Spy Wars: I am the Captain of the Military Police

Chapter 929 In my next life, I'll still be Chinese!

Wang Yaowu took one last look at the Japanese troops outside the city who were about to launch a new attack, then turned and went downstairs.

He knew that this decision would bring him eternal infamy, but at this moment, he had no other choice.

"Blow up the Qinhuai River embankment? Division Commander, what... what about the houses downstream?" When the engineering battalion commander Xu Peng heard the order, he could hardly believe his ears.

His dark face was filled with shock, and his fingers unconsciously clenched his military cap.

Wang Yaowu's expression was grave as he paced in front of the map at the temporary command post: "There are about six thousand residents in the low-lying areas of the city. Some have already been evacuated, but there isn't enough time. At least three thousand people are still trapped there."

The chief of staff added, "The flood will delay the Japanese advance by two to three days, giving us time to wait for reinforcements."

At the same time, the flooded areas could negate the Japanese tank advantage, making their heavy equipment unable to move an inch in the mud.

"But what about the civilians who didn't have time to evacuate..." Xu Peng's voice was hoarse.

Wang Yaowu turned around abruptly, his eyes bloodshot: "Battalion Commander Xu, after the Japanese army breaks into the city, how do you think they will treat the people of Nanjing? We have already witnessed their 'Bushido' spirit in Shanghai!"

The command post was silent, save for the distant roar of artillery fire.

Wang Yaowu lowered his voice: "I will take responsibility for this decision. You just need to answer me: can the engineering battalion complete the demolition preparations within four hours?"

Xu Peng straightened his back and swallowed hard: "Yes, but it would require at least three tons of explosives, and... and if the floodwaters breach the banks, we ourselves could also be submerged."

"Then it's settled. Detonate at 3:00 PM sharp." Wang Yaowu's voice left no room for doubt. "At the same time, take some men to survey the sewer system and see if we can set up anti-tank explosive points."

Xu Peng saluted and took his leave, tears glistening in the corners of his eyes as he turned away.

He was a native of Nanjing and knew that the low-lying area around Shuiximen was where the poorest people in the city lived, and his aunt's family lived there.

. . . . . . . . . .

On the banks of the Qinhuai River, a biting north wind howled. Xu Peng led his engineering company to plant explosives on the riverbank, while the sounds of gunfire and aircraft roared in the distance.

Corporal Li Afu leaned over and said, "Battalion Commander, my mother and sister are still in Xiawan District. Could I go back and inform them?"

Xu Peng felt as if his heart was being torn apart, but he could only harden his heart and answer: "The division headquarters has already sent people to organize the evacuation. We must maintain radio silence and not let the news leak out. Follow the orders."

Li Afu hesitated, then finally slammed the shovel into the soil.

At 2:40 p.m., the explosives were successfully deployed.

Wang Yaowu was standing at the window, staring blankly at the low houses in the distance.

"Commander, the demolition is ready, but... could you give us another half hour? I see some people are still evacuating to higher ground," Xu Peng said in a final attempt.

Wang Yaowu glanced at his pocket watch and shook his head: "The Japanese army will launch a general offensive soon, we don't have time."

Just then, a communications soldier rushed in: "Report! The 301st Regiment's defense line has been breached, and the vanguard of the Japanese army is approaching Shuixi Gate!"

Wang Yaowu closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then suddenly opened them: "Detonate!"

Xu Peng picked up the detonator with trembling hands and looked towards the riverbank one last time.

There were familiar streets and alleys, the riverbank where he played as a child, and countless innocent lives.

“Execute the order, Battalion Commander.” Wang Yaowu’s voice was unusually calm.

Xu Peng pressed the detonator.

First came a brief silence, then a muffled explosion in the distance, followed by an even louder roar—the riverbank had been blown open!

The turbid waters of the Qinhuai River rushed towards the low-lying areas like a wild horse, with a force exceeding expectations. Areas that were originally expected to be submerged in two hours were already flooded in less than twenty minutes.

Xu Peng stood on the city wall, his binoculars revealing a chaotic scene.

The vanguard of the Japanese army was indeed scattered by the flood.

But he also saw that houses in low-lying areas were quickly flooded, and the rooftops were crowded with people who had not had time to evacuate.

The floodwaters glowed blood red in the setting sun, and Japanese military equipment, corpses, and occasionally civilians' belongings, and even animal carcasses floated on the surface.

Night fell, but the battle did not stop.

Xu Peng led his engineering company forward in the darkness; their mission was to plant explosives in the streets.

"Battalion Commander, it's too dangerous. We could be discovered by the Japanese at any moment," Li Afu said worriedly.

Xu Peng inspected a manhole cover: "Japanese tanks will definitely avoid areas with deep water and take the streets with higher elevations. We need to plant explosives on these streets."

After working for several hours, the engineers finally completed setting up the blasting points.

It was late at night when they dragged their exhausted bodies back to the command post.

As expected, in the early hours of the morning, the Japanese tanks advanced along the high ground and streets.

Xu Peng squatted at the observation point, holding the detonator, his heart pounding.

The first Japanese tank slowly drove by... The second... The third...

The detonator in Xu Peng's hand was pressed.

The deafening explosions destroyed three Japanese tanks, one of which overturned and blocked the entire street.

The subsequent tanks were unable to advance, and the Japanese offensive stalled.

Even more shockingly, when the Japanese crew members inside the overturned tank tried to climb out, civilians from nearby buildings suddenly rushed out and killed them with rudimentary weapons such as kitchen knives and iron bars.

An old man shouted, "Avenge my son who died in Shanghai!" and frantically slashed at the Japanese driver.

"Civilians should not participate in the war!" Xu Peng exclaimed, but it was too late. The Japanese follow-up troops began indiscriminately firing on civilian areas.

By the next morning, the floodwaters had submerged most of the western part of the city.

Japanese engineers are working hard to build pontoon bridges in an attempt to resume the offensive. The defending troops are running out of ammunition, and reinforcements have yet to arrive.

Wang Yaowu convened an emergency meeting at the command post; the atmosphere was somber.

"Commander, we're almost out of bullets." The commander of the 301st Regiment reported: "The Japanese pontoon bridge will be completed in two hours, and then we won't be able to stop them."

At that moment, a medic carried a stretcher past, on which was Sergeant Zhang Yonghua of the 301st Regiment. He had been shot in the abdomen and was on the verge of death.

"Commander," Zhang Yonghua said weakly, "We wounded soldiers have discussed it and decided to give each of us ten hand grenades to destroy the Japanese pontoon bridge."

Wang Yaowu exclaimed in shock: "Nonsense! You have already given your lives for the country; now you should receive treatment!"

Zhang Yonghua struggled to sit up: "We're all going to die anyway, so let's make our deaths meaningful. You know what will happen to the wounded soldiers and civilians after the Japanese army breaks into the city."

The command post was completely silent, save for the distant noise of Japanese engineers working on the site.

Wang Yaowu's eyes welled up with tears, and he finally nodded heavily.

At noon, more than 30 seriously wounded soldiers, each with more than ten grenades strapped to their bodies, came to the riverbank with the help of their comrades.

The Japanese army has completed most of the pontoon bridge, and engineers are reinforcing the piers.

Zhang Yonghua was pale, and excessive blood loss had almost made him faint, but he forced himself to say, "Brothers, in the next life, I still want to be Chinese!"