After the two armies merged, they didn't have to wait too long before the military order from the Army Group Headquarters came down.
"The 145th Division and the independent battalion directly under the 43rd Army made outstanding achievements in the Battle of Guangde, but the entire army was also seriously damaged. Two of its divisions were withdrawn to Jiangbei via Wuhu to rest and recuperate."
The two generals and Tang Dao both breathed a sigh of relief, but they couldn't conceal their heaviness.
At this time, the remnants of the Kuniqi detachment in the Guangde Mountains also met up with the belatedly arrived 36th Infantry Brigade. Thousands of Japanese infantry gave full play to the spirit of not being afraid of hardships and difficulties, and used their bare hands to clear the simple obstacles blocked by thousands of tons of boulders.
The road is dredged.
At this time, the Japanese army was already a semi-mechanized force. It not only had carriages and pack horses, but also cars and tanks. Unlike the 145th Division, the independent battalion was a completely lightly-armed infantry force that could move along a trail, and its maximum caliber artillery was only 41.
The mountain cannon can be broken into seven or eight pieces and carried on pack horses for marching.
Even if thousands of people worked together and used an unknown amount of explosives for blasting, it still took two or three days to completely open up the dozens of meters long 'intestinal obstruction'. Until then, on the other side of the road,
The leader of the Japanese army, Colonel, was completely relieved.
Those days when he was separated from the main force by several mountains were really worrying for him, a commander who only had more than a thousand infantry and the rest were heavy troops, artillery and other auxiliary units.
In the past, more than 2,000 troops were enough to make him feel like he was just a crab. He could walk sideways on the land of China. However, the bad news about Takeuchi Unzanbu made the Japanese Army Colonel understand a truth.
It's not that China doesn't have an army capable of fighting, it's just that they didn't encounter it before, and they do now.
Although the 36th Infantry Brigade and the Kunisaki Detachment, two unlucky children who had suffered defeat at the hands of Tang Dao in succession, did not want to get into trouble again, there was an equally unlucky Sadao Ushijima behind them.
The attack on Jinling City has entered a fierce stage. The Central China Expeditionary Army and the Tenth Army are encircling it from three sides. Only Ushijima Sadao, the commander of the West Route Army, can lead the army to conquer Wuhu and completely block Jinling's last retreat.
Photographed under military orders, the two Japanese troops who had regained their strength began to move towards Wuhu along the simple road.
However, this time there is no longer the arrogant look before...
In comparison, the Kunisaki detachment was obviously in a worse situation, so the 36th Infantry Brigade, which was not so miserable in comparison, gained some confidence and became the vanguard.
This may be the legendary comparison of misfortune and happiness!
All this was under the observation of Gu Xishui's special operations team.
Yes, the entire Independent Battalion has evacuated the mountainous area in southern Anhui, but Tang Dao must leave a pair of eyes in the mountainous area. This important task can only be left to Gu Xishui and his special operations team.
Since they are the sharpest knives in the independent battalion, wear much higher military ranks than ordinary troops, receive higher military pay and better food treatment than ordinary troops, then they have to shoulder more responsibilities and eat more.
Great suffering.
Moreover, this is both a combat mission and actual combat training. According to Tang Dao's requirements for special forces, they are far from meeting them.
Special forces do not just have to have better marksmanship and better fighting skills than ordinary soldiers. They must have a stronger will and more terrifying endurance.
They can be the most ferocious tigers and leopards in the jungle, or the most vicious snakes in the swamp. They need to make the impossible possible.
Gu Xishui, Niu Er and others bravely accepted this combat mission, separated from the main force, stayed alone in the mountains to observe the Japanese army, and constantly sent Tang Dao intelligence on the movements of the main force of the Japanese army.
They could not move to Jiangbei until the Japanese army left the mountainous area. Tang Dao had already marked their location on the map.
Now that they have received the retreat order from the Army Headquarters, the 145th Division and the Independent Battalion will certainly not wait foolishly for the Japanese army with more than 10,000 troops to rush over. They will march in a hurry in the evening before the Japanese army comes out of the mountain.
We arrived in Wuhu in the early morning of the next day.
There was already a colonel staff officer waiting for them at the Jinling City Defense Headquarters, who accepted the Japanese officer rank badges and command knives of different styles handed over by Commander Rao as the representative of the two armies.
