Chapter 27: The Battle of Lubaichang and the Third Crossing of the Chishui River

March 15, 1935. The air in northern Guizhou was thick with the acrid stench of gunpowder and an atmosphere of grim resolve. The main force of the Central Red Army had thrust its spearhead toward Lubanchang in Renhuai, intending to encircle and annihilate the Central Army’s Zhou Hunyuan division entrenched there, and to crush this vicious hound that had been relentlessly snapping at their heels. The Red Fifth Army Corps, that "Iron-Blooded Rearguard" blade, was ordered to launch a fierce assault from the southeast against the core barrier of the southern flank of Lubanchang—Sanyuan Cave.

The roar of gunfire echoed through the mountains from dawn until afternoon, numbing the senses. The 37th, 38th, and 39th Regiments of the Fifth Corps—three main units known for their tenacity—launched wave after wave of desperate attacks against the defenders of Sanyuan Cave. Braving a dense hail of bullets, the soldiers used their own bodies to tear through the peripheral barbed wire and blast apart improvised bunkers, pushing the front line to the very edge of the enemy's core positions. However, the sight that met the eyes of the succeeding waves caused their hearts to sink.

Utilizing the rugged terrain, the enemy had constructed dozens of sturdy bunkers at Sanyuan Cave. These reinforced concrete and masonry monsters were built with cunningly placed firing slits, creating a crossfire network that formed a web of death. The Sichuan troops (of which Zhou Hunyuan’s force was largely comprised) hunkered down within, weaving curtains of lethal fire with Maxim heavy machine guns and mortars. The heroic charges of the Red Army soldiers were shattered time and again against the unyielding cold steel and concrete, and the hail of bullets. On the slopes, the number of figures in grey uniforms grew, their blood soaking the soil of early spring.

"Army Corps Commander! The battalion commander of the 38th Regiment has fallen! The entire Third Company of the 39th is wiped out! The enemy's bunker fire is too intense; we simply cannot break through! The casualties... the casualties are too high!" The communications officer’s voice, choked with tears and suppressed rage, delivered the blood-stained report to Dong Zhentang.

Standing on the high ground of the temporary command post, Dong Zhentang watched the carnage unfolding before Sanyuan Cave through his binoculars. His lips were pressed into a thin line, his jaw set like the edge of a blade. Three main regiments had launched successive assaults and paid a heavy price, yet they had only managed to chip away at the enemy's outer perimeter. The core bunker cluster stood like a monolith, spitting lethal flames. Time was slipping away; every minute of stalemate meant more lives lost and gave Zhou Hunyuan more time to reinforce his defenses and await reinforcements.

"We cannot keep gnawing at this hard bone! Send in Wang Lin!" Dong Zhentang suddenly lowered his binoculars, a flash of pain in his eyes quickly replaced by iron determination. He took a deep breath, as if inhaling all the smoke and heaviness of the battlefield, then exhaled with a decisive, hammer-on-anvil finality:

"Order! The Independent Regiment! Wang Lin! Take over the attack position immediately! Objective—the Sanyuan Cave core bunker cluster! Smash it open for me! Let’s see if his heavy firepower can crack this turtle shell!"

The order, like a spark-tipped arrow, flew toward the area where the Independent Regiment stood in reserve.

Just moments before, Wang Lin had been lying on a concealed ridge some distance from the main attack, his Zeiss binoculars (captured at Qinkou) locked firmly on Sanyuan Cave. On the 3D map in his mind, the deep blue dots representing the enemy were densely huddled within those sturdy bunkers, while the red dots of his own comrades flickered and died before the cluster—each flicker representing the fall or grievous wounding of a soldier.

"Damn it... is this Zhou Hunyuan a turtle? How did he build so many hard shells?" Wang Lin cursed under his breath, his brow furrowed. Through his lens, Red Army mortar shells slammed into the bunker tops, raising only clouds of dust and stone, having almost no effect on the thick structures. Heavy machine-gun fire sparked against the edges of the firing slits but failed to silence the tongues of flame within. Traditional fire suppression was proving useless against such permanent fortifications.

