon Fire (1)

"Young Marshal! Deputy Commander! Chief of Staff! The enemy is already approaching the city!" The camp commander of the 3rd Engineer Battalion of the 101st Division, Zheng Jinshan, who bore a striking resemblance to Zhu Shimao with his thick eyebrows and big eyes, urged for the second time. As he observed that the enemy's rifle bullets could reach this point, he felt an acute sense of danger with several high-ranking officials still lingering in their own territories. If one of them were to suffer any misfortune, the punishment would not be severe, but the label of 'insufficient protection' would certainly fall upon him.

Amidst the swirling dust and billowing smoke, the fiercely aggressive Northeast Army tank battalion relentlessly pursued the Japanese tank division, which was fleeing as if from a plague. Just as the tanks from both sides engaged in battle, Mutō Nobuyoshi, observing the scene from a distance, issued a stern command: "Order the artillery units! Fire coverage on the Northeast Army tank forces!"

As an outstanding officer from Northeast China, Lin Ang was sent to the tank school in Berlin, Germany, where he studied Western tanks for several years. He held a deep disdain for the so-called war machines created by the Japanese, which he viewed as mere imitations of French designs. However, witnessing his own infantry units being ruthlessly bullied by those Japanese metal coffins, he could no longer contain his frustration. Upon receiving the order to launch an attack, Deputy Division Commander Long Yunfeng addressed Lin Ang, the battalion commander, and the tank soldiers, saying: "Brothers! Let us show the Japanese what a real tank looks like!"

Long Yunfeng chuckled, "Indeed, this move is enough to make those little devils drink a pot!"

The 1st Tank Battalion of the 101st Division, equipped entirely with Soviet-made tanks, is the pride and joy of Zhang Xueliang. This unit is maintained at great expense, with even the food allowances for the tank soldiers being superior to those of other units. Originally intended to be a surprise force to strike during a prolonged battle, it was unexpectedly called into action just a few hours after the conflict began

After repeated contemplation, Zhang Xueliang dispatched the 105th Division, which was stationed in the city for defense, to join the battle. This was already the last of Zhang Xueliang's military strength. The 101st Division had long been engaged in fierce combat with the Japanese troops, and now, within the vast city of Liaoyang, he was left with only Liu Duoquan's guard regiment.

The heroic performance of the tank battalion greatly boosted the morale of the soldiers of the 101st Division. Under the leadership of Long Yunfeng, they leaped out of the trenches, using the tanks as cover, and charged towards the Japanese forces. The Japanese 5th Independent Mixed Brigade's 15th Regiment, caught off guard, was thrown into disarray. The regiment commander, Takeda Rokuro, was both furious and enraged upon witnessing this. In a fit of rage, he struck down two retreating soldiers and shouted, "Those who retreat shall die!" After saying this, he personally charged forward, but unexpectedly stepped on a landmine with a loud "bang," instantly sending both of his legs flying into the air. With the regiment commander killed in action, the morale of the 15th Regiment, which had just begun to rise, immediately deflated. In no time, the 5th Independent Mixed Brigade was in continuous retreat, forcing Brigade Commander Kanda to issue a withdrawal order. This command led to a sudden collapse of the Japanese offensive, which had been in a stalemate, resulting in a retreat of several kilometers. General Mutou Nobuyoshi, who was observing the battle, also ordered the cessation of this "testing" offensive.

After the Japanese Army's Independent 5th Mixed Brigade captured Qingyan, they regarded this small town as a logistics base for the campaign in Liaoyang. Amidst the dust raised by military trucks laden with supplies, several ammunition depots, granaries, and field hospitals were rapidly established. In addition, the playground of the local primary school was expanded into a small airport, where the "Sasaki Flight Squadron" of the 1st Air Division of the Japanese Army was stationed to cooperate with the ground forces in the Liaoyang campaign. Amidst the dust raised by military trucks laden with supplies, several ammunition depots, granaries, and field hospitals were rapidly established. In addition, the playground of the local primary school was expanded into a small airport, where the "Sasaki Flight Squadron" of the 1st Air Division of the Japanese Army was stationed to cooperate with the ground forces in the Liaoyang campaign.

Taking advantage of the fact that the Northeast Army was suffering from poison gas, the soldiers of the Japanese 9th Division's 31st Regiment, wearing gas masks, launched another fierce attack on the main route of Liaoyang, Wensheng Road. The jubilant Japanese soldiers, caught off guard, surged onto the silent positions of the Northeast Army. Unexpectedly, the soldiers of the Northeast Army, also wearing gas masks, suddenly leaped up from the trenches. The bodies of the leading Japanese soldiers immediately twisted wildly under the rain of bullets from the Northeast Army. Seeing their comrades around them suffering from the Japanese poison gas, the enraged soldiers shouted and pounced like leopards. In the close combat, the unprepared Japanese soldiers were shot down in large numbers. The red-eyed soldiers, having exhausted their ammunition, roared the slogan "For the revenge of our brothers!" as they engaged the Japanese in a bayonet fight, leading to a scene of blood and carnage on the gas-filled battlefield. Amidst the deafening sounds of killing, soldiers from both sides fell one after another. The Japanese soldiers, after having their gas masks torn off by the Northeast Army soldiers, immediately succumbed to the poison, foaming at the mouth. The fallen soldiers from both sides fought fiercely with their teeth and fists, and amidst the smoke of gunpowder, a scene of blood and slaughter unfolded beneath Liaoyang City, quickly resulting in a mountain of corpses.

Amidst the anguished cries of their comrades, the desperate Japanese troops launched a fierce assault. A company of the Northeast Army at the forefront could not withstand the intense firepower of the Japanese and retreated. Seizing the opportunity, some Japanese soldiers rushed forward and jumped into the trenches of the Northeast Army, only to discover that the trenches were dug exceptionally deep, nearly two meters. The average height of the Japanese soldiers was 1.68 meters, and they could not reach a shooting position, even when they stood on their toes and jumped. The Northeast Army soldiers responsible for digging the trenches had intentionally made them this deep, and they fought from atop boxes used for storing grenades. After exhausting their grenades, the soldiers burned the wooden boxes before retreating. Realizing they had been tricked, the Japanese soldiers had not yet climbed out. The retreating soldiers of the 580th Regiment turned back and rained grenades into the trench, killing all the dozens of Japanese soldiers who had jumped inside.

The death of the division commander and several regimental commanders left the attacking Japanese troops in a state of disarray, akin to headless flies, losing their command and falling into a disadvantageous situation of fighting individually. Soon, the Northeast Army discovered the chaos and decline among the Japanese forces. Officers and soldiers alike jumped out of the trenches, disregarding the strafing from Japanese aircraft, to counterattack the enemy. The news of the death of the 9th Division commander and others forced Mutō Nobuyoshi to order a halt to the attack.

This scene left Lieutenant General Shirō Inaba, the commander of the 9th Division, feeling alarmed from a distance. In such a situation of close combat and melee, the troops could not withdraw at all and had to resort to a strategy of adding fuel to the fire. With this in mind, he dispatched the 35th Regiment to join the attack. Meanwhile, some units from the 104th and 108th Divisions of the Northeast Army also rushed to provide reinforcements. The brutal and fierce fighting continued, and the number of combatants was increasing.

Launch special ammunition! commanded Mutou Nobuyoshi

"Baga!" Looking at the scene of fierce fighting, Lieutenant General Inaba Shirō, commander of the 9th Division, angrily scolded several regimental commanders beside him: "Why haven't you taken it down yet! How are you commanding?" At that moment, suddenly with a "whoosh," a shell flew in at an angle and accurately hit the division commander Inaba Shirō and others who were overseeing the battle, instantly blowing them to pieces. Especially Inaba, the division commander, whose body was blown apart like being torn by five horses, with his head flying over ten meters away. When the soldiers came to collect the bodies, it was already smashed to the point of resembling a rotten watermelon. The Japanese officers, in shock, looked around and saw that less than 30 meters away from the position of the division commander, there was a T-28 tank of the Northeast Army, its shell deformed and destroyed by artillery fire, with the tank's cannon pointing towards them, still emitting a faint wisp of smoke. When the Japanese artillery was covering fire, this T-28 was hit in the rear engine and could not move. Later, the gunner inside woke from unconsciousness to find that both the tank commander and the machine gunner had been killed, and his right hand was also injured. Struggling to see through the observation port, he saw Japanese soldiers charging outside, and not far from him, a small group of high-ranking Japanese generals were watching the battle. The tank soldier gritted his teeth and slowly maneuvered the tank's cannon with his only remaining functional left hand, aimed at them, then quickly loaded and fired. After killing the core personnel of the Japanese 9th Division, this Northeast Army tank soldier, having lost too much blood, slowly succumbed.

