Republic of China: German-equipped divisions massacred as warlords guarded the nation's borders

Chapter 148 Fierce Battle in Xiamen

December 28, 1925, morning.

Outside Xiamen city, the sound of cannons boomed.

Yang Yanzhao stood on the armored vehicle, looking at the defensive fortifications of Xiamen through binoculars.

"Good heavens." Yang Yanzhao put down his binoculars and said to the chief of staff beside him, "Zhou Qinian's defenses are even stronger than we expected. There are three lines of defense outside Xiamen, each line is full of trenches and barbed wire."

The chief of staff nodded: "General, Zhou Qinian has deployed all his remaining troops here. Our intelligence indicates that there are approximately 20,000 defenders and 100 artillery pieces in Xiamen."

Yang Yanzhao sneered: "Twenty thousand garrison troops? One hundred artillery pieces? With that, you think you can stop my armored forces?"

He turned and waved to the troops behind him: "All troops, listen up! Armored units lead the way, infantry follow! Charge!"

More than a dozen armored vehicles roared forward, followed closely by German-equipped soldiers.

When the garrison outside Xiamen saw the armored vehicles charging towards them, they immediately opened fire.

"Fire! Fire!" the garrison commander shouted.

Machine gun and artillery shells rained down around the armored vehicle, kicking up dirt and gravel.

But the armored vehicles did not slow down at all and continued to charge forward.

"General, the enemy's firepower is very strong!" the chief of staff said.

Yang Yanzhao sneered: "Let them fire. Let's see if their shells can penetrate our armor!"

The armored vehicle rushed to the first line of defense, and the machine gunners began firing.

German-equipped soldiers also rushed up, using MG34 machine guns to suppress enemy fire.

The defending troops suffered heavy casualties, and the first line of defense was quickly breached.

"General, the first line of defense has been breached!" the chief of staff exclaimed excitedly.

Yang Yanzhao nodded: "Keep moving forward! Don't give them a chance to catch their breath!"

The armored forces continued to advance and soon reached the second line of defense.

The defenders of the second line of defense were even more tenacious than those of the first, launching fierce attacks with heavy machine guns and mortars.

"General, the enemy's firepower is too intense!" the chief of staff said. "Although our armored vehicles are sturdy, we can't keep taking shells indefinitely."

Yang Yanzhao looked at the defensive line ahead and sneered, "Then let's bombard them with our heavy artillery!"

He turned and waved to the artillery units: "Divisional artillery regiment, listen up! Bomb them! Bomb their lines to pieces!"

Dozens of 105mm howitzers began to bombard the area.

The shells landed on the second line of defense, and the explosions were deafening.

The defending troops' positions were bombed to pieces, and their casualties were even more severe.

"General, the enemy's defenses have been breached!" the chief of staff said.

Yang Yanzhao waved his hand: "Armored units, charge forward!"

The armored forces broke through the second line of defense and advanced directly towards the city of Xiamen.

The garrison in Xiamen began to panic as the armored forces approached.

"Commander!" An adjutant rushed into the command post inside Xiamen City. "The Chen family army's armored forces have broken through the second line of defense and are advancing towards Xiamen City!"

Zhou Qinian's expression changed: "What? So fast?"

The adjutant said, "Commander, our defenders can't stop their armored vehicles at all! They're fully equipped with German weaponry, and they have armored vehicles and a heavy artillery regiment. They're simply too powerful!"

Zhou Qinian gritted his teeth: "Then hold your ground! Anyone who dares to back down will be shot!"

The adjutant said, "Commander, our garrison has suffered more than half its casualties. If this continues, Xiamen will fall!"

Zhou Qinian's face turned ashen: "Damn it! How come Chen Zijun's equipment is so strong?"

Just then, the sound of cannons came from the sea.

Zhou Qinian's eyes lit up: "It's the Japanese fleet! They've come to our aid!"

Outside Xiamen, Yang Yanzhao also heard the sound of cannons at sea.

"Commander!" The chief of staff's expression changed. "It's the Japanese fleet! They're shelling our positions!"

Yang Yanzhao's face darkened: "The Japanese fleet arrived very quickly."

Shells landed on Chen's army's positions, and explosions echoed one after another.

"Commander, our armored vehicles have been hit by shells from the Japanese fleet!" the chief of staff said.

Yang Yanzhao gritted his teeth: "Damn those Japanese! How dare they bombard us from the sea!"

He turned to the communications officer and said, "Report to the Young Marshal immediately! The Japanese fleet has arrived off the coast of Xiamen and is shelling our positions!"

The communications soldier nodded: "Yes, sir!"

