At present, there are more than 3,000 people in various departments in Teng County, but less than 2,000 can really fight, and it is difficult to resist the well-equipped Japanese army. At this time, Wang Mingzhang was not thinking about whether he could hold Teng County, but about how many days he could hold it. Wang Mingzhang didn't know how Taierzhuang was armed, and how many days would it take to complete the task.

Now that the troops that should have arrived in Tengxian County have arrived, Wang Mingzhang decided to hold an emergency combat meeting in the middle of the night, because the big battle will start tomorrow morning.

Wang Mingzhang suddenly patted Shao Fei and invited, "Come to a meeting with me?"

"Me?" Shao Fei was puzzled and said, "After all, I am an outsider, and my position is low."

Wang Mingzhang smiled and replied: "As you said, they are all Chinese soldiers. If there are a few more people like you in the Sichuan army, I will have peace of mind. ”

Shao Fei no longer shirked and agreed to Wang Mingzhang's invitation.

In addition to several senior generals of the 41st Army, there were also Zhang Xuanwu, commander of the 727th Regiment, who is now the commander of Tengxian County's defense, and Liu Zhirong, Sun Zhen's special service battalion commander.

Everyone wore officer uniforms, and only Shao Fei wore the civilian clothes he had just changed into, and he became an outlier in the venue.

Liu Zhirong saw that Shao Fei was young and dressed in plain clothes, and asked Wang Mingzhang with curiosity: "Master Wang, who is this little brother in plain clothes?"

Zhang Xuanwu saw that Liu Zhirong had a little contempt, and without waiting for Wang Mingzhang's introduction, he replied for Wang Mingzhang: "His name is Shao Fei, and he is the Eighth Route Army. As far as I know now, his team of twelve people has eliminated more than 500 devils, and he helped the 45th Army defend the Xiangcheng position, so I don't know. ”

Liu Zhirong was shocked after hearing this, and exclaimed: "I can't believe it......"

"Alright, let's have a meeting."

Wang Mingzhang didn't want to waste time, there were only a few hours left before the Japanese army attacked the city, and he asked everyone: "With our current strength, do you think you can hold it for a few days?"

One of the officers replied: "One day." Although the Japanese army was equal to ours in strength, and we had the advantage of city defense, we were facing the 10th Wing of the Japanese Army, the ace wing of the Japanese army, nicknamed Oni Chichai. They have planes, heavy artillery, and armored units, and one day is our limit. ”

The opinion of this officer is also that of the majority of officers, who unanimously believe that Fuji County can only hold for one day.

Wang Mingzhang knew in his heart that one day would never work. So he said: "One day is absolutely not enough, everyone brainstorms, what is a good way to fight?"

The meeting fell silent for a while, and everyone was thinking about what really worked.

Not long after, another officer proposed: "It's better to go outside the city and maneuver." Defending a city can only be a victim of enemy planes and artillery. Outside the city, where it is possible to fight flexibly, there are still many of our troops, including the remnants of the 45th Army. It's like the guerrilla warfare of the Eighth Route Army, so that we may be able to hold out for a long time. ”

Speaking of the Eighth Route Army, some people's eyes turned to Shao Fei, who was the only one here who knew how to fight guerrilla warfare.

Wang Mingzhang asked, "Brother Shao Fei, what do you mean?"

Shao Fei thought for a moment and replied, "I am against going out of the city to fight. Most of the area around Fuji County was plains, and the Japanese army's mobility and individual combat ability were far superior to those of the Sichuan army, and they could not compare their own weaknesses with the enemy's strengths. The result can only be divided and destroyed. ”

Wang Mingzhang couldn't make a decision for a while, so he went to call the commander-in-chief Sun Zhen.