What to do? A frontal assault? That was no different from suicide. Artillery? Even with the regiment’s ten 82mm mortars and Liu Gensheng’s uncanny gunnery, they couldn't chew through this. Wang Lin’s brain raced at unprecedented speed. Tactical plans flashed through his mind, only to be quickly rejected by the system’s "Tactical Simulation Analysis," most showing success rates below 30% and accompanied by a glaring "High Casualty Warning."

In the heat of his anxiety, his eyes swept over an area at the foot of the hill behind Sanyuan Cave—the Renhuai distilleries. Several large distilleries stood there, chimneys towering high. What caught his attention wasn't the distilleries themselves, but the large metal pipes stacked outside! They were distillation cooling devices, thick iron pipes slightly smaller than gasoline drums, but with thick, exceptionally sturdy walls.

A vague idea, like lightning in the dark, struck Wang Lin! Gasoline drum catapults! The improvised weapon known in later times as the "Heartless Cannon"! The massive blast wave would be the perfect counter to such bunkers! Even if they didn't collapse, the shock alone could kill or stun those inside!

"Gasoline drums... gasoline drums..." Wang Lin muttered, his eyes suddenly lighting up. "No gasoline drums... but these big iron pipes—might they work?!" He immediately focused his mind, activating the system's "Tactical Simulation Analysis."

[Tactical Deduction: Modify large iron pipes (distillery cooling pipes) as improvised launchers to fire large explosive charges at bunkers.]

Feasibility: Materials readily available (nearby distilleries); structure sturdy (thick-walled iron pipes); principle viable (seal one end, use propellant to expand gas and propel the charge).

Power Projection: Launch 10-20kg explosive charges to a range of 100-200 meters. The blast wave effect on personnel inside bunkers is significant (asphyxiation, concussive injury); potential for structural damage/collapse.

Risks: Poor accuracy (requires close-range firing); short range (high exposure risk); dangerous operation (risk of tube rupture or premature detonation); high requirements for firing positions (must be firmly dug in).

Success Evaluation (against bunkers): 70% (successful destruction/neutralization of bunkers)! [High-Energy Warning: Improper operation carries a risk of significant casualties! Requires rigorous training and protection!]

System Suggestion (Tactical Advisor Mode): Feasible! But requires crash-course training, select gunners, reinforce the launch tubes (external iron banding), dig deep shelters, and fire multiple tubes simultaneously to saturate the target!

"It's a go!" Wang Lin was ecstatic, slapping his thigh. "That’s it! Our 'Iron-Pipe Thunder'!"

He turned immediately, his speech rapid-fire: "Zhang Hongtu! Take the Reconnaissance Company to the distilleries! Find the manager—whether you buy them or 'requisition' them, get me those thick distillation cooling pipes! Get as many as you can! Move fast! Zhong Guangbang! Take the Engineer Platoon, find tools—saws, sledgehammers, iron bands! Prepare to modify them! Liu Gensheng! Pick out the brave and sharp veterans from your mortar company who’ve played with homemade cannons! They’re needed for something big!"

Once the order was given, the Independent Regiment, that precision war machine, began to operate at high speed. The Reconnaissance Company swarmed the distillery area, soon returning with a dozen iron pipes of various lengths, all thick and sturdy. The Engineer Platoon swung sledgehammers and saws in a hidden gully, cutting off excess parts and reinforcing the exterior of the tubes with captured iron bands to increase structural integrity. The veteran gunners selected from the mortar company gathered around these strange "cannons," listening to Wang Lin explain the principles and operational points (combined with the system’s simplified procedures). Their initial confusion rapidly turned into fervor.

"Regimental Commander! This thing... can it really throw such a big pack of explosives?" one veteran, his face covered in soot, touched the cold iron pipe, both excited and slightly apprehensive.

"Nonsense! The principle is the same as a cannon! If the pressure is built up, the force will be great!" Wang Lin glared. "Remember! The charge must be precise! The tube must be buried deep and stable! Run like hell after lighting the fuse! If anyone’s too slow and turns into a roast pig, don't blame me!" He roared, half-joking and half-serious, the tense atmosphere laced with a sense of eager anticipation.

Just as Wang Lin was personally supervising the burial of the first reinforced iron pipe at an angle into a deep pit, carefully adjusting its aim toward a prominent bunker and preparing to insert the tarpaulin-wrapped giant explosive charge (filled with captured explosives and scrap metal) for a test fire—

"Report, Commander! Urgent order from the Corps! We are ordered to enter the battle immediately, attack the Sanyuan Cave core position! Spare no cost, smash the enemy’s defense line! The Corps Commander says... it all depends on your heavy firepower, Commander Wang!" The messenger ran up, gasping for air, bringing Dong Zhentang’s unquestionable command.

