Section 6, Northeast Beacon Fire (2)

At the moment when both sides were locked in a deadly struggle, the buzzing sound of aircraft once again filled the air. Eighteen fighter planes appeared in the sky, arranged in six formations. On the ground, the Japanese troops waved their Rising Sun flags and shouted in celebration. However, after circling a few times, the aircraft suddenly opened fire with a fierce barrage on the Japanese positions and dropped bombs, causing the panicked Japanese soldiers to flee in disarray. It was at this moment that the officers and soldiers of the Northeast Army realized that the insignia painted on the wings of the aircraft was not the familiar Japanese Rising Sun flag they had seen for days, but rather the black battle axe emblem of the Northeast Army. Acting on the orders of Zhang Xueliang, Gao Zhihang, the commander of the First Aviation Brigade of the Northeast Army Air Force, personally led his unit into battle. The appearance of their own air force filled all the officers and soldiers of the Northeast Army with excitement and joy, significantly boosting their morale. After dropping their bombs, the Northeast Army aircraft flew low over the northern defense area, with all the planes gently shaking their wings. The pilots saluted together, paying tribute to the army officers and soldiers below who were fighting valiantly.

At this time, the main forces and important institutions of the Northeast Army on the southern bank had basically retreated to the northern bank. The soldiers of the Northeast Army who had retreated to the northern bank listened in tears to the waves of screams coming from across the river, where the Japanese army, driven by bestiality, was stabbing to death the Northeast Army's wounded soldiers who could not be evacuated in time

Upon realizing that the enemy had arrived, Zhang Zongchang quickly jumped out of bed and took command of the troops with his guard unit. Most of the 109th Division consisted of seasoned veterans who had fought alongside Zhang Zongchang in the civil war for many years. Coupled with their new equipment, each soldier was skilled in marksmanship and combat. Relying on the solid fortifications built during a sufficient period of rest, they managed to hold their ground firmly against three times their number of attackers until nightfall.

Originally, Zhang Xueliang was not very reassured about Zhang Zongchang. His subordinate forces, nearly 50,000 troops of the Shandong Army, had been significantly reduced, leaving only over 10,000 still under his command. To prevent any further unrest, Zhang Xueliang arranged for him to attend a military academy for a period of study. The ammunition supply for the 109th Division was only about 60 to 70 percent of what was provided to other units, which was one of the reasons why the 109th Division could not hold out for long in Wanjia Tun. However, the current situation had forced him to set aside his wariness and contempt for Zhang Zongchang. Zhang Xueliang immediately dispatched a reinforced regiment from the 102nd Division and allocated an artillery battalion, while also sending out the previously idle Independent 5th Cavalry Brigade under Wu Songlin to urgently reinforce Zhang Zongchang.

The person surrounded was a lieutenant general of the Northeast Army. General Watanabe was overjoyed and quickly ordered his capture alive. It should be noted that during this battle, the Northeast Army had already killed a lieutenant general of the Imperial Army, which was a disgrace for the Imperial Army. Currently, Mutō Nobuyoshi was suppressing the news and dared not report it. If the Imperial Army could capture a lieutenant general of the Northeast Army alive, it would greatly restore their honor

The ugly and ferocious face of the Japanese soldier became increasingly clear, the sharp katana raised high and brought down—"Mommy—" the little girl murmured softly, as the grenade in her hand exploded! Her tiny body, along with that of the Japanese soldier, turned into a mass of blood.

On the 15th, Major General Takeda Shinichiro, the chief of staff of the 8th Division, ordered the troops to encircle and attack Wanjia Tun from three directions. The 109th Division, which was at a disadvantage in numbers, gradually began to shrink under pressure. Zhang Zongchang, anxious and concerned, led the guard platoon to supervise the battle and boost morale. At that moment, a group of Japanese soldiers rushed in from a patch of dry grass in the west of the town. Zhang Zongchang quickly suppressed them with the guard platoon, unleashing a barrage from the Type 29 rocket launcher, igniting large areas of weeds outside the town and leaving the Japanese soldiers hiding inside scorched and disoriented. At that moment, a group of Japanese soldiers rushed in from a patch of dry grass in the west of the town. Zhang Zongchang quickly suppressed them with the guard platoon, unleashing a barrage from the Type 29 rocket launcher, igniting large areas of weeds outside the town and leaving the Japanese soldiers hiding inside scorched and disoriented

Under the relentless pursuit of the cavalry from the Northeast, the guard protecting Major General Watanabe was either scattered or perished heroically in the process of voluntarily holding their ground. In this desperate race against the warhorses, Major General Watanabe, lacking the demeanor expected of a general, had already discarded his general's uniform to lighten his burden and avoid drawing attention as a primary target of the pursuers. This situation bore a striking resemblance to the scene over two thousand years ago when Cao Cao was chased by Ma Chao of Xiliang. Just as Major General Watanabe was on the verge of a desperate asthma attack while stumbling in his flight, a messenger from the 8th Division galloped over and offered his steed to the beleaguered Major General Watanabe. Instantly reigniting his hope for survival, Watanabe Taro hurriedly mounted the horse without even having the time to express his gratitude, continuing his frantic escape like a dog fleeing from its master or a fish slipping through a net.

"Just give me one more minute!" Lin Kesheng said, sweat pouring down his face

At this moment, the number of Japanese soldiers gathered outside was increasing, and nearly all of Ma Wenming's battalion had been wiped out. Ma Wenming rushed into the operating room: "Director Lin! Hurry and leave!"

Ma Wenming expressed his admiration and said, "Director Lin, my brothers and I will fight for more time for you, so you can focus on the surgery!" Lin Kesheng nodded, and with two or three assistants and nurses, he strode towards the emergency room. Ma Wenming, accompanied by seven or eight soldiers who had brought the wounded, rushed outside to engage with the Japanese troops.

Kikawa Fuyi shouted with his hair standing on end: "Baka! The soldiers of the Imperial Japanese Army should fear no death! I command all units to join the attack! Artillery units provide cover, attack the enemy!"

At this moment, after a fierce battle, the sky had darkened. Private First Class Cui Guoxing from the 7th Company of the 1st Battalion of the 12th Cavalry Regiment of the 5th Independent Cavalry Brigade of the Northeast Army was searching for the remnants of the enemy in the woods when he suddenly spotted a short and stout figure riding a horse and galloping ahead. Without a second thought, he hurriedly gave chase. The person in front also clearly sensed that he was being pursued and repeatedly whipped his horse to increase its speed. Cui Guoxing wanted to speed up as well, but unfortunately, his warhorse, having run for several hours, was already drenched in sweat and could not go any faster. Seeing the prey about to slip away, he attempted to fire but found that both his bullets and grenades were exhausted. In a moment of desperation, Cui Guoxing exerted all his strength to throw his horse rifle forward. This 4.85-kilogram 'Type 30' horse rifle, developed and produced by the Northeast Third Arsenal, struck General Watanabe Yodataro squarely on the back of his head. Dazed and seeing stars, General Watanabe fell off his horse. Just as he staggered to his feet, he was knocked down by Cui Guoxing's saber.

