At dawn, the long queue walked onto the Beijing-Hangzhou Highway, and its vision became clear and transparent.

Many of the houses that can be seen in the field of view were blown up and burned.

The vision became clear, which seemed to make the eyes of every marching soldier even more burning.

This burning pain not only comes from the eyes, but also from the heart. As the vision becomes clear, the burning pain in everyone's heart also becomes clearer.

Among the marching teams, many people were the original "old men" of the 261st Brigade of the 87th Division. The 87th Division, 88th Division, and 36th Division were originally the Guard Division of the Supreme Command, and later they were reorganized and expanded into three divisions. The troops in the capital were naturally different from ordinary troops. They had their own pride and feelings. As the most popular force in Nanjing, the 87th Division was stationed in Nanjing for many years. The whole division was full of feelings for every grass, wood, brick and tile here. This feeling was tantamount to the emotion of family.

In the marching team, Lin Zhentang heard a lieutenant colonel officer saying to the recruits from the guard battalion beside him: "This is Xiaoling Guard. I have been stationed here before and practiced. Alas------------------."

Lin Zhentang heard inseparable emotions from that voice and heart-wrenching regret.

Thinking of so many national military officers and soldiers fighting bloody battles, and thinking of so many national military officers and soldiers burying themselves in a foreign land, Lin Zhentang felt confused: "Everyone is bleeding, everyone is fighting desperately, why is this battle so bad? Why? Why?"

Following the team, questions after questions floated through Lin Zhentang's mind.

Now, there is still silence here. This silence does not mean peace and tranquility. Everyone in the team is clearly aware of this cruel reality. The charred and smell around it are always telling everyone that it is still the range of Japanese aviation bombing. They will face Japanese bombing at any time, because it is already dawn.

Lin Zhentang followed the brigade headquarters of the 261st Brigade of the 87th Division with the 5th Company, as if they were the guard battalion of the brigade headquarters. Lin Zhentang didn't know how many times he scolded Chen Yiding in his heart, but in order for the 5th Company to have a good place, he dared not show any dissatisfaction with Chen Yiding.

Lin Zhentang watched Chen Yiding give orders one after another, and had to admire the general's good command.

The 521st Regiment stayed at the Central Stadium to rest and standby, and the 522nd Regiment rested at Zhongling Street. Lin Zhentang and the 5th Company were rested with the brigade headquarters and their direct troops in Xiaoling Guards.

After arranging the troops, Chen Yiding took the chief staff officer to the city to find the division commander Shen Fazao to take the combat mission. Before leaving, he specially brought Lin Zhentang and asked him to take a squad of soldiers with him.

Lin Zhentang was slightly puzzled by Chen Yiding's arrangement and was not easy to ask, so he had to walk with him along with him with questions.

When he arrived outside Zhongshan Gate, Lin Zhentang looked at the heroic city in front of him and thought pessimisticly: "Oh, the Japanese are about to hit the capital now! I don't know if this city can block the Japanese planes and cannons? I don't know how many months it can block?"

This thought passed through Lin Zhentang's mind, and he realized his pessimism and secretly warned himself that he shouldn't have done this. He looked at the people in front of him and thought: "Are they..., in fact, who hasn't thought about it like this for those of them who are close to Zhongshan Gate?"

The city gate of Zhongshan Gate was closed, and the outside of the city gate was filled with sacks of soil and piled up, leaving only a lookout hole. Seeing the closed city gate, Lin Zhentang frowned slightly and secretly guessed whether the city gate should also be filled with sacks of soil. Only in this way can the city gate not become a weakness in the defense line and be broken through by the enemy.

Lin Zhentang didn't know that Chen Yiding was now the commander of Zhenjiang's security guard or the deputy commander of the 87th Division of the 71st Army, nor did he know whether he should call him Commander Chen or Deputy Commander Chen. However, when he saw the city gate in front of him, he guessed that Chen Yiding would not be able to see him so easily.

Since he was alone, Lin Zhentang has been worried about being taken away by the editor and has always been on a strong alert attitude. In addition, Chen Yiding forced the fifth company to be incorporated and "sloppy" sent the fifth company out to fight night battles and launch an assault, which made Lin Zhentang have no good views on Chen Yiding, a powerful general.

