The national army's large-scale counteroffensive was hopeless, and the fall of Pengze County was a foregone conclusion. A decisive battle under the command of General Luo Zhuoying around the Hukou area kicked off.

Hukou District is the ninth theater of defense on the Yangtze River. After the fall of Madang, the Nationalist Army began to move troops frequently, involving troops of 9 divisions, including the 26th, 77th, 11th, 60th, 167th, 53rd, 16th, 56th, and 105th divisions.

Chiang Kai-shek telegraphed Luo Zhuoying to take charge of the operational command of Dongliu, Pengze, and Hukou, and changed it to the 9th theater sequence, and the strength of the Hukou garrison area was strengthened.

The troops invested by the Japanese army were the 1st of the 106th Division, the Hatian Detachment, and other units that came later.

The 106th Division had already set out to capture Pengze, while the Potian detachment remained for the time being to dredge the waterway.

A large number of drifting mines, mines, and shipwrecks were left on the river surface of Madang Fortress, and the Japanese army used small artillery to clean up the mines, and sent sappers to work underwater to cut and salvage the sunken ships.

The Hatada detachment was a pioneer again, and it was doing these dirty work, and Hatada was dissatisfied at first.

The attack on Anqing and Zhanmadang, many Japanese generals thought that it was lucky, and Ha Tian secretly decided that he must fight a beautiful battle to shut up those people.

Chen Haotian took Shao Fei to Hukou County, which is now the forward command center of the war zone.

Before the two went to meet Liu Yuqing, the commander of the 26th Division, Chen Haotian introduced the situation of the 26th Division to Shao Fei and Liu Yuqing.

The 26th Division had less than 10,000 men and four regiments, a communications company, and an engineer company.

Each regiment had three infantry battalions and a mortar company (with four mortars), each battalion had three infantry companies and one heavy machine gun, and each company had three infantry platoons with one light machine gun each.

The two came to the camp of the 26th Division, and Shao Fei found that the rifles held by the soldiers were so old that some of them lost their teeth, and even the double lines in the chambers were about to wear out; Some rifles are missing parts, and the bolt must be tied with hemp rope, otherwise it will fall off; Some soldiers had double-barreled rifles that they didn't know which year they were made.

Later, Shao Fei knew that the whole division did not have a single artillery, no logistics, and no field hospital.

Shao Fei smiled: "Did I cross over again and return to the Opium War." Can that play kill someone? ”

Chen Haotian said as he walked: "I can't laugh at it. They are also Chinese soldiers, and they can be treated ...... No wonder they all say that we are a ragtag army, cannon fodder. Chief Li wanted me to join the Gui Army, but I refused. In my bones, I will always be the Sichuan Army. ”

Because of Chen Haotian's words, Shao Fei also became serious. These words also made Shao Fei have more respect for Chen Haotian. Soldiers must not forget their roots.

Shao Fei asked, "All along, I have a question that I have never understood. There are so many rich people in Sichuan, like your Chen family, as well as Lu Zuofu's people's livelihood shipping, you should donate a lot of money, but why are your own soldiers so backward in equipment. ”

Chen Haotian stopped, sighed, and said, "There are some things that you won't understand. Before the Anti-Japanese War, why did we give money to the military and let them fight in the civil war? When the Anti-Japanese War broke out, businessmen enthusiastically donated money to support the anti-Japanese war, but by that time the central government had already taken over Sichuan. If you have money, of course, you will first equip their descendants. ”

Chen Haotian shook his head slightly and said, "Sometimes, I really envy the Dian army. Military and political independence, all French equipment. ”

After speaking, Chen Haotian waved his hand and said, "Let's go." ”

Chen Haotian's words made Shao Fei think of Wang Mingzhang again. On the night before the war, Wang Mingzhang was extremely sad, and the Sichuan army was destroyed by the warlord melee.

When I came to the combat headquarters of the 26th Division, it was very lively and noisy. The sound of telegrams, telephones, the chatter of officers.

Shao Fei saw that in front of a square table in the center, a major general officer with a long face and thick eyebrows was a little bookish, he looked at the battle map on the table and discussed something with the officer next to him.

This person should be Liu Yuqing, the commander of the 26th Division. Chen Haotian introduced to himself that Liu Yuqing used to be a clerical sergeant, and he was promoted all the way to the division commander. He is meticulous in his work, but his personality is too restrained, more cautious and less courageous.

"Haotian, you're here, why are you here now?"

Liu Yuqing found Chen Haotian and stepped forward to greet him with a smile. Both of them had the rank of major general and saluted each other.

