Chapter 1508 Many Cool Moves!

Although the Chinese side won a great victory in the aerial bombing initiated by the Japanese army, there were losses both inside and outside Hengyang City!

There were traces of bombing on all positions in the south of the city. Although more than a month of tunnel excavation was not easy, the air defense alarm was sounded five minutes in advance, and the officers and soldiers hid in the air-raid shelters, but because the heavy bombs of the Japanese army were too powerful, there were still losses.

For example, the entrance of an air-raid shelter under Yueping Mountain was blown down by a 500-pound bomb, and the entire air-raid shelter was completely sealed by mud. There were 70 staff officers and soldiers from the observation post directly under the 10th Army Headquarters.

When the air defense battalion of the Sihang Regiment began to fight back, the officers and soldiers who discovered this phenomenon in the surrounding area began to excavate and rescue the air-raid shelter, but it was still a little too late.

After spending more than an hour digging the soil, most of the people in the cave died because of the exhaustion of oxygen, including a lieutenant colonel staff officer and an army captain company commander, leaving only 18 people alive.

The observation post of the 10th Division also suffered losses. This observation post was hidden in a forest behind the main highland of Zhangjiashan. It could not only look down at the entire southwest of the city, but also avoid artillery attacks.

But the heavy bombs dropped by Japanese planes did not have a reverse slope. One bomb fell right above the bunker of the observation post. The 2-meter-thick soil layer plus the steel plate as the top and the logs as the support of the bunker were enough to withstand the bombardment of 150 heavy artillery, but in front of such heavy bombs, it was as fragile as an eggshell, and the entire bunker was destroyed.

A communication squad of the 10th Division who was on duty inside and Lieutenant Colonel Liu Dengcai, deputy chief of the Operations Section of the 10th Division Staff, died on the spot.

According to the final statistics of the entire southern position of the city, 232 officers and soldiers were killed and 358 were injured in this bombing, and almost an infantry battalion was gone.

But the worst was in Hengyang City!

Before the Battle of Hengyang began, the Hengyang Command had originally formulated a fire prevention plan under the leadership of Zhao Dengmai, planning to demolish every other house, so that even if a fire broke out, it would not burn the entire camp. Unexpectedly, there was still a loophole in the end.

All the fire brigades were evacuated with the city government, and most of the 50,000 young and strong people left behind were civilians in the city. That was their home. How could they bear to demolish their own homes? The progress of demolition was extremely slow, and with the Japanese army approaching step by step, digging various fortifications was the top priority. In the end, the original "demolishing houses to isolate fires" plan was not fully implemented.

In this way, the incendiary bombs dropped by the Japanese bomber group showed their prowess and burned the entire Hengyang city into a sea of ​​fire.

The soldiers were all on the front line and could not take care of these. They could only hand them all over to the tens of thousands of young and strong people hiding in the city. Without any handy tools, tens of thousands of people could only shuttle through the sea of ​​fire and extinguish the fire with extremely simple manual methods such as buckets. You can imagine how inefficient this is.

Fortunately, Tang Dao had previously ordered that the critical supplies such as ammunition and food be placed in underground tunnels or air-raid shelters up to 10 meters deep, thus avoiding a greater accident and preserving the ability to fight the entire city of Hengyang for a long time.

Otherwise, the raging fire that ignited nearly half of the city would not allow 70,000 soldiers and civilians to survive for three days.

Fang Xianjue was also extremely grateful that he had listened to Tang Dao's advice and gave the basement of the Central Bank where his headquarters was located to the field hospital, otherwise the loss would be unknown.

It turned out that the field hospital received more than 1,800 seriously injured soldiers in the nearly one-month-long battle, which was obviously not something that could be accommodated in a basement.

The several air-raid shelters dug around the field hospital could not accommodate all the wounded. Zhao Junmai, who was in charge of logistics, had no choice but to temporarily use a factory building as a ward in an area 300 meters away from the field hospital to accommodate 300 wounded soldiers. He originally planned to transfer these 300 wounded soldiers after one air-raid shelter was completed.

As a result, the Japanese bombing came.

In fact, even if it was temporary, this wounded settlement site also planted the "Red Cross Flag" in accordance with international practice.