Hurry up and leave!" shouted the engineers, "This bridge is about to be blown up!

Boom! Boom! Boom! The Japanese mountain artillery units on the southern bank opened fire simultaneously, with shells accurately landing on the advancing Northeast Army. The Northeast Army's anti-tank soldiers, who had performed exceptionally well, received even more focused attention, suffering near-total casualties under the hail of artillery from the Japanese forces. The infantry gunners of the Northeast Army also began to return fire.

"Fire!" The Japanese tanks surged forward once again, their tongues of flame lashing out. The entire surface of the bridge trembled incessantly under the relentless treads of the Japanese tanks

"Baga!" Colonel Qingtian, the commander of the Japanese armored division, was infuriated by the cowardly performance of his subordinates and stepped forward: "Why didn't you charge across the bridge?"

Seeing that the troops were unable to break through the Northeast Army's defenses at the Yunhong Bridge, the anxious Major General Nishinomiya Harushige, feeling helpless, ordered the forces to forcibly cross the Taizi River to breach the Northeast Army's line.

Brothers! Let go and kill! A Japanese head is worth thirty taels! A second lieutenant is worth fifty! A major is worth eighty! That old turtle Watanabe Yodetaro's head is worth two thousand taels! In a fit of rage, Cavalry Brigade Commander Wu Songlin cleaved a Japanese soldier beside him in two with his saber, loudly announcing the price tags for Japanese heads according to different ranks.

The deputy regiment commander, Ishikawa Anjin, saw his subordinates almost being slaughtered by the Northeast Army in the water. Having just advanced halfway across the river, already four to five hundred had been shot dead by the Northeast Army in the river. He could not help but feel a surge of fear and said urgently, "Regiment Commander! Such a strong assault is not feasible! The cost is too great!"

Ma Wenming and several guards hurriedly arrived to barely block the gap with submachine guns, while shooting and shouting: "Everyone, hurry up! Get out of here!"

After several days of fighting, the Japanese army's casualty numbers continued to rise, yet the meager gains left Mutō Nobuyoshi extremely dissatisfied. "Your Excellency, the Commander-in-Chief! The current situation is at a stalemate. If our forces can encircle Zhang Xueliang's rear and cut off the Northeast Army's supply lines for ammunition and food, then Zhang Xueliang's troops will surely lose morale and their fighting spirit will diminish significantly. Only then can our army completely capture Liaoyang," suggested Watanabe Yodetaro, the commander of the 8th Division, during the meeting.

With a sharp whistle, a "Iron Fist" rocket propelled shell struck the foremost Type 92 tank. The warhead unleashed a stream of molten metal at a temperature of 3,500 degrees Celsius, tearing through the tank's thin frontal armor and exploding inside, instantly transforming the entire tank into a mass of charred scrap metal. Fragments of the destroyed tank flew in all directions, hitting the Japanese soldiers following in the charge, who fell to the ground. The soldiers of the 101st Division, armed with the newly developed "Iron Fist" anti-tank rocket launcher from the Northeast Armaments Factory, disregarded the flying bullets and continued to fire at the Japanese tanks on the bridge. One after another, Japanese tanks were blown to burning scrap metal amidst the cheers of the Northeast Army soldiers. The Japanese tank crew, taken aback, hurriedly attempted to reverse, resulting in numerous Japanese infantry being crushed under their own tanks, emitting inhuman cries. In an instant, the Japanese formation was thrown into chaos, with tanks and infantry crowding together on the bridge.

Several key strongholds within the city have suddenly become intense battlegrounds for both sides, and the Liao Yang Railway Station, located at the center of the city's transportation arteries, has naturally become the focal point of the Japanese army's keen interest due to its strategic importance. A battalion from the 103rd Division defending this area has repelled seven or eight assaults from the Japanese forces advancing from the east, west, and south within a mere three hours. The two to three hundred landmines laid around the station have all been triggered one after another by the charging Japanese soldiers, and the numerous corpses of Japanese soldiers, with their lower bodies blown off, serve as testament to this fact. At this moment, the entire battalion has fewer than two hundred men left, all of whom are injured. Just as Battalion Commander Yang Wei was preparing to hold his ground, a signalman rushed in urgently: "Commander! There is an order from higher up! The entire battalion is to retreat!"

"What?" Yang Wei grabbed the collar of the signal soldier, "Are you sure!" When they first received the mission, the regiment commander repeatedly emphasized the importance of this location. Yang Wei had confidently assured, "As long as the people are here, the station will be here." Now, however, the sudden order to retreat left him momentarily bewildered.

What answered him was a samurai sword emblazoned with a chrysanthemum symbol, rushing towards him with a chilling wind! In the moment before consciousness faded, the tank commander clearly saw the fountain of blood over a foot high gushing from his own neck.

Lin Kesheng said with a resolute yet kind expression: "Child, do not speak foolishly. There is still time. I only need five minutes to stop the bleeding. Hurry and lie down, cooperate with me, and let's make the most of our time!"

Despite the loss of over 1,000 soldiers in the 11th Regiment, there were still waves of Japanese troops, drenched and crawling ashore, fiercely attacking the Northeast Army without fear of death. However, most of the Japanese soldiers were frozen, their limbs numb and bodies turning blue, and they were mostly killed by the Northeast Army with a single stab. The enraged officers and soldiers of the Northeast Army shouted as they jumped into the river, engaging in brutal hand-to-hand combat with the Japanese troops, causing the river's surface to ripple with waves and blood, as both sides fought with reckless abandon.

Ma Wenming gritted his teeth and turned around to rush out again

Eager to break the deadlock, Nobuyoshi Mutou immediately agreed to Watanabe Yodatarou's plan to "launch a flanking attack to capture the strategic town of Wanjia Tun in Liaoyang"

Suddenly, a small group of Japanese soldiers burst out from several houses on the southern bank, shrieking as they opened fire on the crowd. In an instant, several people were hit, their bodies erupting with shocking splashes of blood. A nurse, holding up an IV bottle, was struck and fell helplessly to the ground, the sound of the shattering bottle mixing the spilled medication with the flowing blood.

The bridge connecting both banks of Liao Yang, personally named by Zhang Xueliang, is one of the first projects of the Northeast's Five-Year Development Plan. Designed and supervised in 1930 by German bridge expert Hans Fleischer, it features pure reinforced concrete components and employs ingenious mechanical design principles. The spacious bridge deck accommodates two railways and two highways, making it a dual-purpose bridge for both trains and vehicles. It serves not only as a major thoroughfare for north-south transportation in Northeast China but also as an important support for Liao Yang's economic development. At the celebration banquet held after its completion, Hans Fleischer confidently patted his chest and assured, "This bridge won't collapse even in an 8.0 magnitude earthquake." Yu Xuezhong, who attended the banquet, scoffed at this claim. However, now watching his engineering battalion toil for half an hour only to damage a few concrete blocks, the entire bridge remained essentially unscathed. Observing this scene, Yu Xuezhong could not help but admire from the bottom of his heart; indeed, the things made by the Germans are remarkably sturdy.

