Chapter 221: The Fall of Pingjin (IV)

On the morning of October 30, Song Zheyuan presided over a military meeting of the 29th Army chief politicians in Peiping. In just one day and a night, not only did the 29th Army defeat the entire line, but two senior generals died in the country, which made the atmosphere at the venue a little depressed and depressed. In any case, the 29th Army was the only Chinese national team in Pingjin, but various reasons made them defeated in less than two days. As soldiers, they felt guilty. Thinking about the city running back and forth, encouraging and cheering the soldiers of the 29th Army, and delivering food and drink, the generals who attended the meeting were sore and crying without tears.

Song Zheyuan was even more heavy. After reading Chiang Kai-shek's order to order the 29th Army to withdraw Baoding, Song Zheyuan said nothing more. The dream of peace talks was shattered, and North China had no place to stand. If he had prepared early, even if he could not defend Pingjin in the end, as long as he made contributions on the battlefield, he would be the hero of the people. Chiang Kai-shek would never dare to deal with him in the support of the people of the whole country. But today, the war and uncertainty had already lost three points first, and the defeat on the battlefield made him face the fathers of China. Where would he retreat at this time? How could he have a foothold in the world? Thinking about the chaotic battle situation in Pingjin and the 29th Army that collapsed towards Baoding in a mess, he was speechless for a while.

The venue was filled with smoke, so quiet that it seemed that the sound of smoking could be heard. Everyone felt as heavy as a stone. It was easy to retreat, but by retreating, Peking and Tianjin were over. Not only did the 29th Army lose the Fengshui treasure land of Pingjin, but the 29th Army also had to bear pressure from the whole country to lose this treasure land. No matter how strong the Japanese were or how many excuses the 29th Army had, as a soldier, he lost the land and lost the dignity of the Chinese country, how would the Chinese people forgive them? At this moment, Song Zheyuan, Qin Dechun, Zhang Yueting, Zhang Zizhong and others felt that this bitter fruit was really hard to swallow.

"Everyone." Song Zheyuan spoke with a hoarse voice: "I can't fight now, but I want to be harmonious and I'm not allowed by the Japanese. It's been a matter of day and night for the Japanese to enter the city. You have to make your decision at the critical moment."

Song Zheyuan said, glanced at him and fixed on Zhang Zizhong's face several times. Seeing that Zhang Zizhong had no expression, he could only look away again, but Zhang Zizhong could clearly feel a ray of disappointment from the other party's eyes.

As the commander of the 38th Division of the 29th Army, Zhang Zizhong had a very special relationship with Song Zheyuan. In fact, the two were not only fellow villagers from Shandong, but also brothers who were brothers. Last time Song Zheyuan advocated negotiations with Japan, Zhang Zizhong was still on his side, and took on the heavy responsibility of peace talks.

Now that the peace talks have failed, the battle is no match for the Japanese, and the territory is gone. If the army is completely destroyed, the Northwest Army will be destroyed. Seeing that Song Zheyuan is so embarrassed, Zhang Zizhong felt that it would be impossible not to speak.

"The military captain, today, Beiping is surrounded by all sides, and it has become a place of death. We must never fight again and make unnecessary sacrifices. The 29th Army first, the Northwest Army, and then the Northeast Army, lived through ups and downs, and was both arrogant and oppressed by the Central Army. It is really not easy. No matter what happens today, we must first protect the entire army. With the following meaning, the military captain might as well move first, go south to Baoding to regroup the troops to plan for the long run." Zhang Zizhong gritted his teeth and tears and said this astonishing words.

Saying this at this time undoubtedly means that he is willing to stay in Peking and deal with the Japanese. Because of the sensitive issue of whether it is related to the War of Resistance or Compromise, those who stay must be called traitors by the Chinese people. Everyone here knows it, so no one is willing to speak. At the critical moment, Zhang Zizhong broke up Song Zheyuan's siege.

Song Zheyuan was also in tears at this moment, and he felt deeply that it was still the hearts of people in times of trouble. Although Zhang Zizhong expressed his personal criticism at that time, Song Zheyuan could not let his brothers stand up suffer. He took out his pen and wrote on the paper: "I am going to make Zhang Zizhong the acting chairman of the Hebei-Chahar Government Affairs Committee and mayor of Peking. Song Zheyuan."

After writing, he handed the order to Zhang Zizhong and said, "Xu Chen, you have tried to hold the Japanese in Peiping and get us a week of buffer time. After our entire army shrinks and gathers, our army can restore the favorable situation."

As he said that, Song Zheyuan excitedly held Zhang Zizhong's hand and said, "It's easy to die generously, but it's easy to bear the burden calmly. I'll leave tonight, which makes you embarrassed. This order is the certificate of goodbye. You have kept it. As for the Chairman, I'm responsible for explaining everything."

