The adjustment was carried out overnight. The landing of the 6th Division on the side and back had already shocked the leaders on the Xicheng line. However, the 24th Army and the 888th Division all had some relationship with Zhuang Jihua. The 18th Army was mainly Huangpu classmates. That was why they suppressed their doubts and were still fighting with the Japanese army on the front line. However, they had turned the defensive line on the whole line.

Matsui Ishigen personally led the Fifth Brigade of the Third Division to the Xicheng Line. The 3rd Division of the Japanese army has been fighting in Shanghai since the Battle of Songhu. It has been fighting hard for more than three months. It has been fighting hard for Hongqiao, Luodian, and a bloody battle in the field. The battle for Yunzaobin has not fallen. The losses are the largest among all Japanese troops. When the Song Japanese army attacked Nanjing, they stayed in Shanghai to maintain public security and rest. However, the division commander Fujita Jin was deeply dissatisfied and protested to Matsui Ishigen. In any case, they had to participate in the battle to attack Nanjing. Matsui Ishigen went to the front line this time, which brought the main Fifth Brigade of the Third Division.

Matsui Ishione came to the front line to fight. The Japanese offensive became more and more fierce. The commander of the 13th Division, Sai Bing, personally entered the bridgehead formation. The commander of the 6th Division, Nakajima Imasatoya, came to the front line. The 18th Army, the 80th Division around the bridgehead and the 20th Army in Wuxi Castle were in a tough battle at the same time.

Stars are dotted with cold wind; on the Yangtze River, a long marching column is moving westward quickly. Feng Shengfa's car is slowly taking a bus to the crowded road, the Yangtze River is retreating rapidly towards Nanjing.

On the Beijing-Shanghai Highway, cars shone through the dark night. Dozens of Dodge trucks were dragging cannons and quickly passed. Li Jiayu directed the 47th Army to retreat in two directions Danyang.

Xiaguan Wharf, a long floating bridge. Li Tiejun led the way across the Yangtze River and led his troops into Nanjing. He quickly took over the defense of the Mufu Mountain area of ​​Zijin Mountain.

Wu entered the city. Guo Xun turned back to the top of the city after seeing Xu Yuanquan away. Looking at the dark night sky outside the city, there were red lights in the distance. The Japanese army was blatantly burning to keep warm. The two armies faced each other. Tomorrow would be a fierce battle.

Outside Xuanwu Gate, Lan Yundong parked the car by the side of the road and looked at the speeding cars in front of him and the soldiers who were rushing on both sides. After holding it in such a day, he finally could go to the battlefield.

Under the water city, An En was on high alert. Upper Ye Gui Pu Ji led his troops to enter and conquered Gaotang, Yaba, Baima Town, and the soldiers were heading straight towards the water.

The smoke of gunpowder outside Guangde City was filled with smoke. Yanagawa Hei helped promote the 114th Division of the 18th Division and the Guoqi Detachment to attack Guangde. Sun Zhen commanded Rao Guohua and Wang Mingzhang to respond calmly and never retreated. Both sides were swords and swords, bloody storms and fierce battles were in full swing.

The surrounding area of ​​Nanjing is hundreds of kilometers, soldiers and vehicles, and killing sounds. The commanders of both sides are eager to find the opponent's weaknesses. They are ready to stab the opponent's heart at any time.

One day later, the 87th Division retreated to Zhenjiang for the 47th Army and retreated to Danyang. Gu Shoufu attacked Wujin fiercely. Guo Xun waited for his leisure and refused to give in. The 9th Division abandoned the Jiangyin Fortress, tore open the defense line of Liu Xing's 16th Army and returned to the 88th Division. The situation on the front line became more and more dangerous. Zhuang Jihua ordered the abandonment of the Xicheng Line. Liu Xing led the remnants to retreat into Jiangyin. Yang Sen withdrew from Wuxi's 18th Army and the 88th Division to fight to the death to block the attacks of the 13th Division and the 9th Division. The 16th Division that attacked Wuxi rushed straight from Luoyang to the back of the 18th Army, attempting to cut off the Beijing-Shanghai Highway. The 48th Division and 41st Division, which had retreated from the Taihu Lake, and the Li Chaoxin Brigade of the 20th Army, set up a formation in Luoyang to fight bravely.

Many years later, Zhuang Jihua admitted that this retreat was the most terrifying thing in his long military career. The 18th Army and the 88th Division fought extremely hard. The commander of the two brigade commanders of Zhu Chi, deputy brigade commander Hua Pinzhang, Han Xianyuan, was killed one after another. The commander of the brigade commander Gao Zhisong, Xie Jinyuan, was seriously injured; the commander of the 18th Army's 67th Division, Huang Wei, was seriously injured. The commander of the brigade commander was more killed.

The Japanese army fought hard and fought bloody battles all the way; the 18th Army and the 88th Division were dead. Luo Zhuoying personally cut off the rear and commanded the 88th Division and the 18th Army to fight and retreat while fighting.

Faced with the crisis, Zhuang Jihua ordered Yang Sen to stop retreating and set up a blocking line in Dingyantang, Panjiatang, to cover the 88th Division and the 18th Army. He was responsible for the task of breaking and covering the entire army.

The Japanese army attacked so violently. It took two days to attack west of Wujin and threatened Guo Xun's side. Zhuang Jihua had no choice but to order Guo Xun to give up Wujin and retreat to the Jintan.

On December 18th, the 18th and 88th Divisions crossed the Yangsen line of defense to retreat to Nanjing. The Japanese army immediately chased after him. Yang Sen commanded 20th to launch a large-scale fierce battle with the pursuers on the Panjiazhai line of Dingyantang. Both sides suffered heavy casualties. In the evening, the Japanese army stopped attacking. The 20th Army took the opportunity to withdraw from the formation and turned towards Danyang. Guo Xun immediately gave up his martial arts and retreated to Jintan.

