Chapter 13 Chapter Thirteen

On the north shore of Taihu Lake, Chen Cheng led his troops to fight and retreat. After he withdrew to Suzhou, he could have relied on the Wufu line to deploy defenses, but another sudden detour by the Japanese army made this intention come to naught. On November 13, the 16th Division of Kyoto landed at Baimaokou on the south bank of the Yangtze River. Baimaokou is very close to Fushan Port, and the direction of the Kyoto Division's troops is also very obvious, which is to go to its side. On November 16, Fushan fell, and Chen Cheng didn't even have time to pause, so he had to continue to retreat to Jiangyin.

He still has the last line of defense to defend-Xicheng Line (Wuxi to Jiangyin). But at this time, people's hearts have gradually become difficult to win, so the plan of relying on the Xicheng line can only fail again. Later, the ineffectiveness of the defense line was generally attributed to its own problems. The most talked about was that there was no defense and the key to the fortification could not be found. In fact, there used to be garrison troops here. However, due to the needs of the Songhu battlefield, they, like the security corps on both sides of Shanghai, were used as supplementary soldiers early on, and they were all absorbed into the main battlefield.For example, the "eight hundred strong men" guarding the Sixing Warehouse were composed of the local security regiments on the original two defense lines.

After these garrison troops were transferred, the keys to the defense line fortifications were temporarily handed over to the local security chief.However, the Baochang is not a soldier, he is also a commoner, and he has not received military training. Hearing the turmoil on the front line, he must run for his life. As a result, after the troops withdrew here, they couldn't find the security chief and couldn't get the key. But these are actually not the most important. If you can't find the key, you can smash it or pry it. The lock is not made of diamonds. In fact, some of the Central Army of Chen Cheng's direct line chose to pry the door directly, but because they are not familiar with these fortifications, they used it It was a bit more difficult, but after all, I kept guarding for a few days.

When most of the troops passed by, they didn't even have time to stop and take a look, they just ran wildly all the way.Even if some stopped, they said they couldn't find the key, so they couldn't stick to it, so they withdrew quickly.Huang Renyu analyzed this and said that this may be an excuse that some troops found out in a hurry to retreat. A "key problem" reflects to some extent that the troops participating in the Battle of Songhu were too large and complex. Many local troops were brave when they went to battle, but they lacked strict combat discipline when they retreated.

In any case, the two defense lines failed to achieve the desired effect after all, and the "Oriental Maginot" that was painstakingly built back then has mostly become a decoration. In fact, countless examples in military history illustrate the fact that no fortress, no matter how strong it is, has limited effect if there are no appropriate tactics and manpower to match it. Don't talk about our "Oriental Maginot", which is actually very low in construction level, even if it is a real Maginot.Three years later, the German army directly bypassed this line of defense and launched an attack. The French army fell apart.

On November 26, Chen Cheng abandoned the Xicheng Line and retreated to the city of Nanjing. Chiang Kai-shek urgently summoned Chen Cheng in Nanjing to inquire about strategies for defending Nanjing. Chen Cheng's first sentence was to ask: Do you need me to guard Nanjing City? Chiang Kai-shek answered clearly: No, I have already chosen someone else. Chen Cheng said, if you want me to guard Nanjing, I will obey, but if you don't want me to guard, I have an opinion, because I don't think that Nanjing should stick to it! I believe that although the Japanese army has won tactically, it has failed strategically and will surely fall into the quagmire of a protracted war. Therefore, we should quickly withdraw to southern Anhui, and Nanjing can only be used as an avant-garde position.

Still hesitating, Chiang Kai-shek ordered He Yingqin, Bai Chongxi, and German advisor Falkenhausen to hold collective discussions to see what to do. The Chinese High Command discussed six times in a row, and the conclusion was that Nanjing was isolated and had no fortress facilities, so it was not easy to hold on, and it was not a place of war. Chiang Kai-shek agreed to the results of the consultation, and he ordered Chen Cheng to go to southern Anhui to make arrangements, and gradually withdraw the main force to Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangxi. After the fall of Shanghai, the "Nine Nations Pact" was gone.

This international meeting was declared suspended on the surface, but indefinitely suspended, and before that, it had only issued a declaration condemning Japan, like the League of Nations. One of the main motivations for expanding the Songhu Battle and making such a large sacrifice was to attract the attention and even interference of foreigners, especially the United States. The foreigners did pay attention, and were respectful. In particular, the "Eight Hundred Heroes" guarding the Sixing Warehouse is simply a wonderful public relations campaign, which makes you unable to turn on the radio, open the newspaper, or listen to it every day.

