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spnOutside the city of Peiping, the originally vast farmland has now turned into a line of fire that stretches for more than ten miles.

Because of his meritorious service on the front line, Chen Cheng has been promoted to deputy commander-in-chief of the Kuomintang army and frontline commander in the Tianjin-Beijing Campaign. Although it seems to be a deputy war zone position, there are only two top commanders in the Tianjin-Beijing Campaign. The Southwest Joint Administration "Government"

The supreme leader Zhang Shusheng and the leader of the Nanjing National Government Chiang Kai-shek. In this way, Chen

Cheng's military position on the front line was actually the number one figure in the Kuomintang. Some people in the Kuomintang party originally thought that Chen Cheng was not qualified enough. Chairman Chiang only served as the commander-in-chief of the Kuomintang army in honor, but in fact he handed over the command to Chen Cheng.

, for such an important position, many people believe that more senior party and state officials should be assigned to take it on.

Some people proposed that He Yingqin should be appointed as the commander-in-chief of the Kuomintang side in the Tianjin-Beijing Campaign, but this proposal was firmly rejected by He Yingqin himself. He said that "the party is busy with affairs and should not be distracted by other things. It has not participated in actual military operations for many years. What is important is that

Battles should be carried out by experienced officers.

First of all, although they did not express support for Chen Cheng to take up such an important position, they did not take the blame themselves. Some people also proposed that Tang Enbo, who was stationed in the Central Plains, take up the post, but he was also questioned on his qualifications. Opponents believed that Chen Cheng had rich combat experience.

, has rich experience in fighting the Japanese army.

In the end, Chairman Chiang once again stated that military orders could not be changed, and Chen Cheng truly secured his position as the commander of the Kuomintang side in the Tianjin-Beijing Campaign.

Southwest also took advantage of the situation and announced that Chen Jun was promoted to deputy commander-in-chief of the Southwest Front Force in the Beijing-Tianjin Campaign. Together with Jiang Baili, who was in charge of the 19th Route Army's combat plan in the north, they were jointly responsible for the operational command of the Southwest Force of the four divisions.[

The Peiping defense line built with the participation of more than 100,000 civilians has completely blocked the only way for the Japanese army to enter the city of Peiping. The war of resistance has entered this stage. From the perspective of the significance of the battle, obtaining a direct victory in the battle is almost as important as defending the city of Peiping.

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Some urban areas in Peiping facing the direction of the Japanese attack have been mobilized for war. People are going to the countryside with their families, and some are going to the rear areas. At the same time, some of the remaining extremely important cultural relics have also begun to be evacuated. According to the agreement between the Southwest Army and the Kuomintang

battle plan, as

In the preparatory plan for the entire battle, the streets and alleys of Peiping City will be the last barrier to resist the Japanese attack. Now, no one dares to abandon Peiping City and escape, and move the entire population of Peiping. It is unrealistic in the short term.

, street fighting will be the last resort.

Well, since there is no way to evacuate civilians in a short period of time, losing Peiping will mean a terrible disaster. The Japanese army showed their bestiality in the battle of Tianjin and Beijing. It is difficult to imagine what kind of beastly behavior they will do in Beiping City.

Peiping is different from Tianjin. Tianjin lacks defenders and was captured by the garrison after a battle. Even the Nanjing "government" does not need to bear too much responsibility, because the best excuse is the main force near Tianjin.

Today, one of the most elite military armies in China has gathered under the city of Peiping. If the city of Peiping is lost again, no one will be able to shoulder this huge responsibility, and they will be nailed to the pillar of national shame almost instantly.

The entire position outside the city is also divided into frontal position, left-wing position and right-wing position.

After being excavated by hundreds of thousands of migrant workers for more than ten days, and then reinforced and developed by the main force, the entire position has taken on the flavor of a large battlefield. The Kuomintang army, which originally did not pay attention to the construction of fortifications, saw the left-wing position of the Langfang battlefield.

, after passing through the results achieved by the Southwest Army's fortified position built by digging and fighting for half a month, they also learned from the Southwest Army under Chen Cheng's personal order.

The two militaries worked together, and for the common resistance, Chen Jun sent many experts in fortification construction to provide in-depth reinforcement guidance for the left and right wing positions responsible for the Kuomintang.

The entire battle force has received this education: if you want to fight the Japanese alive, you must first dig and consolidate the trenches you hide in.

