(Chapter 2 is released, please support me, thank you)
July 3, 1937
While the Tianjin police station was still having a headache over the floating corpse case, another major case made the 29th Army feel that something big was really going to happen.
That afternoon, two plainclothes policemen were drinking tea in a teahouse, listening to Tianjin Allegro, chatting and laughing uncomfortably. Suddenly, a policeman with sensitive ears heard the word "lurking". This policeman turned out to be from the 29th Army Special Agent Battalion.
When the platoon leader heard this word, he became alert. He observed secretly and found that the table in the corner next to him was whispering something. The policeman suddenly discovered that although one of them deliberately concealed it, the glances he glanced at from time to time were obviously
There is a ghost in my heart.
The policeman did not show any emotion, but walked out with a smile, saying that he had drunk too much tea and wanted to put some water in it. As soon as he went out, he immediately found the brothers patrolling the street and asked them to surround him. Then, he walked back to the teahouse by himself.
, and glanced at his companion sitting with him.
The companion immediately understood. When the boy serving tea came closer, he stood up and poured a pot of tea on the people at the table. The people at the table were all burned and screamed. The policeman and his companion hurriedly came to the table.
He apologized in front of him, and then the policemen who heard the sound rushed in. When the man saw the policeman, he seemed to run away, but was violently caught by the policeman, and they were all arrested on the spot.
Zhang Zizhong looked at the time in the past few days and saw that it was already July. He was restless every day. He believed that the information about the Red Party was true and was afraid that it was true. When he learned that the spy had been caught, he immediately led people to interrogate him overnight. Tianjin originally
Close to Peiping, there are several descendants of the top ten torture methods of the Qing Dynasty. After several rounds of service, the man confessed on the spot. It turned out that these people came to Tianjin to recruit and train spies, and they confessed to the recent incident in Rehe.
The transportation between Jichabei and Huade was extremely busy and heavily guarded. It was unknown what was being transported.
Zhang Zizhong immediately understood that this was logistical preparation before the war started. When he was about to send a telegram to Peking, he suddenly heard bursts of cannon fire. Although it was very far away, Zhang Zizhong, who had spent his life in the military, immediately judged that it was the sound of cannons.
Zhang Zizhong asked, "What's the situation? Where is it?"
The chief of staff immediately called to inquire. After a while, he reported back, "Commander, the Japanese army suddenly conducted exercises in the Duliu area of Tianjin. The person who came here is not malicious."
July 5, 1937
Japanese troops begin military exercises outside Tianjin
——Beiping
Song Zheyuan looked at the intelligence that kept flying in, and then looked up at the military map on the wall, sweating constantly on his forehead. Although he declared at the meeting that his 29th Army could stand firm even in the face of the siege of 50,000 Japanese troops, but
I know my own affairs. After several expansions, the number of the 29th Army has increased a lot. There is no problem with light weapons. However, the most important heavy firepower is extremely lacking. If the battle really starts, it will be fine for a short time. Once the time prolongs,
, the wealth of the 29th Army cannot be spent for long.
Zhang Yueting sighed from the side, "The Japanese are going to take action. Look, we are surrounded by Japanese troops in Peiping, and the passage to Tianjin will be cut off at any time. Once something happens to Fengtai, our main artery, the Ping-Han Railway, will also be cut off."
It’s dangerous.”
Song Zheyuan threw the telegram into the sky and said, "Fight now, Feng Zhi'an, be prepared. Once they dare to come, we will fight. This Peiping belongs to our 29th Army, and no one can take it away."
Feng Zhi'an thought for a while and said, "We will fight again, but if we really fight, it will be very dangerous for us here. Military seat, you and the chief of staff should go to Baoding first and take charge. Just leave this place to us."
Qin Dechun, who was also the mayor of Beiping City at this time, also said, "Yes, don't be afraid of ten thousand, just be afraid of the worst. Military officer, please take a group of people away, otherwise we will be easily blamed."
Song Zheyuan stood up and walked around twice and said, "Okay, I'll go to Baoding to take command. Qin Dechun will be in charge of the government, and Tong Linge will be in charge of the military. Once the Japanese take action, they'll beat the hell out of them."
July 6, 1937
The Shimizu Jetsuro Squadron of the Japanese army stationed in Fengtai, fully armed, requested to pass through Wanping County to the Changxindian area for exercises. The troops of the 37th Wanping Division were not allowed to garrison, and the stalemate lasted for more than ten hours. In the end, the two sides retreated from each other.
