Nine Songs of Anti-Japanese War

Chongqing and Changsha had a quarrel, which quickly became a widely circulated topic with no clear reason.

It is said that these two people have a good friendship, and their way of thinking is also on the right track. Although they are not so gentle and peaceful, they have not had any major disputes over the years. The situation did not change after Chongqing was ordered to step in and turn into a wartime capital.After the second Changsha battle, although the results were not bad, most of the poor performances had nothing to do with Changsha. The Military Commission still asked Changsha to make a review letter on some of the losses.As a result, Changsha's writing was full of citations and classics, and the number of words was enough and the analysis was deep enough. No matter how you read it, there is a suspicion of contempt for your superiors.Chongqing took the lead in reviewing, and saved the original text first, then deleted the sentences that were suspected of contempt and reported it to the Military Commission, and then said a few words objectively, and it was over.Then, taking advantage of the meeting, I gathered a few city lords together to read the original text. Everyone laughed together while listening, but the author who didn't laugh said to Wuhan: "Do you admire me? If it were you, you would definitely not be able to write such a literary talent." Brilliant quote!"

This incident was once a good story among the city lords in the rear, and Changsha did not live up to this brotherhood, and returned with a complete victory in the third Changsha battle.At that time, the whole country was jubilant, and even Washington on the other side of the ocean sent a message of congratulations.The high-level leaders agreed that after this battle, the Japanese army would not dare to commit another crime, and the Changsha area could basically live in peace. Farming and doing business in his hometown.

The Changsha area has indeed been quiet for two years.This piece of land, which has suffered disasters since the beginning of the Anti-Japanese War, has recovered its vitality with incredible optimism. On the ruins completely destroyed by the war, brand-new houses have been erected again.Lost lives and wealth cannot be recovered, but new people and wealth have taken root here.Even Changsha himself, at least in the eyes of ordinary friends, has not left any irreparable wounds, and he is alive and kicking again.

This kind of optimism that permeated the crowd continued until the 1944 Spring Henan Central Battle without wavering after repeated defeats.Even the most ordinary citizens know that the first war zone defending central Henan is very different from the ninth war zone.In Henan, nearly a million people were killed when Huayuankou broke the embankment, and then millions died of starvation. The first war zone claimed to have an army of 47, but the actual number is very doubtful.Even if the number of people is not a big problem, how can the severely declining land and population of Henan afford to support these soldiers, I am afraid that the usual gentle means are not used.People in the know know better that the military-civilian relationship in the first war zone has become extremely tense.As for Hunan and Jiangxi, although wars and disasters continued, after all, there is still some room for recuperation, and the relationship between the military and the people is much more friendly.Especially after the U.S. military entered the war, the situation gradually reversed. The elite soldiers with a large amount of U.S. aid materials also went to the Burma battlefield for the second time. The remaining power of a large-scale offensive.

Therefore, when the news that the 47 troops in the first theater were defeated by the Japanese army in three weeks spread to the rear, although people were shocked, they still did not connect the ninth theater with the raging war.It wasn't until the mobilization of supplies and forced labor in the Japanese-occupied areas could no longer be ignored, until the Japanese army gathered troops on both sides of the Miluo River, and until the enemy's offensive remained undiminished before the seemingly tight blockade... Only then did they realize that they would face That's right, it was a life-and-death struggle that was even worse than before.

In late May, after a quarrel with Chongqing, Changsha set off for Yuelu Mountain lightly.A quarrel at such a time can only suggest a tactical disagreement.But it is very strange that these two people turned their faces for tactics. Apart from them, only Hengyang knew the whole story.

Hengyang didn't want to know so much.He had the curiosity that a human being should have, but he didn't want to get involved in everything.He is in charge of a medium-sized jurisdiction, with a glorious history and reputation. However, cities of the same level can be grasped in the land of Shenzhou. They are more than enough than the lower ones. It is usually not his turn to talk about military affairs, and he has no intention of getting close to them. say.He is complacent in this state, and has no ambitions such as "Central China, the first line of the country".At his age, he has long understood how much bitterness that those big men hide under their glamorous appearance that they cannot confide in outsiders.Take a look at Chongqing. Before, I was a healthy, sunny, good-natured young man with occasional temper tantrums. What about now?I'm getting old before I get old, and my hair has lost a few strands of gray... Like myself, life is stable, there are few catastrophes, and there are some beautiful mountains and rivers in the jurisdiction, so you can sing the wind and the moon and sing a song when you have nothing to do, isn't it very pleasant? ?

