On the morning of Qingming Festival, the sky was filled with gloomy clouds, and a steady drizzle had been falling since dawn.
The newly built Martyrs Cemetery in Baguazhou on the side of the Yangtze River shrouded in rain is majestic and majestic, solemn and solemn. The park covers an area of more than 150 acres, facing the river from north to south, and lush reeds are preserved around the wide square.
, Thorn Forest, seven trees full of bullet holes and broken branches to the west of the square are still standing in the cold rain, recording the arduous and fierce battle of the Anyi Independent Division at that time.
In the center of the square is a granite base with a circumference of 24 meters and a height of 2.4 meters. The east and west sides of the base are densely engraved with the names of fallen soldiers.
At this moment, thirty-six armed military policemen of the Independent Division wearing white helmets stood around as solemnly as nails. A sword-shaped white marble monument on the base stood majestically, piercing the sky. Written by a famous calligrapher and current chairman of the Nanjing National Government.
The "Monument to the Heroes of the Northern Expedition" written by General Tan Yankai has seven powerful characters deeply engraved on the north and south sides of the monument. The characters painted with dazzling black lacquer appear solemn and thick.
Thirty-six meters north of the monument, in the center is a nine-meter-high double-eaves gatehouse. Two large square stone pillars are engraved with Mr. Sun Yat-sen's famous saying: The revolution has not yet succeeded, comrades still need to work hard. Directly above the gatehouse and the double eaves
Between them, the word "loyal soul" written by An Yi is engraved. On both sides of the gatehouse are two symmetrical rows of 30-meter long gray tile corridors. They are solid, simple, simple and solemn. More than 300 representatives from all walks of life in Nanjing are standing there to take shelter temporarily.
rain.
On both sides of the square with a flat and thick concrete floor, there are 12,000 active officers and soldiers of the Independent Division, 800 retired veterans who came specially from old Nanchang, and 2,000 engineers from the Central Jiangxi Security Command Engineering Corps who built cemeteries and monuments.
Eight square formations composed of officers and soldiers, and five hundred old brothers from the former Independent Division who were transferred to active service in the security forces, stood layer by layer around the square, tens of thousands of people from Nanjing City, Pukou and Liuhe.
At nine o'clock in the morning, a large ferry loaded with Commander-in-Chief Chiang Kai-shek and hundreds of his entourage and bodyguards slowly docked at the new pier directly in front of the cemetery. The melodious whistle immediately sounded for a full minute, and more than a dozen ships on the other side and on the river also sounded.
The whistle sounded at the same time, and the whimpering sound of the whistle echoed across both sides of the Yangtze River and spread in all directions. From this moment on, the memorial ceremony officially began.
An Yi, who was wearing a general's military uniform, led four major generals, Yin Jinan, Hu Jialin, Cheng Guang, and Huang Yingwu, to trot and came to Commander-in-Chief Chiang, Chairman Tan and other military and political officials who were already ashore and standing on the dock. They saluted neatly and reported loudly.
Commander-in-Chief Chiang and all the generals returned the salute at the same time. Under the leadership of An Yi's five men, they went around the field to review the new and old soldiers of the Independent Division who stood around.
"Stand at attention - salute!"
Every time he walked to the front of a phalanx, the fully armed commander in front of the array would shout loud and clear commands, and all the soldiers would salute in unison. Their movements were uniform and neat. At a glance, you could tell that this was an elite team with strict military discipline and well-trained training.
The more than two hundred generals who followed Commander-in-Chief Jiang all raised their hands and solemnly returned the salute, praising the quality of the officers and soldiers of the Independent Division and An Yi's ability to manage the army.
"Stand at attention - salute!"
These are my soldiers, and they are a strong guarantee for me to regain power! Commander-in-Chief was deeply inspired, and his mood became increasingly high. A smile from the heart appeared on his face, and his eyes were full of pride and pride.
When I came to the phalanx of 800 veterans wearing white old-style military uniforms and large caps, I looked at the faces with their heads upright and resolute expressions and the numerous scars on them, and at the empty sleeves and empty sleeves that could be seen from time to time.
Standing disabled with crutches
General Chiang Kai-shek was so moved that his eyes became moist and he could no longer take another step. Behind him, more than two hundred generals and dozens of reporters following the shooting couldn't help but let out a burst of admiration. They were all impressed by the strict military appearance and toughness of these 800 disabled veterans.
The spirit is in awe.
Commander-in-Chief Chiang walked step by step to the officer who was calling the command in front of the formation, gently pulled down his saluting hand and held it in his hand. He looked down at his right leg with a prosthetic limb and remained still for a long time.
After a while, Commander-in-Chief Jiang raised his head, looked into the officer's eyes, and asked with concern: "I remember you, you are Du Xiangzhi from the political section of the fourth phase of Huangpu. You are from Pingjiang, Hunan. I gave you a lecture at the beginning.
Why are you still carrying a pistol but not wearing your military rank? Haven't you retired to rest?"
