Chapter 1482 The First Military Order!

After the headquarters was established, the first military order issued by Xianjue was to evacuate the entire city of Hengyang!

Fang Xianjue understood that since he and the 10th Army wanted to defend Hengyang City, the entire city of Hengyang would become a position.

The only ones left here are warriors!

But the evacuation of the people cannot be just a military order. It is 300,000 living people, not 300,000 sheep.

Even the extremely capable Zhao Junmai had a bitter look on his face when he was handed the military order that gave him full authority to evacuate the people.

Hengyang had accepted Zhao Zili's order three days ago to destroy all roads outside the city. If you want to leave Hengyang, you have to either walk or rely on railway transportation.

Fang Xianjue was extremely decisive. After issuing the military order to evacuate all citizens that afternoon, he drove to Hengyang Railway Station with Tang Dao, who had just arrived in Hengyang.

There, more than 100,000 people have gathered.

These people stood in the wilderness of the train station with bedding on their backs and the most valuable and delicate packages in their homes hanging around their necks. They held dolls in their hands and looked around blankly.

Hengyang is no longer the small county town it once was, but a 'Little Shanghai' with a population of over 300,000. To evacuate 300,000 people within a week, even in the future with developed transportation, it will not happen overnight, let alone What's more, it's China at this time.

There were only two tin can trucks from Guangxi Province. Even if they were full and people were even on the roof, they could only take away 10,000 people. In seven days, they could only take away 70,000 people.

The panic on the faces of the people and the heart-rending cries of the children became the main theme of this wilderness.

Fang Xianjue frowned fiercely. If the people could not evacuate completely and fled to the wilderness, they would be destined to become living targets for the Japanese army. In the city, they would only become victims of artillery fire.

Not only will there be heavy casualties, but more importantly, the army will also be responsible for the food supplies of these people, which will also lead to a deterioration in the army's continuous combat capability.

But people can't put on wings and fly away. Even he is a little helpless in the face of this situation.

"Sir Fang, I suggest that you don't tell the people about the difficulty of evacuation first, but first express your feelings and our Hengyang army's determination to defend the city to stabilize the people's hearts." Tang Dao, standing next to Fang Xianjue He suddenly spoke.

"What do you mean?" Fang Xianjue obviously didn't quite understand what Tang Dao meant.

"In the past, the 67th Army and I were ordered to defend Songjiang for three days. The people of Songjiang took the initiative to stay and help defend the enemy. Up to 6,000 people. They may not be able to carry guns and fight the Japanese army, but without their help in digging trenches and building fortifications, we soldiers alone would "You can't fulfill the military order," Tang Dao replied with a firm look.

"In Songjiang, our army had no choice but to retreat after completing the order, but this time, I was a little tired. If anyone is really willing to stay and fight against the Japanese pirates with me, then this Hengyang City will become the home for me and the entire Sixing Regiment. The burial place of officers and soldiers is not a bad idea!”

Songjiang was Tang Dao's second defensive battle in this era, and it was also one of the cruelest battlefields he had ever experienced in this era.

30,000 VS 100,000, mortars faced 105 howitzers, the combat effectiveness of both sides was completely different.

After the Battle of Songjiang, Tang Dao almost never mentioned Songjiang in front of others, and few people knew that this battle was actually the hidden pain in Tang Dao's heart.

Yes, the 67th Army avoided the tragedy of time and space. It did not completely collapse after losing its commander on the Huangpu River. It also maintained a certain combat effectiveness after killing a large number of Japanese invaders in Songjiang City.

But what about Songjiang City? Still lost.

And what about the Songjiang people who took the initiative to stay and fight with them against the Japanese pirates? They took huge risks and stayed in the city to transport supplies and build fortifications for the army. Their simplest purpose was to protect their poor home.

Before the evacuation, more than 1,000 of the 6,000 young men who took the initiative to stay behind were killed by artillery fire. More than 2,000 people were temporarily recruited into the army, and nearly 3,000 people survived.

But they could only watch helplessly as the troops who completed the blocking order had to use the night to evacuate. Otherwise, the remaining more than 10,000 soldiers would all die in that small town.

Whether strategically or tactically, the 67th Army and the Sixing Battalion must retreat.

