Chapter 93: Battle of Shanghai (13)

Chen Xiuwen stood in front of the mirror in a straight military uniform, and the head was already under the rank of colonel. The Military Affairs Department of the Military Commission ordered that the 38th and 40th Regiments of the Shanghai Security Regiment and the 40th Regiment of the Army were reorganized into the 20th Independence Brigade of the National Revolutionary Army. Chen Xiuwen was appointed as the colonel brigade commander and the commander of the 38th Regiment; Colonel Teng Donglin was appointed as the deputy brigade commander and the commander of the 40th Regiment; Qiao Zhen was promoted to the chief of staff of the colonel brigade; Chen Zui was appointed as the deputy chief of staff of the lieutenant colonel brigade. The 26th Independence Brigade was directly commanded by the Ninth Army.

The 87th and 88th Divisions under the Ninth Army had entered Shanghai early this morning. The 87th Division stationed in Nanxiang and Miaoxing front line. The 88th Division directly stationed in Baoshan, Zhabei, and formed a confrontation with the Neon Army Marines stationed in Hongkou. Chen Xiuwen's Independent 20th Brigade retreated to Songjiang to deploy defenses, protecting the flank defense line while ensuring the unobstructed Shanghai-Hangzhou Line.

"Report to the brigade, Miss Zeng and Miss Lin are here." Chen Yi, who was entrusted with the rank of lieutenant, walked in and informed him.

With Chen Xiuwen's promotion, the guard platoon of the former Third Security Regiment was upgraded to the guard company, and Chen Yi became the lieutenant guard company commander without hesitation.

"Please quickly."

In the past few days, Lin Jingyun and Renji Hospital's volunteer medical team have been helping to treat the injured officers and soldiers. This time the troops were going to change defenses, and Chen Xiuwen probably thought Lin Jingyun was here to say goodbye.

"Brother Shen, wearing a new military uniform is much more majestic than before." Zeng Jianing ran in bounced and looked at Chen Xiuwen's new military uniform and said with a smile.

"Is there a difference? It's just that there is one more star on the title." Chen Xiuwen also seemed a little proud. From the expansion of the regiment to the brigade, his power undoubtedly doubled.

As he said that, Chen Xiuwen looked at Lin Jingyun who was following Zeng Jia Ning with his head down, and said with a smile: "Jingyun, you see, the troops have just been expanded in the past two days, and there are a lot of things to do. I haven't had time to express my gratitude to you and the medical volunteer team you led."

Lin Jingyun raised her head, looked very haggard, and she smiled reluctantly and said, "We are all volunteering to serve the anti-Japanese soldiers. Please don't be polite. Actually, I came here today to ask Commander Chen for something."

"What's the matter, just tell me. We are old classmates. As long as I can help, I will definitely help." Chen Xiuwen felt that Lin Jingyun was a little strange today, but he still said with a smile.

"I heard from Director Sheng that your health center will be upgraded to a brigade hospital and is recruiting medical staff." As he said that, Lin Jingyun looked at Chen Xiuwen, a hint of blush appeared on her face and said, "I, I want to participate."

"Did you think of our voyage hospital?" Chen Xiuwen didn't expect Lin Jingyun to make this request. You should know that the military hospital's treatment and status are simply incomparable to large hospitals like Renji Hospital, and now it is about to fight. The new logistics director Zheng Huaishan was worried that he would not find a man.

"Do you remember the reason I told you last time why I wanted to study medicine? I think it's time for me to realize my original idea." Lin Jingyun quickly recovered from nature and said to Chen Xiuwen.

Chen Xiuwen looked at Lin Jingyun whose expression slowly became firm, pondered for a moment, stretched out his hand and said, "Welcome to you."

Lin Jingyun also smiled at this time, held Chen Xiuwen's hand and said, "Thank you, Commander Chen."

"My sister Jingyun's affairs are over, it's my turn." Zeng Jianing, who had been standing next to her, also said with a smile.

"What's wrong with you? Tell me." Chen Xiuwen glanced at Zeng Jianing and said with a smile.

"Brother Shen, look at the country's elite 87th and 88th Divisions are now stationed in Shanghai. Can I go out to interview them?" Zeng Jianing said with a smile at Chen Xiuwen.

"No. I agreed two days ago that I would be a military reporter here, and I must not go anywhere else." Chen Xiuwen flatly rejected Zeng Jianing's request. The current situation in Shanghai is that war is about to break out at any time, so Chen Xiuwen is certainly worried about letting Zeng Jianing go.

When he heard that Chen Xiuwen disagreed, Zeng Jianing hurriedly said: "But"

Before Zeng Jianing finished speaking, Chen Xiuwen waved his hand and said, "Don't let it go, the matter is not discussed. Either stay with me as a military reporter, or I will send someone to send you home directly. Apart from these two items, there are other options."

Seeing Chen Xiuwen's resolute look, Zeng Jianing had to pout his mouth and mutter in a low voice: "I'm so stingy. Without your consent, I can't run by myself."

"You will tell you, I will let Chen Yi look at you. Without my orders, you will not be allowed to go anywhere. By the way, the troops will change their defenses soon. You both should go back and clean up."

