The next day, the Nanjing Garrison Command issued three orders in a row: First, Nanjing implements military control, martial law throughout the city, and the three gendarmerie corps and police forces of the Gendarmerie Command are responsible for the security of the city. Second, Nanjing will become a war zone. In order to avoid unnecessary casualties, the entire city will be evacuated in an organized manner. Third, all participating troops must defend Nanjing to the death. Without the order signed by the commander-in-chief of Nanjing Garrison, Tang Shengzhi, no one is allowed to retreat without authorization. Violators are punished by military law.

On July 27, the Chengxi Line, which had been held for a week, was finally broken through under the fierce attack of the 9th, 11, 13 and 16th Divisions of the Neon Army. Wuxi was occupied the next day. The Chinese defenders were forced to abandon the Chengxi Line, and one part retreated along the Ninghu Line to Changzhou, and most of them went south, and retreated through Yixing to Xiaofeng on the Zhejiang-Jiangxi border, and the Ningguo area.

After the Shanghai dispatched troops captured Wuxi, the main forces of the 16th Division and the 9th Division continued to pursue Changzhou along the Beijing-Shanghai Road. One of the 9th Divisions was maneuvering on the waters of Taihu Lake; the 13th Division and the integrated cavalry team composed of cavalry units of various divisions attacked the Jiangyin Fortress; the 11th Division and Chongteng Detachment were ordered to gather in Wuxi and the 3rd Division was gathered near Taicang.

On the same day, the 10th Army occupied Changxing. The 74th Army received an order from the Nanjing Garrison Command to abandon Yixing and retreat to Nanjing. Three divisions of the 25th Army of Sichuan Army retreated to Guangde and Si'an. After the 10th Army occupied Changxing, the strategic point on the east bank of Taihu Lake, it immediately divided its troops into two groups and ordered the 114th Division to continue pursuing Yixing and Liyang. The Guoqi Detachment and one of the 18th Divisions attacked Si'an and Guangde, and the main force of the army gathered near Huzhou.

The command of the Neon Army originally stipulated that the combat area of ​​the Central China Front Army was Suzhou-Jiaxing, and it did not authorize the Neon Army to continue to advance westward. However, when the Neon Army broke through the Wufu line on July 20, General Matsui Ishione, the commander of the Central China Front Army, ignored the order. The victory over the Chinese national team in the Battle of Shanghai made the arrogant Neon Army even more arrogant. He wanted to surprise the commander of the Neon Army and the entire world. He wanted to lead the troops to insert the sun flag into the top of Nanjing, the capital of the enemy country. At that time, all Japan would be proud of him.

So, Matsui Ishigen will not be able to take the orders of foreign troops and ordered the troops to pursue the westward pursuit of the Chinese national team's defeat and chaos. Matsui Ishigen straightened his back, his small eyes shone like a beast that found prey, and shouted loudly at his subordinates: "Your goal is attack! Attack! Put the flag of the Great Japanese Empire on the top of Nanjing!"

On July 22, the Japanese General Staff Headquarters was shocked after receiving the report from the Central China Front Army on its decision to pursue Nanjing. In the eyes of Japanese soldiers, it is unforgivable to dare to disobey the military order. As the commander of the general, what should Matsui Ishigen be punished? However, the result was unexpected. Instead of accusing the Japanese General Staff Headquarters quickly recognized Matsui Ishigen's decision.

The General Staff did not expect the situation to be so smooth. The senior officials of the Neon Army General Staff who are well versed in the military strategy of China, of course, knew the key role of "capturing the thief and capturing the king" and "making a concerted effort" to win and lose the war. What's more, the original intention of the Neon Army invading China was to destroy the main force of the Chinese national team in one fell swoop in as short as possible and force the Chinese to surrender.

Therefore, the Neon Army General Staff Headquarters officially abolished the regulations on the original combat area on July 25. On August 1, the Neon Army Base Camp issued a new battle sequence order for the Central China Front Army, ordering the new Central China Front Army to be composed of the Shanghai Expeditionary Army and the 10th Army of the former Central China Front Army. The front commander was still Matsui Ishione. The base camp also ordered: "The Central China Front Commander must cooperate with the navy to capture Nanjing, the capital of the enemy country."

At this time, the 9th and 16th Divisions had successfully occupied Changzhou, which was abandoned by the Chinese national team; the 18th Division captured Guangde; the 114th Division captured Yixing and Liyang. At this point, all the eastern and southern parts of Nanjing were lost except Jiangyin. On August 1, with the orders of the headquarters, the 11th Navy of Neon Army advanced to Jiangyin Fortress along the Yangtze River and cooperated with the 13th Division to launch an attack on Jiangyin Fortress.