But Changsha wanted to explain to him, and he still put on a stinky face that he couldn't change after the quarrel, and he couldn't do it even if he wanted to close his ears.

"I'm leaving." Changsha said, "You should leave in two days. If Chongqing calls you, you'd better pretend you didn't hear it. But he probably wouldn't think of contacting you."

"Why don't you let me go with you?" Hengyang was puzzled.The Military Commission has no right to speak for him. He was dragged here by Changsha when a meeting was held to determine the general deployment of troops before and after the battle.

"I got mad at Chongqing, so we can't continue talking, but the news from the rear is well-informed, so you can stay for two more days to make a judgment on the general situation."

"Oh……"

"Hengyang." Changsha smiled darkly, "Don't you think that Your Excellency the capital is more and more like a certain big shot?"

"Who are you talking about..."

"Chairman."

Hengyang was taken aback: "Are you serious? It's not like that at all! Besides," he lowered his voice consciously, "His friendship with Mr. Min seems to be mediocre, let alone..."

"I'm talking about the way of thinking. Seeing that the fight is about to start, he is still worried that his buttocks will not be stable, and he wants the Ninth War Zone to ensure the safety of the rear. Does the Ninth War Zone have to think about this boring thing as the focus? ?It was originally a barrier for the capital, and its basic function is to defend the rear, so there is no need to repeat it repeatedly! Yuzhong has been defeated, Luoyang and Zhengzhou have lost contact, Pinghan Road was opened by devils, and it will be its turn soon Yuehan Road, this is the focus of prevention!"

Hengyang agrees with Changsha alone.The three strongholds of Beiping, Hankou and Guangzhou had long been under Japanese control, but the railways running through the three places were interspersed with a large number of Kuomintang-controlled areas and could not be used. Hengyang, which itself was on the Yuehan Road, was the first to suspect the enemy's intentions here. "Then you..." Hengyang looked at Changsha's face suspiciously, the anger didn't seem to be feigned, "Or did you quarrel over the differences in tactics?"

Changsha froze for a moment, and quickly responded: "Yes, not all. I think he has changed a lot, the shell is still there, and the core was replaced at some point. He was not a person who would be timid in the face of war before! I think back then—” Changsha waved his hand, shaking off the past that almost attracted him like driving away smoke, “No, no, let’s not mention the past. Even if the focus is on the Cantonese-Han Road, so what if the devils approach the capital for a while? Will it collapse? How many cities have fallen and been taken back? The capital is surrounded by heavy troops, and the defense problem is not as serious as he thought. I have fought three times, and I am still standing here."

"However, its population has doubled several times compared to before the war, and it is not the same concept as before. There are too many high-ranking officials and big capitalists in it, and it cannot be dispersed by just evacuating..."

"So before the turmoil arrived, I was scared to pee my pants? His life is expensive, but mine is cheap? Fighting a tough battle with back and forth is better than being huddled in an air-raid shelter without any resistance. Wouldn't it be too much to blow up?"

"Did you tell Chongqing about the air-raid shelter?"

"said."

"Then you..." Hengyang smiled wryly.Although he respected Changsha, he wasn't afraid of him. He was used to speaking directly, "Then he should have quarreled with you. Hearing what you said, it's fine if he didn't fight on the spot."

Changsha sighed annoyedly: "But... But I think if this continues, not only I will be alienated from him, but others will also be alienated from him! Luoyang and Zhengzhou have lost contact, it's normal, their jurisdiction has been occupied by devils. But logically there is always a farewell sentence, no, how easy it is to think of it, they have been completely chilled by the various disasters that have happened in Henan in the past few years, and feel that they have nothing to say to the central government... I heard that there are 5 troops in the first war zone , was disarmed by the peasants on the way to escape, and the officer had to disguise himself as a cook to escape. [Note 1] Is this because the local peasants are not patriotic? Is it because they have had enough of these incompetent soldiers who are usually domineering at critical moments! Bullying, is it more comfortable to be bullied by your own family than to be bullied by other family members? Of course, there is nothing wrong with Chongqing, but if he continues to keep a straight face, he will only be the mouthpiece of the high-level, repeating some "serve the overall situation, defend the rear" and so on It is useless to be great and correct, and if you don’t know how to read the minds of the people below, the distance between the two sides will only grow further and further until there is nothing to say.”

