SWDnovel Chapter 52: Japanese Army's Attempt to Persuade Surrender; Li Jianghe Dances Again in Commander
Chapter 52: Japanese Army's Attempt to Persuade Surrender; Li Jianghe Dances Again in Commander
Li Jianghe also discovered that after capturing the Japanese 105mm and 150mm heavy artillery, the system would automatically unlock the corresponding ammunition cards.
However, artillery shells are expensive within the system space, and the larger the caliber, the more expensive they are.
Li Jianghe spent 3000 merit points, which is equivalent to acquiring 1000 new heavy artillery shells, averaging 3 merit points per shell.
However, when he thought about how one merit point could buy two M24 grenades, he felt that the money was well spent.
Upgrading the weapons for these squads cost a considerable sum, which pained Li Jianghe considerably.
Having completed all of these tasks, 30,000 merit points have already been spent. The rest will be reserved for urban warfare and subsequent troop reconstruction, etc.
In the following days, Li Jianghe led his soldiers to lay a large number of landmines and anti-tank mines on the Yuhuatai front line, while also constructing a large number of tunnel defense works on the reverse slope.
These tunnels are connected to the positions on the southern slope of Yuhuatai.
Another aspect is the support provided to the 262nd Brigade, mainly in the form of anti-tank weapons and anti-tank mines.
Li Jianghe knew that the 262nd Brigade's anti-tank capabilities were now primarily based on flesh and blood, and they didn't have a single anti-tank gun.
Although the two sides are defending different areas, when a real battle breaks out, they are comrades-in-arms in the same trench, sharing the same breath and honor and disgrace.
Zhu Chi and the others were naturally grateful and even wanted to write an IOU, saying they would definitely repay it when they had the chance.
Li Jianghe didn't refuse, took the IOU, thinking that it was a waste not to take it, after all, they were the Central Army, and Chiang Kai-shek would provide them with supplies later.
Perhaps we can even acquire a lot of American equipment in the future.
On the 7th, Niushou Mountain and Chunhua Town had fallen after days of fierce attacks. The Japanese troops rested briefly for two days before launching their final attack on Nanjing.
In fact, the battle in the direction of Zijin Mountain had already begun. However, the Central Training Corps held firm and the Japanese army launched continuous attacks but failed to gain any advantage, resulting in a stalemate.
The expeditionary force headquarters placed its hopes for a swift breakthrough of the Nanjing defenses on the three divisions in the south.
In addition, a large number of army air troops would also provide support for the Japanese offensive.
At the pre-battle meeting, the commander of the 10th Army, Heisuke Yanagawa, was full of confidence and said that he would take Zhonghua Gate in two days.
Suematsu Shigeharu and others were equally confident, because according to intelligence, only the remnants of the 88th Division and some miscellaneous troops remained guarding the Zhonghua Gate.
Only Tani Hisao was preoccupied, knowing that this would be a tough battle, because Li Jianghe's troops were stationed at Yuhuatai outside Zhonghua Gate.
Also on the morning of the 7th, at Nanjing Ming Xiaoling Airport, a plane took off with the roar of its engines.
The Chairman in the city decided to move to the Wuhan headquarters, and before leaving, he instructed Tang Shengzhi to defend Nanjing to the death.
On the 8th, Japanese warplanes flew over Nanjing and dropped the surrender document.
They demanded that the garrison in Nanjing lay down their arms and surrender unconditionally.
That afternoon, the garrison command held another pre-battle meeting.
At the meeting, the main commanders from all directions were present.
Originally, Li Jianghe, a mere regimental commander, was not qualified to attend the meeting at all.
However, he had previously led a night raid and achieved a considerable victory, and he had more than three thousand soldiers with high morale, which was a fresh force.
After all, many division commanders today cannot muster three thousand soldiers capable of fighting, let alone three thousand well-equipped and highly motivated elite troops.
