139: Fighting with all one's might is no match for a single arbitrary decree.

Two troop transport vehicles sped along the dirt road.

They were fully loaded with Security Team Members, Zhang Zhongguo's guard company, and the anxious group.

The roar of the engines drowned out the silence inside the vehicles, heading straight for Southern Camp.

Upon reaching the Tuanhe area, the intense sounds of gunfire and artillery suddenly became clear.

Ahead, the road was blocked, and a unit wearing the uniforms of the 29th Army was pinned down in a depression.

They were fiercely engaged with the Japanese devils occupying advantageous terrain, unable to advance an inch.

Gunfire was dense, and explosions from grenade launchers continuously sent plumes of smoke rising from the defenders' positions.

Clearly, the 29th Army unit was at a disadvantage, suffering significant casualties, and utterly unable to break through the blockade to support Southern Camp.

"They're brothers from the 32nd Division!" Zhang Zhongguo recognized the unit designation at a glance, his expression turning even darker.

"They should have been dispatched by Division Commander Zhao from Renqiu to support Southern Camp. How did they get blocked here?"

"Stop the vehicles!" Lu Fan immediately ordered a halt upon hearing this.

With a glance, Ah Fu and Zhang Tingshu quickly communicated.

Subsequently, the entire group transformed into Mortar crews, deploying on the spot, targeting the Japanese Army's blocking positions ahead.

The Security Team Members moved with lightning speed.

In just two minutes, 20 Mortars were swiftly set up.

"Target: Japanese Army positions 1200 meters ahead, ten rounds rapid fire! Fire!"

Zhang Tingshu gave the order calmly and steadily.

Thump~ thump~ thump~ thump~~~~

The dull firing sounds merged into a continuous rhythm, like the drumbeats of death.

Shells tore through the sky with piercing shrieks, accurately crashing into the Japanese devils' positions.

Boom~ boom~ rumble~~~~

Earth-shattering explosions instantly engulfed the Japanese devils' positions.

Flames shot into the sky, mixing mud, severed limbs, weapon fragments, and smoke as they were thrown high into the air.

The previously arrogant Japanese devils' firing points instantly fell silent.

The fierce artillery barrage swept over like divine punishment, plowing through the meticulously constructed blocking positions.

The officers and soldiers of the 32nd Division, struggling in the depression, were stunned by this sudden, terrifyingly extreme artillery support.

They had never seen such dense, precise, and devastating artillery fire.

"My heavens... what... what kind of divine force is this?"

The 32nd Division's regimental commander, lying behind cover, muttered to himself as he watched the hellish scene before him.

Zhang Zhongguo stood beside Lu Fan, equally deeply shaken.

He looked at the artillery group continuously spewing flames—this firepower was enough to change the course of a local battle.

Glancing again at Lu Fan's calm yet thunderous profile, his heart churned with turmoil.

This Mr. Lu, his immense donations were like sprinkling water, and the armed forces in his hands far exceeded his imagination.

Rich and powerful, tall and hard!

The artillery barrage ceased, leaving the Japanese devils' positions in complete disarray. The surviving Japanese devils were terrified out of their wits, unable to organize any effective resistance.

"Brothers, reinforcements have arrived! Follow me and charge!" The 32nd Division's regimental commander seized the opportunity, roaring as he led his troops in a charge.

The Security Team's machine gun crews also provided timely covering fire. The remaining Japanese devils were quickly cleared, and the road was opened.

The two forces joined up, and Zhang Zhongguo immediately stepped forward to inquire about the situation.

The regimental commander, filled with grief and indignation, said, "Division Commander Zhang! We were ordered by Division Commander Zhao to rush from Renqiu day and night to support Southern Camp.

But... but our marching route and troop deployment were sold to the Japanese devils by that Traitor Pan Yugui from the Hebei-Chahar Political Council.

That's why we were ambushed and blocked halfway, unable to advance an inch and losing many brothers."

"Pan Yugui! That scoundrel!" Zhang Zhongguo gritted his teeth, filled with overwhelming hatred.

"Now is not the time for reckoning. Southern Camp is in imminent danger; we must get there immediately," Lu Fan interrupted. "Regimental Commander, where is Division Commander Zhao now?"