Because the second-class division has the weakest combat effectiveness, Song Zheyuan and Han Fuqu's troops were placed in the right-wing position where the terrain is conducive to defense and difficult to attack. The four reorganized divisions of the Kuomintang are responsible for the overall left-wing position, which has the longest defense line and is more difficult to defend.

The frontal position was garrisoned by two divisions of the Southwest Army and two divisions of the Kuomintang.

Except for the troops on the battlefield, the rest are reserve forces, or fire brigade. Although the Chinese army has 190,000 troops, there are also many Japanese troops, with five divisions and 110,000 troops. Although there are many support

"Combat troops, but with the level of training of the Japanese soldiers when they pick up a gun, the extra 80,000 people in the Chinese Army cannot take any advantage of the Japanese army.

However, because of the presence of the four Southwest Army divisions, the Japanese army's advantage gradually weakened as the equipment was supplied step by step. After the equipment and baggage of the Southwest Army were basically in place, the equipment supply level reached a certain level, and the Daxing Airport continued to expand.

support, the Japanese army's advantage will be completely lost.

Right-wing position, the joint left-wing command of Song Zheyuan and Han Fuqu.

"The combat effectiveness of the Japanese army is really amazing."

Han Fuqu looked at the casualty report he had just counted in his hand and couldn't help but take a breath. Last night's sneak attack by the Japanese army not only broke through the positions defended by his two divisions and Song Zheyuan, but also almost allowed the main force of the Japanese army to bypass here. Ten thousand Japanese troops

As soon as Yehei "touches" through the right-wing position, the frontal position facing the Japanese army will definitely suffer greater losses.

After fighting for most of the night, the defensive forces suffered heavy losses. Faced with a night attack by a Japanese brigade, hundreds of people were killed or injured. You must know that this was a night battle, and the Japanese army only had one brigade.

"The Japs really like to prey on the soft. Old Han, you see, as soon as the troops from the southwest came up, the Japanese army suffered a big loss. A brigade of Japs was almost wiped out, and more than 400 were killed alone.

people and captured more than two hundred people.”

Song Zheyuan also found it unbelievable. The truth about last night's battle was revealed after dawn. The Japanese army took advantage of the 45th Division's paralysis on the battlefield and launched a night attack. It was a "chaotic" mess, and the 45th Division also

I don't know how many Japanese soldiers came up, and the command was thrown into chaos, causing heavy losses.

However, as soon as the support troops of the Southwest Army arrived, almost everyone in the elite company rushing in front had a submachine gun. The Japanese army had never seen such fierce firepower. A large group of soldiers did not escape much during the night battle. There was no way to stop the Southwest Army in front.

submachine guns, the retreat was cut off by another battalion, and a whole brigade was almost surrendered here.[

The Southwest Army's elite company's submachine guns and lighting that could be fired from mortars left a deep impression on the two commanders.

"Alas, we are all behind the times. After so many years of fighting, we thought we had never seen any formations, but these eyes are really as if we are blind."

What Han Fuqu didn't say was that when he went to the front line to check the results of the battle at night, he actually saw an officer of the Southwest Army using something that looked like a telescope. It was really strange that it was so late at night, but obviously that person

The officer cannot be insane.

"Let's not talk about this for now. Shall we apply for supplies from the Chairman himself? The battle has been going on so far, once, twice and three times. Every time the supplies are not our turn, we are lucky enough to get some ideas, except for the last time.

On March 8th, we got some Hanyang-made products that they eliminated. They were also anti-Japanese. This is simply murdering soldiers."

Song Zheyuan was a little angry. This was not Chen Cheng's headquarters. Of course he would vent his anger directly. The Nanjing "government" was in trouble, he knew this, but in the current anti-Japanese situation, the second-class division should not even have enough guns.

Just go to war.

Han Fuqu: "We are asked to wait every time, and we wait and wait, and either there is nothing or a little charity. We cannot be asked to wait every day for other troops to win and give away the captured weapons and medicine.

Come here. The Chairman keeps saying we will fight Japan together, but at this time he treats us differently. If this continues, it will only chill the hearts of the soldiers."

Song Zheyuan was silent. He also saw the seriousness of the problem. Not to mention guns and medicine, this contradiction was particularly acute when it came to the issue of military meals.

The three major front troops stationed outside Peiping City, the Central Division and the Reorganized Division of the Kuomintang have the best food. The supplies from the Nanjing National Government plus the poultry and livestock requisitioned by the troops from the local area, several divisions eat better than anyone else.