If Liaoyang is the southern gateway to Shenyang, then Wanjia Tun and Xiaotun Town are like two windows. Upon learning of the news that the Japanese 8th Division was launching a flanking attack on Fangjiatun, Yu Xuezhong pointed to two inconspicuous small towns on either side of Liaoyang on the map and said to Zhang Xueliang, "If we lose even one of the three points, our defense line will be finished. Young Marshal, we must rescue Zhang Zongchang"

Liu Qiwen's judgment is correct; indeed, among that group of Japanese soldiers, there is Major General Watanabe Yodetaro, the commander of the 8th Division, who is currently running for his life. At this moment, the astonishing running speed unleashed by Major General Watanabe due to the activation of his physical potential would surely secure him the championship if he were to participate in the "Great Japanese Imperial Army Major General Running Competition." However, at this moment, Major General Watanabe clearly has no thoughts of such matters; he is only frustrated by the fact that his lack of physical exercise in the past has left him with excess weight, which is a serious hindrance to his speed.

The area around Baishi, defended by Gao Fuyuan's 619th Regiment of the 107th Division, was the most fiercely attacked by the Japanese army. As the Japanese troops began to cross the river on the ice, Gao Fuyuan shouted, "Brothers! We absolutely cannot let the devils cross the river!" He was the first to jump onto the river, and the soldiers of the 619th Regiment leaped onto the ice to engage in fierce combat with the advancing Japanese forces. The sounds of battle echoed across the river, and in the biting cold wind, the hand-to-hand combat on the frozen surface was exceptionally brutal. Wounds inflicted by stabbing weapons froze before they could bleed, and under the low temperatures, bayonets shattered upon striking the ice. Without their bayonets, the soldiers from both sides grappled and bit at each other. In the cold wind, it was common to see soldiers from both armies with ears torn off and noses ripped away, their painful cries filling the air. Just as the Northeast Army's defending troops jumped onto the ice to engage in close combat with the Japanese, the Japanese artillery, under the command of Mutō Nobuyoshi, once again unleashed a fierce barrage of fire indiscriminately targeting the northern section of the river. Shells rained down from the sky, exploding among the Northeast Army and Japanese troops, scattering blood and flesh everywhere, with severed limbs flying through the air. After ten minutes of intense bombardment by the Japanese, more than two regiments of the Northeast Army and one Japanese regiment were annihilated on the river.

"Get lost!" A nurse, like a brave white deer, screamed as she charged forward and violently knocked the Japanese soldier to the ground. She forcefully plunged the syringe in her hand into the soldier's body—injecting an entire syringe of morphine into him. The soldier's eyes widened, and he collapsed to the ground, foaming at the mouth and convulsing.

The defenders of this area were primarily the 109th Division of the Northeast Army, composed of troops from the Lu Army led by Zhang Zongchang, totaling approximately 17,000 men across 5 regiments. However, due to the intense fighting in Liaoyang the previous day, Zhang Xueliang, observing that Wanjia Tun had remained calm, decided to reassign two of Zhang Zongchang's main regiments to assist in the defense of the city. At this time, Zhang Zongchang had only three regiments and some administrative guards remaining. On November 14 at dawn, while Zhang Zongchang was still preoccupied with recovering his energy after a night of intimacy with his nineteenth concubine, he was abruptly awakened by a barrage from the Japanese army. The 8th Division had assembled over 10,000 infantry and cavalry, more than 30 artillery pieces, over 10 tanks, and 4 aircraft to launch a fierce attack on the 109th Division's garrison, determined to capture it in one fell swoop.

I curse your grandmother! The engineers' eyes turned red in an instant, and they brandished their picks, charging at the enemy to engage in hand-to-hand combat. Amidst the roars and shrieks, the ugly heads of the enemy were smashed to pieces by the heavy and sharp picks.

The bridges connecting the north and south banks of Liaoyang have basically been destroyed by the engineers, leaving only the largest bridge in Liaoyang, the "Yunhong" Bridge, still intact

Seeing Colonel Qingtian's terrifying appearance with bloodshot eyes, the questioned commander of the Type 89 tank trembled in fear and said: "The Northeast Army possesses new weapons capable of destroying our tanks, and my tank battalion has suffered severe losses, forcing us to retreat"

The small detachment of Japanese troops on the periphery finally discovered a weak point in the wall. This section had only been blocked with some rubble after being bombed by Japanese aircraft. The Japanese soldiers immediately used grenades to blow open the broken wall, and before the smoke and dust had settled, one of the soldiers drew his sword and charged in.

Kill! Looking at the Japanese army in a state of panic, the troops of the Northeast Army leaped up and charged onto the bridge, fiercely attacking the fleeing Japanese forces

On the afternoon of the 15th, the 109th Division was engaged in fierce combat, and at that moment, the situation in Wanjia Tun was akin to a broken iron ball thrown into water, leaking from all sides. Zhang Zongchang could no longer bear it and called Zhang Xueliang: "Young Marshal! The number of Japanese troops in Wanjia Tun is increasing! My 109th Division cannot hold on any longer; without support, we can only last until dark! I implore the Young Marshal, considering my past contributions against the Japanese, to save a few of my men so they can survive. At the very least, let us leave some seeds for the Lu Army of that year. I would be deeply grateful for the Young Marshal's great kindness and virtue." Zhang Zongchang was a rough man, and his plea for help was blunt and straightforward, yet it carried a profound sense of desolation.

"It would have been better if we had gone over earlier!" some soldiers said with a tone of weeping. "You should be grateful you didn't go over earlier; otherwise, you would have been buried alive!" With a sense of loss, Yang Wei picked up his gun, "Prepare to continue the fight!"

On the other end of the line, there was a moment of silence. After a short while, Zhang Zongchang slowly said, "Young Marshal! I fear it may be too late! Old Zhang is going to be like Yue Fei, loyal to the country today!" After saying this, he hung up the phone. Zhang Xueliang held the silent receiver, and in an instant, his eyes became moist.

With a loud bang, the explosives tied to the bridge pier were detonated by the remaining engineers, causing the entire bridge deck to collapse. The Japanese soldiers and tanks on it fell into the river like dumplings, with one iron tank becoming the coffin for the three Japanese tank soldiers inside, sinking directly to the bottom. The remaining Japanese soldiers who fell into the water struggled helplessly on the surface, their bodies numbed by the icy river water of November. The Northeast Army on the northern bank began to shoot at the drowning soldiers, effectively killing them one by one in the river.

