Three days later, Tianmen County, western Hubei.

After three days and nights of rapid march, the chief officers of the Dabie Mountains War Zone finally retreated safely to Tianmen County and met with the New 38th Division and other units that retreated here first.

After a quick settlement at the county office, Bai Chongbei fell to bed.

Three consecutive marchs on the road were exhausted by Zhuge.

Yu Jishi, Hu Zongnan, Tang Enbo and others did not ask for the return of the New Thirty-Eighth Division and the eight honorary divisions, as if this matter did not exist at all.

Just a few days ago, these commanders were rushing to ask for the new 38th Division and eight honorary divisions, but now, they seem to have forgotten about this.

After leaving the county office, nine division commanders including Zhu Liangcheng, Sun Liren and others surrounded Zhong Yi.

"Damn, these snobs." Shi Zude couldn't help but curse, "When our nine divisions were strong, these senior generals wanted to kneel down and call him dad. Now we are in trouble, so we immediately changed our face! Did you see that contemptuous look just now? Treat us as beggars!"

"Old Shi, you are just a beggar now." Liu Yuanlin said, "Your Honorary Second Division is only two or three thousand remaining soldiers, and your weapons and equipment are almost completely lost. If others don't give you supplementary soldiers and weapons and equipment, can you still be hard? You are just polite to say that you are beggar."

Shi Zude was speechless all of a sudden.

Nothing else, Xiaogan's battle was so miserable!

In order to block the 12th Army's southward cluster and to defend the life passage in Wuhan, their nine divisions fought fiercely with four Japanese divisions and five heavy artillery corps on the front line of Xiaogan. At the cost, when nearly 100,000 elite troops finally retreated to Tianmen, there were only less than 30,000 people left!

After a while, Shi Zude said depressedly: "But we fight with the Japanese devils like this, aren't it all for them? If we didn't fight with the 12th Army of the Japanese in Xiaogan, more than 20 troops in the entire war zone could have retreated? It's their dream of Qingqiu! Damn!"

Zhong Yi said nothing.

To be honest, Zhong Yi had already expected that the situation would be like today when he deliberately detained the new 38th Division and eight honorary divisions and prevented them from returning to the construction industry!

Once the Japanese army launches the second phase of the Wuhan Battle, the momentum will definitely be unprecedented!

It is impossible to block the heavy army group heading south along the Pinghan Railway without paying the price of bleeding!

Zhong Yi was even mentally prepared to fight all nine divisions, because the battle of Xiaogan was completely different from the battle of Wuhan. In the battle of Wuhan, they not only had authentic and solid houses, but also fought street battles. The battle of Xiaogan not only did not have solid fortifications, but also fought field battles with the Japanese!

So, Zhong Yi was psychologically prepared for this.

If he did it again, he would still do this.

At this time, Sun Liren suddenly said, "They dislike us and don't want us. Maybe it's a good thing."

"Brother Fumin said very well." Zhu Liangcheng said deeply, "In this way, the commander may use our nine divisions as the foundation and reorganize a group of troops."

"Yes." Liu Yuanlin said, "In this way, we can fight side by side again."

"It's good to fight side by side." Liu Yuanlin also said, "How happy are our brothers getting along? If it were someone else, I'd be worried that they won't get along. How embarrassing will it be when the time comes?"

Sun Liren glanced at Zhong Yi and said with a smile: "If we really organize our nine divisions into a group army, Zi Ren would have to make trouble for the army commander, right?"

Zhong Yi shook his head and said, "Fumin, stop teasing me. With my qualifications, the division commander is reluctant to be the commander. What an international joke."

"I'm not kidding." Sun Liren said formally, "Just relying on Ziren's ability, prestige, and the great achievements you made in the defense of Wuhan, you are wronged to be the commander of the army! If you really do rewards on merit, Ziren will be promoted to the commander-in-chief of the group army, you are qualified to be promoted to the commander-in-chief of the group army. Everyone said it?"

Sun Liren's words immediately resonated with everyone.

"What Fumin said is that Ziren should be the commander-in-chief of the group army."

"If Zi Ren really wants to be the commander-in-chief of our army, it will be great."

"If you want me to say that Zi Ren should be the commander-in-chief of this group army. If it were someone else, I would not accept it!"

"Enough, you guys." Zhong Yi interrupted directly, "I haven't seen the shadow of the army. I'm going to be appointed as the commander-in-chief of the army? Is there no reward for my great achievements? Have you never heard of it?"

Hearing this, Sun Liren and a few others fell silent immediately.

If you have great achievements, you will not be rewarded. This has been the case since ancient times.

...

In Chongqing, Yunxiu Tower.

Lin Wei, director of the attendant's room, quickly walked into the study on the first floor.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, Principal Chang, who was closing his eyes to rest, opened his eyes.

In the past few days, Principal Chang was extremely excited, and after the excitement, he became extremely tired.

Seeing that Lin Wei came in, Principal Chang said, "Weiran, is there any news in Wuhan?"

"Yes!" Lin Wei whispered, "Just half an hour ago, the vanguard of the 15th Division of the Japanese Army and the 51st Infantry Regiment had already entered Hankou City, and Hankou had officially fallen."

With Hankou falling, Hanyang and Wuchang were no longer protected.

After more than six months of guarding, Wuhan was finally in the fall.

Principal Chang was silent for a moment and asked again: "What day is it today?"

Lin Wei responded respectfully: "If you go back to the principal, today is September 23rd."

"September 23." President Chang sighed, "Weiran, remember this day. Today is the day when the heart of our China falls!"

"Yes!" Lin Wei said in a stern voice.

After being silent for more than ten seconds again, Principal Chang asked again: "Where are the troops in the Dabie Mountains War Zone?"

Lin Wei hurriedly said: "Except for Li Pinxian's 11th Army who stayed in the Dabie Mountains as planned to fight guerrillas, the rest of the troops have all been safely transferred and they have already crossed the Han River last evening."

Principal Chang nodded slightly and said, "Where are the nine teachers who pointed at Xiaogan before?"

"The nine divisions pointed to by Xiaogan have also retreated to Yingcheng." Lin Wei said, "But..."

Seeing that Lin Wei stopped talking, Principal Chang immediately turned around and asked, "But what?"

Lin Wei sighed lightly and said, "But the nine divisions mentioned in Xiaogan were very much in the losses. Sun Liren's new 38th Division was basically crippled, and most of the eight honorary divisions were killed or injured. From the 100,000 people heading north from Hankou to the time of retreating, there were only less than 30,000 people left. At best, it was only enough to form three divisions!"

"This is also an expected result," said Principal Chang, "but no matter what, the sacrifice of these 70,000 people has won the survival of the 600,000 main force in the Dabie Mountains War Zone, which is worth it!"
Chapter completed!