Historically Precise Intelligence Report Translation:

　　May 20, 1938—twenty-four hours after Japs seized Xuzhou—Chiang Kai-shek's Military Commission scooped Shanghai intel:

　　" Three Jap thrusts likely toward Wuhan:

　　1. North China Army南下 south from Xinyang

　　2. Central China Army西进 west through Liu'an & Anqing

　　3. Navy steaming river-upstream"

　　May 28—fresh intercepts crackled in:

　　" Japs give NO GROUND-BREATH post-Xuzhou. Navy already BOMBARDING our coastal forts. Shanghai Expeditionary Force docks at Wuhan within a fortnight. "

　　May 29—Tianjin intel hit desks (scooped from Jap spy dens). How? Spook games between KMT, Reds, and Japs unfold later. Core take:

　　"Japs painting Wuhan red. Outer encirclement ops imminent."

　　Meanwhile, 1st War Zone collapsed in East Henan. By June 1, Chiang convened Wuhan’s top brass. Verdict:

　　Henan defenders retreat west to mountains

　　Secret order: BREAK HUAYUANKOU DIKES—flood barrier against Jap westward push

　　Wuhan defense plotted in war rooms

　　June 6: Chiang yanked Hsueh Yueh as 1st War Zone frontline commander, slapped him with Wuhan Garrison Command.

　　Mid-June: Japs choked in Yellow River flood zone (man-made).

　　Xuzhou Campaign’s dust settled:

　　Cheng Qian’s 1st Zone forces hunkered west of Xinyang, Henan

　　Li Tsung-jen’s 5th Zone bled back to Dabie Mountains (Hubei-Henan-Anhui border)

　　Ku Chu-tung’s 3rd Zone dug in along Yangtze’s south bank below Jiujiang

　　The Nationalist Military Commission restructured combat zones amid shifting tides of war, establishing the Ninth War Zone to bolster command. Chen Cheng took helm as Commander-in-Chief (concurrently leading Wuhan Garrison), directing two armies:

　　1st Army Group: Yangtze’s southern bank defense

　　2nd Army Group: Northern bank operations

　　Both zones shared a boundary snaking along the Yangtze—yet Wuxue, Tianjiazhen forts & Wuhan Garrison fell under Chen’s iron grip.

　　Per Chiang’s Wuhan defense mandate, both zones deployed per terrain and enemy intel:

　　Ninth War Zone:

　　1st Army Group:

　　Blockade De’an-Nanchang Railway & Poyang Lake’s west shore

　　Thwart Jap assaults on Nanchang/Changsha flanking attempts

　　2nd Army Group:

　　Hold De’an-Jiujiang & Tianjiazhen riverfronts

　　Barricade westward pushes toward Yueyang

　　Elite units massed in: Wuning, Tongshan, Xianning (rapid-reaction reserves)

　　June 18: Jap riverine forces + 106th Division seized Digang, spearheading upriver toward Madang. Wuhan’s outer defenses ignited.

　　June 22: Zhou Zhidao’s recruit battalion collided with 106th’s scout squad. Once engaged, the squad radioed nearby companies. Captain Kawayami first called reconnaissance air strikes. After bombers withdrew, he used the squad as live bait—luring Chinese troops into a kill zone.

　　The Jap lieutenant San-Shao shot in the rocks was Captain Kawayami. His troops fought fiercely without commander—a well-trained unit.

　　Japs saw through Yaoting's plan. They ignored harassment, only one soldier turned to shoot Zhang Facai. Zhang couldn't stand to throw grenades. Only threw one.

　　Yaoting faced same pressure. One Jap soldier pinned him down.

　　"San-Shao! GODDAMN YOU! KILL THAT JAP IN FRONT!"

　　San-Shao rolled to Yaoting—BANG!

　　Bullet hit the ditch Jap's forehead. Dead.

　　Yaoting threw grenade. BOOM! Three Japs blown up. Limbs flew in air, fell broken.

　　"DEAD! YOUNG MASTER!" San-Shao yelled.