When the air defense alarm sounded, the medical staff carried, supported, and lifted but failed to evacuate all 300 wounded soldiers, and more than 100 wounded soldiers were stranded.

As a result, Japanese fighter planes also dropped bombs specifically at the temporary station of the field hospital with the "Red Cross Flag", killing and burning more than 80 wounded soldiers on the spot, including medical staff who did not have time to evacuate, and only more than 30 people survived.

In addition to sadness and anger, Fang Xianjue was more fortunate. If the field hospital was on the ground, I am afraid that this round of bombing would have wiped out the field hospital.

How much does Fang Xianjue value the wounded? In the past, if there were not 8,000 seriously injured people in Hengyang City, I am afraid that with Fang Xianjue's personality, he would never negotiate with the Japanese 11th Army, which had already run out of tricks. Fighting to the end was his only choice.

He didn't want the wounded soldiers who had fulfilled their military duties to die in vain, even if it meant risking their reputation and military honor.

The great achievement of shooting down more than a dozen Japanese fighter planes and the heavy losses in Hengyang City, such things naturally had to be reported to the higher authorities. If things went well, they could also strive for some medicines and other supplies to be airdropped. Fang Xianjue was now well aware of the truth that "crying children get candy".

Sure enough, the commendation telegram from the Military Commission came, and it was stated that the medal would arrive soon.

This was also the new trick that the man had played in recent days. The medal was not worth much, so he just ordered the factory to work overtime to rush it. Anyway, supplies had to be airdropped, and medals could also be airdropped?

Therefore, starting from four days ago, every round of airdrops will include a gift package of medals. Regardless of whether you have the 10th Army, the Fourth Army Regiment, or the Hengyang Garrison Regiment, as long as there is one in the military merit report, the Military Commission will give you a large sum of money. With one wave, send it!

On average, there are 1,000 medals in each bag, and in four days there are more than 4,000 medals. According to the number of soldiers in Hengyang City, that is one medal for an average of 6 people!

That's a really good guy. Each infantry squad needs one less and two or three more. If this rate continues, it will be a matter of time before everyone has one on their chest.

Any good thing is worthless once there are too many of it. Many soldiers put these things that they never saw before to the company commander and asked if they could exchange them for ten or twenty yuan. Family members.

In times like this when life is at risk all the time, let alone the fact that the medal is worthless and cannot arouse people's interest, even a big yellow croaker is not that exciting, right?

Fang Xian was absolutely helpless about this, and wanted to say to that person: Please calm down, even if you use this parachute to send more bullets, it will be better than that thing. But he also knew that person's temperament. If he said this, everything would be lost if he was not good.

But that person still had a lot of tricks up his sleeve. I heard that the temporary camp of the field hospital was bombed by the Japanese. After the commendation order was issued, he sent another telegram with instructions: "Use the bombed wooden planks to build shacks and use broken door panels." Make the roof and use broken bricks to make the walls, which can not only protect against wind, rain and sunlight, but also protect against bomb fragments, and do not let our officers and soldiers sleep in the open. "

The generals at the Hengyang Command could only be speechless at the caring and detailed microscopic guidance.

As a commander-in-chief, are you tired of paying attention to these minutiae things every day? If you have this time, wouldn't it be nice for you to quickly mobilize an army to relieve the siege of Hengyang?

This kind of speechless "sacrificing the basics to the weak" is actually his daily life. The Chinese generals are not used to it and have to get used to it. However, Stilwell, who has served as the chief of staff of the Chinese theater, expressed his incomprehension and was greatly shocked for a long period of time. !

For example, in 1942, when Stilwell first took over the Chinese Expeditionary Force, he demanded complete control of the army, but he soon discovered that the Chinese's words were far better than their actions.

The two deputy commanders-in-chief listened to his words 60% of the time, but they followed the military orders of the man thousands of kilometers away.

Forget it, after all, that person is at least the commander of the Chinese theater. But the commander's scope was so broad that Stilwell found it unbelievable.

For example, when the war in Myanmar was at its most critical, Stilwell, who was anxious on the front line, received a telegram from the mountain town, saying: "I know there are watermelons in Myanmar, and I hope you will give one watermelon to every four Chinese soldiers!"

