"Chief of Staff, there is an urgent message from the division, ordering Brother Zi Ang to lead the third regiment and the reorganized team to set off immediately, rush to Tai'an along the railway, and then transfer to a special train to Yanzhou, where they will undergo rigorous training and wait for the replacement of equipment. The rest of the division will be led by the Chief of Staff, and immediately
Cross the Yellow River and join up with the 40th Army under General He Yaozu of the Third Army." Communications Section Chief Luo Lei reported loudly.
Lu Yixuan became anxious when he heard this: "What? You want me to pull our third regiment to the rear?"
"Brother Zi'ang, don't worry. The division's arrangement makes sense. The more than 3,700 skirmishers who have just been recruited have messy weapons, a severe shortage of ammunition, and uneven quality of officers and soldiers. How can they participate in the battle? If they are forced to join the front line
, not only cannot cooperate with the various departments of our division, but will also have a negative effect. The division commander's order to return to the Yanzhou Camp for training is correct.
Furthermore, the Japanese army is currently eyeing Shanghai. Three thousand Japanese troops have entered the Hongkou Camp. The headquarters has secretly ordered all rear units to enter a state of combat readiness. Even Jinan has returned to Old Nanchang from Xuzhou to actively prepare. If something happens to Shanghai, our two divisions in Old Nanchang will
Even if we all go to the front line, are you still afraid that there will be no more battles to fight? After training more than 3,000 new brothers under our command, our independent division will add two more regiments of elite soldiers. This task is not light, so we can proceed without further delay.
Let’s go.” Lu Guang advised in a low voice.
Lu Yixuan could only salute and obey, and Lu Guang also ordered to pack up and set off immediately.
At almost the same moment, Huang Zhi, deputy chief of the operations section, took the message and walked under the hollowed-out railway embankment, entered the temporary headquarters, and reported to Hu Jialin:
"Deputy division commander, there is a call from the division: The 3rd and 40th Army is advancing towards the Dawang Temple four kilometers west of you. General Cheng Guang will lead the division to cross the river to get closer to you. He urgently orders Fu Qiang to lead his subordinates and the new cavalry battalion.
, carrying new equipment along the north coast and rushed to Shijiawu Ferry, 18 kilometers downstream, and stationed at the headquarters of the 26th Army to stand by."
Hu Jialin received the telegram and pondered for a moment: "It looks like a fight is really going to start. Lao Li, hurry up and execute the order! The Japanese artillery is powerful, and you and the cavalry are wasting it by staying here."
"yes!"
Li Fuqiang saluted and turned to leave.
"Report, urgent report from a regiment: According to forward observation, about three Japanese regiments have entered the south bank and are building fortifications. An artillery regiment can be vaguely seen about three kilometers behind the enemy's position." The signal corps reported loudly.
Hu Jialin nodded: "You're good to go. Pass my order. Each regiment will place all the national flags they carry on both sides of the position. Order the model battalion to place their battle flags on the high slope behind the position."
"yes!"
Hu Jialin turned to the communications staff: "Call the division commander: I have received the call. Our troops are ready to contain the enemy's main force on the south bank."
"yes!"
Hu Jialin smiled lowly at Huang Zhi and said, "Let's go together to check the construction status of trenches and bunkers. There are only thirty-six mortars and not many shells. We can only avoid the Japanese artillery fire."
"My subordinates want to see the level of fortification construction of the independent division and model battalion, which represents the highest level in the entire army." Huang Zhi happily followed Hu Jialin out of the command post under the railway.
At 11:40 a.m. on May 2, the First Army Headquarters was at Dangjiazhuang Station, 15 kilometers southwest of Jinan City.
After reading the calls from Lu Guang and Hu Jialin, An Yi nodded slightly, put a large pile of telegrams in his hand back on the table, walked to the map, and reported in a low voice to Commander-in-Chief Chiang and Zhu Peide:
"An infantry brigade of the Japanese Sixth Division has taken control of all the stations, intersections and docks inside and outside Jinan City. The headquarters is located at Zhengjin Bank in the Commercial Port District. About a regiment is preparing for battle on the Linjiaqiao line in the north of Jinan City. It is expected to head towards the north bank.
