After hearing the news, Nakajima Konsogo's eyes suddenly lit up.
Zhang Yong!
Jiangyin Fortress!
That Zhang Yong is in Jiangyin Fortress!
With the blessing of Amaterasu, the opportunity has come!
As long as the 16th Division conquers Jiangyin Fortress and kills Zhang Yong...
His name, Nakajima Jingo, will definitely make the headlines in the newspapers!
He will become a celebrity that attracts the attention of all the people of the Japanese Empire!
Imperial conferment of honors...
Golden Eagle Medal...
There will definitely be!
No!
Zhang Yong must be captured alive!
We must capture this Zhang Yong alive and send him to Tokyo!
Put Zhang Yong in a cage.
Acting like a monkey.
The entire Imperial Japanese Army hates this Zhang Yong to the core! They wish they could crush him to ashes!
Bunzaburo Kawagishi...
Susumu Fujita...
Yamamuro Munetake...
Hisao Tani...
Yoshizumi Ryosuke...
Too many divisions suffered losses under Zhang Yong.
To this day, the Sixth Division and the Ninth Division are still quarreling over the loss of the heavy artillery regiment.
The commander of the dispatched force, Matsui Iwane, was as big as a bucket. The base camp was unable to make a judgment. They had no choice but to make peace and agree to return the Hisao Tani Heavy Artillery Regiment.
At the same time, the base camp prioritized the deployment of thirty-six 105mm heavy cannons from the rear, reorganized a heavy artillery regiment, and handed it over to the command of Yoshizumi Ryosuke.
Yoxi!
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
Must catch!
And, don’t let others take it away!
Especially the 18th Division. They are right behind the 16th Division. They cannot be allowed to take a share of the pie.
"chief of staff!"
"Your Excellency, Division Commander, please give me your instructions."
"Assemble all troops immediately and launch an attack on Jiangyin Fortress."
"Your Excellency General, the heavy artillery regiment hasn't arrived yet..."
"No need. We will attack immediately."
"Tie!"
The chief of staff rushed to deploy.
It completely understands Nakajima Kongo's mentality. He is eager to express himself.
Among so many division commanders, Nakajima Konsogo is older. However, he was promoted to lieutenant general very late. Therefore, achievements are urgently needed.
Take down Zhang Yong!
Capture Jiangyin Fortress!
That’s the record!
Especially the former!
It will definitely be a life highlight!
because……
That Zhang Yong!
Now it’s the target of public criticism!
From the dispatched troops to the base camp, everyone hated Zhang Yong!
"Report!"
"Dispatch an urgent call from the Army Headquarters."
A staff officer hurried over.
Holding a telegram in his hand.
The chief of staff stretched out his hand to take it. After reading it, his expression became stern.
He turned around and said to Nakajima Imamago: "Your Excellency General, Commander Matsui wants us to attack immediately and not give Zhang Yong a chance to escape!"
"Yo Xi! Just what I want!" Nakajima nodded towards me, "Deploy immediately and launch an attack!"
"Yes!" The chief of staff did not dare to neglect. He stopped making deductions and gave the order directly.
Order the troops of the 16th Division to march towards Jiangyin Fortress immediately. No matter how far away they are, they must come immediately.
At the same time, the troops approaching Jiangyin Fortress immediately launched an attack.
Destroy the enemy while moving without making any mistakes.
"Didi!"
"Tick tock!"
As the telegram was sent, the Japanese invaders immediately went crazy.
The Japanese invaders belonging to the 16th Division all gathered frantically towards Jiangyin Fortress.
Originally, some of the Japanese invaders were already fighting with the national troops in other places. After receiving the order, they immediately withdrew from the battle and marched towards the Jiangyin Fortress.
The national army in front of them was confused and didn't know what was going on, so they didn't pay attention.
"boom……"
"boom……"
Near Jiangyin Fortress, the battle began to become fierce.
But Zhang Yong didn't care at all. He didn't participate in the battle. Instead, he was thinking about it at the rear.
Should we withdraw the 100 troops stationed in Suzhou to Jiangyin Fortress?
