Although the strength and weapons of the 9th Division of the Japanese Army did not reach the scale level of wartime because of the peacetime establishment, the 9th Division was still greatly strengthened by other divisions and regiments in terms of technical equipment. For example, the 3rd Division supported a field heavy artillery brigade and two field antiaircraft artillery teams of the 9th Division, plus a flying squadron. And the Guards Division supported a flying group, as well as two radio squads. The 1st and 5th divisions supported the engineer squadron and the automobile squadron, and the 12th division also dispatched a tank squadron.

This lineup can be regarded as very luxurious compared to the 19th Route Army, which even cotton military uniforms can just wear. However, it was precisely because each division provided support troops that the concentration of troops in the 9th Division was too slow.

After the Japanese army issued the order to dispatch on the 5th, the mixed 24th Brigade was able to board the ship and set off the next day. However, it took several days for the units of the 9th Division to complete their mobilization and embarkation. It was not until the 9th that the first echelon departed from Hiroshima Ujina Port.

Today, the city of Hiroshima is closely associated with the atomic bombing, and peace commemorates are held every year. However, when the 9th Division set out from Hiroshima to march to China, the citizens of Hiroshima were greeted by thousands of empty alleys. To put it mildly, the people of Hiroshima were later hit by the atomic bomb, which made them very sad, but how many Hiroshima people have seriously reflected on the sins of Hiroshima itself!!

In view of the fact that the 24th Brigade was almost completely annihilated, which greatly shocked the Japanese military headquarters, the Japanese army, after reviewing the strategy and tactics of the Shanghai operation, decided to urgently transfer the 11th and 14th Divisions to reinforce Shanghai after the 9th Division.

The 9th Division came across the sea. Many of the ships in the fleet were not fast because they were temporary merchant ships with different speeds. It was not until noon on the 13th that it arrived at the mouth of the Yangtze River.

Since the buildings of the Zhangjiabang Wharf had been almost completely destroyed by Shi Ming's shelling, the large force of nearly 20,000 men of the 9th Division would have gone ashore in Zhangjiabang. Not only is there a problem with housing, but it is also difficult to provide supplies. Therefore, the fleet passed through the Wusong Fort, which had been bombed into ruins, and did not dock at Zhangjiabang, but arrived at the port of Shanghai at 6 p.m.

On this day, it was drizzling in Shanghai, but this could not extinguish the madness of the Japanese expatriates who came to welcome them. Never before had there been such a large Japanese army in Shanghai. With the exception of a few women and children who had returned to China for refuge, most of the men in the Japanese diaspora remained in Shanghai. Full service to the Japanese army.

As soon as the army arrived, the Japanese negotiators turned their faces like Tashiro Wanichiro. Even for the British Consul Wright, who they begged for mediation, their attitude changed drastically, with an arrogant and disdainful demeanor.

Talking to you before. That's dragging on time. Now that our reinforcements have arrived, what kind of kindness is there left.

So, at 9 a.m. on the 18th, after Tashiro Wanichiro put forward extremely harsh conditions to the Chinese side. Just 12 hours later, Kenkichi Ueda, commander of the 9th Japanese Division, issued an ultimatum to the 19th Route Army. The Squadron must begin its retreat by 7 a.m. on the 20th in accordance with the Japanese requirements. Otherwise, the Japanese army will "move freely".

Another "freedom of action"!

Before the outbreak of the 128 incident. The Japanese likewise put forward four conditions as an ultimatum, declaring that if the Chinese did not accept them. They are going to take "freedom to act". The Chinese endured humiliation and agreed, but the result of the promise. The Japanese nevertheless launched Operation Freedom.

Now, the same scene is happening again.

Seeing this "ultimatum", the general headquarters of the 19th Route Army was immediately indignant.