The enemy has only a few tricks: airplanes, artillery, tanks, and poison gas

How much longer will the gas take to dissipate?

Various telephones in the command room rang one after another

Just as the smile on the Colonel's face had not yet faded, a deep rumbling sound like thunder rolled up from the ground, and almost simultaneously, everyone felt the earth shake and the sky collapse. The ground trembled violently, making it difficult to stand. Amidst the thunderous roar, the 3rd Engineer Battalion of the 101st Division of the Northeast Army detonated nearly ten tons of TNT explosives buried at the foot of the city. In an instant, hundreds of Japanese soldiers who had just climbed the city wall to celebrate their victory were obliterated, leaving no trace behind. In the continuous, earth-shattering explosions lasting several seconds, the ancient city wall, built during the early Qing Dynasty under Emperor Taiji, was reduced to a cloud of dust that obscured the sky. For a moment, it was as if the world was coming to an end; over a thousand Japanese soldiers gathered at the foot of the city were thrown into the air by the shockwave and then fell back down, becoming mere meat patties. The main structure of the city wall transformed into a flurry of flying bricks and shattered stones, raining down like flowers scattered by fairies, smashing into the Japanese soldiers, causing their brains to splatter and limbs to break. Some Japanese soldiers were even crushed in half, meeting a tragic end. Japanese tanks were also battered by the falling debris, with some overturned by the shockwave, and a Type 92 tank was directly flattened by a one-ton boulder. In an instant, the area beneath the leveled Liao Yang city wall was strewn with the bodies of Japanese soldiers who had been crushed, blown up, or fallen to their deaths, alongside the cries and wails of the wounded.

In a moment, the massive independent 5th Mixed Brigade faced the small Qingshan, truly resembling a tiger trying to gnaw at a hedgehog, feeling unable to take a bite. "Rather than attacking from all sides, it is better to concentrate our forces to strike at a single point." Major General Kanda, who had been quietly observing the battle, signaled to several battalion commanders beside him, indicating that as long as they could break through a single point of the enemy's complete defense and disrupt its integrity, it would be easier to destroy the whole.

With two division commanders taking the lead, the regimental commanders of the 5th and 8th divisions clamored for Major General Kanda, who had failed in his command, to commit seppuku as an apology. This "collective desire" was gaining momentum, as if the theme of the meeting was not to discuss with the *map* why Kanda retreated, but rather whether Kanda should indeed commit seppuku.

Scenes of the Japanese army suffering significant losses were continuously unfolding in the southern suburbs of important passages in Liaoyang, such as Nanjiao Street, Victory Road, and Aimin Road. Zhang Xueliang, having made early preparations for urban warfare, ordered Huang Xiansheng's 105th Division to be responsible for fortifying the city. Huang Xiansheng, along with all the officers and soldiers of the division, spared no effort in reinforcing and transforming numerous buildings within the city into sturdy machine gun bunkers. In several key areas, the buildings not only became clusters of bunkers but also interconnected tunnels were constructed to facilitate the transport of supplies and the evacuation of personnel. A large number of tank traps were dug along vital transportation routes. Every path that could be traversed by Japanese infantry was meticulously mined by the soldiers. The resourceful 105th Division devised a plethora of peculiar tricks within the city, making it exceedingly difficult for the Japanese army to advance and causing them considerable hardship. Liaoyang resembled a piece of meat embedded with numerous iron nails; even if the Japanese army wished to swallow it, they would be painfully pricked by these nails.

"Shi Datou! You bastard, stop talking nonsense!" Zhao Yi grabbed Shi Kun by the collar, furious, and said, "I will not leave my brother behind!"

"Squad Leader!" Shikun, whose steel helmet was stained red with splattered blood, found Zhao Yi and said resolutely, "Squad Leader! The brothers in my battalion are holding off the enemy outside with bayonets. You must hurry and blow up the city wall!"

The Japanese army's attack on Liaoyang began with a fierce artillery bombardment. The Japanese forces, equipped with the "Meiji 38" type 150mm field howitzers, which share the same year of origin as the Arisaka Type 38 rifle, unleashed a barrage of shells onto the positions of the Northeast Army and within the city. "Boom! Boom! Boom!..." The ground shook violently, and the city was engulfed in flames and smoke, covering a large part of Liaoyang. Many troops, before even entering the battle, were killed by the Japanese artillery fire. Several heavy artillery regiments of the Northeast Army, under the command of Chief of Artillery Wu Kerun, also opened fire to suppress the Japanese artillery, leading to an exchange of fire between both sides. As the artillery battle continued, the main force of the Japanese 2nd Division, specifically the 4th Regiment, began its assault on the southwestern positions outside Liaoyang. The division commander, Morimoto Eitaro, was quite extravagant, deploying 12 Type 92 tanks as cover to press against the Northeast Army's positions, with the 482nd Regiment of the 102nd Division being the first to bear the brunt of the attack.

In the late night, the 580 soldiers huddled in the neighborhood were enjoying the rare tranquility as they hurriedly collected weapons and ammunition. Zhao Yi ordered the entire regiment to burn all the military rations prepared for transport to Anshan after they had eaten their fill. Outside, sporadic gunfire could still be heard, as scattered soldiers from the Northeast Army, eager for revenge, sought to assassinate Japanese officers in order to avenge their fallen comrades. However, in the darkness, the flash of rifle fire quickly attracted a concentrated counterattack from the Japanese forces.

"Everyone should not blame Kanda. Today, I saw Kanda calmly directing operations within the firing range of the Northeast Army's machine guns. How can one say he is timid and afraid of battle? This spirit is worthy of emulation by all soldiers," praised Mutō Nobuyoshi.

"Do not retreat! Advance!" Colonel Suzuki Sanluo, the commander of the tank battalion, shouted hoarsely, "Full speed ahead! If we charge into the enemy's positions, we won't be shelled!" The Japanese tank soldiers, gritting their teeth, slammed on the gas and charged towards the northeastern army's positions, which they believed to be a "safe zone." As their speed increased, the infantry behind them could not keep up, becoming exposed to the northeastern army's firepower, and immediately fell in droves.

With a sharp whistling sound, a shell tore through the air, striking and ripping apart the front armor of the blood-splattered Type 92 tank, which then exploded, killing three Japanese tank soldiers instantly inside. From a distance, the regiment commander Zhao Yi, who had been watching the brutal struggle of his men, had bloodshot eyes as he personally operated a 37mm anti-tank gun, shouting hoarsely, "You bastards, you took my brothers' lives!" The 580th Regiment had originally prepared to transport two 37mm anti-tank guns to Anshan, which now unleashed their power, with shells mixed with the soldiers' vengeful fury crashing into the charging Japanese tanks and infantry. Inspired by Lei Zhiyuan's sacrifice, the soldiers fought desperately to block the gaps in the defense line left by the entire second battalion's casualties. After the second Type 92 tank was destroyed, the already half-decimated Yuyama squadron could no longer withstand the pressure and began to retreat. The enraged soldiers shouted as they pursued, while a hail of Japanese 75mm mountain artillery shells exploded around them, suppressing their counterattack.

