In early April, the Military Commission of the Nanjing Government ordered Luo Zhuoying to command a total of about 10 divisions in the 3rd and 9th Theaters to counterattack Nanchang. The policy formulated was: "First attack the enemy along the Nanxun line with the main force, cut off the enemy's contact, and then take Nanchang directly with one section." ”

On April 21, the counteroffensive began: the 184th Division and the newly formed 10th Division of the Luhan Army in the Ninth Theater launched an attack on the Japanese army in Fengxin; The main force of the 11th Division monitored the Japanese army in Jing'an, and the first part advanced to Tanxi. On the 23rd, the 32nd Group Army of Shangguan Yunxiang in the Third Theater sent the 16th Division, the 79th Division, the 5th Reserve Division and the 10th Reserve Division to cross the Fuhe River and attack in the direction of Nanchang. On the 24th, the Japanese army retreated to Fengxin.

The main force of Yu Jishi's army attacked the Japanese army near Gao'an; Yu Jishi's army and Liu Duoquan's army each crossed the Jinjiang River north and attacked the Japanese troops in the area of Dacheng and Shengmi Street. By the 26th, the 32nd Group Army regained the southeast city of Nanchang and approached Nanchang. Yu Jishi's army and Liu Duoquan's army recovered Gao'an, Dacheng and Shengmi Street, and once attacked Niuxing, and the Japanese army retreated to the northeast line of Gao'an.

After that, the troops of the Ninth Theater of Operations made difficult progress and were unable to cut off the Nanxun line. On the 27th, the Japanese Saito Division was supported by marines and counterattacked. The attack of the Shangguan Yunxiang Group Army was blocked, and the 26th Division was sent to join the battle.

On May 5, the airport on the east side of Nanchang and the Nanchang Railway Station were conquered. On the 7th, the Japanese army in Nanchang and the Nakai Division that came to reinforce it, with the cooperation of the air force, continued to counterattack. The Shangguan Yunxiang Group Army suffered heavy casualties, and the commander of the 29th Army, Lieutenant General Chen Anbao, was martyred, and the attack was frustrated. On the 9th, the chairman of the committee ordered the Chinese army to stop the counteroffensive, and the Battle of Nanchang ended.

On March 17, 1939, the Japanese army began to attack Wucheng, and the commander of the Japanese 11th Army, Lieutenant General Okamura Ninji, commanded three divisions to defeat more than 30 divisions on the right flank of the Ninth Theater commanded by Luo Zhuoying in a short period of time, and the Japanese army occupied Nanchang on March 27. The Battle of Nanchang lasted a month and a half, and finally ended in the defeat of the Chinese army.

This battle was the first major battle after the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression entered the stalemate stage, with a total of more than 50,000 Japanese troops annihilated and nearly 100,000 casualties among the Chinese army. Although the Battle of Nanchang ended in failure, it made the whole world, especially the Japanese military authorities, realize that although the Japanese army occupied the three towns of Wuhan, it had failed to force the Nationalist Government to submit, nor had it been able to annihilate the main force of the Chinese army, still less had it destroyed the will of the vast number of Chinese soldiers and civilians to resist the war.

On May 11, 1939, the 24th Frontier Garrison of the Mongolian Army waded from the west bank of the mountain to the area east of the Haraha River for grazing. A squad of soldiers of the 3rd Company of the Puppet Khing'an Garrison Cavalry stationed at the Xilin Tauragai outpost immediately opened fire to intercept them, mounted their horses and chased after them, driving the Mongolian herdsmen and horses back to the west bank.

More than 50 cavalrymen from the 7th border post of the Mongolian army captured the puppet Manchurian Xilin Taolagai post in the disputed area, officially opening the prelude to the Battle of Normenhan. In April 1939, after the occupation of Nanchang, in order to eliminate the threat of the Chinese army to Wuhan from northern Hubei and southern Henan, Okamura Ningji began to deploy the Suizao Campaign, in an attempt to encircle and annihilate the main force of the Fifth Theater in the northeast area of Zaoyang, Suizao County, Hubei.

In late April, when Chairman Chiang heard that the Japanese army was massing troops in northern Hubei, he immediately telegraphed Li Zongren to prepare for the battle, and ordered the 1st, 3rd, and 9th theaters to respond. The two sides are deployed and ready, and a life-and-death battle is about to be staged!

