New recruits fear guns, veterans fear cannons. As a veteran among veterans, Wu Shengli, Deputy Division Commander of the 3rd Division of the 15th Army, responsible for battlefield traffic command, was no longer even afraid of cannons. When a shell of over 200mm caliber came flying, there was no way to hide. It was either life or death, left entirely to fate.

So, Deputy Division Commander Wu Shengli simply stood upright on a small slope on the battlefield, completely ignoring that he was within range of the enemy's heavy artillery of over 200mm caliber, and focused on directing the traffic below. With his mind not on dodging shells, Wu Shengli had clean forgotten the possibility that he could be hit by a shell at any moment. Seeing a shell explode three hundred meters away, the blast wave overturning a nearby tricycle, he immediately ordered men to help. "Save the people first, then plant the flag there, and direct the vehicles behind to take the other road."

It was now 10:18 AM. Ten hours had passed since the shelling began at 12:00 AM, but to Wu Shengli, it felt like the blink of an eye. The worst-case scenario had not occurred; the Japanese army and navy had failed to implement joint defense up to this point. In the earliest plan, if the Japanese navy had joined the battle, the artillery units would have had the rocket artillery units shell the Japanese warships near the coast regardless of casualties.

By now, the siege troops of the Workers and Peasants Revolutionary Army had arrived beneath the fortress. In at most half an hour, the frontal battle would begin. Wu Shengli was in a very high state of excitement; the casualties so far were even more optimistic than the optimistic estimates.

Just as he thought this, several more shells from the Japanese artillery flew over. The accuracy was poor this time; apart from blasting a few large craters in the ground, Wu Shengli didn't see any new casualties for the time being.

The Lushun Fortress was a large fortress group composed of a large number of small bastions. Attacking them one by one was destined to result in huge casualties, so the Workers and Peasants Revolutionary Army simply opened with a "ground-washing" mode using rocket artillery. The Japanese had never expected to suddenly encounter such an unprecedented density of artillery fire. Not only was their original defense plan completely scrapped, but now they had no new plan to settle on.

The infantry bunker positions originally used to protect the bastions had now been reduced to powder along with the infantry inside. The surviving generals and field officers in the new command center had twisted expressions, unable to come up with any new ideas. Over ten thousand Japanese troops had been placed on the outer infantry positions, and a quarter of the entire fortress's strength was finished within a few hours.

The troops sent out after the first shelling were smoked back by poison gas, and the troops forcibly kept outside were completely wiped out during the Chinese army's second shelling. Continuing to send troops out like this was a trend towards suicide. But staying inside the isolated strongholds would only result in being destroyed one by one. The Chinese army's artillery fire was too fierce; the shallowly buried telephone lines had been blown apart, and some bastions had now become isolated islands. The defense system that once seemed impregnable had now collapsed like a sandcastle built on a beach.

"Is there any result from calling the navy!" the Fortress Defense Commander asked with red eyes. He had called the navy many times, but the navy had maintained an unusual silence and had not answered until now.

"The navy still hasn't responded," the staff officer replied. Army observers saw that after the navy near Lushun Port was bombed by the Chinese air force, they immediately withdrew to more distant waters. The joint army-navy artillery blockade, originally thought to be absolutely reliable, turned out to be so unreliable at this moment.

"Send a telegram to the Ministry of Army! Send a telegram to the General Staff! Ask them to send reinforcements immediately!" The temporary commander almost howled.

The Ministry of Army had already received the telegram that the Luda area was under attack by the Workers and Peasants Revolutionary Army. Tanaka Giichi had never expected the Chinese to attack the Luda area at this time. This military bigwig of the Ministry of Army, who usually chatted and laughed cheerfully, now had a face no better than the Japanese troops in the Luda area facing the fierce attack of the Workers and Peasants Revolutionary Army.

What Tanaka Giichi was most annoyed about was that he had still underestimated the People's Party's speed of decision-making. On September 21st, the Chinese personnel delivering disaster relief supplies to Tokyo were attacked by a group of people with ulterior motives while picking up Chinese nationals to return home. On September 25th, the Chinese government sent a telegram to the Japanese government, demanding that they either withdraw from Luda by 0:00 on the 27th or surrender their weapons to the Workers and Peasants Revolutionary Army and be temporarily taken into custody by the Workers and Peasants Revolutionary Army.

