Chapter 135: The morning orders of the Battle of Shanghai are changing every night

Faced with the attack of 200,000 Neon Army, his nearly 700,000 army had only the ability to resist and had no power to fight back. This battle has been fought for almost three months, and all his troops have been sent. The seven German divisions have just been reorganized and have been replenished three times. Moreover, from the five-year strategic material reserve plan that was just launched in the 24th year of the Republic of China to the implementation of more than a year before the war, the most important materials such as weapons and ammunition have been exhausted. How to fight this battle in the future has troubled Chiang Kai-shek, who had just returned from the front line.

Moreover, the German ambassador in charge of mediation brought another bad news that made Chiang Kai-shek very angry but helpless: the Japanese were very tough, and the seven peace conditions were: 1. Inner Mongolia Autonomy; 2. Establish a demilitarized zone along the Manchurian border in North China; 3. Expand the unarmed zone in Shanghai and the Japanese control the police force in the public concession; 4. Stop anti-Japanese policies; 5. Jointly oppose communism; 6. Reduce tariffs on Japan; 7. Respect foreign rights and interests.

These seven peaces are not only more powerless and humiliating than the "Twenty-Offices" in the Yuan Shikai era, but also no different from the many inequality in the Qing Dynasty. As the anti-Japanese leader of the entire country, Chiang Kai-shek knew that he would undoubtedly be nailed to the pillar of shame in history forever to agree to any of the conditions here. Therefore, his reply to Ambassador Todman was that Japan would not return to its original state before the Shanghai Incident, and the Nanjing National Government would not be able to accept any conditions in Japan.

But how to deal with the current situation is a difficult problem facing Chiang Kai-shek.

"Chairman, according to the current situation, he had to make up his mind to give up Shanghai and adopt a protracted war strategy. All troops retreated to Shanghai's periphery of national defense line, relying on the advantages of national defense fortifications to defend Nanjing and continue to consume the neon army." Bai Chongxi said first.

At this time, Bai Chongxi was no longer as arrogant as before. The 21st Army was defeated by the Neon Army in just one day, and tens of thousands of soldiers were lost. Bai Chongxi ruined the efforts of the Guizhou Clan for several years. For him, this expensive and surprising tuition fee made him fully realize the combat effectiveness of the Neon Army, and he no longer said that offense was the best defense. A few words of Bai's style were magnificent.

Thinking that he was less depressed than Bai Chongxi, Chen Cheng agreed to give up Shanghai and retreat. His left-wing corps directly faced the landing ground of the Neon Army. The most pressure was the most severe and the casualties were the most severe. The 11th Division, which he started, had long been beyond recognition, and the personnel had been replaced one after another.

"Chairman, although our army has an advantage in numbers, the Neon Army is well-equipped and has controlled air supremacy. Navy naval guns can cover an area of ​​30 to 40 kilometers along the Yangtze River. It is better to retreat to the national defense line and turn our army's current disadvantages into advantages. In this way, since we preserve our anti-Japanese national defense force, we can also hold the Neon Army tightly and consume its vitality. As long as we defend the national defense line, we can afford to drag it, but the Neon Army may not be able to drag it. Moreover, Japan's occupation of Shanghai will inevitably cause dissatisfaction among Britain, the United States and other countries to interfere. At that time, the Neon Army will have to withdraw if it does not retreat." Chen Cheng also said hurriedly.

Chiang Kai-shek nodded. He must not continue to build like this. The concentration of all his direct troops on the battlefield of Songhu is also the basis for maintaining his current ruling position. Once all is laid and the foundation is lost, he, as the leader, will be the end.

"Jingzhi, what about your opinion?" Chiang Kai-shek asked his deputy He Yingqin, who had not spoken, again.

As the Minister of Military Affairs, He Yingqin knew his strength very well. Whether it was weapons, ammunition, reserve troops or food, it was almost unsustainable. He agreed to an early truce from the bottom of his heart, but the Japanese proposed such harsh peace conditions, and he knew that there was no hope of peace. He nodded helplessly and said, "I agree with Jiansheng and Ci Xiu's opinions, give up Shanghai and retreat to the national defense line."

After reaching an agreement, Chiang Kai-shek took a deep breath and finally made up his mind to say: "Tomorrow, the base camp military meeting will be held to discuss this proposal, and all troops will give up Shanghai and retreat to the national defense line."