Du Xiangzhi, who was only 24 years old, held back his tears and replied loudly: "Thank you for your concern, principal! Student Du Xiangzhi, graduated from Huangpu Phase 4 Political Science, in Nanchang on November 15, 16th year of the Republic of China, recommended by the principal
Entered the Anyi Independent Regiment of the Second Division of the First Army and made meritorious service three times in the Battle of Quzhou, the Battle of Luling, and the Battle of Kunshan. He was promoted from second lieutenant platoon leader of the second battalion and first company to lieutenant company deputy and instructor.
He was promoted to captain of the expanded independent division for his meritorious service in the Battle of Wuhe in June of the 17th year of the Republic of China. Later, in the Battle of Nianzhuang and Liuquan in July, he was promoted to major of the artillery battalion, battalion deputy and instructor.
On August 12, he followed the brothers of the Independent Division and fought back to Nanjing City. Unfortunately, his right leg was blown off just before evacuating Ploughhead, a few miles to the north. He returned to Old Nanchang to recover from his injuries and was discharged from the army.
The student currently works in the Logistics Department of Nanchang Arsenal as the Logistics Section Chief and Factory Supervisor, so he is qualified to carry a gun. After the report is completed, please give instructions to the principal!"
"Okay, very good! This principal has no instructions, only pride and pride. I am deeply proud and proud of having a student like you..." Commander-in-Chief Jiang stuttered with excitement.
"Thank you to the principal for your cultivation! Thank you to the teachers and students of Huangpu for their teaching! Thank you to the model camp and the independent division for giving students the opportunity to practice and gain the lifelong glory of devoting themselves to the country and the people!"
The emaciated Du Xiangzhi raised his stubborn head high and tried not to let his tears flow down.
The surrounding generals were filled with sighs upon seeing this, and together with Commander-in-Chief Chiang Kai-shek, they once again raised their hands to solemnly salute the 800 disabled veterans, and they were unwilling to put them down for a long time.
An Yi had no choice but to shout out the command to stand at attention, and then led Commander-in-Chief Chiang and many generals to the front of the next formation.
It took a long time for Commander-in-Chief Chiang and his entourage to review each formation, and then came to the front of the monument and arranged them neatly with emotion.
General Wang Zemin, director of the Propaganda Department of the Ministry of Political Training, ascended to the second-floor high platform and announced the start of the memorial ceremony for the monument and the swearing-in ceremony of the Northern Expedition of the Anyi Independent Division. General Zhang Tao, another director of the Propaganda Department, delivered a memorial message to the martyrs on behalf of the Central Military Commission, followed by three
During a minute's silence, the ferry's whistle sounded again at the pier, thirty-six fully armed military police fired salutes, and more than thirty thousand soldiers and civilians in the entire cemetery simultaneously bowed deeply to the martyrs' monument in the center.
After the memorial ceremony, General Chen Cheng, who was temporarily appointed as the Chief of Military Education of the Central Military Commission, stepped onto the high platform. The 12,000 soldiers of An Yi Division clenched their right fists and raised their arms. Under the leadership of General Chen Cheng, they swore loudly:
"The people are suffering and in dire straits; the bandits and warlords are working for the tiger; the imperialists are using their owl to enlarge their territory. The army is reorganized to save the country and the people; the Prime Minister's decree is as bright as the morning star. He condemns the people for their crime and moves the evil chiefs; restores equality to us and returns us
Freedom. I am a soldier, a vanguard for the people, advancing without retreating, and loyal to the country; practicalism, personal sacrifice; loyalty and revolutionary spirit..."
After the majestic and passionate oath was completed, Commander-in-Chief Chiang climbed to the top of the steps of the monument. Under the gaze of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians, he highly praised the 12,000 soldiers of the Independent Division who stood solemnly below and placed ardent expectations on them.
For the first time, he shouted out the powerful title of "Iron Army" on such a major public occasion. His short five-minute speech won warm applause and cheers from tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians time and time again.
At the end of the ceremony, thousands of representatives from all walks of life and student representatives, and nearly 20,000 people from all over the world were reluctant to leave. People chanted names such as "Independent Division", "Model Battalion" and "General An", making long-lasting waves.
The endless cheers and voices of encouragement moved An Yi and his officers and soldiers beyond their control.
The excited An Yi ran to the center of the steps and issued a roaring order to all the officers and soldiers, old and new: "All attention, stand at attention - salute your relatives -"
"salute--"
"Stand at attention—turn left or right—walk in unison—"
“The smoke is rising—get ready—sing!”
"When the smoke rises, the country looks north..."
The majestic singing soared into the sky, reverberating everywhere, infecting all the soldiers and civilians. Countless young students and representatives from all walks of life joined the ranks of the singers, waving and greeting the officers and soldiers of the independent division who were slowly marching northward with firm steps.
Reluctant to give up.
Commander-in-chief Chiang Kai-shek and the generals at the headquarters who boarded the ferry one after another to rush to the upstream Pukou Station, most of them heard the soldiers of the Independent Division singing such a tragic and heroic war song for the first time, and it was the first time they truly felt the independence of the Division.