"Your worry is very reasonable... However, it is not a good time to calm down and discuss these things." Hengyang thought, seeing Changsha's angry look, the two of them must have broken up without exchanging real thoughts.He persuaded, "Don't think about it for the time being. After the battle is over and the enemy has been repelled, you will be in a better mood, and then you can have a heart-to-heart talk."

"I hope so. But what if, in case, the battle is not won?"

"It can be won. The three battles in Changsha were good, and the third was a great victory. Your terrain is more conducive to defense. General Xue also has a record of constant victories, so there will be no accidents."

"General Ever Victorious?" Changsha snorted, "Xue Yue is a capable soldier, but no one can always win—unless he only fights sure battles, but there are not so many sure battles in the world. Besides, this It is not him who is directly in charge of our city, but the 4th Army. There are still conflicts among them about how to fight, and Shangfeng can't make up his mind. [Note 2] In short, we must be prepared with both hands. Hengyang, we must focus on the key points You are on my side to protect the Yuehan Road from being opened by devils, right?"

"Hmm. That's probably why you brought me to the meeting."

"That's easy to say. If there is any accident-I don't want to become a devil to destroy my prestige, but this time the enemy's troop mobilization is extremely unusual, and our reaction is too slow-my city is lost, and the next one to focus on is You. If we win, we still have a chance to get everything back; if we lose,... I hope we all did our best before losing."

Hengyang silently looked at Changsha and nodded.These words have already been said absolutely, and he has already understood the meaning behind it, and there is no point in further questioning.

The anger has disappeared from Changsha's face, but the solemn tone has not dissipated: "I don't want to pressurize you. It is my responsibility to block the enemy. It's just that you are not a junior. You should make psychological preparations for the development of the situation. You must have already done it. I have to go, Hengyang, I was angry when I said not to answer the call from Chongqing, just listen to me, don’t waver from the original idea. Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Changsha. Good luck."

Changsha then took a bus to Yuelu Mountain to get an overview of the situation under the city.After Hengyang said goodbye, he didn't go to see him off. Taking advantage of the spare time, he visited the relevant people who were still in the capital.The fellow from Hunan did not need him to communicate too much. Although Guangxi is not on the Yuehan Road, given that there are two important airports that bombed the Japanese traffic line, the signs and symptoms quickly became tense this time.Before he could go to Guilin and Liuzhou, these two people came to the door first and asked them about their future predictions and plans.

Hengyang informed them of Changsha's opinion with reservations. "The Guangxi faction has always been quite capable of fighting. Your White General is known as 'Little Zhuge'. If the Japanese army really came to your airport, the fighting power of the Guangxi faction would not be a big problem." [Note 3] After finishing his speech Things, he was doing the routine mutual encouragement before the battle.

"It's hard to say." Gui Lin said with some bitterness, and his delicate brows were slightly furrowed, "Our equipment is too poor. If there were half of the machine guns and heavy artillery in the Ninth War Zone, Liuzhou and I would not be in such a precarious position as we are now. "

"Have you reported it to the above?"

"Yes, I asked for replacement several times but nothing came of it. The relationship between the Guangxi faction and the central government... you know, we don't count on it anymore. Even if the committee members change their minds now, it's too late. Soldiers will block you, and the soil will be flooded. This is the only way to do it." gone."

Liuzhou said: "The worst, you can't even stop Hengyang. We were killed by the devils who came down from Hankou and Guangzhou. That Cantonese," he winked in the southeast direction, "falling so early, killing It’s miserable for us. It’s quite capable to fight against us. At this time, if he can create chaos within the Japanese army and prevent the enemy from attacking, I will forgive him.”

Guilin laughed: "Guangzhou was so angry when I heard your words. How is it possible!"

Jokes can liven up the temporary atmosphere, but they can't dispel the haze in people's hearts.After this meeting, those who were preparing for battle dispersed one after another, returning to their respective positions, waiting anxiously for the progress of the battle in Changsha.

The 10th Army, which had won a glorious victory in the Battle of Changde, was stationed in Hengyang City this time.Changde also arrived with the 10th Army, but he had the responsibility of defending the local area, so he took the time to say a few words to him and returned that day. "You must be fine," he said while parting, holding Hengyang's hand. "The soldiers of the 10th Army are completely trustworthy, so don't worry about fighting with them. You accompany me to celebrate the New Year, I am really grateful to you, I also want to repay your kindness as soon as possible.”