But for those people who stayed behind, they were abandoned, their lives were still in vain, their blood was shed in vain, and their homes were still occupied by the Japanese.

Tang Dao still clearly remembers the numb and despairing look in the eyes of a group of young people from Songjiang who were following him to deliver supplies to the Sixing Camp when he looked towards the small town for the last time before leaving.

Tang Dao turned around and never looked back!

But that scene reappeared repeatedly in his mind extremely vividly.

Tang Dao didn't hope that Hengyang would still be like this.

"I understand what you said!" Fang Xianjue lowered his head and pondered for a moment, and made the most important decision in his early days of guarding Hengyang.

During the Battle of Stalingrad, didn’t the residents of the city completely evacuate? Since everyone can't evacuate, let's stay here and live and die with the city!

After receiving the news that Fang Xianjue was going to speak to the people, the city government under the leadership of Zhao Junmai was quite efficient. It took only half an hour to get the broadcast and loudspeakers ready. Fang Xianjue boarded a sign near the train station. Tutai, delivered a speech:

"Fellow villagers of Hengyang, our 10th Army has been stationed in Hengyang for three years since entering Hunan, and has won the care and love of the people of Hengyang. Fang and the 10th Army are grateful. However, I am ashamed that this time when the Japanese invaders attacked, our Chinese soldiers disappointed the villagers. More than 100,000 Japanese 11th Army is heading straight for Hengyang, forcing everyone to leave their homes. This is a shame for us as soldiers!

However, I can tell you my wish and attitude. I will fight the Japanese invaders to the end with my blood and flesh. Before the Japanese invaders are completely eliminated, I will never Leave the front line!

The 10th Army is determined to stay with Hengyang City. The 10th Army is Hengyang, and Hengyang is the 10th Army. I am determined to repay the kindness and love of the people of Hengyang for the 10th Army in the past three years! "

Fang Xianjue said this, his mood has gradually become high, and he pulled out his Browning pistol from his waist: "With me, Fang Xianjue, there is Hengyang City! Please bear witness, fellow villagers, if the city is broken, this will be the pistol that kills me!"

Fang Xianjue's voice echoed in the wilderness. Looking from a distance, the body of the lieutenant general of the army holding a pistol was as straight as a javelin.

Even the dullest person can understand the determination of this general to defend the city at this time.

"General Fang is mighty!"

"The 10th Army is mighty!"

There are also many people who have read books and have some knowledge. After a short silence, they were stimulated by Fang Xianjue's remarks and raised their hands and shouted.

More and more people joined in, and the shouts of tens of thousands of people rumbled around the wilderness. The panic that had previously enveloped everyone's faces was replaced by excitement.

Although their most urgent thing now was to leave Hengyang, which was about to become a battlefield, at least Fang Xianjue's determination made them feel a little relieved.

If they couldn't leave, as long as Hengyang City was still there, the family would at least have a place to stay.

Tens of thousands of people shouted for nearly five minutes. Fang Xianjue let them vent their inner panic before he pressed down and leaned back to the microphone: "I came to the train station today to solve the problem of the elders and fellow villagers evacuating to Guangxi Province. The government of Guangxi Province has already coordinated. Special departments have been arranged in various cities along the way to solve the problem of food and water for the people who fled there. For this purpose, the Executive Yuan has allocated special funds. The elders and fellow villagers who left their hometowns don't have to worry too much.

But the reality is also in front of us. Due to insufficient transportation capacity, only two trains can be guaranteed to transport 10,000 people every day, but Hengyang has a population of 300,000. Some of them leave by walking or horse-drawn carriages, and nearly half of them are still stranded at the train station.

Based on this, I make a suggestion, let the old, young, women and children go first, and the young and strong go last, if they really can't leave."

The scene suddenly became silent.

Zhao Junmai, who was standing not far away, looked a little pale, and his hands behind his back signaled the surrounding security forces to be alert.

Mayor Zhao, who had returned from studying in the United States, understood that Fang Xianjue was telling the truth, but sometimes the truth is the most hurtful. These people gathered at the train station. At this time, they still kept order and did not attack the temporary cordon made of sandbags. That was because they still had a glimmer of hope in their hearts, hoping to quickly escape from the battlefield by train.

Fang Xianjue's words cut off their last hope of escape. God knows what people in despair will do?

