During the more than ten years of the Patriotic War, from east to west, from south to north, the land of China was filled with smoke and flames of war, and blood and sacrifice were the norm.

However, it is rare to find a location that is qualified to build a monument to the Anti-Japanese War after the war.

Located at the intersection of a mountain stream and a river in the upper reaches of Yiling, there is such a 15-meter-high monument. It quietly looks at the surging river that continues to flow eastward, reminding future generations not to forget that in this lofty mountains,

, countless martyrs once shed their blood here.

The famous Battle of Shipai is something that anyone who studies the history of China’s Patriotic War cannot ignore.

Tang Dao was naturally very clear. He knew that there were actually two battles to defend Shipai. One was not long after the New Year in 1941. The Japanese army that had occupied Yiling launched an attack here in order to open up the gateway to the mountain city of Peidu, China.

They retreated without success; the second time was in May two years later, when the Japanese army assembled two divisions and one brigade to launch a fierce attack here again, resulting in the death of 40,000 Chinese officers and soldiers.

On a battlefield with an area of ​​no more than 3 square kilometers, an entire division of Chinese soldiers was killed, which shows the cruelty of this battle.

You must know that in the Battle of the Five Sacred Mountains, which defeated the will of the American people in a single battle on the snowy plains of the future, the entire mountaintop was blown down 2 meters after 43 days of fierce fighting. The Chinese soldiers only lost 150,000 people, of which nearly 5,000 were killed.

Much lower than this battle.

Tang Dao knew even more that this battle belonged to the glory of the 18th Army in the Third War Zone. It was also after this battle that the Lieutenant General Hu of the 11th Division of the 18th Army who guarded the central axis rose to greatness and became the person under his command who could fight with

The famous general who competed with the commander of the Tenth Theater.

But the rut of history has turned a corner here. The Four Troops Regiment, which was waiting for news of the transport ship outside the mountain city, received a telegram from the Fifth Theater Command, ordering Tang Dao to lead the Four Troops Regiment to arrive at Shipai Fortress within 20 days at the latest, and the Fourth Troops Regiment

The 18th Army belonging to the three theaters jointly defended against powerful enemies.

It turned out that after capturing Yiling, the Japanese army still did not stop. The 11th Japanese Army active in Hunan Province actually dispatched two divisions to march towards Yiling, which would bring the number of Japanese troops in western Hubei to 170,000.

people.

What do the Japanese want to do? The answer is already obvious.

Not to mention the big bosses of the Military and Political Department were frightened to death by the Japanese madness, even Tang Dao was also greatly surprised.

I don’t know if it was because the Japanese suffered a setback on the defense line in Hunan Province, or because they suffered huge losses in the last bombing of the mountain city. They were so stimulated that they actually came up with the routine that was supposed to be two years later in time and space.

The strategic purpose of the Japanese launching the Zaoyi Battle was actually very simple. They just hoped to capture Yiling and gain a bridgehead leading to the mountain city, and then use this to conquer the mountain city and completely eliminate China's highest resistance force once and for all.

But conquering Yiling is only the first step. In order to conquer the mountain city, the Yangtze River waterway must be kept open, and the Chinese defenders along the Yangtze River must be eliminated.

And the Shipai Fortress stuck on the right bank of Xiling Gorge is a must-take!

The Yangtze River made a 110-degree turn here, and six 190mm-caliber fortress guns were deployed in the fortress. Not to mention transport ships, even cruisers could not withstand a few hits from such big guys.

Of course, the mountains here are high and the water is deep, and there are no roads. If you just want to attack from the front, you don't know how much it will cost. The purpose of the Japanese army investing heavily is to surround it on all sides, carry out a frontal attack and breakthrough, and attack Shipai.

Continuous attacks were carried out from the rear of both wings of the fortress.

For this reason, in addition to the perimeter of the fifth theater defense line in western Hubei, the Japanese army invested more than 60,000 people in the attack. On the battlefield belonging to Shipai Fortress, they also invested two divisions and one brigade, a total of five

More than ten thousand people.

The 18th Army has about 30,000 troops. The Japanese army has 50,000 vs. 30,000 troops. It has a superior strength and an absolute advantage in heavy firepower. The only advantage China has is the terrain. The key to final victory depends on the battle.

will.

But this time, the 11th Army transferred two more divisions to western Hubei, with a total strength of 170,000. The pressure on the Shipai defense line was greater than before.

