On December 7, 1937, the Japanese General Staff Headquarters issued the "Continental Order No. 24".

This battle order swept away the previous disunity within Japan, made it clear that Nanjing must be occupied, and the war must spread in China in an all-round way.

On the same day, the Central China Front Headquarters issued a notice on the "Essentials for the Capture of Nanjing." It was demanded that the Chinese army be forced to surrender while the commander of the defense of Nanking or the municipal government authorities remained in the city.

From this day onwards, the Japanese army began to attack the defensive positions of the first line outside Nanjing, and ordered to continue the attack on the Fukou position of Nanjing City after breaking through this position.

With the issuance of the order, the Japanese army began to bombard the city of Nanjing with heavy artillery, and the city of Nanjing was suddenly filled with fireworks.

After occupying Tangshui, an important town on the outskirts of Nanjing, Lieutenant General Nakajima Imasa, commander of the 16th Division, ordered a brigade of the 38th Infantry Wing of Shizuji Daisa's and Kengo Noda's 33rd Infantry Wing to attack the Xiaguan River at the northern foot of the Purple Mountain.

The 9th Infantry Wing commanded by Katagiri Goro, the 20th Infantry Wing commanded by Nobuaki Ohno, and the 23rd Infantry Wing attacked Zhongshan Gate from the southern foot of the Purple Mountain. The forces of the two routes directly formed a pincer attack on the north and south of Nanjing.

The battle continued into the afternoon, when the 159th Division of the 66th Army shelled the division headquarters of the Japanese 16th Division in the Yushui Artillery School, and the commander of the 16th Division, Lieutenant General Nakajima Imasago was immediately wounded in the left leg.

Ironically, Nakajima himself was an artilleryman, graduated from the 15th Artillery Section of the Japanese Army Non-commissioned Officer School in November 1903, was awarded the rank of second lieutenant in artillery in March of the following year, and was sent by the Japanese Army to study in France.

Although this person cannot be said to be the "flower of artillery", he at least has a certain experience in the use of artillery.

However, during the battle against Nanjing, Lieutenant General Nakajima went so far as to set up his division headquarters at the location of the Tangshan Artillery School of the Chinese Army in Yanjia Village, Tangshan Factory, which can be said to be a bit too arrogant.

On the same day, Shanghai.

The "advance team" of the Japanese Navy, which had not long been established, was unexpectedly served on Towne Road, where overseas Japanese gathered. Captain Takeoka Yamazaki and thirteen of his subordinates did not survive.

This was undoubtedly a major loss for the Japanese Navy's Shanghai secret service.

It is said that that night, the sound of gunfire suddenly rang out at the Kawagen Trading Company, during which there was even an explosion similar to a grenade.

And the entire assassination operation lasted only five minutes.

By the time the Japanese hunters arrived, all the killers had been evacuated.

What bothers the Japanese side is, how were the whereabouts of the advance team revealed? The only explanation is that Yamazaki Takeoka likes to drink and likes women, maybe it's because of this that these weaknesses are being exploited by the military command, right?

The head of the "Shanghai Research Office" of the Japanese Navy's Shanghai secret service organization, Gu Fanyuan, was annoyed and angry, while the army's Shanghai secret service was gloating.

After all, the great loss of the opponent is a great increase in its own strength.

The one who has doubts about this is Kojiro Kawamoto.

Why did the military command set its sights on the navy? Where did they get their intelligence channels? Is there a problem within yourself?

Of course, he didn't suspect Miao Chengfang at all.

Miao Chengfang has never been exposed to this kind of intelligence.

Since "returning" to the Japanese, Miao Chengfang has lived a very comfortable life every day, hiding in his room to drink tea and read the newspaper, which is not particularly important, and he is not even willing to go out of the door.

However, it is clear that Miao Chengfang's comfortable life has ended here.

Hitotsugu Matsumoto convened an emergency meeting at his "Cloud Mansion".

"The assault on the capital of China has begun in full swing!" Matsumoto Hitotsugu could not hide his excitement in his words: "I am sure that under the powerful attack of the Empire, the occupation of Nanjing is only a matter of time. ”

Sooner or later?

Tian Qi was very disdainful in his heart.

In Shanghai, you fought for more than three months, Nanjing, that is the capital, and the tenacious soldiers of the Nationalist army will hold out there for a longer time, giving you more significant casualties!

"Command." Matsumoto Hitoji's face was straight: "In order to ensure that after the occupation of Nanjing, stabilize the local order, and eliminate the resistance of China, our various agencies will send personnel to Nanjing. And the front line command means that we can draw out people who are familiar with the local people in Nanjing, act as guides after entering the city, and assist the army to clear out the hidden remnants. ”

"Your Excellency Dazuo, your favorite candidate is Tian Qi, right?" Miao Chengfang asked slowly.

"Yes." Matsumoto Renji's gaze fell on Tian Qi: "Mr. Tian has been stationed in Nanjing for a long time before, so he already knows the local situation well, right?" ”

Tian Qi nodded slowly: "That's right, I am the most suitable person, and if His Excellency Dazuo personally orders it, I am willing to go to assist." ”

"Good." Matsumoto Hitotsugu looked very satisfied: "At present, the 9th Division of Kanazawa is attacking Chunhua Town, Takahashimon, where they are met with stubborn resistance from the Shina army. Our Sakurai special team is already active there, and I will immediately send you there, you are under the command of Sakurai Gongpu Shaosa, but you can report to me alone. ”

This is to give Tian Qi a certain right.

