Seeing Zhang Xiluan agree to serve as Minister of War, Xu Shichang immediately asked, "Brother Zhang, the current situation is urgent. Can you go to the Capital (Beijing) with me now?"

Since Zhang Xiluan had agreed to serve as Minister of War, he smiled and said, "Since you two brothers are so anxious, let me say a few words to my family."

The Zhang family already knew Zhang Xiluan's decision and were waiting outside the living room. The position of Minister of War was indeed prominent and important, but this time Zhang Xiluan was accepting the assignment in a crisis, so there was uneasiness in the expressions of the Zhang family members. Zhang Xiluan instructed his wife, "Simply pack some clothes; no need to bring furniture or anything. You don't need to go to the Capital either; just stay in Tianjin."

The family knew they could only obey Zhang Xiluan's instructions at this time. They just responded and went to prepare luggage for Zhang Xiluan. In more than half an hour, two suitcases were ready. Zhang Xiluan was chatting with Xu Shichang and Duan Qirui in the living room, inquiring about the current situation in the Capital. Seeing the family dragging the suitcases to the hall door, Zhang Xiluan stood up and said, "Two brothers, don't say that your elder brother didn't entertain you..."

Duan Qirui quickly said, "Brother Zhang is so righteous; this younger brother is endlessly grateful. I have ordered people to prepare snacks and tea in the car. When we arrive in the Capital, this younger brother will book a restaurant to wash the dust off for you."

Xu Shichang also stood up and ordered the guards, "Move Minister Zhang's luggage to the car outside." After speaking, he said to Zhang Xiluan, "Brother Zhang, let's go to the train station."

Zhang Xiluan stepped out. Reaching the living room door, he habitually looked at the desk clock and saw it was exactly 9:00 AM. Zhang Xiluan had a high evaluation of He Rui, but He Rui was fighting against the entire Japan with only the Northeast region, so it was inevitable to be somewhat worried. But accepting the post of Minister of War at this time was to support He Rui. Zhang Xiluan walked out of the house. The car outside the door was ready; the guard opened the door, and Zhang Xiluan sat in.

Serving as Minister of War did not mean that Zhang Xiluan held any real power. The high-level officials all knew the relationship between Zhang Xiluan and He Rui. Zhang Xiluan would only protect He Rui and would not undermine him from behind. Those with other ideas naturally would not ask for trouble.

*Can He Rui win? Even annihilating the Kwantung Army would be good,* Zhang Xiluan thought in his heart.

At the Kwantung Army Headquarters in Port Arthur, Lieutenant General Kawai Misao, He Rui's instructor at the Japanese Army War College, held expectations completely opposite to Zhang Xiluan's. The wired telegraph line from Port Arthur to Dairen had long been cut by the Northeast Army. The Kwantung Army contacted Dairen via wireless radio. The defenders in Dairen responded that the Northeast Army's attack was extremely sharp and had already occupied two-thirds of the urban area of Dairen, with advance troops approaching the command post of the Dairen defenders. However, the Dairen defenders were fighting bravely, expecting reinforcements to arrive as soon as possible.

Just after reading the telegram, Lieutenant General Kawai Misao received a telegram from the Ministry of the Army: "...The Imperial Fleet is advancing towards Port Arthur at high speed. The fleet carries the first batch of more than 3,000 soldiers for rescue. The Kwantung Army must hold out until 19:00 on October 9th. Hope Lieutenant General Kawai Misao can persevere; the key to victory lies in whether the Kwantung Army can hold Port Arthur and Dairen."

Lieutenant General Kawai Misao looked at the telegram, and a glimmer of hope arose in his heart. It was 9:00 AM now...

The ground shook violently again. Lieutenant General Kawai Misao grabbed the desk with both hands. A loud rumbling noise came from outside. The windows trembled violently under the shockwave, rattling as if someone's teeth were chattering in the cold winter. Some glass windows were shattered, making a crisp cracking sound.

When the violent explosion and vibration ended, Lieutenant General Kawai Misao, supporting himself on the desk, stood up and walked to the window. He saw a huge column of smoke rising from the direction of the Port Arthur Fortress. Judging from the power of the explosion, the ammunition depot stored inside the Port Arthur Fortress must have been hit, causing the ammunition inside to detonate sympathetically. If Lieutenant General Kawai Misao hadn't ordered the troops to evacuate the fortress and enter the urban area, no one knew how many would have survived this explosion.

Kawai Misao did not rejoice because of such a correct decision. Judging from the increasingly fierce sounds of guns and artillery outside, the Japanese army was engaging in fierce battles with the attacking Northeast Army. Every minute, every second, Japanese officers and soldiers were killed. Even with such brave fighting, the opposing Northeast Army showed no sign of reducing the intensity of the attack.