Although the Central ** team suffered losses and was covered with scars, the troops were not dispersed and the system was still intact. Yang Sen retreated to Danyang to meet with the Fourth Seventh Army. The 18th Army and the 88th Division, which set up a formation in Danyang, retreated to Nanjing and then crossed to Jiangbei to make up for it.

On December 20th, he arrived in the outer defense line of Nanjing. There were only two points without moving. Guangde and Shui.

"Principal, why haven't you left yet?" Zhuang Jihua hurried into a small house next to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum. Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling live here now.

Shi has been in Nanjing City. He abides by his promise to Zhuang Jihua and does not interfere with Hua's command; Zhuang Jihua has never come to see him. He really can't take time. But it's different now. The Japanese army is likely to attack the city of Nanjing within a few days. Chiang Kai-shek is as stable as Mount Tai. Zhuang Jihua couldn't help but feel anxious. He came to urge him.

"Why are you anxious? Didn't the Japanese come to Rong? The 24th Army can fight in Jurong for two days." Chiang Kai-shek was confident. Several troops from Sichuan, except for Zhuang Jihua's direct line, Lan Yundong Division and Liang Division, had not yet entered the battlefield. The other troops showed up on the battlefield. The combat effectiveness was indeed extraordinary. They were even stronger than the German Division. Chiang Kai-shek was confident that Yang Sen could block the Japanese army in Jurong until he left Nanjing.

Even though the weather was very cold, Zhuang Jihua still sweated on his face. He wiped the sweat from his face: "Principal Yang Sen's 24th Regiment Army has suffered a lot of losses. I am really not sure if I can't stop it. Principal, you and your teacher's wife should have left long ago."

"Not afraid. It's very safe here." Soong Mei-ling patiently cut the apple and handed it to Zhuang Jihua. Zhuang Jihua wiped his hand on his military uniform before taking it: "Didn't you put three bridges on the Yangtze River? It only takes a few minutes to cross the bridge."

"My wife, I haven't seen it these days. Japanese planes are bombing every day. The bridge was blown up twice and repaired twice. When the bridge is still there, I don't know." Zhuang Jihua sighed. After the floating bridge is built, the city retreats faster. The battle situation on the front line was unfavorable in the past two days. A large number of citizens flocked across the Yangtze River. The population in Nanjing quickly decreased.

Jieshi frowned at Zhuang Jihua. Zhuang Jihua had sorted out his military appearance before coming. However, his military uniform had not been changed for too long. He was a little sloppy.

"Yes. Yes. The principal teaches yes. Students | Pay attention to it." Zhuang Jihua casually said: "The principal stayed in Nanjing from time to time and there was nothing left. Can the student do it for him?"

"You can't do this for you. Ambassador Todman is coming to convey the Japanese reply. After seeing him, we will cross the river." Chiang Kai-shek said calmly.

"Why didn't their reply come?" Zhuang Jihua joked: "The Japanese and Germans are usually very efficient in their work. This time... Hehe. Principal.|The Japanese came this time because they wanted us to have a heavy bleeding. The conditions last time were probably gone."

Chiang Kai-shek had been speculating that the conditions of the Japanese had changed. Otherwise, Todmann would not have been slow to repay the Japanese attitude. Now Zhuang Jihua has made the problem clear. Chiang Kai-shek's face turned gloomy and kept silent. Soong Mei-ling distorted the words when he saw this.

"Cultural Revolution. Have all the citizens withdrawn?"

"I counted yesterday. There are about 50,000 people withdrawing. This includes more than 20,000 people from the front and rescue teams."

Nanjing finally retreated into an empty city. This is what Zhuang Jihua is most satisfied with. The hard battle for more than half a month has not been in vain. The lives of 300,000 compatriots have been saved. The massacre will not happen in Nanjing.

"Has the wounded retreated?" Chiang Kai-shek also asked.

"After the wounded were treated in the field hospital, they were immediately transferred across the river. It was just that there were too many wounded people. Thousands of wounded people were sent here every day."

"Yeah. Nanjing." Chiang Kai-shek sighed, stood up, and looked at the white roof of the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, his eyes were wet: "I'm sorry to the Prime Minister."

Zhuang Jihua quickly stood up: "Principal is not your fault. A country's strength is not a day's success. We can win this war."

Tang Zong pushed the door and came in: "Mr. Ambassador."

Chiang Kai-shek quickly wiped his eyes and nodded and asked him to come in. Todman was still calm and calm. After entering the door, he said hello to Chiang Kai-shek and Soong Mei-ling. Diplomacy did not fall into the slightest.

"The Japanese side has made a reply." Todman said this, a hint of embarrassment slipped across his face. He took out a document from the folder and handed it to Chiang Kai-shek.

Chiang Kai-shek took it and opened it. However, Japan raised the price in an all-round way. He asked the Nanjing government to recognize the expansion of the North China-African armed zone to the entire North China, eradicate anti-Japanese forces, expand Japan's rights and interests in China, compensate Japan's military expenses, etc.; the harsh conditions were simply more than twenty-one.

Anger flashed across Chiang Kai-shek's face. It was impossible for the government to pass by such conditions. He put down the document and thought for a while and said, "Mr. Ambassador. What I said last time was not like."

"I know. His Excellency the Chairman. The Japanese Cabinet believes that the victory they won on the battlefield and the conditions of peace should reflect this." Todman said: "I am ashamed. I don't say that such conditions are not only deceiving you, deceiving your government, but also deceiving the German government, deceiving the head of state. It is something that has never been seen in the history of world diplomacy. I must report this to Berlin. If you reject such conditions, I take it for granted."
Chapter completed!