The Battle of Songhu was therefore considered by international public opinion to be the "most visible, most publicized, and most important" battle that the world has experienced since World War I. In the eyes of Americans, China is seen as fighting for democracy and freedom. The Chinese who participated in the war of resistance were determined and united. This impression became the common impression of China before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. At that time, the United States conducted public opinion surveys, and 74% sympathized with China, while only 2% sympathized with Japan.

Due to the neutrality law of the US government, it is temporarily unable to provide direct military assistance to China, but it still gives financial support. From the "July 7th Incident" to the later Wuhan Battle, during this entire year, the United States purchased a large amount of silver from China at a price slightly higher than the world market, totaling more than 100 million U.S. dollars.Using the hard currency of the US dollar, the Chinese government purchased military supplies worth nearly 50 million US dollars. However, this does not mean that they will intervene immediately, because blood may be shed, and the blood of their American soldiers may be shed.

Davis was the representative of the United States who participated in the meeting. Gu Weijun, the representative of China, asked Davis why the United States did not sanction this lawless Japan. Didn’t you say that you want to "quarantine against the epidemic"? Davis was very embarrassed. After thinking for a while, he said that we can do nothing else, or why don't we buy Japanese products, just to make sense of it. What Gu Weijun and Davis didn't expect was that even this request for instructions was vetoed by US Secretary of State Hull.After the news was disclosed by the media, the Congress exploded. Members jumped to scold Davis for being stupid. The newspaper even listed Davis as an "unqualified representative", thinking that this guy only thought about others. Disregarding his own national interests, he issued a call to recall Davis. What does it have to do with us when China fights with Japan? Why do you want everyone not to buy Japanese products? What if Japan is really annoyed and they fight us instead? In the final analysis, Americans sympathize with China, even admire you, and are willing to help you, but if you want them to bear the risk of war now, then you are thinking too much. The British representative, Eden, was an outsider himself, and "kindly" advised Davis, saying that if you, the United States, have no guts, then don't bother with such nosy matters. You know, in this world, there are two kinds of sanctions, one is effective and the other is not.If it is invalid, it will only annoy the other party without any use (such as not buying Japanese products), but if it is effective, it must take the risk of war (such as the outbreak of the US-Japan war). Do you have the guts? Davis admitted that he had no courage, so he replied helplessly to Gu Weijun: Forget it, the League of Nations cannot sanction Japan, and you should not expect the "Nine-Power Pact" to do so. Gu Weijun, who was in despair, saw the representative of the Soviet Union, suddenly had an idea, and quickly bowed his ear: Why don't you Soviet Union conduct military exercises in Outer Mongolia or the northeast border, this can also add a little psychological pressure to Little Japan. At that time, the Soviet Union had already provided military assistance to China, but the Soviet representatives had probably passed the test of eliminating counter-revolutionaries, and each of them was trained to be as cunning as their boss Stalin.The Soviet representative turned to Gu Weijun and said that military exercises are not impossible, but there must be other major powers as guarantees, that is, to assist the Soviet Union when it is attacked by Japan.Otherwise, we would not take the risk of angering Japan. Saying this is tantamount to not saying it.The big country the Soviet representative was referring to was undoubtedly the United States, but the United States was not even willing not to buy Japanese products. How could he make such a guarantee? Of course, it cannot be said that China has gained nothing from the League of Nations Congress and the "Nine-Power Pact" meeting.At least two conferences condemned Japan, indicating that the Sino-Japanese issue has entered the stage of internationalization, and China has since occupied the moral high ground. But all of these will be useful in the future, and will only show positive effects in the long days to come. For China at that time, it was far from being able to quench thirst, and it was of no help at all. Foreign intervention has failed, and for the time being, we can only rely on ourselves. At this moment, the German ambassador to China, Tautman, mediated again. Unlike the last time when he had a cold attitude towards the Germans, this time Chiang Kai-shek had to seriously consider whether China and Japan wanted to conduct direct negotiations. The "Nine-Power Pact" has been "suspended" forever, and no country is willing to get into trouble for this. The key problem is that China has no chips in its hands. The war in the recent stage will undoubtedly be lost, regardless of the north or the south. In this case, direct negotiation is the worst