Shanghai, Chen Mansion.

Chen Zijun's face darkened after receiving Yang Yanzhao's telegram.

"The Japanese fleet actually dared to intervene directly." Chen Zijun sneered. "It seems they really want to protect Zhou Qinian."

Moranzhi stood aside and said, "Young Marshal, the Japanese fleet has three cruisers and five destroyers. Although they are all old-fashioned warships, their land-attack firepower is still very strong. Our armored forces will probably have difficulties under the dual pressure from the sea and land."

Chen Zijun sneered: "Then let them taste our submarine force!"

He turned to Moran and said, "Immediately order Hans' submarine force; they're already off the coast of Xiamen! Attack the Japanese fleet directly!"

Mo Lanzhi nodded: "Yes!"

Outside Xiamen, the bombardment from the Japanese fleet grew increasingly fierce.

"General, our casualties are rising!" the chief of staff said. "If this continues, our offensive will be disrupted!"

Yang Yanzhao gritted his teeth: "Tell the soldiers not to be afraid of the Japanese fleet's shelling! Our armored vehicles are sturdy enough! Continue the attack!"

Just then, an explosion was heard on the sea.

Yang Yanzhao looked up and saw that a destroyer of the Japanese fleet had been hit by a torpedo, exploded and caught fire.

"General!" the chief of staff exclaimed excitedly, "It's our submarine force! They've attacked the Japanese fleet!"

Yang Yanzhao's eyes lit up: "Great! The young marshal's submarine force has arrived!"

The Japanese fleet was suddenly attacked by submarines, and was thrown into chaos.

"A submarine! It's a submarine!" the Japanese fleet commander shouted. "Take evasive action immediately! Take evasive action immediately!"

But it was too late; another destroyer was hit by a torpedo.

The Japanese fleet hastily retreated and ceased bombarding the area outside Xiamen.

Seeing the Japanese fleet retreat, Yang Yanzhao sneered, "The Japanese are nothing special!"

He turned and waved to his troops: "All troops, listen up! The Japanese fleet has retreated! Continue the attack! Take Xiamen!"

The armored forces continued their advance and soon arrived at the outskirts of Xiamen.

The morale of the defenders in Xiamen was greatly dampened when they saw the Japanese fleet retreat.

"Commander!" The adjutant rushed into the command post. "The Japanese fleet was repelled by Chen's submarine force and has retreated!"

Zhou Qinian's expression changed: "What? A submarine force? How could Chen Zijun have a submarine force?"

The adjutant said, "Commander, the morale of our garrison has collapsed. If this continues, Xiamen will fall!"

Zhou Qinian gritted his teeth: "Damn it! How can Chen Zijun be so strong?"

He looked out the window and saw that Chen Jiajun's armored forces were approaching the city of Xiamen.

"Commander, what should we do?" the adjutant asked.

Zhou Qinian gritted his teeth: "Retreat! We'll retreat to the sea!"

The adjutant said, "Commander, the Japanese fleet has already retreated. Where do we retreat to?"

Zhou Qinian said, "Although the Japanese fleet has retreated, it is still nearby. We will go out to sea by boat, and they will come to our aid."

The adjutant nodded: "Yes, sir!"

Zhou Qinian led his remaining troops out to sea from Xiamen port by ship.

Yang Yanzhao led his armored forces into Xiamen, and the city's defenders surrendered one after another.

"General, Xiamen has been captured!" the chief of staff exclaimed excitedly.

Yang Yanzhao nodded: "Alright! Report to the young marshal immediately!"

Outside Xiamen, shortly after Zhou Qinian's ships set sail, the Japanese fleet appeared on the sea.

"Commander, the Japanese fleet is here!" the adjutant said.

Zhou Qinian breathed a sigh of relief: "Good! The Japanese are still loyal."

The Japanese fleet picked up Zhou Qinian's ship and sailed towards Taiwan.

Shanghai, Chen Mansion.

After receiving Yang Yanzhao's telegram, Chen Zijun sneered: "Zhou Qinian has fled to Taiwan."

Mo Lanzhi stood aside and said, "Young Marshal, although Zhou Qinian has escaped, Fujian has been basically unified."

Chen Zijun nodded: "With Fujian unified, the next target will be Chiang Kai-shek's Northern Expeditionary Army."

Just then, an intelligence officer rushed in.

"Young Marshal!" the intelligence officer said. "Intelligence! Chiang Kai-shek's Northern Expeditionary Army has crossed the Jiangxi border, preparing to recapture Jiangxi, and also plans to advance towards Zhejiang!"

Chen Zijun sneered: "Chiang Kai-shek, he actually dared to come..."