The 18th Army is already the strongest elite in the Third War Zone. The Fifth War Zone is currently struggling with 100,000 Japanese troops. It is already trying its best to mobilize troops from the Ninth War Zone. It is too late to transfer troops from the Ninth War Zone. The Si Xing Regiment that has just arrived in the mountain city has naturally become the Military and Political Department.

And the first choice in the fifth theater.

The military orders were overwhelming, and even though the battle situation was beyond Tang Dao's expectation, Tang Dao readily accepted the military orders.

Although a deadline of 20 days was given, the transportation of a heavy armored regiment with thousands of people cannot be completed overnight. The Ministry of Military Affairs has tried its best to summon all kinds of ships, even ships that can only carry an infantry squad.

All medium-sized fishing boats have been requisitioned.

The Yangtze River at this time is not the Yangtze River that will be built as China's largest reservoir in the future. In addition to the beautiful scenery, the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River is also a turbulent river with turbulent water and dense shoals.

In addition to dangerous natural factors, there may also be strafing and bombing by Japanese aircraft in the sky.

Tang Dao did not want the officers and soldiers under his command to die on the way to the battlefield instead of on the battlefield against Japan. He drove to the Ministry of Military Affairs in person, met with Minister He again, and asked for high-paying and experienced boatmen.

Ask the air force to dispatch to escort the fleet.

If it were anyone else, Tang Dao, the small regiment leader, might have been kicked out long ago if he made such a request. It would be easy to hire an experienced boatman. At most, it would cost a little more money, but asking the Air Force to use precious fighter planes for escort, do you think

Who are you?

"I can't guarantee that Shipai will be defended, but I can guarantee that the lives of Tang Dao and all the officers and soldiers of our Sixings Regiment are with Shipai, and all the officers and soldiers of our Sixings Regiment will shed their last drop of blood on the Shipai battlefield.

If Tang Dao can come back to see you alive, it must be because the stone tablet is still in the hands of our Chinese soldiers." Tang Dao stood in the big boss's office, and his assurance was deafening.

Not only did the colonel in the external secretary's office burst into tears, but Minister He, who had gone through so many trials and hardships in life, had his eyes lit up. After looking at Tang Dao up and down for a long time, he finally said in a deep voice: "Okay! I will try my best to do it for you."

Of!"

Everyone can make an impassioned speech, but there are not many who are as determined as Tang Dao to risk the fate of the entire regiment!

Moreover, Tang Dao's eyes and voice convinced the powerful general that he would definitely do what he said.

With Minister He's commitment and deployment, Tang Dao was notified the next morning that the work of transporting ships and recruiting shipwrights would be handled by Lu Kuixian, the general manager of Minsheng Company, and Tang Dao was asked to contact him.

The Air Force, because of Minister He's face, has also agreed to send a flying squadron stationed in Jiulongpo to escort the transport fleet, and agreed to establish a radio station directly connected to the Air Force Headquarters, so that they can be notified immediately if they encounter enemy situations.

, the fighter aircraft formation on combat duty will also arrive at the battlefield within half an hour.

There is no support from the fame and favor of Tang Dao and Si Xing Regiment. Even after arriving in the mountain city, the designation of Si Xing Regiment is still the infantry brigade in the 10th theater. At most, the Air Force knows that it is a troop to reinforce Shipai.

That's all.

That afternoon, Tang Dao met Lu Kuixian, who had just successfully organized the Yiling evacuation, in the somewhat crude office of Minsheng Company.

A middle-aged man in a suit was arranging work with his subordinates. When he saw Tang Dao in military uniform striding over under the leadership of his secretary, he hurriedly came up to greet him.

"Hello, Manager Lu!" Tang Dao was the first to extend his hand.

This patriotic businessman who used all the ships of his company to successfully evacuate tens of thousands of people and hundreds of thousands of tons of supplies at the cost of 16 ships being sunk by the Japanese army, 69 ships being damaged, and more than 100 employees sacrificed, is worthy of anyone's respect.

Respect.

"Minister He has personally spoken to me on the phone. I will try my best to meet any needs of your army. But before that, I need to know how many personnel and heavy equipment your army needs to transport, so that I can calculate how many ships to use. I hope your army

"It is understandable that in the previous evacuation, all the crew members of our company's ships were seriously damaged." After shaking hands with Tang Dao politely, without asking Tang Dao's position and name, the man got straight to the point, showing his resolute personality.