General Hu Jialin led an artillery attack on the positions of the 1st and 2nd regiments of the Independent Division; another
The brigade is quickly rushing to Xingdu in the northeast. The main force of Senior Chen Tiaoyuan's Second Army has crossed the Yellow River. The main force is rushing to Jiyang. Senior Chen has called back at Longshan Headquarters. Preparations are currently being made for retreat. According to the order of the headquarters, he will stay behind
One regiment monitored the south bank; the fourth regiment in the northwest found no Japanese pursuing troops."
"Well, it seems that the Japanese army failed in Jinan and they are really angry."
Chiang Kai-shek clearly saw the situation between the enemy and ourselves on the map, and turned his attention from the map to An Yi: "You have done a good job. Not only did you arrange the retreat of the various armies in an orderly manner, but you also contained the main force of the Japanese army on the northern line of the city, exempting other departments from work.
It is commendable that he put his two regiments as bait under the enemy's artillery fire without having to worry about his future!"
An Yi said modestly: "Principal, in fact, the Japanese commanders already knew that the best time to fight was no longer available. The reason why they still put on a fierce look even though they knew this was not because their commanders were reckless, but because they were inspired.
Morale is a way to encourage the morale of the military, allowing the more than 20,000 people who came quickly to vent, show their determination and domineering, and maybe even show a gesture to Zhang Zuolin and Zhang Zongchang.
Another one, they sent more than a hundred people to blow up a bridge, but an accident happened and they blew themselves up. Thinking about it, you feel very useless. You must take revenge to relieve your hatred. Just across the river is the independent division of the students, the Japanese army.
Naturally, he will not let go of the opportunity to attack easily. At this time, I am afraid that General Hu Jialin has already set up a model camp.
and the banner of the Independent Division. Due to the lengthy propaganda in newspapers and magazines, the Independent Division will definitely be regarded by the Japanese army as the main division of our army, which can provoke them to attack to a certain extent. The subordinates considered that the Fukuda Division came at a high speed to carry ammunition
The amount is limited, so I simply provoke him to let him hit as much as he can, and then withdraw when he is almost done."
Zhu Peide reminded: "Enough is enough and don't anger the Japanese troops too much, otherwise they are likely to take it out on civilians."
"I'm not worried about the Japanese army taking out their anger on the civilians. After all our troops have retreated, the Japanese army has no goal of provocation and will never be too brutal to our civilians. Otherwise, it will be difficult for the League of Nations to explain. What I'm worried about now is staying in Jinan City to negotiate.
Brother Yingbai and Brother Gongshi of the Department are worried that their character will be humiliated!" Chiang Kai-shek said worriedly.
Zhu Peide explained a few words in a low voice, and then heard a report from the front. The Japanese army launched a fierce artillery attack on the north bank of the Yellow River in the north of Jinan City. Immediately afterwards, Hu Jialin's telegram also confirmed this and said that General He Yaozu's 40th Army had arrived at King's Gate.
In the temple area, artillery is building positions.
An Yi thought for a while and immediately suggested to Chiang Kai-shek: "Principal, there are no other troops in the south area of the city. I kindly ask the principal and the headquarters to evacuate Dangjiazhuang immediately and go south to Tai'an. Under the current situation, it is safer to temporarily set up the headquarters in Tai'an."
, more stable.
Otherwise, the students are worried that the Japanese army will soon learn the location of our headquarters, and it will be very troublesome to suddenly gather troops and turn east. If we do not fight and be pursued by the enemy, it will only increase the losses. If our army cannot bear it anymore and fight back, all the previous efforts may be lost.
It’s all in vain.”
"Chief of Staff An is right, I implore the principal to evacuate south immediately." Chen Lifu and Chen Brai also stepped forward to persuade.
Chiang Kai-shek thought for a long time before nodding: "Okay, let's withdraw."
At the same time, the Second Army Headquarters located at Longshan Station in the east of Jinan, under An Yi's repeated requests, General Chen Tiaoyuan, who was ready to retreat, also issued a retreat order. The headquarters and the two divisions of the 37th Army took action immediately.