Jiang Guangnai, who was holding a military meeting, slapped the table angrily and said loudly: "Act freely!" It's freedom of action again! This little devil doesn't seem to have been hurt yet! Principal Wang is right. ”

"The survival and progress of our country and nation in the future can only be maintained by iron and blood!" …,

"That's right! Well said the commander-in-chief! Since the Japanese army still wants to move freely, then we have only one answer, which is to speak with artillery and bullets! Hit him***. Shi Ming also slapped the table and said hatefully.

In addition to Jiang Guangnai, Chief of Staff Huang Qiang, and Army Commander Cai Tingkai, Shen Guanghan, commander of the 60th Division of the 19th Route Army, Li Shengzong, deputy division commander, Liu Zhanxiong, commander of the 119th Brigade, Deng Zhicai, commander of the 120th Brigade, Zhang Yan, commander of the 61st Division, Zhao Jinwen, chief of staff, Zhang Li, commander of the 121st Brigade, Ou Shounian, commander of the 78th Division, Tan Qixiu, deputy division commander, Li Kuo, chief of staff, Huang Gu, commander of the 155th Brigade, and Weng Zhaoyuan, commander of the 156th Brigade, also echoed the idea.

Yesterday evening, Zhang Zhizhong had already rushed to Shanghai with the Fifth Army, including Song Xilian's 261 Brigade, the main forces of the 87th and 88th Divisions had already arrived near Zhenru, and the two regiments of the Tax Police Corps led by Wang Geng had also arrived, and Xu Peigen, chief of staff of the 87th Division, was in charge of commanding and coordinating the formation of an independent brigade.

Song Xilian also blushed and said loudly: "Yes, just beat him Little Japan, I have long had enough of the anger of the Japanese, the May Day Massacre, the Jinan Massacre, the Little Japan killed my comrades at will has not yet been counted, and on September 18 and invaded the Northeast again, this time he will bully us in Shanghai again, if he doesn't beat him hard, he will invade North China tomorrow and occupy Nanjing the day after tomorrow." ”

Although Zhang Zhizhong is also very angry, he has a different identity after all. Chiang Guangding is a general of the local army, and Chiang Kai-shek does not care what he says. Song Xilian is a radical main battle faction in the army, and he also dares to lead the officers who graduated from Whampoa of the 87th Division to He Yingqin's house to make trouble, but Song Xilian is Chiang Kai-shek's confidant and favorite general, and Chiang Kai-shek will also forgive him for these radical words and deeds. At most, it would be okay to scold Song Xilian at the official residence.

Although he also insisted that the Japanese army must be taught a hard lesson in Shanghai, he knew Chiang Kai-shek's innermost thoughts, and he could not speak many words. The high-ranking generals of the 87th and 88th Divisions he brought, not to mention that there is also Yu Jishi, the nephew of the chairman of the committee, and Yu Jishi, the commander of the 88th division, even everyone else is also a person trusted by the chairman, and every word said by the people in this room will reach the ears of the chairman.

The word "cautious" is always kept in mind by Zhang Zhizhong.

Zhang Zhizhong did not speak, and other generals of the Fifth Army, such as Zhu Shaozhou, chief of staff, Wang Jingjiu, deputy commander of the 87th Division, Sun Yuanliang, commander of the 259th Brigade, Wu Chengren, commander of the Independent Brigade, Yu Jishi, commander of the 88th Division, Li Yannian, deputy commander of the 88th Division, Xuan Tiewu, chief of staff, Yang Bufei, commander of the 262nd Brigade, Qian Nengti, commander of the 264th Brigade, Wang Geng, commander of the Independent Brigade (formerly the Tax Police Corps), and Tang Guangji, commander of the Teaching Corps of the Central Military Academy, were angry, eager to try, and some were gearing up. But there was no sound.

Among them, Wang Geng's expression was a little strange, looking preoccupied.