In fact, the enemy forces, like our own, lack anti-tank weapons. As long as we eliminate the enemy's tank units, our army will be able to break through the Northeast Army's defensive line

At the moment when Niu Yuanfeng was desperately seeking a way out, due to Dong Futing's unauthorized escape, a troop that was sent over quickly surrounded the 580th Regiment of the 106th Division in Qingyan. The 580th Regiment was originally ordered by Niu Yuanfeng to head to Anshan to reinforce the 577th Regiment, aiming to secure more time for the construction of the Liao Yang defense line. After receiving the order, Commander Zhao Yi did not dare to delay and led a forced march until midnight. As Anshan was in sight, Zhao Yi ordered the exhausted troops to take a short rest in Qingyan. However, when they woke up the next day, they found the entire town had fallen into the encirclement of the Japanese army. Zhao Yi, having barely pieced together the sequence of events, could not help but curse in the direction of Dong Futing's escape: "Dong Futing! I curse your ancestors! I risked my life to rush here to reinforce you, yet you ran away, leaving me to the Japanese!" The officers and soldiers of the entire regiment were equally indignant, cursing the cowardly Dong Futing and the 577th Regiment together. Despite the cursing, Zhao Yi quickly calmed down, realizing that his troops were now trapped in a heavy encirclement, and immediately ordered the entire regiment to dig fortifications in preparation for battle. (Note: Zhao Yi, a historical figure, also known as Zhao Yangruo, courtesy name Xijian, was born in 1896 in Tangjiabaozi Village, Huazi Township, Dengta County, with ancestral roots in Yexian, Shandong Province. After the September 18 Incident, he raised troops to resist Japan and participated in anti-Japanese struggles in places such as Gubeikou and Rehe. Later, during the Liaoshen Campaign in the Liberation War, he switched sides and surrendered. He passed away in Beijing on November 7, 1967, due to illness, at the age of 73.)

"Order the Qingyan Army Aviation Corps to rush for reinforcements in 10 minutes," commanded Mutou Nobuyoshi, as he could no longer wait for the poison gas to dissipate completely

General Kanda is indeed too conservative! The commander of the 5th Division, Nishinomiya Harushige, who sports a standard Japanese mustache, also expressed his dissatisfaction

"No! Right now, the enemy and our troops are mixed together; artillery fire will harm our own soldiers!" Rong Zhen opposed.

They still think we are going to hold the city walls to the death

"Commander! The enemy has deployed tanks!" The commander of the 107th Division, Wang Yizhe, stationed at the defensive line of Wensheng Road on South Avenue in Liaoyang, preferred not to retreat to the safety of the command room. As a division commander, he was still keen on directing operations from the frontline command post. Upon hearing the guard's warning, Wang Yizhe quickly raised his binoculars and indeed saw about ten Japanese Type 92 tanks, resembling steamed buns, advancing towards them.

However, our army's mortars, grenade launchers, and mountain artillery cannot effectively strike the Northeast Army's tanks! Only under the condition of concentrated fire from heavy artillery can those Soviet tanks be destroyed

However, if the troops within the city are too concentrated when we withdraw, a barrage of artillery and airstrikes from the Japanese will result in even greater casualties for our forces, " Yu Xuezhong expressed his concerns.

The mountain rain is about to come, and the wind fills the building. The shadow of war looms like dark clouds over Liaoning Province, as military convoys shuttle back and forth, evacuating residents, government institutions, and factory equipment from southern cities to the rear. They then return loaded with armed soldiers and a large amount of military supplies heading to the front lines in Shenyang. Every train station and port in northern Liaoning Province and Jilin Province is bustling with activity, as the high-spirited troops board military trains and ships amidst the crowds of citizens who have come to send them off. The resounding military song "Northeast Army March" echoes loudly (plagiarized by Zhang Xueliang from the "People's Liberation Army March"). The scene is filled with the sounds of gongs and drums, colorful flags fluttering, as the citizens lining the streets desperately hand boiled eggs, cigarettes, fruits, biscuits, and towels to the soldiers. Local governments are also organizing farewell ceremonies, with banners proclaiming "Sending Off Our Soldiers to the Front Lines" everywhere. Elderly parents with graying hair reluctantly send off their sons, while young women tearfully bid farewell to their husbands, holding their toddlers who have just learned to walk. The cries of loved ones parting are heard one after another, but more often, it is the parents and wives encouraging their sons and husbands to "fight bravely against the enemy and return safely" in a scene filled with profound righteousness.

The officers and soldiers raised their fists in unison: "Fight to the death! We will never retreat!"

The four 75mm mountain guns of the 39th Regiment of the 5th Brigade fired a simultaneous barrage to announce the start of the Japanese attack. After thirty minutes of artillery bombardment, a battalion of infantry from the Japanese 39th Regiment surged forward. However, due to the tireless efforts of the 580th Regiment working overnight, several main access roads in Qingyan were completely blocked by the earth and stones excavated from the trenches. For a time, the Japanese had no way to break through. After a round of fire from the Japanese mountain guns collapsed a section of the town's outer wall, as the swarming Japanese rushed to pass through this breach, two Czech light machine guns suddenly emerged from the windows of two nearby houses. The advancing Japanese were suddenly struck by a rain of bullets, causing many to fall to the ground, their brains and blood splattering everywhere. Captain Koyama Wanyun, leading the charge, then realized that these two houses had been "ingeniously utilized" by the Northeast Army soldiers, reinforced with local materials and transformed into strongpoints. Grinding his teeth in anger at the cunning of the Northeast Army, Captain Koyama called for a mountain gun to bombard those two strongpoints. After enduring seven or eight precious Japanese-made shells, the Northeast Army machine gun team, still eager to reap more Japanese lives, finally withdrew from the crumbling houses. The soldiers of the 580th Regiment, positioned in the residential buildings within the town, also used their bullets to teach the charging Japanese a harsh lesson from their elevated position. The Japanese barely retaliated with their infantry guns, but often, before they could load and fire their shells, they were all taken down by a volley of bullets from the Northeast Army.

The little devils are at their wits' end; isn't yesterday's loss enough?" After muttering to himself, Wang Yizhe instructed the signal soldier, "Contact Commander Wu! The enemy tanks are on the move. While they haven't engaged with our forces yet, provide me with artillery cover!"

Commander! The casualties of the 102nd Division, 509th Regiment have already reached fifty percent, and they can hardly hold on any longer

Captain Nishida Hiroshi, observing the scene from a distance, smiled with satisfaction. The fact that his brigade was the first to breach the city of Liaoyang signified that promotion, honor, power, and medals would soon follow. Although this path to victory was paved with the corpses of other brigades, he could no longer afford to dwell on such unpleasant matters. Colonel Nishida adjusted his uniform and, accompanied by his guard, walked leisurely towards Liaoyang. At this moment, there would be military journalists taking photographs for the front page of the Asahi Shimbun, and appearance was of utmost importance. Although this path to victory was paved with the corpses of other brigades, he could no longer afford to dwell on such unpleasant matters. Colonel Nishida adjusted his uniform and, accompanied by his guard, walked leisurely towards Liaoyang. At this moment, there would be military journalists taking photographs for the front page of the Asahi Shimbun, and appearance was of utmost importance

"To the Commander-in-Chief, today the officers and soldiers of our unit fought valiantly in battle. However, the enemy's tank units engaged, and our army lacks anti-tank weapons, which has led to a decline in our offensive. Furthermore, Colonel Takada unfortunately stepped on a landmine during the inspection, resulting in his tragic death, which has further diminished the morale of our troops. I had no choice but to issue the order to retreat." Major General Kanda replied respectfully, bowing his head.

Your Excellency the Commander! If this continues, our army will suffer heavy losses!" Colonel Suzuki, who was tasked with reporting the number of fallen soldiers, spoke with a trembling voice. The other senior generals appeared to remain 'calm and composed' on the surface, yet deep down, they were beginning to feel a chill. The severity of the 'Liaoyang Campaign' and the significant losses suffered by the troops had far exceeded everyone's expectations. The city of Liaoyang, akin to a 'meat grinder,' was nearing the psychological limits of all present. The severity of the 'Liaoyang Campaign' and the significant losses suffered by the troops had far exceeded everyone's expectations. The city of Liaoyang, akin to a 'meat grinder,' was nearing the psychological limits of all present

With the threat of anti-tank guns eliminated, the Japanese forces surged forward once again. Bullets from the Type 38 rifles and the 30-caliber rifles whizzed back and forth, as one after another, soldiers from the Northeast Army and the Japanese troops fell continuously. Seeing that the Japanese had breached the position, Company Commander Shi Kun shouted, "Brothers! Fix bayonets! Let's fight!" The soldiers from both sides were now engaged in close combat, instantly launching into an intense melee. The sounds of battle echoed thunderously, as the unique triangular bayonets from the Northeast plunged into the bodies of the Japanese soldiers.

