On December 6, the Japanese army broke through numerous obstacles, and the forwards appeared in front of the first line of defense in Nanjing.

Chairman Chiang Kai-shek convened a meeting of senior generals that day. At the meeting, the Chairman made an impassioned speech and encouraged the defenders to defend the capital and protect Dr. Sun Yat-sen's mausoleum.

However, at 5:45 a.m. on December 7, before the Japanese aircraft were dispatched, the Chairman and his wife quietly left Nanjing on the Meiling, leaving the idiot general Tang Shengzhi with full power to defend Nanjing.

On December 7, the Japanese army broke through the positions outside Nanjing and advanced into the city walls.

That morning, seventy or eighty Japanese bombers flew over Nanjing like a flock of crows, and shells exploded in the city of Nanjing.

Nanjing, this thousand-year-old ancient capital, was bathed in blood in the flames of war. The buildings carrying the history of Chinese civilization for thousands of years were turned into piles of rubble in the gunfire.

Air-raid sirens sounded all day and night over Nanjing, and many people who had not had time to evacuate died in the Japs' artillery fire.

Also on the afternoon of the 7th, Japanese aircraft dropped a surrender letter from Matsui Iwane, the commander-in-chief of the East China Expeditionary Force. The letter required Tang Shengzhi and the Chinese defenders to leave the city and surrender before December 10.

The idiot general Tang Shengzhi and the hundreds of thousands of Chinese defenders ignored the Japanese surrender and still stood firm on their respective positions, inflicting heavy casualties on the attacking Japs.

Jiang Dong went to inspect the pier he asked Ding Beifeng to build in secret a few days ago, and named it Hope Pier himself.

As the name suggests, it was intended to give hope to the soldiers and people left behind in Nanjing, so that they would have room to retreat when war became impossible.

Jiangdong also went to Jiangbei to visit the 1,500 defeated soldiers. After Zhang Shengqing's ten days of treatment, the morale and spirit of the defeated soldiers improved a lot.

He immediately gave 10 yuan to each soldier and informed them in advance of the brutal battle they would face.

10 yuan is not a lot in this era, but it is still a lot.

The soldiers were basically from honest farmers, and ten yuan was worth their two or three years' harvest.

The brothers were well aware of the purpose of the officer's gift to Dayang, and a hard and fierce battle was waiting for them.

The vast majority of the brothers chose to send the 10 yuan back to their hometowns, because nine out of ten of them would not be able to survive after this battle. It was considered as a little income for the family before they died.

Jiangdong also promised his brothers that the families of the brothers who died in the war would receive pensions, and the injured brothers could also receive subsidies.

It's just that not many people believe Jiang Dong's words. After all, they have been following Jiang Dong for too short a time.

No one chose to be a deserter, and all of them had the idea of ​​​​losing their lives on the bank of the Yangtze River, hoping to kill more little Japs before they died.

Jiangdong also gave each of the 2,000 brothers from the Jiangdong regiment in Jiangnan and the 1,000 young people recruited by Ding Beifeng 10 yuan.

After all this, Jiangdong's Dayang hand was basically all spent.

In the early morning of December 7, before the Chairman and his wife left Nanjing, Jiangdong received a call from Wang Shihe.

On the phone, Wang Shihe conveyed the chairman's order, asking Jiang Dong to lead the team across the Yangtze River and return to the control of the commander of the Third War Zone.

Jiangdong thanked Wang Shihe and expressed that he would comply with the order and evacuate Nanjing.

After the Chairman left, Koto abandoned his order and left for Java Island.

On the afternoon of the 7th, Jiangdong summoned all the chief officers to discuss the matter at the military academy. He will make comprehensive arrangements for the next battle.

"Brothers, do you believe me or not?"

Jiang Dong's questions left several chief officers confused.

"You all know that I have been secretly preparing for a war recently, but you don't know the purpose of doing so."

Several people below nodded together, and the leader was arrogant and trying to grab weapons. Everyone could see that there was going to be a big war.

"Do you believe that the Japs will massacre the city after they capture Nanjing?"

As soon as this statement came out, several chief officials looked surprised.

Along the way from Shanghai to Nanjing, they saw the inhumane side of the little devil, but they still didn't believe that the little devil dared to massacre the city.

"I believe that the little devils will definitely massacre the city because they come from a nation with no humanity. Therefore, the purpose of our operation is to cover and help hundreds of thousands of compatriots in Nanjing retreat after the city is broken. What we will discuss is a

A battle to save 100,000 compatriots. Brothers, I ask again, do you believe me?"

"Xin, I, Lao Wang, swear to the death to follow the regiment leader. Without the regiment leader, we would have died on the Songhu battlefield."

Wang Laohu was the first to express his position in a loud voice.

"I also believe in the leader. The leader will not lead everyone to die for no reason." Zhang Shengqing said.

"I also believe in the regiment leader. If you follow the regiment leader, you can kill the little devils and kill the enemy!" This was Zhu Ergou.