Mayor Zhao didn't know what the people would do. I'm afraid that the people who were shrouded in despair themselves didn't know either, and they were more confused.

Staying on the battlefield is almost certain to die, but separation from family is also an unacceptable choice!

"It's so good. I fled from Pingbei City to Xuzhou. Xuzhou was gone. I continued to run and fled to Jiangxia. Jiangxia was also occupied by the Japanese. I finally ran to Hengyang, and the Japanese came to Hengyang again. When will this run end?" A big man threw the bag on his shoulders to the ground fiercely.

"My son's father, please stop talking! Please stop talking." A woman with a worried face grabbed her husband's hand and begged.

"My son's mother, it's not that I don't want to run, but I can't run. If I run again, you and the three children will have nowhere to run. Didn't you listen to what the officer said? At most 10,000 people can be transported every day, and here, there are at least 100,000 people, and half of them can't leave. You said which family to transport and which one not to transport. If everyone wants to leave, then no one can leave." The big man looked back at his wife and three children and said sadly.

"Dog boy, dad can't accompany you this time. You are the eldest brother, remember to take good care of your younger brothers and sisters, and take good care of your mother." The big man reached out and touched his eldest son's head, and whispered.

Although the boy who was touched on the head and told was not small, he was actually only 12 years old. Hearing his father's instructions, his eyes were full of fear.

In 1937, the whole family migrated from Pingbei City to the inland under the leadership of his father. The most profound memory of the 5-year-old child at that time was hunger. If his father had not found wild vegetables and fished for river clams, his family would have starved to death in the wilderness.

In the eyes of the 12-year-old boy now, his father is the sky and the support of the family. What should he do if he is not there?

"Dad" The 12-year-old boy has not spoken yet, but he saw that his father had opened his mother's hand, gently put all the big and small bags on his body on the ground, and carefully put the small bag containing 10 yuan in his hand.

"Remember what Dad said, no matter when, take good care of your mother and your brothers and sisters."

Then, the big man resolutely turned around, walked to a group of people amid the screams of his wife and children, and shouted: "If you are a man, follow me and earn a living for your wife and children!"

The group of people should have fled from the north, and they all spoke with a northern accent. As the saying goes, fellow villagers will shed tears when they see fellow villagers. No matter where Chinese people go, they will feel very close to their fellow villagers and will naturally gather together. This habit will not change because of the war.

Within two minutes, hundreds of young and strong people gathered behind the big man amid the cries of women and children, and then walked towards Fang Xianjue under the leadership of the big man.

A captain in charge of vigilance led people forward with a nervous expression to stop them. Although the soldiers did not point their guns at the group of people, they had quietly opened the safety.

"Let them come!" Fang Xianjue, standing on the earthen platform, suddenly spoke.

"Commander Fang, my name is Luo Dahu, I am from Pingbei City, I came to Hengyang 5 years ago, these are my fellow countrymen from the north, I want to ask, what you just said, let the women and children go first, is it true?" The big man asked with his hands clasped.

"That's natural, my 10th Army is fighting on the front line, isn't it to protect my parents, wives and children from being humiliated by the Japanese invaders, at this time and place, the old, young, women and children should be the first to evacuate." Fang Xianjue answered very straightforwardly.

"Okay! As long as my parents, wives and children can leave, then me and my fellow countrymen, what does it matter if we give up this cheap life, we are willing to stay in Hengyang City and work for the army." The big man suddenly knelt down and shouted loudly.

"As long as my parents, wives and children can leave, we are willing to work for the army!" Hundreds of young and strong men followed the example of Luo Dahu, who was leading the way, and knelt down together.

"Everyone, please stand up! I feel guilty for not being able to evacuate all the elders and fellow villagers. I feel guilty!" Fang Xianjue was deeply moved and hurried to help these young men up.

Although he had just followed Tang Dao's suggestion that if someone could stay to help build fortifications, the defense of the entire Hengyang City would definitely increase by 10%, but suddenly the people took the initiative, and the touch was from the heart.

"The people from the north are men, and we Hunan people are not soft eggs!" Seeing this posture, the local people of Hunan who were still a little confused were not happy.