Qingyan is merely a small town with a population of less than 10,000, the vast majority of its residents having retreated north. The officers and soldiers of the 580th Regiment, trapped here, have been busy preparing for battle, constructing numerous fortifications, and even connecting all the walls of Qingyan. Before the battle, Zhao Yi gathered over 2,000 officers and soldiers of the regiment and addressed them: "Brothers! We are now completely surrounded by the Japanese army, and we have reached a dead end! All of this is caused by that bastard Dong Futing who retreated without fighting! Brothers, because of the 577th Regiment, the entire Northeast Army, with its hundreds of thousands of brothers, looks down on our 106th Division, and our proud division commander cannot hold his head high in front of others! However, we must let them know that although the 106th Division has the cowardly 577th Regiment, it also has us, the 580th Regiment, who will fight to the death to defend the city! We want future generations to remember the 106th Division for us, the 580th Regiment, and not the 577th Regiment! Even if we have entered the tiger's den, we will still knock out a few of its teeth!"

Report to the military command! The commander and deputy commander of the 108th Division, 617th Regiment have both been killed in action! The chief of staff is currently acting in their capacity, requesting a retreat!

Some veterans lamented, "In all the years I fought alongside the general, I have never seen the common people send us off in such a manner."

On November 5, the Japanese army once again concentrated its superior forces, launching a fierce attack on Liaoyang under the cover of more than fifty tanks and aircraft. The Japanese forces leveraged their significant air superiority, with the Sasaki Air Squadron deploying in full force, continuously bombing various key defensive lines of the Northeast Army throughout the day, the deafening roar driving people to madness. Outside the city, the garrison at Dongbalizhuang held firm until nightfall, but due to heavy casualties, they were forced to retreat; the eastern Songshu Garden was also captured by the Japanese regiment at 4:30 PM, with all 2,300 men of the 399th Regiment of the 104th Division, led by Commander Kong Xianghuang, perishing in battle. The Japanese army, tasting blood, continued their strong assaults on the Northeast Army's outer defenses. Several positions, including Jiu Shuangshu Village and Caizhuang Bridge, were lost during the Japanese army's relentless three-day offensive, forcing the heavily casualties-ridden Northeast Army to retreat into the city. On the night of the 8th at 11 PM, within Youzhuangzi, when the Japanese troops stepped over the bodies scattered on the ground and stormed into the command room of the original garrison of the 102nd Division's 411th Regiment, they found Commander Geng Jialiang sitting quietly, covered in blood. As the Japanese surged forward, hoping to capture the first colonel-level officer of the Northeast Army alive, Geng Jialiang disdainfully glanced at them before detonating the dozens of kilograms of explosives buried in the command room. More than thirty Japanese soldiers who rushed into the room were obliterated in the massive explosion. This blast also marked the loss of the Northeast Army's defensive lines on the outskirts of Liaoyang.

Zhongshan Batian was taken aback; he realized that the commander intended to use those more than ten friendly tanks currently engaged in battle as bait

"General Kanda! Why is your army unable to breach the northeastern army's outer defenses today?" In the field command post of the Japanese army's central forces, Mutō Nobuyoshi looked towards Brigade Commander Kanda Masakazu.

The first unexpected outbreak of war in Northeast China ignited in a small town named "Qingyan" located between Liaoyang and Anshan

The Japanese artillery filled shell after shell with poison gas and fired them at the Northeast Army's positions. Hundreds of poison gas shells exploded over the Northeast Army's positions, releasing a toxic smoke of chlorine and putrefactive gases that slowly enveloped the area like a grim reaper. Although the Northeast Army had been issued gas masks, many soldiers were unable to don them in time and collapsed from inhaling the toxic gas. Poisoned soldiers were hastily carried into the city, and their numbers quickly exceeded one thousand. The situation was most severe in Wang Yizhe's 107th Division, where poisoned soldiers were foaming at the mouth, their faces turning blue, eyes bloodshot, struggling to breathe while desperately clutching their throats and chests. The nails of their hands were caked with bloody flesh from scratching. Witnessing the officers and soldiers in such a wretched state, Wang Yizhe wept with rage, exclaiming: "Mutō Nobuyoshi! I will fight you to the end!"

At this moment, most of the Northeast Army stationed outside the city had retreated into the city. Sensing the diminishing firepower of the Northeast Army, Captain Nishida Hiroshi immediately ordered a full assault. Watching the Japanese 16th Regiment swarm in like ants, Yu Xuezhong, a high-achieving student from the Infantry Department of the Tongzhou Military Academy who prided himself on not believing in ghosts and deities, couldn't help but exclaim a phrase rich in supernatural connotations: "Tonight, the gates of hell will be lively! The King of Hell has his hands full!"

Young Marshal! Our regiment has repelled the Japanese army's five attacks! The brothers have suffered heavy casualties! We request support!

At the center of everyone's attention—General Muto Nobuyoshi—was feeling somewhat dazed. He was unwilling or perhaps afraid to accept this reality; the Northeast Army was resisting too fiercely! He could not help but reflect that when Muto Nobuyoshi participated in the Russo-Japanese War as a major, the battlefield was also in the Northeast. At that time, the Chinese people were so ignorant and numb, filled with fear of Greater Japan. They could stand by as a Japanese person humiliated their compatriots, like a pile of loose sand. Yet now, what was happening? Why had these "Chinese people" become so tenacious and valiant? Why did they possess the samurai spirit of "fighting to the last drop of blood without retreating an inch," a spirit that only the Imperial Japanese Army was supposed to have?

"Commander, this way of engaging the Japanese forces outside the city is not worth the cost! It would be better to withdraw the troops back in!" Rong Zhen said with reluctance.

Brothers! Stop the devils! The position that is being fiercely attacked by the Japanese army is on the verge of collapse. The battalion commander of the second battalion, Lei Zhiyuan, is burning with anxiety, but he sees his brothers rushing forward, one by one helplessly falling under the machine gun fire of the Japanese tanks. Lei Zhiyuan's eyes are about to burst with rage. "I curse your ancestors!" Lei Zhiyuan roars as he leaps up from the pile of corpses of his soldiers, charging towards a Type 92 tank that is triumphantly rolling over the bodies of his brothers. "Tat-tat-tat—" The 13mm heavy machine gun mounted on the Type 92 tank opens fire violently at Lei Zhiyuan. The bullets, traveling at 800 meters per second, instantly sever his right arm, which is raised high holding a bundle of grenades. Amidst the splattering blood, "I curse your ancestors!" Lei Zhiyuan roars as he leaps up from the pile of corpses of his soldiers, charging towards a Type 92 tank that is triumphantly rolling over the bodies of his brothers. "Tat-tat-tat—" The 13mm heavy machine gun mounted on the Type 92 tank opens fire violently at Lei Zhiyuan. The bullets, traveling at 800 meters per second, instantly sever his right arm, which is raised high holding a bundle of grenades. As his severed arm and the grenades fall to the ground, they explode into a massive fireball that engulfs Lei Zhiyuan's broken body.

On the morning of November 10, after a brief adjustment of the troops, Mutō Nobuyoshi ordered the launch of the "Final Assault." Under the heavy artillery cover of four alternating artillery regiments, more than 30 Type 92 tanks and 8 rare 13-ton Type 89 medium tanks of the Japanese army, along with 24 aircraft from the Sasaki Air Squadron, continuously bombarded Liaoyang. The battered city of Liaoyang was suddenly engulfed in flames and smoke under the bombardment of Japanese artillery and aircraft.

Zhao Yi, who had worked as a blacksmith for seven or eight years before joining the army, fought valiantly with his strong muscles and strength honed from his ironworking career and military training. He managed to take down six Japanese soldiers before he was finally exhausted and stabbed by a bayonet. In a fit of rage, the Japanese soldiers crazily hacked him to pieces. Before his death, Zhao Yi barely glanced at his watch, a faint smile appearing on his face. His last thought was: "We have fought for 27 hours for the entire army, and I have no regrets in dying; the only regret is that I cannot personally strangle that bastard Dong Futing."

