Chapter 57 Zhang Zizhong's martyrdom and the fall of Yichang

At the end of 1939, the fifth war zone started the winter offensive, especially Zhang Zizhong's troops severely damaged the Japanese army on Xianghua Road, and were awarded by the command headquarters. In May 1940, in order to sweep the periphery of Wuhan and retaliate against the winter offensive, the Japanese army decided to attack the Chinese army in the fifth theater in the area east of the Xianghe River. At the same time, they captured Yichang, controlled the throat of Sichuan, and threatened the rear. On May 10th, Japanese troops divided into multiple groups joined forces in Xiangdong and Baihe, but failed to encircle the main force of the Chinese troops in the fifth theater as planned. Instead, they were surrounded by Chinese troops in Xiangdong Plain. After a week of fierce fighting, the Japanese army If you don't support it, you will retreat to the south.

Zhang Zizhong, the 33rd Group Army, was stationed on the west bank of the Xianghe River. He led his troops to participate in the battles of southern Shandong and Wuhan, and later became the commander-in-chief of the 33rd Group Army. Neutrality and meritorious deeds.He never forgot the humiliation he suffered in Pingjinmeng, and told journalists many times: whoever is a national hero and whoever is a bastard, only dies.Every time he goes into battle, he has the will to die. Before going out, he leaves a will and burns it after he survives. After the battle began, Zhang Zizhong was deeply aware of the seriousness of the battle. Although the 33rd Group Army stationed on the west bank of the Xianghe River did not become the main target of the Japanese army, he was unwilling to stand on the sidelines. The Fourth Division attacked the Japanese army and crossed the Xianghe River to supervise the battle.When the Japanese army retreated to the southeast, Zhang Zizhong's troops fought hard to intercept. On May 16, Zhang Zizhong led a small number of troops including the officers and soldiers of the headquarters and the secret service battalion to fight fiercely with a large number of retreating enemies in the Zhangjiaji area on the east bank of the Xianghe River. Because the enemy was outnumbered and we were surrounded by the Japanese army, Zhang Zizhong was determined to hold back the Japanese army.During the fierce fighting, Zhang Zizhong's right chest was pierced by a bullet, bleeding profusely, and he was seriously injured.By the afternoon of the battle, there were only more than 200 officers and soldiers left.By 4 o'clock in the afternoon, Zhang Zizhong had been wounded in 6 places. He did not want to be captured and committed suicide to die for the country.When he was dying, he left his last words: "To the country, to the nation, to the commander, my conscience is at peace." General Zhang Zizhong was the only one who held the high position of commander-in-chief and took the lead in serving the battlefield.Even the Japanese army admired Zhang Zizhong's loyalty, buried his body, held a military sacrifice, and buried him. In front of the tomb, he erected a spiritual plaque and wrote: Zhang Zizhong, General of China.The Fifth Theater and the Chongqing High Command learned of Zhang Zizhong's martyrdom and strictly ordered the body to be retrieved at all costs. After two days and nights of fighting, Zhang Zizhong's remains were transported back by the Chinese army and transferred to Chongqing for burial.When the coffin arrived in Chongqing, Chiang Kai-shek led civil and military officials to sacrifice General Zhang grandly, and then held a state funeral.

The main goal of the Japanese army is to capture Yichang. On May 31, the Japanese army crossed the Han River at night, captured Xiangyang, and then went south to take Yichang.The other Japanese army crossed the Han River from Shayang and marched westward, attacking Shashi, Jiangling, Shilipu and other places, attacking Yichang from north to south. On June 14, Yichang fell, and the gateway to Sichuan was opened.After the Japanese army occupied Yichang as they wished, there was a joke inside: the Japanese army base camp worried that Yichang would be easy to occupy and difficult to defend, so they ordered to withdraw from Yichang. When the Japanese army retreated, they set fire to the city hysterically; Returning to Yichang, the Japanese army who reoccupied Yichang could not even find a place to stay.

However, the fall of Yichang still dealt a heavy blow to the Chinese government's spirit.The fall of Yichang made it difficult for the Chinese troops on both sides of the Yangtze River to have transportation and supplies, so they had to fight on their own.