Wang Lin looked up at the increasingly fierce gunfire over the mountain and the rising signal flares, then looked down at the crude "iron-pipe cannon" that held the hope of breaking the stalemate. He took a deep breath, a sharp glint in his eyes, and hesitation vanished.

"Damn it, just in time!" Wang Lin stood up straight, his voice like a sword drawn from its scabbard, cutting through all doubt:

"Order! First and Second Battalions! All heavy machine guns and mortars, concentrate your fire! Suppress all exposed enemy firing points on the front and flanks of Sanyuan Cave! Especially those bunker slits! Keep those bastards’ heads down!"

"Third Battalion! Reconnaissance Company! Guard Company! Engineer Platoon! Iron-Pipe Team! With me! Push our 'big treasures' to the front! One hundred and fifty meters from the target bunkers! Build the firing positions! Move fast while they are suppressed!"

The Independent Regiment roared like a tiger awakened! Nine Hotchkiss heavy machine guns and all available mortars erupted in a deafening cacophony. A dense rain of bullets and shells hammered the enemy positions, focusing on the firing slits that spat fire, sending brick and stone flying and momentarily stifling the enemy’s arrogance.

Under this precious cover, Wang Lin led the way. The soldiers of the Third Battalion and the attached units moved like agile leopards, carrying and pushing the heavy iron pipes, using shell craters and terrain for cover to leap forward. The veteran engineers swung their shovels, frantically digging at the chosen distance, burying the iron pipes at a 45-degree angle into the solid earth, leaving only the thick muzzles pointed toward the grim bunkers.

"Charge!"
"Load!"
"Check the fuse!"
"Ready—ignite!"

Wang Lin’s roar remained clear amidst the thunder of artillery. The men responsible for lighting the fuses were the bravest of the brave; their faces were grim but unafraid as they ignited the long fuses!

"Ssssss—"
"BOOM!!!" "BOOM!!!" "BOOM!!!"

A series of dull, heart-stopping thuds erupted from the Red Army’s forward position! The sound wasn't the sharp crack of artillery, but a deep, rolling thunder from the bowels of the earth, carrying a destructive weight! A dozen thick tongues of fire, accompanied by visible shockwaves, belched from the crude iron pipes!

The next moment, before the horrified eyes of the defenders, a dozen black, millstone-sized "packages" whistled through the air in uneven, lopsided parabolas, slamming viciously into their targets—the sturdy bunkers!

"RUMBLE—!!!"

Explosions ten and a hundred times more terrifying than the launch occurred! The explosive charges detonated in the air or directly against the surfaces and interiors of the bunkers! In an instant, the earth shook! Blinding fire swallowed the targets, and visible, solid shockwaves like invisible giant hammers slammed into the bunkers! The sturdy stone and concrete were torn apart and scattered like brittle crackers! The entire structure groaned under the violent energy; some roofs were blown off entirely, while others collapsed in a heap! Even worse, the pervasive overpressure shockwave swept into every corner of the bunkers instantly! The Sichuan soldiers inside didn't even have time to scream before they were blasted, bleeding from their seven orifices, internal organs ruptured, tossed aside like broken dolls! Those lucky enough to survive were instantly deafened and stunned, losing all ability to fight.

In just one volley! Seven or eight of the most solid bunkers at Sanyuan Cave, the ones posing the greatest threat to the Red Army, were either reduced to ruins or silenced by the Independent Regiment’s sudden "Iron-Pipe Thunder"! Thick smoke, fire, rubble, and human remains formed a hellish scene!

"My god..." The soldiers of the 39th Regiment watching from the rear were stunned, forgetting even to fire their own weapons.

"The Independent Regiment... what kind of magic did they use?!" The battalion commander of the 38th Regiment gaped in disbelief.

"We did it! Hahaha! Keep loading, boys! Blast them to hell!" Wang Lin jumped for joy behind his cover, his face blackened by soot, his teeth gleaming white.

The surviving bunker garrisons were utterly broken by this destructive blow from the sky, their fire becoming sparse and chaotic.