That night, Song Zheyuan, Qin Dechun and others led the 29th Army headquarters to leave Peiping and head south to Baoding. Zhang Zizhong only appointed six or seven people including adjutants, staff, and service personnel to stay with him, and his guard platoon was also sent back to the original troops to participate in the war. Before leaving, he wrote a letter to Li Wentian, deputy commander of the 38th Division, and the brigade and commanders of the regiment, stating that he was ordered to stay and leave the troops temporarily, and urged his subordinates to unite and obey the orders of the commander under the leadership of the deputy commander Li Wentian, to resolutely resist the war and strive to kill the enemy.

On November 2, just as the 29th Army abandoned Pingjin and retreated to Baoding one after another, the 72nd Army followed up the troops to Huailai to Badaling. Sun Yuanliang, the commander of the 72nd Army, brought Chief of Staff Chen Sunong to Nankou to inspect the deployment of the Rongyi Division.

Nankou has always been an enemy that must be fought for. Not to mention the distance, just to mention modern times, the Eight-Nation Alliance launched a fierce battle with the Qing army in Nankou, and the Zhifeng War for more than ten years was even more in Nankou. On the 30th day, Rong Yi Regiment arrived at Nankou and began to set up defenses. When building fortifications, the Longhu Platform, the commanding heights outside Nankou Town were still left with the defensive fortifications left by the Qing army and the Zhi army.

"Military, I have now transformed the Juyong Pass to the South Entrance defense line into three defense areas. The Longhutai and Nankou Station on the front of the South Entrance are the first defense areas, Deshengkou and Qinglong Bridge are the second defense areas, and Hengling City and Zhenbiancheng are the third defense areas. The South Entrance is backed by the mountains, and the Neon Army has aircraft and tanks to assist. In addition to the second and third defense areas, I also consider narrowing the defense scope on the front. The Longhutai and Nankou Station are listed as forward positions, and move the main position to the two-wing mountain between Nankou and Juyong Pass. Use complex terrain and deep positions to block them step by step, achieving the purpose of lasting defense and consuming the Neon Army."

Although Sun Yuanliang has always been a hand-off manager for the Honorary First Division, out of respect, Shen Xiuwen still reported his combat plan to Sun Yuanliang in great detail.

"Okay, liberation." Sun Yuanliang nodded with satisfaction. He had no doubts about Shen Xiuwen in the war. "The mission of our 72nd Army was almost guaranteed by your Rong Division. I asked the 262nd Brigade of the 88th Division to station Yanqing, and the 264th Brigade to build a second line of defense in the east and west Daling and Huanglouyuan area behind your third defense zone, and to reinforce you at any time."

As he said that, Sun Yuanliang smiled and patted Chen Xiuwen on the shoulder and said, "You are better than me in war. Chen Guangfu is an expert in defensive warfare. Just be the commander-in-chief of the front of my 72nd Army, and you are fully responsible for the defense from Nankou, Juyongguan to Badaling."

Chen Xiuwen quickly smiled and said, "Military, look at what you said, our 72nd Army still needs you to take the helm." Although he said that, Chen Xiuwen was very grateful to Sun Yuanliang from the bottom of his heart. His delegation of power can make him let go and play his best without being pointed at by superiors.

"Ping and Jin are lost. Although the Japanese have not yet moved, their offensive route is nothing more than the Pinghan Line, Jinpu Road and the Pingsui Line we are now guarding. Compared with the Pingwo Line and the Jinpu Road army, our Pingsui Line has the weakest defense. Although the principal has ordered Gao Guizi's 17th Army and Fu Zuoyi's 35th Army to reinforce, they are still unreliable. We are on the front line of defense, and I think we have to rely on ourselves in the end."

Sun Yuanliang stood on the Dragon and Tiger Platform, looked at the Changping County in the distance, and sighed. There was the 11th Mechanized Mixed Brigade of the Neon Army Kwantung Army stationed there. Once the Neon Army launches an attack on the Pingsui Line, this unit will definitely be a vanguard.

Chen Xiuwen smiled and said, "Military throne, although Liu Ruming's Northwest Army, Gao Guizi's Shaanxi Army, and Fu Zuoyi's Shanxi Sui Army are always guarding against our Central Army, this time the Japanese are going to attack their territory. The lessons of the 29th Army are right in front of us, and there is no way out except to fight."

Halfway through, Chen Xiuwen paused for a moment and continued with some concern: "Once the Neon Army launches an attack on the Pingsui Line, in addition to attacking Nankou head-on, it will definitely attack from Chabei and Suidong at the same time. The only thing I am worried about is whether they can withstand the Neon Army's attack. Once the Neon Army breaks through Chabei and Suidong and Zhangjiakou falls, we will inevitably face the enemy from both sides, and Huailai and Nankou will lose the meaning of defense."

