More than ten kilometers north of Hengyang, a train roared. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 infoThe train was full of Japanese reinforcements. They arrived from Changsha after receiving a telegram from Hengyang asking for help.

The train got on an iron bridge.

As the front of the car was about to leave the iron bridge, a bright light flashed on the iron bridge, and an explosion sounded.

The iron bridge blew up, and three carriages fell into the water. The back cars derailed.

The Japanese troops on the east bank dispatched more than 1,000 men and immediately pursued these guerrillas to the north flank.

At nine o'clock in the morning, the pursuing Japanese crossed the Leihe River, and then to the east, to a small river. The river is about thirty meters wide and has a small wooden bridge on it. The Japanese had already vaguely seen the guerrillas running away, and on the way they also saw the clothes and even shoes thrown by the guerrillas, no matter what danger was not dangerous, they went to the bridge to pursue.

When the people in front crossed the bridge and the troops behind went up to the bridge one after another, the bamboo forest on the opposite bank suddenly opened fire, and it seemed that dozens of machine guns were fired at the same time, and the Japanese troops on both sides of the strait immediately hidden, and the people on the bridge could not hide, and hundreds of people were killed immediately.

The Japanese army was shocked, how could the guerrillas have such powerful firepower? Fall back!

The Japanese troops who crossed the bridge hurriedly retreated, the gunfire continued, and soon, all those who crossed the bridge died.

The retreating Japanese troops had just gone a short distance when gunfire rang out on the north side, and on the ridges and in the villages, the gunfire was intensive. The Japanese counterattacked, retreated, and when they reached the vicinity of the barracks, there were only a few more than a hundred left. The Japanese commander in the barracks clearly saw through the binoculars that some people in peasant costumes were taking guns, bullets, helmets, etc. from the corpses of Japanese soldiers. The commander even saw those men loading explosives on the railway.

Pursuit, send more men to pursue! Without exterminating them, the railroad is not safe for a great deal.

There were several explosions on the railway.

At 11 o'clock, 3,000 or 4,000 Japanese troops crossed the river from the railway bridge on the south side of Hengyang City on the west bank and chased eastward. There is only so much to send, to send a lot of people to transport supplies to transport the wounded and burn the corpses, many people are sick, and there are so many combat troops that can be pumped out.

After chasing for a long time, no one was seen, and when I returned to the vicinity of Hengyang City, I heard gunshots in Hengyang City.

It turned out that there was also guerrilla harassment in Hengyang. The harassed guerrillas returned, and when the harassment was over, they ran south again, pursuing! Hurry up!

This time, the pursuing force again met an ambush and lost several hundred people.

Nothing happened overnight, and the next morning, the attack came again.

The Japanese defenders in Hengyang sorted out their troops, collected corpses, and found that the imperial army had more than 2,000 dead and wounded in the city. Most of the deceased were hit by a different kind of bullet, the specifications were the same as those of the 38 bullets, but the body was deformed. Because the bullet is deformed, it has an abnormal trajectory in the body, as if it is stirring in the body. Originally, the injured part was not fatal, but the trajectory of the bullet caused extensive tissue destruction, and almost all of them died of excessive blood loss.

A search of Hengyang City revealed that the officers and wounded of the Tenth Army were missing. The most important thing is that Fang Xianjue is gone. Fang Xianjue was imprisoned in the Catholic Church, and there were all the imperial army garrisons nearby, but Fang Xianjue was still rescued.

The purpose of the attack was to save people, not only to save Fang Xianjue, but also to rescue the wounded soldiers, although the sortie sank a few ships, but most of them still left. The men, apparently locals, entered the tributary ditch and quickly disappeared.

Today, the Japanese army sent planes to reconnoiter and found that there were a large number of peasants carrying wounded soldiers to the south 20 miles southeast of Hengyang City, and there were many of them, and there were 10,000 or 20,000 people.

Yong Hengshan, who was at the headquarters in Changsha, mobilized more than 10,000 people and pursued southward. Because the other side was a guerrilla and brought only mortars. The reconnaissance plane said that the guerrillas were on mountain roads and had no heavy weapons, so the pursuing troops set out from Hengyang, traveled more than 10 kilometers by train, got off at Hengnan County, crossed the river, and pursued them westward on foot.

No one doubts: why are the partisans not afraid of our pursuit and do not sabotage the railway? They're sabotaging the railroad in the north.

Walking into the mountain, it was already more than two o'clock in the afternoon. There are no high mountains on both sides, but the trees are abundant. Along the way, small groups of guerrillas constantly attacked and harassed. The guerrillas have good marksmanship, they will run away when they hit, and if they shoot twice, they will inevitably hit at least one person, and by this time, more than 100 people have already been killed or wounded.

At this time, the results of the reconnaissance of the aircraft came, and the group of guerrillas carrying the wounded soldiers was in the ravine in front, and the distance was less than two kilometers. The plane reconnoitred for a while and flew away.