After more than three hours of running around, we rushed to Hujia Ferry, nine kilometers south of Jiyang. It took more than an hour to cross the Yellow River. Finally, a company of the guard regiment crossing the river reluctantly carried out thirty
The remaining cars and trucks were burned.
General Chen Tiaoyuan had just entered Jiyang City when about 1,500 Japanese officers and soldiers suddenly appeared at Hujia Ferry on the south bank. After being unable to cross the river, he became angry and opened fire on the north bank for more than ten minutes. The news reached the headquarters of the Second Army, and there was an uproar.
, everyone exclaimed that it was so dangerous.
Chiang Kai-shek, who was taking the train south to Tai'an, faced the map, carefully checked the positions of the armies, and casually asked where An Yi was. Zhu Peide stepped forward and replied in a low voice that Anyi had not gotten on the train at the party's home, Zhuang, and had gone to the front line to inspect. When Chiang Kai-shek heard this
He immediately stood up angrily and loudly criticized An Yi as the former chief of staff of the enemy for not knowing the importance of taking risks. He ordered the generals around him to contact An Yi immediately and ask him to return to Tai'an immediately.
At this moment, An Yi had already rushed to Hu Jialin's underground command post. The position of the Independent Division with a radius of two kilometers was bombarded beyond recognition by Japanese artillery. The hills on both sides of the railway were cut down layer after layer, and large trees were still popping up.
The fire was raging, but all the ships on the river were driven back to the north bank by the revolutionary army units. The Japanese army, unable to cross the river, could only shell the river one round after another and use machine guns to shoot away all the blue sky and white sun flags on the north and south positions.
.
Not long after An Yi arrived, Cheng Chengguang led all the divisions of the independent division. They were shocked to see the devastated position, but An Yi whispered in Cheng Guang's ear, and Cheng Cheng nodded frequently and left quickly.
Half an hour after the Japanese artillery fire and machine gun fire stopped, the forward observation post reported signs of enemy retreat. An Yi immediately ordered the machine gun battalions of each regiment to go out along the traffic trench and launch a five-minute fire counterattack against the enemy within ten minutes. At the same time, four
The soldiers of the Tenth Army also suddenly entered a five-kilometer-long position to the west to coordinate operations, and more than 70 battle flags were once again planted on the position.
Seeing the sudden changes on the north bank, the Japanese troops on the south bank immediately stopped retreating and prepared to attack again. The artillery fire and machine guns of the Independent Division and the Forty Army on the north bank suddenly roared, and the eighteen K-type artillery and thirty-six French artillery pieces that had been waiting for a long time began.
The first salvo of mortars filled the enemy's position with smoke and flames, and more than 300 Japanese officers and soldiers who hurriedly entered the position fell one after another.
Fukuda, the commander of the Japanese division, was shocked to hear the dramatic change and became furious. He ordered the Japanese army to concentrate their superior artillery fire to destroy the artillery positions of the independent division and the Forty Army on the north coast. He also urgently called Qingdao to send aircraft to assist the battle, and ordered that all possible means be used to collect ships.
Prepare to cross the river and attack by force.
After the five-minute bombardment, the Independent Division only put away the Flying Tiger Flag, the Five-Five Face Flag and the Model Camp Flag issued by the Military Commission. The Forty Army also only put away the battle flags of each division. General Mao Bingwen led more than 10,000 officers and soldiers to fly to the ground.
Evacuate the position and head to the north.
On the line between Yi and Yucheng, An Yi led his troops to the west quickly and marched back to Kaiyuan Temple in the west of Jiyang City to rest and recuperate. After the Japanese artillery fire covered the north bank intermittently for two consecutive hours, it finally stopped in vain in the evening.
After this battle, the Japanese army hated An Yi's independent division and He Yaozu's 40th Army. Two days later, the Japanese army learned from various channels that most of the revolutionary army's actions in Jinan adopted the strategies of An Yi, the former enemy chief of staff of the First Group Army.
From then on, the Japanese army regarded An Yi as
It became a thorn in the side and a thorn in the flesh. The battle report was sent back to the base camp, which immediately attracted great attention from the Japanese military. The Japanese Army Staff Headquarters set up a team to conduct a systematic analysis and study of An Yi's growth process and all the battles he commanded.