It's no wonder that he's the head of the tax police. When the Independent Brigade of the 87th Division of the Fifth Army was organized this time, he should have been the brigade commander for granted, but for some reason, Song Ziwen actually changed generals and ordered Sun Liren, the commander of the Fourth Regiment of the Tax Police, to take over as the commander of the Independent Brigade. It made him sulk. At this time, Sun Liren had not yet arrived, so he had to bite the bullet to attend the military meeting.

It turned out that the reason why Song Ziwen asked Sun Liren to serve as the commander of the Independent Brigade was entirely because of Song Zhewu. Song Zhewu called Song Ziwen. It was strongly recommended that the independent brigade be under the command of Sun Liren.

Song Zhewu's reason is that Wang Geng, the twelfth top student of the United States Military Academy at West Point, and even Eisenhower, who has already emerged in the United States, are ranked behind him, although his qualifications are higher. However, he had never had experience in commanding infantry, especially in grass-roots units, and it was easy for him to make mistakes when he was in battle.

Moreover, Wang Geng is more emotional, and after being robbed of his wife Lu Xiaoman by the famous writer, poet, playwright, and translator Xu Zhimo, Wang Geng, who was then the chief of staff of Sun Chuanfang's Five Provinces Allied Army Headquarters. did not give a bayonet or bullet to Xu Zhimo, but after calmly completing the divorce procedures with Lu Xiaoman, he gave Xu Zhimo a trembling word in person. …,

We are all intellectuals, and I divorced Xiaoman. There is no prejudice in my heart; But you must be consistent with her thereafter, if you are half-hearted. Let me know that I will fight with fierce means. Baidu search

Reputedly. Xu Zhimo and Lu Xiaoman also sent an invitation to Wang Geng when they got married, although Wang Geng did not attend Xu Lu's wedding, he prepared a generous gift to congratulate them on growing old together.

This highly colorful emotional entanglement not only caused a stir at the time, but was also regarded as a good story.

Song Zhewu told Song Ziwen that a person who values feelings so much is not suitable for leading troops to fight.

Although Sun Liren graduated from the Virginia Military Academy in the United States, his qualifications are relatively light, and he has no actual combat experience, Sun Liren served as the captain of the military training team of the Central Party School after returning to China. When he was the colonel and deputy chief of the guard corps of the army, navy and air force headquarters, he commanded the elite of the army. In particular, he was the main focus of the military training of the Tax Police Corps, and he knew the troops well.

Although Song Ziwen felt a little inappropriate about changing generals in battle, but in view of the fact that Song Zhewu had never lost a battle, his vision must be extraordinary, Song Ziwen still agreed. Because, Soong Ziwen really needs someone to keep in touch with General Cunningham, the U.S. Consul General in Shanghai, for him.

In fact, the reason why Song Zhewu proposed to let Sun Liren replace Wang Geng was not because he liked the great military exploits of Sun Liren, who was known as China's Rommel, in the future, but mainly because of Wang Geng's own reasons.

In the memory of Song Zhewu's previous life, he remembered that in the original history, during the Anti-Japanese War in Shanghai, that is, at the end of February, Wang Geng put on makeup and went to the concession alone to find General Cunningham, the US consul general in Shanghai. After Wang Geng entered the concession, he found that the US Consulate General had been relocated, and after discovering that he was being followed by Japanese plainclothes officers, he hurriedly walked into a hotel run by British, where he was kidnapped by Japanese plainclothes agents. Under the strong protest of the British and American consuls, it was released by the Japanese army three days later. It's just that Wang Geng accidentally took the deployment map of the 19th Route Army and the Fifth Army in Shanghai with him at that time, and was searched out by the Japanese army, thus leaking the deployment of the 19th Route Army and the Fifth Army, and the Japanese army used this information to successfully land in Liuhe.

Although Wang Geng said that he was instructed by Song Ziwen to go to the concession to find Cunningham, Jiang Guangding and Cai Tingkai still believed that Wang Geng had betrayed military intelligence to the Japanese and sent him to Nanjing for trial by a military court.

