Chapter 115 Chapter 115 Returning to the capital

On December 11, 1944, in the dense fog, Chongqing, the companion capital during the war, was cold and rainy. After so many years of bombardment by Japanese aircraft, the mountain city was completely devastated and beyond recognition.Only the occasional sharp air defense sirens and the sirens of passing ships on the Jialing River can break the dullness of this mountain city. After Fang Xianjue and his "Five Tiger Generals" in the defense of Hengyang—Zhou Qingxiang, Ge Xiancai, Rong Youlue, Rao Shaowei, and Sun Mingyu—gathered to Chongqing, Generalissimo Jiang immediately summoned them at Zengjiayan's official residence in Chongqing without any intention of reprimanding them.In the name of the National Anti-Japanese War Relief Association, a grand banquet was held to clean up the dust, and He Yingqin, Qian Dajun and other high-ranking officials were notified to accompany him.

Fang Xianjue and the others wore straight uniforms and stood upright waiting for their Generalissimo Jiang to be received.As soon as Chiang came out, Fang Xianjue stood at attention, saluted Chiang Kai-shek with a standard military salute, and said, "Principal, the students are ashamed. They failed to fulfill their duties and tasks. Please punish the principal!" Chiang Kai-shek smiled and said, "You are not responsible for the fall of Hengyang. You have tried your best!" "Thank you principal for your kindness and forgiveness!" Fang Xianjue was very grateful when he heard Jiang say this, his nose sore, and tears almost fell out.

Chiang Kai-shek also said: "The situation in Chongqing is complicated, so we should talk less, and don't speak casually to the outside world, especially the press! Go back and have a good rest!" "Students understand!" Fang Xianjue replied. "How is it? Has the place to live been arranged?" Jiang turned around and asked. "I have asked the Bank of China to arrange a building and vehicles." Qian Dajun replied. "Take a break first, and the work will be arranged by the Military and Political Department. I will be worthy of you!" Jiang said again.

"Arrangements have been made according to the request of the commissioner. Please rest assured!" He Yingqin replied. After that, Fang Xianjue served as the captain of the Central Officer Training Corps for a month.In the spring of 1945, the Central Military Commission of the Nationalist Government announced that he would serve as the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the 20th Group Army, and later served as the commander of the 206th Division of the Youth Army.This is a newly reorganized military-level division with American equipment, and it is also the direct line of Lao Jiang's direct line.Due to the control of public opinion in Chongqing, he was soon announced as the commander of the 207th Division of the Youth Army stationed in Kunming.

It turned out that at the turn of spring and summer in 1945, the Sixth Plenary Session of the Kuomintang Central Committee was held in Chongqing.At the meeting, Wang Kunlun, a veteran of the Kuomintang, questioned: "Fang Xianjue's 10th Army defended Hengyang. Is it meritorious or demeritful? If it is true that they surrendered to the enemy, then it is not meritorious deeds, but demerits. Rewards are meritorious and punishments are demerits. Merit and demerit are irrelevant, how will you win the trust of the people?!" Chiang Kai-shek, who was in the waiting room, immediately came out when he heard it, and said angrily: "Who is talking nonsense? What is the difference between this and the traitor's slander? It's not the same!" Dare to come out.

The officers and soldiers of the 10th Army were taken in by its veteran commander Li Yutang, and they were concentrated in Baxian County, Sichuan, where they were re-established and the establishment was resumed.Zhao Xitian was appointed as the commander of the army, and Zhou Qingxiang was appointed as the deputy commander of the army and the commander of the 3rd division. Ge Xiancai was appointed Major General Gao Shen of the Military Commission. Rong Youlue was appointed as Major General Gao Shen of the Military Commission. Sun Mingyu was appointed as the commander of the new 36th Division.

Rao Shaowei was appointed as a major general of the Military Commission and sent to the Army University for training in the second phase of the senior general officer class. In addition to Fang Xianjue, Ge Xiancai and Zhou Qingxiang who have already received the "Blue Sky and White Sun" medal, Rong Youlue, Sun Mingyu and Rao Shaowei are specially awarded the "Blue Sky and White Sun" medal.A pennant of "loyalty, bravery and defense of the country" was also presented to each person, and another reward of 1 million yuan in French currency was given. There was an unprecedented upsurge in Chongqing to warmly welcome Fang Xianjue, and slogans were posted everywhere: "Welcome the return of the soul of the War of Resistance!".

