On the evening of November 18th, an emergency meeting was held in Jiaxing City Defense Command.
Commander Liu Shangzhi was the first to speak." I'm sure you all know that at around 3 p.m. this afternoon, a hole was blown up in the city wall in the west of the city by the heavy artillery of the Japanese army. The situation is critical now. The mission given to us by the higher-ups is to defend for three days. Now that we have successfully completed two days, we are only one day away from tomorrow. How are we going to defend the last day? How to evacuate in an orderly manner? Now I want to hear everyone's opinions.”
Li Benyi said excitedly," Our 1038th Regiment swears to live and die with Jiaxing. We will never retreat half a step. If you want to retreat, you can retreat. Anyway, I won't retreat!"”
The leader of the Overwatch Regiment was also a little excited." Regiment Commander Li is very spirited and inspiring. Although our brothers in the Overwatch Regiment have suffered heavy casualties in the past two days, as long as there is a need, we will not retreat. Besides, if we retreat, what about the people in Jiaxing City? I've heard that the Japanese are devils who kill without blinking. They are much more ruthless than those bandits. Those bandits only rob the property of the common people and generally don't kill people casually. Those devils would kill and set fire, rape and plunder, and commit all kinds of evil. We, the Overwatch Group, swear to protect Jiaxing City!”
The president of the fan club, Jiang Weixian, said," Jiaxing Hospital is now full of injured people. There are no more beds. Moreover, some of the medicines are in short supply. Some of the seriously injured are sent here to wait for death. Some of the lightly injured are sent to Jiaxing Middle School's temporary ambulance. There are also a lack of medical staff. If this continues, the consequences will be unimaginable.”
Principal Zhang Yintong said," Our Jiaxing Middle School can add some temporary rescue points, such as classrooms. Anyway, the teachers and students of the whole school are busy resisting the Japanese and saving the country. They have no mood to attend classes. We can use the classrooms as temporary rescue points and treat some lightly injured people. However, it is useless to lack medicine and medical staff. My suggestion is to prepare for evacuation as soon as possible.”
The deputy director of the military transport agency, Bai Bashan, said," Right now, the military supplies department doesn't have much ammunition left. If we continue fighting, we will run out of ammunition and food. Jiaxing City is surrounded on all sides and we can't replenish our ammunition. Therefore, I suggest that we make preparations to evacuate and let the civilians evacuate first.”
Secretary Pan said," Our county government is willing to live and die with Jiaxing. As long as the city guards are here and the people are here, our county government staff will continue to work as usual and maintain the order of Jiaxing City.”
Fei Long also said," I'm now the captain of the sniper team. I was appointed by Regiment Commander Li. I'm responsible for leading the team members to fight the Japanese in the streets. I'll stop them and buy time for the civilians to evacuate. Although the Japanese had blasted a hole in the western city wall, as long as our sniper team is here, the Japanese won't be able to get past us. According to my observation, the Japanese soldiers outside the north gate are weaker. Judging from the intensity of the attack, we should open a passage outside the north gate to evacuate.”
In the end, Commander Liu made a conclusion." Based on everyone's speech, I have summarized a few points. First, evacuation is imperative. Second, evacuation must be carried out in an orderly manner. Therefore, everyone went back tonight to mobilize the people to prepare for evacuation. Regiment Commander Li, continue to be on alert tonight to prevent the Japanese from attacking at night. Tomorrow, arrange for troops to defend each gate and launch an attack on the Japanese army at 6 o'clock at the same time to create conditions for the commando team to open the retreat route outside the north gate. After opening the north gate, cover the people to evacuate in an orderly manner.”
Commander Li stood up and said,"Yes!" I promise to complete the mission! Tomorrow, I'll personally lead the team to open the north gate!”
