That night, Zhang Tianhai ate and drank wine at the Chen Mansion, and also got extremely drunk. He didn't wake up until noon the next day.
Oh, by the way, there was another incident on March 27, 1938.
That was on March 27, the Japanese army increased its troops by 4,000, formed a regiment, and carried more than 30 tanks, and invaded Taierzhuang again. The Chinese army deployed part of its troops at Liujia Lake in the north of Taierzhuang to defend itself against the enemy.
After the swearing-in meeting was held on the 27th, Zhang Tianhai's good days began. After all, he could relax a little. However, his days of relaxation ended in less than two days.
On the morning of March 29, Zhang Tianhai received a transfer order from the headquarters of the Fifth Theater Commander. This was an order to transfer the entire regiment of the Zhiyi Regiment to Xuzhou.
When receiving the order, Zhang Tianhai felt very heavy: Sure enough, the enemy still did not give them a chance to rest together.
After receiving this order, Zhang Tianhai did not take action immediately. Instead, he asked deputy regiment commander Zhou Fangjie and chief of staff Guo Qiliang to gather at the regiment headquarters first.
"Lao Zhang, why are you so anxious to call us back?" asked Zhou Fangjie, who had just returned to the regiment headquarters.
"Yeah. I'm wondering too." said Guo Qiliang, who had also just returned to the regiment headquarters.
"See for yourselves, the order from the superior department has come down." After saying that, Zhang Tianhai directly handed a piece of telegram translation to Zhou Fangjie and Guo Qiliang.
I saw the translation of this telegram: Zhang Tianhai, commander of the first regiment directly under the third theater, I now order you as the commander-in-chief of the fifth theater to immediately lead your troops south to Xuzhou. Jiangsu Automobile Group has been dispatched. The Second Brigade Headquarters went to Lanling to help your troops transport supplies. After receiving the order, you immediately led the leading troops southward. Li Zongren, Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth War Zone of the Republic of China, at 8:05 am on March 29, the twenty-seventh year of the Republic of China.
After reading the telegram, Zhou Fangjie couldn't help but take a breath: This scene looked so much like the urgent battle report before Nanjing fell...could it be that Xuzhou could no longer be saved?
"It seems that the war situation in Xuzhou is urgent. Even our troops in Linyi have to be transferred back to Xuzhou. It seems that the war there is already urgent." Guo Qiliang said with a frown.
"I think so too, and they even sent a person from the Automobile Corps to deliver supplies to us. The commander-in-chief really thinks highly of us..." Zhang Tianhai sighed.
"The troops of the 59th Army and the 40th Army in Linyi are fighting against the main force of the Japanese Itagaki Division. Now they have taken us away. What can Linyi do?" Zhou Fangjie asked.
"Isn't there Gu Shi'an, deputy commander of the city defense, guarding here? Don't forget, they have three battalions. In addition to heavy weapons such as grenades and artillery, they also have light and heavy machine guns. Yes. If I think about it, it wouldn't be a problem to defend Lanling and support Linyi in the battle, right?" Zhang Tianhai said seriously.
"It makes sense to say so, but now their three battalions are in short supply of qualified cadres, especially the City Defense Staff Department. There are almost no qualified staff officers. Not to mention staff officers, there are not many literate people. Na." Guo Qiliang sighed. Gu Shi'an had complained to him more than once, hoping to mobilize some key personnel from the regiment headquarters to assist him.
However, the Zhiyi Regiment also lacked cadres, especially staff-type talents. But they forgot that when Gu Shi'an was responsible for setting up the city defense battalion, he took three staff officers with him.
Therefore, Guo Qiliang was really powerless to deal with Gu Shi'an's request for complaint... So taking advantage of this opportunity, Guo Qiliang raised it.
"Let's do this! Isn't the student class still there? Throw them all to the Staff Section of the City Defense Headquarters and learn the knowledge of staff operations." Zhang Tianhai made a decision directly.
In Zhang Tianhai's view, his Zhiyi Regiment definitely has no shortage of grassroots combatants. What the Zhiyi Regiment lacks is cadres, especially qualified cadres.
First of all, let’s not talk about the grassroots combat cadres that are most in short supply. In fact, the staff of the staff department are also relatively short of personnel, especially after Gu Shian transferred three staff officers to the city defense headquarters. Don’t forget, Gu Shian himself He is also the staff director, which means that there are now four fewer staff officers working at the headquarters of the Zhiyi Regiment.
Therefore, Zhang Tianhai wanted to throw the dozen or so students to Gu Shi'an. No matter what, at least after the battle in Taierzhuang, he wanted to see these qualified staff officers who were qualified for the job!
As for placing the students at the headquarters of the Zhiyi Regiment, Zhang Tianhai decided to forget it. After the battle, when Gu Shian had taught them the most basic things, it would undoubtedly be best to transfer them back. .
But no matter what, Zhang Tianhai still had to arrange everything before setting off.