Hunan Province is a special place in China. It was called Chu during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. Yes, it was the Chu State that said "Even if there are only three households in Chu, Chu will destroy Qin." As expected, although Liu Bang accepted Ziying's surrender, the main force of the Qin army was destroyed by Xiang Yu, the grandson of the former Chu general, and his main force was the people of Hunan today.

Hunan people love spicy food, and their personalities are just like the chili peppers, wild and fierce, which also makes Hunan a place where strong soldiers are born.

Take the Battle of Songhu as an example. The Chinese army participated in the battle with a total of about 70 divisions, and the Hunan army participated in the battle successively, with a total of 15 infantry divisions. This is not a boring data, but all the troops in Hunan at that time. They are not just extras, but can make any central army and local troops look at them with admiration.

When the Hunan soldiers went to the battlefield to kill the enemy, they often said "see you in the next life" and rushed to the battlefield without hesitation. The Hunan army's "die eggs facing the sky, live and become immortals" style is even more of a headache for the Japanese.

How could the people of Hunan, who gave birth to such a strong land, be bad? Before Fang Xianjue and Tang Dao left, at least more than 10,000 young and strong people had said goodbye to their wives, children and parents, and went to the registration table set up by the overjoyed Mayor Zhao to register.

In the evening, at Tang Dao's suggestion, the Hengyang Command issued a notice that all the young and strong who chose to stay and assist the army in building fortifications would have their families take priority on the train, and each person would be given 5 yuan as resettlement allowance.

At night, the number reported to the command was simply jaw-dropping, as many as 50,000 young and strong chose to stay.

The youngest was 16 years old, and the oldest was 53 years old. It was said that they were grandfather and grandson. The grandfather was reluctant to part with his 35-year-old son and even more reluctant to part with his 16-year-old grandson. He insisted that he was less than 50 years old and deceived the registration staff. It was only later that he was exposed.

But the 5 yuan resettlement allowance issued to each person was also received. The old man refused to return it even if he was asked to return it.

That's 50,000 people! Rather than being helpless, it was the trust of the Hengyang people in the 10th Army. They believed that they would definitely defend Hengyang, so they would hand over their sons, husbands, and fathers to the Hengyang Army. The generals present were all wet in their eyes.

"Mayor Zhao, the people of Hengyang have placed so much trust in us. We must live up to their trust and transport the elderly, children, women and children stranded at the train station at all costs." Fang Xianjue said solemnly to Zhao Junmai.

"I can also ask the US transport aircraft fleet to help. After unloading the various materials for transportation, take the people away. A transport aircraft can squeeze in 50 people, 20 aircraft can be 1,000 people, two rounds a day can take away 2,000 people, and at least 14,000 people can be taken away in 7 days." Tang Dao said.

"That's great. Let's move some people to the countryside for temporary shelter. Within 8 days, there will be no other people stranded in the city, and I can also fully lead the civilian labor group to help build fortifications." Zhao Junmai, who was having a headache, was overjoyed. "Captain Tang! You are the savior of Hengyang! Tell me, how can I thank you?"

Letting the US transport aircraft group take people, not to mention that a small mayor like Zhao Junmai dare not think about it, even Fang Xianjue and even the commander surnamed Xue of the 9th War Zone would not have such a big face.

But Tang Dao might really be able to do it. Commander Tang is not only famous for his fierce fighting power throughout China, but his affectionate "kiss" with Miss Laura of the Rockefeller Foundation at Jiulongpo Airport is also a matter of great talk in the army.

Moreover, Tang Dao offended that person, but he was only demoted to Hengshan to build the Martyrs' Shrine, and was not dismissed and punished, which indirectly confirmed the authenticity of this rumor.

Everyone knows that the person is now clinging to the thighs of the Americans. It is more realistic for Tang Dao to have a powerful foreign girl lover!

An originally elegant middle-aged man looked at Tang Dao so "affectionately", which made Commander Tang feel a chill and waved his hands repeatedly: "Then you have to lead people to build my regiment's position a little stronger, so that I am qualified to be thanked by you!"

A group of generals laughed!

This may be the first time that everyone has smiled like this since they knew that they would fight a decisive battle with the Japanese army in Hengyang.

Because, they are trusted!

. . . . . . . . .

PS: I recommend my friend Chang Feng’s new book "This Doctor is a Little Fierce". Reborn in another world, Lin Miao relies on his medical skills to counterattack and embark on a path to become a saint!