The troops in the southwest are second. In order to save transportation capacity, their military rations are mainly purchased from the public in Shanxi and Zhengding, Hebei. The price is slightly higher than the market price, so it is naturally easy to buy.

The worst second-class division has the worst supplies every time. Three meals a day almost turn into gruel and steamed buns.

"This battle has been going on for almost ten days. I could barely eat enough at the beginning, but now I can hardly eat enough. If this continues, without guns or food, I don't think the troops will collapse under the Japanese bayonets, but they will.

I collapsed."

This is what Song Zheyuan and Han Fuqu are most worried about. Once there is a shortage of guns, medicine, and food, the troops will not only go to Peking City to rob, but deserters will appear.

The Nanjing National Government was not originally in such a state of embarrassment, but the hastily decided battle turned supply transportation into chaos, and the logistical supplies of more than a dozen divisions put tremendous pressure on Nanjing.

It will take some time for supplies to normalize.

"Report the phone number of General Chen, commander of the 18th Route Army."

At this time, a signal soldier outside stood up and shouted.

The two looked at each other, and Song Zheyuan walked over and took the phone, "Commander Chen, this is Song Zheyuan."

Twenty minutes later, Song Zheyuan and Han Fuqu arrived at the 18th Route Army headquarters of the Southwest Army near the city gate of Beiping City.

"Commander Song and Commander Han, please take a seat. Someone is here to serve tea to the two commanders."

Chen Jun ordered neatly, and from time to time the orderlies brought two books of Southwest tea, "The Japanese army's night attack last night was a little sudden. The two commanders were frightened. Chen Mou offered tea instead of wine to toast you two."

"

This is not Chen Jun's hypocritical words. As a second-class division, Song Zheyuan and Han Fuqu can move forward slowly. They can even retreat when the battle is unfavorable and leave the problem to the main forces in the southwest and Taiwan. But

They were useless. Although their troops were poorly trained and poorly supplied with equipment, their fighting spirit was not bad. Before the Japanese night attack, they firmly held their position.

"Commander Chen was joking. Compared with your army, we are a bit embarrassed. Alas, if it hadn't been for your army's ending last night, Brother Han and I would have been extremely embarrassed."

Song Zheyuan also knew that with the strong combat effectiveness shown by the Southwest Army last night, his and Han Fuqu's troops were just a bunch of numbers in front of others.

"You can't say that, Commander Song. To be honest, although your army's combat effectiveness is not outstanding, its fighting will is not bad, and it can even be called excellent. In the battle last night, many soldiers held grenades and night

The attacking Japanese troops were all wiped out, not to mention the previous defensive operations. Your army’s performance was also remarkable.”[

Chen Jun shook his head. Merits and faults are not determined by victory or defeat. As a second-class division, it is already a great achievement for them to have such a will to fight.

"Alas..." Han Fuqu originally wanted to say something, but when he saw Song Zheyuan wink at him, he stopped.

When Chen Jun saw the two of them acting like this, he didn't understand. Han Fuqu had something to say and wanted to complain to him, but was stopped by Song Zheyuan. After all, in Song Zheyuan's view, he and they were never in the same camp, even if he had been in the same camp before.

The captured Japanese guns and throwing barrels were given to them.

In China, there is always something that exists, and that is the division of camps. This is true even on the national battlefield of the Anti-Japanese War.

"The two of you are here this time because there is a gift from the top leader of Southwest China, Zhang Shusheng, to your army." Seeing that the two of them were complaining, Chen Jun did not say much. There were some things that he could not change, but this was not the case.

Influencing him to do things can also influence the teacher's decision.

Immediately, Chen Jun waved his hand, and the combat staff standing far away came over, saluted and handed him a document.

"Take a look, you two."

Song Zheyuan took the document with some confusion, only to find that it was a letter.

"Commander Song and Commander Han personally observed:

At this time when the country is in crisis and the whole people are resisting Japan, I am cautious about traveling far to the southwest, and I still feel uneasy when I go to the front line in person.

I heard that the two generals commanded an army of tens of thousands of tigers and fought fiercely at the gates of Peking City. Even though Shenxing was far away in the southwest, I was filled with emotion. I thought about our country, which has spanned five thousand years. Throughout the ages, there have been so many heroes, who have often protected our families.
To be continued...