In addition to Gu Shoufu, only seven wing commanders, two brigade commanders, and the chief of staff of the 6th Division, Shimono Kazuho, attended the meeting, and the topic of the meeting was: Should there be a detour to attack Nanjing?

Originally, if Gu Shoufu didn't come today, Ushijima Man would have decided to make a detour, which was also decided at the staff meeting last night, if he still couldn't take it today, then he would bypass Niushou Mountain and fight Nanjing, but now that Gu Shoufu has arrived, it is up to Gu Shoufu to decide whether to make a detour.

Gu Shoufu first asked: "What's going on with Niushou Mountain, Weishenme can't be beaten for two days?" ”

Judging from the map, Niushou Mountain is just a small peak in the southeast of Nanjing, the elevation of the main peak is less than 300 meters, although there are several small peaks around, it is not a precipitous place, right? However, the Ushishima Brigade attacked at the foot of Niushou Mountain for two whole days and still couldn't advance an inch, what kind of battle is this fighting?

Gu Shoufu almost blurted out: The face of the empire and the imperial army has been lost by you.

Ushijima set his eyes on Okamoto Town, and Okamoto had to get up and replied: "Division Commander, the Shina Army has built a solid side-fire point on the southern slope, not only the field artillery wing, but even the aviation force is helpless, coupled with the constraints of the terrain, the Imperial Army can only deploy one infantry squadron at most, so ......"

Gu Shoufu frowned and said: "The southern slope can't be attacked, why don't you turn to attack the east and west slopes?" ”

Okamoto replied: "The eastern slope is relatively steep, and it is very difficult to attack from the back, and although the western slope is relatively gentle, the infantry cannot get artillery fire support because of the ridge. ”

Gu Shoufu said unhappily: "Isn't there still aviation?" ”

Ushijima smiled bitterly and said: "Division commander, you also know that since that arrived at the Nanjing battlefield, the flight regiment directly under the Front Army has become a flying regiment directly under the Shanghai Dispatch Army. "Ushijima is talking about the commander of the Shanghai Dispatch Army, Hatohiko Asakanomiya, this old devil is a rare professional soldier in the Japanese Imperial Family, and he is also the imperial uncle of Emperor Showa

Gu Shoufu's expression became a little embarrassed, in terms of military rank, he and Asaka Palace Hatohiko are both lieutenant generals, but in terms of status, he is far worse than Asaka Palace Hatohiko, and Asaka Palace Hatohiko has an excellent relationship with Yanagawa Heisuke, the commander of the Tenth Army, even if the lawsuit reaches the Tenth Army Headquarters, Yanagawa Heisuke will not face him.

After a long time, Gu Shoufu asked, "So, you can only take a detour?"

Ushijima said: "Division commander, please forgive me for being blunt, I'm afraid I can only take a detour." ”

"Okay, let's take a detour." Gu Shoufu said helplessly, "So, where should I take a detour?" ”

Ushijima replied: "There are three options, the first one is to take a small road to bypass the eastern foothills of Niushou Mountain and directly attack Nanjing, but this path can only be used by infantry artillery at most, and trucks, chariots, and heavy artillery cannot all pass, which means that our division will only rely on infantry artillery to attack Nanjing Jiancheng." ”

Shimono Yihuo said: "I'm afraid this won't work, Nanjing is a rare fortified city in the world."

As early as the Sino-Japanese War, the Central Chinese Army launched a comprehensive intelligence collection for the Chinese Dynasty, Nanjing is naturally the focus of the Japanese military intelligence department, Nanjing as the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties, but also the early capital of the Ming Empire, the city is stronger than most people imagine, the city wall hòu degree is more than 10 meters, the height is more than 20 meters.

With such a strong city wall, how could a 92 infantry gun with a caliber of only 70mm be able to blast open?

Ushijima Mitsuru said: "The second option is to build a simple road to Banqiao Town, according to the aviation reconnaissance, Banqiao Town Railway Station is stranded with two locomotives and dozens of train wagons, and there is no regular army stationed in China, as long as an infantry brigade is sent to seize the locomotive and wagons, with this batch of locomotives and wagons, all the personnel, baggage and heavy equipment of our division can quickly maneuver to Nanjing Zhonghuamen Railway Station through the railway line. ”

Gu Shoufu asked, "How many days will it take to build such an improvised road?" ”

Ushijima replied: "Division commander, there was originally a simple road from Dongshan Bridge to the valley, which could be used by trucks with a little repair, and there was also a road in Banqiao Town that connected with the Ning (Nanjing) Lang (Langxi) Highway, so the sappers only needed to build a simple road connecting this road from the valley, which would take about five days. ”

"Yaga." Gu Shoufu said angrily, "Since Banqiao Town originally has a sidewalk connecting with Ninglang Highway, Weishenme doesn't take Ninglang Highway directly, Weishenme has to build another simple road?" ”

Ushijima said busily: "Division commander, this is the third choice to talk about in a humble position, the third option is to take the Ninglang Highway directly to bypass Banqiao Town, but the Ninglang Highway has been seriously damaged and must be repaired by the sappers, and there is a section of the road close to the western foot of the Zutang Mountain, and the sappers are easily killed by curved guns and heavy machine guns when they are working. ”

"Time, what I need is time." Gu Shoufu roared loudly, "How many days will it take to directly repair the Ninglang Highway?" ”

Ushijima turned his gaze to the commander of the 6th Engineer Wing, Nakamura Seiichi, who had the most say on this issue, Nakamura Seiichi got up and said loudly: "Division commander, the most difficult thing is the section of the road under the Zutang Mountain, which is about a thousand meters long, because it is within the range of the heavy machine guns of the Shina Army on the mountain, it is extremely difficult to repair, even if you don't count the casualties, it will take two days. ”

Gu Shoufu rolled his eyes and said in a deep voice: "If there is no interference from the Zhi Na Army, how long will it take to repair?" ”

Nakamura Seichi said in a loud voice: "Division commander, if there is no interference from the Zhina Army, it can be repaired in four hours at most." ”

"Yo Si." Gu Shoufu nodded happily.