There is only the 103rd Division of the Guizhou Army, which lacks strength and cannot effectively counterattack. It can easily lead to a tug-of-war.
The counterattack must be quick. It must be solved in one night.
It must be fast and hard. One blow is fatal.
Another army he is responsible for supervising, the 67th Army, has now retreated outside Jinling City.
According to the arrangements of the headquarters, the 67th Army is responsible for garrisoning Zijin Mountain. It is the commanding height around Jinling. It must be the object of crazy competition by the Japanese invaders.
It is conceivable that once the Japanese invaders approach Jinling, the 67th Army will definitely be in a hard fight.
Arranging the 67th Army in Zijin Mountain was probably suggested by He Yingqin or Chen Cheng. They both used Zhang Yong's troops to fight the most difficult battles.
Nominally, the troops he oversees, Zhang Yong, have strong combat effectiveness and are worthy of trust. But in reality, the troops are exhausted by fighting.
But Zhang Yong had no objection.
Stationed at Purple Mountain. It fits his wishes perfectly.
As long as the Purple Mountain is defended, the Japanese invaders will not be able to enter the city. They will be attacked from a high position.
In fact, as long as you guard the Purple Mountain, you can do a lot of things.
Therefore, the 67th Army cannot move.
Only 100 troops can be mobilized because Suzhou can be abandoned.
Abandon Suzhou and retreat to Wuxi. This can shorten the front line and form a corner with Jiangyin Fortress. It can also intercept the Japanese invaders.
However, abandoning Suzhou requires an order from the headquarters, which means Chiang Kai-shek's permission.
Asking for instructions is troublesome. But don't ask for instructions. Lao Jiang was very stingy. Asking him to give up a place is like cutting his flesh.
In my impression, Chiang Kai-shek never seemed to give up a place on his own initiative.
They all require you to stick to it, stick to it...
It's exactly the same as a mustache.
Then the place was gone, and the defenders were gone. Alas, they were pushed back.
I have to think of a workaround...
"boom……"
"boom……"
A cannonball fell nearby.
Zhang Yong doesn't care at all.
They are all small-caliber artillery shells. 92 Infantry Cannon.
Before the arrival of the Japanese 150mm howitzers, he was not afraid at all.
Even if it is the Japanese invaders' 105mm heavy cannon, he has a way to stop it.
final……
Make up your mind.
Duan Xingdao was ordered to command the 167th Division to fight in Suzhou to intercept the Japanese invaders.
Duan Xingdao was from the 100th Army. His presence there meant that the 100th Army had not left. The main force of the 100th Army happened to retreat secretly to Wuxi.
What?
Maybe someone will sue you?
Whatever!
You will be outside, and your orders will not be accepted.
As Chiang Kai-shek himself said, all the troops near Jiangyin Fortress are under my command.
Then I mobilize the main force of 100 troops, what's the problem?
"Someone is coming!"
"arrive!"
"Send the report!"
"yes!"
…
Chongqing.
Shajiaping. Military Command Chongqing Station.
Military unification was formally established. Li Boqi still served as the chief of Chongqing Station.
Affected by the adverse effects of the war on the front, more and more personnel, equipment and facilities began to migrate to the rear.
Chongqing, this land and water terminal, has begun to gain prominence.
It can be reached by boat.
Stay away from the battlefield.
High mountains.
The road is rough.
No matter how ferocious the Japanese invaders were, they probably would not be able to invade Chongqing.
As a result, some powerful big bosses or senior officials started to buy properties and settle down in Chongqing. This mountain city began to become more and more prosperous.
As the commander of the military command station, Li Boqi almost kept his word before other officials arrived.
Everyone knows his relationship with Zhang Yong. Zhang Yong is also the inspector general.
What's more, there is also the relationship with He Guoguang.
“Tuk-tuk!”
“Tuk-tuk!”
Li Jingzhi quickly arrived outside Li Boqi's office.
Knock on the door.
"Come in."
Li Boqi's voice came.
Li Jingzhi walked in holding the telegram folder and stood at attention.
"Webmaster, I have a telegram from Zhang Yong."