　　Yaoting saw Zhang crouched in ditch, immobile.

　　"Help Zhang! A Jap gun pins him down!"

　　San-Shao: "Young Master! Rifle empty—no fucking bullets! Going over useless!"

　　Yaoting fell silent. No bullets meant suicide.

　　Inside the encirclement, Zhou Zhidao’s troops charged left and right—trapped. Japs resisted fiercely. Ammo nearly gone. Capture loomed. Zhou ordered: "BAYONETS! NOW!"

　　After fierce combat:

　　Zhou’s battalion: 120 dead (230 starters)

　　Jap force: 180 max (company + squad)

　　Jap marksmanship murdered most Chinese troops.

　　Twenty minutes later—Zhou’s men completely ammo-less. Yaoting and San-Shao watched Japs stand, rifles ready, walking toward Zhou.

　　Zhou waved his broadsword: "Brothers! Die for China! No bullets? Kill with blades! Kill one—break even. Kill two—profit! KILL!" He charged.

　　A Jap fired at Zhou’s chest. Platoon Leader Li Gang jumped in front—bullet through heart. Dead instantly.

　　Troops roared, charging Japs. Japs fired but finally entered bayonet combat. Bloodbath unfolded before the trio.

　　San-Shao saw:

　　Jap bayonets flash like silver. New recruits died fast—bayonets through chests.

　　Veterans lasted longer but still fell.

　　In five minutes—over fifty Chinese dead. Survivors: only those matching Jap skill.

　　Including: Deputy Commander Zhang Degang, Platoon Leader Zhong Fang.

　　Seeing Li Gang die for him, Zhou’s eyes turned blood-red. He charged, broadsword hacking off a aiming Jap’s head. Head rolled. Blood sprayed from neck. Body collapsed.

　　Zhang Degang’s face twisted. Scar given by Japs. He fought with pure hate—broadsword in hand. Other troops used bayonets. No match for Japs. Most died in seconds under Arisaka bayonets.

　　The trio trembled uncontrollably, staring at the slaughter.

　　Thirty minutes later:

　　Chinese survivors: Zhou, Zhang Degang, Zhong Fang + ten vets.

　　Japs: 50 dead from Chinese bayonets. 60+ still surrounding them.

　　Zhou Zhidao stood wind-bitten, broadsword dripping blood. Zhang Degang’s blade smeared crimson. Zhong Fang’s bayonet gleamed dark red. Zhou roared: "Brothers! FIGHT!"

　　Sixty Japs bayonet-charged. Ten minutes of carnage later—only Zhou, Zhang, Zhong still standing.

　　Yaoting lunged forward. San-Shao locked arms around him. "GODDAMN YOU—LET GO!" Yaoting thrashed.

　　"Young Master! Release you—we die!" San-Shao wept.

　　Yaoting watched, helpless:

　　Zhou, Zhang, Zhong fighting

　　Blades drooping from exhaustion

　　Bayonets plunging into their chests

　　"Go! Before Japs spot us!" Zhang Facai hissed.

　　San-Shao heaved Yaoting onto his shoulders. Ran blindly after Zhang. One hour later: Zhang halted. San-Shao dropped Yaoting.

　　SLAP!

　　"COWARD! YOU FUCKING DESERTER!"

　　San-Shao winced. "Young Master... your mother birthed us both. Don't curse her."

　　Yaoting kicked him. "GUTLESS!"

　　"So?" San-Shao muttered. "Saved you—don't give a fuck about brave or coward."

　　Yaoting sat heavily, tears streaming down his face as he cursed: "Those JAP DEVILS! 250 of us—wiped out! FUCKING DISGRACE!"

　　Zhang Facai stared coldly. "Nanjing Defense—THAT was China’s disgrace. This was fucking nothing."

　　"You fought at Nanjing?"

　　"153rd Brigade, 305th Regiment. Commander Zhang Lingfu—Major General now."

　　Respect softened Yaoting’s voice: "Senior... tell us about Nanjing. Was it... like this?"

　　Zhang’s chin lifted: "Worse. Much worse."