Chapter 1937.12.11 Afternoon

The 16th Division's 38th Infantry Regiment finally arrived at Zhongshan Gate outside Nanjing City.

Regiment Commander Seiji Sukegawa pointed at the Zhongshan Gate city wall and ordered, "Attack!"

The Ozato Battalion once again served as the vanguard, charging towards the city wall.

Guarding the city wall were still officers and soldiers of the Central Military Academy Training Corps.

The 2nd Regiment was stationed here. Regiment Commander Xie Chengrui watched the large group of Japanese troops appearing outside and knew that the battalion at the front had been completely sacrificed.

He ordered loudly, "Salute our fallen comrades!"

After the salute, Xie Chengrui said to the officers and soldiers holding the city wall, "The brothers guarding Xiaolingwei have taken the first step.

We must also defend Nanjing with the conviction of certain death.

If the Japanese devils want to rush into Nanjing, they must first ask if the guns in our hands will allow it.

Brothers, we have trained for a thousand days, now is the time to use us.

Today is the day the country needs us."

Battalion Commander Ozato's tactics were the same as before: artillery bombardment, followed by infantry charge!

The difference was that this time, the infantry began to charge at the same time as the artillery bombardment.

These Japanese artillery pieces were firing at close range, making it impossible for the firepower of the Nationalist army on the city wall to exert its strength.

The heavy machine guns had just started firing when the Japanese infantry shells came over.

Moreover, these Japanese infantry guns were firing several shells at the same time.

Overhead, there was also curved bombardment from Japanese mortars. The city wall, a full twelve meters wide, was constantly subjected to Japanese mortar fire.

This put great pressure on Xie Chengrui's regiment. The Japanese had only just begun their attack, and the defending officers and soldiers were already being suppressed and unable to fight back effectively.

The attacking Japanese soldiers raised their siege ladders and prepared to climb the city wall.

Regiment Commander Xie Chengrui ordered the mortars in his unit to counterattack the Japanese artillery positions.

However, the effect was poor and they were completely unable to pose a threat to the Japanese artillery positions.

This was not a good thing. Japanese soldiers were already emerging from the crenellations, having climbed up the siege ladders.

When Sergeant Major Nakasato Yoshita carried the siege ladder and began to charge, he ran very fast.

His squad had been praised by the regimental commander in the recent battle at Xiaolingwei. The regimental commander was very satisfied with their performance.

He encouraged them to continue their efforts and continue fighting for the Empire.

Fighting to the last drop of blood.

Sergeant Major Nakasato Yoshita's mood had not yet calmed down: Regiment Commander Sukegawa Seiji had even shaken his hand.

From the beginning of the charge until he reached the bottom of the city wall, he had not been hit by a single bullet from the defending army.

Sergeant Major Nakasato Yoshita thought to himself, "It must be the power generated after the regimental commander shook my hand that is protecting me.

Allowing me to be bulletproof."

When he put the siege ladder in place, he strongly demanded to be the first to ascend the city!

In his opinion, with the regimental commander's blessing, he would definitely be safe and sound.

Therefore, he finally got his wish and seized the right to use the ladder first.

When he emerged from the Zhongshan Gate section of the city wall, the entire Xie Chengrui regiment was stunned.

Regiment Commander Xie did not hesitate, grabbed his rifle and thrust it forward. Sergeant Major Nakasato, standing on the ladder, only had time to parry with the rifle in his hand.

A great force came, and the whole person fell uncontrollably backward.

From the fifteen-meter-high city wall, he fell straight down.

"Grenades!" Regiment Commander Xie's tone was very calm.

Jin Yuhua, who was beside him, immediately pulled the pin on the grenade and threw it down the city wall.

They were afraid that Sergeant Major Nakasato would not die from the fall, so they wanted to give him another ride.

Of course, it wasn't just to send off one Japanese soldier.

"Demolition charge!" Regiment Commander Xie shouted.