The Japanese troops on the southern bank surged out from the civilian shelters, braving the howling northern winds as they charged towards the northern bank. Mutō Nobuyoshi was determined to break through the northeastern army's defenses on the northern bank in one decisive strike, committing an enhanced infantry regiment and a cavalry regiment for a fierce assault. The soldiers of the northeastern army's defense forces desperately fired their weapons with frozen fingers to repel the Japanese troops. The Japanese forces, exposed on the ice, suffered heavy casualties; the fallen Japanese cavalry were trampled into a bloody pulp by their own cavalry rushing in from behind. The dead Japanese lay on the ice, their blood pooling and failing to melt the solid ice beneath them, quickly freezing in the temperature of over minus twenty degrees. Occasionally, some Japanese cavalry broke through the northeastern army's defenses and charged in, mercilessly slashing at the northeastern infantry. Some officers and soldiers had their heads severed by the gleaming sabers of the frenzied Japanese cavalry, but these charging cavalry were soon shot down by a hail of bullets. The battle quickly escalated into a fever pitch. The bodies of the Japanese soldiers piled up on the ice, and in some places, the sheer number of corpses caused the ice to crack under the weight. Meanwhile, the northeastern army's artillery commander, Wu Keren, directed the artillery units to bombard the ice surface of the Taizi River fiercely, not only killing and wounding a large number of Japanese soldiers but also gradually breaking the ice layer that sealed the river.

The soldiers of the 108th Division, 488th Regiment, led by Ma Wenming, have been responsible for guarding the hospital along with their comrades from the Third Battalion. The original Liaoyang People's Hospital was requisitioned by the military in early November and transformed into the First Field Hospital of the Northeast Army. The hospital director, along with most of the doctors and nurses, voluntarily stayed behind to assist the military medical staff in treating the wounded. For several days since the outbreak of war, every ward in the hospital has been filled with injured soldiers, and even the corridors are crowded with lightly wounded personnel. The morgue has become overcrowded with bodies, and those soldiers who could not be saved are densely piled in the corners of the hospital yard. Each doctor and nurse is covered in bloodstains, and everyone is working beyond their capacity, with many only managing to get one or two hours of sleep after a full day of work.

The main elite force of the 5th Division—the 11th Infantry Regiment—was the first to launch a river crossing operation. Colonel Yoshikawa Soichi, the regimental commander, raised his command sword at the riverbank and shouted loudly: "Brave men of Kyoto! Advance!" The fierce soldiers of the 11th Regiment, stripped to the waist and brandishing bayonets, charged into the icy, bone-chilling river, rushing towards the opposite bank. As early winter had set in, the water of the Taizi River was swift yet not deep, and the Japanese soldiers surged forward like a flock of ducks. Defending the riverbank was part of the 104th Division, with Deputy Division Commander Chang Enduo personally on the front line to boost morale. While shooting with the soldiers, he shouted: "Brothers! Give those devils a good beating!" The officers and soldiers bravely fired fiercely at the Japanese troops in the river, a storm of bullets sweeping across the water, creating waves that surged like a torrential downpour. The unprotected Japanese soldiers in the river were shot down one after another, blood splattering everywhere. The wounded fell into the icy river, instantly paralyzed and unable to rise. In an instant, large areas of the river were stained crimson with blood, and the heart-wrenching cries of the Japanese soldiers echoed. The bodies of the slain soldiers floated like driftwood in the river, eventually accumulating at the piers of the Yunhong Bridge, causing the river to become blocked and cease flowing.

Accompanied by the noisy sound of Japanese tank engines, rows of tank machine gun bullets had already swept over, striking the bridge surface and causing clouds of cement dust to rise. Dozens of engineers, unable to dodge in time, were shot and killed on the bridge. In order to advance to the northern bank, this sole Yunhong Bridge spanning the Taizi River suddenly became a key target for the Japanese army. On the bridge, which could accommodate two parallel trains, seven or eight Japanese tanks came charging in, followed closely by a dense mass of infantry. "Fire!" shouted Pang Huaishan, the commander of the 491st Regiment of the 108th Division, as he spat out the cigarette he had just lit. The machine gunners opened fire, and the Japanese soldiers hit by bullets fell to the ground, while numerous bullets struck the reinforced concrete bridge railings, creating dazzling sparks. At the same time, the Northeast Army's 120mm heavy mortars also fired continuously, with shells whistling towards the Japanese troops, resulting in heavy casualties among them. "Blow those bastards up!" the soldiers shouted, as grenades flew towards the Japanese. In the chaos, a mortar shell landed squarely on a Japanese Type 89 tank, instantly blowing off the entire upper body of the Japanese machine gunner, turning him into a cloud of blood mist. The wounded Japanese soldiers hurriedly crouched down, taking cover behind the destroyed tank, returning fire with machine guns and grenades against the 491st Regiment's guards. Meanwhile, the remaining Japanese tanks recklessly charged forward, their machine guns spewing fire, with bullets flying dangerously close to the heads of the Northeast Army soldiers.

On the night of November 19, a cold front from Siberia swept through the Northeast. Both sides' soldiers felt the sudden howling wind and piercing cold, and by the latter half of the night, it had reached the point where breath turned to frost and water froze. Overnight, more than two hundred severely injured soldiers from the Northeast Army froze to death. The Japanese troops also dared not light fires for warmth, as special units of the Northeast Army roamed like ghosts among the ruins at night. Since the beginning of the conflict, the number of Japanese soldiers killed at night by these Northeast Army snipers had reached over a thousand; once discovered at night, survival was nearly impossible. The fear of being shot in the head by bullets that seemed to come from nowhere while smoking in the dark led many old smokers among the Japanese troops to quit smoking. At dawn, both sides' soldiers were astonished to find that the surface of the mighty Taizi River had suddenly frozen over, creating a chilling scene. The corpses of soldiers who had fallen into the water during the day’s battles were now frozen into large blocks of ice, hard as iron, with countless dead bodies trapped within. At dawn, both sides' soldiers were astonished to find that the surface of the mighty Taizi River had suddenly frozen over, creating a chilling scene. The corpses of soldiers who had fallen into the water during the day’s battles were now frozen into large blocks of ice, hard as iron, with countless dead bodies trapped within.

The sound of gunfire erupted like popping beans, and at the edge of the disintegrating Japanese forces, a small group of soldiers tightly gathered and moved towards the nearby woods. Along the way, they used light machine guns to shoot down several approaching cavalrymen from the Northeast Army. When the cavalrymen from the Northeast Army advanced to pursue, the Japanese soldiers maintained a strict formation and did not engage, with some even staying behind to ambush the cavalry. The gunfire was chaotic, and many Japanese officers were using the South Type pistols, clearly indicating that they were hiding something significant. The deputy brigade commander, Liu Qiwen, rode forward and excitedly said to Wu Songlin, "Brigade Commander! That group of Japanese soldiers might include that old turtle Watanabe; if I strike it rich, I will definitely treat you to drinks!" Without waiting for Wu Songlin to respond, he led the cavalry guard unit, fearing that others might steal the opportunity, and rushed forward.