At the end of April, Yamada Otozo, the new commander of Japan's Central China Dispatch Army, approved Okamura's battle plan, and immediately Okamura issued an attack order to all divisions in Jiangbei. At dawn on May 1, the Japanese army divided its troops into two routes, with the 3rd, 13th, and 16th Divisions and the 2nd and 4th Cavalry Brigades, to attack the Suixian and Zaoyang areas, and the Battle of Suizao officially began.

Li Zongren, commander of the Fifth Theater of Operations in China, organized his troops into two group armies, the left and the right, and the Jiang Defense Army to defend and counterattack. In this battle, the Chinese army had a great advantage in terms of strength and could coordinate and cooperate, but the use of troops was not flexible and was once in a passive situation.

Later, after the bloody battle of the officers and men of the whole army, the fierce battle until May 23, the troops of the Fifth Theater successively recovered Zaoyang and Suixian. The Japanese army retreated to Zhongxiang and Yingshan, restored the pre-war situation, and the battle was declared over.

The Kuomintang army killed 13,000 enemy soldiers and more than 5,000 Japanese corpses, of which Zhang Zizhong's right-wing corps annihilated more than 4,500 Japanese soldiers. The Fifth Theater also paid a heavy sacrifice of 25,000 yuan, crushing the Japanese army's plot to advance westward and consolidating the western Hubei barrier, and the Japanese army ultimately failed to achieve the intended strategic goal.

On May 26, the Charlotte cargo ship departing from New York Harbor finally arrived at the Qingdao terminal. In addition to 800 Ford cars, petroleum, steel, and other commodities, more than 50 overseas Chinese compatriots, including Xia Houcheng, Shi Lanxin, Zhou Ping, and Hu Yaodong, arrived on the same ship.

Thanks to the influence of giants such as Ford and Carnegie Steel, the U.S. government sent a special note to the Japanese government to open commercial routes between the U.S. and Qingdao. Therefore, although the USS Charlotte, which flew the American flag and hired a large number of American seafarers, attracted Japan's jealousy and covetousness, it had a smooth ride along the way, and the Japanese Navy did not dare to stop and interrogate them when they saw it.

Although it took a bit of time, more than 50 days to walk, it was worth it to be able to open this good route.

"It's finally here!" "I almost didn't suffocate!" "I finally got through it!" "Hurry up and get off the boat to breathe!"

After arriving at the port of Qingdao, the Charlotte freighter anchored and docked on the shore, the passengers walked from the deck to the dock one after another, and some seafarers also disembarked and went ashore to breathe.

"Brothers, get ready to work!" "Quick! The action is a little slippery! "The port loading and unloading team, which has been waiting for a long time, began to enter the yard and prepare to unload the cargo.

"Dad, Mom, Zhou's Mom, Liang Qiao, Su Xian, I'm here!" Xia Yu waved his hand at the crowd excitedly, and then ran over. "Old lady, look, Xiaoyu is there!" "Quick, let Mom take a closer look!" "Good daughter! It's been more than a year, but it's been a bad thought for us! Xia Houcheng, Shi Lanxin, and Zhou Ping's faces were full of joy and love, staring at Xia Yu with wide eyes, looking left and right, and they couldn't like it.

"Wow, I haven't seen Xiaoyu for a year, the longer you get, the more beautiful you are! I envy you, now you are a famous heroine! "Xiaoyu, we're finally seeing each other again, I'm so happy! Do you know how much we have suffered along the way? I almost didn't faint! "Hehe, I'm very, very happy to have you here! I promise that all the hardships you have endured are worth it, and I will take you to see this new world that you can't imagine! ”

"Hee-hee, then we'll see!" Liang Qiao and Su Xian, the two best friends, were also very excited, hugging Xia Yu and talking endlessly, it was really three women in one play.

"Let's go! I'll take you to eat something and put your stomach on the back! After chatting for a while and taking a lot of photos, Xia Yu pointed to a restaurant not far away, anyway, he took a long vacation and didn't have to worry about work, the most important task at the moment is to accompany his parents and girlfriends.

Qingdao port was originally relatively prosperous, after the Shandong army recovered from the Japanese devils, and sent a large number of troops and construction personnel to guard Qingdao, build military camps, coastal defense fortifications, and build ports. With the continuous investment of massive manpower and material resources, fishery, catering, entertainment and other industries have also been driven up and become more and more active, and the popularity value has increased by more than twice in just two or three months compared with before!