Now, seeing Chen Yiding being "rejected", Lin Zhentang not only did not feel gloating at all, but instead became anxious inside.

Lin Zhentang did not expect that the defensive position outside the city was so hasty. A 261st Brigade, which was not fully equipped, drove to the city, but the commander of this unit could not even see the superiors and could not even accept specific combat tasks. What's the matter! How come this doesn't make people doubt the military deployment of this city defense?

"Hey--! Stop, which part of you?"

Ni Guoding, the chief of staff of the 87th Division, reported to his home and replied: "We are the 261st Brigade of the 87th Division of the 71st Army. This is our Deputy Commander Chen. Now we are going to the city to find Commander Chen to receive combat missions. Please open the door and let it go!"

"No! Report to the chief, the Nanjing garrison commander has an order. Without the order of the chief, anyone is prohibited from passing through!" A veteran said sternly. There were several soldiers wearing German-style helmets on the city tower. He wore yellow armbands on his left arm, and the two black words "garrison" were suddenly visible.

"Brother, we rushed over from Zhenjiang overnight after receiving a telegram from the division headquarters. Please open the door and let us in. Otherwise, if we miss the military opportunity, we will have to be engaged in military law!" Ni Guoding's face turned slightly and his voice became cold.

"Sorry! Sir, please come back. No one is allowed to pass through without the orders of the superiors!" The soldier at the city gate was not frightened by Ni Guoding's words, and still shouted without changing his face.

After some negotiations, seeing that the guards on the city tower were still so determined, Chen Yiding looked helpless and seemed to remember something again, so he said, "Forget it, hurry up, return to Xiaoling Guard!"

In this way, the group hurriedly left Zhongshan Gate and headed straight towards Xiaolingwei.

Following Chen Yiding hurriedly, Lin Zhentang felt bad in his heart. From time to time, he looked back at this majestic city, and when he thought of what he heard and saw before the Zhenjiang Command retreated, he couldn't help but sweat broke out on his back.

Nanjing, the capital of the Republic of China, is surrounded by mountains in the southeast and rivers in the northwest (Yangtze River), and is a place of beauty. This beautiful city is connected to the Huanghuai Plain in the north, up the river and connected to the Jianghan Plain in the west, chasing the land of Tianfu, and flowing down the eastward to the rich Yangtze River Delta. Since ancient times, the convenient transportation of water and land has made Nanjing a key gate for the north and south of the Yangtze River and an important town for the east and west.

However, facing the coming of the Japanese army, from the tactical perspective of urban defense, Nanjing is like a zodiac. The benefits of water transportation in Nanjing have become the difficulties of the national army retreating and no way out. At present, it is the benefits of the Japanese invaders' sailing. Although the southeast is surrounded by mountains, there is no danger of the terrain, which is not enough to form a tactical and reliable barrier. For the Japanese army, the Japanese army has been increasing its troops continuously, and has the advantage of gaining all its strength, taking advantage of the victory of the Battle of Shanghai, and having the advantage of strong ships and guns, and comprehensive air control. The situation in Nanjing is extremely critical.

Among the officers of the National Army, there are many knowledgeable people. As early as when Lin Zhentang was in the Shanghai Hospital, he heard the injured officers discuss and analyze the terrain and military situation of Shanghai, Nanjing. Because he participated in the Battle of Shanghai from the beginning, Lin Zhentang naturally knew that defending Shanghai was not the same as defending Nanjing. Hearing their analysis and experience of the War of Resistance, he also knew clearly that in fact, the two stage-configurations from Shanghai to the Wufu Line and the Chengxi Line, as well as the Zhajia Line and Tianmu Mountain from Shanghai to the southwest, were also the strategic buffer zone to protect Nanjing.

"Oh--! But these strategic buffer zones have long been reduced to the opponent." Lin Zhentang sighed in his heart.

Looking at this majestic city, Lin Zhentang vaguely felt that this Nanjing city seemed to be a Jedi amid the arguments of those officers, but why did the above insist on defending the lonely city of Nanjing, the Jedi, or they had to choose. However, this choice made Nanjing city more cruel and ruthless, but made this winter even colder.
Chapter completed!