At this moment, 24 Japanese warplanes also appeared in the skies over Liaoyang. The pilots of the Northeast Army fearlessly engaged the enemy despite being outnumbered. The aircraft from both sides became entangled in fierce aerial combat, with bullets whistling and shells flying through the air. After a brief but intense battle, Captain Gao Zhihang was the first to shoot down an enemy plane. As they watched the Japanese aircraft plummet from the sky, trailing thick smoke, the officers and soldiers of the Northeast Army erupted in cheers, their morale soaring as they launched a counterattack against the Japanese forces

As the Japanese army began to close in, Zhang Zongchang urgently sent another telegram to Zhang Xueliang: "Young Marshal! Have the reinforcements arrived yet?"

Upon learning that the ice surface was completely walkable (though tanks could not traverse it), Mutō Nobuyoshi was overjoyed and exclaimed to the heavens: "This is the blessing of the sun goddess Amaterasu for our army!" He ordered the entire army to launch an attack

Meanwhile, the Japanese army launched another fierce assault. With no options left, Mutō Nobuyoshi implemented the infamous "human bullet" tactic, originally devised by the renowned Japanese general Nogi Maresuke during the Russo-Japanese War. Rows of Japanese suicide squads, wrapped in explosive grenades, charged towards the Northeast Army's machine gun fire, detonating themselves and taking down a significant number of Northeast troops in a mutual destruction. Under such inhumane tactics, the Japanese army breached one defensive stronghold of the Northeast Army after another. More and more officers and soldiers of the Northeast Army were struck with fear by the Japanese army's brutal methods. As one defensive line was torn apart, the morale of the Northeast troops, already at its breaking point, began to waver, leading to a series of unauthorized retreats. This trend accelerated, creating increasingly larger gaps for the Japanese army to exploit.

In the operating room, Lin Kesheng had just finished suturing a soldier whose abdomen had been torn open by shrapnel and was about to continue surgery on another soldier with a severed leg. Suddenly, gunfire erupted outside. The soldier, barely conscious, gasped and said, "Doctor! You must leave quickly! If you don't go now, you won't be able to escape! You can save more people if you survive. Give me a hand grenade, and I will fight the enemy to the death!"

Standing in front of the Japanese army was a frail little girl, whose parents had died under the naval bombardment of the Japanese forces. This thin and weak girl had arrived in Liaoyang with the fleeing refugees, tightly clutching a grenade that she had secretly taken from an unconscious soldier of the Northeast Army.

The entire 11th Brigade, comprising over 3,000 men, plunged into the river, fighting desperately towards the opposite bank. At the same time, the Japanese mountain artillery on the opposite shore opened fire fiercely, causing the officers and soldiers of the Northeast Army to be blown into the air. The defense line was under severe pressure. A "Maxim" machine gunner beside Chang Enduo fired wildly into the river, but was unexpectedly struck by a Japanese mortar shell, killing him instantly. The assistant gunner next to him immediately took over, continuing to fire with reckless abandon, but just a few seconds later, he was also killed by a stray bullet that pierced his steel helmet. Chang Enduo decided to personally operate the machine gun, firing fiercely to repel the Japanese landing.

More than 800 officers and soldiers from Shandong shouted in unison like a tidal wave: "Born in Shandong, die in Northeast! Born in Shandong, die in Northeast!"

While supervising the battle by the riverside in the southern bank, Colonel Yoshikawa Fuiichi suddenly felt a sharp pain in his forehead, and a burst of blood erupted from his head, causing him to immediately lose consciousness. In a collapsed civilian house on the northern bank, a sniper from the Northeast Army's "Dark Arrow" sniper unit had been quietly lying in wait for a long time, continuously searching for important targets through the scope of his sniper rifle. After eliminating two Japanese infantry artillerymen and a messenger, he spotted Yoshikawa Fuiichi, who bore the rank of colonel, and concluded that he was a senior Japanese officer, subsequently shooting him dead.

The gunfire outside grew increasingly intense. At this moment, the Liao Yang region south of the Taizi River had essentially been occupied by the Japanese army. A small number of rear-guard troops from the Northeast Army were fighting desperately against the Japanese forces, sacrificing their lives to buy time for the evacuation of their units.

"Of course, of course, it is confirmed! The command from the headquarters is for us to withdraw to the northern bank of the Prince's River!" The signalman was nearly choked by his strong grip.

"Push the anti-tank gun over! Aim at the enemy's armored vehicle!" The artillerymen pushed the heavy 37mm anti-tank gun to the bridgehead and opened fire fiercely at the Japanese tanks. "Target! 46 meters ahead! Japanese Type 92 tank! Elevate the gun to fifty-three degrees! Prepare, fire!" With the command of the artillerymen, round after round of 37mm anti-tank shells were fired, the warheads reaching temperatures of at least 3000 degrees easily tearing through the weak armor of the Japanese tanks, obliterating everything inside. One by one, the Japanese tanks were hit and caught fire, causing the officers and soldiers of the 491st Regiment to be so excited that they wished they could passionately kiss the artillerymen who had destroyed the tanks that had caused them so much suffering. Round after round of 37mm anti-tank shells were fired, the warheads reaching temperatures of at least 3000 degrees easily tearing through the weak armor of the Japanese tanks, obliterating everything inside. One by one, the Japanese tanks were hit and caught fire, causing the officers and soldiers of the 491st Regiment to be so excited that they wished they could passionately kiss the artillerymen who had destroyed the tanks that had caused them so much suffering.

The Japanese army, sensing a significant decline in the firepower of the Northeast Army, surged forward once more. The remaining thirty or so soldiers of the 103rd Division, who were fighting with their backs against the wall, severed their retreat and fought to the death, hoping to take down a few more enemies with them. At this moment, Captain Yang Wei sat quietly at the innermost part of the station, smoking a pack of low-quality cigarettes that cost one dollar each. As a major officer in the Northeast Army earning 40 taels a month, Yang Wei could certainly afford better cigarettes, but with a sick mother bedridden at home and a younger sister in school, his family's dire financial situation did not allow him to spend an extra penny. If he died for his country, the government would at least subsidize his family with 300 taels, enough to support them for several years; it was worth it! While calculating the monetary value of his already dwindling life, Yang Wei listened to the commotion outside—initially, there were the sounds of gunfire accompanied by the explosions of grenades, gradually transitioning to the clashing of bayonets, the sickening sound of bayonets piercing flesh, and the wails of the mortally wounded, until finally, all that remained was the chaotic and increasingly closer sound of footsteps.