"Good! Not to mention, I'm really hungry! "We're throwing up potatoes and bread every day on the boat these days!" "Today, I have to taste the true taste of our Chinese cuisine!"

Xia Houcheng, Shi Lanxin and others nodded happily in response, and walked towards the hotel with brisk steps. "Hey, Xiaoyu, why are the characters on the signboard of this hotel a little different from the Chinese characters we learned?"

After getting closer, Liang Qiao glanced at the hotel signboard in simplified characters, turned his head a little incomprehensibly and asked, "How do you read these words?" Is it called Donglaishun Hotel? "You're so smart, congratulations!"

Xia Yu nodded with a smile, and then explained with Rong Youyan: "This is a simplified Chinese character invented by Zongzuo, so that everyone can better learn and promote Chinese characters, and the people here praise our Zongzuo as the reincarnation of Wenquxing!" "Simplified? It's a fitting name! ”

"Well, it's interesting! It's the first time I've seen such a simplification, but I can recognize it! "Yes, although it feels a little weird, it is really easy to recognize and write a lot!" "Simplifying the word will be a great feat!"

Hearing this, Xia Houcheng, Shi Lanxin, Liang Qiao and others praised it again and were deeply impressed.

Liang Qiao suddenly smiled and asked, "Xiaoyu, when can we meet Commander Jiang?" We've been looking forward to this moment in New York for a long time! "Yes! Oh, yes! I have long heard that Commander Jiang is a strange man of the best rank in the world, and a large part of the reason why we have traveled thousands of miles back to China is to be able to see Commander Jiang with our own eyes! Su Xian answered excitedly, there is no personal relationship between men and women, it is purely a star-chasing mode of worship.

"That's right, Soza has the grace of rebuilding our family, and we also want to meet Soza as soon as possible and thank him in person!" Xia Houcheng and his wife also looked at Xia Yu, and they had wanted to mention this stubble for a long time after getting off the boat, but because of the endless words after the reunion of their relatives, they have been holding it back until now.

"Haha, there's no hurry! When we finish eating, and then take the car back to Zhaoyuan, we will naturally see the head seat! Let's go, let's go in first, eat and drink enough! Xia Yu smiled, and then strode into the hotel with pride.

"Coriander fried squid roll, braised sea cucumber with green onion, shark fin with three threads, sweet and sour Yellow River carp, fried double crispy in oil, grilled abalone, braised prawns in oil, vinegar pepper fish, Jiaodong four warm mix, sweet and sour loin, mullet egg soup, pot roast duck, crispy chicken, yellow croaker tofu soup, pot collapsed yellow croaker, warm mandarin fish fillet, Yipin tofu, clear soup white fungus, all give me a portion!"

Rich is capricious, Xia Yu belongs to the civilian establishment of the army, the salary is not low, plus there is no need to spend money on food and housing, the money in the bank is basically only in and out, and so far more than 1,200 yuan has been saved.

So as soon as he entered the hotel, Xia Yu didn't let himself pick up the menu and crackle for a while, which was completely the basic operation of the local tyrant who bought expensive and didn't buy the right one. Wealth does not return to the hometown is like a brocade night walk, no matter how much success no one shares, it is not complete, Xia Yu just wants to share her joy, pride and success with her relatives at this time, as for how much money she really doesn't care.

"Wow, Xiaoyu, can we finish eating so many dishes?" "yes, don't waste it! How much does that cost! "Yes, as long as you have a meaning! Where can we eat so much! ”

Xia Houcheng, Shi Lanxin, Zhou Ping, Liang Qiao, and Su Xian all shook their heads at Xia Yu, even if they didn't know the prices in Huaxia, but just from the high-end decoration of this restaurant and a large list of good-sounding dish names, they knew that the money spent on this meal would definitely be a huge amount of money!

"Don't worry! Not bad for money! Happy today, let's have a good meal and drink! Xia Yu smiled without panic, and then said loudly: "Boss, another bottle of Moutai wine, a bottle of French red wine!" "Ahem, ahem!" “……”

Xia Houcheng and the others stared at each other, they really didn't know what to say, and they couldn't figure out the situation when they first arrived, so they didn't dare to ask more. "Wow! It's so delicious! Sure enough, our Chinese food is delicious! "You've come right! It's the right time! When I go back in the future, let those guys who were afraid of dragons and tigers regret their deaths! "Hey, hey, everyone is happy!"