With someone taking the lead, He Dingyuan, Feng Jinzhang, Liu Dagui and others also expressed their stance.

"Okay, when everyone is retreating in a hurry, let us go against the crowd. Please believe me, history will remember everything we are about to do, and the people will remember it. You will all be heroes of the Chinese nation!

He will be a living Bodhisattva that people praise from mouth to mouth!"

Jiang Dong's words aroused the enthusiasm of the chief officials, which was what he wanted to achieve.

Only when the commander first strengthens his belief can he lead his brothers to unswervingly accomplish the combat goal.

"Next, I will make specific arrangements for this battle. Everyone must execute the order meticulously and achieve the set campaign goals. I will never let you slip in!"

"yes!"

A majestic and majestic male voice sounded inside the room.

Jiang Dong walked to the battle map that had been prepared and called everyone over.

"You see, the city of Nanjing is surrounded by mountains on three sides and faces water on one side. It was originally a place where tigers and dragons roost. But now that all the cities in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River have been lost, and the Japs are attacking from three sides, the entire city of Nanjing will have only one way out.

.”

Everyone listened attentively to Jiang Dong's explanation.

"Here!" Jiang Dong pointed at the map with a pencil, "Xiaguan Pier. The only way for the residents of the city to escape and the defenders to retreat is to cross the Yangtze River from Xiaguan. There are heavy Japanese troops on the other three sides."

"What does the regiment commander mean for us to hold Xiaguan and ensure the retreat of the army and the people?" Zhang Shengqing asked, looking at the map.

Jiang Dong shook his head, "Our goal is not to defend Xiaguan. Xiaguan is the retreat direction of the senior generals of the national army. If we go there to make arrangements in advance, we will cause unnecessary conflicts with the defenders."

Jiang Dong smiled and said, "It is impossible for Tang Shengzhi to care about the life and death of the defenders. Once the war becomes impossible, he will definitely be the first to escape. So I avoided Xiaguan, a place where both the little devils and the national army were watching.

A new pier was built two kilometers upstream, and I named it Hope Pier."

“Hope Pier!”

Everyone murmured these words and understood what the group leader meant.

"I hid 10 ships for crossing the river around the pier. The 10 ships can transport about 5,000 people at a time. I also rented 5 ships from foreign businessmen. Together, they can transport 7,000 to 8,000 people at a time.

Of course, the weapons and ammunition previously stolen from the Germans are still hidden on the ship."

Seven or eight thousand people can be transported away at one time. How many times does the regiment commander plan to transport them? Are there really hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians who want to retreat? The chief officers are still a little confused.

"After our meeting is over, weapons and ammunition will be delivered to your respective positions."

Thinking of the batches of brand-new guns, several people looked at each other and smiled.

What you fear most in a war is not that the Japs have too many men and guns, but that you don't have the weapons you need.

"Don't be happy first, come and look at the map." Jiangdong pulled everyone back, "Our operation this time is to ensure the absolute safety of the area from Yijiangmen to Hope Pier. This will be a life passage. While saving lives,

We also need our brothers to protect them with their lives."

"Yes, please give me the order, Captain!" Everyone stood up straight, with no fear in their eyes.

"Okay!" Jiang Dong slapped his hand heavily on the map.

"Zhang Shengqing!"

"exist!"

"You are the most familiar with the 1,500 brothers in Jiangbei, so the defense of Jiangbei this time will be entirely entrusted to you."

"Please rest assured, battalion commander, as long as I am still alive, I will never let a little devil cross my position."

"Very good, come and see." Jiang Dong explained carefully to Zhang Shengqing, "I'll tell you clearly. Jiangbei's main defense is the little Japanese Guoqi detachment coming from the west. There are about six to eight thousand people. I estimate that they

We should arrive in front of Pukou on the afternoon of the 14th. Your task is to build a position to the west of Hope Pier. Once the Japs arrive, they must not be allowed to threaten the ferry."

No one doubted the leader's information, and no one asked about the source.

Zhang Shengqing looked at the map carefully. After a long time, he raised his head and asked:

"How long does the leader need us to hold on?"

Jiang Dong looked at Zhang Shengqing. The brother who had always been by his side now had a look of resignation in his eyes. Jiang Dong knew that he would rather die than lose his position.

"You probably need to defend until the afternoon of the 14th, but we are not sure yet. As long as there is a Chinese in the south who has not retreated, your position cannot be lost." Jiang Dong stared at Zhang Shengqing, "Can it be done?"

Zhang Shengqing gritted his teeth and said fiercely: "We are here, we are here!"

"good!"

The first task was so difficult that the other chief officers were nervously waiting for Jiangdong's order.

"He Dingyuan!"

"The humble position is here!"

Jiang Dong looked at him. The second battalion commander was slightly older than him. "Take the brothers from your battalion and guard the east side of the distance from Yijiang Gate to Hope Wharf. Stop the little Japs along the river.

Is it possible to prevent them from threatening the life passage!"

"Promise to complete the mission and never give up!" He Dingyuan did not hesitate.
To be continued...