A demolition charge was lit, and after burning for more than ten seconds, it was thrown down.

With a "boom!" sound.

The siege ladder collapsed at once, and the Japanese soldiers on the ladder and those who were surrounding the ladder and wanted to continue climbing fell to the ground.

Some lucky Japanese soldiers got up and clung to the city wall, where they were in a blind spot for the defending troops above.

Only throwing grenades from above could hit them.

Battalion Commander Ozato, far away, was furious when he saw this situation and shouted, "Bombard! Bombard!"

On this day, the entire Nanjing city wall was in a state of emergency everywhere.

The Wuhan headquarters was paying close attention to the battle situation in Nanjing at all times, and every hour they used telegrams to direct the specific arrangements for the entire Nanjing defense battle.

Now they discovered that the Japanese had only begun to formally attack Nanjing after noon on the 10th, and only twenty-four hours had passed, the entire Nanjing defense line was already in imminent danger.

Moreover, the morale and combat effectiveness of the defending officers and soldiers were completely incomparable to those on the Songhu battlefield.

Chiang Kai-shek immediately ordered Tang Shengzhi, "In order to avoid the defending officers and soldiers being completely annihilated by the Japanese forces surrounding them on three sides, the defending troops should retreat as opportunity arises."

Tang Shengzhi thought that he was the one who had insisted on defending Nanjing to the death. It would be too embarrassing to retreat after only one day.

At the same time, he also thought of the "May Everything Go Well" charm that he had sought and placed in the inner room.

There was still a little bit of luck in his heart.

Because he had a dream last night.

The dream was too real. In the dream, he held out until the 14th.

Chiang Kai-shek personally called, "Under the personal mediation of the German president, the Japanese have finally lowered their conditions and signed a treaty with the Nanjing government to withdraw all their troops from the country.

The treaty stipulates that the Japanese will retreat to the Xicheng Line within half a month, and retreat back to Shanghai within three months.

Within a year, the entire Central China Expeditionary Force will be withdrawn.

At the same time, the Japanese in Northeast and North China will also be completely withdrawn within three years."

He had become a hero of the entire country. In front of the whole world, Chiang Kai-shek held his hand, "Brother Tang! In this time of national crisis, you have turned the tide. The entire country will remember you."

At this moment, a reporter's flash suddenly went off.

Blinded like his eyes, Tang Shengzhi woke up.

He firmly remembered the date of the 14th. Now there were still three days until the 14th.

Three days!

In the conference room of the Nanjing Garrison Headquarters, Tang Shengzhi, Liu Xing, and Luo Zhuoying discussed the retreat plan.

First of all, Tang Shengzhi set the time on the 14th.

After this point was agreed upon by all the personnel, they summoned the staff of the headquarters to formulate a retreat plan.

On December 12, 1937, as soon as it dawned, the Japanese attack began again.

Today, the Japanese changed their attack plan. The 6th Field Heavy Artillery Brigade, which had been hit hard by the special company's heavy artillery yesterday, dismantled the entire team.

Taking advantage of the night, they set up direct-fire positions in front of Yuhuatai, Zhongshan Gate, and Guanghua Gate.

As soon as it dawned, 150mm howitzers fired directly at these positions.

There were also Japanese air combat teams coordinating the bombing in the air.

The direct fire of the heavy artillery immediately blasted open the positions and collapsed the city walls.

The battle on the 12th had only just begun, and the Yuhuatai position had fallen, and a large section of the city walls of Zhongshan Gate and Guanghua Gate had been destroyed.

The entire defense line of Nanjing City was already crumbling.

Sun Yuanliang's 2nd Supplementary Brigade, which was stationed at the Yuhuatai position yesterday, retreated when they could no longer hold on.

Because Zhonghua Gate was already blocked at this time, they could only go to the north of the city from the outer line.