Actually, don't use aircraft to reconnoitre, the pursuing troops have already heard the voices of people in front.

Pursuit! Eliminate the guerrillas before it gets dark!

After a short chase, there was a narrow valley ahead. Some people think that the terrain is not good, but the results of the aircraft reconnaissance speak for themselves, so let's chase it! The guerrillas can still fight ambushes! Pursuit!

At half past three in the afternoon, a red flare was raised. It's red flares again.

Shells poured down from the hills on both sides.

Later, the signalman became a general, and he wrote his memoirs: Our flares were all captured. That time, all we seized were red flares, and none of the green ones we wanted.

On a hill on the west side of the battlefield, several people were using binoculars to observe the battle in the valley. One of them was tall and very thin, it was Fang Xianjue. The other one is also tall and dignified, it is Dong Zhentang.

After watching it for a long time, Fang Xianjue said, "I take back what I just said." Your army's combat effectiveness is much stronger than mine's. ”

Dong Zhentang said: "Our fighters are also like you, they are educated, their training is better than yours, their weapons are similar, and there are several weapons that are much better than yours. If there is one big difference, it is that we are tactically flexible, and my superiors only take care of the big things and never ask about the details. I fought on the front line, with the main purpose of preserving myself and destroying the enemy. If I can't fight well, I will retreat, and no one will blame me. Just complete the task. ”

Fang Xianjue said: "Your soldiers are educated? ”

Chen Haisong said: "After enlisting in the army, you must be literate and know at least 1,000 words. ”

Fang Xianjue said: "Are you going to destroy these ten thousand devils?" ”

Dong Zhentang said: "My task is to delay and harass, and I have completed the task." It is possible not to extinguish. ”

Chen Haisong: "However, when the opportunity comes, I must bite him hard." They were a weak army, short of food and grass, and low on ammunition. We're the opposite. ”

Dong Zhentang said: "You may not know that we have just cut off their railway in Hengyang North, and soon, we will destroy more railways, so that the devil and wounded soldiers will stop on the railway, and they will not be able to walk, and the grain and grass will not be transported." These 10,000 people, we eat slowly. ”

Chen Haisong: "Let's talk about our business. Commander Fang, what do you think of our proposal? ”

Fang Xianjue said: "A few of us have discussed, and the wounded soldiers will be left for you, and they will all be given to you." In the future, if someone is leaving, please give it a convenience. He knew that his future was uncertain, and these people might not end well if they followed him.

Dong Zhentang said: "That's nature. So many heads so many opinions. Anyway, you said that you fought with the Japanese army on the way to break out, dragged down the Japanese army, and suffered huge losses, so you can explain it when you go back to Chongqing. ”

Fang Xianjue said: "No matter what, I want to thank you for taking the risk to save us and save our brothers." Each of the wounded soldiers was given a penicillin injection first, thanks and thanks. "Thousands of needles penicillin were used up at once, how much gold! What a big deal. The seriously injured will have to use more medicine in the future, which is a great favor.

Chen Haisong: "Commander Fang, the credit lies with you, don't tell us out." I know that among your officers are people from the Central Command and the Military Commander. Are you sure? ”

Fang Xianjue said: "I want to tell the truth to the chairman, the militia saved us." Anyway, except for a few division commanders, no one knows who you are. ”

Chen Haisong: "Someone asked me to pass on a message to you. ”

Fang Xianjue said: "You say." ”

Chen Haisong: "That person said that he salutes you. Although the chairman of the committee will forgive you for your behavior in the past few days, your party is full of factions, and it is unavoidable to give people the truth. So, everyone works together, each takes what he needs, and we, the most involved and informed, can testify for you. In the future, the Japanese were wiped out, and the two armies of the Kuomintang and the Communist Party were at war, so General Fang was asked to give up a few points. Count it as a good relationship today. ”

Fang Xianjue said: "It must be this person's idea to rescue us." Please thank me on my behalf. ”

In the valley, the Japanese army had already occupied a small high ground and was waiting for reinforcements. And the partisans began to retreat.

August 10, 1944. Hengnan County.

More than a dozen places on the railway were blown up. The Japanese troops who attacked had no reinforcements and continued to fight in the mountains.

On this day, the Japanese army took the initiative to attack, and the guerrillas around them did not surround them to death, but let them attack, and continued to harass them on the way to attack. The guerrillas were accustomed to mountain roads, the terrain was familiar, and they ran as they hit, with almost no casualties. The Japanese army stumbled without civilians to lead the way.

August 12, 1944. Hengnan County.

Fang Xianjue used the only radio station to contact Chongqing and briefly reported the situation in the last two or three days: The Tenth Army pretended to surrender and deceived the Japanese army, and a small number of remaining troops broke through the city.

August 13, 1944. Hengnan County.

Fang Xianjue sent a message again and asked for rescue. Now, the soldiers have been seriously attrition and have escaped from the pursuit of the Japanese army.

Chongqing called back and instructed him to go south along the railway line, and someone would rescue him in front.