"read."
"Clearly coded telegram. Content: I am Zhang Yong! I'm waiting for you at Jiangyin Fortress! Come on!"
"To whom?"
"It should be the Japanese Sixteenth Division."
"I understand. Go ahead! Call Lin Yifeng."
"yes."
Li Jingzhi agreed, put down the telegram, then turned and left.
Soon, Lin Yifeng, leader of the action team, arrived.
"Webmaster."
"Is Cheng Jushu still in Chongqing?"
"Unloading."
"Ask him to speed up unloading, then load up the food and head to Jiangyin Fortress immediately."
"food?"
"Yes. Full of food. Don't need anything else. Just food. You can escort it personally."
"If Commissioner Zhang Yong is in Jiangyin Fortress, you must obey his command. If not, take the people in Jiangyin Fortress aboard and evacuate."
"Evacuate to where?"
"Withdraw to Yangzhou. Then transport grain from Yangzhou to Jiangyin Fortress."
"clear."
"If you encounter someone who blocks you on the way, use the name of our military commander. Or report Commissioner Zhang's name. If the other party continues to block your path, shoot to death."
"clear!"
"Go for it!"
"yes!"
Lin Yifeng agreed.
He hurriedly turned around and left. Go to the dock to find Cheng Jushu.
By coincidence, Cheng Jushu's cargo ship had finished unloading. So he immediately mobilized dock coolies to load the grain overnight.
A lot of food was transported from central Sichuan and was ready to be transported to the front line. There were piles of food everywhere around the dock. In the name of military commanders, it was transferred on the spot.
More than a thousand tons of grain were loaded overnight. Then they immediately went down the river and rushed to Jiangyin Fortress.
Subsequently, more ships were commandeered by Li Boqi to transport grain and sailed down the river towards the Jiangyin Fortress.
…
Jinling.
Li Yunyan hurried back.
It was recalled urgently by the organization.
"Your fleet has an urgent mission."
"What mission?"
"Immediately transport all the grain transported from Hankou to Jiangyin Fortress."
"Jiangyin Fortress?"
"Yes. Zhang Yong is there."
"Understood."
Li Yunyan nodded.
The impression of Zhang Yong came to mind.
A bit complicated.
It seems that he is not one of his own.
But he doesn't seem to be an enemy.
He was quite powerful at killing the Japanese invaders.
Is he short of food?
If you didn't say it earlier.
How could there be a shortage of food with such a big food account?
With her fleet, she can deliver thousands of tons of food to him. Even if there are 100,000 people in the fortress, they can feed him for several months!
Arrange immediately.
The fleet is fully loaded.
All are packages of grain.
Go down the river.
Head to Jiangyin Fortress.
…
"Report! Zhang Yong is at Jiangyin Fortress!"
"Report! Zhang Yong is at Jiangyin Fortress!"
"Report……"
The news exploded instantly.
At first, Zhang Yong casually made up the number 9527.
I originally thought that this frequency could be my own. Unexpectedly, it soon became a public channel.
Anyone who is concerned about the war situation will arrange a special radio station to monitor this frequency.
Among them was the Consul General of the Japanese Consulate General in Shanghai, Akiyama Shigekui.
"He is in Jiangyin Fortress..."
Akiyama Shigekui's face was gloomy, but her heart was at a loss.
This is a good opportunity to eliminate Zhang Yong and eliminate this hidden danger.
The information fed back by the military headquarters is that two main divisions, the 16th Division and the 18th Division, are launching an attack on Jiangyin Fortress.
They are preparing to seize the Jiangyin Fortress from land so that they don't have to trouble the Navy's Red Deer.
Because of the previous cooperative operations, Navy Red Deer was already very agitated.
The Navy's Red Deer gained nothing and lost two battleships, a destroyer and a light cruiser.
Zhang Yong's clear telegram was also received by the Navy's Red Deer.
However, Navy Red Deer has a scientific attitude and seriously does not believe it.
It is said that General Yamamoto Isoroku has requested to investigate the details. Otherwise, it makes no sense logically.