"I don't want you to pay back," he said with a smile, "but you must give it. I will try my best to look forward to it."

The waiting process is always anxious.During the interval of preparations for the war, Hengyang climbed to Huiyan Peak on Nanyue Mountain, looking at the fierce beacon smoke in the north.

Hengyang City is also called Yancheng.In ancient times, every autumn and winter, wild geese traveled southward to escape the harsh wind in the north, and flew across thousands of mountains and rivers to rest on the bank of Xiangjiang River under Huiyan Peak.It is said that one year when wild geese lived here, a male goose was shot to death by a hunter, and the female goose then crashed to the top of the mountain. For this reason, the flock of geese hovered over the city all day, wailing and refusing to leave. "The geese were frightened by the cold, and the sound broke the Hengyang Pu", the original legend cast a layer of sadness on the city, but when the flames of war ignited here, no matter the victory or defeat, the buildings in the city would not survive too much. many.This autumn, the wild geese fly from the north to the south, and they have rested their wings so far. What they see will never be the beautiful scenery they have been familiar with for generations.

The wind gradually picked up.Heng Yang closed his eyes slightly, and felt the flock of birds—not wild geese, the tiny silhouettes scattered on his eyelids.

On June 6, the fourth battle of Changsha ended, and Changsha fell; on June 18, the Japanese army began to attack the Hengyang suburban airport, and the defenders retreated to Hengyang City due to heavy casualties; on June 6, the Japanese army arrived at the city, waiting for them The most important thing is the incomplete 24th Army after the Battle of Changde.

The cruel battle under the city has begun.

It should be said that in the more than ten days after the Japanese army began its full-scale offensive, the atmosphere of the 10th Army was relatively optimistic.Hengyang was infected by the optimism of the officers and soldiers. At the same time, in personal contact, he also found that these soldiers were as brave and good at fighting as the rumors. They were neither snobbish soldiers nor cowardly pussies. When waiting for the progress of the battle in Changsha, we need to be a little more calm.

After all, what you can only wait for is the result, and you can only passively leave it to fate to judge; and when the battlefield is transferred to your own city, fate still has some control over the initiative in your own hands.

The 10th Army guarding Hengyang City is a strong force that has participated in the three battles of Changsha and Changde. It is especially famous for its defensive battles and is known as the "Taishan Army".After breaking through Changsha, the Japanese 11th Army marched like the wind, throwing off the Chinese troops who were chasing and intercepting them, and went straight to the city. Fortunately, the 10th Army had already entered the city, and made full preparations before the Japanese army, and built a stronghold in any available strongholds. Numerous trenches and bunkers cast this small city together with its suburbs into a defensive fortress.On the outskirts of the city, the main slope of each hilltop position is cut into a 90-degree cliff, which can only be climbed by setting up a ladder.After the Japanese army bombarded the position with air force and platoon artillery, there was silence in the position, as if all the defenders had been killed by the shells.But when the infantry charged and climbed the cliff, they were attacked condescendingly by the defenders pouring out of the fortifications, and the bundled grenades rained down on their heads. Some were killed on the spot, and some fell. There was only half a breath left to go down the cliff.

Even if they barely climbed up the hill with the continuous reinforcement of troops from the rear, the defenders would fight back extremely viciously.Most of the positions were narrow, and the two armies fought hand-to-hand in the bloody trenches. They raised their bayonets and fought back and forth without having time to raise their guns and shoot.

The war ended the first round in the repeated see-saw between the offensive and defensive sides.The Japanese army originally planned to take Hengyang in two or three days. The first round of general attack was over, and all available tactics and weapons were used. Hengyang City remained unmoved, and almost all important strongholds were still on the side of the defenders.In previous battles between China and Japan, it was very unusual for the Chinese side to exchange one life for another. However, even considering that siege warfare is more beneficial to the defenders, the Japanese side’s battle losses were still surprisingly high, with casualties more than twice that of the Chinese side.They had to stop for a while, waiting for troops and supplies to replenish.Although the defenders in Hengyang City seemed to have an advantage for a while, they also suffered a lot of losses and needed to rest and fight again.

On July 7, the Japanese offensive weakened and turned into a focused attack on some areas. The heavily damaged troops in the defenders were able to relax, receive material assistance from the Air Force, rescue the wounded and deal with the dead.It is too late to bury them. It is already midsummer, and the temperature is sometimes close to 3 degrees. The corpses will soon stink when exposed to the air, which will lead to environmental deterioration and epidemics. They can only be concentrated and burned.