The Japanese side naturally knew that this matter could not be settled easily. In fact, the Japanese Ministry of Army had never expected that someone would actually attack the Chinese delivering disaster relief supplies. Six days later, the Japanese side had not found out who had instigated the incident, only knowing that someone had incited the Japanese disaster victims by saying that the Chinese were going to take away large amounts of gold and silver earned from Japan and evacuate from Tokyo. As a result, the Youth League led a large group of disaster victims to surround the evacuating Chinese. The Japanese army naturally dared not open fire on the large and menacing crowd of disaster victims, while the disaster victims threw stones at the Chinese relief personnel and nationals. More than a dozen Chinese were injured, two of whom were hit in the head by stones and seriously wounded.

This matter was not a big deal in the eyes of the Japanese authorities, but internationally, it put the People's Party completely in the right. Attacking diplomatic personnel of a hostile country was enough to trigger a war, let alone attacking personnel from a foreign country delivering disaster relief supplies.

Moreover, the Chinese relief personnel were not Li Hongzhang of the Manchu Qing government, who could still shamelessly stay in Japan to sign a treaty after being attacked. They completely ignored the Japanese government's kind advice and immediately boarded the ship to evacuate. They gave the Japanese government no chance to take remedial action.

China and Japan were bound to have a military conflict over the Luda area. Tanaka Giichi knew very well that the occurrence of the attack had become leverage against the Ministry of Army, and there would definitely be people in the government and the public using this as an excuse to attack the Ministry of Army.

If it were in the past, the Ministry of Army could certainly use excuses like declaring war on China to divert the conflict. The problem was that now was not the past. Any member of the Japanese ruling class who wasn't a fool knew very well that China was far more eager for Japan to declare war on China than Japan was. Japan was precisely trying to avoid an all-out war.

With a heavy heart, Tanaka Giichi attended the cabinet meeting held at 9:30. Unlike what he thought, no one made a sound, and no one attacked the Ministry of Army responsible for Tokyo's security. The current situation was already very clear; no matter what, it was impossible to win this sudden war. Tanaka Giichi did not know that the Ministry of Navy had also received a telegram from the Combined Fleet, notifying them of the Combined Fleet being attacked by the Chinese air force and submarines. In the telegram, the Combined Fleet dared not tell lies; they simply didn't mention whether the Combined Fleet had sunk the attacking submarines. That meant the Chinese submarines had retreated safely after hitting the Combined Fleet.

In such a predicament, neither the Ministry of Army nor the Ministry of Navy wanted to make any effort to expand the war. Everyone in the cabinet smoked and drank tea, just not wanting to speak. Just then, the Crown Prince's attendant officer walked into the cabinet meeting room. Some people inside were startled, thinking Crown Prince Hirohito was preparing to force a result from the cabinet discussion, while others clearly showed expressions of expectation on their faces.

The attendant officer said, "His Highness hopes to end the war through diplomatic means. A meaningless war is not what Japan needs right now."

All members of the cabinet breathed a sigh of relief. In fact, these people had long thought about the surrender of the Luda area. The problem was that no one dared to open their mouth first. The cabinet members were no fools; using Japan's unique "ventriloquism" to interpret, Hirohito had issued an order allowing surrender. Now the cabinet immediately became active. Prime Minister Yamamoto Gonnohyoe immediately replied, "We shall obey His Highness's decree."

After saying this, even before Hirohito's attendant officer left, Yamamoto Gonnohyoe asked Foreign Minister Makino Nobuaki to contact the Chinese Ambassador to Japan and request an unconditional ceasefire.

The Japanese cabinet displayed unprecedented efficiency. The Chinese Embassy in Japan had also made various preparations long ago. After receiving the notification from the Japanese side at 10:17, they immediately sent a telegram to the Chinese government. At 10:30, the Chinese government replied, "The Japanese garrison in Lushun can first send a ceasefire representative to the Chinese side. Discuss an immediate ceasefire."

At 11:00, just as the Workers and Peasants Revolutionary Army was about to start uprooting the Lushun Fortress defense group, many forts in the Lushun Fortress raised white flags. The General Command of the campaign also sent a message, "If the Japanese side raises a white flag, the attack can be temporarily suspended."