Therefore, the magistrate of Xiaoshan specifically invited him to attend the meeting, and before the meeting even started, he instructed Li Jianghe:
"Jiang He, if the Commander asks you again this time, don't mention retreating. Just say you'll fight to the death, understand?"
"Understood, Chief of Staff."
Li Jianghe readily agreed.
The meeting began with Tang Shengzhi tearing up Matsui Iwane's letter urging him to surrender, demonstrating his determination and attitude to defend the city to the death.
"I swear to defend Nanjing to the death and will never surrender. Fellow soldiers, please stand with our positions to the death. Anyone who retreats without authorization will be punished according to the law! I am prepared to fight to the death in Nanjing! I hope you all share this resolve and will sacrifice yourselves for righteousness!!"
His voice was strong and clear, almost cracking.
Li Jianghe had no doubt that Tang Shengzhi truly wanted to live and die with Nanjing at this moment.
But a true warrior is not someone who acts impulsively out of a moment of passion, but someone who remains steadfast in their initial choice even knowing that death is inevitable.
Everyone expressed their opinions, including Gui Yongqing of the Central Training Corps, Sun Yuanliang, commander of the 88th Division, Wang Jingjiu, commander of the 71st Army, and Shen Fazhao, commander of the 87th Division, among others. They were particularly vocal and wished they could die for their country on the spot.
Li Jianghe thought to himself, "They're all so eager to express their opinions now, but once the city falls, they'll all be running away faster than anyone else."
Sun Yuanliang, in particular, was a professional runaway, known as the "Long-Legged General".
On the contrary, Xiao Shanling, who remained silent, was the true hero who fought to the death and ultimately sacrificed his life for his country.
Just then, Tang Shengzhi looked at Li Jianghe, who had been standing in the corner without saying a word or even showing any expression.
He was displeased; the previous incident had already given him some prejudice against Li Jianghe, and given that this man had no powerful backing, he spoke up:
"Commander Li, what do you think?"
Tang Shengzhi asked again.
There is no other regimental commander here but Li Jianghe.
It's not that the surname Li is particularly rare; the main issue is that Li Jianghe was the only officer of such a low rank at this meeting.
Chief of Staff Xiao Shen desperately tried to signal to Li Jianghe not to step into Tang Shengzhi's minefield again.
Li Jianghe began by saying:
"Of course I will fight to the death and perish with the Yuhuatai position."
These words relieved Chief of Staff Xiao Shen and made Tang Shengzhi nod with satisfaction.
He thought to himself that this kid had finally stopped disobeying him.
Just as Tang Shengzhi was about to offer a symbolic compliment, Li Jianghe spoke up again.
"However... I still suggest that we do not confiscate the boats, and at the same time, we should organize civilians to cross the river as much as possible to reduce civilian casualties in the war."
He couldn't hold it in; he simply couldn't suppress something like this.
Because these people don't know, but he does.
After the fall of Nanjing, what fell was not only the Blue Sky with a White Sun flag of the Presidential Palace, but also the heads of more than 300,000 Chinese compatriots.
Li Jianghe simply wanted to make these people run around more and more, that's all.
But this is tantamount to dancing in Tang Shengzhi's minefield.
The army cannot withdraw, and neither can the people!
Tang Shengzhi, whose expression had been slightly composed, suddenly turned cold and slammed his hand on the table.
"Disrupting morale! If we weren't in dire need of manpower, I would have killed you right now!!!"
But Li Jianghe met his gaze without backing down.
He has a clear conscience.
Chief of Staff Xiao Shen quickly tried to smooth things over, saying:
"Commander, he didn't try to demoralize the troops; he just didn't want innocent civilians to be implicated."
Song Xilian, commander of the 36th Division, also said:
"Yes, Commander, please don't be angry about this. Commander Li is only considering the overall situation in Nanjing. With so many civilians crowding the city, it will be difficult for us to carry out subsequent street fighting."