After hanging up the phone, Sun Lianzhong was very upset.

Chi Feng Cheng's requirements are not difficult, it can be said to be very simple, it is normal for many troops to be withdrawn if they can't hold on, but the 31st Division is different!

The 31st Division is stationed in Taierzhuang, containing the Japanese army in Zhuang, once he withdraws, the little devils in the village will all occupy Taierzhuang, and then the Japanese army will completely occupy Taierzhuang, there is no hidden danger inside, and the army on the periphery wants to attack the Japanese army, it will be even more difficult!

Moreover, if the 31st Division were withdrawn at such a time, they would not be able to send another unit in from the outside.

The little devils are not fools, they can allow the defenders of the village to evacuate, after all, the evacuation is still good for them, but they will definitely not allow anyone to rush in!

If the 31st Division is evacuated, it would be tantamount to wishful thinking to hold Taierzhuang with only that independent brigade with only a few hundred people left!

Thinking of this, Sun Lianzhong knew that even if he reported to Li Zongren, it would definitely not be so easy to withdraw the 31st Division!

But then again, the 31st Division and Chi Fengcheng are his old subordinates after all, so it is reasonable for him to sit idly by, no matter what the result is, he must make this call, even if he knows that he can't do it, he has to fight with Li Zongren for the sake of Chi Fengcheng!

Thinking of this, Sun Lianzhong took a deep breath, forcibly calmed down his mood, and then said: "Connect the phone call of Commander-in-Chief Li, the commander of the Fifth Theater of Operations, and I want to discuss the battle situation with him!" ”

"Yes!"

A staff officer nodded, then picked up the phone, and quickly dialed it, after the phone was connected, Sun Lianzhong took the phone, took a deep breath again, and said in a deep voice: "Commander-in-Chief Li?" I'm Sun Lianzhong, and I have something to discuss with you! ”

"It's Fanglu, is there anything important to call me at this time? How's the battle going on your side? Li Zongren's somewhat hoarse voice came from the other end of the phone.

Although Li Zongren's voice was very clear, Sun Lianzhong still heard a trace of tiredness from it.

In the Battle of Xuzhou, even the commander of one of his group armies was already busy and exhausted, not to mention Li Zongren, who personally commanded more than 60 thousand troops and took charge of the battle situation in Xuzhou?

I guess I'm even more exhausted!

Thinking of this, Sun Lianzhong laughed at himself.

How many people are trying their best to fight for Xuzhou and Taierzhuang, but he, Sun Lianzhong, is just bothering Li Zongren for his own personal feelings, and it is really ashamed to think about it at this time.

At this moment, Sun Lianzhong only felt a little difficult to speak, and he didn't know how to say what he wanted to say.

"Imitation Lu? Imitation Lu? What happened to you? It can't be tired! I didn't hear Sun Lianzhong speak, Li Zongren asked again: "I think you should rest first!" Although the battle of this Taierzhuang is tense, it will take a while to fight in the future, if your body collapses, we don't have to fight this battle! ”

The meaning of concern is beyond words.

Li Zongren's words pulled Sun Lianzhong out of his thoughts, he hurriedly put away some messy thoughts, calmed down, and then said: "I'm sorry Commander Li, I was a little distracted just now!" ”

"Imitation Lu, let's talk about it! What's the matter with calling me this time? If it's not a big deal, I'll hang up first! The situation of the battle of Taierzhuang is urgent, and the general headquarters has become a mess! Li Zongren said with a smile.

"It's not a big deal! It's just that...... It's just ......" Sun Lianzhong hesitated a little, but when he thought of Chi Fengcheng's tears, he still gritted his teeth and said ruthlessly: "It's just that Chi Fengcheng of the 31st Division called me just now, his troops have been wiped out, the entire division has been beaten into an empty shelf, and even the staff officers of the division headquarters have been sent to the battlefield!" I think they have suffered a lot of losses, so I thought if we could withdraw the 31st Division first and let them temporarily withdraw to the south bank of the canal? ”

As soon as these words came out, there was a sudden silence on the phone.

Li Zongren was silent.

Sun Lianzhong was anxious, and said again: "Chief Li, I know that it is inappropriate for me to say this at this time, after all, everyone is working hard for the battle situation, and everyone is desperate, but ...... But after all, the 31st Division is the trump card of our Second Army, and Chi Fengcheng is also my old subordinate, and when they are beaten like this, I feel like blood is dripping in my heart! ”

"What's more, the 31st Division led by Chi Fengcheng himself was stationed in Taierzhuang, and with just one of their divisions, they fought fiercely with the superior strength of the Japanese army for eight days and nights, successfully contained the little devils, and let our army encircle them, and made such a contribution, it is reasonable to let him withdraw!"

Sun Lianzhong said: "Commander-in-Chief Li, you must always leave some fire for the 31st Division!" ”

"Hey......"

When Sun Lianzhong said this, a sigh came from the other end of the phone, and then he heard Li Zongren say: "Imitation Lu! You and I have also been friends for many years! I also know your temper, and if you weren't really in a desperate situation, you wouldn't ask anyone else! But...... But the Battle of Taierzhuang is the key to our defeat of the Japanese army in the Battle of Xuzhou! The 31st Division is also the key to Taierzhuang's victory, in such a situation, what do you tell me to do! ”

"Pull a hair and move the whole body! The 31st Division cannot be withdrawn, and no one can be withdrawn! ”

Li Zongren said again: "Imitation Lu, I am not hard-hearted, I also know that the 31st Division can be withdrawn if it is reasonable, but ......"

Li Zongren wanted to speak and stopped, even he didn't know how to continue!

When he heard this, Sun Lianzhong's heart was half cold.

He was silent for a moment, and then said miserably: "Commander-in-chief, I know your difficulties, but Chi Fengcheng is my old subordinate, he called me just now, and begged me with tears in his eyes to leave some fire for his 31st Division...... Commander-in-chief, think about it, a dignified seven-foot man, a decisive general on the battlefield, if he is not really driven to a dead end, why is this? Why is that! ”

Listening to Sun Lianzhong's words, Li Zongren felt uncomfortable in his heart.

But he couldn't do anything!

It's not that I don't want to, but I can't!

Li Zongren said in a deep voice: "I know your difficulties, but you also have to consider my difficulties!" I took charge of the overall situation of the Battle of Xuzhou, commanded more than 600,000 troops, how many troops, how many generals, how many soldiers were fighting to the death with the Japanese army, how many troops were wiped out, some of them could also withdraw, and some of them also reported to me, wanting to ask for withdrawal, but all of them were flatly rejected by me! ”

"The Battle of Xuzhou is not a battle of one city and one place, he is related to the future and future fate of our Republic of China, if we are defeated in this battle, then the Japanese army can drive straight in, all the way south, and capture Wuhan! At that time, most of the country will fall into the hands of the enemy, and the country will not be a country at that time! This kind of result is not something you can afford or not! ”

"If I let go of the 31st Division today, not to mention the shock that Taierzhuang may cause after the 31st Division withdraws, it will have a great impact on other troops! If other troops had learned and learned, and once they encountered difficulties, they withdrew or even ran away without permission, would this battle still be fought? I don't want this country anymore! ”

(End of chapter)