The Ministry of the Army asked Lieutenant General Kawai Misao to wait another 10 hours. Lieutenant General Kawai Misao felt that the Northeast Army would not leave the Kwantung Army that much time.

Just then, the sound of guns and artillery rang out more violently. Listening to the sound, the caliber of the shells was not large and could not be compared with the artillery equipped in the Port Arthur Fortress at all. Just as Lieutenant General Kawai Misao expected, as the Port Arthur Fortress was almost completely destroyed, the heavy artillery equipped in the fortress lost its combat effectiveness. The Northeast Army would never give the Kwantung Army a single chance.

A squadron of bombers flew over the Kwantung Army Headquarters. The bomber crew turned a blind eye to such an obvious target. The Air Force's target was the location of the remnants of the Kwantung Army Heavy Artillery Regiment. About half of the heavy artillery had been destroyed, and the remaining half continued to resist stubbornly, firing fiercely in the direction of the Northeast Army's attack.

This bomber formation all carried incendiary bombs. Since accuracy was insufficient, the Air Force focused on quantity and area damage. This crew had good luck; several incendiary bombs landed near a Japanese heavy artillery crew. The splashing fuel directly ignited several Japanese artillery crew members, who began to roll on the ground.

Just as the crew regretted the poor effect, the Japanese heavy artillery position vibrated violently. The sharp-eyed observer clearly saw the circular shockwave of the shell explosion rolling dust and spreading rapidly around, swallowing the Japanese heavy artillery position in the blink of an eye.

"Good hit!" the observer cheered loudly.

At this time, the commanders of the attacking troops all issued the order for 'comprehensive attack'. The officers and soldiers of the Northeast Army had been blocked by these Japanese artillery pieces for a long time and had been holding back their anger. As soon as the commander's order arrived, the sound of firing immediately came from the mortar positions. 80mm mortars, 100mm mortars, and 120mm mortars tore the defense system barely constructed by the Japanese army into fragments with fierce firepower. Each attacking unit began to attack along the streets 'familiar' from targeted training.

Gao Shitou was already a deputy platoon leader. This position put a lot of pressure on Deputy Platoon Leader Gao. He had attended the NCO training class and was proficient in the deployment and use of squad machine guns. The deputy platoon leader died in battle, and originally the battalion should have sent a new one. But the casualties among officers were heavy, and personnel were insufficient, so Gao Shitou was promoted to deputy platoon leader. However, an important task for the deputy platoon leader was to determine the deployment of Japanese machine gun positions. Machine gun position deployment was not the same thing as squad machine gun deployment; Gao Shitou hadn't learned it.

But at this time, there was no way to think about it in detail. Gao Shitou could only roughly judge the Japanese machine gun deployment in street fighting based on his understanding of machine guns.

Due to the shelling, the 'familiar' roads were also a bit unfamiliar. Gao Shitou and others followed behind the platoon leader and reached the street intersection along a semi-destroyed residential wall. The platoon leader first extended a small mirror to look for a moment, then, holding a submachine gun, quickly rushed across the street and hid behind a tree on the opposite side.

There was no gunfire on the street, and the silence made Gao Shitou feel full of danger. The platoon leader made a gesture. The 1st Squad Leader whispered to the first combat team (fireteam), "I'll count to three, and you rush over quickly. One, two, three!"

The combat team acted quickly immediately. Before they ran across the street, they heard the sound of Japanese Type 38 rifles firing. Fortunately, no one was injured. The combat team formed a three-man defensive combat formation behind the platoon leader. The machine gunner was in the middle, the rifleman on the left, and the grenadier on the right.

Next, the second combat team did not cross the street but looked at the terrain on this side of the street through a small mirror. Soon, the second combat team moved forward close to the wall and quickly entered the still-standing gate of a residential house, hiding behind the dilapidated earthen wall.

The Japanese were obviously anxious; they started shooting at the second combat team. The 1st Squad Leader had already led the third combat team quickly across the street to the platoon leader's side. Soon, the members of the third combat team used the terrain to start firing in the direction of the Japanese, and the Japanese firepower was immediately dispersed. The second combat team of the 1st Squad also confirmed that there were no Japanese in the destroyed house. The 2nd and 3rd Squads quickly crossed the gap in the wall and entered the courtyard.

Gao Shitou also followed in. After checking the terrain, Gao Shitou ordered, "Help me up; I'm going onto the roof."

The soldiers immediately formed a human ladder. Gao Shitou slung the submachine gun behind his back and quickly climbed onto the roof. He didn't dare to show his head immediately. In that instant, the Japanese machine gun had already begun to strafe over, smashing the broken tiles to pieces. If Gao Shitou had dared to raise his head immediately, it would have been more than just tiles shattering.