policy, but it is not absolutely unacceptable. Although Chiang Kai-shek had urgently issued an order to move the capital, moved the government to Chongqing, and prepared to continue fighting the Japanese, the significant changes in the surrounding atmosphere still made him feel sad and disappointed. In the same imperial court, a few months ago, everyone made generous statements, rolling up their sleeves, stretching their fists, clamoring to teach Little Japan a lesson. The so-called "low-key club" is not a public event To follow the crowd means to be the object of ridicule in private. But just a few months later, with repeated military defeats ahead, the high-profile has been almost completely overwhelmed by the low-profile.Needless to say the "club", among civil servants, from Kong Xiangxi, vice president of the Executive Yuan, to Yu Youren and Ju Zheng, veterans of the Kuomintang, were extremely shaken and advocated for peace. It is not unpredictable to say that these civil servants composed of old school and literati will be timid and cowardly. The problem is that even the generals are now "desperate and hopeful for peace", and some even want to take advantage of it. Knowing that Toddman intends to mediate, Kong Xiangxi jumped up, thinking that this is a godsend opportunity that must not be missed, and suggested that Chiang Kai-shek quickly take advantage of the situation and "turn the rudder with the wind". Chiang Kai-shek was the boss of the ship, and seeing the first mate, second mate, and even the sailors in such a mood, he felt very uncomfortable.After learning that Japan's "negotiation conditions" are no different from before, he said that talks are possible, but Japan's conditions must not be used as an ultimatum, and China does not admit that it is a defeated one. The implicit meaning is that whether I accept your terms or not depends on the outcome of the negotiation. He specifically emphasized that no matter how it is discussed, the sovereignty of North China must not be lost, that is, the "Tanggu Agreement" must be cancelled. In the diary he wrote for himself, Chiang Kai-shek recorded his true intention: "In order to delay the army, I have to do this!" Helplessly, the other party didn’t fall for it and said they wanted to talk. However, the pace of the Japanese army’s invasion of Nanjing did not slow down in the slightest, and Chiang Kai-shek, who gradually became familiar with the habits of the Japanese, also did not dare to slack off in the slightest. He has already moved to Chongqing, the accompanying capital, but he himself has been personally deploying defenses in Nanjing. Chiang Kai-shek called an emergency meeting in the official residence of Zhongshan Mausoleum. At the meeting, he said that Nanjing still needs to be guarded for a while. This is the capital of the country, where the "Prime Minister's Mausoleum is located." Tang Shengzhi, director of the Executive Department of the Military Commission, was the first to agree: Nanjing should be defended, even if it is not out of international considerations, it is absolutely necessary from a military point of view. First, it can cover the rest of the front troops and the concentration of the rear troops, and second, it can prevent and delay the Japanese attack. At that time, the army in Central China was pressuring every step of the way, and the troops withdrawn from Shanghai didn't even have time to breathe. If they could hold a dangerous position in Nanjing, they could buy time for the troops to adjust by holding back and attracting the Japanese troops. Chiang Kai-shek nodded: Then settle down and guard Nanjing! But guarding Nanjing, who is worthy to be a general, or to put it more clearly, who is willing to be a general? When Chiang Kai-shek proposed which senior general would be willing to take up the post, there was silence in the audience, and even the most eloquent talker was silent at this time. Chiang Kai-shek looked at his subordinates very helplessly. Originally, I was willing to stay and guard by myself, but I am the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and many things need to be planned by me, and responsibilities forced me to leave.If no one is watching, then I'll do it. With so many generals, of course the commander-in-chief cannot be left alone, but no one dares to accept this trick. Although Tang Shengzhi advocated defending Nanjing, he did not dare to agree casually, but proposed to temporarily select the main general from among the generals ahead. People like Sun Yuanliang and Wang Jingjiu were going to defend the city anyway, wouldn't it be the same if they had the title of Nanjing Garrison Commander? Jiang was silent. Seeing this, Tang Shengzhi mentioned another person: If it doesn't work, Gu Zhenglun can do it too. He is the commander of Nanjing's garrison, and it is his duty to defend Nanjing. But these answers are obviously not what Chiang Kai-shek wants. If they can, why would I ask you, they are either too junior or incompetent. Seeing that nothing could be discussed at the meeting, Chiang Kai-shek announced the adjournment of the meeting and resolved it after the meeting, but he actually had a suitable candidate in mind, and this person was Tang Shengzhi himself. Tang Shengzhi, courtesy name Meng Xiao, was born in Dong'an, Hunan, and graduated from the first phase of Baoding Military Academy. He was the commander