Shao Fei looked at the sky, even if the four divisions of the national army were assembled, they would not be able to launch an offensive until the evening, and now they dared to go back to Jiujiang to persuade Zhang Fakui to come back.

"We're going back to Jiujiang, what will your 52nd Division do next?"

"The 52nd Division was originally stationed in the Xingzi area, and received an order to quickly block the Japanese army. After the mission was completed, he went to the north of Lushan to build fortifications to block the Japanese army from moving south. ”

It seems that the top brass of the Nationalist army has begun preparations to prevent the Japanese army from moving south and attacking the Guangdong-Hankou Railway. Since he knew that the Japanese army was unstoppable, why did he send heavy troops to recapture Gutang and defend Jiujiang?

If Zhang Fakui's plan had been followed, he had retreated to the second line of defense to avoid his edge and annihilated the enemy's living forces, so many people would not have died. The wisdom of the General Staff of the National Army is really difficult for people to understand.

Shao Fei walked up to Tang Guilin and said, "The machine gun is good, you have to take care." ”

Tang Guilin smiled and said uprightly: "Yes!" ”

Immediately, Shao Fei led his troops back to Jiujiang.

Chairman Chiang, who was far away in Wuhan, learned of the battle report in Jiujiang and urgently ordered Luo Zhuoying's troops in the Fifth Theater to gather troops to attack Pengze and Hukou in order to contain the Japanese army and order the Ninth Theater to annihilate the enemy who had not gained a firm foothold in the landing.

Chen Cheng did not dare to slack off after receiving the order, and urgently ordered Zhang Fakui to transfer the 70th Army to counterattack the enemy at night, and ordered the 3rd Division to draw troops from the troops guarding Lion Rock to reinforce Jiujiang.

Zhang Fakui was furious when he received the order, and began to scold his mother at his headquarters: "Don't bird, your mother! Can the battle be fought like this!? ”

The chief of staff on the side said: "Wuhan is going to destroy our Second Army." The Japanese gunboats were able to hit Jiujiang City directly, and now the city is full of mourning, as soldiers, we are sorry for the people of Jiujiang. ”

Zhang Fakui waved his hand again and again, and said angrily: "Don't fight!" Don't fight! Withdraw all the troops to the second line, stop them step by step, and destroy their living forces. ”

The chief of staff comforted: "How can this be done, the four divisions are already in place, and they can launch an attack at night, how can the military order be changed overnight." Also, this is the order of the chairman, and the Ninth War Zone is just issuing it on his behalf. Now that Jiujiang has only been guarding for a day and giving up, has the commander ever thought about whether Gui Yongqing, Long Muhan, Li Yunheng, and Xue Weiying will be a lesson for us? ”

Zhang Fakui let out a long sigh, and he was only helpless. The chairman of the committee is fighting a political war, and if Jiujiang is like Anqing and Madang, it will be difficult to explain to the people of the whole country.

Shao Fei led the troops to Jiujiang Chengnei. The whole city was in shambles. The streets were littered with the deaths of citizens and the tears of their loved ones.

Civilians are innocent, but often they are the biggest victims of war. In a moment, they risk losing their lives, loved ones, and property; In an instant, they will become nothing, refugees, beggars; In an instant, he went from being a high-ranking person to a slave who was inferior to a dog. This is war.

Shao Fei turned around and said to the commander of the first battalion: "Chief of Staff Chu and I will go to see the commander, you can lead the troops to help these people." Maybe it's insignificant, but at least it can give us incompetent soldiers a little relief. ”

"Got it, go ahead."

The first battalion commander obeyed Shao Fei's words, and he admired Shao Fei in his heart.

Shao Fei came to the headquarters, and the atmosphere in the room was extremely dull. Zhang Fakui had a completely depressed and lost expression. Ten years in Hedong and ten years in Hexi, 12 years ago, Okamura Ningji was beaten all over the ground by himself looking for teeth, but now......

Shao Fei was in a hurry, and asked straight to the point: "Commander, I heard that you have gathered 4 divisions to counterattack Gutang?" ”

Zhang Fakui was bored and didn't want to answer, and the chief of staff felt that the atmosphere was embarrassing, so he asked Chu Yunfan: "Why did you come back so late?" ”

Chu Yunfan replied: "Halfway through, we and the 3rd Battalion of the 52nd Division worked together to inflict heavy losses on the pursuing devils and eliminated more than 400 enemies. ”

"Our casualties are less than a hundred."

Shao Fei deliberately reminded that he was telling Zhang Fakui that only by telling Zhang Fakui about the mountain defense battle could he effectively destroy the enemy's living force. But Shao Fei didn't understand Zhang Fakui's helplessness, nor did he understand the truth that the military should serve politics. If Jiujiang stays for one more day, the national government will give more explanations to the people.

At this time, Zhang Fakui's face changed, and after glancing at Chu Yunfan, he said to Shao Fei: "You have a good fight, you can go and rest." ”

Shao Fei said bluntly: "I didn't come here to invite merit, but to stop the stupid attack of those four divisions. ”

Zhang Fakui was already on fire in his heart, but now he was taught a lesson by a junior, and said angrily to Shao Fei: "Stupid? You know what!? ”

"I don't understand, but I only know that Jiujiang must not be able to hold it! Anyway, they can't stand it, why do they sacrifice their soldiers and the people of Jiujiang in vain? You don't go out to see how miserable the people of Jiujiang are! ”

Shao Fei argued with reason, but there was a famous general in front of him, so he calmed down and said patiently: "Our task is to defend Great Wuhan, not Jiujiang." The significance of fighting on the periphery is to destroy the enemy's living forces, not to fight to the death. ”

Zhang Fakui did not refute it, who does not know these truths, and how can the chairman of the CPPCC National Committee not know. But Shao Fei is too young and strong-blooded, and he doesn't understand the truth that military is to serve politics and serve the rulers.

Politics is a purposeful defense of the superstructure's own interests, while the military is essentially a violent institution, a means and a tool for safeguarding interests.

The atmosphere in the room became stiff again, and the chief of staff asked Shao Fei: "Then have you ever thought about what kind of impact Jiujiang will have if it is lost in one day?" Compared with the overall situation of the Anti-Japanese War in the whole country, the four divisions and the people of Jiujiang are nothing. ”

Although what the chief of staff said was a bit high-sounding, Shao Fei seemed to understand something, but he still didn't dare to agree. Are the people so stupid and so easily fanned by the flames?

Shao Fei "whew~" and said, "I'm tired, go back and rest first." ”

After speaking, Shao Fei saluted the two generals and turned to leave the headquarters.

The four were assembled in various places and launched a fierce assault on the various lakeshore positions at 8 p.m. On the unobstructed tidal flats, in the face of the overwhelming steel waves of the strong enemy, the national army suffered heavy losses, which once again added to the senseless sacrifices.

On the 25th, the four divisions again spared no effort to attack, this time the Japanese army dispatched air force to support the Japanese troops who had already landed on the road.

With planes bombing indiscriminately in the sky, warships on the lake continuing to shell them, and the beachhead having the enemy's powerful firepower network, no matter how many and brave the soldiers are, they will not be able to break through the enemy's modern three-dimensional defense shield of land, sea, and air.

Tens of thousands of lives were sacrificed on the way to the charge. Their sacrifice was only to delay the fall of Jiujiang and save a little face for the authorities.

After a fierce battle, the four main divisions were finally disabled, and the counterattack ended in failure again. The Japanese army immediately increased the intensity of the attack, and the sword pointed directly at Jiujiang City.

(End of chapter)