The exposed Japanese firing point didn't stay rampant for half a minute; several 60mm mortar shells directly blew that firing point away. Only then did Gao Shitou stick his head out. At this height, most of the street scene came into view. It could be seen that the Japanese street fighting deployment was very hasty, and concealment measures were not considered at all.

Scanning several firing points visible to the naked eye, Gao Shitou retracted his body. This was content trained for nearly two months. Gao Shitou reported the positions of the firing points he saw directly to the subordinates according to regulations.

In less than three minutes, the mortars fired quickly. Gao Shitou looked over; just as in targeted training, every company was reinforced with a 60mm mortar platoon. Three mortars were calling the roll of firing points one by one.

Before Gao Shitou could send a signal, the platoon leader had already led the two combat teams behind him to advance along the other side of the street. At this time, the Japanese army no longer had the advantage of occupying the terrain first; instead, the two combat teams led by the platoon leader occupied a very good firing position.

Light machine guns and submachine guns began to strafe the location of the Japanese infantry, suppressing them so they couldn't lift their heads. The 2nd Squad also advanced at this time and soon approached the Japanese defensive position on the street. The grenadier threw several grenades over. Amidst the explosions, the Japanese firepower was interrupted.

Under the cover of the 2nd Squad's firepower, the platoon leader rushed out quickly and killed his way into the simple Japanese defensive position on the street. It was a barricade made of a row of sandbags. The Japanese Type 38 was a bolt-action rifle that required pulling the bolt to fire. The Northeast Army's submachine guns didn't need such a step. The squad leader swept with fire, killing all the Japanese soldiers on the defense line.

The squads followed up quickly and completely occupied this Japanese defensive point. Ahead, the houses and roads became completely 'familiar'.

In a courtyard, a small mirror was clipped to the muzzle of a gun and extended over the wall. Several Japanese soldiers were seen standing close to the wall, ready to kill those rushing in from the door. The Northeast Army soldiers said nothing. After a few gestures, the grenadier pulled the pin of a grenade, paused for a moment, and threw it in. The grenade exploded shortly after landing, and the screams of Japanese soldiers came from inside the wall.

At the same time, Deputy Platoon Leader Gao Shitou had led the 3rd Squad to the back of this house. This should be a relatively well-off household; the walls were brick. Next to the roof beam, at a height of two people from the ground, there was a ventilation hole. The troops built a human ladder, and the grenadier threw three grenades quickly into this ventilation hole.

With three explosions (boom, boom, boom), smoke poured out of all the places where the house could vent air. Only then did the Northeast Army combat team at the main entrance quickly rush into the courtyard. They saw a Japanese soldier lying at the door of the main room facing the gate. All the window paper was shattered, and gaps opened from inside out.

Just then, the door of the woodshed opened, and three Japanese soldiers jumped out with rifles. The submachine gunner raised his gun and fired, directly knocking the three Japanese soldiers to the ground.

According to the operational plan, the Northeast Army committed more than 70 infantry companies reinforced with 60mm mortar squads and 210 infantry platoons into the city to fight in their respective trained and familiar areas. About half of the houses contained Japanese soldiers. Although only a dozen or even a few Japanese soldiers were annihilated each time, a few Japanese soldiers multiplied by 100 meant several hundred people.

Adding the hundreds of Japanese soldiers in dozens of firing points on the streets, more than a thousand Japanese soldiers were annihilated while advancing in the periphery.

Initially, battle reports could still be transmitted to Chief of Staff Fukuhara Yoshiya, who was commanding on the front line. As the Northeast Army continued to penetrate deep into the urban area, fewer and fewer Japanese soldiers came to report. Chief of Staff Fukuhara Yoshiya could only continuously send troops out, trying to retake important firing points. But after these troops were sent out, it was like throwing meat buns at dogs—they never returned.

This invisible pressure made Chief of Staff Fukuhara Yoshiya feel his scalp tingle. Judging from the battle situation, it wasn't the Japanese army dragging the Northeast Army into street fighting; it was clearly the Northeast Army dragging the Japanese army into street fighting. If the scattered Japanese squads formed a solid defense line, they should have been able to resist longer. However, scattered in the urban area, the Japanese army was instead divided and surrounded by the Northeast Army and annihilated one by one.

However, the Northeast Army did not give Lieutenant General Fukuhara Yoshiya time. Under the guidance of the Air Force, 120mm mortars began to bombard the Japanese troop concentrations in the inner circle fiercely. Even brick and stone walls would collapse immediately upon being hit by a single shell.

Chief of Staff Fukuhara Yoshiya knew that his judgment of the Northeast Army was wrong again. Although there were thousands of unwillingness in his heart, he immediately ordered, "Retreat to the defensive positions around the Kwantung Army Headquarters!"