That night, Secretary Pan returned to the county government and drafted a proposal to sue the people of Jiaxing. The content was as follows:
In view of Jiaxing City being surrounded on all sides and the fierce Japanese offensive, the defensive officers and soldiers desperately blocked for two days. The casualties were large, and there was a shortage of medicine and ammunition. It was difficult to continue. At 8 o'clock tomorrow, they would evacuate from the North Gate. Be prepared and hope to tell each other!
Jiaxing County Government
November 18, 1937
Secretary Pan drew up the proposal and called all the staff of the county government to the office. He ordered everyone to copy as many copies as possible and post them that night. At least two copies were posted on every street. In addition to seven or eight public officials, five or six of the county government's handymen were also used. That night, the proposal was posted on the streets and alleys.
Principal Zhang returned to the school that night and mobilized the teachers and students to pack up and evacuate at 8 o'clock the next day.
Xiao Tian looked unhappy. He pouted and said to Principal Zhang,"I'm not leaving. I want to fight with the city defense troops!"”
Principal Zhang smiled. He knew that she was acting coquettishly and teased,"We're still fighting together?" You can't even hold a gun!"
Oda retorted,"Who said that?" Even if I can't carry a gun, I can send food and water to them and save the wounded!”
Principal Zhang said seriously," Alright, alright. The city guards have to evacuate. The wounded have to evacuate too. Why are you staying?"”
The school's teachers were still a little confused. Principal Zhang explained," We are staying in Jiaxing City. Think about it. Our entire school has done so much propaganda for the resistance against Japan. If the devils occupy the city, will they spare us? Therefore, I decided to run a school in exile. During the evacuation, I will publicize the anti-Japanese war and run a school at the same time. When the time comes, we will return. I welcome those who are willing to leave with me, and I won't force those who don't. Those who are willing to come with me, pack up tonight and set off at 8 o'clock sharp tomorrow.”
In Jiang Weixian's house, his mother sat upright and asked her son,"Xian 'er, come with us!" Why are you staying? Your father, your daughter-in-law, and your son will leave with me. Are you at ease?”
Jiang Weixian advised his mother,"You guys go hide in the countryside first. I'll go find you when I'm busy with my business." The city guards still have to fight the Japanese tomorrow, and there will be many injured people who need help. As the president of the support club, can I leave them alone?”
"Alright, be careful!”Mother Jiang could not do anything about her stubborn son, so she could only agree.
At 6 o'clock in the morning of November 19, Li Benyi led the commando team to the Changhong Bridge position outside the North City Gate and launched an attack on the Japanese army together with the guards. The other three positions outside the city gate also launched an attack on the Japanese army at the same time.
On the outskirts of the eastern city, Gu Shoufu said to Xiaye Yihuo with a puzzled look,"Has the sun risen from the west?" I didn't hit you, but you hit me! Your offense is quite fierce, Yuxi!"
"Lieutenant General, I think the city guards might want to abandon the city and break out of the encirclement. Jiaxing City has already been surrounded by our Imperial Army for two days. Now that they have run out of ammunition and food, they are still fighting like trapped beasts. If they don't break out, the Celestial Army will only die.”
"Yuxi, pass down the order to stop them and not let them break out. I want to see how long they can last!”Gu Shoufu was unusually excited, as if victory was in his grasp.
Outside the West Gate and the South Gate, the brothers of the 1038th Regiment exchanged fire with the Japanese.
Regiment Commander Li led his brothers outside the north gate and fought fiercely with the Japanese Yamamoto troops for an hour, but still failed to take down the Japanese position.
More and more people gathered outside the northern gate, anxiously waiting to evacuate.
Regiment Commander Li looked at the old man behind him and took out his pocket watch to look at the time. There was only half an hour left before eight o'clock. What should he do? It was useless to be anxious. He had to think of a way to end the battle as soon as possible and open up a retreat route.