A meal cost 196.5 yuan, which is equivalent to two months' wages for ordinary workers, which naturally made the guests and hosts happy, and the food was flamboyant, and it was very comfortable from the inside out.

After eating, he walked out of the restaurant, Xia Yu took everyone to walk along the pier to eat, anyway, he has a car, he can go back to Gaomi at any time, don't panic at all! As he walked, Liang Qiao suddenly saw an extremely majestic fort in the distance, and suddenly his eyes lit up and said, "Xiaoyu, can we go over there and have a look?" It's a big fort, it looks so majestic, it's the first time we've seen such a military building! ”

For his own safety, Jiang Qiang tried his best to exhaust all kinds of moves, and the manpower, material and financial resources spent were really difficult to measure.

After several months of all-out construction, the entire coastal defense line of the Shandong Peninsula was turned into an iron barrel formation by Jiang Qiang, and there was not only a tight radar network, a huge coastal defense artillery firepower network with an ultra-long range, a dense antiaircraft artillery air defense position, and an incomparably solid anti-beach landing coastal defense fortification line.

Weihaiwei, Yantai, Qingdao and other important ports and airports, respectively, stationed an air squadron responsible for daily patrol and vigilance. In addition, there are heavy troops guarding the coastal defense line, which can be described as impregnable. After half a year of reinforcement and thickening at most, Jiang Qiang dared to pat his chest and say: In the current era, even if the Japanese devils use their strength to eat milk, don't want to break through the "Maginot Sea Defense Line" that they have carefully built.

Even if the US fleet, which is full of firepower, wants to attack the coastal defense line of the Shandong Peninsula, it will have to be ruined, and it will not want to make a difference without paying an unbearable price. With this impregnable rear base, Jiang Qiang will be able to further expand his forces and develop more powerful offensive means and armed forces.

Xia Yu shook his head and smiled: "It is a military land, and it is absolutely forbidden for idle people to visit." We can only stand and watch from a distance, after all, it is still a war year, and the little devil spy agents are everywhere! ”

In fact, Xia Yu still has some words to say, she has not long ago been to many forts that are under construction and have been built to conduct on-the-spot interviews, but that requires a special pass. These top-notch coastal defense fortifications are really not something that anyone can go in and visit carefully! Liang Qiao smiled and said, "It's okay!" It's okay! Totally understandable! So I'll stand here and take a picture, right? "Of course there is no problem!"

Xia Yu nodded and smiled, and then took out the camera from his satchel. "Wait, how can this be without me! After we go back, we can blow this cow for a while! ”

Su Xian hurriedly walked over and stood with Liang Qiao and posed. Click! Click! Then the shutter sound kept ringing again, no matter in the past or now, traveling photos are one of the biggest hobbies of girls! "I really can't imagine that we still have such a magical land in China! I now have every reason to believe that it won't be long before we will stand at the top of the world again! ”

Looking at the majestic forts in the distance, looking at the indestructible coastal defense fortification lines, and looking at the 10,000-ton giant ships that were busy working, Xia Houcheng's heart was full of excitement and pride. Just imperceptibly, Xia Houcheng had secretly made up his mind to stay and witness the upcoming great national rejuvenation in person! Buzz!

A helicopter took off from Qingdao Wharf and flew directly across Jiaozhou Bay to Zhaoyuan Municipal Government Square in less than half an hour. Immediately afterward, two overseas Chinese and two Americans stepped down from the helicopter. "Welcome! Welcome! "Everyone has worked hard all the way!"

At this time, Jiang Qiang, Jiang He, Li Shuchun, Liu Qiang and others greeted them with smiles on their faces.

"Hi Jiang! My old friend, it's a pleasure to see you again! As soon as he saw Jiang Qiang, John Benjamin Powell was so enthusiastic that he stretched out his arms and hugged Jiang Qiang intimately.

"I'm also very happy! My old friend, thanks to your help, our company in the United States has been able to grow like a fish in water! Jiang Qiang was also very happy to meet the founder of Miller's Review Newspaper with a sense of justice again!