How did Zhang Yong sink the light cruiser?
What weapon did he use?
torpedo?
What type of torpedo?
Who provided it?
"Ring ring ring..."
"Ring ring ring..."
The phone rang suddenly.
It was a call from Army Red Deer.
Probably Matsui Iwane.
Akiyama Shigekui waited for a moment and picked up the phone.
Sure enough, it was Matsui Iwane.
"Akiyama-kun, I have a favor to ask you."
"Matsui-kun, you're too polite. Please tell me."
"Please ask the consulate to send someone to Jiangyin Fortress to make contact with Zhang Yong."
"Contact? What do you mean?"
"Persuade him to surrender."
"Matsui-kun, please forgive me, I'm afraid this is a fantasy..."
"Of course I know. My purpose is not to really persuade him to surrender. It is to use the Chinese people's counterintuitive tactics to drive a wedge between him and Jiang."
"Separation? Matsui-kun, can you speak more clearly?"
"I will cut off all external aid from Jiangyin Fortress. I will trap Zhang Yong to death until he withers away completely."
"What do you want me to do?"
"When releasing news to the outside world, just say that Zhang Yong has frequent contact with us."
"There's no way he's going to surrender."
"Of course, surrender is impossible. However, he may be self-respecting and want to dominate one side! He wants to establish himself as king in Jiangyin Fortress!"
"this……"
Akiyama Shigekui felt that the other party's IQ was worrying.
Although he is an army general, he doesn't seem very smart.
What use is such an old-fashioned approach to Zhang Yong?
"Qiu Shanjun, do what I want! I have only one purpose, which is to cut off foreign aid from Jiangyin Fortress, and then trap Zhang Yong to death!"
"Understood."
"As long as Jiangyin Fortress has no external assistance, Zhang Yong will die in my hands sooner or later. Mr. Qiu Shan, you should be happy to hear the news of his death."
"certainly……"
"Then just wait for my good news!"
"good."
Akiyama Shigekui hung up the phone.
Sit back in silence and think.
If it was just such a simple purpose, it wouldn't be that difficult.
There is a serious lack of trust among the Chinese people. As long as Zhang Yong and Jiangyin Fortress are isolated, it is impossible to receive external assistance.
When the time comes, Army Red Deer will mobilize more troops and attack from land, and it will indeed be possible to win.
The cannons of Jiangyin Fortress were aimed at the river surface, not at the land behind it. It was entirely possible for the Army Red Deer to defeat it.
"Someone is coming!"
Arrange someone to execute it immediately.
…
Yangzhou.
dark night.
canal.
Boats of all sizes were crowded.
All the ships were either filled with food or filled with people.
This was the support sent to Zhang Yong by the eight major salt merchants in Yangzhou.
Not only is there a lot of food, but there are also more than 3,000 young men.
Zhang Yong at Jiangyin Fortress.
They also received clear telegrams.
Being so close, of course emergency assistance was needed.
If you need someone, there is someone!
Want something!
Even people who don't understand military affairs know that as long as Zhang Yong holds Jiangyin Fortress, Yangzhou will be safe.
On the contrary, if Jiangyin Fortress falls, the Japanese invaders will march straight in. While attacking Jinling, they may also threaten nearby Yangzhou.
There are elite national troops in Jinling, but not in Yangzhou. Therefore, Yangzhou is more dangerous.
Others will not care about Yangzhou's life or death.
Only Zhang Yong.
Only then can we protect the safety of Yangzhou.
…
Wannan. Near Xuancheng.
An army in ragged clothes and poorly equipped troops was marching.
They are different from ordinary national troops. They are in good spirits and have high morale. Even if they are wearing straw sandals, they are walking as fast as flying.
If Zhang Yong were here, he would definitely recognize these people.
They were all Red Army soldiers secretly released from Nanchang Prison.
However, they now have a new identity. They are the newly formed Fourth Army of the National Revolutionary Army.
They are marching towards southern Jiangsu. They are the advance team.
They are about to arrive in southern Jiangsu.
The red sun rises with great light. Their arrival will open a new chapter.