"I think this is a good idea. By the way, Lao Zhang, which unit will come back to escort our belongings to Xuzhou?" Zhou Fangjie asked a very crucial question. It doesn't matter if Zhiyi Tuan is poor. The key is that now Zhiyi Tuan is poor. Rich, and a lot of rich.
On this point, the three senior cadres of the Zhiyi Regiment still have the same view on not showing off their talents - what if they are ordered to be distributed by the chief of the General Department? Isn’t that just trying to draw water from a bamboo basket but in vain?
The main reason is that these are more than 1,700 artillery shells. If each cannon has a strike speed of five shells per minute, it can last twenty-nine minutes, which is equivalent to nearly half an hour. Twelve cannons Shooting for half an hour, what a luxury it is, I feel so happy just thinking about it.
Naturally, you have to do such a pleasant thing yourself, and you must not let it be done by friendly forces.
"I plan to leave the cavalry battalion and Wang Ziqing's third battalion to protect the convoy and protect our belongings." Zhang Tianhai said with his hands on the table, his expression very serious.
"Lao Zhang, Lao Zhang, it's just as I expected. Usually you always say that we are stingy and love money too much, but at the critical moment, your true nature is revealed. This arrangement of troops is really an arrangement. The third battalion with the strongest combat effectiveness and the most mobile cavalry battalion guard the property. When it comes to cunning, I can't wait for you..." Guo Qiliang pointed at Zhang Tianhai with a smile and said.
"Otherwise, how could I be the group leader? Without Xiao Jiujiu, our group would have so many possessions? Don't even think about it. Haha." Zhang Tianhai smiled smugly, his expression full of cunning and pride.
"Okay. Let's stop bragging and make arrangements to go south! Just don't run into the Japanese army face to face. If we do, we will probably suffer a big loss..." Zhou Fangjie reminded, he was just afraid of Zhang Tianhai They were too arrogant and ended up suffering big losses.
Everyone in this group has worked hard to make it what it is today. It would be a pity if we suffered a loss due to carelessness. To be honest, Zhou Fangjie really liked the working environment of the Zhiyi Regiment. At least there were not so many hills. Everyone was gathered together to form a unit to fight against Japan.
What's more, Zhang Tianhai seems to hate being a gangster within Zhiyi Tuan. If we have a better relationship, we can play together, but if you really do that kind of backstabbing thing, don't blame Zhang Da Tuan. He turned his back and refused to recognize anyone.
"Okay, this time the main force of the regiment, the first battalion, the second battalion, the fourth battalion, the troops directly under the regiment and the artillery battalion will go south first. Oh, by the way, I hope He Jiye, the chief of the political training section, and brother Fang Jie will go south together. , that is, stay in Lanling and go south together with the third battalion, the cavalry battalion and the two baggage companies. To ensure the safety of the journey, I wonder what you two think?" Zhang Tianhai asked with his hands on the table.
"I have no objection and will absolutely obey the arrangement!" Zhou Fangjie said.
"I don't have any objection either. Our staff department can immediately come up with a plan of action." Guo Qiliang also agreed with Zhang Tianhai's arrangement.
The three of them were military officers directly under the First Regiment of the Third War Zone. Only the First Regiment could fight and beat the Japanese army to a bloody head. This was a good thing for everyone.
After all, if the war is won, everyone can be promoted and have better development prospects, so at this point, their interests are the same.
"Okay! That's it." Zhang Tianhai made the decision directly.
Under the decision of Zhang Tianhai, Zhou Fangjie, and Guo Qiliang, the three senior officials of the First Regiment, the big machine of the First Regiment directly under the Third War Zone began to slowly turn, and it started to turn towards Xuzhou!
"Quick, quick, quick~! Speed up the progress!" The junior officers were shouting. After all, this was a fatal order from above.
The sound of cars, the sound of horse hooves and the neighing of horses made it a very busy scene.
Just when the entire regiment was busy evacuating, Zhang Tianhai once again boarded the gate of Chen's mansion. The difference from usual was that this time, he was going to take Zheng Man back to Xuzhou.
Because of the early stage of the Battle of Xuzhou, the Japanese army reached Taierzhuang and did not hit Xuzhou. Only in the later period, because the Japanese North China Front Army and the Central China Front Army jointly dispatched to annihilate the main force of the fifth theater, Xuzhou had to be abandoned.
In other words, during this period of time, Xuzhou is in a state of absolute safety. Unless you are really unlucky and are really going to be hit by an aerial bomb or artillery shell, there is nothing you can do. If you are unlucky, you can't even drink cold water. Fortress teeth.
What's more, if he stays in Lanling, there will be more uncertainties. Who knows whether Itagaki Seishiro will have convulsions and make a crazy move to attack Lanling first.
After all, for Seishiro Itagaki, a lunatic who could make half a division fight against a 200,000-strong national army, nothing was impossible!
As for believing in the combat effectiveness of the city defense camp, Zhang Tianhai himself didn't believe it!
…
PS: The first update is here!
The second update will be delivered after eleven o'clock in the evening. I will have to go out of town later.
