In the early winter, everything inside and outside the city of Nanjing was depressing and there was a chilling atmosphere. The Japanese army in Central China divided into five groups and marched day and night to attack Nanjing aggressively. The Chinese army also gathered heavily, preparing to hold on to the death.
Tang Shengzhi's headquarters of the Nanjing Garrison Commander was set up in his Baiziting mansion. The once quiet mansion is now covered with trenches and barbed wire, and the guards with guns are even more densely packed, giving it a wartime atmosphere.
Wuwu——wuwu——
The shrill air raid sirens resounded over Nanjing, and enemy planes were attacking again. The garrison commander Tang Shengzhi in the commander's headquarters was holding a cup and sipping tea to relieve the pressure on his shoulders. When he heard the shrill sirens, he also endured it.
He kept slamming the tea cup on the table, and the hot tea immediately spilled out.
"Call the airport! Let them knock down the kid's plane!" Tang Shengzhi shouted angrily at the staff officers.
Some staff officers rushed to the telephone to call the airport, while another staff officer rushed to Tang Shengzhi and said: "Sir Tang, go to the air-raid shelter and hide for a while."
Before the staff officer finished speaking, a bomb exploded in the yard. The blast of air shattered the glass in the room, and objects on the table flew around in the air.
"Hurry and cover Chief Tang as he enters the air-raid shelter!" A staff officer dragged Tang Shengzhi and ran toward the air-raid shelter.
Tang Shengzhi's face did not change, he shook off the staff's pull, and asked sternly: "Why are you panicking!"
While they were talking, bombs from Japanese planes landed one after another near Tang Mansion, and four or five anti-aircraft guns deployed nearby also opened fire.
Liu Xing, the deputy commander of the garrison, also rushed into the house in disgrace and said to Tang Shengzhi: "Sir Tang, I'm afraid our office location has been discovered, so we should move it quickly."
Liu Xing was originally the commander of the Jiangfang Group Army. He was Tang Shengzhi’s old subordinate for many years. As far back as 1916, when Tang Shengzhi was the Hunan Governor-General as the battalion commander, Liu Xing was his company commander. They had shared life and death together, and this time he became his
The deputies are working together again.
After hearing what Liu Xing said, Tang Shengzhi heard the constant explosions coming from outside and ordered: "I can't move out of this house just because of a few Japanese bombs. Luo Zhuoying, Liu Xing and I can just stay here."
, the rest of you, go to the underground office of the Ministry of Railways, it’s spacious there.”
Tang Shengzhi was stubborn and unwilling to leave the mansion. Liu Xing was helpless and waved the rest of the staff to evacuate, while he and Tang Shengzhi stayed to continue commanding the battle.
Japanese planes flew over Nanjing in waves and bombed it indiscriminately. Many exquisite buildings collapsed and turned into ruins during the explosions. Smoke billowed in the city, and many places were on fire.
The pilots of the Chinese Air Force had been fighting fiercely for several days without getting any rest. However, they still followed the order and took off to meet the enemy. After more than an hour of fierce fighting, the Japanese aircraft retreated again.
"What kind of battle is this!" Tang Shengzhi saw the thick smoke billowing outside through the broken window, and dropped his hat in anger.
"Sir Tang, our pilots have tried their best. They have been risking their lives these days." Liu Xing sighed helplessly.
This situation made Tang Shengzhi sigh deeply and feel desolate. Now using the isolated city of Nanjing to fight against the fierce Japanese army is like hitting a stone with an egg. Everyone has too much time to take care of themselves. Who doesn't want to stay in Nanjing? The leader puts this heavy burden on him and lets him
It’s also extremely helpless.
"How is the situation on the front line?"
Tang Shengzhi knew that although it was difficult to defend the isolated city, this was the capital. If it was not defended, it would be abandoned. They could not explain it to the 40,000,000 people in the country, so they could only grit their teeth and shoulder this heavy burden.
Liu Xing shook his head dejectedly: "The situation on the front line is not optimistic. The periphery has been plunged into fierce fighting across the board. The Japanese offensive is very fierce. The 66th Army and the 51st Division in the direction of Chunhua Town cannot hold it anymore and are shrinking their defenses. The enemy's 6th Division in the south is
The regiment stormed Niushou Mountain, the 114th Division attacked Fangshan, and the 19th Brigade of the enemy's 16th Division to the east had already attacked near Qilin Gate. All units suffered heavy casualties, and many battalions and companies were almost wiped out..."
Tang Shengzhi pondered for a moment and then said: "Pull up the young reserves and student soldiers in the city. Now it's time to fight. Tell the soldiers on the front line that the city is alive and people are alive, but if the city is broken, people will die!"
"At the same time, Song Xilian's 36th Division is ordered to strictly guard all military and civilian ships, including the commander's department. No ships are allowed to be left. Anyone who violates the order will be punished according to military law!" He paused and added: "Call
Hu Zongnan's First Army, stationed in the north of the Yangtze River, will stop any local troops and soldiers who cross the river from Nanjing to the north of the Yangtze River. Anyone who does not obey the restraint will be shot to death!"
