Three days later, Tianmen County, western Hubei Province.

After three days and nights of rapid marching, the commander's headquarters of the Dabie Mountain Theater finally retreated safely to Tianmen County, where it joined the new 38th Division and other units that had retreated here first.

After settling hastily in the county office, Bai Chongbei fell asleep.

After three consecutive days and nights of marching, Xiao Zhuge was tired.

Yu Jishi, Hu Zongnan, Tang Enbo and others did not mention the stubble of the new 38th Division and the eight honorary divisions, as if this matter did not exist at all.

Just a few days ago, these army commanders were rushing to ask for the new 38th Division and the eight honorary divisions, but now, they seem to have forgotten about this matter.

Coming out of the county office, Zhu Liangcheng, Sun Liren and other nine division commanders flocked to Zhong Yi's side.

"Damn, these snobs." Shi Zude couldn't help but scold, "When our nine divisions were strong and strong, these senior generals couldn't wait to kneel down and call Dad, but now that we are in trouble, we immediately changed their faces!" Did you just see that look of disdain? Think of us as a wrench! ”

"Old Shi, aren't you just a Huazi now?" Liu Yuanlin said, "There are only two or three thousand remnants left in your honorary second division, and the weapons and equipment are almost lost. To say that you are called a son is to lift you up. ”

Shi Zude was speechless at once.

Nothing else, Xiaogan's battle was too miserable!

In order to block the southward cluster of the 12th Army and to defend the life passage of Wuhan, their nine divisions fought fiercely for four and a half days with four divisions of the Japanese army and five heavy artillery wings on the Xiaogan line! The price is that when the elite troops of nearly 100,000 finally retreated to Tianmen, there were only less than 30,000 left!

After a long time, Shi Zude said sullenly: "But let's fight like this with the little devils, isn't it all for them?" If we hadn't worked hard with the Devil's Twelfth Army in Xiaogan, more than 20 armies and more than 500,000 troops in the entire theater would have been able to withdraw? Dream their big autumn dreams! Fuck it! ”

Zhong Yi didn't say a word.

To be honest, when he deliberately detained the new 38th Division and the eight honorary divisions and prevented them from returning to the building, Zhong Yi had already expected that there would be such a situation today!

Once the Japanese army launched the second phase of the offensive of the Battle of Wuhan, the momentum would definitely be unprecedented!

If you want to stop the heavy army group going south along the Pinghan Railway, it is impossible not to pay the price of blood!

Zhong Yi was even mentally prepared to fight all nine divisions, because the battle of Xiaogan was completely different from the Battle of Wuhan, in the Battle of Wuhan, they not only had tunnels and strong houses, but also fought street battles, while the Battle of Xiaogan not only did not have strong fortifications, but also fought field battles with little devils!

Therefore, Zhong Yi is psychologically prepared for this.

If he had to do it again, he would do it anyway.

At this time, Sun Liren suddenly said: "They dislike us and don't want us, maybe it's a good thing." ”

"What Brother Fumin said is extremely true." Zhu Liangcheng said with deep understanding, "In this way, maybe the command headquarters will use our nine divisions as the backbone and reorganize it into a group army." ”

"That's right." Liu Yuanlin said, "In this way, we can fight side by side again." ”

"It's good to fight side by side." Liu Yuanlin also said, "How happy are our brothers, if we change to someone else, I am really worried that we will not get along, and how embarrassing it will be to quarrel all day long?" ”

Sun Liren glanced at Zhong Yi and said with a smile: "If we really organize our nine divisions into a group army, how can Ziren have to be a military commander, right?" ”

Zhong Yi shook his head and said, "Fumin, don't be funny, with my qualifications, the division commander is reluctant, and I am still a military commander, what kind of international jokes." ”

"I'm not kidding." Sun Liren officially said, "With Ziren's ability, prestige, and your great contribution in the defense of Wuhan, you are wronged as a military commander!" If you really talk about meritorious deeds, Ziren, you are qualified to be directly promoted to commander-in-chief of the group army, don't you say? ”

Sun Liren's words immediately resonated with everyone.

"What Fu Min said is that Ziren should be the commander-in-chief of the group army."

"If you really let Ziren be the commander-in-chief of our group army, then dare to do it."

"If you want me to say, Ziren should be the commander-in-chief of this group army, and if he is replaced by someone else, I will not accept it!"

"That's enough, you guys." Zhong Yi directly interrupted, "I haven't seen the shadow of the group army, so you're going to make me the commander-in-chief of the group army?" Haven't you heard of it? ”

Hearing this, Sun Liren and the others immediately fell silent.

The merit is not rewarded, it has been like this since ancient times.

……

In Chongqing, Yunxiu Tower.

Lin Wei, the director of the attendant room, walked quickly into the study on the first floor.

Hearing the sound of footsteps, Principal Chang, who was closing his eyes and recuperating, opened his eyes.

In the past few days, Principal Chang was extremely excited, and after the excitement, he was extremely tired.

Seeing that it was Lin Wei coming in, Principal Chang said, "Weiran, is there any news from Wuhan?" ”

"Yes!" Lin Wei said in a low voice, "Just half an hour ago, the forward of the 15th Division of the Japanese Army, the 51st Infantry Wing, had entered the city of Hankou, and Hankou had officially fallen. ”

Hankou fell, and Hanyang and Wuchang were no longer guaranteed.

After more than six months of defense, Wuhan finally fell.

Principal Chang was silent for a moment, and then asked, "What time is it today?" ”

Lin Wei replied respectfully: "Back to the principal's words, today is September 23rd. ”

"September 23rd." Principal Chang sighed and said, "Weiran, remember this day, today is Wuhan, the day when the heart of our China falls!" ”

"Yes!" Lin Wei said astringently.

After being silent for more than ten seconds again, Principal Chang asked again: "What about the troops in the Dabie Mountain Theater?" ”

Lin Wei hurriedly said: "Except for Li Pinxian's Eleventh Group Army, which stayed in Dabie Mountain to fight guerrillas as planned, the rest of the troops have all been safely transferred, and they have already crossed the Han River yesterday evening. ”

Principal Chang bowed his head lightly, and said, "What about the nine divisions that Xiaogan pointed to before?" ”

"The nine divisions that Xiaogan pointed to before have also withdrawn to Yingcheng." Lin Wei said, "It's not ......"

Seeing that Lin Wei stopped talking, Principal Chang immediately turned around and asked, "But what?" ”

Lin Wei sighed lightly and said: "However, the losses of the nine divisions that Xiaogan pointed out before were very large, Sun Liren's new thirty-eighth division was basically disabled, and most of the eight honorary divisions were killed and wounded, from the 100,000 people when Hankou went north, to the time of retreat, there were only less than 30,000 left, at best, it was only enough to form three divisions!" ”

"That's to be expected." Principal Chang said, "But no matter what, the sacrifice of these 70,000 people has been exchanged for the survival of the 600,000 main forces in the Dabie Mountain Theater, which is worth it!" ”