"Ta Kung Pao" published an editorial "Hail to Commander Fang Xianjue" on December 13, 1944: "Commander Fang Xianjue, the hero who fought hard in Hengyang for forty-seven days, is back!...We can't help but cheer to Commander Fang: 'Our hero is back! Our spirit of resistance is back!'" "Take Hengyang as an example. Every big city has been fighting for forty-seven days, one by one, and one by one. May I ask: How many forty-seven days are left for the fate of the Japanese invaders?" "Jianguo Daily" published an editorial on December 20, 1944, "Fang Xianjue is worthy of Zhang Suiyang":

"In the eight years of the Anti-Japanese War, there were at least hundreds of thousands of heroes and martyrs who died on the battlefield; and there were not a few who defended the country and remained unyielding until death; and those who made the greatest contribution to the country and played a decisive role in the overall victory or defeat should be pushed to Hengyang guard." "Mr. Fang was captured by the enemy because he had run out of ammunition and was defenseless. This is what Commander Fang and his subordinates have done 100% of their duties. No matter to the country, to the officers, or to the people, they are not ashamed. "The article compares the Fang family with Zhang Xun, the general who defended Suiyang during the Anlushan Rebellion in the Tang Dynasty.

The Communist Party and the Eighth Route Army also affirmed the Hengyang defense battle led by Fang Xianjue's Tenth Army.Mao Zedong pointed out in an editorial published in the "Liberation Daily" on August 12, 1944: "The defenders who stick to Hengyang are heroic, and the people of Hengyang have made great sacrifices." "Those who have contributed the most to the country and have a decisive role in the overall victory or defeat should be the defenders of Hengyang!" Fang Xianjue's wife, Zhou Yunhua, said after seeing her husband again: "It's enough to be worthy of our conscience. We should go home." The husband and wife bid farewell to the public hand in hand, and both went home.

In a house on Kaixuan Road in Chongqing, Fang Xianjue couldn't shirk, but reluctantly accepted an interview with a reporter from "Sweeping News".A blazing brazier was set up in the upstairs room, and the air was filled with warmth.As soon as he was about to enter the room, the reporter saw General Fang Xianjue, who was burly and neatly dressed but looked tired, stood up and gave up his seat, and shook hands with the reporter warmly. The reporter couldn't help but felt an irrepressible admiration, and hurriedly held Fang Xianjue's hand and said, "Millions of compatriots are like me, cheering for General Fang's return from danger!" "Thank you! Mr. Reporter. Although I am back, I am ashamed! Because I have neither succeeded nor succeeded, I am ashamed to treat the people of my country!" Fang Xianjue said sincerely.He was exhausted from running for many days, and his voice seemed a little hoarse. "General, you blame yourself too much! You led the soldiers of the 10th Army to defend the besieged city with few enemies. Being robbed cannot be done by humans. I believe the public will understand and understand.” "Thank you, Mr. Reporter, for your understanding! Thank you for your understanding! If it hadn't been true, there would be nowhere to sue!" Peng Kefu, who accompanied Fang Xianjue back from danger, couldn't help but replied. "Shangfeng has an order to not accept interviews for the time being, and please forgive me, Mr. Reporter!" "Understood. I hope that General Fang will cultivate well. The motherland is in great trouble, and the motherland and the people need you!" The reporter said sincerely when he said goodbye. "Generalissimo Jiang told me to rest for a while, and I feel ashamed and uneasy. I will make another report on the details of the Hengyang battle in the future." Fang Xianjue said while sending reporters downstairs. "Sorry, I have one more request, I hope General Fang can agree!" The reporter said, "That is, I want you to sign for our readers as a souvenir." "Oh, this, no problem." Fang Xianjue happily wrote down: "Fang Xianjue, December 12th."