In fact, Wang Geng should indeed go to the concession on the order of Song Ziwen. This can be confirmed from the acquittal of Wang Geng by the military court, and the recall of Song Ziwen to the Tax Police Corps after his release. It was only later that Huang Jie was forced to resign because of this experience after he became the head of the tax police.

Song Zhewu didn't want any more incidents of military maps being intercepted by the Japanese army, and Song Zhewu didn't want to ruin the military future of Wang Geng, a very talented person. Therefore, he strongly suggested that Song Ziwen change generals.

Seeing that Zhang Zhizhong didn't speak, Jiang Guangding was a little displeased. Although Chiang Kai-shek appointed him as the commander-in-chief of the Shanghai War of Resistance. But he also took Song Ziwen's tax police regiment and Shi Ming's division of the Fourth Route Army from him and handed them over to Zhang Zhizhong's Fifth Army, so that the total strength of the Fifth Army reached more than 60,000 people and became the main force of the Shanghai War of Resistance. This is obviously the difference between intimacy and alienation.

Jiang Guangding's qualifications are older, and he and Zhang Zhizhong are classmates at the Baoding Military Academy, so his tone is a little bad when he speaks.

Jiang Guangding asked Zhang Zhizhong with a slightly dissatisfied tone: "Brother Wenbai, what do you mean?" ”

Zhang Zhizhong noticed Jiang Guangding's attitude, smiled unhappily and said, "Brother Jingran, since the Japanese don't want to talk well, then they can only fight, and they have to fight hard." I'm sticking with you. ”

Jiang Guangding was very satisfied with Zhang Zhizhong's statement, so he smiled and said, "Okay! It's good to have Brother Wenbai's words, then we are in Shanghai. Beat this little devil fiercely so that they also know that we Chinese are not easy to bully. Come, let's study the military deployment of our army. ”…,

Zhang Zhizhong stood up with a smile and said to Jiang Guangding: "Brother Jingran." I have brought with me a copy of the chairman's instructions on the Shanghai operation, and I would like to ask you to take a look at it. ”

As soon as he heard the battle instructions sent by Chiang Kai-shek, who was far away in Luoyang, Jiang Guangding frowned slightly imperceptibly.

Chiang Kai-shek's military command ability was taught by Jiang Guangding and Cai Tingkai during the Northern Expedition. I was quite disdainful in my heart. Moreover, Jiang Guangding thinks. Chiang Kai-shek, who was in Luoyang, how could he, a general who had fought on the front line for more than 20 days, know more about the situation of the war?

But. After all, Chiang Kai-shek is the supreme military commander of the Republic of China, and there are so many generals of the Central Army here, Chiang Kai-shek's instructions must be read by him.

It's just that Jiang Guangding misunderstood Chiang Kai-shek this time. Chiang Kai-shek's operational instructions to Zhang Zhizhong were actually Song Zhewu's operational suggestions to Chiang Kai-shek about Shanghai. Chiang Kai-shek only made slight changes, withheld some of the contents, and sent them to Zhang Zhizhong in his name.

Jiang Guangding took the draft of the telegram handed to him by Zhang Zhizhong and read it.

The gist of the telegram was that the Shanghai War of Resistance was not only to resolutely resist, but also to beat the Japanese army. In view of the fact that the Japanese army will soon send the 11th and 14th Divisions to Shanghai, the 9th Division of the Japanese Army should not be attacked with annihilation for the time being, and it can only be severely attacked when the enemy's reinforcements are exhausted.

Since it is going to be fought, the Japanese army now has only one Ninth Division in Shanghai, and the total strength of the Japanese army is only a little more than 20,000, and the annihilation of the Ninth Division is a good opportunity at this time; if the two subsequent divisions of the Japanese army arrive in Shanghai, the strength of the Japanese army will reach 60,000 or 70,000 at that time, and with the strength of the 19th Route Army and the Fifth Army now only about 90,000 troops, it will be difficult to have the upper hand against more than 70,000 Japanese troops.