The Japanese occupied the high ground and strafed the remnants of the 2nd Supplementary Brigade. The 2nd Supplementary Brigade suffered heavy casualties and was unable to fight anymore.

The 262nd Brigade, 618th Regiment of the 103rd Division, which was guarding Zhonghua Gate, was still continuing to defend the position.

By 2 p.m., the Japanese heavy artillery had been installed in front of Zhonghua Gate. On the other side of the gap in the city wall that had already collapsed, they blasted another passage into the city.

Faced with the surging Japanese troops, the 88th Division began to retreat.

The Japanese entered the city, and the city began to riot.

Tang Shengzhi knew that Japanese troops had already rushed into Zhonghua Gate, Shuixi Gate, and Guanghua Gate.

Today was different from yesterday. Yesterday, there were still troops from the 103rd Division that could be temporarily drawn up to hold on. Now, he had no reserves in his hands.

The only special company of the 88th Division had also been sent to Guanghua Gate again.

Li Xian had not received any supplies from the garrison headquarters yesterday.

Now, the special company's heavy artillery had completely become a decoration, with not a single shell available.

Lin Fan led the five platoons of the special company, but they could no longer move before they even reached Guanghua Gate.

The defeated soldiers and civilians pouring over from the direction of Guanghua Gate completely blocked the road.

The special company was trapped on the road and could not move.

Lin Fan could only order the team to find high ground on the spot to establish a defense line to prevent the Japanese from rushing over.

The defeated soldiers and civilians were mixed together, a completely disorganized crowd, devoid of reason, all running north.

These people wanted to run to the north of the city, go out of Yijiang Gate, and go to Xiaguan to cross the river.

Tang Shengzhi could no longer send a reserve team to help.

All the teams were fighting on the front line. At this time, he returned to his room, which was used exclusively for worshiping Buddha statues, sincerely burned incense, and recited scriptures.

He looked at the "May Everything Go Well" charm, which cost more than 10,000 silver dollars to obtain, again and again, and finally put it back.

He ordered his guards, "Immediately pack up this Buddha statue and everything in this room.

Put it in the car."

After giving the instructions, he came out and ordered, "The 36th Division will maintain order in the city and at the Xiaguan wharf.

Strictly order all troops to coexist and die with Nanjing, and not to let anyone out of Yijiang Gate, and at the same time, not to let anyone cross the river at the Xiaguan wharf."

He also gave an order to the 1st Army at the Pukou wharf on the opposite bank, "All boats crossing the river are not allowed to dock.

Those who forcibly dock will be sunk on the spot."

The situation in Nanjing City had begun to deteriorate, and the situation was beginning to get out of control.

At 5 p.m., the garrison headquarters convened a meeting of generals above the division level. At this time, the 2nd Army Corps had already begun to cross the river with the 41st Division and the 48th Division.

These two were supposed to be guarding the Wulongshan Fort in Tang Shengzhi's retreat plan, covering all the troops' retreat before they could retreat.

At this meeting, Tang Shengzhi first explained the current situation in Nanjing City, and then asked, "Is it still necessary to continue defending?"

Everyone present remained silent, and this attitude was already very obvious.

Tang Shengzhi then took out Chiang Kai-shek's order and announced it.

At the same time, he also announced the breakout plan formulated by the headquarters.

The entire plan was that except for the garrison headquarters and the 36th Division retreating from the Xiaguan wharf, all other teams needed to break through from the front and break through the Japanese defense line.

At the end of the meeting, Tang Shengzhi issued an oral instruction, "The 87th Division, the 88th Division, the 70th Army, and the Training Corps.

If they cannot all break through, they can also take a boat to cross the river at the Xiaguan wharf."

The meeting ended, and the participating generals immediately began to prepare for the retreat.

Tang Shengzhi ordered his guard captain to put the things that had just been packed into the car, filling three cars in total.

At this time, the city was already in chaos, with defeated soldiers everywhere.