"I can't care about so much. As long as they dare to fight with the Japanese devils, let's do our part." Sun Yuanliang shook his head and said.

The headquarters of the 72nd Army was located in Huailai. After sending off Sun Yuanliang and Chen Sunong and his entourage, Chen Xiuwen returned to the temporary division headquarters that was docked on the Juyongguan train. The front line of defense, Juyongguan is the last line of defense. Once Juyongguan is lost, the Badaling behind Huailai County will be without any danger. Therefore, Chen Xiuwen's division headquarters is located in a cave in Juyongguan, and the train docked at Juyongguan becomes a temporary office space.

Back in the carriage with a separate section as his office and bedroom, Chenzui was already waiting for him in the carriage. On the 31st, Chenzui arrived at the Nankou first, and personally went to Peking for disguised himself and met with the Beiping Station of the Special Service Office hidden in the city of Peking to inquire about the latest situation of the Neon Army.

"Thank you for your hard work, Shu Yi." Seeing Chen Zui wearing a long gown and a top hat, Chen Xiuwen knew that he had just come back.

"I just saw you sending the military seats into the car, so I came here to wait for you." He smiled slightly.

"How is the situation?" Chen Xiuwen signaled Chen Zui to sit down, threw a cigarette to him, and asked.

Chen Zui first lit a cigarette for Chen Xiuwen, then lit it himself, spit out a sip of smoke, and said with a serious expression: "The Neon Army has increased its troops. Now, in addition to the 20th Division, the first and 11th Mixed Mechanized Brigade of the Kwantung Army, the Fifth Division and the 14th Division have recently been transferred to the Tianjin Terminal. From the Tianjin Station of the Secret Service, the 10th Division of the Neon Army has landed from Dagukou, and there are also troops that are constantly moving. The specific number is still unclear."

The Neon Army opened up a second battlefield in North China, which was unexpected for Chen Xiuwen. He nodded while smoking a cigarette.

"In addition, the 29th Army headquarters and Song Zheyuan have withdrawn to Baoding. Now Zhang Zizhong is appointed as the acting chairman of the Hebei-Chahar Government Affairs Committee and mayor of Peking, and continues to stay in Peiping to deal with the aftermath."

"What? Zhang Zizhong stayed in Peiping?" Chen Xiuwen was shocked when he heard this. Pingjin had now become an occupied area. Zhang Zizhong actually stayed at this time, no different from a traitor. Chen Xiuwen never believed that the heroes of the War of Resistance in his mind would become traitors. Zhang Zizhong stayed was obviously a man who had suffered from the fact that he had been dragged down by Song Zheyuan in Pingjin.

He nodded intoxicatedly, looked at Chen Xiuwen, frowned and said, "Now, there are rumors in Peking that Zhang Zizhong "forced the palace" to drive away Song Zheyuan and cooperated with the Japanese in the occupied areas to plot against North China. Some people also said that he had made a "secret agreement" with the Japanese. The Japanese not only gave him a huge sum of money, but also gave him a gentle Japanese beauty. However, according to the situation at the Beiping Station of the Secret Service, Zhang Zizhong has never seen him since the Japanese entered the city on the 31st. The Japanese sent negotiators to him. Moreover, during this period, on the one hand, he secretly ordered local government officials to open warehouses and release grain, not leave food for the Japanese, and at the same time helped the people in the war to overcome the famine. On the other hand, through the acquaintances and the Red Cross Society in the past, secretly transferred the troops that had not been sent out, buried thousands of fallen soldiers of the 29th Army outside the city, scattered the wounded soldiers, and specially sent people to help and resettle the 29th Army's family members."

After listening to it, Chen Xiuwen breathed a sigh of relief: "General Zhang is so chivalrous! At this time, he stayed there as a delaying strategy to cover the retreat of the 29th Army. At the same time, Song Mingxuan was also accused of Song Mingxuan of the resignation!" As he said that, Chen Xiuwen stood up from the chair and walked two steps: "No, Zhang Zizhong is a hero of the Great Wall Anti-Japanese War. He cannot let him be the charge of Song Mingxuan as a traitor. I have to find a way to take him out of Peking. Shuyi, see what is the solution?"

"The Japanese are now surveillance of him, so it is probably not easy to rescue General Zhang." Chen Zui frowned. Although he was a little surprised that Chen Xiuwen was so concerned about a miscellaneous general, from his heart, he actually sympathized with Zhang Zizhong.

"It's not easy to be saved. In this way, I'll ask Peng Hui's spy camp to help you. If you have another hard time, please ask the Beiping Station of the spy office to cooperate with our actions. We must pick up General Zhang." Chen Xiuwen said firmly.
Chapter completed!