"BOOM!!!" "BOOM!!!" "BOOM!!!"

The second roar of "Iron-Pipe Thunder" tore through the air! This time, the gunners had experience; loading was faster, and the angles were more precise! More giant explosive packs whistled through the air, slamming accurately into the remaining stubborn bunkers and the enemy's core position!

More violent explosions rang out in succession! The earth trembled violently, as if a dragon were stirring underground. Sturdy bunkers twisted and collapsed like paper toys under the violent shockwaves! Rubble, bricks, and wooden beams, mixed with the broken limbs of the defenders, were thrown dozens of meters into the air before falling like hail. Smoke and fire soared, dyeing the sky over Sanyuan Cave a deep red. Inside the bunkers not directly hit, the defenders were shaken to their cores, ears and noses bleeding, machine guns silent, soldiers collapsing in a heap, having completely lost the will to fight.

"Divine punishment! This is divine punishment!" A surviving company commander slumped in a partially collapsed bunker, looking at the hellish scene outside, his mind completely broken, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Surrender! We surrender! Stop the bombing!" A makeshift white flag, made from a white shirt tied to a rifle, suddenly poked out of a firing slit in another bunker, waving frantically.

Fear spread like a plague among the surviving defenders. The appearance of the first white flag was like the toppling of the first domino. In the blink of an eye, white flags were raised in panic across the Sanyuan Cave core position amidst the smoke. The surviving Sichuan soldiers threw down their weapons in terror, holding their hands high, stumbling out of the broken fortifications and collapsed bunkers, their faces masks of emptiness and marrow-deep fear. They had been utterly shattered by the "Iron-Pipe Thunder," a force of destruction they had never seen before.

"Cease fire!" Wang Lin saw the white flags through his binoculars and decisively ordered. The gunfire died down, leaving only the moans of the wounded and the panicked shouts of the surrendering: "Don't shoot! We surrender! We surrender!"

"Third Battalion! Guard Company! Go up and receive the prisoners! Secure the position! Move fast! Be careful, watch out for fake surrenders!" Wang Lin ordered, moving forward with his headquarters staff. "First and Second Battalions, maintain vigilance, block the depth of Lubanchang with fire to prevent an enemy counterattack!"

The soldiers of the Independent Regiment moved like tigers down a mountain, quickly securing the surrendering enemy, disarming them, and concentrating them under guard. The scene of the position devastated by the "Iron-Pipe Thunder" was shocking: huge craters several meters deep, reinforced concrete bunkers shredded and twisted. Most of the survivors had vacant eyes and were bleeding from their orifices, clearly suffering from internal injuries caused by the intense shockwaves. The air was filled with the smell of gunpowder, blood, and the sweet, metallic scent of ruptured organs.

"Report, Commander!" Zhong Guangbang’s voice was filled with ecstatic joy as he emerged from a relatively intact bunker, his face smeared with ash. "We’ve hit the jackpot! We’ve hit the jackpot! Come look at this!"

Wang Lin walked over quickly. Deep within the bunker, dozens of olive-green wooden crates were stacked neatly! Prying one open revealed brand-new, golden-yellow bullets! Beside them were crates of wooden-handled grenades. Even more surprisingly, in the core of several sturdy bunkers, they had captured eight brand-new Maxim heavy machine guns! The barrels were polished bright, the water-cooling jackets gleaming, and beside them were piles of canvas ammunition belt boxes! There were also several intact 82mm mortars and crates of shells!

"Good! That old bastard Zhou Hunyuan, his stash is truly deep!" Wang Lin’s eyes glowed. These heavy weapons were like rain after a long drought for the Independent Regiment, which had just experienced the bloody battle at Erlangtan! "Zhong Guangbang, organize men to count them immediately! Not a single heavy machine gun, mortar, or box of ammo can be left behind! Move it all!"

"Regimental Commander! Urgent telegram! Urgent order from the Military Commission! The main force of the Wu Qiwei column has broken through our blocking force and is advancing at full speed from the direction of Zunyi, heading straight for Lubanchang! Its vanguard is less than thirty miles from our flank! The Military Commission orders: The entire army must stop attacking Lubanchang immediately! All units must disengage from the battle and move toward the northwest! Destination—Maotai Town! Cross the Chishui River to the west! Move toward Gulin County in southern Sichuan!"