Liu Yuqing, like an old acquaintance, patted Chen Haotian and said, "I'm so happy that you can come." ”

Chen Haotian replied: "My brother's business is my business, how can a foolish brother not come." ”

Liu Yuqing found Shao Fei and asked, "Who is this?" ”

Chen Haotian replied: "He is the commander of the Falcon. The reason why I came late was to go to Peng Ze to find him, so as not to let this kid escape. ”

Although Chen Haotian's words were very light, everyone in the command heard them. They put down what they were doing and looked at Shao Fei intently, and even the telegraph operator put down his headset and stood up.

Liu Yuqing couldn't believe it, and said with a sigh of relief: "I have admired the name for a long time, I didn't expect you to come." ”

Shao Fei saluted and said, "Hello general, I didn't expect me to become a celebrity."

The officer behind Liu Yuqing said: "It's not just famous, it's like thunder." With your help in the 26th Division, we will be more confident. ”

"I heard that a dozen of you can top a group."

"Yes, it's all divine."

“……”

Shao Fei felt embarrassed, and looked at Chen Haotian, Chen Haotian said, "Okay." Since we are here, we will fight side by side against the enemy. ”

"That's right." Liu Yuqing said to everyone: "Everyone is busy with their own."

Subsequently, Liu Yuqing explained the situation to Chen Haotian and Shao Fei. The 26th Division was mainly responsible for the defense of Longtan Mountain and Hukou County, and it can be said that they were the last line of defense in the Hukou defensive battle.

After understanding, Liu Yuqing ordered someone to take Chen Haotian to the Longtan Mountain position in Tantan to understand the situation of the position.

After leaving, Shao Fei breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'm kind of flattered."

"Falcon is getting more and more famous, and which army doesn't want you to come and help. Especially the 26th Division, they need you the most. ”

Shao Fei didn't understand the meaning of Chen Haotian's words. The 26th Division fought bravely and was poorly equipped to make up for it by the spirit of not being afraid of death. However, their tactics are rigid and inflexible. This is also Chen Haotian's main purpose for calling Shao Fei.

Drove to the vicinity of Longtan Mountain, where the main force of the 26th Division was garrisoned, the 76th Brigade, under the jurisdiction of the 154th Regiment and the 155th Regiment, and the brigade commander Zhu Zaitang.

The 76th Brigade is responsible for the left flank of Hukou, and the 78th Brigade is responsible for the right flank of Hukou, with brigade commander Wang Kejun.

The 76th Brigade was responsible for the heights on both sides of the Longtan Mountain Road, blocking the road with crossfire. This is the main direction of the Japanese army's attack, so Liu Yuqing sent the 78th Brigade and 156th Regiment to supplement the troops.

Thousands of soldiers on the high ground on both sides of the road were busy with each other, and it was a complete scene of an approaching big war.

"Stop!"

A second lieutenant stopped Chen Haotian's car, then stepped forward and saluted: "Sir, there is a minefield ahead, please get out of the car and pass through the safe area."

Shao Fei looked at the road ahead, the road was damaged miserably, and a large number of obstacles were set up. They did this to prevent the passage of enemy cars and armored vehicles.

"Cough~" Shao Fei deliberately sighed: "I don't understand the disabled at all, let's go."

Chen Haotian complained: "If you don't joke with my legs, you'll die."

The group was led to the main position by the soldiers in front, and the soldiers of the Sichuan army were busy building trenches.

At this time, Zhu Zaitang, the commander of the 76th Brigade, rushed over, and after the two sides saluted, Zhu Zaitang said: "The division commander called me and said that you are coming."

Saying that, Zhu Zaitang looked at Shao Fei and said, "This is a falcon, right?"

Shao Fei smiled: "I'm not, Falcon is just a code name for a special combat team." My code name is Sharp Knife, and the brigade commander can also call me by my name. ”

Zhu Zaitang smiled ashamedly and said, "I thought that only spies used code names, and I laughed when I heard it." I really didn't expect that the commander of the Falcon was a guy in his early twenties. ”

Subsequently, Zhu Zaitang took Chen Haotian and Shao Fei to visit the position and explained the deployment situation.

After reading it, Shao Fei couldn't help but sigh. This miscellaneous army is a veritable one. In addition to miscellaneous weapons, there are also miscellaneous soldiers, in addition to Sichuan soldiers, there are also recruits from Anhui and Jiangxi.

There was not a single artillery piece in the entire position, and there were pitiful few heavy machine guns. Can such firepower block the Japanese army? Shao Fei put a question mark.

What Shao Fei was most concerned about was that the three regiments had no logistical support at all, only a few medics and stretcher teams.

This was such a unit, which fought hard with the Japanese army for seven days and seven nights in the Battle of Songhu, destroying more than 4,000 enemies. It was supposed to be a miracle, Shao Fei couldn't imagine what kind of battle it was.

(PS: The 26th Division is a unit that has been forgotten in the corner by history.) ）

(End of chapter)