Regiment Commander Li was quick-witted and came up with a risky plan. In an emergency, he could only gamble everything. "Stop firing! Gather all the grenades and machine guns in the position. It will be divided into two steps. The first step is for the brothers who are good at throwing grenades to throw out all the grenades in one minute after listening to my order. The second step is for all machine gunners to hold the machine guns. After the grenades explode, take advantage of the smoke to quickly charge at the enemy position. You must be fast!”
Yamamoto felt that the Chinese army's gunfire had stopped. He was puzzled and did not know what the Chinese army was up to. He also ordered the Japanese army to stop shooting. He used his binoculars to look at the opposite camp, but he didn't see the Chinese army. Just as he was feeling puzzled, he noticed countless grenades flying towards him from the sky like hail.”
After a loud grenade explosion, Commander Li raised his heavy machine gun and led the machine gunners to shoot forward. The Japanese soldiers hurriedly raised their guns to fight back, but it was too late. Commander Li and the others had already rushed to the front of the enemy's position and fired at the Japanese. Before the Japanese could react, more than half of them were killed by Commander Li and the others.
Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Yamamoto could only bring his remaining followers and flee in panic.
From then on, the retreat route outside the north gate had been opened up. The common people brought their children out of the north gate and evacuated northwest.
Outside the western city, Ishida Bodo set up his heavy artillery again. After a burst of gunfire, Jiaxing City was in flames, and the western city wall was blown up again. Teng Shan's troops stepped up their offensive, and our defenders suffered heavy casualties. They retreated to the city to continue blocking. The Japanese army swarmed to the gap in the city wall. They had suffered a loss last time, and this time they carefully entered through the gap.
Fei Long led the sniper team to hide in the building and aim at the gap. As soon as they came in, they killed one by one, and all of them were headshotted. The Japanese army retreated. Teng Shan was furious." Baka! Don't retreat! Bring the mortars over!"”
The Japanese army set up a row of mortars and prepared to fire at the buildings near the gap. Fei Long led the sniper team to quickly get down from the buildings and retreat to the buildings deeper in the street to prepare for street fighting. At the place where the mortars were fired, the buildings fell to the ground. The Japanese army swarmed into the gap and searched along the streets. Fei Long led his team to retreat to the north gate as they fought.
In the east gate of the autumn jing bridge position, GuShouFu life Japanese also launched a crazy attack, Du Lianchang and brothers rose up to block, the Japanese difficult to advance half a step.
" Baka!" Shoufu Taniya scolded." Ushijima, bring the mortars over and blast them with all your might. Don't be stingy with the shells."”
"Ha Yi, I'll arrange it immediately."”
The Japanese mortars bombarded the Qiujing Bridge position outside Dongcheng. The brothers in our position suffered heavy casualties. Du Lianchang had to lead his brothers to retreat to the Qiujing Bridge to block the Japanese army.
"Captain, we don't have many bullets left. What should we do?”A Warrior asked.
"Wait for the enemy to get closer before attacking!" Commander Du ordered.
The Japanese carried the three-eight large cover and walked up the steps of the Qiujing Bridge step by step. When the first Japanese was about to reach the 35th step, Commander Du shouted," Fight!" The soldiers came out from the bunker and shot at the Japanese. The Japanese rolled down the steps one after another. The Japanese behind them who were not hit were also hit by the Japanese in front and rolled down.
"Retreat!" Company Commander Du led his men back into the city. The Japanese chased after him.
"Report, Commander Li has ordered all our brothers to retreat immediately!”A Warrior came over to pass down the order.
"Alright, tell Regiment Commander Li to retreat first. I'll be there soon.”Commander Du replied.
Company Commander Du led his brothers to block the east gate for a while. Due to the lack of ammunition, they had to withdraw from the east gate and retreat to the north gate while fighting.
As night fell, Fei Long met up with Company Commander Du and Commander Li, and took advantage of the darkness to successfully withdraw from Jiaxing City.
Li Ben led the remaining few hundred men of the 1038th Regiment to search for the main force of the 170th Division. Meanwhile, Fei Long was ready to cross over to the next city to snipe the enemy.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]