The command of the base camp made Matsui Ishione legitimately issue the "Basic Guide to Capture Nanjing City", and ordered the 10th Army and Shanghai Expeditionary Force to jointly siege Nanjing. Matsui Ishione ordered Lieutenant General Ogisu to lead the 13th Division and Tiangu Detachment to surround Nanjing from the North Road. Tiangu Detachment attacked Zhenjiang, crossed the Yangtze River, captured Yangzhou, and cut off the Grand Canal of Jinghang; the 13th Division passed through Zhenjiang, captured Liuhe and advanced from the north of the Yangtze River to Nanjing. Lieutenant General Niudao Sadao led the 18th Division and Guoqi Detachment to surround Nanjing from the South Road. Guoqi Detachment set out from Guangde,

Langxi and Shijiu Lake crossed the Yangtze River, captured Pukou, and cut off the Jinpu Road; the 18th Division attacked from Si'an, occupied Xuancheng and Wuhu, and headed towards Nanjing. Matsui Shigen personally led the 6th, 9th, 11th and 114th Divisions to attack Nanjing from the front. Among them, the 114th Division was from Liyang as the left army and attacked the south of Nanjing through Lishui; the 6th Division captured Danyang along the Ninghang Highway for the Central Army, and Jurong joined the 114th Division under the Nanjing City; the 9th and 11th Divisions attacked Nanjing along the Shanghai-Ningxia Highway for the Right Army.

Faced with the pressing of the Neon Army, Tang Shengzhi quickly dispatched troops and stepped up defense. Nanjing had already started preparations since the beginning of the Battle of Songhu. It was divided into Fukuo positions and peripheral positions. Fukuo positions were on the front line outside the city. Tang Shengzhi placed the most well-equipped and combat-oriented teaching corps of the Central Military Academy, which was on the front, defending Zijin Mountain and the eastern part of the city wall; Wang Jingjiu's 71st Army's 87th Division defended Xiaoling Guards and Guanghuamen; Sun Yuanliang's 72nd Army's 88th Division was responsible for Yuhuatai positions and the southern part of the city; Song Xilian's 36th Division defended Hongshan, Mufu Mountain and the northern part of the city, and controlled Xiaguan Wharf. The military police forces guarded the only commanding height in the city - Qingliang Mountain.

The outer positions, Yu Jishi's 74th Army, who had just retreated from the front line, defended Jurong, Chunhua Town and Niushou Mountain; Ye Zhao's 66th Army defended Tangshan's position and covered the flanks of Wulong Mountain Fort; Shen Xiuwen's honorary first division undertakes the defense of Lishui, General Mountain and Fangshan; Deng Longguang's newly reinforced 83rd division exited Zhenjiang in front of Zhenjiang to defend Zhenjiang fortress. Moreover, after just retreating from the Chengxi Line, Hu Zongnan's first army, who had relatively strong combat effectiveness, entered Pukou to guard Nanjing Jiangbei.

If all the troops were in the situation before the Battle of Songhu, as Chiang Kai-shek and Tang Shengzhi expected, it would be possible to defend Nanjing for two to three months. However, the current situation is that the 74th and 66th Army of the periphery had been in bloody battles for more than a month and had never rested. The troops were reduced a lot and were very tired. In addition to Shen Xiuwen's honorary First Division, the 36th Division, 87th Division and 88th Division were supplemented with recruits without combat experience, and were not satisfied at all. The Central Military Academy Teaching Corps, known as Chairman Chiang, who had the strongest combat effectiveness, had less than 30,000 people from the original 43,000 people. Moreover, after the Battle of Songhu, the morale of the troops was generally not high. No one could defend Nanjing for a few days.

"The city evacuation order has been issued for a week, why are there so many people on the street?" Chen Xiuwen, who had just attended the military meeting and came out of the garrison headquarters. Because Chen Xiuwen, who was crowded in the same car with the old commander Sun Yuanliang, looked out the window, and the citizens who were walking in a hurry and looked panicked, couldn't help but frown and muttered.

Sun Yuanliang turned his head and looked at Chen Xiuwen, sighed and said, "It's not easy to evacuate all the big cities in millions! Now Gu Zhenglun has flirted with a pick again, and only Xiao Shanling is left to work alone. Now Lao Tang has strictly ordered that all the families of all Nanjing citizens should not leave before all Nanjing citizens evacuate. His situation as the mayor of Nanjing is now more difficult than you and me. Didn't you see that Xiao Shanling had lost all of his entire life during the meeting today? It's hard for him."

Chen Xiuwen was silent. It turned out that Gu Zhenglun, the commander of the military police who was in charge of the evacuation of Nanjing citizens, actually resigned to Chiang Kai-shek on the grounds of illness and took his military police headquarters to Hunan to recuperate. Gu Zhenglun's qualifications were comparable to those of Chiang Kai-shek and He Yingqin. Both younger brothers were members of the Central Committee, Gu Zhenggang was appointed as the Minister of the Social Department, and his third brother Gu Zhengding served as the Deputy Minister of the Organization Department of the Central Committee of the Kuomintang and Secretary-General of the Central Party, Government and Military Joint Conference. Chiang Kai-shek knew that he was pretending to be sick, but he had no choice but to agree.