of the 8th Army of the Hunan Army in the early days and served as the commander-in-chief of the former enemy of the Northern Expedition.Tang Shengzhi has a nickname called "Tang Monk" - that is, the Tang Dynasty monk who often talks about sister Guanyin and always follows a monkey bodyguard behind him. There were two eccentric people in the Northern Expedition back then, one was "Christian General" Feng Yuxiang, and the other was this Monk Tang.Feng Yuxiang asked his soldiers to believe in Christ the Lord, and Monk Tang called on all his subordinates to be ordained as monks. Tang Shengzhi's Hunan Army was thus called the "Buddhist Army". All the officers and soldiers in this department were ordained as disciples of the Buddhist school, and they wore the badge of "Great Mercy, Great Compassion, Salvation of the World" on their chests.When the troops were lecturing, the first question the officer asked was not the military command, but the same Buddhist precepts as the Shaolin monks: no stealing, no lying, no killing, no adultery, no drinking, can you abide by it now? A group of Buddhist soldiers clasped their hands together and replied: "Can hold... There is a saying in Buddhism that the Hinayana saves oneself and the Mahayana saves others. The "big ideal" of the Hunan Army is to realize the goal of "saving people" in Mahayana Buddhism, which is the so-called "great compassion, saving people and saving the world. If people don't become Buddhas, I won't become Buddhas."In other words, they are not fighting you to kill you, but to save you, for your own good, and it is a great act of kindness to make you a Buddha. Relying on the "Buddhist Army", Tang Shengzhi got along pretty well at first. He was in charge of Hunan for a while, but then he couldn't do it. I don't know if it's because the Buddha is on a business trip, and he always doesn't bless him.First, the Nanjing government was headed by the Xingui faction, Li and Bai challenged the Tang Dynasty, and the "Buddhist Army" was reorganized by the Xingui faction.After that, he came back to pull the old army again, but was beaten to the ground by Chiang Kai-shek in the Central Plains War. The 8th Army was reorganized by Chiang Kai-shek again, and this reorganization never came back again. Monk Tang became a bare rod monk. After the "September 18th", Chiang Kai-shek changed course and summoned all his former political enemies to serve under his command, including Tang Shengzhi. People's fate seems to be doomed, you can't do it if you don't admit it, you can't win the king, you can only be a minister. On the second day after the internal meeting was held, Chiang Kai-shek took Tang Shengzhi to inspect his "Iron Guard", that is, the Teaching Corps. The so-called inspection, in fact, does not mean to be drunk, but to hint at Tang Shengzhi, and at the same time give him a good encouragement, hoping that the latter can strengthen his confidence in defending the city. The teaching corps is the corps of the "two divisions and one corps" that participated in the "January 28th" battle.It assumed the dual roles of the "Forest Army" and the seed troops. At this time, it had expanded into nine regiments, plus special forces such as heavy machine guns, mortars, communications, and transport directly under the troops, totaling more than 30,000 people. Most of the officers in the teaching corps come from the Whampoa Military Academy, and the soldiers have been selected through layers of selection, and more than half of them have college degrees.Like the Tax Police Corps, this force is well paid. After the "September 18th", the salaries of the troops were greatly reduced, and even the German weapon divisions were paid "National Difficulty Salaries", but the Teaching Corps has never discounted in this regard. Even if other troops can't do it, at least it can teach the corps. Look at the position that the teaching corps has built along Zijin Mountain. It has been operating for many years and has grown into a large scale. Chiang Kai-shek pointed to the Zijin Mountain position, and said to himself and Tang Shengzhi: With the help of this terrain and this army, we should have a way to defend Nanjing. Tang Shengzhi already understood what Chiang Kai-shek meant. It is true that he advocated defending Nanjing, but the weight of this burden is also clear. The troops withdrawn from Shanghai were not only greatly reduced but also quite exhausted. There were too many recruits and few were veterans. Moreover, the entire deployment and layout of Beijing and Shanghai had been disrupted, and there was not enough time for rearrangement. Is it possible to rely on a teaching team to defend Nanjing? Tang Shengzhi said: The task is too difficult... Both fell silent. After the inspection, Chiang Kai-shek asked Tang Shengzhi to come up with a city defense plan and a list of Nanjing Garrison Commanders. The latter quickly sent the things over, but the column of Garrison Commanders still did not have the name Chiang Kai-shek wanted. Now that things are up, I have to open the skylight to speak out. In the afternoon, Chiang Kai-shek asked Tang Shengzhi again: Defend Nanjing, either me or you, choose one. Speaking of this, Tang Shengzhi had no way out: You are the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, how could you stay? Rather than you staying, I would rather I stay! Chiang Kai-shek was overjoyed, and