The 74th Army of the National Revolutionary Army had more than 21,000 soldiers when it was established in September. However, after the bloody battle at Luodian in Shanghai and the Nanjing breakout, only more than 7,000 people successfully broke out. Most of the officers of each regiment and battalion were killed. The losses were not heavy.
heavy.
"This is all a useless fight. It's a pity that my brothers lost their lives in vain."
Zhou Zhidao, commander of the 151st Brigade of the 74th Army, held the long list of blood-red names of those killed in action and couldn't help cursing in his heart.
With the power of victory in the Battle of Shanghai, the Japanese army swept through Nanjing with a thunderous offensive. Nanjing's terrain was undefendable. When all the generals persuaded them to abandon Nanjing, Tang Shengzhi stood up and vowed to live or die with Nanjing.
At first, everyone cheered for Tang Shengzhi, but when everyone retreated, only he stepped forward resolutely. People pinned all their hopes on him, hoping that he could turn the tide and defend the capital Nanjing.
Tang Shengzhi did not disappoint at first. He sent people to clear and destroy the ships crossing the river to show his determination. He sent military police and police forces to maintain order in the city, and deployed heavy troops on the outside to defend the city to the death, allowing the leading Japanese army to hit them.
Headache and bleeding.
But then the main force of the Japanese army arrived. Seeing that Nanjing could not be defended, he escaped first, leaving behind hundreds of thousands of people and troops who were blocked by the Japanese army in Nanjing. However, he escaped and escaped. How could he not make people hate him with itch?
The troops of the 74th Army only relied on a small steamer to cross the river overnight, and more than 5,000 people escaped. Including those who later broke through sporadically, the rest also died in Nanjing.
Brigadier Zhou Zhidao also narrowly escaped death. If division commander Wang Yaowu and the others had not found him at Coal Port and pulled him on a boat to cross the river, he might have died in Nanjing now.
Therefore, Zhou Zhidao felt resentful towards the commander-in-chief of the Nanjing Garrison, but he only cursed in his heart, but did not dare to curse openly. After all, those people still held high positions of power.
"How many brothers have been taken in these days?" When Zhou Zhidao was in Nanjing, his leg was injured and he couldn't stand for long with a cane. He returned to the chair and sat down.
"Go back to the hotel. Our hotel has taken in a total of 410 brothers who were beaten in the past few days."
Zhou Zhidao sighed heavily after hearing this. It was a pity that all those veterans were lost.
However, their 74th Army was lucky. At least their commander left a boat for their division commander Wang Yaowu when they evacuated, and the division commander Wang Yaowu used this boat to rescue many brothers.
The troops of the German 88th and 87th Divisions were not so lucky. Many of them did not receive the order to retreat at all, and they still held their positions until the early morning of the 13th. Therefore, their losses were also the heaviest. The Brigade Commander Group
Almost everyone in Changdu was killed, and those who managed to escape were only some clever skirmishers.
"We have also taken in a lot of stragglers from the 88th and 87th Divisions. Do you want to add them to our army?" the officer in charge asked.
Brigadier Zhou Zhidao thought for a while and then said: "Bring them all to me. These brothers who are German weapon masters are quite good. If you don't eat the fat in your mouth, it will be free."
Although all the German weapon divisions were wiped out, the soldiers in their army were very good, so Zhou Zhidao did not want to let them go. Now the army had suffered heavy losses and was in urgent need of replenishing its troops. These veterans were much stronger than the new recruits.
The officer who took him in was a little worried: "Brigade, will it cause trouble if we forcefully detain him? It would be troublesome if his troops went to the Military Commission to file a complaint."
Zhou Zhidao said nonchalantly: "When the rice is cooked, we won't be afraid even if they file a lawsuit."
"By the way, in addition to the skirmishers from the 88th Division, all the skirmishers from other units that can be accommodated have been taken in and added to our unit. These veterans are much stronger than the new recruits. Even if we have lost the battle now, as long as we pull
We went up to fight twice, and there were roaring tigers and wolves again."
The officer who took him in saw his brigade commander being so shameless and smiled helplessly.
"Brigade, a battalion that was broken up today took the initiative to join our 74th Army, and it still has an approval slip from the garrison commander's office."
"Oh? Is there anything else like this?" Brigadier Zhou Zhidao's interest was aroused. It stands to reason that each unit would be recruited to build its own unit, so it would be something new for him to actively join other units.
"I asked. They were originally directly under Liu Changguan's Jiang Defense Group Army, and were later placed under the Nanjing Garrison Headquarters. Now that the Garrison Headquarters is about to be disbanded, they have defected to us. The leader is a battalion commander named
Yang Ling."
"You said the leading battalion commander's name is Yang Ling?"
The officer in charge of the reception replied: "Yes, that's what he said."
Zhou Zhidao stood up excitedly: "Where is he now?"
"I arranged for them to stay in the shelter." The reception officer saw the excited brigade commander Zhou Zhidao and asked puzzledly: "Brigade commander, does this battalion commander Yang have some background?"
Zhou Zhidao calmed down his excitement and said with a smile: "You don't know this. The hero who killed the Japanese general reported in the newspaper a few days ago was our Battalion Commander Yang. He is not a simple man.
ah."
Zhou Zhidao recounted Yang Ling's experience as if reminiscing. He killed Japanese Lieutenant General Kawadahara in the bloody battle at Jiangyin, and fought side by side with their 51st Division when guarding the outskirts of Nanjing. He was very decisive in killing Yang Ling.
Appreciate it, and besides, the troops are suffering heavy losses now, and they need officers who have fought in such wars.
After the brigade commander Zhou Zhidao reminded the officer, he suddenly realized. He smiled and said: "Brigade commander, we have to add another tiger general."
"It's too early to say this now. Yang Ling is a good fighter. We can't prevent Li Tianxia and the others from targeting him and snatching him away. You should take me there now. I have to let him stay in our 151st Brigade."
Although Li Tianxia's 153rd Brigade and his 151st Brigade both belong to the 74th Army, this kind of robbing of personnel is not negotiable. Everyone is willing to have one more officer capable of fighting under his command.
Brigadier Zhou Zhidao quickly arrived at Yangling and their temporary landing place under the leadership of the reception officers.
"Brigade seat!" The guard at the door saw the brigade commander Zhou Zhidao coming and hurriedly shouted a salute.
The brothers in the guerrilla camp who were warming themselves by the fire in the yard raised their heads when they heard the movement outside the door. When they saw a major general and brigade commander approaching, they immediately stood up and saluted in a hurry.
Yang Ling also did not expect the major general brigade commander to visit. Looking at this general who was wearing a woolen military uniform and a resolute face, he scolded the entire team and trotted to the brigade commander Zhou Zhidao.
Yang Ling didn't know the brigade commander Zhou Zhidao. He had dealt with Zhang Lingfu throughout the 74th Army, but since he came to the 74th Army shelter, he should also be from the 74th Army.