In Peiping City, as the Japanese army continued to provoke, the citizens in the city became very nervous. Everyone was worried about whether the Japanese army would launch a war, and they were also worried about whether the 29th Route Army could defeat the Japanese army. Of course, there were
Many patriots continued to donate money and materials to the 29th Route Army to fight against the Japanese invaders.
Therefore, there are still many anti-Japanese demonstrations in the city, including those of patriotic students, which also appear frequently. But no one knows that even though they work so hard, the shadow of war is still getting closer and closer to them.
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More than 500 stone lions are lined up on the Marco Polo Bridge, like soldiers in armor preparing for battle.
But even so, it still could not prevent the outbreak of the war on the evening of July 7, 1937, when the Japanese army requested to enter Wanping City for search near Marco Polo Bridge on the pretext of the "missing" of a soldier during a "military exercise".
After the Natural Army was sternly rejected by Ji Xingwen, commander of the 219th Regiment of the 37th Division of the 29th Route Army, a large number of Japanese troops quickly surrounded Wanping County.
Seeing this, all the officers and soldiers of the 219th Regiment of the 37th Division also became excited.
"Captain! These damn Japanese troops have surrounded our city. What should we do now? Should we go out immediately and drive away all these stupid invaders?"
"They are really bullying others. Do you think our 29th Route Army is also so easy to bully?"
"That's right! Kill the Japs! Kill the Japs! Let these stupid Japs know that our 29th Route Army is not something they can bully just because they want to!"
"I am willing to be the first to lead the troops out. Please ask the commander to issue combat orders!"
When the Japanese troops completely surrounded Marco Polo Bridge and Wanping County,
Many officers and soldiers gathered around their regiment leader Ji Xingwen and clamored to go out to fight to kill the Japanese.
"Don't make any noise. Everyone, please return to your respective combat posts immediately. Please guard your combat posts for me. I will report this matter to the superiors immediately!"
"It's easy to wait for their instructions to fight the Japanese. The problem is that if a large-scale war is triggered because of our first action, who will be responsible?"
"This is not something that a small regiment leader like me can bear the terrible consequences of war!"
"I'm not afraid of death, but there are still many innocent residents here who need us to take care of their lives and property!"
Although the regiment leader Ji Xingwen was also very angry at the siege and provocation of these damn Japanese troops, he was calm and gave combat instructions to his subordinates that he felt were wiser.
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All officers and soldiers of the 219th Regiment of the 37th Division,
For a moment, they also stopped noisy and asked the group leader Ji Xingwen to report to the higher-ups immediately and wait for new combat instructions.
And they immediately returned to their respective combat posts, waiting for the arrival of new combat orders.
For a time, both inside and outside the city were filled with an atmosphere of war.
The war seemed to be about to break out at any moment.
On this day, the weather was also unusually gloomy.
The actions of the Japanese army not only shocked the top brass of the 29th Route Army, but also shocked all classes of citizens in the city of Peiping.
Major newspapers also rushed to conduct interviews and report on this news that was completely unexpected by everyone, and suddenly the atmosphere in the entire city of Beiping became gloomy.
Many people are worried whether the war will suddenly break out today or tomorrow.
As a result, the entire city of Beiping fell into an uproar.
Some people are worried, frightened, scared, and even want to flee here immediately.
However, there are also many patriots who are filled with righteous indignation and wish they could immediately assist the 29th Route Army to deal with these invading Japanese troops.
Of course, there were more and more anti-Japanese demonstrations. Many patriots were enthusiastic and donated various materials and money to support the 29th Route Army in Marco Polo Bridge and Wanping County in the war of resistance.
In order to prevent the sudden outbreak of war and escalate the situation with the Japanese army, Qin Dechun, the deputy commander of the 29th Army and the mayor of Peiping, immediately held an emergency meeting with Commander Song and other senior officials, and also immediately prepared to dispatch
personnel, and even personally negotiated with the Japanese army and agreed that both sides would send personnel to investigate the cause of the incident.
And this night,
It rained heavily and continued until dawn.
Many people had insomnia this night and were unable to live or sleep as calmly as usual.
Including all the citizens in Beiping City, many people are worried.
As for the telegram "Compatriots all over the country! Peking and Tianjin are in danger! North China is in danger! The nation is in danger! Only the whole nation's resistance war is our way out!" It also became the content of heated discussion and chat among the citizens the next day.
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At the same time, before Qin Dechun could personally meet with the senior Japanese garrison commander, Lieutenant General Anichiro Tashiro, the brigade commander of Lieutenant General Koyuki Kiyoshi, and Major General Shozo Kawabe,
Japanese troops also suddenly appeared at Marco Polo Bridge.
Shen Zhongming, the platoon leader of the tenth company of the reserve team of the 3rd Battalion of the 219th Regiment of the 37th Division of the 29th Army, who assisted in guarding the bridgehead, also bravely jumped out of the trench and stood in front of the bunker with his right hand extended to stop these menacing and ill-intentioned Japanese troops from entering them. 29