Dong Zhentang snatched the telegram, his eyes scanning it, his face instantly turning ashen. He looked up toward Sanyuan Cave, where the Independent Regiment had just torn open a gap and victory was within reach, then toward the northwestern horizon where the faint sound of artillery could be heard, his eyes full of reluctance and helplessness. In the end, his iron will overcame all emotion.

"Order: All attacking units, cease fire immediately! Cover each other and withdraw from the battle! The Independent Regiment is responsible for the rearguard! The entire army’s destination—Maotai Town! Cross the Chishui! Execute the order!"

At the Sanyuan Cave battlefield:

"Report, Commander!" Third Battalion Commander Zhou Zhiming ran over, lowering his voice. "The prisoners have been counted—437 of them! Based on their unit markings and equipment, it’s a reinforced battalion plus a regiment of Zhou Hunyuan’s core Central Army, plus a direct-subordinate machine-gun and artillery company! There are over a dozen officers, including a major battalion deputy!"

Wang Lin’s gaze swept over the dejected prisoners in their yellow woolen Central Army uniforms, then looked at the mountain of ammunition and heavy weapons. A thought formed instantly.

"Got it!" A sharp glint flashed in Wang Lin’s eyes. He ordered Zhou Zhiming: "Pick out the officers among the prisoners, tie them up securely, and bring them along! As for the rest of the soldiers..." He paused, his voice rising to ensure all prisoners could hear:

"Central Army brothers! You sold your lives for Chiang, and now you’re prisoners! The Red Army doesn't kill prisoners, but we can't just let you go back to fight the Red Army again! Now, I’m giving you a chance to atone for your crimes!"

The prisoners looked up, confused and terrified.

"See those machine guns, shells, and ammo crates?" Wang Lin pointed to the mountain of supplies. "Help us move them! Carry these things to the designated place! Whoever works hard and doesn't stir up trouble on the way, when we get there, I’ll consider letting you go! If you dare to slack off, or if you try to run..." He suddenly pulled out his Mauser, the *click* of the safety echoing, "My weapon doesn't recognize faces! Do you understand?!"

The prisoners looked at each other, then at the surrounding Red Army soldiers who were looking at them with predatory, murderous intent, and finally at the dark muzzles of the guns. How could they say no? They nodded like chickens pecking at rice: "Understood! Understood! Commander! We’ll move them! We’ll definitely move them well!"

"Good! Zhong Guangbang, Zhou Zhiming! Organize them immediately! Groups of five prisoners, each group guarded by one of our squad members with a rifle! Each group is responsible for carrying one heavy machine gun or one box of vital ammo! Prioritize heavy machine guns, mortars, shells, and heavy machine-gun ammunition! As for the remaining ordinary rifles, clothing, and grain, carry as much as you can, and what you can't carry... Engineer Platoon, prepare explosives, we’ll destroy them later! Move fast! We don't have much time!" Wang Lin issued his orders at high speed.

Thirty minutes! Thirty minutes as tense as the battle itself!

When the last of the supplies were loaded onto carts and the last of the brother units vanished along the mountain path leading to the northwest, Zhang Hongtu, who was on guard in the northwest, sent a signal: The vanguard of Wu Qiwei’s forces had appeared!

"Withdraw!" Wang Lin took one last look at the Sanyuan Cave position—smoldering, a scene of carnage, yet now empty—and at the distant flags of enemy reinforcements faintly visible toward Lubanchang.

{Historical Note: On March 14, 1935, at 21:00, the Central Committee, based on the situation between the enemy and ourselves, decided to resolutely annihilate the enemy at Lubanchang. On the morning of the 15th, Red Army units from multiple directions surrounded three of Zhou Hunyuan’s divisions and launched an attack at 10:00. However, the enemy held favorable terrain and were well-equipped, resisting desperately. Chiang Kai-shek even mobilized aircraft to support them, and the fighting was intense. That evening, because the frontal assault at Lubanchang was unsuccessful and Wu Qiwei’s column was following closely behind, the Military Commission decided to cross the Chishui River to the west once again. At 22:00, they ordered all units to withdraw from the battle immediately and transfer overnight to the areas of Xiaohekou, Tanchang, Renhuai County, and Maotai, thus crossing the Chishui River for the third time.}