activa-t Chapter 71 Fierce Battle at Zhongshan Gate and Zhonghua Gate
Chapter 71 Fierce Battle at Zhongshan Gate and Zhonghua Gate
According to Li Jianghe's recollection, Xiao Shanling led the military police to block the Japanese army along the riverbank. Eventually, they ran out of ammunition, and he was wounded in several places.
To avoid being captured by the Japanese army, Chief of Staff Xiao Shen ultimately chose to shoot himself.
Li Jianghe had insufficient troops, but he had bought enough ammunition, so he sent two truckloads over, hoping to help Chief of Staff Xiao Shen.
Song Xilian nodded emphatically:
"Leave this matter to me. Also, I will find a way to gather the remaining soldiers. There are still many people at Xiaguan Wharf. I will send all the gathered soldiers to you."
"Thanks, Commander Song."
After saying this, Li Jianghe solemnly saluted him.
As Li Jianghe descended from the city wall, he saw Wang Dayong reorganizing the formation.
He walked over and asked:
"How's it going, Dayong? How many people are there?"
Wang Dayong said:
"There were only a little over 1,500 people, less than a third of whom had guns, and ammunition was extremely scarce."
Li Jianghe was not surprised; in fact, the number of more than 1,500 people was somewhat unexpected.
"Take them to the supply battalion, collect their weapons and ammunition, and integrate them into the front-line combat units."
After saying this, Li Jianghe looked into the distance. The city wall between Zhonghua Gate and Shuixi Gate had collapsed, and he had to go there quickly to organize a defense.
On the other side, in the direction of Zhongshan Gate, the Central Army Training Corps was originally ordered to break through to the east.
However, after the meeting that night, Commander Gui Yongqing did not even return to the Training Corps headquarters. Instead, he went directly to the riverbank, used a pre-prepared boat to cross the river, and abandoned the entire Training Corps on Zijin Mountain.
The soldiers of the Training Corps soon learned that their commander had fled, and they scattered in disarray, abandoning their original breakout order and rushing towards Yijiang Gate.
The commander of the Japanese 166th Division, who was originally launching a fierce attack on Zijin Mountain, lowered his binoculars and discovered that the Rising Sun Flag was now being raised on Zijin Mountain, which they had been unable to conquer for a long time.
"That's strange. The enemy force that was fighting so fiercely in the front lines was suddenly retreating."
"I don't know. I heard that Nanjing is in chaos now, and I think they've been affected as well."
"The chief of staff said from the side."
Nakajima Kesho coldly said:
"That's wonderful! Order the troops to march into the city immediately."
If we encounter Chinese soldiers, or even Chinese civilians, we will kill them all. We don't need prisoners to waste our rations.
The main force of the Japanese 16th Division began to rush towards Zhongshan Gate, but the defending troops there were already deserted.
A large number of soldiers from the Training Corps ran wildly down the street, but gunfire suddenly came from ahead.
In the center of the street, several heavy machine guns were aimed at them, and hundreds of soldiers stood there with steel guns, blocking their way.
The leader was none other than Long Wenzhang.
He received orders to gather the remaining troops, and the most capable fighting force in the entire city of Nanjing was none other than the Central Army Training Corps.
Therefore, Long Wenzhang led his men to set up checkpoints along the retreat route of the Central Training Corps to block their way.
"Bang bang bang!!!"
After firing three shots into the sky with his Mauser rifle, Long Wenzhang stood imposingly in the middle of the road and roared:
"Don't retreat! Open your eyes and look at yourselves! Would you shoot the Japanese with your backsides?"
Judging from Long Wenzhang's rank of only major, a major deputy regimental commander stepped forward and said:
"Who the hell are you? What are you pretending to be? I'm crossing the river right now, who dares to stop me?"
But no sooner had he finished speaking than a gunshot rang out.
Long Wenzhang's Mauser pistol was emitting white smoke. The major deputy regimental commander swayed and then fell to the ground with a thud.
Anyone who dares to step forward will be killed without exception!!!
As soon as Long Wenzhang finished speaking, the several light and heavy machine guns that had been set up were loaded and aimed at the fleeing soldiers in front of them.
He knew very well that he had to intimidate these defeated soldiers in order to get them to turn around and fight back against the Japanese army.
Otherwise, with only a few hundred men at his disposal, he would never be able to stop the Japanese.
The soldiers of the Central Training Corps were mostly leaderless at this moment. Seeing the light and heavy machine guns pointed at them, they had no doubt that the guy with thick eyebrows and big eyes in front of them would pull the trigger.
"Fight back!!"
Finally, someone shouted from the crowd.
Thousands of soldiers from the Training Corps began to run back.
At this moment, a soldier came running up, shouting:
"Zhongshan Gate has fallen! The Japanese devils have entered the city!!!"
Long Wenzhang shouted:
"Then push them back!!! Guard battalion, charge!!"
After saying this, he was the first to lead the charge, and the soldiers of the guard battalion followed suit, rushing towards Zhongshan Gate.
Seeing this, the soldiers of the Training Corps were also stirred with courage and followed them forward.
However, some soldiers wanted to run back, but when they saw the dark muzzles of machine guns pointed at them, they had no choice but to turn back.
The fierce battle at Zhongshan Gate unfolded as Long Wenzhang led three hundred soldiers in a charge against over a thousand fleeing soldiers.
On the city wall of Zhonghua Gate, Gao Zhisong is leading the main force to carry out a fire blockade of this area.
The main force of the Japanese 6th Division was charging toward the huge breach in the city wall under the cover of tanks and armored vehicles.
Some of the troops stationed at Yuhuatai were also transferred to assist in defending this section of the damaged city wall.
However, the opening was too large, and the Japanese firepower was extremely fierce, especially the two 240mm caliber super-heavy howitzers.
Gao Zhisong's troops were hit by a 240mm shell at the edge of the broken wall, and dozens of soldiers were killed in an instant.
The breach in the city wall continued to widen under heavy artillery bombardment.
Seeing this, Li Jianghe knew very well that section of the city wall would be difficult to defend.
Troops and firepower were concentrated on the city walls, and the Japanese heavy artillery bombarded them, hitting them every time.
These ancient city walls can stop arrows and bullets, but they can't stop heavy artillery shells.
"Dayong, go and inform Brigade Commander Gao to lead his troops to retreat to the Zhonghua Gate area and let the Japanese into the city. Our street barricades have been deployed."
Li Jianghe planned to let the Japanese soldiers in before attacking them, and then close the door to beat them, so as to kill the Japanese soldiers more effectively.
"Yes."
Before long, Gao Zhisong withdrew the firing positions around the broken wall.
More than two hundred soldiers have already sacrificed their lives in the Japanese artillery fire while trying to plug the breach.
Li Jianghe now has no choice but to divert troops to support the Zhonghua Gate area, which is currently understaffed.
In the 6th Division, Tani Hisao saw the enemy troops retreating through the breach in the city wall and a cold smile crept across his lips.
"Hmph, at least they're smart enough to know that city walls are indefensible."
Having said that, he adjusted his glasses and addressed Shimono Ichiro:
"We need to cover the streets along the edge of the breach in the city wall with fire. I don't want the troops to be able to see an intact building there when they enter the city."