After a few days of rest, the second full-scale attack began.It's still the same: first the planes bombarded the city, then the shells baptized, and then the infantry charged with bayonets.The only difference is that the two divisions of the 11th Army of the Japanese Army were supplemented and restored their original numbers and combat effectiveness, while the 10th Army received only a very limited amount of airdropped materials, many of which were inaccurately dropped and scattered on the ground. River water and even enemy camps.

It was another tug-of-war.Battles may break out day and night. Some stronghold fortifications were destroyed and there was no time to repair them, so the corpses were covered with sand and parapets were built as a cover.These corpses have both their own people and enemies, and when the life is gone and turned into a simple pile of meat, they can still be used in the same way.

In the Battle of Stalingrad, there was a precedent for using corpses to build walls.The body was frozen in the ice wall, and the facial features were still very fresh and vivid. Sometimes they collided with the soldiers outside the wall, as if they were still living in the world in a distorted way.It was in the severe winter, and the shelf life of the corpse wall in midsummer was very short.After each battle, a new pile of corpses has accumulated that is in dire need of incineration.Hengyang and the soldiers burned the corpses and returned to the house, and there is still a mixed smell of burning burning and corpses lingering in his nose.In fact, even if there is a wall, the disgusting smell can still spread into the house. If an ordinary person smells it, let alone be unable to eat, he will even be unable to sit.But the officers and soldiers in the barracks have long been accustomed to sitting around and chatting as if it didn't exist, and from time to time burst into heartfelt laughter.

A second-class soldier said: "I heard that our Master Ge was very brave in Zhangjiashan last time! He went into battle in person, stabbed the devils when he saw them, and four or five people surrounded him. He took off his clothes and fought again with his bare arms. The devils looked at him and were paralyzed with fright as if they saw ghosts and gods. They all jumped off the cliff when they saw him approaching before they even touched their hair!"

"Blow it up!" said a messenger next to him, "That's a rumor, you still believe it after so many days."

"I can't believe it!" The second-rank soldier was so angry that he was about to jump up, and he was still aggressive when he was held down by his companions, as if his beloved division commander had been insulted and he could only rely on him to get justice. "It's from the staff, That's what everyone else says! Can the staff still make up stories?"

"I don't know, but one day when I was with the division commander, I heard someone mention this to him. He said how is it possible, he did go to fight the bayonet himself, and then sweated a lot, and saw a lot of our soldiers on the battlefield The soldiers who died in battle took off their shirts to wipe away their tears and sweat when they shed tears. Commander Ge is a formidable man, and he has indeed killed many devils, but it is too exaggerated to scare devils off a cliff by being naked."

"But..." After all, the second-class soldier did not have first-hand information, and was quickly defeated.

A company commander next to him passed by and interjected: "The battle in Zhangjiashan was too fierce, so there are such rumors. It's a pity that Zhangjiashan gave up in the end..." He paused, remembering that he is an officer, and he should be better than these two soldiers. With something to say, he added, "The last victory in Changsha was won by our 10th Army as the center of the city, attracting enemy troops from all directions, and then reinforcements arrived, and the internal and external pincers eliminated the besieging troops. This time we lost After arriving in Changsha, on the one hand, the preparations were too hasty, and on the other hand, it was also because the 4th Army did not do a good job in this center, and it was breached too early. As for us, we have done more preparations than them, and we have more experience and strength in defensive warfare than them. Persevere, and we will definitely be able to wait for the reinforcements to arrive before fighting the enemy together." He put one hand on his hips and waved his fist with the other, "Everyone, after a few more days, you will see your head! At that time, I will have medals to win, and you will also be rewarded." If you can advance, you can do a lot in the future!"

"Okay!" These soldiers were very simple in mind. Hearing the company commander's encouragement, they were all high-spirited and waved their fists.

Hengyang smiled and left the barracks.It's getting late, it's time to go back to the army command post.

A few days ago, after the first wave of the enemy's attack failed, the central government sent them a telegram. After the reward, they were asked to stick to it for another two weeks, and wait until the other troops in the ninth theater broke through the enemy's obstruction and came to the city. Obtained "Xiangzhong Great Victory".This is similar to what the company commander meant.In the battle of defending the city, it is rare to rely on the defending army to repel the attacking side alone, and they all rely on more or less foreign aid.In ancient times, fortified battles under the city often lasted for several months or even years, and the degree of tragedy was far higher than that of ordinary field battles.Once breached, the red-eyed siege troops often burned, killed, raped and looted, committing all kinds of crimes. In some cities, houses were completely destroyed and residents died, and they disappeared from the world.