immediately said: Very good, but tell me the truth, how confident are you in guarding Nanjing? Tang Shengzhi was not sure in his heart, so he replied, I can only do eight words-not chaotic in the face of danger, and meticulous in the face of difficulties. During the past civil wars, Tang Shengzhi was a man of constant change, uncertain in action and thought. Not only did he organize the "Buddhist Army", but even he had to consult a few sorcerers for every battle. But if you look at it from a distance, he was not alone in the period of the Republic of China. Didn't Feng Yuxiang "baptize" the soldiers with a faucet? It can only be said that this is one of the characteristics of the times. Unlike the wavering during the civil war, Tang Shengzhi has always been a very resolute main fighter in the strategy of the war of resistance.Together with his teacher Jiang Baili, he worked out national defense plans and supervised the repair of national defense fortifications, which can be said to be indispensable for national defense construction, and this is one of the reasons why Chiang Kai-shek insisted on entrusting him with the responsibility of defending the city. At that time, Tang Shengzhi was still suffering from severe stomach problems and his health was very poor. He could only walk on flat roads and could not even climb high ground. Yet he had to take responsibility for the defense of the city, because no one else wanted to do it. Some people said he was stupid afterwards, but Tang Shengzhi did not refute, but he said that there are some things in the world that only stupid people are willing to do. Some people questioned that he was playing a hero, saying that he was a Hunan mule with a single tendon. Tang Shengzhi's answer was: The war has evolved to this point, if we still refuse to stand up and do something, then we will be too sorry for the country.Mule, that is what man needs, can you live without it? On November 20, Tang Shengzhi took up the post of commander of the Nanjing Garrison and officially took over the task of defending the city. Originally, Chiang Kai-shek's so-called "defense" was not to the extent that he wanted to stick to it.He was going to follow Chen Cheng's suggestion to use Zhejiang, Anhui and Jiangxi as the main position, while Nanjing was only used as the avant-garde position, and the two supported each other. However, the fall of Guangde on the evening of November 30th changed the situation suddenly. Liu Chuan's 10th Army passed through Guangde, marched from southern Anhui to the north, and joined forces with the Shanghai Dispatch Army, one east, one west, one left and one right, forming a double-team attack on Nanjing. Potential.The front and rear positions envisioned by Chen Cheng were out of touch with each other, and Nanjing suddenly changed from the avant-garde position to the main position. On December 1, the Japanese High Command made a major decision: attack Nanjing! Prior to this, Deputy Chief of Staff Tada Hayao, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and even the Prime Minister Konoe hesitated whether to capture Nanjing. They once advocated negotiating with China in Shanghai, hoped that enough was enough, and kept saying that Nanjing should be used as a place for truce and peace rather than a place for war. But when the Central China Front Army was about to form a complete siege on Nanjing, all concerns were put aside.Due to the "triumph" all the way, those division heads and staff officers who had no limits began to dismiss the senior officials in the DPRK and China, so that they didn't even bother to pass on a simple battle report to them, and the guards could only talk to ordinary citizens. Similarly, look for the whereabouts of the front-line Japanese troops in published newspapers. But Konoe was still extremely excited. Now that we have already approached the city and attacked the capital of China, besides raising the white flag and signing an alliance with me, is there any other better choice for the other side? Contrary to Jin Wei's expectations, neither Chiang Kai-shek nor Tang Shengzhi was willing to sign any alliance with him. After Tang Shengzhi took office, he changed his executive department to the Nanjing Garrison Command, and he and the senior staff of the executive department shouldered all the planning tasks. The Executive Department was originally only an organization for supervising defense fortifications, but it suddenly had to take on all the responsibilities for defending the city. Moreover, at this time, the staff heard that Gu Zhenglun, the commander of the Nanjing Police Force, had withdrawn to Hunan in advance on the grounds that he had stomach problems and needed medical treatment. . The man surnamed Gu has a stomach problem, and our Chief Tang also has a stomach problem, and it is more serious than him. Why did he run away in a hurry and throw such a heavy burden on us? Is it not his responsibility to guard Nanjing, or does he think we are all fools? , won't you find an excuse to slip away? Tang Shengzhi saw that his subordinates were not only emotional, but also very emotional, so he took the initiative to say to them: Commander Gu is sick and needs to go to the rear to recuperate. undertook. There are still some people who think that Nanjing should not be guarded. Tang Shengzhi said that if you have to defend, not only defend, but now