His convoy was moving forward with difficulty in the crowd.

Gui Yongqing, the commander of the Central Training Corps, returned to the underground command post and immediately verbally notified the staff of the command post to announce the retreat order.

He ordered Chief of Staff Qiu Qingquan to dispose of all the documents in the underground command post, and immediately led the guards to Xiaguan first.

There was not just one such general. Wang Jingjiu, the commander of the 71st Army, immediately called the team to retreat after leaving the garrison area, so he didn't need to return to the command post.

He went to Xiaguan first.

Shen Fazao, the commander of the 87th Division, also went with him. He also only notified the command post and immediately ran to Xiaguan.

Lin Fan knew in his heart that the Nationalist army's retreat time was tonight. He and his team were trapped on the road and could not advance to Guanghua Gate at all.

Looking at the increasing number of defeated soldiers retreating from the front.

Some soldiers recognized the 88mm anti-aircraft gun of the special company parked on the road and recognized that it was the team that had saved them before.

They enthusiastically shouted, "The headquarters has ordered a retreat. Go to the Xiaguan wharf to cross the river.

Why haven't you left yet?"

Lin Fan was unable to verify the order at this time.

This was the same as what he remembered, so he immediately ordered the team to turn around.

The special company was now a well-organized team. Facing these disorganized crowds that were squeezing over.

The soldiers formed a human wall and quickly turned the convoy around, but the speed of advance was still not fast.

The 1st Platoon opened the way in front, the 2nd and 3rd Platoons guarded the left, and the 4th and 5th Platoons guarded the right.

The entire company drove towards Qian Residence.

It was easier to walk after the team passed Zhongshan Road.

Now all the teams in the city that had received the news were squeezing towards Yijiang Gate.

The first to rush to Yijiang Gate was Tang Shengzhi and his retreating team.

Unfortunately, the company of the 36th Division guarding the city gate had not received the retreat order at all.

Facing this rushing team, it was easy to see that they were high-ranking officers.

Five luxury cars led the way, followed by three large trucks.

Company Commander Zuo Ruizhi, who was guarding the city gate, did not listen to Tang Shengzhi's guard captain's explanation at all and refused to let their convoy pass.

Company Commander Zuo Ruizhi only had one sentence: Commander Tang said that he would coexist and die with Nanjing.

Commander Tang would not abandon the city and run away at this time.

We have not received the retreat order either.

Sir, you are slandering Commander Tang. Now is the time to fight the Japanese devils. Please go back."

Tang Shengzhi's guard captain was a colonel, and he was so angry that he drew his gun, "I am a dignified colonel, and I can't deal with you. If you don't get out of the way, I will kill you."

Company Commander Zuo Ruizhi sneered and waved his hand. The soldiers behind him made a sound of pulling the bolts and loading their guns: "Yesterday, even generals were stopped here. Who do you think you are?"

Tang Shengzhi, sitting in the car, heard the words of the lieutenant who was blocking the road, and his face was burning. Every word was slapping his face.

He could only brazenly walk out of the car: "I am Tang Shengzhi, you recognize me, right?"

"Report to Commander Tang! I recognize you!" Company Commander Zuo Ruizhi quickly saluted.

"I want to go out and inspect the blockade situation at Xiaguan." After only saying this sentence, Tang Shengzhi returned to the car.

He didn't want to stay here any longer. He was blushing! He was embarrassed.

He did not convey the retreat order to this officer either.

Company Commander Zuo Ruizhi had doubts in his heart, but he didn't dare to say anything or ask anything.

After letting Commander Tang go, he continued to stick to his duties and did not let any soldiers out.

He even ordered the city gate to be closed.

Tang Shengzhi's convoy had just left Yijiang Gate. From the rearview mirror, he saw that the last gate of Yijiang Gate was also closed.

He shook his head, "He is a good soldier!"

Gunfire had already sounded behind the city at this time.