Japanese Consul General in Shanghai Okamoto came to the Shanghai Municipal Government with a proud reputation. He had just received news that the 101st Division of the Army that reinforced Shanghai had reached the estuary of the Yangtze River and would land at Wusongkou in the early morning tomorrow. Okamoto, who felt confident, refused the mediation plan proposed by Britain, the United States and France in accordance with the instructions of the Japanese military headquarters. At the same time, he issued an ultimatum to the Shanghai Municipal Government, restricting the Chinese national team, security team, police and all armed personnel from withdrawing from Shanghai, handing over Shanghai to the Neon Army, and restricting the Chinese side to reply before noon on April 1 tomorrow.

When Yu Hongjun sent the news back to the Nanjing National Government, the command headquarters had moved its headquarters to the Jiading area of ​​Shanghai. At this time, the Ninth Army General Command was also extremely indignant. This time, the Neon Army Marine Corps reinforced only 5,000 people in Shanghai, and the original troops were no more than 7,000. But now the 87th Division, the 88th Division, and the 20th Independent Brigade originally stationed in Shanghai, the country has 25,000 people in Shanghai. It is enough to annihilate this Neon Army in a short time. Zhang Zhizhong immediately called Chairman Jiang, the Nanjing Military Commission, hoping to make a quick battle and decisive decision: "The various troops of this army can be transported to the end of the evening today. Can our Air Force launch an attack before dawn tomorrow (April 1)? Can our Air Force act at the same time tomorrow morning?"

However, due to concerns that actively attacking the Neon Army would put China in a passive position internationally, Chiang Kai-shek immediately replied that all actions were based on the order issued the day before yesterday. Before the Neon Army attacked our army, our army only needed to closely monitor the movements of the Neon Army and would never allow the initiative to provoke a war.

"General, if our army attacks from Zhabei and Jiangwan tonight, we will definitely win and make the first great achievements." Liu Jinji, the major general of the Ninth Army, took the initiative to offer advice to Zhang Zhizhong.

Zhang Zhizhong looked at the reply call from Jiang Zhongzheng that he had just received, sighed, shook his head and said, "The commission just called. Only when the Neon Army takes action first can we fight back."

Liu Jinchi participated in the 128th Shanghai War of Resistance against Shanghai five years ago and was injured. He has always been a representative of the pro-war faction among the young and powerful military officers of the country. After hearing Zhang Zhizhong's words, he immediately said disapprovingly: "Master, that's easy. After the troops were deployed, they sent plainclothes to fire a few shots at night. While attacking, they also reported to their superiors that the enemy had attacked."

It is impossible not to say that what Liu Jinji said was a good idea. He arranged a few plainclothes to shoot and then put the responsibility for the initiative on the Japanese. This is a common trick used by the Japanese, and now he can still treat the person with his own way. However, after all, it is important. Zhang Zhizhong thought about it for a long time and finally did not agree with Liu Jinji's idea.

Songjiang is fifteen kilometers away from Hongqiao Airport and only twenty kilometers away from Shanghai city. It is an important town of the Shanghai-Hangzhou Railway and the headquarters of the Third Administration of Jiangsu Province. Shen Xiuwen's Independent Twenty Brigade entered Songjiang on March 31.

"Brig Commander, if you think, once the Neon Army lands from Hangzhou Bay, you will definitely follow the Shanghai-Hangzhou Railway and head straight to Songjiang, then advance to Qingpu and Baihe Port, cut off the Shanghai-Nanjing line, and meet with the enemy landing in Liuhe, cutting off our army's retreat in one fell swoop." In the brigade operation room of Songjiang County, Chief of Staff Qiao Zhen said to Chen Xiuwen who was looking at the map.

"So, our brigade is stationed in Songjiang, and we must take necessary precautions. Look, if the Neon Army lands from Hangzhou Bay, there are two routes to attack Shanghai. One is to advance east along the Shanghai-Hangzhou Railway, and the other is to advance from Mishidu to Songjiang. Songjiang is their strategic focus for entering Qingpu and Jiading. I guess they will attack Songjiang at the same time." Chen Xiuwen said with a frown as he looked at the map.

"If this is the case, then the pressure on our brigade will be great." Qiao Zhen nodded and said.

At this time, the deputy chief of staff hurried in from outside and reported: "Brig Commander, according to the latest news, the 101st Division of the Neon Army has begun to land at Wusongkou."

Chen Xiuwen and Qiao Zhen were shocked. Although the 20th Independent Brigade changed its defense to Songjiang, the intelligence team of the intoxicated leader was still active in downtown Shanghai.

"The Neon Army's movements are so fast, only two days apart from the Marine Corps that reinforced Shanghai, and this time it was a joint operation of the Japanese army and navy. No wonder they spoke up this morning and put forward such tough conditions. It turned out that the 101st Division was supporting them." Qiao Zhen first took the message and read it quickly, and then he suddenly realized it.

"Have the 87th and 88th Divisions that entered the city responded?" Chen Xiuwen frowned.

"No reaction was made. It is said that the Chairman had strict orders. Before the Neon Army launched an attack on us, we must not provoke a war on its own initiative." Chen Zui said helplessly.

"The Japanese have arrived at the door of their homes, why can't they attack?" Qiao Zhen asked with an incredible look on his face.

"Brother Songlin, this battle will start sooner or later, so let's wait and see what's going on." Chen Xiuwen sighed, sat on the chair and closed his eyes slightly.
Chapter completed!