Sun Zhen said to Wang Mingzhang on the phone: "The chairman wants us to defend Tengxian County and wait for Tang Enbo's army to break the siege. The vanguard of the Tang Department has arrived in Lincheng, I should urge it to hurry north, and you must make sure that Tengxian County is waiting for reinforcements. If the troops are not enough, all the troops of the 41st Army outside the city can be transferred to the county town to defend and wait for reinforcements. ”

After Wang Mingzhang answered the phone, he made up his mind to carry out the order and decided to defend Tengxian County with the whole army.

Wang Mingzhang sat back in his position and said solemnly: "Immediately send an order to all the officers and soldiers in the city, and we have decided to defend Tengcheng to the death." I am with you to survive and survive, and to perish and perish. The south and north city gates were immediately closed and blocked, and the east and west city gates were temporarily left on traffic roads and were also ready to be closed at any time. No one is allowed to leave the city without my warrant, and those who violate it will be punished on the spot! ”

Now that they have made up their minds, others dare not disagree. Make every effort to defend the city.

Wang Mingzhang waved his hand and said, "Okay, now let's talk about how to defend the city."

At this time, Shao Fei took the lead in expressing his opinion: "I have participated in the defense of Taiyuan and Nanjing. The Japanese fought very simply, using heavy artillery to open a gap in the city wall, and then, under the cover of aircraft and artillery, the ground troops attacked. We must do four things: first, anti-artillery to reduce casualties; Second, arrange a powerful firepower network at the gap; Third, be prepared for street fighting, so that the enemy will pay the price of blood for every step forward; Fourth, the transfer and treatment of wounded soldiers. ”

Wang Mingzhang agreed with Shao Fei's plan: "I agree, I will arrange it immediately after the meeting."

Wang Mingzhang's approval did not make Shao Fei happy, and his face suddenly sank.

At this time, Zhang Xuanwu saw that Shao Fei hadn't finished speaking, and asked, "Brother, is there anything wrong?"

Shao Fei breathed a long sigh of relief and said, "On my way back from the front line, I passed through Jiangzhuang. All the villagers were slaughtered except for those who ran. Tengxian may become the second Nanjing, because the people have greatly helped the Sichuan army. ”

Everyone began to fall silent. This is a brutal war, and there are some things that cannot be prevented and avoided.

Shao Fei continued: "Everyone may have heard what happened to Nanjing, and they are all indignant. But I experienced that catastrophe firsthand, and that was hell. I have a suggestion, open the West Gate. Ten miles outside the West Gate is the mountain forest area, so that the people who want to leave can evacuate from the West Gate. ”

"No way!" An officer slapped the table against it and said, "What if the Japanese attack from the West Gate?" Who is responsible for the consequences! ”

"I'm in charge." Shao Fei said solemnly: "The main force of the Japanese army is in the east, and the heavy equipment such as heavy artillery has been deployed, so I won't go to the west gate with great difficulty." Even if there were, it would be only a few hundred infantry, and it would be enough for our six companies to deal with them. ”

"Well, I agree. The people of Teng County are kind to us, and the Sichuan army is never ungrateful. ”

Wang Mingzhang agreed to Shao Fei's suggestion despite public opinion.

After the meeting was adjourned, all the officers performed their duties and prepared for battle. But Wang Mingzhang left Zhang Xuanwu alone.

Wang Mingzhang took out a piece of paper and said to Zhang Xuanwu: "This is my warrant." Tell Simon's troops that Shao Fei and his men can leave at any time and must not be stopped except for the people. ”

Zhang Xuanwu took the warrant and asked, "Will he really leave?"

Wang Mingzhang smiled and said, "He is not the Sichuan army, and Tengxian is not his end. He has already helped us too much, and the Sichuan army cannot be ungrateful. ”

"I understand."

At this time, a correspondent came over with a message.

"Xuzhou calls."

"Read it."

The correspondent muttered: "Order your troops to shrink their defenses and hold on to help." Please be sure to stick to it for three days to gain the last time for Taierzhuang's defense. ”

"Heh, wait for help."

Wang Mingzhang sneered. He knew very well in his heart that there would be no more reinforcements to reinforce Teng County, even if it was only a few dozen miles.

(End of chapter)