As Yang Wei breathed a sigh of relief, seeing that all his injured soldiers had already made it into the tunnel, he addressed the remaining thirty or so intact soldiers: "Alright, it's your turn!" Just as seven or eight soldiers were about to enter, a sudden loud explosion occurred. Dust and debris began to fall from the narrow tunnel—several Japanese artillery shells exploded directly above the tunnel. Before Yang Wei could shout "Danger!", with a thunderous roar, the tunnel, which the remaining soldiers relied on for escape, collapsed, burying several soldiers who were unable to retreat in time. Dust and debris began to fall from the narrow tunnel—several Japanese artillery shells exploded directly above the tunnel. Before Yang Wei could shout "Danger!", with a thunderous roar, the tunnel, which the remaining soldiers relied on for escape, collapsed, burying several soldiers who were unable to retreat in time.

Wanjia Tun, located 20 kilometers west of Liaoyang, was originally a small town in Northeast China that the soldiers of the 8th Division, recruited from the Hirosaki area in Japan, would never have known in their lifetimes. However, due to its strategic position controlling the vital transportation route to the rear of Liaoyang, the entire 8th Division understood the necessity of securing this location.

At this moment, the situation in Wanjia Tun had become extremely dire. Zhang Zongchang's forces were divided into two parts by the Japanese army. Zhang Zongchang dispatched a guard platoon to escort four or five of his concubines, along with a pile of gold and silver, northward to Shenyang, alleviating his concerns. With his worries resolved, Zhang Zongchang, leading fewer than one thousand men, was squeezed into the center of the village by several times the number of Japanese troops, while over three thousand of his men were firmly held back by the Japanese army on the outskirts of the village. The two groups were less than five hundred meters apart, yet they were completely separated by the Japanese forces, unable to support each other. The Japanese army had already recognized Zhang Zongchang as a significant target due to the general's uniform he wore; capturing or killing him would lead to the collapse of the Northeast Army's resistance in this area. Several Japanese tanks took turns pressing Zhang Zongchang, forcing him into a small corner of the village, where a single bullet could penetrate.

Zhang Zongchang, with his last ounce of strength, released the safety on the officer's pistol in his hand and aimed it at the encroaching Japanese soldiers, firing without hitting a single one due to excessive blood loss that had begun to blur his vision. With each shot, he counted in his mind—"One shot, two shots, three shots..." When he reached the seventh shot, he thought, "It’s time for me." Zhang Zongchang aimed the pistol at his temple, sighed, and pulled the trigger, firing his last bullet.

Behind the hospital flows the mighty Taizi River, where a narrow concrete bridge spans the water's surface. A dozen or so Northeast military engineers are busily working around the bridge pier, while at this moment, the crowd leaving the hospital is slowly beginning to pass by.

What! Wutō Nobuyoshi, upon hearing the recent combat losses reported by the staff officer, could hardly believe it, almost doubting his own ears. Among them, the Fifth Division's two regiments had a casualty rate as high as 70%, with losses exceeding 6,000 personnel. Wutō Nobuyoshi truly suspected that his subordinates had mistakenly added an extra "0". However, the detailed and specific casualty figures from each unit were laid out before him, and for the first time, a feeling of despair surged within Wutō Nobuyoshi.

Seeing the situation, Long Yunfeng, who was personally supervising the battle upstream, quickly devised a plan. He immediately ordered Fan Yuzhou, the commander of the 485th Regiment of the 101st Division, and all the soldiers of the regiment to drag all the oil barrels from the nearby warehouses and pry them open. Several tons of gasoline, kerosene, and diesel were poured into the water, causing the oil to drift downstream towards the Japanese troops. In an instant, more than half of the river's surface was covered with oil. As the soldiers of the 488th Regiment threw torches into the river, the Taizi River transformed into a hell of fire and water. The flames spread along the floating oil like serpents on the river's surface, and the raging fire burned the Japanese soldiers in the water, leaving their skin charred and flesh rotten, producing heart-wrenching screams. The nauseating smell of burnt flesh spread everywhere with the wind, making one feel sick and want to vomit.

The Japanese soldiers who burst in were initially taken aback when they saw Yang Wei leisurely sitting there smoking. However, their surprise quickly turned to terror as they realized that he was seated on a pile of highly volatile yellow explosives. In an instant, their pupils dilated, revealing expressions of fear. Ultimately, amidst the despair of the Japanese soldiers, the phrase most familiar to Chinese youth in later generations—"Yamete"—was uttered as Yang Wei ignited several dozen kilograms of explosives. A massive fireball shot into the sky, instantly engulfing over one hundred Japanese soldiers crowded inside. Simultaneously, the entire station building collapsed in the explosion.

The fierce battle at the hospital entrance and the increasingly close sounds of artillery made Ma Wenming realize that the Japanese army was approaching the field hospital. Upon receiving the order to retreat, Ma Wenming rushed into the hospital and shouted at the busy doctors, nurses, and civilians who had volunteered to stay and help: "Everyone! The enemy is about to arrive! The higher-ups have ordered that we immediately retreat to the north bank of the Taizi River! Everyone, hurry and make the most of your time!" Under his mobilization, the crowd began to leave the hospital in an orderly yet hurried manner. Lightly injured patients got up to walk on their own or were assisted by civilians in carrying the severely injured. Doctors and nurses also joined this effort. Some doctors and nurses, before leaving, desperately tried to grab as many medicines and surgical supplies as possible to load onto the trucks, knowing that securing more medical supplies at a critical moment could save more lives.

The door of the operating room was violently kicked open, and a blood-soaked Japanese soldier burst in, shouting incoherently as he raised his bayonet to stab Lin Kesheng. While everyone was stunned, the assistant who was handing Lin Kesheng the scalpel let out a cry and bravely lunged forward, stabbing the Japanese soldier in the shoulder, but was simultaneously pierced through by the soldier's bayonet.

Upon learning of the disastrous defeat of the 8th Division, the enraged Mutō Nobuyoshi ordered on the 17th to advance northward "at all costs." The Japanese army took full advantage of the continuous rain that day to launch hundreds of gas shells into the Northeast Army's defensive area, creating a scene of swirling toxic gas, with yellow-green smoke drifting throughout the city. At the same time, the Japanese forces began a frenzied advance northward, engaging the Northeast Army in house-to-house urban combat. Due to Zhang Xueliang's urgent decision to withdraw a reinforced regiment from the city to rescue Wanjia Tun, the troops appeared insufficient in the face of the Japanese attacks, gradually losing ground in the struggle. In order to preserve sufficient combat strength and unable to bear the heavy casualties, Zhang Xueliang decided to abandon the area south of the Taizi River, which accounted for one-third of Liaoyang, and temporarily withdraw his forces to the northern bank.

