After speaking of Chiang Kai-shek's order, Tang Shengzhi issued a formal retreat order.
Everyone present had a copy of this paper evacuation order document, and Zhang Tianhai, who was sitting at the last one at the conference table, was no exception. He picked up this document titled "Capital Garrison Commander's Operation Order Special Characters" I read the document No. 1 carefully.
Only the text is as follows:
"Capital Garrison Commander's Special Operation Order No. 1
December 12, 3 p.m.
Order
At the Capital Railway Garrison Headquarters
1. The enemy’s situation is known to your noble officials.
2. The capital garrison decided to break through the enemy in front of them this evening and move towards the Zhejiang-Anhui border area. The troops in our seventh theater (i.e. Nanjing Garrison Area) were stationed in Ji'an, Badian (northeast of Ningguo) and Sunjiabu (Xuanjiabu). Southeast of the city) Yangliupu (southwest of Xuancheng) line to contain the enemy in front of us and prepare to receive the transfer of troops from our capital. Our 76th Division is also in Wuhu, and our 6th Division is occupying the position in Shihuang Town to the south and is fighting against the enemy.
3. The starting time, passing area, and assembly area of each unit tonight are as specified in the attached table.
4. Fortress artillery and all kinds of artillery and ammunition that are difficult to move should be completely blown up immediately and not used.
5. In addition to those assigned to each unit of the communications corps, which should move with the assigned units, other fixed and heavy communication equipment and all communication networks inside and outside the city should be completely destroyed in coordination with local communication agencies.
6. All units must avoid highways when moving after a breakout, and must send troops to destroy important highways and bridges as appropriate to prevent the enemy's movement.
7. Officers and soldiers of each unit should carry four days' worth of fried rice and salt.
8. I engrave it at the garrison headquarters, and then go to Puzhen.
Youling
(The first and second sheets of the appendix are included)
Commander-in-Chief Tang Shengzhi”
Looking at this order, Zhang Tianhai slightly bit his lips. If he follows this order from Chief Tang, even if the enemy captures Nanjing, what they will get is an empty city, but there are two to three hundred thousand people in the refugee camp. Woolen cloth? What should they do?
Zhang Tianhai knew that this order was not perfect, but he did not dare to mention it. The current situation was the moment when the troops were about to retreat. If he proposed to transfer the refugees at this moment, he would probably be unanimously opposed by everyone. Opposition also included Tang Shengzhi.
The army of 50,000 to 60,000 people was about to retreat and relocate now. He also saw how critical the current situation was. It was simply impossible to move these hundreds of thousands of refugees out of Nanjing. Don't forget, Nanjing was about to become a besieged city. .
Of the 140,000 to 50,000 troops, only 50,000 to 60,000 are left, including 20,000 wounded soldiers. Nanjing is doomed.
Feeling sad, Zhang Tianhai still opened the rest of the breakout plan.
It recorded in detail the direction of the breakout of each army and division. Of course, it also specifically stated that the first regiment directly under his third theater was to follow the garrison commander's department, oh no, to be more precise, it was for the commander's department. Open the way.
The time on this list is written, and it will probably get dark around five o'clock in the afternoon. The troops of the First Regiment directly under the Third War Zone took two ferries to cross the river at Coal Port. After the troops crossed the river, they started to guard along the river. After cooperating with the troops directly under the chief minister's department and the ministries and agencies directly under the ministry to cross the river, they went to Xuzhou to assemble.
At around six o'clock, the chief's entourage and the chief's special agent team will arrive at the coal port. Song Xilian's department will perform security duties and try their best to maintain order on the shore. After the troops directly under the chief's department cross the river, the 36th Division The officers and soldiers immediately began to cross the river, and after crossing the river, they rushed to Wuyi to stand by.
As for the 74th Army, the 71st Army (the 87th Division), and the 72nd Army (the 88th Division), they retreated from Tiexinqiao to Guli Village to Lulangqiao at night;
The Sixty-sixth Army and the Teaching Corps selected the east side of the airport to advance towards the area from Gaoqiao Gate to Lishui Town, Chunhua Town and break out;
The 83rd Army broke out from the northern foot of Zijin to the lines connecting Qilin Gate to Tiansheng Temple;
The Second Army should try its best to hold on to the Wulongshan Fortress and blockade the enemy. As a last resort, it should cross the river to assemble in Liuhe and be on standby.