When Liu Xing heard Tang Shengzhi's murderous words, he felt something was wrong: "Sir Tang, are you too harsh?"
Tang Shengzhi waved his hand and said: "In the past, Xiang Yu risked his life and fought a desperate battle. Today, I am ordered to defend the capital. How can I be greedy for life and afraid of death? Tell all the troops that there is no way to retreat, and they must be determined to fight the Japanese army to the death!"
Seeing Tang Shengzhi's determined look, Liu Xing couldn't persuade him anymore. He turned around and went to deliver the order. After walking a few steps, he turned back and said, "I almost forgot, there is one more thing that I haven't reported yet."
"What's the matter?" Tang Shengzhi sat down again, raised his head and asked.
"The newly appointed Capital Guard Commander Gu Zhenglun has resigned from his post as Commander of the Guard Army after hearing that his old habit of gastric ulcer has returned. He also withdrew to Hunan to recuperate with his Military Police Headquarters. Look at this
How to deal with the matter?"
"Commander Gu is ill and is recuperating in the rear. The task of defending Nanjing has to be undertaken by me. The staff office of the guard army should be merged into the garrison headquarters. The remaining four military police regiments will be commanded by Xiao Shan."
Tang Shengzhi knew Gu Zhenglun's little thoughts, but since he was gone, he couldn't pursue anything. After all, Nanjing had become a death place, and everyone wanted to escape, but he couldn't escape.
While the officers of the Nanjing Garrison Headquarters were busy mobilizing troops and generals, Yang Ling and others who arrived at the Gaoqiaomen reception station also waited until the afternoon to receive the order to reorganize.
Yang Ling and other registered officers were summoned to a dilapidated courtyard, where dozens of officers with different ranks were waiting for new appointments.
"Damn, their military ranks are so high." Although Yang Ling enjoys the treatment of a lieutenant colonel, for various reasons, he still wears the rank of major. When he entered the courtyard, he saw all high-ranking officers, Liu Yidao and others hurriedly saluted, letting Liu Yidao
He couldn't help but be half a head shorter.
Yang Ling and the others had been waiting in the corner of the yard, watching the officers who had been dispersed and taken into custody go in and receive orders, then say goodbye and leave. They were also wondering in their hearts, not knowing what kind of orders they would receive.
"Who are the former Jiang Defense Group Army Battalion Commander Yang Ling, Company Commander Liu Yidao and Company Commander Qin Shou?" Soon a lieutenant holding a list stood on the steps and shouted towards the yard.
Yang Ling and Liu Yidao hurriedly stood up and entered the house under the guidance of the lieutenant.
The light in the room was very dark, and the furnishings were very simple. There was only a long wooden table and a few broken benches. Three officers with the rank of colonel sat upright behind the table and looked at them.
"Liu Tuanzuo?" Liu Yidao shouted in surprise when he saw the colonel sitting in the center.
This lieutenant colonel was none other than Liu Ming, the leader of the supplementary regiment who had returned from Shanghai with them. He had been promoted to colonel and was smiling at them.
"This is Staff Officer Liu from our garrison headquarters." One of the officers introduced Liu Ming and said.
Only then did Yang Ling notice that Liu Ming's epaulettes, in addition to the colonel's plum blossoms, also had bamboo knots, as if he had changed from a military officer to a staff officer.
Yang Ling hurriedly pushed Liu Yidao and Qin Shou, who didn't react, and stood at attention and saluted.
Liu Ming smiled and nodded at Yang Ling and the others, indicating that they had met. Liu Yidao wanted to say hello and get closer, but Liu Ming waved his hand to stop them.
His expression became serious: "There are many things to do. Let's talk about it later. We have a task for you now."
"yes!"
"The designation of your guerrilla battalion remains unchanged, but it is now under the command of the Nanjing Garrison Chief's Department. The previous achievements are still being verified. Don't worry. Yang Ling, you are still the battalion commander now, and Liu Yidao and Qin Shou are the company commanders.
, these are the rosters of soldiers assigned to your battalion, take a look." Liu Ming handed a brochure to Yang Ling, and Yang Ling hurriedly took it.
"The war situation is urgent now. I need your guerrilla camp to reach combat effectiveness before dark. Can you do it?" Liu Ming said this in a tone that could not be refused.
Liu Yidao was about to say that he hadn't seen the soldiers yet, how could he form a fighting force? Isn't this nonsense, but Yang Ling had already agreed loudly: "Yes!"
Liu Ming nodded with satisfaction and softened his tone: "You go and count the soldiers first. I will go find you when I'm done. Go ahead."
This was the order to expel the guests. Yang Ling did not hesitate at all, saluted again, turned around and walked out with Liu Yidao and Qin Shou.