After Yoshikawa's brain matter splattered, Deputy Battalion Commander Ishikawa Anjin bent down to pick up the command sword, attempting to continue directing the battle. However, another bullet pierced his heart. Behind him, Colonel Miura Tomoyasu, the chief of staff of the 11th Battalion, calmly picked up the command sword with a composed demeanor and military poise, preparing to take over for the battalion commanders. Just as he straightened up, a third sniper bullet shot through his right eye and exited through the back of his head. The three highest commanders of the 11th Battalion fell one after another, causing the surrounding officers to realize that they were not hit by stray bullets but were being assassinated, leading to chaos in their ranks. The remnants of the 11th Battalion, already exhausted, were unable to continue fighting. Upon learning that the backbone of their battalion had been sniped, their morale deflated like a punctured ball. The Japanese 11th Battalion, already disheartened by the Northeast Army, finally "no longer charged forward fearlessly" and began to flee in disarray towards the southern bank. Ultimately, under the fire of the Northeast Army's machine guns, of the 3,800 men who had launched the attack, fewer than 1,500 returned alive, with the rest becoming corpses floating on the surface of the Taizi River.

The Japanese soldiers behind were not intimidated and continued to charge into the hospital. One soldier burst in, howling as he thrust his bayonet towards a Northeast Army wounded soldier lying on a stretcher, covered in bandages.

(Note: Lin Kesheng, a renowned modern Chinese pathologist, studied abroad for many years and received several prestigious international medical awards. After returning to China, he worked at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, making significant contributions to the development of modern medicine in our country, and is honored as the "Father of Modern Pathology in China." - Due to his prominence, he, along with a large number of other expert professors and scholars, was unscrupulously recruited by Zhang Xueliang to Northeast China.)

"Fire!" With the roar of the Japanese army officers, shells from the 75mm infantry guns flew towards the northern bank's bridgehead, catching the Northeast army officers and soldiers off guard. The brave anti-tank gunners also suffered heavy casualties, and the artillery fire significantly slowed down.

Lin Kesheng adjusted his glasses, which were speckled with blood, and said with a calm expression: "Since ancient times, who has not faced death? It is fine if I lose my life here! As a doctor, my mission is to save lives and heal the wounded. How could I stand by and watch those injured soldiers bleed without taking action?"

Seeing this situation, Wang Tiehan, the commander of the 620th Regiment of the 107th Division, raised his arm and shouted: "Brothers! Let’s rescue our Air Force comrades!" The passionate soldiers of the 620th Regiment roared in unison: "Let’s rescue our Air Force comrades!" More than 2,000 men from the entire regiment surged forward towards the opposite bank. The Japanese troops, seeing their fierce advance, did not dare to block their path and allowed the 620th Regiment to charge onto the southern bank, directly crashing into the command room of Mutō Nobuyoshi. Instantly, the senior Japanese commanders were thrown into disarray and hurriedly evacuated under the cover of their guards. Wang Tiehan dispatched a company to locate the crash site of Dong Mingde, pried open the cockpit door, and dragged out Dong Mingde's remains while simultaneously commanding his troops to engage in fierce combat with the Japanese soldiers who had regained their senses and gathered around. At this moment, a portion of the 105th Division also crossed the river, disrupting the Japanese high command structure and causing the frontline Japanese troops to lose their command. The Northeast Army on the northern bank seized the opportunity to push back the Japanese forces to the southern bank. After a fierce battle that lasted until deep into the night, not only were the Japanese completely driven back to the southern bank, but the Northeast Army also captured a quarter of the territory occupied by the Japanese.

The Northeast Army's 5th Independent Cavalry Brigade inflicted such severe damage on the 8th Division that not only did it suffer over half of its infantry regiments as casualties, but its division commander was also killed (his body was ordered to be found and transported back by Wu Song, as Watanabe's corpse was considered valuable and intended for an exhibition). Although there was a moral obligation to avenge the tragic death of the division commander, the 8th Division, now severely weakened, was clearly like a eunuch visiting a brothel—willing but unable. The unexpected death of Major General Watanabe allowed Major General Matsuo of the 8th Division to "benefit" and rise to the position of the highest commander of the division. However, Matsuo, after his promotion, had no time to celebrate his "advancement" as he was directly forced to retreat to Liaoyang after being terrified by the Northeast Army's cavalry brigade, thus alleviating the crisis at Wanjia Tun.

At the age of only 21, Dong Mingde, a pilot of the Northeast Army, found himself in a dire situation while tightly pursuing an enemy aircraft. Unexpectedly, he was struck in the tail by another Japanese plane that emerged from the clouds. As his aircraft began to lose balance and was on the verge of crashing, he glanced at the face of the Japanese pilot who had deliberately flown close to him, wearing a smug smile as he watched Dong's impending downfall. Instead of following the order from Gao Zhihang to parachute to safety, Dong resolutely turned his aircraft and collided with the Japanese plane, both transforming into a fireball as they fell into the control zone of the Japanese forces on the southern bank.

More Japanese troops appeared at the bridgehead, and the yellow of their uniforms quickly overwhelmed the gray figures of the dozen or so Northeast Army engineers. Even a Type 92 tank slowly rolled over the bodies scattered on the ground, attempting to charge across the bridge to the northern bank, followed closely by a dense mass of Japanese soldiers.

Lin Kesheng used the sidearm issued to him by the military to shoot the Japanese soldier, suppressing his tears as he calmly completed the surgery before carrying the wounded soldier away. Just as the group had left, a sharp whistling sound followed, and the operating room was destroyed by several shells.

With a thunderous explosion, Colonel Qingtian's Type 92 tank was blown in two, and the Colonel himself was reduced to a pile of charred remains. This final explosion marked the end of the Japanese army's offensive at Yunhong Bridge. At this moment, several burning Japanese tanks were scattered across the bridge, and the bodies of soldiers from both sides were piled high in a chaotic manner. On the northern bank, the corpses of the Northeast Army soldiers reached a thickness of over two meters, and the blood from the fallen soldiers soaked the entire bridge surface red. The blood then flowed down the bridge piers into the river, staining the piers a deep red. During the Liaoyang Campaign, this bridge changed hands 17 times between the Northeast Army and the Japanese army, with each side seizing it after fierce battles that left mountains of corpses and seas of blood, only to have it taken back by the other side in similar fashion. A Japanese war correspondent captured a panoramic photo of the bridge, which, upon being sent back to Japan, led the Japanese public to exclaim that it was a "Blood Bridge." After the Liaoyang Campaign, the Northeast Army conducted a thorough statistical analysis, revealing that on this 177.5-meter-long bridge, a total of 875 soldiers from both sides had perished, and 19 Japanese tanks had been destroyed. The bridge also earned another title—"The Graveyard of the Japanese 3rd Tank Battalion."

Zhang Zongchang, having hung up the phone, turned to face the Shandong soldiers closely following him and shouted: "Brothers! In the past, I led you to fight among ourselves, all just infighting among our own Chinese people, and the common folk looked down on us! Now we are fighting against the Japanese devils, we must fight with all our might! Brothers! Although we are in the Northeast, our roots are in Shandong! No one is allowed to be cowardly or afraid of death; do not bring shame to our elders and fellow countrymen in Shandong!" Brothers! Although we are in the Northeast, our roots are in Shandong! No one is allowed to be cowardly or afraid of death; do not bring shame to our elders and fellow countrymen in Shandong!