…
Looking at these documents, Zhang Tianhai couldn't help but sigh, this is a genius combat plan. If executed properly, basically every unit can break out, but can it really do so?
You know, most of the time the battle plans of the national army are formulated by geniuses and executed by fools.
"Everyone, do you have anything else to ask?" Tang Shengzhi asked, standing in front of the conference table with his hands on the conference table.
The generals' brows were furrowed, as if they were thinking about something, but no one made a sound.
Seeing this, Tang Shengzhi adjusted his glasses, and then continued: "Then, let me talk about the key points of the breakout. After the commanders of each army return, they must immediately prepare for the retreat and breakout. They must break out in the direction on the table to avoid It caused chaos among the troops and made it impossible to complete the breakout mission."
"Yes!" all the generals responded, including Zhang Tianhai, the only one present who was not a general.
Next, Tang Shengzhi focused on some key points for a breakout. This meeting was very short, taking only twenty minutes. It was the fastest meeting to end since the beginning of the Nanjing Defense War.
When he walked out of the conference room, Zhang Tianhai's expression was confused, but after waiting for a while, Tang Shengzhi stopped Zhang Tianhai: "Captain Zhang, please stay for a moment."
Zhang Tianhai looked back and saw Tang Shengzhi coming over with a piece of paper signed with his name and printed with the official's signature.
Tang Shengzhi walked directly to Zhang Tianhai and handed the order with the freshly dried ink to Zhang Tianhai: "Captain Zhang, you should immediately lead your first regiment to gather at the coal port. There are still a large number of people there. Ferry, after your regiment arrives at Coal Port, immediately organize a crossing of the river! This is my order. I have urgently called the Hu Zongnan First Army Station stationed in Pukou to ask them to help your troops cross the river, and no shots are allowed. Before six o'clock, Your troops must finish crossing the river!"
"Yes! Sir!" Zhang Tianhai took the paper order from Tang Shengzhi's hand, stood at attention and saluted with a serious expression.
After saying that, Zhang Tianhai walked straight out of the office building of the Ministry of Railways, and directly summoned the chief of staff Guo Qiliang, as well as the commanders of the troops and agencies directly under the regiment, plus the battalion commanders of the four infantry battalions, the special agent company and the guards for a meeting The platoon acted as guard for impromptu meetings, prohibiting any approach except by the officers present.
After the personnel were gathered, Zhang Tianhai didn't waste any more nonsense and started to announce the order directly: "Everyone, the commander has now issued the latest order, which is about the breakout of our Nanjing garrison. Our regiment is directly under the theater. In this time During the operation, we were temporarily under the command of the garrison commander's headquarters. After the meeting, our entire regiment immediately headed to the Coal Port to assemble at full speed. The entire regiment must complete the crossing of the river before six o'clock. After crossing the river, our regiment must immediately deploy on the other side. Guards along the river are to respond to the retreat of the commander-in-chief and the troops and agencies directly under the commander-in-chief to cross the river. Do you understand?"
"Understood!" the officers responded softly. After all, this is still a confidential meeting for the time being and must be conducted in a low-key manner.
Zhang Tianhai nodded, and then said in a voice that everyone could hear very clearly: "Okay, just understand. Next, I will announce the order of our regiment's crossing the river. The first batch to go over will be the first battalion of our regiment and If there are still vacancies among the agencies and units directly under the regiment, that is, the second battalion will send additional personnel to the other side to gather first. I, the officers and soldiers of the special agent company, and the rest of the troops will wait for the next round of crossing the river. Your actions when crossing the river must be Be quick, be quick! You must not interfere with the officers of the Chief Department's crossing the river, do you understand?"
"Understood!" All the officers responded in unison.
"Okay. After the meeting is over, immediately organize the troops to gather at the coal port. We don't have much time left. Adjourn the meeting!" Zhang Tianhai was not one to wait for words, and immediately announced the decision to adjourn the meeting. In this little time, for them To me, it was really too late.
…
PS: Another chapter is here. The climax of this volume is about to begin. Please wait and see~!
