Since July, the Third Brigade on the other side of the river has held high-intensity military exercises for seven consecutive days, including today. Both the number of exercises and the intensity of the exercises have far exceeded any previous period.
This abnormal behavior made Ji Xingwen quite uneasy. He always felt that these Japanese soldiers were planning something...
"Team leader, their recent exercises have been very intense, which is extremely abnormal. I think these little devils may be repeating their old tricks and preparing to repeat the military horse incident." The young adjutant looked at the third brigade on the other side of the river, which was alternately covering the attack, and nodded in response. .
"You're right." Ji Xingwen heard this and nodded thoughtfully.
The military-horse incident broke out in October 1936 in Fengtai.
At that time, just like now, the Japanese conducted military exercises every day, deliberately provoking their own defenders, creating friction and contradictions. One night, a Japanese brigade conducting military exercises suddenly approached the Fengtai Defense Area, announced that a military horse belonging to it had entered the defense area, and demanded Our own defenders will hand it over. If not, they will forcefully break into Fengtai and search.
After detailed investigation, our own defenders confirmed that no Japanese troops and horses had entered the defense area, so they refused the Japanese army's request for return and search. Upon hearing this, the Japanese immediately took this opportunity to open fire on the grounds that the Fengtai defenders refused to return their troops and horses. The Fengtai defenders opened fire. fight back.
The conflict between the two sides intensified to its peak.
Feng Zhian, commander of the 37th Division, commanded two battalions of troops to surround the Japanese attacking troops from the left and right wings. Due to insufficient terrain and insufficient troops, the Japanese troops finally withdrew, and our side won the battle.
However, although this battle only achieved a tactical victory, it was a complete strategic defeat. The Japanese took advantage of this to make a big fuss and eventually forced the 29th Army to evacuate Fengtai, and Fengtai fell into the hands of the Japanese.
This is the military horse incident that broke out last year.
The scene before us is very similar to the situation before the outbreak of the military horse incident. The Japanese create friction every day and conduct military exercises every day. Its significance is self-evident.
"It's a pity that people in our army are now uneasy. Many regimental and battalion-level officers go out drunk and prostitutes all day long. They can't see the threat to the Japanese at all. In other words, they see it but don't care. If another conflict similar to the military horse incident breaks out, , Marco Polo Bridge is likely to change hands to the Japanese again."
The young adjutant recalled the internal situation of the 29th Army in recent days, and his eyes were full of worry: "The Marco Polo Bridge is our army's last external channel. If it is lost, our army and Peiping will be completely surrounded."
The strategic position of the Marco Polo Bridge is too important. Once lost, the 29th Army will lose rear support. At that time, the entire 29th Army will have only two choices, either to recapture the Marco Polo Bridge or to evacuate the Pingjin area.
Choosing the former means starting the war. Now whether the 29th Army can defeat the Japanese army is really a question mark.
Although the 29th Army has a large number of troops, as many as 100,000, internal corruption within the army is extremely serious.
Money, women, fine wine, the 29th Army comes from a remote and remote area. In the past few years since it was stationed in Pingjin, most of the middle and high-level officers inside have been corroded by the feasting and luxurious life of big cities, and have lost their original will and quality.
When the situation in Peiping was tense and critical, many middle-level officers still went to visit the brothels, have tea, and drink flower wine.
There is almost zero vigilance against the Japanese, and many people even think that the Japanese will not come again. They have taken over large areas of the three northeastern provinces and Pingjin, and their appetites are full.
The role of mid-level officers as a link between the past and the next and the responsibility of commanding front-line operations is not unimportant. However, such serious corruption and ideological problems in the military make people have to worry about it.
Once a war breaks out, how many soldiers can the 29th Army with 100,000 people have to fight?
No one knows about this problem.
"Yes, since our army entered Pingjin, many people have been blinded by the bustling life in big cities... Forget it, let's not talk about it. Our 219th Regiment only needs to guard the Marco Polo Bridge. Others are afraid of the little Japanese." Ji Xingwen nodded: "Send me an order to put the first battalion into combat readiness, just in case."
"Yes!" The young adjutant straightened his back, raised his right hand, and gave a military salute.
After saying that, he turned around and left, getting off the Wanping City Defense Tower.
Ji Xingwen continued to stay on the city defense building, watching through the telescope the Japanese Third Battalion attacking under the cover of night on the other side of the river, maintaining a high level of vigilance.
He doesn't care what others think of the Japanese.
But he and the 219th Regiment must not have any illusions or expectations about the Japanese. Ji Xingwen will never forget the teachings of his uncle ***.
I wish I would die if I didn't resist the Japanese, and I will leave it as a shame today.
The country has been destroyed like this, why should I regret it?
"Little devil, one day, I will also conduct military exercises on your land, and let you watch..." Ji Xingwen said through gritted teeth with the help of the faint light, looking at the Japanese Third Brigade in the telescope.
In Wanping City, the First Battalion of the 219th Regiment received an order from the regiment commander Ji Xingwen, and all soldiers and officers were put into combat readiness to prepare for any possible conflicts.
Across the river.
"Report to the captain, there is no response from the 219th Regiment in Wanping City. The defenders on the bridge are on alert." In the headquarters of the third brigade, a Japanese second lieutenant came in with the latest reconnaissance information and stood in front of the captain who was looking at the map of Marco Polo Bridge. Captain Ichiki Kiyoshi stepped forward and reported.
Hearing this, Yimu Qingzhi took the latest information, took a look, nodded, his eyes fell on the map of Marco Polo Bridge and Wanping City again, and did not care about the troops attacking outside at night: "I didn't expect that our The opponent still maintains the most basic tactical literacy. He is an excellent Chinese soldier and deserves praise. Mr. Sato, how do you think we should deal with the opponent of the 219th Regiment?"
There was no response in the city, and the defenders on the bridge were on alert. This showed that the 219th Regiment in Wanping City was in a state of combat readiness and remained vigilant. I have to say that Ichiki Kiyoshi admired Ji Xingwen, a Chinese soldier, after all, in his recognition As we all know, there are very few Chinese soldiers who can remain vigilant at all times.
Stay vigilant, this is the most basic quality of a soldier.
However, there are really very few people in the Chinese army who can do this.
"I don't know, I don't know." Captain Sato lowered his head and responded.
"According to information from the intelligence agency, Ji Xingwen has outstanding military capabilities and is good at defensive warfare. It just so happens that my third battalion is good at offense. I don't know who will win between us." Ichiki Kiyoshi smiled straightly, stood up and walked outside the headquarters. , looking at Wanping City on the other side of the river, he said seriously.
Captain Sato followed up and said respectfully: "Of course my third group wins."
"It's a pity that Ji Xingwen has not responded to our interference and friction for so long. I hope there will be a good harvest tomorrow. What time is it?" Ichiki asked with a straight smile.
"It's already nine forty," Sato responded.
"Inform the troops to end today's exercise and count the number of people." Ichiki Qingzhi nodded and gave the order to the messenger on the side.
"The Point Guard Is Here"
"Yes!" The messenger turned and left.
…
At 9:55 in the evening, the exercise ended. As a new recruit, Kikujiro Shimura was very tired. The hot weather and heavy weapons and equipment consumed his physical strength crazily during the exercise.
Shimura Kikujiro packed up his Type 38 rifle, checked the weapons and equipment to make sure they were correct, and turned around to walk back. At this moment, he suddenly felt an unprecedented pain in his stomach.
stomachache……