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When Gu Shoufu, an old devil, convened a cabinet meeting with all the chief officers of the 6th Division and above, Chairman Chiang was also convening a meeting of all the generals above the major general level, and this was also a military meeting before he left Nanjing, and he would leave Nanjing by special plane at half past five tomorrow morning.

Tang Shengzhi, commander-in-chief of the Nanjing garrison, Luo Zhuoying and Liu Xing, deputy commanders-in-chief, Zhou Bin, chief of staff, Wang Jingjiu, commander of the 7L Army and commander of the 87th Division, Sun Yuanliang, commander of the 72nd Army and commander of the 88th Division, Song Xilian, commander of the 78th Army and commander of the 36th Division, Yu Jishi, commander of the 74th Army, Ye Zhao, commander of the 66th Army, Deng Guanglong, commander of the 83rd Army, Gui Yongqing, commander of the Teaching Corps of the Central Military Academy, Xiao Shanling, commander of the military police and commander of the Nanjing garrison, Wang Yaowu, commander of the 51st Division, Feng Shengfa, commander of the 58th Division, and other commanders above the rank of major general (Quanxu rank) all attended the meeting as observers.

At the meeting, Chairman Chiang made a speech before leaving Nanjing.

"Nanjing is the place where the mausoleum of the former president is located, and the place where the whole country pays homage to the whole country!

"The biggest focus of attention is also in Nanjing, and we can't give up easily, let alone give up easily."

"I don't have to deny it, Nanjing has become an isolated city, I wanted to stay and defend Nanjing with everyone, but now the situation is developing in all aspects, I can't be biased, the situation forces me to leave Nanjing, but my heart is with you, and also with the mausoleum of the former president."

"Today, I hand over the responsibility of defending the capital to General Tang Shengzhi, General Tang Shengzhi is a famous general who has experienced a hundred battles and is wise and brave, and he will certainly be able to live up to the expectations and trust of me and the people of the whole country, and shoulder the responsibility of defending the capital.

"I am outside, since I mobilized troops to deal with the capital, in case of misfortune, you are also national heroes who sacrificed for the country and the nation, the party and the congress will remember you, and the people of the whole country will always remember you! All men are mortal? We have to look at the meaning and value of death, and what kind of glory it should be to be born in this great era to be able to sacrifice for the country and the nation? ”

After the speech, all the generals present at the meeting applauded warmly, Chairman Jiang's words were still quite contagious, Tang Shengzhi immediately stood up and once again expressed his determination to defend Nanjing: "Commission, humble position is still the same sentence, not afraid of danger, unswerving in the face of difficulties, without your order will never take half a step back, swear to live and die with Nanjing!" ”

Immediately afterwards, Luo Zhuoying, Liu Xing, Zhou Wei and other senior generals also stood up one after another, expressing to Chairman Jiang the determination to live and die with Nanjing, no matter what happened later, at least at this moment, Tang Shengzhi and the senior generals attending the meeting were full of strange tragedy and grandeur, and most of them also had the idea of death in their hearts.

At the end of the meeting, Tang Shengzhi and others sent Chairman Jiang and Mrs. Jiang to the Ming Palace Airport.

When saying goodbye at the gate of the airport, Chairman Jiang clasped Tang Shengzhi's hands tightly and said emotionally: "Meng Xiao, there are so many high-ranking generals in the party-state, but only you are willing to stand up in the face of national difficulties...... Take good care of yourself. ’

Chairman Jiang's words are actually a bit of a donkey's lips are not the same as the horse's mouth, everyone knows that Nanjing will inevitably not be able to hold it, Tang Shengzhi has expressed his intention to live and die with Nanjing, how can he take care of his health? But Tang Shengzhi heard Chairman Jiang's voice, Chairman Jiang did not ask him to take care of his health, but to take care of his name, and never surrender to Ri Yan himself.

Tang Shengzhi inevitably made another statement, and then left with the generals.

Chairman Chiang stayed in the airport lounge for four hours, and at half past five in the morning, the Meiling special plane took off from the Forbidden City Airport, which was the safest at this time, because the Japanese fighters would not come to Nanjing so early to bomb it, and after the special plane took off, Chairman Chiang ordered the captain to fly around Nanjing twice, and at this time the sky was not yet dawn, and the entire city of Nanjing was immersed in darkness.

Although he couldn't see the city of Nanjing clearly, Chairman Chiang could feel its presence, and Chairman Chiang stared deeply at the dark earth under his feet against the porthole, and sighed in his heart: Farewell, Nanjing, farewell, Jinling.