The menacing Northeast Army tank battalion, entirely composed of Soviet-made T-28 medium tanks, charged down the hill like a fierce tiger into the battlefield where both sides were engaged in combat. The soldiers in the midst of the battle, upon seeing the line of tanks that had just entered the fray, noticed that they bore not the Japanese rising sun flag but the black battle axe insignia of the Northeast Army. A wave of cheers erupted. The Japanese army, boasting their 92 tanks, was caught off guard and was immediately shattered by the T-28's 76.2mm tank gun. The Japanese tank crew, barely recovering from the shock, retaliated with their 13mm heavy machine guns, only to be dumbfounded as their bullets merely sparked against the T-28's 28mm thick armor. The 3.5-ton 92 tank was directly overturned by a single shot from the 27-ton T-28. The nearly invincible T-28 roared forward, belching blue smoke amidst the roar of its engine, charging at the Japanese forces. The scene on the battlefield, which had been in favor of the Japanese half an hour earlier, was now reversed, with the Northeast Army tanks pursuing the Japanese. Realizing they were no match, the Japanese 92 tanks, which had just moments ago been "intimidating," now hurriedly reversed to escape, crushing several of their own soldiers who could not dodge in the chaos, resulting in cries of anguish. The slow-moving 92 tanks were quickly turned into burning fireballs under the fire of the T-28's cannon. One 92 tank, hit in the fuel tank, exploded and caught fire, from which two tank crew members emerged engulfed in flames, their piercing screams instilling fear in the surrounding Japanese soldiers. However, the bullets flying across the battlefield soon ended their suffering.

"Baka! Major General Kanda! My troops were on the verge of capturing the enemy's rear defense line, but due to your sudden order to retreat, my soldiers' flanks were exposed, resulting in a complete failure! This is a significant dereliction of duty!" If Major General Kanda, the commander of the brigade, is a dapper and refined Japanese general with a Western flair, then Watanabe Yodataro, the commander of the 8th Division who is reprimanding him, resembles a gaunt, aged countryman. If he were not clad in the unmistakable uniform of a Japanese lieutenant general, one might think he was merely an old villager who had just lost a year's harvest to a landlord.

On November 2, the advance units of the Japanese army, the Independent 5th Mixed Brigade, pressed towards Anshan. The defending troops in Anshan were the 577th Regiment of the Northeast Army. Unexpectedly, the regiment commander, Dong Futing, upon seeing the Japanese forces advancing in full force, disregarded the order he had received to "hold Anshan for 48 hours before retreating" and abandoned it entirely. An enhanced regiment of 5,000 men, under his command, fled the city without firing a single shot. This news reached the border defense headquarters in Shenyang, leaving everyone stunned. At that time, the Northeast Army had not yet established a defensive line, and most of the troops ordered to the front were still en route. Shenyang was essentially wide open, and with only two divisions to defend, it was impossible to withstand the assault of four Japanese divisions. Dong Futing effectively reduced the Northeast Army's preparation time in Liaoyang by over 30 hours, the consequences of which were dire. The 577th Regiment belonged to the 106th Division under Niu Yuanfeng. Upon learning that his "favorite" had just entered the battlefield and had already "made a name for himself in Northeast China," Niu Yuanfeng felt immense shame. He rushed to the border defense headquarters to find Zhang Xueliang, tearfully stating, "My subordinate was cowardly in the face of the enemy, derelict in his duty, and the harm caused to the entire army is beyond words. As the commander, I cannot evade responsibility for poor personnel choices, and I shall die to atone for my sins!" Saying this, he drew his pistol, and everyone hurriedly rushed forward to restrain him, managing to snatch the gun away just before Niu Yuanfeng could put it in his mouth. Although Zhang Xueliang was also somewhat at a loss, he realized that punishing the officers and soldiers at this moment would destabilize morale. He comforted Niu Yuanfeng, saying, "With such loyalty and righteousness, when the Japanese invaders are at the gates, you must be the first to lead the charge and redeem your honor." This left Niu Yuanfeng with tears in his eyes.

"Damn it, enough is enough! Are you really going to keep whining? My brothers are entangled with the enemy, and there's no way to retreat! The brothers are risking their lives; how can I, as the company commander, just hide away? I'm going in!" This was the first time Shi Kun felt so relieved to utter two 'damns' in front of the usually authoritative commander. It was truly liberating; Shi Kun thought to himself with a smile as he turned and rushed toward the chaotic battlefield filled with the sounds of combat. The brothers are risking their lives; how can I, as the company commander, just hide away? I'm going in!" This was the first time Shi Kun felt so relieved to utter two 'damns' in front of the usually authoritative commander. It was truly liberating; Shi Kun thought to himself with a smile as he turned and rushed toward the chaotic battlefield filled with the sounds of combat.

However, Zhao Yi's eyes suddenly turned red

Truly deserving of the title "The Aerial Pride of the Greater Japanese Empire," 12 "Ki-1 Mitsubishi Type 93" heavy bombers from the "Sasaki Flying Squadron" arrived punctually over Liaoyang after 35 minutes. From the air, the Japanese pilots gazed in astonishment at the battlefield outside Liaoyang City, where the massive craters created by artillery shells were arranged in a fish-scale pattern, layer upon layer. Dozens of destroyed tanks from both sides were engulfed in flames, sending thick black smoke spiraling into the sky, while the mingling of acrid smoke and lingering yellow-green gas wafted everywhere. The bodies of soldiers from both sides, dressed in gray and yellow uniforms, lay piled high, creating a scene of carnage. The bright red "pools" visible from above were the blood flowing from the corpses of soldiers from both sides, collecting together. At this moment, the toxic gas had largely dissipated, and the defending Northeast Army troops continued to fiercely and tenaciously resist the Japanese attacks from their trenches and fortifications. Meanwhile, the Japanese soldiers advancing behind stumbled over the bodies and blood-soaked ground as they pressed forward. This scene was shocking to the Japanese pilots.

At this time, several positions outside the city were in urgent need of assistance, and calls for help were coming in one after another to the command center. Lin Ang's tank battalion, once again full of vigor, set out from the city for the "scrap metal" (a term used by the soldiers of the tank battalion)

After a series of bombings by the Japanese forces, the situation on the battlefield changed dramatically. The Northeast Army suffered heavy casualties and its morale weakened significantly. In contrast, the Japanese troops experienced a surge in morale and their offensive became increasingly fierce, putting several defensive lines outside the city under severe pressure

As the southern gateway of Shenyang, Liaoyang has now turned into a vast military camp. The residents of the city have been orderly evacuated under the arrangements of the municipal government, leaving only a small number of civilians who are unwilling to leave their hometown and volunteer to assist the military. Several elite divisions of the Northeast Army have gathered here, with military vehicles transporting soldiers, ammunition, food, and more, stirring up clouds of dust as they move back and forth. The officers and soldiers are busy constructing fortifications, building bunkers, digging trenches, and preparing for war. Several elite divisions of the Northeast Army have gathered here, with military vehicles transporting soldiers, ammunition, food, and more, stirring up clouds of dust as they move back and forth. The officers and soldiers are busy constructing fortifications, building bunkers, digging trenches, and preparing for war.

In a short period, several attack points of the Japanese army fell into fierce battles, with both the Japanese and the Northeast Army entangled in a brutal struggle. Artillery from both sides exchanged fire desperately to suppress each other. On the battlefield, bullets flew in all directions, mortar shells and grenades danced through the air, and explosive fireballs rose and fell, while shrapnel splattered amidst the swirling dust. The soldiers of the Northeast Army's 101st, 102nd, and 107th Divisions, defending outside the city, relied on the well-constructed trenches and fortifications to unleash a barrage with their superior light weapons against the Japanese forces, who were left with no choice but to advance with their limited number of tanks. The soldiers of the Northeast Army's anti-tank artillery units opened fire one after another, with anti-tank shells flying towards the Japanese tanks. While hitting their targets, they also attracted concentrated fire from the Japanese, resulting in heavy casualties among the anti-tank soldiers, leading to a stalemate between the two sides. The Japanese army seemed to have struck a powerful blow against a piece of sticky toffee, becoming firmly stuck together. The soldiers of the Northeast Army's anti-tank artillery units opened fire one after another, with anti-tank shells flying towards the Japanese tanks. While hitting their targets, they also attracted concentrated fire from the Japanese, resulting in heavy casualties among the anti-tank soldiers, leading to a stalemate between the two sides. The Japanese army seemed to have struck a powerful blow against a piece of sticky toffee, becoming firmly stuck together

The explosion in the southern city of Liaoyang not only turned over two thousand Japanese soldiers into foreign lost souls, but also psychologically shocked the Japanese forces, curbing their offensive on that day. It was only then that General Muto Nobuyoshi and others, with faces ashen, realized that the contest in Liaoyang had only just begun.