The army colonel who represented the Jinling City Defense Command, the talented and ambitious Tang officer, encouraged Rao very officially. After the two of them talked, they took a deep look at Tang Dao and said, "Brother Tang, can you lend me a moment to speak?"
"You two talk first, I still have military affairs to attend to, so go ahead!" Commander Rao glanced at the colonel staff officer who had a junior military rank than his own, but was here on behalf of the commander surnamed Tang, and said goodbye calmly.
"Commander Rao, go slowly! Regarding the reward for the 145th Division, there will be a response from the City Defense Headquarters and the Military and Political Department soon." The colonel staff officer was not arrogant, but also very polite.
That is, they only mentioned the rewards of the 145th Division, but left out the rhetoric of the independent battalion. The general who was about to take action paused slightly, but soon his face remained normal, he nodded lightly, turned around and left quickly.
This should be what the anxious city defense commander had in mind about Tang Dao and the Independent Battalion, but he was not worried at all.
He has been fighting side by side with Tang Dao for nearly ten days, and he has a certain understanding of Tang Dao.
Tang Dao is far older than him. Anyone who underestimates him will pay the price. This colonel staff officer who obviously came with a secret mission will probably get nothing from Tang Dao.
"Battle Commander Tang, this time your unit made a shocking contribution in the battle of Guangde. Commander Tang appreciates you very much. After receiving the victory report from your group army headquarters, he mentioned you several times in military meetings.
His name is so favored by the commander, and it is just around the corner that he will become the commander of the Tang camp.
Battalion Commander Tang is so young and promising, which really makes Qu envious and ashamed! At the age of Battalion Commander Tang, Qu is still in the military academy to experience the teachings of his division commander!" The colonel staff officer saw that there were only two people left in the room.
, the previous seriousness on his face has been removed, and he opens a smile to compliment Tang Dao.
"Colonel Qu is serious. This battle in Guangde was only possible because the commanders of the headquarters commanded it well and the brothers under them were willing to die for the country. Tang Dao really does not dare to take credit for this." Tang Dao.
But it was an answer that was neither humble nor arrogant.
After some compliments, Tang Dao didn't respond softly or hard, and a hint of imperceptible anger flashed in the colonel's eyes.
Gu Yan
Even though Tang Dao and he were only in the rank of colonel, Tang Dao was just a battalion commander. If he didn't have extraordinary achievements, he might not be able to advance to the rank of colonel for the rest of his life. However, he was the person next to the commander and could be killed at any time.
Promoted to one level and transferred to the frontline troops to serve as the commander of a division and a brigade.
One has to fight life and death to advance, and there is no telling when he will be glorious, while the other only needs to serve his superiors well, which is relaxed and comfortable.
To put it bluntly, two officers of the same rank were not on the same starting line, so they naturally had a certain psychological advantage over Tang Dao. Even his proactive compliments had a condescending tone.
Unexpectedly, Tang Dao didn't follow his tactics at all.
However, the city still had something to represent the general commander. The expression on his face was still warm, and he said warmly: "Commander Tang fought bravely, but he was still so humble and prudent. He is really a model of our generation of soldiers."
That! To be fair, Commander Tang said, according to Commander Tang’s opinion, the Ministry of Military Affairs intends to expand your independent battalion. The 88th Division Headquarters even hopes to re-integrate the independent battalion formed based on the Sixing Battalion into the establishment. Tang Camp
Chang, congratulations!"
"Hey, Tang Dao will naturally bear in mind the superiors' love for my independent battalion, but this time Tang Dao may disappoint the superiors." Tang Dao sighed quietly.
"how?"
"Everyone in the world has seen the victory of our independent battalion in the fierce battle with the Japanese invaders, but they don't know that since ancient times, there has been a saying of 'injuring the enemy by one thousand and injuring yourself by eight hundred'. Sacrifices may not bring victory, but victory must involve sacrifices. In this battle, we will
Not only did the independent battalion use up all the stored ammunition, but the battle losses of its soldiers reached more than 60%. Many infantry platoons could not even form a complete infantry squad. If they return to the 88th Division, the commanders of the 88th Division may have to think first.
We can only achieve that by replenishing all the troops for our unit!" Tang Dao looked sad.