Stilwell, who received the telegram, is said to have not said a word for half an hour, demonstrating with practical actions what it means to be truly speechless.

Stilwell was a very pure soldier. When he sent electricity to his superiors in the United States, he commented on his superiors in China: "Slight changes in the situation may cause major changes, but the commander's order 3,000 kilometers away can guide All kinds of actions and preparations were carried out, so many orders that could not be made based on reality seemed extremely stupid when they arrived! "

Obviously, a commander who has barely seen his soldiers on the front line but wants to implement his philosophy of "loving his soldiers like sons" is doomed to be contradictory and fail.

However, Stilwell dared to say that, but Fang Xian definitely didn't dare. He could only hold his nose and telegraph that person's order to the entire army, and then called that person back, saying that the supreme commander's concern had greatly boosted the morale of the army.

"Wori! I sleep in the air-raid shelter and it's cool and I'm not afraid of bombs. Why would Mao want to live in a shack made of scrap wood and bricks?" Luo Dahu stared at his big eyes to express his confusion.

He didn't believe that the person who had never read the book knew something that the other person didn't know.

The second lieutenant of the army who led the team could only smile bitterly when faced with the confusion of the reservists under his command, unable to answer.

Perhaps in that person's imagination, the tens of thousands of people in Hengyang City were just a bunch of fools, standing on the ground waiting for the Japanese to drop bombs!

However, those who could still stay in Hengyang City and hold on to their guns even when they knew that hundreds of thousands of Japanese troops were coming fiercely, must be a bit stupid!

After this wave of ground-to-air battles, there was a rare silence inside and outside Hengyang City. Japanese fighter planes almost stopped coming, and the sound of gunfire became less fierce.

However, the generals of the Hengyang Command headed by Fang Xianjue all know that although the Japanese army has no major military operations at present, this is just the calm before the storm, and a more violent and cruel decisive battle may occur at any time.

The Hengyang command headquarters issued a telegram, requiring all ministries to use the rare gap to make timely repairs, adjust troop strength, and strengthen fortifications in preparation for the upcoming new round of all-out Japanese attack.

The battle has been going on for a month, and all departments have reduced their numbers. The Pre-10th Division, as the main force defending the south of the city, has sacrificed up to a thousand officers and soldiers, and suffered serious injuries of more than a thousand. The battle damage has exceeded a quarter, and it is in urgent need of additional troops.

The 50,000 reserve troops in the city are the best supplement of soldiers, but in order to express his respect for the Hengyang people who voluntarily stayed in Hengyang City and put in their own efforts, Fang Xianjue specifically emphasized in the military order that they could only be voluntary and not forced.

At the same time, propaganda personnel were also sent to various reserve regiments to promote: "When the city is broken, An's eggs are intact!", and the reserve soldiers were mainly informed of the extent of Japanese casualties.

The Chinese who have experienced seven years of war have long known what the Japanese are like. Wasn't the Nanjing Massacre a revenge massacre of the people of Nanjing after the Japanese army suffered 20,000 to 30,000 casualties?

Not to mention that the Battle of Hengyang will continue, just look at the current casualties. Once Hengyang is broken, they will kill everyone to vent their anger?

So what to do? Isn't it just a matter of doing it? Maybe the probability of surviving by taking a gun is higher?

It is driven by this mentality that many people in the reserve regiment are eager to try.

Each department then selected personnel from the reserve to supplement, and in order to attract young and strong civilians to join, each department offered conditions.

For example, Zeng Jing, the head of the 28th Regiment of the 10th Division, personally sat in the recruitment office of the 28th Regiment. There are a total of 400 places. The first 20 applicants will be rewarded with 4 boxes of Japanese canned meat and a big red flower. Anyone who passes the shooting test in the trenches will be directly awarded the rank of private.

At dusk, the 28th Regiment's recruitment office was packed with people. All 400 places were snapped up, and the commander Zeng was so happy that his mouth almost burst with laughter.