At 12:00, representatives from both the Chinese and Japanese front lines began face-to-face negotiations. The Japanese side expressed willingness to withdraw from Lushun, but the Japanese side could not surrender to the Chinese side as prisoners of war. Furthermore, Japan could only withdraw after all weapons and ammunition in Lushun were evacuated. The Chinese side demanded that the combat vessels of the Japanese Combined Fleet must evacuate Chinese waters first.

After Mu Husan and Mi Feng sent a telegram to the Central Committee, only then did he say, "There are capable people on the Japanese side."

Mi Feng was not unhappy because Mu Husan did not praise his exquisite arrangements for the initial attack. He also nodded seriously in agreement, "Being able to pick up and put down, such a Japan is really not easy to deal with."

Mu Husan nodded and said, "At least our troops won't suffer greater losses. This is the only thing that can be called gratifying."

Hearing Mu Husan say that the troops would not suffer more casualties, Mi Feng showed a real smile. Attacking such a strong fortress as Luda, casualties of over ten thousand were a normal deduction scenario. In fact, the smoothness of this war so far and the low casualties had greatly exceeded Mi Feng's imagination. He said to Mu Husan, "Commander Mu, the mode of war has changed. Future wars will be completely different from before. If our enemies also have such a level..."

Mu Husan's face was gloomy, and he nodded silently.

Back then, when Li Hongzhang and Japan signed the "Treaty of Shimonoseki," the Japanese representative opened by saying that they must get Taiwan and other places no matter what. This time, the Chinese negotiation representative also opened by saying, "No matter what, the Japanese army must completely withdraw from the Luda area before September 30th. If the Japanese army refuses to withdraw, then let us carry them out."

Since the war had reached this point, the Workers and Peasants Revolutionary Army not only did not withdraw from their positions but instead began to strengthen preparations for offensive warfare on the positions. The Japanese representatives inside the Lushun Fortress protested, but the Workers and Peasants Revolutionary Army side was completely unmoved and continued to make preparations on their own.

However, the Japanese cabinet also knew that this battle could not continue. During the ceasefire, detailed reports from the front line returned to Japan. Upon hearing that nearly twenty thousand soldiers had died in the Lushun Fortress within just a few hours, and nearly ten thousand soldiers were poisoned by gas, with combat effectiveness greatly discounted, although the Japanese cabinet was also cursing the cruel methods of the Workers and Peasants Revolutionary Army, they dared not raise any views on continuing the war.

Finally, both sides reached an agreement. The Japanese army could leave some personnel for withdrawal wrap-up, while the combat troops would withdraw from the Luda area before 12:00 noon on September 30th. Subsequent weapons transportation and material evacuation could be completed before November 5, 1923.

This agreement saved face for both sides, and the Politburo immediately agreed to the agreement. However, the comrades in the Military Commission were somewhat indignant about this. The Battle of Lushun had been prepared for too long. Ever since recovering the Northeast, the Workers and Peasants Revolutionary Army had been preparing for this campaign. The final result was such a hasty conclusion, which made the comrades of the Military Commission feel very uncomfortable all over.

He Zudao alone suppressed this attitude. Even if the first to raise an objection was the Vice Chairman of the Military Commission, Wu Xingchen, who was now in charge of military orders, "Comrade Wu Xingchen, our campaign objective is to recover the Luda area. Since the objective has been achieved, there is no need to continue the pursuit."

Wu Xingchen was someone who had suffered great losses at the hands of the Japanese. Even if he completely understood this point, he still shook his head. Comrades represented by Wu Xingchen very much hoped to take this opportunity to fight into Korea. He said in a depressed tone, "After all is said and done, we are still afraid of the British, aren't we!"

He Zudao did not feel angry. He replied calmly, "That's right. Our current strength is not enough to shake Britain. Moreover, the British have at least blocked the Americans for us. We fought so easily this time because our industrial strength far exceeds that of Japan. But our industrial strength has not yet reached the sum of the United States and Britain."

Hearing He Zudao's serious analysis, Wu Xingchen suddenly felt a burst of excitement in his heart. Even though he had known Chen Ke for nearly twenty years, Wu Xingchen still felt that he couldn't figure out what Chen Ke was thinking. This person seemed to be different from everyone else. When others would be timid, Chen Ke was always daring. When everyone was ready to pursue a victory, Chen Ke would always hold his pace. But listening to He Zudao's words, Wu Xingchen suddenly felt that he somewhat understood Chen Ke. He felt that Chen Ke's goal was to thoroughly crush Britain and the United States. Even before meeting Wu Xingchen, when Wu Xingchen was still bewildered and at a loss, Chen Ke had already set the goal and walked down the path unremittingly.