The elite soldiers of the 491st Regiment, responsible for guarding the bridge, shouted hoarsely, "Japanese tanks!"

Although the hospital has begun to evacuate, a steady stream of wounded soldiers continues to be brought in. "Doctor! Doctor! Help! His intestines are out!" "Doctor! Hurry! His leg has been blown off!" Groups of Northeast Army soldiers staggered in, carrying their severely injured comrades and desperately calling for doctors. Ma Wenming stepped forward and shouted, "The hospital has started to evacuate to the north bank! We cannot accept any more wounded! Hurry and take them to the north bank!" The soldiers' faces showed despair, and those covered in smoke and blood began to cry out in anguish. Some even knelt down and continued to plead, "He killed five enemy soldiers! He can't die!" "Doctor, please save him!" Standing beside Ma Wenming, the hospital director Lin Kesheng could not bear to watch and said, "Quickly take them to the operating room! I will perform surgery on them immediately." Upon hearing this, the soldiers rejoiced and rushed toward the operating room. Ma Wenming was astonished and said, "Director Lin! The enemy's elite troops have already reached the hospital entrance, and their main force will arrive soon. My men won't be able to hold out! If the enemy breaks in, you will be in danger!"

At that time, the head flew out about five or six meters, rolling on the ground, covered in mud and blood, making it difficult for me to distinguish whether it was Watanabe Yodetaro. After I managed to wash it off, I could see it was an old foreigner in his fifties or sixties with a beard. Although he wasn't wearing a military uniform, I estimated he must have been a high-ranking official. I planned to take him back to report to the brigade commander, only then would I know I had hit the jackpot. During an interview with a war correspondent from the Northeast Army Newspaper, Cui Guoxing, who had already been promoted to second lieutenant squad leader, was holding a check for two thousand yuan from the Northeast Agricultural Bank of China, unable to contain his smile. This heroic cavalryman was clearly still immersed in the joy of his unexpected windfall.

As the troops were still unable to break through the Northeast Army's defensive line, the furious Mutō Nobuyoshi once again committed a battalion of forces to the attack and ordered the air force to provide support. On the northern bank, the soldiers of the Northeast Army directly dragged the frozen, stiff corpses to use as makeshift fortifications for cover, and immediately the Northeast Army found itself in a bitter struggle. At the same time, the buzzing sound of engines echoed from the clouds above, as the Japanese air force arrived to join the assault. Twenty-four Japanese bombers and attack aircraft swooped down low, almost brushing against the heads of the Northeast Army soldiers, unleashing a barrage of gunfire and bombs. The Northeast Army's anti-aircraft positions, equipped with 13mm machine guns, desperately fired at the sky. One Japanese aircraft, flying too low, was hit by several bullets that pierced its engine, causing it to crash into a building. In an instant, the balance of the battlefield sharply tilted in favor of the Japanese forces. The Northeast Army's anti-aircraft positions, equipped with 13mm machine guns, desperately fired at the sky. One Japanese aircraft, flying too low, was hit by several bullets that pierced its engine, causing it to crash into a building. In an instant, the balance of the battlefield sharply tilted in favor of the Japanese forces.

In fact, Cui Guoxing was too embarrassed to tell the reporters that what he used to "wash Watanabe's head clean" was actually a puddle of his own urine. Cui Guoxing thought to himself: Where could I find water in the woods at that time? After death, being subjected to such humiliation as having urine poured over his head, General Watanabe's last thought was: If I had known, I would not have gone to view the corpse of that Northeast Army general; now I am to become a corpse for the Northeast Army to see.

During the fierce battle, a small group of Japanese soldiers infiltrated the outskirts of the hospital. Although they did not understand the Chinese language, the large "Red Cross" emblem clearly indicated that this was a hospital of the Northeast Army. Imagining the large number of defenseless wounded soldiers, doctors, and nurses inside whom they could brutally slaughter, the bloodthirsty instincts within the Japanese soldiers began to stir restlessly. Each of them howled and attempted to rush inside. A machine gun squad from the Third Battalion, guarding the hospital entrance, mercilessly shot them down one by one in front of the hospital. Several skilled marksmen were assigned by Ma Wenming to the upper floors of the hospital to act as observers and snipers. They clearly saw where the Japanese soldiers were hiding and used their rifles to pick them off. The wounded Japanese squad had no choice but to temporarily retreat, continuing to linger around the hospital, like a vicious wolf that had bitten into a hedgehog—painfully pricked but unwilling to leave.

Upon receiving the reward of the silver dollar, the cavalrymen were instantly invigorated, each one charging forward once more to reap the Japanese soldiers' heads, each representing a gleaming silver dollar

With a kick, Colonel Qingtian sent the head of the tank commander, who had been paralyzed by fear, flying. He personally drove an 89-type tank, charging across the bridge towards the fierce gunfire of the Northeast Army. At this moment, the bridge was densely covered with the bodies of fallen soldiers from both sides. The 13-ton tank driven by Colonel Qingtian slowly crushed its way over the corpses, turning its entire track bloodied, with large chunks of flesh and entrails wedged between the steel gaps. The horrifying sound of cracking bones echoed along the way, accompanied by the anguished cries of soldiers who were not yet dead, being crushed alive. As Colonel Qingtian finally reached the opposite bank, a dazed anti-tank soldier from the 101st Division, awakened by the immense pain in his legs from being run over by Qingtian's tank, summoned his last strength to press an anti-tank grenade against the side armor of the 92-type tank.

Attention all! Bring the injured brothers and quickly retreat through the tunnel!" Yang Wei, having confirmed that the signalman was not joking at the risk of being shot, promptly ordered the entire regiment to retreat. Upon hearing the command, the already exhausted officers and soldiers immediately felt invigorated, lifting their injured comrades and streaming into the underground tunnel excavated by the 105th Division to leave.

Zhang Xueliang heard the dense sound of gunfire crackling from the other end of the phone, realizing that Zhang Zongchang had reached a desperate moment with no way out. This old warlord, whom he usually looked down upon, was unexpectedly fighting fiercely and fearlessly against the Japanese troops. A surge of respect and guilt suddenly welled up in Zhang Xueliang's heart, and he quickly comforted him, saying: "Commander Zhang! Hold on! If you can last another hour, reinforcements will arrive!"

The devastating defeat of the 11th Brigade left the remaining troops of the attacking 5th Division unable to continue fighting, and the heavily casualties Japanese forces finally abandoned their assault on the northern bank. At this point, the Northeast Army was also exhausted from the battle, with two divisions left in tatters. Both sides were busy licking their wounds and preparing to gather strength for further confrontation