Judging from the combat experience of the past 20 days or so, Jiang Guangding believed that if the 19th Route Army was to deal a annihilating blow against the Japanese army, it would have to outnumber the enemy by at least five times its strength. Even the Fifth Army, which is much better equipped, probably needs more than three times as many troops.

The Fifth Army, Chiang Kai-shek's Imperial Forest Army, Jiang Guangding had seen it yesterday. It is certain that it is well-equipped and has strong combat effectiveness.

If nothing else, just look at the military uniforms, the rest of the Central Army all wear khaki cloth uniforms, but only the officers above the company level of the Fifth Army wear yellow uniforms, not only all equipped with steel helmets, but also imported from Germany.

Just looking at this outfit, people understand what pride is.

This is still the case with military uniforms, not to mention weapons and equipment. The machine guns of these two divisions of the Fifth Army combined were one-third more than the machine guns of the original three divisions of the 19th Route Army. The number of mortars reached three and a half times that of all mortars in the three divisions of the 19th Route Army. In addition, the Fifth Army was equipped with 500 automatic rifles, which were a rarity throughout the country. In Jiang Guangding's view, the firepower of a regiment of the Fifth Army was enough to be equal to the firepower of an ordinary infantry division.

As for this independent brigade adapted from the Tax Police Corps, not to mention the equipment, the twelve Kaden? The Lloyd ultralight tank attracted a large number of onlookers.

Jiang Guangding and Cai Tingkai privately talked about the Fifth Army, and they believed that the Fifth Army could be called a prosperous army with excellent equipment, but it was not enough for a single army to have these things. The key to the combat effectiveness of the troops is to look at the people who carry the weapons, and the combat effectiveness must be seen again when the combat strength is fought.

Jiang Guangding was a little strange about Chiang Kai-shek's inconsistent instructions, even if Chiang Kai-shek's military literacy was poor, it would not be so bad? He was full of doubts and handed the telegram to Cai Tingkai and others to read.

Don't talk about Jiang Guangding, it's Zhang Zhizhong when he first saw this order. was also confused, and after sending electricity to ask Chiang Kai-shek, he was relieved a little, but only slightly. He wasn't convinced. Song Zhewu's men were able to handle the Japanese aircraft carriers and aircraft. …,

However, regardless of whether he has doubts in his heart, he still has to resolutely carry it out. For the sake of secrecy, there were some things he couldn't say, not only to the people of the 19th Route Army, but also to the people of the Central Army, as well as his own subordinates. It's just that, that's it. It was a little difficult for him to convince Jiang Guangding and Cai Tingkai, and even the people of the Fifth Army. Fortunately, he had already figured out the rhetoric.

After reading Chiang Kai-shek's telegram from the 19th Route Army, Zhang Zhizhong said: "Everyone. As everyone knows, the Japanese have a limited number of troops, they only have 17 permanent divisions in the country, and they are now in the northeast, because Wenge's eastern resistance and other resistance forces are fighting the Japanese invaders everywhere. More than four divisions of the Japanese army have been dragged there, and the northeast is too large, and the Japanese army is still preparing to increase its troops. This time, the Japanese army mobilized three divisions to Shanghai, plus two divisions of the Japanese army stationed in Korea and troops stationed in Taiwan. There were less than seven divisions left in the Japanese army. ”

"The chairman told me that the Eastern Resistance and other anti-Japanese forces in the Northeast. After the beginning of spring, we will be more active. to contain the Japanese army. If we can inflict heavy losses on the three divisions of the Japanese army that came to Shanghai this time, it will be very difficult for the Japanese army to increase troops in Shanghai, and the Japanese will definitely sit down and negotiate with us. ”

With more than 90,000 people, it is not easy to inflict heavy losses on the three divisions of the Japanese army! If that were the case, I am afraid that there would not be much left of these 90,000 people. This was not only the idea of Jiang Guangding and Cai Tingkai, but also the general idea of the generals of the 19th Route Army and the Fifth Army. It's just that this is what Chiang Kai-shek meant, and it is inconvenient for them to express their opinions.

