Chapter 680: Taiyuan City Broken (2)

The defensive barriers in the south and southeast of Taiyuan, Taigu and Jinzhong, were fiercely attacked by the Japanese army for many days, and Yan Xishan, chairman of Shanxi Province, commander of Shanxi security, and deputy commander-in-chief of the Yellow River Basin Theater Command, put all the troops in his hands into these two battlefields, which were related to the entire territory of Shanxi, and the family background of Chief Yan, he could not help but fight hard.

Fierce fighting until the evening of May 13, the Jin army, which suffered more than half of the casualties, could no longer resist the continuous fierce attacks of the Japanese army with superior forces, first in the direction of Taigu, the defensive position was broken through by the Japanese army, and then, in the direction of Jinzhong, Sun Chu's defense line was smashed open by the Japanese army A big hole, the sky was pitiful, it was dark, the Japanese stopped the attack, just established a position at the breakthrough, the guns and cannons resounded all day long, and finally fell silent, the exhausted Jin soldiers, finally took a breath, and the fire was still burning everywhere, The gloom reflected the corpses one by one, both Japanese soldiers and Jin soldiers.

Yan Xishan learned the news that the defense line of Taigu and Jinzhong was broken by the Japanese army, he sat down on the chair with his ass, covered his head with his hands, and groaned in pain, he was dying, and there were more than a dozen high-ranking staff members with gray faces standing around, looking at each other, and they had no good ideas.

Looking at the appearance of the old man and the six gods without an owner, several people pretended to be brave and put their own construction and discernment, Yan Xishan did not reprimand loudly, just looked at the roof blankly, he knew that these old subordinates, of course, were for their own lives, but more for the sake of the big tree they relied on, and left Yan Xishan, they were not farts, to the relief of Chief Yan, no one persuaded him to surrender to the Japanese.

In fact, after Yan Xishan learned the news that the defense line of Taigu and Jinzhong had been broken through in many places, he knew that he was no longer able to fight, and had considered the issue of making peace with the Japanese, but now in this situation, the Japanese are pressing step by step, even if they take refuge in the Japanese, they will never reap the benefits, at most it is an alliance under the city, the conditions are harsh, and it is categorically unacceptable to him, besides, there is also the problem of reputation, with his character, even if he surrenders, he must strive for the greatest interests, and his subordinates did not propose to surrender to the Japanese, Let him still have a glimmer of hope in his heart to fight again.

Now, Yan Xishan is facing a dilemma, go, a qiē is over, from now on to lose Shanxi, lose his painstaking management for many years, he is reluctant, do not go, can only be a prisoner of the Japanese, or die in battle, when a prisoner or die in battle, is not the result he wants to see, where to go, the time is only tonight and one night, tomorrow, the Japanese will attack the city of Taiyuan, the senior staff members stood silently, looking at the old man's uncertain face, waiting for his decision.

The room was quiet, there was only occasional heavy gasping, the atmosphere was unbearable, and there was a rush of footsteps outside the door, "Report to Chief Yan, subordinate Zhao Chengshou led the main force of the Seventh Army to arrive, please instruct Chief Yan" Yan Xishan looked up suddenly, and saw Zhao Chengshou with a tired face and dusty face, standing in front of him, his eyes lit up suddenly, and he actually shed tears, great savior, at the most critical moment, Zhao Chengshou rushed back.

"Yinfu, is that you?" Yan Xishan stepped in front of Zhao Chengshou in one step, took his hand, and couldn't help but cry, it was difficult for him, the corners of Zhao Chengshou's eyes were also moist, he had followed the old man for many years, before and after the saddle, he had never seen him lose his temper like this, it can be expected that Taiyuan's shape was so dangerous that the always calm Chief Yan was abnormal.

Zhao Chengshou was almost driven crazy by Yan Xishan, he received several telegrams a day, all urging him to rush to Taiyuan as much as possible, Zhao Chengshou understood the mood of the old man, if Taiyuan is not critical, the old man will not desperately urge himself, from Zhangjiakou to Taiyuan, there are nearly thousands of miles away, almost through the entire northwest region of Shanxi, there are more than 200,000 troops, he can't wait to grow wings, but the reality can not be changed, can only concentrate the only trucks, transport a few divisions back to Taiyuan, other troops, had to be on the mountain road in the northwest of Shanxi, Difficult day and night marches.

Zhao Chengshou's Seventh Group Army, the main force of the Jin Army, Zhao Chengshou has an open-minded personality, bold and careful, can make decisions immediately in case of trouble, dare to act, that is, Yan Xishan's henchman and favorite general, is also a fierce general, brave in battle, repeatedly played a big role in the Jin army, followed Yan Xishan for many years, known as Zhao Menghu, he led the troops back to Taiyuan in time, for Yan Xishan, who was already facing a desperate situation, it is undoubtedly the greatest comfort and confidence.

Immediately, under the auspices of Yan Xishan, an emergency military meeting was held in the Yan Mansion to discuss ways to deal with the current war situation, Zhao Chengshou tried his best to defy public opinion, blaze a trail, and put forward a two-point plan, Taiyuan must be held, even if it is retreat, it is necessary to inflict heavy losses on the Japanese army, for safety reasons, Commander Yan should immediately evacuate Taiyuan, to the Shuozhou area in the northwest of Shanxi, and establish a command headquarters to coordinate and command the war of resistance in the whole territory of Shanxi.