A mere regiment of the Northeast Army actually inflicted heavy losses on its own battalion, leaving Shentian secretly astonished by the combat effectiveness of the Northeast Army. At this moment, he was acutely aware that his brigade was incapable of assaulting the heavily fortified Liaoyang, located over thirty kilometers away. Therefore, he ordered his troops to regroup and await reinforcements at Qingyan.

My commander!" Shi Kun exclaimed anxiously, "As long as we can keep the enemy at bay, once night falls, they will be afraid of fighting in the dark and won't dare to enter. Our regiment will have bought the main force an entire night! The sacrifice of my battalion will be worth it! If we let the enemy in now, the consequences would be unimaginable!"

This kind of confrontation continued until after 3 PM. Although at times the Japanese tanks broke through the Northeast Army's defense line, they were generally quickly destroyed by the Northeast Army's suicide squads, who were wrapped in explosives or used Molotov cocktails. The casualty rate for both sides was essentially one to one. In desperation, Mutō Nobuyoshi once again ordered the launch of gas shells at the Northeast Army's positions

The leaders of the United Team fell silent, and Shinto let out a quiet sigh of relief. Fortunately, his brave performance today was noticed, and judging by Mutou Nobuyoshi's tone, it seemed he would not have to bear the blame for negligence. He still said, "We did not accomplish our mission today, and I truly feel unworthy of the Commander-in-Chief's trust." In truth, he could not help but resent that this brigade had originally been decimated by the Northeast Army, and to some extent, they all suffered from a kind of "Northeast Army phobia." The attack on Qingyan had already resulted in significant casualties, and yet they sent his battered brigade into battle, leaving so many elite divisions unused. It was simply pushing them to the brink.

Everyone could only feel a slight cold sweat breaking out on their backs

With a loud bang, the shattered city wall, broken into several segments, rolled down and blocked the gap. Zhao Yi, with tears in his eyes, shouted loudly to the outside: "Brothers! We shall meet again in the next life!" Inside the walls, the 580 troops wept together and echoed, "Brothers, we shall meet again in the next life!" Zhao Yi and the others quietly listened as the fierce battle cries of their brothers outside grew fewer and fewer until they completely vanished, large drops of tears falling to the ground. We shall meet again in the next life! Inside the walls, the 580 troops wept together and echoed, "Brothers, we shall meet again in the next life!" Zhao Yi and the others quietly listened as the fierce battle cries of their brothers outside grew fewer and fewer until they completely vanished, large drops of tears falling to the ground

As the Japanese troops approached with menacing gestures, Liu Yunhui, the commander of the 482nd Regiment, who wore glasses and exuded an air of scholarly demeanor, shouted, "Brothers! Hit them hard!" The light and heavy machine guns hidden in the trenches opened fire, "Da da da..." targeting the Japanese forces. The soldiers lay in the trenches, fiercely greeting these uninvited guests with their 30-caliber rifles. The well-trained Japanese soldiers took cover behind tanks to shoot back, but just as they were about to roll over the Northeast Army's position, a Type 92 tank was suddenly blown to pieces by an anti-tank mine, turning it into scrap metal. At the same time, Japanese infantry also stepped on mines, causing chaos and preventing them from advancing on the 482nd Regiment's position. "Beat these bastards!" the soldiers shouted, throwing grenades like rain into the crowd of Japanese infantry, resulting in a cacophony of screams. The Japanese soldiers quickly dropped to the ground, while the Type 92 heavy machine guns and Type 11 light machine guns roared in response. Accompanying this were mortar shells landing among the 482nd Regiment's soldiers, with shrapnel flying in all directions. Those unable to dodge were hit, bleeding profusely, while medics wearing red cross armbands risked their lives to rescue the wounded back to the city.

After suffering several setbacks, the 39th Brigade, much like a porcupine pricked by a hedgehog, learned its lesson and no longer dared to launch attacks near civilian residences. To prevent the unpleasant situation where, while focusing on dealing with the opposing Northeast Army, a machine gun suddenly emerged from a nearby house and opened fire on their own troops, the Japanese forces chose an open area for their attack direction. They even took the precaution of demolishing a few scattered civilian houses before advancing boldly towards the Northeast Army's defensive positions under the cover of their armored units.

The 620th Regiment of the 107th Division, led by Wang Tiehan, was suddenly plunged into a fierce battle as Japanese tanks charged in. The Japanese tank soldiers, filled with rage from being bombarded by the Northeast Army's artillery, unleashed their fury upon the Northeast soldiers entrenched in the trenches, causing the 620th Regiment's defense line to collapse. In a moment of desperation, several determined soldiers, undeterred by the prospect of death, bravely charged forward with bundle grenades in an attempt to destroy the Japanese tanks. Unable to bear the thought of his men fighting with their flesh against steel, Wang Tiehan urgently requested the Northeast Army's tank units to mobilize once more to rescue the dire situation.

At this time, the remaining fewer than 500 officers and soldiers of the 580th Regiment utilized their familiarity with the terrain to engage in urban warfare against the Japanese forces. The Japanese troops that entered the town frequently fell victim to surprise attacks from hidden rifles and artillery. In a fit of anger, Kanda ordered the burning of all houses that might harbor the Northeast Army, resulting in many officers and soldiers who continued to fight being burned alive in their hiding places. Zhao Yi, leading dozens of the last remaining soldiers, fought while retreating, repeatedly killing hundreds of Japanese soldiers. Eventually, they were cornered in a dead end, and after the remaining nine soldiers ran out of ammunition, they charged forward with bayonets at Zhao Yi's command of "In a narrow path, the brave shall prevail," shouting their slogans courageously as they rushed towards an enemy force that outnumbered them by dozens.

"Alright, let us not put Commander Zheng in a difficult position. We have 10 minutes left, let us leave now," said Zhang Xueliang.

Mutou silently listened to the discussions of the various generals, and after repeatedly murmuring "Fire the heavy artillery!" his eyes suddenly sparkled with brilliance

Instead of the usual morning wake-up call for the remaining officers and soldiers of the 580th Regiment, the sound of artillery fire from the Japanese army targeting a weak section of the wall served as the alarm. After breaching a gap, the invading Japanese troops were met with the crossfire from the last two Maxim heavy machine guns of the Northeast Army, and those who managed to enter were shot down one after another. Enraged, the Japanese commander called in mountain artillery to bombard the Northeast Army's firing positions, resulting in a shooter, assistant shooter, and loader being blown to pieces. After breaching a gap, the invading Japanese troops were met with the crossfire from the last two Maxim heavy machine guns of the Northeast Army, and those who managed to enter were shot down one after another. Enraged, the Japanese commander called in mountain artillery to bombard the Northeast Army's firing positions, resulting in a shooter, assistant shooter, and loader being blown to pieces, while another machine gun team continued to throw grenades until they ran out of ammunition.

Although Major General Kanda of the Japanese army had effortlessly captured Anshan, the "Steel City" of Northeast China, his composed personality did not lead him to underestimate the Northeast Army. He understood clearly that the occupation of Anshan was merely a stroke of luck, having encountered a cowardly general from the Northeast Army who fled in the face of battle; such "good fortune" would not occur frequently. The Northeast Army in this small town, although surrounded, did not show signs of collapse. On the contrary, they were actively constructing defensive fortifications. Kanda realized that this contingent of the Northeast Army intended to hold the town to the death, and he would have to confront this obstacle head-on. However, the question of how many troops the Northeast Army actually had remained uncertain. While cautiously approaching Qingyan to ascertain the situation, Kanda was discovered by a sentry from the Northeast Army, who fired a few rounds in his direction. Startled, he also deduced that the defending force consisted of only a single regiment. Believing he had an overwhelming numerical advantage, Kanda issued the order to attack.

