Behind a wall that was blown into rubble at the Ping'an County Railway Station, a group of heavy baggage soldiers were burning code pads and other secret documents in front of several furnaces.
In the strongest basement of the train station, the commander of the 47th Division, Osaki Tosada, had ordered the 91st Regiment, the 105th Regiment and the 131st Regiment more than ten minutes ago.
The military flag was burned to prevent it from falling into enemy hands.
Perhaps after today, either these three regiments or the 47th Division will cease to exist like the 108th Division. Those hateful Chinese troops have launched a general attack from several directions. The first one ten minutes ago
The 131st Regiment has lost contact.
As the gunshots approached, nothing could change.
For this reason, he even jumped over the level and sent a request for help telegram to the headquarters of the dispatched troops in China, which was thousands of miles away. The instruction of the Commander-in-Chief in China, General Hata Toshiroku, was that the 47th Division must not retreat even a step.
He must die in Ping'an County. The empire may have divisions that were defeated in the battle, but there are no divisions that surrendered.
After making all preparations, Osako Michizada gathered the subordinates in the division headquarters who were still able to fight, that is, more than 60 staff members of the division headquarters, in the basement of the train station. He stood with a knife in his left hand and his arm wrapped in gauze.
Osako Tsusada had a majestic and sad look on his face. This injured arm was grazed by a large-caliber machine gun bullet on the retreating train.
"Since this morning, the Chinese army has launched surprise attacks on us until now!"
Having said this, Osako Tosada paused for a moment.
"You all were able to overcome many difficulties and obey orders, and fought bravely against the Chinese army which had overwhelming advantages in terms of firepower and tanks. For this, I and the base camp are deeply impressed.
However... Although the 15,000 Imperial troops of the 47th Division fought bravely, we faced a Chinese army armed to the teeth. The Imperial warriors also persisted in fighting to the end, but they still could not escape the fate of destruction.
However, you all are not overly sad. The 47th Division was not the first division in the empire to be lost in battle, and it certainly will not be the last, but our sacrifices are valuable.
At least we bought time for the Sixth Division to retreat. At this last moment, I make one last plea to everyone.
You are all warriors of the empire. You must not be in a hurry to die. Instead, you must live proudly, kill the enemy as much as possible, and fight to serve the country for seven lives. Use the blood of the Chinese to wash away the shame on our bodies... Please!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Osako Tosada bowed to the remaining strength of the 47th Division in front of him, and the staff officers and officers in the basement who were holding guns returned the bow at the same time.
From the telegram received by Neiji Okamura from Taiyuan a few hours ago, Neiji Okamura ordered the 47th Division to serve as the main force to defend the railway station in Ping'an County.
But when the Sixth Division, which was far more powerful than them, was stationed at the edge of Beicheng to facilitate evacuation at any time, they already knew that their fate was sealed and it was only the last moment.
Although they have been mentally prepared for their own ending, some people are still unwilling to accept it.
His senior adjutant, Major Kiyuki Morita, asked with red eyes: "Your Excellency, Division Commander, why are we holding on to the train station instead of the Sixth Division? Are we, the second-class divisions, born to be abandoned?"
Osako Michizada was speechless, and finally the chief of staff, Colonel Someya Hanjiro, shouted: "Morita-kun, we are all Imperial soldiers. Ever since you put on this uniform, you should have understood that this day will come sooner or later. Now we just have to
It's just to fulfill our promise to His Majesty the Emperor. What do you have to worry about?
If you are not willing to die in battle, I can allow you to break out in the opposite direction during our assault!"
Morita Kiyoshi was speechless and just lowered his head and cried silently.
At 16:33 p.m., Osako Tsusada sent his last farewell message.
"...The war situation has reached its final moment. After the 47th Division was surrounded by the Chinese army, the heroic resistance of all the Imperial Army officers and soldiers was truly shocking.
Happily, the officers of the headquarters even led a team to launch a body bomb attack, destroying seven Chinese tanks, forcing the Chinese tank troops to retreat.
Now that I have held the flag-burning ceremony, all the officers and soldiers of the Imperial Army remember that the Emperor and the Empire have shown great kindness to us, and will never regret it even if they are shattered to pieces. I also pray once again that the Empire will win. Farewell... Commander of the 47th Division
Osako Tosada, July 4th, Showa 17th year"
After confirming the telegram, Osako Tsusada, holding a command knife, assembled the last reserve team of the 47th Division in the train station that had been bombed into half ruins... More than two hundred people from the 47th Division Headquarters headquarters
Staff officers, guards and signal troops.
After nearly six or seven hours of fierce fighting, Osako Tomisada had even sent out all the baggage troops in his hands. Now, most of the people resisting inside and outside the train station were orderlies and baggage soldiers.
"Everyone... the last moment has arrived, the Empire of Japan Benzai... the Emperor's Benzai!"
"The Empire of Japan class...the Emperor's class! Class!"
The staff officers and soldiers with desperate and fanatical eyes followed their division commander crazily and shouted together, and the wounded who were leaning against the wall also waved their arms and shouted that they had received grenades or suicide grenades.
bayonet.
"boom!"
The mortar shells that fell into the station interrupted the last shouts of these beasts. Then the chief of staff, Colonel Someya Hanjiro, led everyone to bow to the division commander and took the lead to rush out of the crumbling train station.
However, as soon as they rushed out of the train station, they were immediately attacked by mortars and machine gun fire from the Independent Regiment. The assault team of the Independent Regiment had even reached a position less than fifty meters away from the train station.
"Whoosh..."
Monk Wei, who was charging closely behind Li Yunlong, grabbed his regimental commander, and then the bullets that passed close to his neck made Li Yunlong, who personally led the charge, only feel a burning pain in his neck, but after walking around the gate of hell,
The thrill did not stop Li Yunlong.
"Zhang Dabiao, lead a battalion on the left flank! Blow up that wall for me and attack it!"
Lin Long, who was wielding an MP40 submachine gun, picked up a loudspeaker from a guard behind him and shouted loudly. At this moment, Li Yunlong was surprised to see the Japanese soldiers who had been standing guard suddenly rushed out of the bunker like crazy.
He charged towards them desperately with his bayonet drawn.
"Banzai!"
Ignoring the dense rain of bullets, the Japanese soldiers with bayonets charged desperately under the command of the officers waving command knives, trying to use their bayonets to fight the enemies close at hand. However, they were overwhelmed by hundreds of independent regiment soldiers armed with rifles and submachine guns.
The desperate counterattack turned into a one-sided massacre, and soon this small open space turned into a slaughterhouse.