I really came here to fight against Japan

One leader angrily said, "What? You want us to leave tonight?

I am against this, I am absolutely against this kind of escape-style evacuation."

Another leader said: “We left like this because our comrades were not well prepared.

Another thing, what if we run into the Nationalist army on the way and there is a misunderstanding? "

Commander Fu Shan: "We were not prepared, and neither were the Nationalist troops.

Also, once you find the Kuomintang army blocking the road, you can open fire. There is no misunderstanding here.

They had already issued the order internally this morning.

Declare us rebels, if they spot us on their intended route.

You can order us to surrender, or... just shoot us."

The leader: "What? A scheduled route? These bastards from the secondary capital want us to die!"

Army Commander: "If we follow the original plan, our troops will enter the enemy's encirclement tomorrow night.

So we have to rush out of that mountain pass before daybreak, while they are still unprepared."

Chief: “There are so many non-combatants, can they keep up with us?

What are we going to do after we rush out? Are we going to just ignore the non-combatants?"

Army Commander: "After our main force breaks through, we will first move 20 kilometers east to create the illusion of crossing the Yangtze River to the north.

Then we detoured eastward and crossed the river from Caishiji area.

Go and join up with the Eastward Detachment in Jiangbei, and reorganize the Iron Army headquarters in Yancheng.

The Third Division of the National Army Militia will pursue our main force relentlessly after they discover that we are missing.

The main force regiment we left behind can break out from the gap to their south with non-combat personnel.

After joining the main force of the Iron Army, we will cross the Yangtze River together."

However, there is another way that the commander did not mention, which is to let those who can run retreat.

Those family members and wounded comrades can be "captured" by Song Wenwan and sent to Gannan together.

Those who want to stay can stay, and those who don’t want to stay will be sent to northern Shaanxi, which is very convenient.

At first the leaders were still a little worried, but until they met the group that stayed behind, everyone felt relieved.

Fu Shan's army commander's guard division did not have a brigade-level organization.

Instead, it was composed of four infantry regiments, each with no less than 5,000 men.

A well-equipped infantry regiment like this can instantly destroy a division of the National Army.

The military leaders all ordered the main force of Sui to break out to the north.

Once they are transferred to a safe location, someone will send some of the leaders back to northern Shaanxi for study.

Because there are still four hours left before the main force sets out.

The soldiers of the Guard Division entered the base under the leadership of the guard troops.

Notify non-combatants door to door and be ready to set off with them at any time.

It's just eight o'clock now, and many people have not gone to bed yet and are packing up.

After receiving the notice, the most common thing they said was, "We haven't packed up everything yet."

The army commander's guard division only replied with one sentence, "Burn all the documents and discard all the luggage", and set off lightly.

When gathering and preparing to set off, facing the questions from non-combatants, Fu Shan spoke directly and domineeringly.

"I'm not taking you with me to escape famine, and you don't need to take all these bottles and jars with you.

Let me tell you the truth now. The temporary capital has already sent eight infantry divisions to encircle and suppress our Iron Army headquarters.

If you are willing to move with us, just follow the troops quietly.

If anyone wants to stay, they can stay as long as they can keep the organization's secrets.

We will leave you resettlement allowance so that you can get through this difficult time."

Well, now no one wants to stay, and everyone is willing to follow the troops to evacuate the base.

A progressive young man: "Commander, why do you want us to all wear the uniforms of the National Army?"

Fu Shan: "Because we have to disguise ourselves as Kuomintang soldiers so that we can pass through their territory smoothly.

The reason for doing this is to reduce unnecessary sacrifices.”

Progressive youth: "Comrade leader, if we dare to join the revolution, we are not afraid of sacrificing ourselves."

Fu Shan: "We welcome those who want to make revolution, but you must remember one thing first: act together and follow orders.

From now on, who is not prepared to listen to the coordination of the Iron Army soldiers?

Some people want to act on their own and show off their personal heroism.

Get out of here right now, I don't want such disobedient soldiers."

These non-combatants were stunned at first, and then expressed their willingness to obey orders.

They have been practicing marching for more than a month. If they don't follow the Iron Army now, wouldn't all their training be in vain?

But as soon as they set out, these progressive young people began to raise objections.

A female student watched the three infantry regiments of the army commander's guard division and the army's combat troops march north together.

As for themselves, they followed the infantry regiment of the Guards Division and headed in the opposite direction.

She grabbed a company commander nearby and asked excitedly, "Comrade, why don't we move together with the troops from the military? We are going in the opposite direction."

Company Commander: "What are you arguing about? They are a combat unit. Going over there is a strategic feint.

That is to attract the enemy's attention so that we can break through."

They all knew how to attract the enemy's attention, but when the phrase "strategic feint" was uttered, it sounded a little lofty.

The progressive young woman's eyes sparkled again as she looked at the company commander.

Another student said, "But if we don't follow the main force, won't it be unsafe?"

The company commander glared and said, "Do you think the guns in our hands are firewood sticks?"

Let them cover the retreat of non-combatants instead of charging into battle.

He was already unhappy about this, and now someone was doubting their abilities, which immediately made him feel unhappy.

After hearing what the company commander of the Guard Division said, everyone remembered to look at the weapons in the hands of these soldiers.

It feels like the weapons in these soldiers' hands are much better than the Hanyang-made weapons of the Iron Army.

At this time, Captain Lin, who was in charge of the transfer mission of the Guard Division, saw what was happening here and immediately ran over.

"What are you arguing about? Why did your marching troops stop?"

Captain Lin said with a serious face: "Captain Zhu, please ask the soldiers to convey the message to the non-combat personnel who are being transferred.

Once we enter the Kuomintang-controlled area, if anyone makes loud noises and exposes the target, they will be subject to battlefield discipline. "

After scaring this group of enthusiastic young people, Captain Lin led a search company of the regiment to explore the way ahead.

The troops marching in two directions have already realized the seriousness of the situation.

They were all very cautious during the march, for fear of alerting the national army that came to encircle and suppress them.

The main forces of the army commander and the leaders are quite safe.

The National Army troops preparing to encircle and suppress the New Fourth Army already knew the specific time when the Iron Army would march north on the 2nd.

According to the time, they will set out in the morning and arrive at the preset valley in the evening.

After they go in, Song Wenwan's Third Militia Division will seal the hole, and they can catch the turtle in the jar.

Therefore, there were basically no troops stationed on the Kuomintang positions on January 1st.

Apart from leaving a small number of sentinels, they also celebrated the New Year in the back.