July 7, 1937
The Japanese troops exercised the battle along Beining Road in Tangshan, Hebei Province.
The Japanese army suddenly conducted a provocative military exercise from Lugouqiao Huilongmiao to Dawayao. Since then, the Japanese army, using the exercise as an excuse, has mobilized heavy troops to surround Beijing and Tianjin. The situation is on the verge of breaking out.
——Fengtai, Beiping
The exercise in Fengtai has been going on for a long time since 7 o'clock in the evening. Ji Xingwen, commander of the 219th regiment of the 110th brigade of the 37th division of the 29th army in Wanping city opposite, and the brigade commander He Jifeng looked at the scene of heavy artillery fire not far away.
There were frowns inside the fortification. Everyone was a soldier. It was clear who the target of the military exercise was. I heard that deserters had begun to appear in the army recently. If we really wanted to fight, could we really win?
He Jifeng said to Ji Xingwen, "Brother Xingwen, the situation is not good. I heard that Tianjin is like us, with cannons lined up in front of us. You guys are guarding Marco Polo Bridge, so be more careful."
Ji Xingwen is a young soldier under 30 years old. He raised his helmet indifferently and said, "My uncle Ji Hongchang died because of the anti-Japanese war. As a nephew, will I embarrass my uncle? Don't worry, I will
If Ji Shaowu is not dead, Marco Polo Bridge will not be lost."
He Jifeng sighed, "Don't say anything unlucky. There has been news from above that the Japs will take action in the next few days. Brothers, please be careful, especially at night. The Japs liked to attack at night when they were at the Great Wall. The wound on my shoulder
It still hurts even now when it rains.”
Ji Xingwen smiled and said, "Don't worry, my team ranked first in the last competition."
He Jifeng nodded and said, "I can rest assured about your group. If anything happens, please notify me immediately."
At this time, a group of Japanese military vehicles suddenly arrived outside Wanping City and walked along the road to Marco Polo Bridge.
The person who came was the Japanese squadron leader Setsuro Shimizu. He got out of the car and walked towards Marco Polo Bridge with his head held high. The guard gritted his teeth and shouted, "The front is the Chinese military defense zone. Please exercise restraint and leave as soon as possible."
At this time, the Marco Polo Bridge was already in a semi-blocked state. The defenders used a large number of sandbags to basically seal the bridge, leaving only a gap the size of a person.
Setsuro Shimizu smiled and said in broken Chinese, "Our army suddenly discovered that a soldier was missing during a military exercise. We think it is very likely that he is now in Wanping City. Our Imperial Japanese Army requires your army to let us enter Wanping City immediately.
We are conducting an inspection and I hope your army can understand."
The guarding soldiers immediately called Ji Xingwen at the regiment headquarters. Ji Xingwen couldn't help laughing after hearing this and said, "Are there any soldiers with hundreds of loaded guns and live ammunition looking for someone? They even brought heavy machine guns. I'm afraid they are looking for someone to make money."
It’s true, tell Battalion Commander Jin Zhenzhong and give me a stern refusal. If any Japanese soldiers really escape and enter Wanping City, we will send them back."
Setsuro Kiyomizu was not angry when he heard the reward, but smiled softly and said, "Very good!" After that, he led the troops back the same way.
Jin Zhenzhong felt an ominous atmosphere when he saw the Japanese troops returning honestly, and immediately ordered all the troops to enter combat mode. He also went to the camp headquarters of the Dawang Temple and sat at the door to rest with his eyes closed, not knowing what he was waiting for.
——Japanese Army Headquarters in China
Because the previous instructions given by the Japanese General Staff Headquarters to the Chinese garrison in Peiping were that in the event of an incident that damages the prestige of the Imperial Army, the Chinese garrison must punish them decisively, act quickly and dexterously, and strike in the shortest possible time, with the smallest possible impact.
Limit requirements and solve the problem on the spot. The Kwantung Army troops continued to prepare for war against the Soviet Union.
Therefore, after receiving the report from the 8th Squadron, Tashiro Anichiro got the news. He thought this was a good opportunity to use this opportunity to force the 29th Army to make further concessions on North China's autonomy. Because at this time, the brigade commander Kawabe Shozo was
Qinhuangdao inspected the troops. Although the commander of the garrison, Amiichiro Tashiro, urgently ordered him to return to Peiping, he was unable to do so. He temporarily asked the commander of the regiment, Mutaguchi Renya, to mobilize troops to put more pressure on the 29th Army. At the same time, he asked the Matsui Agency to use negotiations to confuse the 29th Army.
judgment.
