Zhou Wen saw that the problem with the Nineteenth Route Army's adjustment and deployment this time was not that there were any loopholes in the tactical arrangements, but that it was a lack of troops.
At the same time, he also saw General Chiang's embarrassment and concerns, so he stood up and volunteered: "Commander Chiang, please send our volunteers up. Our volunteers will first be deployed to Miaohang Town behind the Yunzaobang defense line.
If part of the front line of defense is broken through, we can quickly step forward to provide support; if the entire line of defense is broken through, we will stand firm at Miaohang and wait for reinforcements to protect the flanks of the Jiangwan line of defense."
Commander-in-Chief Jiang secretly praised in his heart that this boy is really smart. He just took the initiative to ask for a fight. He nodded immediately and said: "I agree to your request for defense deployment, but there is one condition. If the situation collapses, I do not require you to be there."
The temple guards will hold firm, and you can retreat. Everything is done to ensure your safety."
Zhou Wen knew the concerns of Commander-in-Chief Chiang, and did not want their vanguard force of the Central Army to suffer excessive losses. This was a political consideration, and Zhou Wen certainly understood it.
Therefore, Zhou Wen, who quickly returned to Huangdu Station, immediately agreed on the departure details with Meng Yuting, Gao Xiaoshan and other officers. Zhou Wen and Meng Yuting would lead a detachment, an engineer platoon, and the 1st and 2nd machine gun companies and
The two infantry companies set off first in the afternoon and marched on foot to the town of Miaoxing, thirty kilometers away.
Gao Xiaoshan, Chen Wanli and Old Uncle Wu led the remaining unit personnel and logistical materials in civilian vehicles specially allocated by the 19th Route Army, and set out to the temple at night.
Since Miaohang Town is still some distance from the front line, and the Japanese naval guns cannot reach that far, Zhou Wen mobilized the rescue team, including Cui Xiaolu and more than a dozen nurses, and ordered Feng Tianpei to go to the temple.
A field hospital was established in Xingzhen.
…
Miaoxing Town, Baoshan County, Shanghai is located on the bank of Yunzaobang River. There is a Sicao Temple in the local area, which is very popular. There is a village next to the temple. The alley leading in and out of the village is called "Miaoxiang". Later, people gathered and the village gradually expanded into a market town.
, called Miaoxiang Town.
Lane and Hang (hang) have the same pronunciation in Shanghai dialect. Later written records mistakenly wrote it as Hang, and the name of Temple Hang has been used to this day.
In the evening, smoke rose from only a few houses in Miaohang Town. Most of the people in the town had evacuated to the urban area and the rear to avoid the war. Only a few residents who were bold or reluctant to part with their property still held on.
Some of them were unwilling to evacuate because they were lucky, including the house of a wealthy man named Sun who occupied a large area.
Zhou Wen led a detachment to arrive at Miaoxing Town first. Zhou Wen looked around and found that the market town was not large, and was similar to some large villages in later generations. As expected, there was a temple near the river, and the monks in the temple had already evacuated.
, during this period the temple was conscripted into the brigade headquarters of the 156th Brigade of the 19th Route Army.
Just before Zhou Wen and others set off, the 156th Brigade Headquarters had been ordered to move forward. There was only one platoon of left-behind troops in Miaohang Town and a liaison staff officer from the 156th Brigade.
The terrain of Sicao Temple is relatively high. Zhou Wen stood in the open space at the entrance of the temple, looking at the few puffs of smoke coming out of the town. He frowned at the captain's liaison staff named Zhang and said, "Commander Zhang, why are there still people in the town?"
Common people, you didn’t force them to evacuate?”
You must know that villages and towns that are strategically located on the front line are generally not allowed to retain ordinary people. One reason is that it is difficult to manage, and the other reason is that they must be kept secret.
Think about it, ammunition, food, and headquarters are all stationed here, and you can't lock them all up. This person's talkativeness is not conducive to confidentiality, not to mention what if the people accidentally catch a fire? So if not
Under special circumstances, people generally have to be driven away. This is the cruelty of war.
Staff Officer Zhang spread his hands and said, "Mr. Zhou, we have tried our best to persuade you, but you also know that not long after our 19th Route Army arrived in Shanghai, the military headquarters issued a military order not to embarrass the local people too much. We are not good either.
Let's do it, especially the rich man named Sun, who almost made his whole family lie on the ground and roll around. Our brigade commander had no choice but to station all the troops outside the town. Fortunately, Miaohang Town is still safe now.
, the Japanese naval guns can’t hit here.”
"No, you have military orders, but we don't. We must evacuate the remaining households today. This is no joke." Zhou Wen said without any doubt.
I was very dissatisfied with the handling measures of the 156th Brigade. Of course, military orders must be followed, but we should not be too dogmatic. Isn't there a saying that generals will not accept the orders of the emperor? The headquarters and logistics center do not tolerate the slightest carelessness, and Zhou Wen and the others
He brought too many logistical supplies, and he didn't expect anyone else's logistical support. Not to mention the bullets and artillery shells that were enough to last a month of fierce fighting, the white flour, canned goods and medicines he brought were not a small number.
At this time, Miaohua stepped forward and said: "Scholar, aren't there vehicles from the Shanghai Public Organization coming up tonight? I heard that many of the people in the convoy have gang backgrounds. Let them help with the persuasion work. If it doesn't work, let's do it harder. After all,
We are also considered guest troops, and it would not be good if our relations with the locals become too tense."
Zhou Wen thought it made sense, so he said nothing more and said to Meng Yuting, who had just arrived: "Yuting, let the troops not rest for the time being. First, Staff Zhang will lead the way to the positions outside the town for deployment. Repair what should be repaired, and what should be repaired.
Make changes, make changes according to our method, and the headquarters will be temporarily located here. I will take people to the town first and determine the addresses of the hospital and warehouse."
To the east outside Miaohang Town is the defensive position previously set up by the 156th Brigade. Zhou Wen knew that this place would become the main battlefield in more than ten days, so he did not dare to slack off. You must know that this place is no longer far away from the first line of Yunzaobang.
At 10 kilometers, it can be said that we are already on the front line. Anything can happen on the battlefield. From now on, we must be ready for battle.
Zhou Wen took Miaohua and Zhang Xiaoping into the town. At this time, Miaoxing Town had two streets running through the town, east-west and north-south. They met in the center of the town, but the streets were quite spacious.
, there is no problem with trucks coming and going.
Zhou Wen and the others basically traveled throughout the town in a short time, and also selected several places as warehouses and hospitals. Among them, the house of the rich man Sun was very suitable for a hospital. Although Zhou Wen and the others did not go in, just
Looking at the large courtyard and the two-story blue brick house inside, Zhou Wen was very satisfied. The blue brick house was relatively strong and relatively safe, and the entire yard was surrounded by walls, which was also conducive to maintaining hygiene and guarding.
In fact, with Zhou Wen's temperament, if he asked to open the door and threatened him with a gun, why would he be afraid that this rich man would not move out quickly? I have never seen anyone who dares to act violently in front of a gun. If he were in Shanxi, he would have done this long ago.
Just considering that Miaohua's suggestion makes sense, why not just wait a little longer? Those gang members who come to support the frontline must have some ideas.