Modern warfare has accelerated this process a lot.The Japanese army has been attacking for more than ten days and has not made much progress, so they must have been extremely restless.The telegram received was to keep watch for another two weeks, and it has been almost a week now, and the reinforcements should arrive soon.

Hengyang walked through the dilapidated streets in the city.After several rounds of indiscriminate bombing, the city was completely changed in just ten days.Every time a batch of firearms was dropped, the reserve troops left in the city were busy fighting fires everywhere. No matter how hard they worked, there were not many houses left to burn.He looked around and calculated how many houses could survive... The conclusion was really not optimistic.

His city, like many nearby cities, ushered in a situation of substantial increase in population and rapid expansion of scale after the beginning of the Anti-Japanese War.The main theme of war is destruction and destruction, but it has brought him rapid development, which seems to be a pair of contradictions.But the prosperity brought about by the war will be destroyed by the war very easily - even what he already owned will not be let go.

When officers and soldiers on the street saw his military rank and stopped to salute, he smiled and nodded.He saw that many of them were wounded soldiers. Due to the lack of medical supplies, the wounds could only be covered with rags and waste paper.This is not the worst, because there are many people who are tortured to death before killing a few enemies due to the harsh environment lacking medical treatment and medicine.Soldiers who were slightly wounded and still able to move were eager to return to the front line. They would die anyway, and it would be better to die quickly and honorably on the battlefield.He looked at these tortured officers and soldiers who insisted on saluting him with a firm posture, and felt extremely sad, but he was powerless.

There is only persistence, only waiting.He sincerely hoped that this battle of defense would end in victory, that these soldiers would live to receive the awards from their superiors and the cheers of the people, rather than just mourning after death.

If Hengyang knew the situation of the peripheral "reinforcements", the optimism he tried to maintain might not last long.

In mid-July, since other troops in the Ninth War Zone could not break through the Japanese siege, they could only interfere with the Japanese supply line at the border of Hunan and Jiangxi.

"The telegram has been deciphered again." On the morning when Chengdu was called, Chongqing said monotonously, looking at the blank area on the opposite wall.It was hot summer, but he didn't turn on the fan, and beads of sweat rolled down his cheeks.

Chengdu cautiously judged his expression. "It means... our army's actions were known in advance by the enemy, and the rescue operation was frustrated again."

"Well. The 10th Army is a very precious army. It suffered a lot of losses in the Battle of Changde, but now it is facing two or three times as many enemy troops, and the consumption is increasing every day... What else can we do? Chengdu , let me hear your thoughts."

"What good words can I have?" Chengdu smiled wryly, "At present, those who are well equipped and have no strongholds to defend are the expeditionary forces. They are fighting in Burma, and where can they come back. There is an American air force at my airport. They are mainly preparing for the strategic bombing of the Japanese mainland, and there are still enough oil bombs. Try to see if you can mobilize them? If you can dispatch them, you can always put some pressure on the Japanese army."

"impossible."

"You haven't tried it yet, don't make a judgment first?"

"Impossible! Chengdu, you don't know anything at all." Chongqing suddenly stood up, then lowered his eyes, his hand on the table trembling slightly. "It's not your fault... It's useless for you to know about these high-level power struggles. But let me tell you straight now! Our beloved international friend, General Stilwell, who is fighting in Burma, he and the Commissioner You have heard about how bad the relationship is. He has long wanted to pull the committee down. In this two-front war, he hopes that the domestic front will be defeated. He has the right to report to the President of the United States that the committee is ineffective. It is not enough to grasp The leadership of the Chinese theater. For the sake of the overall situation, the power should be transferred to him, and the Chinese leadership should be replaced by someone who can communicate well with him. The aviation brigade stationed at your place listens to Stilwell, and they may run to support Hengyang Is it?"

"..." Chengdu said lightly, "I've already guessed it. As soon as you explain it, I'm sure."

"You can always guess." Chongqing snorted coldly, "Since I quarreled with Changsha, I haven't been in a good mood for a moment. The high-level officials don't care about the lives of people in Hengyang City. Hengyang is a chess piece tied to the rope they are pulling. But even for Hengyang, I have to stand on the side of the committee, and I can't helplessly watch from the side—otherwise Changsha will have to strangle me to death."