The uniqueness of power and domineering exuded from top to bottom
The momentum, everyone sighed and praised repeatedly, from military appearance, military discipline to combat effectiveness. The excellent battle examples in the past were brought out and talked about by the deeply moved generals, who led a company of elites to follow Commander-in-Chief.
An Yi's face turned red.
At Pukou Station, Commander-in-Chief Chiang Kai-shek and the accompanying guards who followed him northward said goodbye to Tan Yankai, Dai Jitao, He Yingqin, Chen Cheng and other military and political dignitaries who stayed behind at the headquarters, and boarded the long-awaited special train to rush to the Xuzhou front line.
The train blew the whistle and started slowly. After receiving the notice, An Yi rushed from Car No. 6 to Command Car No. 5. He saluted Commander-in-Chief Chiang, who was sitting quietly on the soft seat with his hands folded in front of his knees and looking out the window.
Report: "Principal, student An Yi is reporting in."
Commander-in-Chief Chiang did not look back, but still looked out the window with a calm look on his face: "After the rain, the sky is blue and the sun is coming out. What a good sign!"
"There is still some time before the rainy season in the Jianghuai area. There should be about two months of good weather in the next two months, which will be good for the upcoming full-line offensive." An Yi said in a low voice.
Commander-in-chief Jiang smiled slightly, pointed to the seat opposite, and motioned for An Yi and Yu Jishi to sit down: "It seems that you have been carefully preparing during this period. You have even paid attention to the weather, which is good."
"Junior Brother An is always well prepared for battles. If his opponent overlooks something and exposes a flaw, he will quickly catch him." Yu Jishi said with a smile.
Chiang Kai-shek nodded appreciatively: "After reading the summary report of the major battles of the Independent Division by the General Staff Office, I was deeply impressed by it. An Yi's ability in discovering and seizing fighter opportunities has been generally praised by the generals at the headquarters, especially
The fast, accurate and ruthless combat style has indeed made many people praise and give them headaches.
General Ge Zhanhou's words are very representative. He said that even if the opponent discovers the independent division's attempt, he often has no time to respond effectively. An Yi battle usually involves one move after another, leaving the opponent no chance to breathe.
Opportunities, so they are always hard to guard against and can only be defeated. This evaluation is quite high and I agree with it!"
An Yi blushed and explained modestly: "This has something to do with the troops I lead. At present, only the independent division can allow me to perform like this. Among them, the training methods of students are only one aspect, and there are several important reasons.
Everyone may have overlooked that one is that students have
A united and hard-working officer team will hold special discussions and conduct deductions on the sand table for every pre-war plan. Every suggestion, plan, and speculation will be taken seriously. This can not only brainstorm and fully mobilize officers at all levels.
positivity,
It can also improve the military command level of officers; another important reason is that the students' independent divisions are well-equipped, and the firepower of one division exceeds the main divisions of our First Army by a large margin, not to mention the lax military discipline of the Beiyang warlords.
Troops with backward equipment, especially those without
The number of wireless radio stations owned by our division is more than twice that of the divisions of our army. The first division of the First Army has only equipped one or two main regiments with radio stations until now, but the students have equipped all regiments and directly affiliated battalions with radio stations. Therefore,
In terms of response speed, students gain a lot.”
Yu Jishi listened attentively to An Yi's words and understood them carefully. Chiang Kai-shek nodded with satisfaction: "Your exploration experience usually provides valuable experience to our army. You don't have to be modest about this. After Xuzhou swears the oath of surrender, I will convene a meeting with the division commanders of each army."
At the above-mentioned chief officer meeting, it is up to you to introduce your experience in this area, and share your intelligence summary and campaign plan for more than half a month, so that all armies and divisions can have a clear understanding."
"Students obey orders." An Yi replied.
"In addition, at noon on the 7th, the Party Headquarters of the Central Committee, several ministries and commissions of the Government Affairs Council, and representatives of various social groups in Jiangsu, Shanghai, and Hangzhou will rush to Xuzhou to participate in the large-scale swearing-in ceremony of the Second Northern Expedition of our First Group Army. Your independent division will be observed by them.
The key point is, you must prepare in advance and urge your soldiers to drive to Xuzhou North Camp as soon as possible." Chiang Kai-shek ordered.
"yes!"
An Yi looked respectful, but in his heart he didn't want to go to such trouble, but he knew that Principal Jiang was a very face-conscious person, and An Yi couldn't help but have the slightest objection to such a matter, so he had no choice but to execute it.
An Yi is not willing to bring displeasure to Principal Jiang on such a trivial matter. Now An Yi is very clear that in the entire revolutionary army, he can offend anyone, but the only one who cannot offend is Principal Jiang. An Yi is even more unwilling to do anything about himself
Before he was young, he would leave an unpleasant impression on Principal Jiang. An Yi would never do a business that was too small to make a big loss.