Tian Qi didn't say a word.

I finally wanted to go back to Nanjing, but I didn't expect to go back in such a way.

He looked up and saw Kojiro Kawamoto looking at him.

There was still suspicion in his eyes.

Tian Qi smiled defiantly.

……

At this time, on the battlefield of Chunhua Town, under the stubborn sniper of the 51st Division of the National Army, it was difficult for the Japanese 9th Division of Kanazawa to continue to advance. Soon, however, the Japanese army sent additional aircraft to continuously bomb the positions of the Chinese army, and cooperated with the ground forces to force the advance.

The first line of positions of the Chinese army was almost completely broken through by the 9th Cavalry Wing under the command of Morigo Rokusa.

At about 16 o'clock on December 8, the Japanese army fought with aviation, artillery, infantry, and cavalry, and all the officers and soldiers of the first battalion of the defenders were killed, and Chunhua Town was almost lost.

Ji Hongru, the commander of the 301st Regiment, was seriously wounded, the company commander was almost completely killed, and more than 1,400 people were killed and wounded below the platoon.

The Japanese Army's 9th Division in Kanazawa had already followed the Chinese army all the way to the Gaoqiao Gate outside Nanjing, where the 51st Division's second-line defensive position was located.

In order to ensure that the front-line troops could quickly withdraw into the second line of defense, Wang Yaowu thought of the two reserves under his control: Qiu Weida's 306th Regiment, which had just been withdrawn from Shanghai and had just arrived in Nanjing, and Zhang Lingfu's 305th Regiment.

The order was soon issued: "The 305th Regiment advanced to the front line of Guantou and Shangfang Town in the rear of Chunhua Town, covering the transfer of the main force of the division. At this time, because the Japanese troops who were detouring to Fangshan directly posed a threat to Chunhua's flank, the front was bombarded with artillery fire to cover the attack.

In three days, the 51st Division had suffered more than 900 casualties, and the 301st Regiment suffered heavy losses. Viewed from the Takahashi Imitation, Chunhua Town was completely shrouded in fireworks, where fierce battles raged.

Ji Hongru's 301st Regiment was almost disabled. From the contact battle that began on December 4, to now, it has only been three days, and there is almost nothing left of a main regiment. Under the heavy artillery fire of the Japanese army, countless Chinese soldiers were strewn with corpses.

At this time, Zhang Lingfu was also worried about his old classmate Hu Hao.

In addition to Zhang Lingfu, Zhou Zhidao, commander of the 151st Brigade, Qiu Weida, commander of the 306th Regiment, Hu Hao, commander of the 3rd Battalion of the 306th Regiment, and Chang Xiaode, deputy of the 305th Regiment, are all officers and students of the fourth phase.

Although Zhang Lingfu is not a very sociable person on weekdays, at this time, he is also worried about his classmates, after all, this time to defend Nanjing is really a fierce battle.

"Tell the troops, assemble urgently." Division Commander Wang Yaowu's command interrupted Zhang Lingfu's musings.

"But the division seat, the second line of positions has not yet been completed."

Zhang Lingfu was taken aback, what was the situation so urgent, he was not a soldier who questioned Shangfeng's order, but it was also difficult to understand.

"It's too late, tell the brethren to get ready for battle." The division commander Wang Yaowu only left such a sentence, turned around and left.

The staff officer of the division headquarters stood there with an embarrassed expression for a while before he came up and told Zhang Lingfu the specific situation.

After listening to the briefing by the staff officer, Zhang Lingfu gave the order for the whole regiment to assemble: "Transfer the defense to the 87th Division of the friendly neighbors, and advance from Gaoqiaomen to the position west of Chunhua Town." Zhang Lingfu's order was very simple.

"All of them are there, and they will advance in turn and advance in the direction of Chunhua." Facing a group of brothers standing in the evening breeze, Chang Xiaode, the deputy of the regiment, shouted at the top of his throat, he knew that this would be a bloody battle, and many brothers would leave their lives there.

Like those brothers with a face full of smoke and dust, Chang Xiaode is also calm, this battle has been fought under the city of Nanjing, and he will fucking die a happy death, rather than dying under this gun, it is much better than being a slave to the country.

Otherwise, he would not have been admitted to the Whampoa Military Academy and joined the army, isn't it just his mother's desire to save the suffering China with a new-style army, so how do you say it, swear not to be a slave to the country.

The Japanese shells almost destroyed most of the outer positions into a sea of fire, countless shell fragments flew everywhere, and the burning fire turned many villages and towns outside Nanjing into ashes.

Relying on the cover of artillery fire, the Japanese army launched attacks one after another against the Chinese troops stationed inside and outside the city from all directions, and countless stray bullets flew in the sky, and the scattered tracer bullets fluttered indiscriminately in the night sky illuminated by the rising flares as if it were day.

In the smoke and dust that kept billowing up, the houses in Chunhua Town collapsed one after another, and the devastated position was once again immersed in a thick smoke and fire.

From the Gaoqiaomen position to the east, the road was full of routs.

For the scene in front of him, Zhang Lingfu felt that it was unimaginable. Before this, the Governor's Department also asked to defend Nanjing to the last man, but in this kind of scene in front of him, how can this battle continue?

And on the evening of this day, Tian Qi rushed to the front line from Shanghai and successfully completed the convergence with the Sakurai special team.