The 190th Division directly sent its own heroic battalion commander Yang Jihe to sit in the recruitment office. No rewards were given, but a special person was sent to use a loud speaker to tell Yang Jihe's military exploits and achievements, including the exploits of killing hundreds of Japanese soldiers halfway across the river a few days ago.

At first, Yang Jihe was a little uncomfortable, but after a lot of times, he became numb and sat at the registration office as the mascot of the 190th Division.

However, this trick was also very useful. The civilians were not stupid. With such a heroic battalion commander as the leader, the probability of survival with him was obviously higher. So when would they sign up?

It only took 4 hours to recruit all 400 places in the 586th Regiment of the 190th Division.

The Four-Line Regiment was also recruiting people, but their quota was obviously less, only 300 people.

First, the casualties of the Four-Line Regiment were not that great. Second, the Four-Line Regiment was different from other infantry regiments. Others used rewards, but the Four-Line Regiment had strict requirements. There were no restrictions on registration, but whether or not one could be selected depended on physical conditions.

The recruitment office of the Four-Line Regiment was personally headed by Long Yan, the heroic platoon leader of the mountain infantry company. He put forward two conditions for applicants: 1. Pick up the 100-jin waste gun barrel and walk 20 meters; 2. Run around the Hengyang City with a circumference of about 6 kilometers within 28 minutes; 3. Be able to calculate arithmetic problems within 100.

Everyone can understand that strength and endurance are the basis for becoming an elite soldier, but this third condition is a bit incredible.

In this era, the number of people who can afford to read books may be less than one-tenth, including the soldiers of the Four-Line Regiment. Before joining the Four-Line Regiment, no more than one-fifth could write their own names. As a result, the recruiting requirements require arithmetic. You are not going to take the entrance exam for the Whampoa Military Academy.

Many young men who came here for the Four-Line Regiment suddenly started to make noises.

"Who said that being a soldier and fighting in a war only requires good health?" Platoon Leader Long was not afraid of this, and rolled his eyes and pointed at his head. "You still need your brain to fight in a war. Without brains, you don't know when to advance and when to retreat. If you go to the front line, you will die. So I advise you not to go."

There was nothing wrong with what he said, and it sounded reasonable, and the noises suddenly subsided.

"Of course, I understand your situation. Brains don't necessarily need to rely on arithmetic to perform. So, I'll make a decision. Anyone who can run for 25 minutes can be exempted from the third item. I'll teach you how to use your brain when you get to the army.

In addition, I'll announce one more thing. As long as you pass our Four Lines Regiment assessment and become a soldier of the Four Lines Regiment, the first three months of military pay will be distributed to your reported homes by the designated chamber of commerce. If your family members have fled to Guilin or Liuzhou, the chamber of commerce will also send people to find and distribute them." Long Yan smiled like a fox who had just stolen a fat chicken.

Three months of military pay will be paid after joining the army! And they will try their best to distribute it to your family. This is undoubtedly what the young and strong people care about the most.

The young and strong people who originally came here to join the Four Lines Regiment suddenly became quiet. They were all eager to fight and gather strength, ready to pass this test at all costs.

"Platoon leader, you are too cruel. 6,000 meters in 25 minutes, we couldn't do it in the training when we just joined the army!" A soldier muttered in a low voice.

"Stupid, there are 40,000 to 50,000 young and strong people in this city. Why can't we choose the best? You couldn't do it then, but now the enemy is heavily pressing. The commander said that the human body has great potential. If you don't force it, who knows what will happen?" Long Yan scolded.

"Then platoon leader, what do you say 28 plus 83 equals? I just looked at the problem and calculated it for a long time but couldn't figure it out. Teach me." The soldier scratched his head.

"Get lost! You asked me with this broken thing, which proves that you don't have much brains." Long Yan kicked the brainless man away.

Isn't this a pot that is not open? I will run around the city for 20 minutes to show you, okay?

Luo Dahu: I will run in 25 minutes even if I die! For three months of military pay, so that my wife and children can have food to eat in the future.

"The Chinese in the city are frantically deploying troops!" The rumbling sound of running scared the 6th Infantry Regiment on the east bank of the Xiangjiang River.

All the Japanese troops immediately entered the position to prevent the Chinese from counterattacking.

Little did they know that there were only a few thousand people running in the city.