Powell shook his head and smiled: "You are too polite, not so much that I helped you, but that you helped me and changed the fate of our entire family!" Thank you from the bottom of my heart, my friend! ”

After a long period of greetings, Powell turned to the Americans beside him and introduced: "Captain Edmund, this is the commander of the Shandong Group Army that I often mention to you, General Jiang Qiang, he is the most intelligent and charismatic earthling I have ever seen, there is no one!" "Even buy karma! General Jiang, I'm so glad to see you! You are much younger and more handsome than I imagined, and I am deeply impressed by your bravery and wisdom, please accept my high respect! ”

Edmund is a close friend of Powell, a veteran retired officer in the U.S. Navy, with extensive experience in naval operations command, and the captain of the USS Charlotte, whom Meng Wuan hired at great expense through Powell. Jiang Qiang replied in English: "It's over!" Mr. Edmund, I am very honored to meet you here, and we will definitely have more pleasant cooperation in the future! ”

"Wow, I really can't imagine that General Jiang speaks English so fluently and authentically! It's so good! Edmund's eyes lit up, and he praised again and again: "I am also very much looking forward to our further cooperation, Huaxia is an ancient and mysterious country, and I am very happy to contribute to her awakening and rebirth!" ”

As a professional navyman, Edmund felt extremely uncomfortable after retiring from the army, and it was at this time that a friend approached him to hire him as a captain of a freighter. Despite the lucrative salary, Edmund was reluctant to accept the offer at first, because a freighter and a warship are two different things!

But then Powell spread out his cards, explaining that being a freighter captain was just a transitional position, and the ultimate intention was to make him a naval instructor of the Huaxia Jiaodong Group Army!

After figuring out the situation, Edmund was instantly ecstatic, and without the slightest hesitation, he accepted the invitation to officially serve as the captain of the Charlotte freighter, and he also hired many Navy comrades who had nothing to do after retiring! After more than a month of bumps, he finally came to the mysterious country of China, and from the Qingdao dock, Edmund has been shocked by everything in front of him!

Especially when I got on the helicopter and flew over Zhaoyuan, I saw and felt the unprecedented shock and excitement, although this place is much smaller than the United States, but the momentum and vitality displayed are not inferior. For this reason, Edmund's heart has long been happy, and he is extremely satisfied and excited about his wise choice! "Rest assured, we won't let you down!"

Jiang Qiang nodded and smiled, then stretched out his hand to Hu Yaodong, who was standing aside, and said, "Hall Master Hu, welcome to Gaomi as a guest, I have heard Meng Wuan mention you a long time ago, and I am very grateful for your help and support!" Fortunately, I will be glad to meet you! ”

Hu Yaodong hurriedly stretched out his hand and shook Yang Fan tightly, and said excitedly: "General Jiang Qiang is polite, we are all Chinese compatriots, and it is natural to go to the national disaster together for warmth!" Jiang Qiang smiled: "That's right! We have stood tall for thousands of years, relying on this spirit! ”

Hu Yaodong nodded and seconded: "What General Jiang said is extremely true!" This is Hu Fengjun, the dog, who heard that I was coming to China, and said that he would follow him to meet General Yang, and he would return to China to resist Japan and save his life. Originally, I didn't dare to cause trouble to Commander Jiang, but thinking that he was also a strong guy, and after returning to China, maybe he could really contribute to the War of Resistance, so I brought him here! ”

At this time, Hu Fengjun stretched out his hands excitedly and said: "General Jiang's prestige is like thunder, I have admired it for a long time, and it is really a blessing to see it today!" ”

The Hu family's father and son were also greatly shocked, although they heard a lot from the mouths of Meng Wuan and others, but after seeing it with their own eyes today, they were still full of shock and incredulity. "Welcome! Welcome! What a young and promising handsome offspring, our Shandong Group Army welcomes all hot-blooded men who are willing to go to the national disaster together! ”

Jiang Qiang smiled and stretched out his hand, then waved his hand and said: "We have set up good wine and good food for everyone to catch the wind and wash the dust, let's talk while eating!" Please! "Thank you General Jiang for your hospitality!" "Okay! Then we're welcome! "Guests are as they please, we will listen to General Jiang's arrangement!" Powell, Edmund, Hu Yaodong and Hu Fengjun naturally readily agreed, and then under the enthusiastic guidance of Jiang Qiang and others, they got into several VIP luxury cars and went to the Zhaoyuan People's Hotel for dinner and accommodation.