Then Wu Xingchen's attitude suddenly changed.

Losing its spokesman, the attitude of the Military Commission quickly calmed down. Even if they let tens of thousands of Japanese troops go in Luda, it didn't mean they would let the Japanese go in Korea.

Before the National Day, the Military Commission issued a new order. All Korean personnel in the troops were to be concentrated. Moreover, the troops also received more classified news that Koreans in China were all to be registered in detail, and after the liberation of Korea, they would all be sent back to Korea. These orders were enough to prove that China's strategic direction had shifted to Korea.

On September 30th, Nagata Tetsuzan found Okamura Yasuji. Japan after the great earthquake had at least returned to calm. Okamura Yasuji was responsible for news control, and no news about Luda was allowed to be released. The withdrawal of the Japanese army did not affect the domestic situation.

Because of the light, Nagata Tetsuzan's spectacle lenses reflected a layer of light. "Okamura-kun, rumors outside say that it was you who suggested to His Highness Hirohito to give up Luda."

Okamura Yasuji was summoned to the Imperial Palace by Hirohito for questioning at 8:00 on September 27th, but what the two discussed had nothing to do with the Luda area at all. However, Okamura Yasuji did not deny it because regarding the Luda issue, Okamura Yasuji had talked with Hirohito even earlier. At that time, Okamura Yasuji had seriously analyzed the situation in Luda to Hirohito. Unless the British decided to declare war on China, even if China and Japan fought until mountains of corpses and seas of blood were formed in Luda, it would be impossible to get foreign intervention. The Americans were eyeing them covetously, and the French were too busy to look after themselves. China and the newly established Soviet Union signed the "Sino-Soviet Treaty of Friendship and Peace." In the agreement, China and the Soviet Union did not form a military alliance, but the agreement stipulated that although China and the Soviet Union did not have to bear any military obligations to each other, when one of the two countries was invaded by other countries, the other country would not open its territory and territorial waters to other countries for passage, and neither country would establish bases with military presence from other countries targeting the other country on its own territory. The treaty was for a term of five years, renewable every five years.

Such a treaty with limited obligations was precisely the easiest to observe. Both China and the Soviet Union were major powers, so naturally, they could not accept foreign troops stationed on their own territory. As long as there was no direct military conflict between China and the Soviet Union, there was no possibility of opening territory and airspace passage rights to other countries. With the Soviet Union blocking possible invasions from the west behind them, China could easily block attacks from the east with its own strength. Even if they failed multiple times in the Luda area, China could make a comeback, while the Anglo-Japanese Alliance could only ensure that China did not attack Korea, but Britain could not send troops to participate in the Chinese people's war on Chinese soil.

Obviously, Hirohito understood and accepted such strategic analysis. Moreover, when the situation was urgent, he issued quite clever instructions.

"What views do the Ministry of Army and Ministry of Navy have on His Highness?" Okamura Yasuji asked.

"They dare not say anything." A smile appeared on Nagata Tetsuzan's face. In Japan, daring not to say anything itself had a profound meaning. Especially when they dared not say anything to the future Emperor, it meant that Hirohito had gained a considerable advantage through this matter.

Before Okamura Yasuji could breathe a sigh of relief, Nagata Tetsuzan smiled and said, "They dare not say anything to His Highness, but I heard that your application to go to Korea was blocked by someone."

Okamura Yasuji did not show any disappointed expression. He nodded and replied, "I know."

Nagata Tetsuzan was too smart. There were some words Okamura Yasuji did not want to say to Nagata Tetsuzan. If Luda was still in Japanese hands, Okamura Yasuji would still dare to go to Korea. After China recovered Luda, the next strategic direction would definitely be Korea. Okamura Yasuji was not afraid of death, but he also knew that with his status as a colonel now, going to Korea would only result in being sold out by others. Even if he wanted to go to Korea, he had to wait until the guys in the Army hit a brick wall and were bleeding from their heads.

Two of the "Three Crows of Baden-Baden" exchanged opinions, and then went about their own work.