Zhao Chengshou's plan is undoubtedly the most in line with Yan Xishan's mind, especially his words, "Now no one can rely on ourselves, we can only rely on ourselves," touched Yan Xishan's nerves, since the Battle of Wuxiang, the Jin army has suffered heavy losses one after another, but isn't it that the Jin army is desperate with the Japanese, Tang Qiuli is right in front of him, but he doesn't stretch out his hand, which makes him feel cold, Yan Xishan didn't think about it, the so-called "planting good causes, only by getting good results," since the Qiqi Incident, what he did has made Tang Qiuli lose the least trust in him, will have the current situation.

Although it was Tang Qiuli's strategy to lead the water to the east, but he was also to blame, the meeting finally made a decision, the whole line to shrink the troops, abandon Taigu and Jinzhong, concentrate troops to defend Taiyuan, with Zhao Chengshou as the commander of Taiyuan city defense, unified command of all the troops, Yan Xishan tonight out of the city, withdraw to the Shuozhou area, all enterprises, factories and mines in Taiyuan immediately relocated, defend the troops in Taiyuan, and buy time for the relocation.

It was late at night, it was dark in Taiyuan City, outside the north gate, dozens of cars, turned off the lights, quietly parked in the dark, a large group of senior officers, at the gate of the city farewell Yan Xishan, Yan Xishan took Zhao Chengshou's hand, and repeatedly advised: "Yin Fu, Taiyuan can be protected, if you can't do anything, you should immediately retreat north, in order to protect the blood and seeds of our Jin army, and you, you have always fought bravely, and you must pay attention to your own safety." ”

The spring cold is steep, the convoy is far away, Yan Xishan looked back at Taiyuan City in the dark night, the pain in his heart, hit his heart, how many years, has not left here, his heart and roots, has been integrated with the city, how many times the wind and clouds have changed, the smoke of war, has not left here, and now, but had to leave here in a hurry and sadly, Yan Xishan sighed, retracted his gaze, I don't know what year and month I can return to Taiyuan.

Zhao Chengshou took and sent Yan Xishan away, a stone in his heart fell to the ground, and the troops were organized to immediately build fortifications on the periphery of Taiyuan, and the order to retreat was issued overnight to reach the front line of Taigu and Jinzhong, so that Zhao Chengshou did not expect that the troops who had fought with the Japanese on the battlefield for many days would fall into a state of chaos after receiving the order to retreat.

And the first confusion turned out to be the troops of their own Seventh Army defending the Taigu defense line, how many companions fell beside them, and their bodies were torn to pieces by Japanese shells, with a breath, gritted their teeth and insisted, the thoughts of the soldiers of the Jin Army have been numb, and they think that there is no reason to survive, after receiving the order to retreat to Taiyuan, the last tight string finally broke, and the desire to survive is irrepressible, spreading in the hearts of every soldier who survived.

The whole line was chaotic, according to the retreat order, the troops according to the sequence, did not alarm the Japanese army, alternately covered the evacuation position, but the retreat turned into a rout, the fierce battle for many days of the remnants of more than 20,000 soldiers, there is a chance to live, that is not the people's hearts floating, in addition to the officers at all levels only care about their own retreat, the troops are disorderly into a swarm, vying to escape from this terrible hell, escape from the overwhelming Japanese artillery fire.

The abnormal movement on the position finally alarmed the Japanese army, and the situation was reported to Okamura Ningji, this cunning old devil immediately came to the judgment that the Jin army was going to retreat, but the situation was unclear in the night, and he was afraid that it was the strategy of the Chinese, so he decided to send a wing of troops to carry out a tentative attack, so he took the breakthrough as the starting point and advanced to the Jin army's defensive depth attack.

Zuo Siyu is the commander of a regiment of the second brigade of the Jin army, many days of fierce fighting, a regiment of more than 3,400 people with full troops, less than 1,000 people left, his position, at the forefront of the Taigu defense line, received the most attacks, he received the order is the second batch of retreat, followed by the 25th Division of the Seventh Army, but before he finished gathering the troops, the soldiers of the 25th Division have crossed the trenches in a mess and ran to the front of his troops, Zuo Siyu was so angry that he scolded, such a retreat, isn't it equivalent to reporting to the little devil?

In his misfortune, on the position of the 25th Division, there were a large number of shadows of Japanese troops, and the steel helmets flashed a dark luster under the fire that had not yet been extinguished, and then, the bullets came over, and the soldiers of the 25th Division fell down a piece, Zuo Siyu thought sharply, such a retreat is equivalent to sending a live target to the little devil, if he is chased by the tail, the little devil can directly hit the city of Taiyuan, and the whole line is in danger of collapse.

Gritting his teeth, Zuo Siyu ordered the troops to immediately enter the position, prepare to block the Japanese army, cover the retreat of friendly troops, this decision, what does it mean to all the soldiers of the first regiment, everyone knows that the pro-training brigade is the elite unit of the Jin army, and it is the royal forest army of Commander Yan, which has its own arrogance and ruthlessness, and has no habit of running when they see a little devil, and the soldiers silently entered the position.

The Japanese soldiers who were in hot pursuit, were hit by sudden fire, and immediately stopped, they did not expect that the Jin army retreating in a panic still had a covering force, which was a trap for the Chinese people, and the Yin* Imperial Army was deceived, and the situation was quickly reported to the suspicious Okamura Ningji, and the main force of the Japanese army, which had already gathered to prepare for the follow-up attack, received an order to rest in place.

A battle that was enough to cause the collapse of the whole line, because of a regiment of less than 1,000 people and was already exhausted, and it was invisibly resolved, thanks to Zuo Siyu's regiment, they organized the defense of Taiyuan for Zhao Chengshou and bought a precious night.

(To be continued)