The Flying Tiger Battalion withdrew, and although Ren Laifeng was unwilling, he still led the troops to withdraw. He didn't burn the yard of the rich man's house, even though he had promised the rich man that the yard would never be left to the devil, but before Ren Laifeng left, he couldn't make up his mind to set fire to the house.

This courtyard is the Ming and Qing dynasties left three courtyards, there are paths and moon gates between the courtyards and courtyards, and more than a dozen locust trees and jujube trees are planted in the courtyard that three or four people hug. The entire courtyard is a cultural relic that has been handed down for hundreds of years, and it is a cultural heritage that cannot be replicated. Burn, then it's gone. Even if it is occupied by devils, there will always be a day when it will be recovered, and once it is set on fire, there is really nothing.

It is precisely because of this cherishing heart that Ren Laifeng hesitated again and again before leaving. Looking back at the courtyard with blue bricks and white walls, Ren Laifeng secretly swore in his heart that I must come to recover this courtyard in person in the future!

Puffs of smoke and dust wafted in the sky, the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder, the streets were hurriedly running by troops, and the sound of guns and cannons was heard in the ears, this is war! Ren Laifeng led the troops out of Liulin Town all the way to the west, first went back to the barracks to pack up his things, and then he retreated to the southwest of the Eighteen Mile River.

When the troops arrived at the Eighteen Mile River, they found that there were already troops here, and they were the troops of the commander of the 22nd Division, Zhang Fangmin. The artillery company of the Flying Tiger Battalion is now with the 66th Brigade of the 22nd Division. Since Commander Ren came, the artillery company naturally had to be rebuilt, but the 66th Brigade was not so reluctant.

When Ren Laifeng was still inspecting and repairing the position there, Lin Xincheng, the deputy battalion commander, and Cai Gaofeng, the commander of the artillery company, had already come to meet the commander.

"Report to the commander, Lin Xincheng and Cai Gaofeng are here to report!" The two stood shoulder to shoulder and saluted.

Ren Laifeng hurriedly went over and pulled one in one hand, "Xincheng, Xiao Cai, I can see you!" What do you think? Are the troop losses serious? ”

"Report to the commander, the troop losses are not serious! The artillery company suffered three deaths, two serious injuries, and seven minor injuries, and its combat strength was not damaged! ”

"Okay, that's good! Xiao Cai is worthy of being a top student in the Artillery Department of the Central Military Academy, and he is really a good leader! Xincheng, you have recommended me a good talent! "Hearing that the artillery company was not damaged, Ren Laifeng was happy in his heart, he was really afraid to hear the news that the artillery company had also suffered losses.

Ren Laifeng's praise made the two of them very happy, and then Company Commander Cai told Commander Ren that the issue of the artillery company being rebuilt seemed to have encountered a little obstacle. The artillery batteries of the artillery company were all placed on the artillery positions specially arranged for them by the 66th Brigade, and in order to come with six mountain guns, they had to cross the position of an infantry regiment. In other words, whether you can successfully return to the construction depends on the meaning of the 66th Brigade. It's not like you can walk if you want to!

To visit the brigade commander of the 66th Brigade? Go to see Zhang Fangmin, the commander of the 22nd Division? Or go directly to Sun Tongxuan? Or go straight over and pass through the other people's positions with the soldiers carrying the cannons? All of these options can be made, and none of them are easy to do. The most important thing is, will this hurt your own harmony and let the devil pick up the cheap?

After weighing the pros and cons, Ren Laifeng made a decision: "The artillery company will stay in the current position and cooperate with the 66th Brigade to fight the enemy!" After the end of the Zhengzhou Campaign, it will be rebuilt. ”

As soon as Ren Laifeng said this, Lin Xincheng and Cai Gaofeng were stunned. After a while, Lin Xincheng gave a thumbs up: "High!" Commander Ren is really high! For the sake of the overall situation of the Anti-Japanese War, you resolutely gave up your personal gains and losses, and Xincheng admired! ”

"No, don't put a top hat on me. Xiao Cai, after the Battle of Zhengzhou, you must bring me back the artillery company! ”

"Commander, rest assured, the matter of the artillery company is entrusted to me! If Xiao Cai can't bring the artillery back, even if it is robbed, I will help you snatch back the six mountain guns! Lin Xincheng made a big bag and guaranteed the ticket, and the three of them looked at each other and laughed.

When the news reached the 66th Brigade and then to the 22nd Division, Zhang Fangmin slapped the table and shouted: "Okay! Ren Laifeng is really bold! He's a general! Tell Li Daya that the cannon is used up and returned to others as soon as possible. Save others from saying that I am stingy! ”

After the Japanese army occupied the city of Zhengzhou, it did not immediately launch an attack on the positions of our Third Army in the southwestern suburbs. The devils began to check the household registration in the city, plundered all kinds of material wealth, and built barracks and bunkers, it seems that the devils are planning to occupy Zhengzhou City for a long time.

The devils were busy with urban construction, and Sun Tongxuan's troops in the southwestern suburbs were also busy building fortifications in case the Japanese army attacked.

On 7 October, a summary meeting of the first theater of operations was held in Luoyang. General Sun Tongxuan, commander-in-chief of the Third Group Army, received an order to rush to Luoyang one day ahead of schedule to attend this important military meeting in the theater.

In addition to General Wei Lihuang, commander of the theater, General Tang Enbo, deputy commander of the theater, commanders of various group armies under the jurisdiction of the First Theater, and several army commanders and chiefs of staff who have held the posts of deputy commanders of the group armies, also attended the meeting. In short, those who were fortunate enough to participate in this meeting, except for the clerk in charge of records and the orderly in charge of melon seed tea, the lowest military rank had to be major general.

The meeting was chaired by Commander Wei Lihuang. The commander first announced the recent fighting life in the theater, focusing on the major event of the loss of Zhengzhou. As everyone knows, Zhengzhou is the defense area of the Third Group Army, and if the city is lost, Sun Tongxuan will inevitably have a responsibility that cannot be shirked. General Sun knew this, and he didn't say a word when he lowered his head. The battle was not fought well, and he had nothing to say.

After Wei Lihuang finished speaking, the venue became lively. Some complained that there were too few soldiers and it was not easy to recruit soldiers, some said that the weapons were backward and the devils suffered too much in the war, and some were cheeky enough to ask for military salaries and equipment. There are all kinds of things, but no one mentions the Battle of Zhengzhou.

The main reason is that Sun Tongxuan is a good person, usually everyone is polite, and he has a good relationship with the big guys, and most people are embarrassed to throw stones into the well when he is in trouble.

Others don't say it, but Sun Tongxuan herself can't help but say it. The matter of the loss of Zhengzhou is obvious here, and if I don't give an explanation today, this will not be over.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the loss of Zhengzhou is the responsibility of my Third Army, and my grandson will never shirk it! However, we are not discussing the issue of responsibility today, we are discussing how to deal with the current situation. Since the fall of Zhengzhou started with our Third Army, I will talk about it today. ”

"Now the river defenses have been breached and the city has been lost. The terrain in the eastern part of Zhengzhou is flat, and it is difficult to attack and defend. In my opinion, it is better to retreat to the mountainous area in the west of Zhengzhou to defend and maintain a confrontation with the enemy to wait for work. The divisions held their positions with the main force to kill and wound the enemy's living forces, and at night they used death squads to guerrilla the enemy's rear to cut off their supplies. Destroy the enemy in this way, and never give up until Zhengzhou Sun recovers! ”