This meeting in Qilu is equivalent to the Standing Committee of the later generations. The base camp military meeting held the next day is similar to the National People's Congress. After going through the motions, it quickly passed the resolution to abandon Shanghai and retreat to the national defense line. Although the Executive President Wang Jingwei still had fantasies about Todman's mediation and peace talks with Japan, in the current situation of a main war, he had to choose to agree.

On June 25, the Third War Zone issued an order, and all troops on the battlefield of Songhu retreated to the national defense line, the 15th, 19th Army and the 9th Army of the Central Corps retreated to the Wufu Line and the Xicheng Line; the 21st Group and the 8th Army of the Right Wing Corps retreated to the Zhapu to Jiashan Line; the 10th Army and the five divisions of the 20th Army of the Sichuan Army that had just arrived were the rear guards of the entire army.

"Reported, the General Command of the Group Army called and ordered our troops to retreat to Suzhou before July 1st." Shen Xintong, director of the confidential office, walked into the war room with a telegram and reported to Shen Xiuwen, who was deducing the frontline battle situation with Qiao Zhen on the map.

"What, retreat to Suzhou?" Shen Xiuwen was stunned and quickly took the message from Shen Xintong. After browsing it quickly, he immediately slapped the table and shouted: "Okay, give up Shanghai, all the troops on the Songhu battlefield retreated to the national defense line and continue to work with the Japanese. This order is too timely."

After swearing, Shen Xiuwen realized that Shen Xintong was still standing beside him. While signing his name on the telegram and handing it over to Shen Xintong, he smiled apologetically. Then he immediately turned to Qiao Zhen and said, "Chief of Staff, hold a military meeting of the troops immediately and prepare for the retreat."

As the war has developed to the present, the two reinforcements of the Neon Army were basically consistent with what Shen Xiuwen explained at the Ninth Army Front Meeting. The only thing that has not happened yet is that the Neon Army landed from Hangzhou Bay and headed towards the retreat of the Chinese defenders. However, Shen Xiuwen knew that this would happen sooner or later. Now, taking advantage of the fact that the Neon Army’s reinforcements had not arrived, the troops alternately covered and retreated to the national defense line was undoubtedly the wisest choice under the current situation.

Just as the 20th Independent Brigade held a military meeting to arrange the withdrawal matters and the troops were actively preparing, Shen Xiuwen received the order again at night. However, this order was not sent to him by the group army, but was directly issued to the 20th Independent Brigade in the Third War Zone. All officers above the Songhu battlefield troops were ordered to go to Nanxiang, where the front enemy command headquarters of the Third War Zone, to hold an emergency military meeting. Since the 20th Independent Brigade is an independent unit under the Ninth Army, Shen Xiuwen is also qualified to participate.

After receiving this order, Shen Xiuwen suddenly felt an ominous premonition in his heart, but he didn't have time to think too much, so he hurriedly got on the car and rushed to Nanxiang in the rain.

The meeting was held in a primary school in Nanxiang. When Chen Xiuwen arrived, the stars had already shined, and most of the officers at the division level and above had arrived. Since nearly seventy divisions have been gathered in the Songhu battlefield, there are more than 100 generals, major generals and lieutenant generals, only Chen Xiuwen is carrying two bars and three stars, and he is the youngest.

Among the many generals, Chen Xiuwen only knew several commanders from the headquarters of the Ninth Army and Chen Cheng and Luo Zhuoying from the 15th Army. Although Chen Xiuwen had poached before, those troops took advantage of the thousand penicillin that were compensated afterwards. They were all polite without mentioning the old things they met. Even Wang Jingjiu came over to say hello to him.

"Luoluo." Just as Chen Xiuwen was about to find a secluded corner to sit down, he suddenly heard a strange voice, and a lieutenant general in his thirties was walking towards him with a smile.

"Sir Song." Chen Xiuwen hurriedly ran up to stand attentively and saluted.

"Luanxiong, I have been missing for many years. I didn't attend several military meetings because of the tight war. I didn't expect that we would have the opportunity to meet today in the same unit." Song Xilian, commander of the 36th Division, replied with a smile.

"It's Xiuwen's rudeness. He should have come to see Chief Song earlier." Chen Xiuwen said respectfully quickly.

Song Xilian smiled and waved his hand and said, "Okay, you don't have to be so restrained. You don't know the relationship between me and Brother Zhongliang. By the way, I also want to thank you for sending you the thousand penicillin last time, but it helped us a lot and saved many brothers' lives."