"I hope Nanjing can hold on for a few more days so that these citizens who have not had time to evacuate can retreat as soon as possible." Chen Xiuwen couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

"Liberation, what do you think of the Nanjing defensive plan announced by Lao Tang this time?" Then, Sun Yuanliang asked with a frown again.

Chen Xiuwen didn't know what Sun Yuanliang meant, and smiled bitterly: "How can I see this order? All of them have been delivered. Everyone will do their own duties and defend Nanjing to the death."

"In the current situation of the troops, can Nanjing defend? You are smart and have reorganized the defeated soldiers of the Eastern Suburb Barracks. It is also considered to be strong. Look at us again. There are three armies in name, but in fact, there are only one division below. Those who have no combat experience at all. Liangzhen's 74th Army is even worse, with nearly one-third of the casualties in the army, let alone those local troops. Now those with stronger combat power are the stern teaching corps, your honorary First Division and the three military corpses in the city. This time, I really want to ask you. If you can withstand it from the outside, even if Liangzhen can't withstand it, the pressure on Yuhuatai's position and the south of the city will be much better." Sun Yuanliang said with a worried look on his face.

"Military, don't worry about this. The 88th Division is my old unit. If I can withstand it, I will definitely withstand it." Chen Xiuwen nodded. Compared with the east and north areas of the city, the south of the city will directly face the left and middle troops of the Neon Army. Once the outer periphery is lost, the two Neon Army will unite and face the Yuhuatai position directly. No wonder Sun Yuanliang is so worried.

"You kid is born a good defensive fighter. I remember that during the exercise, you could block the two-day attack of the teaching corps in Lishui with a battalion. This time, I also hope you can fight another beautiful battle." Sun Yuanliang said with a smile.

However, Chen Xiuwen could still capture a trace of worry, helplessness and even fear from Sun Yuanliang's smile. No wonder this exercise was not a real war, and the teaching corps back then were not the vicious Neon Army now.

In fact, what Chen Xiuwen is thinking about now is not to defend Nanjing. This is a large-scale urban defense war, not like the Songjiang defense battle, which he can control. Even if the Honorary First Division can block the enemy in front of him, can the 74th Army, 83rd Army and 66th Army on the periphery be blocked? Even if the south of the city can be defended, can the east and north of the city be defended? Once these places are lost, you will have to be forced to retreat, otherwise there will be a danger of being surrounded. But after retreating, what should you do if you retreat in the future? The current situation of the Neon Army is to encircle Nanjing on three sides, and Later there was the rolling Yangtze River. Although Hu Zongnan's first army was covered by the north of the Yangtze River, whether the Wulong Mountain Fort could block the attack of the Japanese Navy and how more than 100,000 troops could effectively cross the river and retreat in the future, these are all problems. In Shen Xiuwen's vague memory of the defense of Nanjing in his mind, the troops defending Nanjing were not all destroyed by the Neon Army in the battle, but were in the retreat, causing great chaos. Most of them were captured by the Neon Army who were chasing them or buried in the rolling Yangtze River, which led to the tragic Nanjing killing innocent people.

"Teacher, are you really going to do this?" After listening to Chen Xiuwen's idea, Chief of Staff Qiao Zhen, the division headquarters of General Mountain Honorary First Division, said worriedly: "This is an act without authorization. If the garrison headquarters pursues it, it is suspected of retreating from war."

"What is retreating from war? As long as we can defend the front line of Lishui and Moling Pass, we will not retreat from war." Chen Xiuwen said.

Qiao Zhen was actually very clear in his heart that the current defense plan was not something that the Honorary First Division could defend by defending. Especially in Jurong, the 74th Army defended, once Chunhua Town was lost, the rear route of the Honorary First Division would be cut off and surrounded by the Neon Army's left and middle route army. Chen Xiuwen now proposed to send an army to Gaochun County while the Neon Army had not yet launched an attack on Lishui. Even if Chunhua and Jiangning were lost in the future and the rear route was cut off, he could calmly break out to Gaochun and then retreat to the southern Anhui area currently controlled by the Third War Zone.

However, this conflicts with the current defense plan of the garrison headquarters. Commander Tang Shengzhi now emphasizes that he is defending the dead.

"When the garrison headquarters asks us to retreat and Fukuo position, will we withdraw?" Qiao Zhen asked again.

"This..." This is also something that Chen Xiuwen was worried about. At today's military meeting, Song Xilian, Sun Yuanliang and others raised the question of how the troops retreated. It was impossible for more than 100,000 troops to retreat by crossing the river alone. However, Tang Shengzhi still strongly advocated fighting on the back and defending Nanjing to the death. Chen Xiuwen said lightly, let alone speechless.

"If it really doesn't work, the main force can retreat to the Fukuo position. As long as General Mountain is in our hands and Gaochun has troops to support us, we can still break through the line of Zhonghua Gate and Yuhuatai." Chen Xiuwen gritted his teeth and said.
Chapter completed!