The Japanese army, by altering their attack strategy, concentrated their superior firepower to launch a fierce assault on Qingyan Town. The originally constructed blue brick walls, intended for defense against the "Huzi Xiangma," proved to be weak. Under the continuous bombardment of 75mm mountain artillery, the fragile blue bricks shattered and fell away like lime. After half an hour, the walls, which the soldiers had desperately tried to repair, were finally breached by the Japanese forces. Faced with the overwhelming tide of Japanese soldiers rushing in, the defenders relied on the remnants of the walls to continue their resistance. The 580th Regiment possessed a considerable amount of explosives, which were originally intended to support Anshan. However, the purpose of these explosives had now changed—the soldiers packed the explosives into bundles, mixing in a large number of iron nails and steel balls. The town had several hardware stores, and the owners had not had time to take away nuts, bolts, scrap copper, and iron, all of which were stuffed into the explosive bundles and thrown into the midst of the Japanese troops. This tactic proved to be highly effective, as the explosion sent "debris" flying in all directions at the speed of sound, leaving the Japanese soldiers bloodied and disfigured. Many Japanese soldiers were left with their faces covered in steel balls and iron nails, with some even losing their eyesight due to the blasts.

In an instant, under the overwhelming artillery fire of the Japanese army, which could not distinguish between friend and foe, the invaluable tank units of the Northeast Army were hit by shells one after another, while the Japanese tanks, with even weaker armor, were completely reduced to scrap metal. The soldiers on both sides, who were fighting desperately in this area, were also blown to pieces. Upon receiving the news, Zhang Xueliang was taken aback, filled with both anger and heartache. He was furious that the Japanese army would resort to such a mutually destructive method, and he resented himself for underestimating their madness. His heart ached not only for the fallen officers and soldiers but also for those invaluable tanks.

Under the concentrated bombardment of several 75mm mountain guns from the Japanese army, the entrance sealed off by the Northeast Army with stone blocks was once again blasted open in Liaoyang. Amidst the flying debris, the Japanese troops gathered at the foot of the city surged in. An impatient major, disregarding the bullets from the Northeast Army, led his squadron to be the first to ascend to the highest point of the Liaoyang city wall, where he raised the "Long-lasting Military Fortune" sun flag. In an instant, the Japanese soldiers both inside and outside the city erupted in excitement, their cheers shaking the heavens and reaching the clouds.

After much contemplation, Zhang Xueliang said: "Then let Lin Ang go up!"

Muto Nobuyoshi, who was observing from a distance, felt somewhat uneasy and asked, "How long will it take for the Army Air Force to reinforce from Qingyan to Liaoyang?" Colonel Yokoyama, the aide, replied, "It will take approximately 25 minutes."

The 16th Regiment of the 2nd Division, approaching Liao Yang City, was generally filled with a sense of impending victory. At this moment, the Northeast Army was devoid of tanks and aircraft, and their heavy artillery was suppressed by their own artillery units, seemingly lacking any means of resistance. However, the regiment commander, Nishida Hiroshi, who had endured considerable hardships over the past ten days, remained cautious. He ordered all officers and soldiers to set aside their arrogant mindset and to advance carefully, like crossing a street, peering around every three steps under the cover of armored vehicles. At this time, the Northeast Army had only a small defense force of less than one division engaged in trench warfare with the Japanese troops below the city. Nevertheless, the fierce rifle fire from the Northeast Army continued to inflict heavy casualties on the attacking Japanese forces. The penetrating gunshot wounds caused by the 30 rifles left the Japanese troops in distress, forcing them to rely on their armored vehicles for cover while exchanging fire with the Northeast Army. Although the Northeast Army's defensive line on the ground was temporarily unscathed, the aerial assaults from the Japanese forces caused significant casualties among the Northeast Army's defense units. The trenches and bunkers dug by the Northeast Army had been completely destroyed in the relentless airstrikes by Japanese aircraft. The soldiers had no choice but to use the craters created by the bombs dropped by the Japanese planes as cover to continue fighting.

In this battle, Zhang Xueliang had essentially committed all the troops stationed in Liaoning, and it can be said that the elite forces of the Northeast Army were fully deployed. Moreover, he appointed himself as the commander-in-chief of the entire army. In fact, Zhang Xueliang was well aware that his limited military capabilities were insufficient to command such a large-scale campaign. His presence at the front line served merely as a symbolic gesture to boost morale. Zhang Xueliang also understood that if the campaign failed, he would have nowhere to go.

However, the brothers are suffering heavy casualties under the enemy's tank artillery and machine guns! Yu Xuezhong recalled the tragic scene he had just witnessed, where several squads of soldiers fell to the ground under the sweeping fire of the Japanese tanks, and his heart ached like it was being cut by knives

The commander of the adjacent Independent 1st Tank Brigade, Major General Nakayama Hata, was alarmed: "Your Excellency, the commander! Our tank units have already mixed with the enemy tanks; this could lead to friendly fire against our own tank units!"

"Have the surrounding troops all withdrawn?" Zhang Xueliang said as he put down the binoculars

Zhao Yi, panting heavily, dragged the anti-tank gun to serve as an infantry gun and personally aimed it at the gap, fiercely bombarding the advancing Japanese troops. Although he killed dozens of Japanese soldiers, it quickly attracted the focused attention of Japanese mortars and mountain artillery. As several mortar shells and mountain artillery shells fell, Zhao Yi, who was still concentrating on loading ammunition, suddenly felt darkness before his eyes and heard a sharp, piercing sound. He was thrown aside by the shockwave. When he crawled up from the dust, the two 37mm anti-tank guns had already been blown to pieces, causing Zhao Yi immense pain. Looking around, he saw that the deputy regiment commander, Lu Yu, who had been pulled in to assist with loading, was already bleeding from all seven orifices, having been killed by the shockwave of the explosion. Several guards also lay in pools of blood. Zhao Yi felt a wave of dizziness in his heart and a tightness in his chest. Just as he wanted to say something, he suddenly felt a chill by his ear and realized that the shrapnel from a Japanese shell had severed his right ear.

The defense line, bolstered by 105 reinforcements, barely stabilized, and both sides became entangled in a bitter struggle. At this moment, the artillery units of the Northeast Army, disregarding the risk of friendly fire, unleashed a barrage against the Japanese forces, resulting in a significant number of the densely packed Japanese troops being knocked down.

The Japanese tank units are advancing step by step, and the soldiers' rifles cannot penetrate the shells of these iron-clad monsters. Young Marshal! Please order artillery fire to cover the enemy tanks!" In the Liaoyang Command, Yu Xuezhong, who had just returned from the front lines, anxiously spoke to Zhang Xueliang.

In fact, Zhao Yi, who had difficulty in communication, had not heard the broadcast. During the escape, Dong Futing was captured by Deputy Regiment Commander Zhang Yaowu and sent to Shenyang. While the officers and soldiers of the 580th Regiment were engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the Japanese army, he was executed by the Shenyang Border Defense Force on charges of "desertion, cowardice in the face of the enemy, and loss of territory"

Ladies and gentlemen! Our army is now in a stalemate with Zhang Xueliang's forces, and the gates of Liaoyang have been opened by us. Next, we must compete with Zhang and his troops in endurance and resilience; we cannot retreat now! This is how we present ourselves when we go to Tokyo to meet His Majesty the Emperor!" Mutō succinctly articulated the current situation of everyone present. At this moment, the Japanese army has suffered over ten thousand casualties, but if we still cannot capture Shenyang, how will these commanders respond to the Emperor's sacred orders? This is how we present ourselves when we go to Tokyo to meet His Majesty the Emperor!" Mutō succinctly articulated the current situation of everyone present. At this moment, the Japanese army has suffered over ten thousand casualties, but if we still cannot capture Shenyang, how will these commanders respond to the Emperor's sacred orders? If we return like this, what awaits them will either be dismissal and investigation or seppuku.