"This" the colonel staff officer was speechless for a moment.
When he came this time, in addition to accepting the seizures that proved his military exploits, another important task was to find out about Tang Dao. If he was willing, Tang Dao and the Independent Battalion would return to the direct line with a military order issued by the Ministry of Military Affairs.
This is also one of the reasons why the rewards for the independent camp have not been issued for a long time.
Originally, he thought this matter was not difficult at all. After all, this seemed to be a dispute between the 88th Division and the 43rd Army, but who was behind the 88th Division? Anyone who is smart would know whose lap to embrace.
Unexpectedly, Tang Dao's hob meat actually meant that it was not oily and salty. Of course, his smart little mind could understand the subtext of Tang Dao's words.
That means it's no problem to return to the 88th Division! But the ammunition and personnel I lack must be fully replenished first. I don't accept being spoiled for choice.
There is no problem with the ammunition. In order to defend the important city of Jinling, the ammunition stored in the city is enough to last an army of hundreds of thousands for three months.
But when it comes to soldiers, there are really no people. All the ministries outside the city are constantly fighting the Japanese army, and their personnel are constantly being consumed. Didn't the chief officers of each ministry call the headquarters that day to ask for replenishment of troops?
Where can the 88th Division go to replenish troops for him? Not to mention that he can't make the decision, even the commander is helpless. There is no shortage of people. How can he, a colonel and a senior counselor, just put his hot face on his cold butt?
"The officers will consider the matter of replenishing personnel. Brother Tang, open the skylight and speak out! Commander Tang appreciates you very much. He hopes that you will lead your troops into the city to defend the city. He also asked me to bring you a message. After this battle, General
There must be a place for you on the list, Brother Tang." Seeing that Tang Dao didn't take soft words at all, the colonel staff officer simply didn't bother to beat around the bush anymore and went straight to the point and told him about his other mission.
The Tang commander at the Jinling City Defense Headquarters is now short of troops and elite soldiers.
"We still have one company of soldiers available. If Commander Tang thinks it is feasible, he will replenish two companies of soldiers and all military supplies for our department, as well as provide all the pensions for the disabled soldiers of our battalion. I will definitely lead the remaining soldiers of my battalion to go to the national disaster.
, the whole army will live and die with Jinling City." Faced with the straightforwardness, Tang Dao was equally straightforward.
"You", the colonel's staff officer, was furious.
I'm sorry, for your infantry company, the headquarters has to build two more companies, and it also has to provide all the military supplies and immediately cash in the massive pensions of your thousands of officers and soldiers. Are you a fool to become a general and commander?
"Colonel Qu, as soon as people and supplies arrive, I, Tang Dao, will immediately lead my troops into the city without any delay." Tang Dao looked squarely at the colonel's staff officer and spoke forcefully.
"Commander Tang, what you asked for, I will do my duty to report to the headquarters. The military situation is urgent, so Qu will leave first!" The colonel's staff officer's face gradually turned cold, and he left with a word.
At this moment, the Jinling City Defense Headquarters, which has gradually entered a panic, actually needs all the troops that can be filled into the bottomless pit of the rotting battlefield, not a troop that still needs to pay a price.
To put it bluntly, the so-called solicitation is just a pie-like temptation. Not only Tang Dao understands this, Tang Dao believes that the general commander himself also knows this.
Perhaps only this colonel and staff officer who still harbors illusions still thinks that Tang Dao is ignorant of good and evil.
However, Tang Dao, who had enough reason to refuse due to the previous battle losses, did not feel the slightest bit happy about his advance plan.
Looking solemnly towards the calm distance, he couldn't see anything, but Tang Dao knew that the Japanese defense line was still approaching, and it wouldn't be long before they came to the city. And where he was standing now,
It will also be captured by the Japanese invaders.
By then, Jinling will be completely reduced to an isolated island, and the talented and ambitious Tang commander will eventually drag the entire city's soldiers and civilians to hell.
That was the darkest moment for the Chinese nation.
Life, separation and death are painful, but what is more painful than that is knowing the outcome but being unable to make any changes.
After all, Tang Dao is only a human being, not a god.
Even if he brings with him the accumulation of knowledge for the next hundred years.
Staring at the invisible city in the distance, Tang Dao's heart felt like it was being cut back and forth by an invisible knife.
