Chapter 13 Chapter Thirteen Hengyang Empty City

After the Japanese captured Changsha, they continued to commit crimes in the south.On the other hand, Xiangtan County and Hengshan County, located on the west bank of the Xiangjiang River, were strategically undefended.The enemy's soldiers pointed directly to Hengyang.Changsha abandoned its defense within a day, which shows the strength of the enemy and the high morale of the enemy. In the face of menacing enemy forces, our army was extremely vigilant and immediately entered a state of battle. Commander Fang immediately decided to "Hengyang Empty City".At the military-local joint meeting, General Fang Xianjue was impassioned and loudly said: "Governors, colleagues, and comrades: when this great war is approaching, our army and the people should be united in fighting against the enemy and go to the national calamity together. However, the war is ruthless. In order to reduce the Unnecessary sacrifice, so please evacuate all the people inside and outside the city. No one can be left behind, so as not to hurt innocent people. The things they can't take away should be nailed and sealed. If the house is destroyed by enemy bombs and shells, The unavoidable loss; if the loss is caused by someone breaking in, our army will guarantee compensation according to the price!"

Order from the military department: mobilize the political workers at all levels of the army, together with Hengyang city and county government staff, in addition to text propaganda, to persuade the people separately, avoid unnecessary bloodshed, and evacuate immediately; and ask the Guangdong-Han and Hunan-Guangxi railway bureaus to Try to mobilize vehicles at the east and west stations, and evacuate the people in the field for free. Those who travel south take the Yuehan road car, and those who move west take the Xianggui road car.The military department sent staff officers to the station to assist in the evacuation of the people at each station; each war sent a line of armed soldiers to maintain order;

Hengyang's east and west railway stations were overcrowded immediately.In the sea of ​​people, people support the old and the young, shoulder to shoulder, bustling, shoulder to shoulder, in an endless stream.The sound of adults calling, children crying, calling father and mother, and shouting and cursing could be heard endlessly; inside and outside the station, there was a scene of chaos and misery.There are many children and heavy items, and they cannot squeeze into the train. They sit by the track, eat and sleep in the open, and wait for the next empty train to arrive.There are often seven or eight trains full of people on the track of the station waiting to depart, emitting thick steam and black smoke.

Not only was the compartment full of people, but the roof was also overcrowded.From a distance, the regular train looks like a slowly wriggling caterpillar, or like dead earthworms crawling with wriggling ants, which is horrible. The trains went out and in for three days and nights without stopping. Fang was fortunate to be evacuated three days before the enemy attacked. After receiving the report, General Fang Xianjue let out a heavy breath.He knew very well that during the battle, he was afraid that the enemy, traitors and traitors would mix with the people and cause trouble in the city.This move is the right one.Otherwise, I don't know how many people will be killed or killed.What's more, once the city is besieged, foreign aid is not enough, there is no food and clothing, and the army has nothing to eat, the people will be even worse!Otherwise, the army and the people are fighting for food, and they can't bear to get in trouble, so why defend it!Fortunately!Fortunately!The next step is to focus on seeking military aid.

Changsha fell in one day, and everyone was shocked.In view of this, Chairman Jiang of the Chongqing Base Camp specially appointed Mr. Yu Feipeng, the Minister of Logistics, to visit Hengyang City in person to hold Buddha's feet temporarily and handle the supplies of the 10th Army. "Commander Yu came to the front line in person to supervise the supply of our army. Brother, I am so grateful!" Commander Fang Xianjue said. "General Fang, please don't thank me first. I came here under the order of Generalissimo Jiang. You don't have to be polite. Whatever your army needs, and those who have stocks in nearby military depots, all will be allocated and sent to Hengyang. .”

"Thank you Shangfeng for your concern! There is another matter that bothers you, Chief Yu." "What's the matter? As long as I, Yu, can do it, dare to say nothing?" "Actually, it's nothing. It's just that the artillery battalion directly under our military headquarters was stranded in Guilin by the Gui faction. I also hope that Commander Yu will clear it up and let the battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Zhang Zuoxiang, lead the whole battalion to return to construction as soon as possible." "Oh, there's another matter?" Yu Feipeng pretended not to know, but responded: "Didn't your artillery battalion receive twelve brand-new American mountain cannons from Kunming long ago? Return the artillery battalion of your army as soon as possible!"

"Excuse me. You know, the strength of our army is really limited in this battle of Hengyang. Although it is called one army and four divisions, it actually only has seven regiments. Especially the combat soldiers have not been replenished. The troops directly under the army, such as the supply corps, communications Battalions, health teams, field hospitals and other units have a large number of people, but none of them are combat troops. Of course, some officers and soldiers can be selected for combat, but there are no corresponding weapons and equipment!" "Didn't the Ninth War Zone and the High Command send additional defensive troops?" Yu asked.

Fang replied: "The faction is faction. The new 19th Division was assigned to the front of the command headquarters, and the 54th Division was also temporarily relocated to the rear in the 9th war zone. However, it was all a waste of time and effort. In the end, it was not complete. Bubbles!" Fang Xianjue smiled wryly: "However, Chief Yu, please report to Chairman Jiang, despite this. Fang Xianjue and the 10th Army are determined to give it a go and defend Hengyang to the death! We will never let down the great trust of the commissioner!" Yu seemed to be encouraged as well, and said seriously: "General Fang, please rest assured, I will definitely support you with all my strength!"

On the night of June 21, the rapid phone ringing broke the tranquility of the night before the war. "Hey, where? Who are you looking for? Oh, oh, yes!" "Military seat, it's the appointment phone number!" Hearing that it was a long-distance call from Chongqing, the accompanying capital, Commander Fang had already come to the phone. "Principal, yes, it's student Fang Xianjue." Chiang Kai-shek's slightly old voice came from the other end of the phone: "Zi Shan, you have worked hard!" Hearing the greeting from the Supreme Commander, Fang Xianjue felt flattered, felt his heart warm, and hurriedly replied: "Thank you, the principal, for your concern! Students should be like this!"

Hearing such a respectful answer from the students, Chiang Kai-shek was very relieved, and said emotionally: "Zi Shan, your 10th Army's battle in Changde caused more than half of the casualties, and the equipment and soldiers have not been replenished so far. Now you have given Hengyang the important task of defending the core. The war is related to the overall situation of our war of resistance. I hope that the officers and soldiers of our 10th Army will work hard to encourage themselves in this national crisis, and everyone will shoulder the heavy responsibility. I hope that your army will be able to Hold on to Hengyang for two weeks, as long as you can keep it the better, and use up the enemy as much as possible. I stipulate two words of password, if the battle is too weak, send out the two words of password, and I will break the siege of Hengyang for 48 hours. Do you have this? confidence?"

Fang Xianjue feels that the burden on his shoulders is not light, and he should follow Jun Zuo's instructions and go all out.When it comes to how long Hengyang can last, of course we can't boast in front of the committee.I had to answer loudly: "Principal, don't worry, our army will not hesitate to sacrifice any sacrifices, and we will fight until we are exhausted! I can comfort you, according to recent observations, none of the soldiers in the entire army is afraid of the enemy. People are smiling, working hard to build fortifications to prepare for war, and their fighting spirit is extremely high. They are worried about the upcoming fierce battle. They are preparing their horses and soldiers with all their strength, preparing to fight the enemy to the death!" Chiang Kai-shek was overjoyed, and even said: "Good! Good! Good! Zishan, take care of it and wish you a successful battle! I am waiting for your good news!" After finishing speaking, he hung up the phone. On this end, Fang Xianjue held the microphone for a long time and did not put it down.