The Fifth War Zone gave Tang Dao a 20-day deadline, and the Ministry of Military Affairs also gave him a stipulated deadline. Knowing that military orders are so important, the general manager may not have time to be polite to a colonel-level deputy chief.

Tang Dao frowned slightly. Although he knew that what this person said was correct, the personnel and equipment were military secrets. Once leaked, the Japanese would definitely know what kind of army this was through analysis, even if they had not guessed him.

It is the Four Elements Group, and it will definitely take more precautions against it.

I was still thinking about how to answer him, but I saw this famous patriotic businessman in the history of the Republic of China suddenly staring at him. After a while, he waved the secretary to exit the office and closed the door, and then hesitantly asked:

"Are you Commander Tang?"

"General Manager Lu knows me?" Tang Dao's mind was spinning and he did not deny it.

"Haha! It is indeed Captain Tang. Lu was a little anxious just now and did not recognize the honor of Captain Tang. Please don't blame me." Lu Kuixian's face was full of smiles.

"But I remember that it was my first meeting with General Manager Lu." Tang Dao really couldn't think of any place where he had interacted with this person.

"This is the first time that Commander Tang and I have met, but if it weren't for you, Commander Tang, my little brother would never be able to return to his hometown. My mother has always told me that if I have the chance to see you in the future, I will definitely

I want to thank you on her behalf." Lu Kuixian smiled.

It turned out that Lu Kuixian's hometown was in the mountainous city of Hechuan County. Lu Kuixian joined the Tongmenghui in his early years and was determined to save the country through revolution. However, as the revolutions failed one after another, warlords fought in Sichuan again. He felt that propaganda and education alone could not save China, so he had to 'save the country through industry'.

'abandoned school and went into business', started with a borrowed 8,000 yuan. After 12 years of development, by the beginning of the Anti-Japanese War, it had become China's largest national shipping enterprise, with 46 ships, a total tonnage of tens of thousands of tons, and more than 4,000 employees.

If it were not for such a large-scale shipping company, it might not be possible to complete the Yiling evacuation comparable to Dunkirk.

After pain and hardship, Lu Kui first embarked on another road of his own choice to save the country. Under his influence, his third brother was also determined to save the country. However, his brother, who was more than ten years younger than him, chose his own path.

road.

He chose to join the army and when the Anti-Japanese War began, he was the company commander of a company in the 26th Division of the 43rd Army.

"Captain Lu is actually a member of the Lu family?" Tang Dao almost knew who he was without Lu Kui saying his third brother's name first.

That is the company commander in the body of Tang Dao. He fought bravely. On that day, the 26th Division and the Japanese army fought a bloody battle in Dachang Town. The company commander surnamed Lu was on the front line with all the officers and soldiers of the company. He fought with dozens of weapons for three days without taking a single step back.

Later, in order to counterattack, a position was besieged by the Japanese army. Tang Dao, who was already a sergeant squad leader, led two infantry squads to break out of the encirclement and rescued him and sent him to the rear ambulance team for treatment.

However, Tang Dao was later injured by heavy Japanese artillery fire and was sent to a field hospital where he was eventually abandoned in the ruins. The two never saw each other again.

However, even Tang Dao did not expect that the company commander who fought bravely and looked down upon death would actually have such a wealthy family background and a famous eldest brother.

If you think Lu Kuixian is just a big businessman, you have obviously underestimated him. You must know that in the 1930s, he served as the director of the Department of Construction and the deputy minister of the Ministry of Communications of Sichuan Province. Later, because of this,

This was the only such evacuation in the world and he was awarded the Jade Medal.

"Yes! My little brother was seriously injured for more than a year before returning home to visit relatives. During that time, I talked about Captain Tang's life-saving grace countless times. My mother felt sorry for my little brother the most. She feels deeply for you. Whenever there is news about you,

, I treasure them all. No, I really can’t recognize you. However, you are even more handsome in person than in the photo. No wonder my little brother said that you are not a thing in the pool, and you will soar into the sky one day!"

Lu Kuixian looked at the young Tang Dao with great emotion.

Now that the two of them have such a connection, they naturally talk much more casually than before.

"Brother Lu, please understand me. I hope that the equipment and personnel numbers will be kept secret as much as possible. If the Japanese army knows about it, my brothers will have to pay an unknown price for it." Tang Dao also went straight to the point and expressed his concerns.

"I understand that I will arrange this myself and will not rely on anyone else. No one except me will know the number of people and total tonnage transported by my fleet this time. In addition, when the heavy equipment is put on the ship, it will be arranged
To be continued...