Chengdu joked casually: "You locked him up, how can you pinch him."

Chongqing was startled: "When was he locked up by me?"

"What's the matter with your memory?" Chengdu was also surprised this time. "As soon as he came back with the leader of the 4th Army, the people in the plane were locked up for trial because of the disadvantage in combat. I also asked you if there is any special The person who took care of him said his name. If you say no, deal with it according to the rules. "

"Oh, I was dizzy at that time..." Chongqing covered his forehead with both hands, buried it for a long time before raising his face, "I can't argue with him anymore. I'll give you a call later. Proof, you go and release him. Although his jurisdiction is lost, he can go to the capital wherever he wants."

"Why is it taking a while?"

"Because I still have work to do. Even if you remind me, Stilwell's air force cannot be adjusted, and Chennault's 'Flying Tigers' may be transformed... I think they have tried their best, but if you press There is no harm in urging." [Note 4] He made a call to Zhijiang Air Force Base, and Zhijiang answered it quickly.After listening to Chongqing's request, the slender Dong girl said briefly that the Air Force had tried its best to drop supplies into Hengyang City and harass the enemy troops on the outskirts of the city. Throw it in, and as more and more enemies and us engage in hand-to-hand combat, large-scale dive bombing has become impossible.But since Your Excellency Capital has spoken, she will try to make her schedule tighter.

Chongqing put down the phone and said to Chengdu, "That's all I can do."

He turned to face the window again.In the yard, the shade is thick, the cicadas are singing, and the flowers and trees that grow vigorously in summer can't imagine that not far away, another city with beautiful scenery is struggling to close the gate of hell. "Sometimes, I'm really tired of squatting far away from the battle line, passively receiving battle reports one by one, and pretending to be a domineering leader. That idiot in Changsha, he thought I liked being the capital? That's just I have been unlucky for eight lifetimes."

Chengdu smiled lightly in understanding, but didn't answer.Then he heard his old friend say, "When you bring Changsha out, tell him exactly what I said. Don't change a single word."

On July 7, when the second wave of the Japanese army's general offensive was coming to an end, no one could still talk about the future with a smile, and encouraged each other with medals and promotions.The number of living people is decreasing every day, and ammunition is being consumed every day.The first line has been taken, and the defenders retreat to the second line of defense to struggle.Being able to survive and continue to fight has become the greatest luxury here and now.

They had already survived for two weeks, and the reinforcements were still missing.For ordinary soldiers, the few supplies dropped by the Air Force every few days are the only proof that they still have contact with the outside world; for the generals of the 10th Army, there is an additional channel to communicate with the central telegraph.But a series of cold orders can neither iron their hearts nor help the reality. They just repeat the content of nothing new: wait for a few days, wait for a few more days, and rescue will always come...

Thinking of what Changsha said before leaving, Hengyang had the idea of ​​sending the report directly to Chongqing, but gave up after a little thought.Chongqing would definitely not intentionally embarrass them. Besides, there were too many precedents for telegrams to be deciphered by the Japanese army, and news related to the war situation would not be sent if it could not be sent.Fortunately, he was not like those wounded who couldn't walk and had to be placed under a broken wall or in a bomb crater to wait to die. He was only slightly injured and did not hinder his movement. Fall asleep quickly—even if you don't get a good night's sleep.

All communication lines other than the radio have been blown up, and the various combat units can only be contacted by messengers. Hengyang has almost broken his legs these days in order to grasp the situation and fulfill the responsibility of supervising the battle. The next moment, new changes appeared again, and he could only smile wryly.The army commander has already taken the lead in person, so what can he complain about?Rather, thanks to the uninterrupted running back and forth to numb himself, so as not to be dreamy and frightened by the dark prospects in his imagination.As the days went by, comrades around him fell one by one. This army trapped in the isolated city, together with Hengyang himself, fought against Japanese troops on the surface, but in reality they had gradually turned into despair itself.

They had to trust that reinforcements would arrive, and they had to trust that the city would hold.Even if you die, your army can stay to the end and win a great victory.They were about to have nothing but faith.

One day when the faith is gone, there is only one dead end...

Hengyang realized that during the interval of the battle, he started to think about it again and again, so he stopped quickly.He blamed himself in his heart,