When Company Commander Zuo Ruizhi ordered the city gate to be closed, soldiers who were quick to react had already retreated here.

They could be considered to be retreating under orders, but they never expected to be stopped here.

In the desperate crowd of defeated soldiers, someone, no one knew who, fired directly.

A shot hit Company Commander Zuo Ruizhi, and Commander Zuo fell to the ground. These defeated soldiers immediately rushed towards the city gate.

The machine gun behind Zuo Ruizhi also opened fire. The firefight did not last long.

More and more soldiers were squeezing over, and Yijiang Gate finally opened another city gate.

There were so many officers and soldiers squeezing out of the city that many people were knocked down here and could never stand up again.

Lin Fan had already returned to Qian Residence at this time and said to everyone, "Nanjing has been captured by the Japanese devils. The commander of the Nanjing Garrison has announced the retreat order.

Although we have not received it, we must also be prepared. Each platoon will proceed according to the original plan."

He also said to Qian Youcai, "Section Chief Qian! Now is the time for us to transport a batch of supplies away."

After thinking about it, he said to all the soldiers, "If you encounter soldiers who are willing to go with us along the way, take them all with you."

If he could pull more soldiers with him to break through, he could also save more lives.

Old Master Qian looked at the team of more than a thousand people in front of him and said nothing more.

All the books he had asked to take away were in the car, and he sat on his pile of books.

Qian Jiao looked at Lin Fan's appearance. She had never thought that this man would actually have more than a thousand people under his command.

The Sheng Shicai family was also in the team.

There were not many people on the road when their convoy left Qian Residence.

When the special company's convoy arrived at the military supply depot, the entire warehouse was empty.

Lin Fan and Qian Youcai looked at each other in dismay. This was a situation they had not expected.

Fortunately, Section Chief Qian knew where all kinds of supplies were.

He pointed them out one by one and let Lin Fan make his own decision.

Lin Fan was an adult. He didn't make a choice: he wanted everything.

His nine platoons were assigned tasks one by one. This time, Lin Fan was going to prepare more supplies.

There would never be such a good opportunity in the future.

The plan had been made long ago.

The entire company walked on foot. All the more than one hundred vehicles, except for those pulling artillery, were used to load supplies here.

With a team of thousands of people, the action of loading things was very fast.

At this time, it was already past 8 p.m. The four regimental commanders of the Central Training Corps were still holding a meeting on Zijin Mountain, discussing how to fight tomorrow's battle.

They had no idea that the Nanjing Garrison had issued a retreat order, and they also did not know that the commander-in-chief had gone to the Xiaguan wharf.

At this moment, at more than 8 p.m., Tang Shengzhi and the people from the Garrison Headquarters took a ship that he had left for a long time.

They were trying to dock at the Pukou wharf when they were warned by soldiers firing their guns on the shore, "All ships are not allowed to cross the river.

If you don't go back, I will fire and sink you."

Tang Shengzhi's old face was slapped again and again today. This time, he was more direct than at the city gate.

He immediately walked out of the cabin and shouted loudly under the lights, "Don't shoot! Don't shoot!

I am Tang Shengzhi, the commander of the Nanjing Garrison.

You recognize me, right?"

His portrait was all over the newspapers these days. These soldiers still recognized their highest commander.

"Commander Tang! Why are you here? This..." The soldiers on the shore were obviously at a loss.

"Under the order of Chairman Chiang: The Nanjing Garrison will begin to withdraw from now on. From now on, ships can cross the river and dock."

After Tang Shengzhi finished speaking, he turned around and went back into the cabin.

It was night, and he just wanted to quickly enter the cabin and recite a few more scriptures. If there was not enough time, he would have wanted to go to Dabaoen Temple and ask the monk, "Why is this sign not working for me?"

"I am too greedy!" I should not have taken this good sign for myself!

Tang Shengzhi himself understood the key to the loss of Nanjing City this time!