"Division Commander Zhao is personally commanding at Southern Camp! But the Japanese devils' offensive is too fierce; Southern Camp is under attack from all sides!" The regimental commander was deeply worried.

Without further delay, everyone combined forces and rushed to Southern Camp at full speed.

Upon reaching the outskirts, they saw flames shooting into the sky in the direction of Southern Camp, with deafening sounds of gunfire and artillery—clearly, the battle had reached a fever pitch.

Through binoculars and reports from forward scouts,

it was confirmed that the Japanese devils were fiercely attacking Southern Camp from four directions: Fengtai, Tuanhe, Majuqiao, and Tongzhou.

Surrounded on all sides, the defenders at Southern Camp were under immense pressure, with multiple points on the defense line in critical condition.

If they didn't tear open a gap for reinforcements soon, Southern Camp wouldn't hold out for much longer.

Lu Fan, Zhang Zhongguo, and Zhang Tingshu quickly deliberated.

"Mr. Lu," Zhang Zhongguo pointed at the map, "Fengtai is the Japanese devils' starting point for the attack and an important supply base.

Majiuqiao is the hub for another of their attacking routes.

If we can simultaneously take out these two places, the Japanese devils' offensive will collapse!"

"Good!" Lu Fan decisively agreed. "General Zhang, you're familiar with the terrain.

Please take this regiment from the 32nd Division and your guard company to assault the Japanese devils at Majuqiao.

We're more familiar with the Fengtai area. Our Security Team will first eliminate the Japanese devils at Tuanhe, then go and take out their lair at Fengtai.

We'll strike with both hands, catching them off guard!"

"That's the plan! Take care!" Zhang Zhongguo wasted no words, immediately mustering his troops and setting off.

"Security Team, target Fengtai! Move out!"

Lu Fan and his group were equally decisive. At his command, the elite team sprang into action like tigers unleashed.

By evening, the battle erupted swiftly and fiercely.

The sudden appearance of the two surprise forces caught the Japanese devils off guard, severely damaging their flanks and temporarily halting their offensive.

Under Zhao Dengyu's command, the defenders at Southern Camp keenly sensed the weakening of the Japanese devils' offensive and the chaos in their rear.

He immediately organized a powerful counterattack. Caught between internal and external attacks, the Japanese devils besieging Southern Camp fell into complete disarray.

As night was about to fall, with air support unavailable, the Japanese devils had no choice but to retreat in panic.

The siege of Southern Camp was lifted, thanks to the fierce strikes of Lu Fan and Zhang Zhongguo's two surprise forces.

Just as Zhang Zhongguo, Zhao Dengyu, Lu Fan, and others joined up,

watching the Japanese Army retreat in disarray, preparing to pursue the victory, expand their gains, and completely clear the enemy from the outskirts of Southern Camp,

a communications soldier ran up breathlessly to Zhang Zhongguo, handing him a just-received urgent telegram: "To Division Commander Zhang:

By order of Army Commander Song, all units are to immediately cease all military actions! Stand by in place!

Do not pursue! Do not escalate the conflict! Violators will face military discipline!"

The telegram trembled violently in Zhang Zhongguo's hand. His face instantly turned ashen, veins bulging on his forehead.

Zhao Dengyu snatched the telegram and read it, also shaking with anger, punching the nearby earthen wall hard.

The great opportunity, hard-won through bloody battle and immense sacrifice, which could have severely damaged or even annihilated the enemy at hand,

was brutally stifled by this utterly absurd order!

"Cease pursuit... stand by in place... do not escalate the conflict..."

Zhang Zhongguo looked at the cold words on the telegram, then gazed at the Japanese devils fleeing in the distance.

A wave of immense grief and helplessness nearly overwhelmed him.

He crumpled the telegram into a ball, threw it fiercely to the ground, and sighed to the heavens, "Commander Song... you are... destroying your own Great Wall!!!"

Zhang Zhongguo's voice was filled with endless desolation and resentment.

Lu Fan stood to the side, looking at the discarded ball of telegram paper, his eyes icy cold, killing intent surging like a tide.

Victory on the battlefield ultimately could not overcome a single errant order from the halls of power.

The sky over North China had been completely darkened by certain individuals.