After several days of arduous trek, deputy captain Yuan Guangtao, who had been hiding in Tibet along the way, and more than 20 of his followers arrived at a small mountain village on the edge of the mountainous area in southern Shandong.
On that day, Huaiyin was besieged by the Japs. Some members of Xie Zhengxiang's 4th Battalion, who was guarding the east of the city, were kidnapped by the battalion commander Xie Zhengxiang and rebelled. The Japs immediately broke into Huaiyin from the east of the city.
The panicked deputy commander-in-chief Yuan Guangtao immediately ordered a retreat and took the lead in leaving the city and evacuating northward with the personnel of the general command organization.
When they stopped, they heard the defeated soldiers fleeing from behind saying that Huaiyin City had been destroyed and that the Japanese pursuers were about to arrive in an instant.
Deputy Captain Yuan Guangtao, who originally wanted to stop and gather the troops, was frightened out of his mind by the Japanese. He heard that Huaiyin had fallen and the Japanese were pursuing him. He knew that the situation was over, so he did not care about gathering the defeated troops, so he hurriedly led his men again.
Evacuate to the north.
In Siyang County, they encountered another group of Japanese and puppet troops. After a melee, many people were scattered, and deputy captain Yuan Guangtao was left with more than 20 close associates.
Seeing that they were about to enter the mountains, and there were no Japanese chasing after them, deputy captain Yuan Guangtao and the others, who had escaped all the way, finally breathed a sigh of relief and rested in this small mountain village.
Although Deputy Captain Yuan Guangtao was an officer parachuted into the Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps from the Sulu War Zone, he was still the number two military and political figure.
When the Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps was strong, Deputy Captain Yuan Guangtao was also very high-spirited and ambitious, wanting to achieve some military success and advance further in his official career.
But who knew that the plan would change, and with the heavy Japanese troops launching a large-scale attack on the areas controlled by the Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps.
The Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps lost Jieshou and Baoying one after another. Following his command errors, now it also lost Huaiyin and the troops were scattered.
Yuan Guangtao, the high-spirited deputy captain at the beginning, was in a state of disarray during his escape. His woolen uniform was stained black and his whole body became haggard.
Although he took a temporary rest in this small mountain village, deputy captain Yuan Guangtao became completely depressed when faced with such a tragic scene, and he didn't know how to face it at all.
He wanted to gather his troops but was worried that he would be put in danger if he ran into the Japanese pursuers. However, if he returned to the theater headquarters in such a dejected state, he would not be spared the death penalty. After all, he had fought such a defeat.
"Sir, the brother we sent out to inquire about the news is back."
When deputy captain Yuan Guangtao was frowning and not knowing what to do next, a captain officer walked into the low earth-walled house to report.
Hearing that the brother who had inquired about the news was back, Deputy Captain Yuan Guangtao came to his senses and tidied up his tattered military uniform to make himself look less embarrassed.
"Let him in."
"yes!"
The captain officer responded and went out, and soon brought in a travel-worn brother.
After the brother came in, he put his feet up and saluted the deputy captain Yuan Guangtao with a military salute. He still maintained respect for the deputy captain Yuan Guangtao.
"Tell me, how is the situation?"
Deputy Captain Yuan Guangtao didn't have the intention to return the salute and just stared at the brother and asked.
This brother looked a little bad, but he still told the truth: "I went back to inquire about it, and I didn't meet our troops who broke out. I heard someone said..."
"If you have something to say, just say it." Seeing this brother hesitate to speak, deputy captain Yuan Guangtao had a bad feeling in his heart, and still wanted to hear the result.
"I heard that only a small part of our troops broke out, and now they are missing. The rest are blocked in the city and have not come out. The Japanese have been bombarding them with artillery for a day, and they are probably all gone..." This brother's voice
In a low voice, he told the news of the inquiry.
After hearing what this brother said, deputy captain Yuan Guangtao seemed to have had all his strength drained from his body, and he slumped down on his chair.
Thinking that so many people and troops in the city had been massacred by the Japanese, he couldn't help but get chills on his back. He knew it was over, everything was over, and the whole army was wiped out.
"You go down."
After deputy captain Yuan Guangtao was silent for a long time, he weakly waved to the brother and let him go.
If most of the troops break out, they still have a chance to explain to the theater headquarters.
After all, in this day and age, even the best-equipped Central Army troops have lost battles. If they lose the battle, it doesn't matter. At most, they will be scolded. After the commander finishes scolding, they have to continue to use them to fight the Japanese.
.
But now the entire Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps was destroyed in Huaiyin City, but he, the commander, survived. It would be strange if he was not shot when he returned home.
Thinking that not only would his career be cut off, but he might also be shot, deputy captain Yuan Guangtao felt a wave of helpless despair. He was unwilling to give in.
He is young and promising. As long as he works hard in his position in the Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps, he will definitely achieve great things in the future.
It's a pity that it's too late to say anything now. The Northern Jiangsu Guerrilla Corps is gone, I have no way to advance, and my life is in danger. Thinking about it makes people despair.
"Let Commander Du and the others come over for a meeting."
After thinking for a long time, deputy captain Yuan Guangtao ordered the guards to ask the several staff officers who had escaped with him to come over.
Soon, former intelligence staff officer Du Jiang and several other officers who had not been separated during the battle gathered in the earth-walled room where deputy captain Yuan Guangtao stayed.
The brothers who were investigating the news had already told them the news of the investigation, and they all looked extremely solemn, knowing that they were now facing a difficult situation.
"I have no other intention of calling you brothers here. I believe you are aware of the situation in Huaiyin. Now I want to hear your thoughts. What should we do next?"
Seeing that several staff officers were silent, deputy captain Yuan Guangtao took the lead to speak and broke the silence in the room.
"We lost the battle this time. So many brothers and people fell into the hands of the little devils. We cannot absolve ourselves of the blame..."
Although a staff officer said it tactfully, he also pointed out the fault of command. They retreated too hastily and left the city without setting anything up, which led to the current situation.
"Now we are not holding anyone accountable. The main thing is what should we do next, should we return to the theater headquarters or find another way out?" Deputy Captain Yuan Guangtao interrupted the staff officer.
"If we return to the theater headquarters now, we have lost the battle and the entire army has been annihilated. We may not be able to escape death." Du Jiang, the intelligence staff officer, stated the result bluntly.
"But if we don't go back, we have nowhere to go. We can't stay in this small village forever."
With the loss of Huaiyin, the troops were dispersed and they were now completely homeless.
"I do have a place to go, but I don't know what you think."
Looking at the frowning people, deputy captain Yuan Guangtao pondered for a while and then said.
"Surrender to the Japs?" A staff officer immediately shook his head: "We have a blood feud with the Japs. Even if I die, I will not surrender to the Japs."
"Yes, we cannot surrender to the Japanese." Another staff officer also agreed.
"You have misunderstood me, I meant Nanjing." Seeing the intense reaction of the staff, the deputy captain immediately explained.
"President Wang still wants Nanjing to compromise with the Japanese. The people sent last time have already said that it is just a roundabout way to save the country. As long as the accumulated strength is reached, it will be time to fall out with the Japanese...
"Deputy Captain Yuan Guangtao said slowly while watching the changes in everyone's expressions.