August 18, 1944. Chongqing.

Fang Xianjue took a few officers and was finally rescued by people sent from Chongqing, and took a train through Guiyang to Chongqing. I don't know who stabbed the matter out, but the major newspapers published the news that the commander of the Tenth Army led the remnants of the army back to Chongqing. The major newspapers welcomed it with warm words.

There were not many people in the Tenth Army who could walk, and they all followed Fang Xianjue. All the wounded soldiers remained in the militia group. Some people were reluctant to stay, but the militia people said, we have penicillin, and today we only have one injection, which is not enough. The wounded soldiers knew that there was such a precious medicine, and in order to save their lives, they all stayed.

August 19, 1944. Chongqing.

Although he failed, Lao Jiang awarded Fang Xianjue the Order of the Blue Sky and White Sun. This is not only because Fang Xianjue belongs to the Huangpu lineage.

First of all, Lao Jiang felt guilty in his heart, let Fang Xianjue hold for 10 to 15 days, but in fact it was as long as 47 days, and the reinforcements were delayed, which was simply the destruction of the Tenth Army. Secondly, Fang Xianjue fought really well: he fought more with less, annihilated the enemy several times, attacked the Japanese invaders, killed the commander of the 68th Division, Lieutenant General Sakuma, killed Major General Shima Yuanki, commander of the 57th Brigade of the 68th Division, and killed and wounded hundreds of Japanese officers.

The social evaluation of the Hengyang defense battle is also very high, and the evaluations of "Ta Kung Pao" and "Liberation Daily" are very good.

Fang Xianjue came back from the celebration banquet where Chairman Jiang presented them with medals, and he was still thinking about a big man's question: "Commander Fang, how did I hear that you led the people to surrender?" How do you explain the broadcast of the Japanese army? ”

Fang Xianjue said according to the discussion in advance: "We have no strength to fight again, we can only break through." In order to stabilize the Japanese army, we adopted the tactics of deceiving the enemy. For the sake of propaganda, the Japanese army shouted about this incident in advance, trying to create a facompli first. ”

Fang Xianjue knew that although the battle of Hengyang was difficult and fought well, the surrender would definitely be extremely detrimental to his future.

Broadcast. Broadcast.

Fang Xianjue turned on the broadcast.

The radio also broadcasts the outstanding exploits of other military commanders. Then, there was the news, which reported on the battle situation in Hengyang: "According to reliable information, the soldiers of the 10th Army who broke through to the siege are now fighting separately and carrying out guerrilla warfare in the Hengyang area. They destroyed the railroad and blew up the Japanese military vehicles. They also adopted guerrilla warfare methods and actively eliminated the Japanese army. Today, nearly 10,000 Japanese soldiers have been killed. ”

Fang Xianjue's way, these people who fought with their own subordinates were obviously guerrillas.

What Fang Xianjue thought about the most was: Who came up with the idea to save me? How does this person seem to see me through?

The city of Hengyang fell, and after a short repair, the Japanese army drove south and went straight to Guangxi. Their biggest target in front of them is Guilin, the capital of Guangxi.

******

1. Salute to General Fang Xianjue.

2. Fang Xianjue arrived in Chongqing on December 11. There was an upsurge of warm welcome to Fang Xianjue in Chongqing, and a slogan was posted: "Welcome to the return of the soul of the Anti-Japanese War". On December 13, 1944, Ta Kung Pao published an editorial "Cheers to Commander Fang Xianjue": "Commander Fang Xianjue, the hero who fought in Hengyang for 47 days, is back!" …… We couldn't help but cheer to Commander Fang: 'Our hero is back!' Our anti-war spirit is back! "Take Hengyang as an example, every big city fights for 47 days, one by one, and fights to the death everywhere, may I ask: How many forty-seven days is there for the fate of the Japanese invaders?" On December 20, 1944, the National Salvation Daily published an editorial "Fang Xianjue is worthy of Zhang Suiyang": "In the eight years of the Anti-Japanese War, at least hundreds of thousands of heroes and martyrs died on the battlefield; And there are not a few who defend the land and are unyielding to death; And those who make the greatest contribution to the country and have a decisive role in the overall victory or defeat should be promoted to defend Hengyang. "Commander Fang was captured by the enemy because of the exhaustion of ammunition and defense. Commander Fang and his subordinates really fulfilled their duties 100 percent, and they were worthy of shame for the country, the commanders, and the people. The article compares the Fang clan with Zhang Xun, the general who defended Suiyang during the An Lushan Rebellion in the Tang Dynasty. Regarding the defense of Hengyang led by Fang Xianjue's Tenth Army, Mao Zedong pointed out in an editorial published in the Liberation Daily on August 12, 1944: "The defenders who held Hengyang were heroic, and the people of Hengyang paid great sacrifices."

3. In 1946, the 10th officers and soldiers collected the bones of martyrs and lined up neatly on one of the slopes of Zhangjiashan.