A man does not shed tears lightly; it is just that he has not reached the point of heartbreak! What could be more heart-wrenching than seeing brothers, who have been by your side day and night, disappear one by one before your eyes

"Most of them have been withdrawn, but a few troops are still entangled with the enemy and cannot be recalled," Rong Zhen said with a hint of sadness.

Ladies and gentlemen! Hurry to support the ground troops' offensive! Let those Chinese pigs experience the might of our Great Japanese Empire's aerial eagles! Under the command of Captain Jiro Sasaki, who personally led the team, the Japanese aircraft swooped down from the clouds, dropping aviation bombs onto the Northeast Army's positions. The mortar and heavy machine gun positions of the Northeast Army, which fiercely returned fire at the Japanese, were particularly targeted, resulting in devastating casualties and destruction. After exhausting all their bombs, the Japanese aircraft, still unsatisfied, continued to circle over Liaoyang, fiercely shooting at the fleeing Northeast soldiers, and only returned reluctantly amidst the cheers of the ground troops when their fuel was nearly depleted. The Japanese aircraft swooped down from the clouds, dropping aviation bombs onto the Northeast Army's positions. The mortar and heavy machine gun positions of the Northeast Army, which fiercely returned fire at the Japanese, were particularly targeted, resulting in devastating casualties and destruction. After exhausting all their bombs, the Japanese aircraft, still unsatisfied, continued to circle over Liaoyang, fiercely shooting at the fleeing Northeast soldiers, and only returned reluctantly amidst the cheers of the ground troops when their fuel was nearly depleted.

If Colonel Nishida Hiromoto of the 16th Regiment were to know the true identities of the several individuals in military uniforms standing on the wall with binoculars, he would certainly direct the entire regiment's firepower towards them. Taking down just one of them would be equivalent to eliminating a division of the Northeast Army, and as for the one in the middle who is speaking, eliminating him would be akin to taking out an entire army group of the Northeast Army.

Colonel Nishida Hiroshi was struck in the chest by a stone from an ancient city wall, which had a history of over 200 years and was the size of a chicken egg, resulting in multiple broken ribs and immediate death from blood loss. When Major General Morimura, the commander of the 2nd Division, received the news that his troops had already entered Liaoyang City and rushed to the scene to watch, he was also hit in the right arm by a fragment that fell rapidly from several hundred meters above. The immense pain from the broken bones distorted the features of this Japanese general, renowned for his "perseverance and courage." Upon witnessing the tragic state of the 16th Regiment, Major General Morimura fainted from the dual psychological and physiological shock.

Zhao Yi stared blankly as yet another comrade vanished before his eyes. After a long pause, he shouted in fury: "Engineer platoon! Blow up the city wall!"

The Japanese tank soldiers, who were terrified yesterday by their counterparts from the Northeast Army, have now completely changed from their previously arrogant and flamboyant demeanor, appearing low-key and slowly advancing. As they just came into contact with the Northeast Army's defensive line, a barrage of artillery shells rained down as if they had eyes, and several tanks from the 92nd Tank Battalion that were directly hit were reduced to a state of wreckage along with their crews.

Did we, all of Japan, underestimate the Chinese? Mutō Nobuyoshi asked himself in his heart. At that moment, he suddenly realized how absurd and laughable the saying that "one Japanese army division is worth five divisions of the Northeast Army" was, which had circulated among the Japanese military. Lost in thought, Mutō abruptly noticed the gazes of the various generals upon him, and with a start, he came back to his senses, realizing that he had been overthinking.

In the night, a sense of desolation enveloped the Japanese army. The bodies of several high-ranking Japanese officers, including Inaba Shirō, were wrapped in white cloth and temporarily sent back to Qingyan. The death of a major general marked the first significant setback for the Japanese army since the Russo-Japanese War. Mutō Nobuyoshi gazed resentfully at the ruined city of Liaoyang in the distance, its massive shadow standing still like a monstrous beast quietly lurking in the darkness. This giant had already consumed thousands of his troops, yet it remained immovable, blocking his path. If the war continued to drag on like this, it would be absolutely detrimental to him. Mutō clenched his fists, as if he could crush Liaoyang in his hands to vent his frustration.

At this time, the two armies had already engaged in bloody street fighting in the southern area of Liaoyang City. The controlled regions of the Northeast Army's 101st, 102nd, and 107th divisions, which had retreated into the city, were interwoven with the areas occupied by the Japanese army. Both sides' artillery fired fiercely at each other, and intense battles erupted over a street, a house, a stone wall, or even a pile of dirt. The commander of the 619th Regiment of the 107th Division, Gao Fuyuan, personally led a reinforced battalion to support a high ground located southwest between Youth Street and Democracy Road. Upon turning a corner at a wall, they unexpectedly encountered a squad of Japanese soldiers, and both sides were unable to draw their guns, resulting in a chaotic melee. After a fierce battle with a group of Japanese soldiers, the commander of the 530th Regiment of the 101st Division, Kang Hongkang, sat down to rest in a civilian house. Suddenly, he heard voices coming from the adjacent room; upon listening closely, he realized they were speaking Japanese. The soldiers quickly broke through the wall and threw grenades into the room, causing the Japanese soldiers inside to be torn apart. After a day of fierce fighting, the Japanese army barely managed to control one-third of the southern part of Liaoyang City. In the middle of the night, various divisions of the Northeast Army organized suicide squads to launch night attacks on the Japanese forces. The members of the suicide squads, disregarding their lives, charged into battle bare-chested, covered in grenades, armed with submachine guns and large knives. Upon encountering the Japanese soldiers, they threw grenades wildly and fired furiously. When they ran out of bullets, they wielded their knives, and under the moonlight, Japanese heads flew off, instilling fear in the hearts of the Japanese soldiers. After a night of chaotic fighting, the Japanese army was forced to relinquish nearly half of their territory.

The veteran beside him said: "Of course, back then it was infighting among our own people, and winning didn't mean much. Now we are fighting against the Japanese devils alongside the Young Marshal to protect our homes and our country; the situation is different now"

As night fell, the Independent 5th Mixed Brigade, which had suffered considerable losses, still had not fully taken Qingyan, having only occupied the surrounding areas. However, some of the Northeast Army's defending troops remained hidden in the remaining besieged neighborhoods. Brigade Commander Kanda glanced at his exhausted subordinates and ordered a halt to the attack for rest. He believed that time was not pressing for him, especially since he was merely the vanguard. He did not realize how crucial the time gained by a battalion of the 580th Regiment, which was fighting desperately, was for the Northeast Army in constructing their defensive line in Liaoyang.

The next day, the Japanese artillery battalion, having regained its strength, once again launched explosives wrapped in inferior Japanese steel into the skies over Liaoyang. A barrage of gunfire followed, and the dense waves of Japanese troops surged forth like the tide of the Qiantang River, signaling the commencement of a new round of their offensive. The Northeast Army soldiers, who had spent the night in the trenches clutching their weapons, chewed on military rations of steamed buns filled with meat as they once again engaged in fierce combat with the Japanese forces. The 30 rifles, with a range exceeding that of the Type 38 rifle by fifty meters, caused the advancing Japanese troops to pile up corpses in that range gap. Both sides exchanged heavy fire, but the Northeast Army, benefiting from superior individual firepower, fought with increasing ferocity, inflicting heavy casualties on the Japanese forces.

Mutou Nobuyoshi said sternly: "This is an order!"

The soldiers of the 580th Regiment, hiding in the trenches, remained silent as they awaited the Japanese troops to come within grenade range. Together, they shouted, "Beat that son of a turtle!" Then, a swarm of melon grenades flew like a flock of crows towards the Japanese, exploding and sending them into disarray. Meanwhile, the soldiers fired their 30-type rifles, further disorienting the enemy. However, the Japanese Type 92 light tanks, which were providing cover for the assault, rampaged across the positions of the Northeast Army without restraint. The bullets from the 30-type rifles could not penetrate its 15mm thick "solid" armor. At that moment, three Type 92 tanks charged into the Northeast Army's positions, displaying their might. The Japanese tanks tore through the battered defenses like wolves entering a sheepfold, with each tank's 13mm heavy machine gun and 6.5mm light machine gun fiercely sweeping fire at the soldiers huddled in the trenches, preventing them from raising their heads. The Japanese infantry pressed forward once again.