Major Yamaoka beside him had barely managed to withdraw from the front line. A piece of shrapnel had cut a gash on his forehead, and the emergency gauze wrapping it was stained red with blood. Hearing this order, Major Yamaoka immediately shouted loudly, "Chief of Staff, please allow your subordinate to lead a counter-charge!"

These words made Chief of Staff Fukuhara almost smoke with rage. The suppressed anger finally erupted, and the Major General shouted angrily, "Idiot! Are you going to disobey military orders?"

Major Yamaoka had no scruples at this time either. He said loudly, "Excellency, your subordinate's unit has only one squad left. Your subordinate is willing to cover the troops. Please grant permission, Excellency."

A Major is usually a battalion commander, commanding 4 companies and 12 platoons (squads/sections). To fight until the battalion commander led only one squad meant this unit was completely wiped out. Major Yamaoka obviously didn't want to live anymore; this was to fight to the death with the Northeast Army.

Chief of Staff Fukuhara Yoshiya felt guilty. He didn't want Major Yamaoka to die in battle just like that. But gunfire rang out at a very close distance; the attacking troops of the Northeast Army were approaching.

"Major Yamaoka, I order you to bring up the rear. We will meet at Kudanshita." Chief of Staff Fukuhara Yoshiya issued the order.

"Yes! See you at Kudanshita!" Major Yamaoka responded loudly. He then ordered his remaining subordinates, "Gentlemen, please follow me to counterattack the enemy. We will meet at Kudanshita!"

Although there were few responses, Major Yamaoka's subordinates all picked up their weapons and prepared for battle. Some officers did not take guns but drew their military swords, obviously ready for hand-to-hand combat.

Chief of Staff Fukuhara Yoshiya turned around and led the people from the frontline command post to retreat towards the Kwantung Army Headquarters. At this time, the Major General no longer considered whether he could hold out until reinforcements arrived. As he got closer to the defensive position, an expectation in Major General Fukuhara Yoshiya's heart became stronger and stronger: if he could fight a real battle with real swords and guns against the Northeast Army and be killed after killing a few Northeast Army soldiers with his own hands, that would be the best ending.

11:30 AM, October 9th. The Northeast Army had already occupied the destroyed Port Arthur Fortress. When the Kwantung Army guarding Port Arthur retreated to the defensive positions around the Kwantung Army Headquarters, their numbers were reduced to only one battalion. The defensive position was only an area of about 500*500 meters.

At this time, Kwantung Army Commander Lieutenant General Kawai Misao no longer expected this small number of troops to fight a bloody battle with the Northeast Army. He Rui would not sacrifice Northeast Army soldiers at this time. Just mobilizing a dozen or so artillery pieces of around 100mm caliber for a round of bombardment would be enough to turn the Kwantung Army Headquarters and the final defenders into dust.

When Chief of Staff Fukuhara Yoshiya returned to the operations command room, he saw the Kwantung Army military flag spread on the desk in the operations command room, and a barrel of gasoline placed next to it. The Chief of Staff was not surprised; this was to burn the military flag. According to Japanese army regulations, if a unit's military flag was captured, the unit's designation would be permanently cancelled. To preserve the unit's final dignity, the military flag should be burned at this time.

Seeing that Chief of Staff Fukuhara Yoshiya had rushed back alive, Lieutenant General Kawai Misao handed him the written telegram. The Chief of Staff picked up the draft paper and read it word by word.

"The Northeast Army is well-trained and well-equipped. It should be regarded as a great enemy of the Empire. On this day of losing the army and humiliating the country, before apologizing with death, I ask the Ministry of the Army and the General Staff Headquarters to decide carefully on the use of the Korean Army. In my humble opinion, there must be enemy ambushes on the southward route of the Korean Army. If they advance lightly, I am afraid they will repeat the disaster of the Kwantung Army. Kawai Misao's last words."

After reading, Fukuhara Yoshiya took out a pen and added his own name under Kawai Misao's name. Only then did he ask, "Excellency, are the combat records ready?"

Seeing Kawai Misao nod slightly, Fukuhara Yoshiya also took out a notebook from his pocket. "This is the record of street fighting, very rough. Although I don't know how the Northeast Army fights, they must have made extremely detailed targeted preparations. Please have the breakout personnel take this with them no matter what, hoping it can be of some help to the Empire."

Kawai Misao called over the adjutant who had changed into Chinese civilian clothes and handed Chief of Staff Fukuhara Yoshiya's notebook to the adjutant.

Just then, the captain of the guard walked in quickly from outside. The expression on his face was very angry, but also a bit strange. "Report to the Commander. The enemy... the enemy has sent an envoy."

Kawai Misao had absolutely no interest in listening to the person sent by the Northeast Army to persuade surrender. Just as he wanted to tell the captain of the guard to drive the man away, he heard the captain of the guard's voice lower, "That man said he was sent by He Rui to send troops to escort Your Excellency out of Port Arthur."