Chen Xiuwen seemed a little embarrassed and said, "Xuwen also has abrupt way of doing things, so I would like to ask Chief Song not to be accustomed to it."

"Two hundred wounded people exchange for one thousand penicillin. If I have the chance, I would still want to do this kind of transaction a few more times." Song Xilian smiled, then looked at Chen Xiuwen and said with emotion: "Do you still remember? When you were in the temple, you said you wanted to apply for the Central Military Academy, and I told you to come to Nanjing to find me. Unfortunately, I led my troops to fight soon, and we just lost our arms. However, you are a kid and have a way of fighting. I will blush compared to you."

"Captain Song has been awarded too much, but I am just lucky. Brothers are just trying their best." Chen Xiuwen said hurriedly.

"Well, it's not bad. You're not arrogant or arrogant. However, you'll have to be relaxed in the future like the last time. I called your elder brother's phone number, so he would like to sound the alarm for you."

Chen Xiuwen nodded again, but he saw that the person had almost arrived, but he could not see Gu Zhutong, the deputy commander of the Third War Zone who was currently in charge of the work.

"Stop watching, today's president of the conference is coming in person." Song Xilian said in a low voice when he saw Chen Xiuwen's somewhat puzzled expression.

"The principal is coming in person? Is the Neon Army adding troops?" Chen Xiuwen was shocked and asked hurriedly.

Song Xilian shook his head and frowned and said, "What happened is not clear yet?"

In fact, Song Xilian, like Shen Xiuwen, was not clear about the theme of today's meeting, but he had just issued a retreat order and held a meeting of all senior generals above the division in such a big fight, and the chairman was present in person. There must be something big.

At this time, Chairman Jiang had just arrived at Nanxiang Station by a special train accompanied by Bai Chongxi, Gu Zhutong and others. At this time, the Chairman looked much more energetic than yesterday, and his eyebrows were even filled with some joy.

Just after the retreat order was issued at noon today, he received a report from Foreign Minister Wang Chonghui that the League of Nations would hold a "Nine-Country Convention" meeting in Brussels on June 3 to discuss the Sino-Japanese War. This is undoubtedly very good news for Chiang Kai-shek.

The battle of Songhu was forced by the Japanese and was forced to do it. The purpose of the battle was to be better discussed in the future. This was also his original intention at the beginning of the war. The gap between China and Japan was too big, and now it is at a critical moment. If the international community intervened at this time, it would undoubtedly be a life-saving straw for him. Therefore, Shanghai cannot give up for the time being, and the troops cannot retreat. As long as the meeting ends and the international community intervenes, it will be another result. In his own words, as long as there is a glimmer of hope in peace, we cannot give up.

"The Nine-Nation Convention Conference has a great relationship with the fate of the country. I ask you to make greater efforts to support the Shanghai battlefield for another period, at least ten days to two weeks, in order to gain strong sympathy and support internationally

"Shanghai is a very important economic base for the government. If you give up too early, it will greatly affect the government's finances and materials?"

The chairman talked freely on the stage, and Shen Xiuwen sat down and listened less and more. At this time, he finally understood that the purpose of the chairman's eagerness to hold this meeting today was to cancel the morning retreat order, and all troops continued to hold in Shanghai for ten days to two weeks.

The meeting started from midnight to dawn. All the words revolved around one meaning that Shanghai must be defended again. Only by defending Shanghai can we win the sympathy and support of the international community. As long as the international community interferes, Japan will withdraw its troops under pressure, just like the January-28th Incident, and finally achieve peace. We will gain time to accumulate energy and fight with Japan. We will regain some of the territory of the three eastern provinces, Rehe and Chahar that have been occupied by the Neon Army.

When the meeting ended, Gu Zhutong, deputy commander of the Third War Zone, officially issued an order to cancel the original retreat order, and each unit must defend its respective defense zone for two weeks. Shen Xiuwen's heart sank suddenly. With the early start of the Battle of Songhu, he was not sure when the Neon Army would land from Hangzhou Bay, but one thing he knew very well in his heart that the Neon Army would definitely land. Once the Neon Army landed, the defense lines of all troops on the Songhu battlefield would collapse. Once a retreat occurred, it means that history would repeat itself. The national defense line could not play any role, and Nanjing would be lost. Next...
Chapter completed!