Zhang Zhizhong understood everyone's thoughts, and said angrily: "Ladies and gentlemen, this is the autumn of the survival of the country and the nation, and as a soldier, I should go to the frontier to fight and defend my sacred territory, but I beg for a horse leather shroud, and I don't want to endure humiliation and steal my life. Even if our troops are crippled, even if the whole army is killed, our sacrifice will be worth it. Our sacrifice can at least arouse the whole people to resist the war with their blood and heads, and inspire them to continue to fight, resist power, and defend our land. If all the officers and men of our army use their lives to inflict heavy losses on the three divisions of the Japanese army, not only will Shanghai be protected, but the Nationalist Government will also have several years to prepare for the War of Resistance against Japan, so as to create conditions for the recovery of Northeast China in the future......"

Zhang Zhizhong's impassioned speech inspired the people in the conference room, including Jiang Guangding and Cai Tingkai.

Cai Tingkai slammed the cup in his hand on the table, and said resolutely: "General Wenbai said it well, we are all soldiers, what do soldiers do?" A soldier is one who defends his home and country. ”

Cai Tingkai turned his head to Jiang Guangding and said, "Commander-in-chief, that's it." ”

Jiang Guangding no longer hesitated, nodded and said, "Okay." Horse leather shroud, what is there to fear? ”

"It's just ......"

Jiang Guangding said to Zhang Zhizhong: "Wenbai, there is nothing to fear when dealing with the Japanese army, the biggest threat to us from the Japanese army is the aircraft and their naval guns, and according to Du Yuesheng, the Japanese Ninth Division also brought heavy artillery this time. Can you please send more planes from the central government? ”

The Central Army only has a few planes, and now they are bombing the Red Army in Wuhan and Nanchang, and then asking the Ministry of Military Affairs to send them, it will take time to come, and the Ministry of Military Affairs may not be willing. However, Zhang Zhizhong knew that Gao Zhihang had already led the people of the Fourth Route Army Air Force Corps to secretly go to the newly built field airfield in Changshu. According to Chiang Kai-shek, more than 50 new fighters and 36 bombers produced in Taiyuan, as well as more than 200 old attack planes and bombers of the Northeast Army, will soon arrive in Changshu one after another.

It's just that this matter is to be kept secret, and it is impossible to use it now, and how and when to use these planes is up to Gao Zhihang to decide. According to Chiang Kai-shek, these planes were meant to deliver a fatal blow to the Japanese aircraft carriers when the time was ripe.

Although Zhang Zhizhong knew that it was impossible for the Ministry of Military Affairs to send planes again, in order not to affect everyone's emotions, he still nodded and said, "Okay, about the plane, I will contact the Ministry of Military Affairs immediately." ”

"As for the heavy artillery of the 9th Division of the Japanese Army, now we also have a brigade of 105 howitzers, which are all transported by Wenge to the troops in Taiyuan."

In fact, in addition to providing a sufficient number of mountain artillery pieces according to Chiang Kai-shek's requirements, Song Zhewu also deliberately transported the equipment of two 105th heavy artillery regiments to Shanghai, and specified that one regiment each of the 19th Route Army and the Fifth Army should be handed over. It's just that when they got to He Yingqin, they all became the Fifth Army.

"Good! That's it! ”

Seeing that Zhang Zhizhong promised to contact the Ministry of Military Affairs about the plane, and that there was heavy artillery, Jiang Guangding was very happy (to be continued......

Due to the instability of the Baidu keyword ranking of this book, in order to facilitate the next reading, please Ctrl+D to add a bookmark, thank you!!