——Fengtai
Mutaguchi Ren also kowtowed to the portrait of the Emperor in military uniform, and a group of Japanese officers knelt behind him and also worshiped the portrait of the Emperor.
He stood up and said, "Gentlemen, China has continuously attacked our overseas Chinese in recent years. We have repeatedly tolerated them for the glory of the yellow people. This year, we have continued to make friendly proposals to them. We even gave many cannons to the 29th Army.
The result? Our soldiers were shot and disappeared in Wanping City. They actually refused to let our people go in for search and rescue. If we don't take action, His Majesty's heroic soldiers will die in Wanping in a confused way. I order.
"
All Japanese officers stood up collectively.
Mutaguchi Lian's eyes were gleaming, and he said as if he had seen something, "The third battalion has entered combat mode and rushed to Wanping City, ready to fight at any time. The first and second battalions have gathered urgently and are on call at any time."
In order to provide cover and the time required to mobilize troops, Matsui Tataro, the head of the Japanese secret service in Peiping, called Peiping Mayor Qin Dechun at around 24:00 on July 7.
Matsui Tataro said, "Our Imperial Japanese Army was conducting exercises on the outskirts of Marco Polo Bridge yesterday. Someone suddenly opened fire and attacked us. We immediately called the team and called them, and found that one soldier was missing. We suspected that the shooter was the Chinese army stationed in Marco Polo Bridge, and thought that the missing person was
Both the soldiers and the soldiers who fired the shots have entered Wanping City, and we demand an immediate search."
Upon hearing this, Qin Dechun knew that this was a plan by the Japanese army to destroy Guo, and said, "It is already late at night. It would be inappropriate for your army to enter the city at this time. Moreover, our army has already gone to bed at this time. It is better to wait until tomorrow morning."
how?"
Matsui Tataro said he would communicate with the army and then hung up the phone.
Qin Dechun thought for a while and suddenly didn't know how to judge the situation.
Just when Qin Dechun was hesitant, Matsui called again and said, "The army is already very anxious. If you still don't allow it, the Japanese army will forcefully enter the city to search."
Qin Dechun wanted to say something else, but Matsui hung up the phone again.
At this time, Qin Dechun suddenly received a report from the Chinese defenders of Marco Polo Bridge, saying that the Japanese army had formed an encirclement and attack posture against Wanping City.
Qin Dechun became anxious and immediately called Matsui Tairo. After long discussions, the two finally agreed to send personnel to Marco Polo Bridge to investigate.
At this time, the "missing" soldier Shimura Kikujiro claimed by the Japanese side miraculously returned to the team. It turned out that Shimura Kikujiro was a new recruit who had just joined the army. This time he just fell behind because he went to the toilet.
Setsuro Kiyomizu looked at Kikujiro Shimura in front of him, his face uncertain. At this time, the Ichiki Kiyoshi Battalion of the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Regiment of the Chinese Garrison Army, which was ordered to come for reinforcements, had arrived. The leader of the team was Captain Mutaguchi.
Lian Ye.
Mutaguchi Renya shook his head and said, "Ichiki-kun, what do you think?"
Ichiki Kiyonao originally wanted to use this opportunity to obtain great military exploits, but now it has turned into a farce. This is his own army again. If everyone knows, he will definitely become the laughing stock of the imperial army. After thinking about it, Ichiki Kiyonao said, "We
We absolutely cannot give up like this. Your Excellency, Captain, please think about the recent situation in North China. Once we make such an anticlimactic retreat, how will the Chinese publicize us? They will definitely say that as long as they dare to deal with our imperial army with live ammunition, they will be fine.
The concept of letting the imperial army escape during the exercise. If this is really the case, it will be a pity and shame for Japan. Therefore, my idea is that we must first occupy the Ichimonji Mountain (the Chinese position between Marco Polo Bridge and Peiping)
, the Chinese name is Shagang) and then we will negotiate.”
Mutaguchi Renya laughed loudly and said, "Heroes think alike. China people are like donkeys, and they are still stubborn donkeys. Only by beating them hard with whips can Chinese people know what to do. Let us become the Emperor of Japan.
The war whip of the army."
(PS: Off topic, in fact, the July 7th Incident was not the original intention of the Japanese government. At that time, the Japanese government was not ready for war, but was preparing for the war to invade China. The outbreak of the July 7th Incident was more about the following
The soldiers smelled the smell and impatiently launched the attack in advance. This also caused the Japanese government to be in a panic for a period of time.)