you can only defend to the death.Because the situation has changed, war will come to our doorstep, Nanjing is the capital, we must not give it to the enemy easily. We usually talk about the War of Resistance and the War of Resistance. Is the War of Resistance just for others to sacrifice? Are you willing to let the Japanese take the capital from us casually? Of course not! As he spoke, Tang Shengzhi's voice began to sink, and his tone became more and more serious. I am the responsible officer, and I have decided to live and die with Nanjing. If Nanjing falls, I will not live anymore, but you are aides, not in the same position as me, so I don’t ask you to sacrifice with me. If the city is broken, you should find a way to quickly break through. I only ask you to do the same, to keep working till the end while I am alive! If the former remark is true, the latter part of the heart-pounding self-sufficiency immediately moved everyone present. In terms of position, Tang Shengzhi is now the highest military and political officer in Nanjing, a first-rank general, and of course he has the most reason not to die. If he has the determination and plan to die in Nanjing, can his subordinates ignore it, or even slip away first? After stabilizing the command team, Tang Shengzhi immediately deployed to defend the city. The total number of troops withdrawn from the front line reached more than 100,000, but as he had expected, not many of the 100,000 could fight. Now Tang Shengzhi doesn’t have a personal army around him, and the domestic situation is very special. It’s not like the military circles in Japan. Even after retirement and re-appointment, people from all walks of life can still be obedient to you, just like their old leaders . Although Chiang Kai-shek newly appointed him the post of Nanjing Garrison Commander, in the final analysis, he was nothing more than a bare-handed commander. What Tang Shengzhi could rely on was to teach the team. Previously, in order to teach the corps whether to keep or not, Tang Shengzhi had a quarrel with He Yingqin, Minister of Military and Political Affairs. He Yingqin wanted to transfer the teaching corps to Sichuan and expand it into three armies.Tang Shengzhi was in a hurry, saying that if you want to do this, Nanjing can't be defended at all, and I can't do it as the garrison commander. In the end, Chiang Kai-shek made a decision, leaving six main regiments, and three special service regiments, artillery, cavalry and other special forces withdrew to the rear. Tang Shengzhi rushed to the teaching corps, and before lecturing the officers, he gave a counter-evidence. "Vice President Wang" (Wang Jingwei) said that when we fight the Japanese, we will lose the war.There is a disparity in strength between China and Japan, who doesn't know, but the more we lose, the more we have to fight, so that we will eventually defeat the Japanese. If the enemy invades, fight from a distance; if you lose a long distance, fight in close combat; if you lose in close combat, defend the city; Tang Shengzhi went on to say, "The chairman" promised me that as long as I stay in Nanjing for three months, I will definitely organize troops to counterattack. Three months is too short, we have to guard for six months, and we will never leave Nanjing without an order! A generous and iron-blooded speech immediately warmed up the atmosphere in the venue. Tang Shengzhi finally asked everyone, is it more important to stick to Nanjing, or to save your life? Everyone's blood boiled with enthusiasm, and they all shouted: It is important to defend the city. After the agitation was over, Tang Shengzhi came to practice. The officers and soldiers of the teaching corps in Nanjing will give you three months' salary first, and one month's settling allowance for those with family members. Before December 1, they all tried to send their family members home or to the rear. It has become increasingly difficult to fulfill the latter promise.Walking from the water, since the Central Navy was almost completely wiped out, the Japanese Navy began to break through the river blockade and gradually penetrated into the Yangtze River.Walking from land, the encirclement is closing again, and danger is everywhere. But no matter how difficult it is, it has to be done, because Tang Shengzhi's years of experience in leading troops told him that this is the minimum guarantee to win the hearts of the troops. Tang Shengzhi told the officers and soldiers that those who did not want to stay could leave on their own if they asked for leave within three days. Where to go, you have to think clearly. I thought about it all, and I didn't see how many people asked for leave to leave. The salary was paid, and the family gave it. Tang Shengzhi ordered people to buy a large amount of tobacco and alcohol, and he could take whatever he wanted to eat and drink. After all this was done, he began to put on a straight face, and picked up the Shangfang sword bestowed by Chiang Kai-shek himself. All ministries who retreat without authorization will be punished according to the law of joint sitting. I will transfer Song Xilian as a reserve team to be responsible for maintaining military discipline by the river. Without the help of the teaching corps, and a combination of favor and force, with the morale after Shanghai's retreat, Nanjing may be difficult to defend for a long time.