Chen Bulei stood in front of the window of the hotel room, looking at the colorful Gaomi County, and said with great sigh: "Yang Fan is not only a good player in war, but also a genius in the management of the local area. If it weren't for seeing it with his own eyes, I really couldn't believe that a small county in Shandong would be so prosperous and lively!"

Wang Liguo, who was standing aside, nodded and said, "I came to Gaomi last summer. At that time, I was very surprised and thought I had seen the world! But after a year, I realized that my vision was still not high enough!"

"Haha! Then let's wait and see if Yang Fan can give us more surprises. Now it is the autumn of the country's survival, and it is time for talented people like Yang Fan to win the building without falling!"

Chen Bulei used the poisonous gas bomb to personally arrive at the Dezhou front line a month ago. He had a good relationship with Yang Fan. This time, he volunteered to come and rescue the troops again when Nanjing was in a turmoil!

"Director Chen, I'm afraid things are not that simple! I heard yesterday that even Han Fuju couldn't get a soldier from Yang Fan!"

Wang Liguo shook his head secretly. Yang Fan always acts imaginatively and cannot use normal thinking and logic to judge!

Chen Bulei sighed softly and said, "Let's leave our lives to fate. I have been in contact with Yang Fan for a short time, but I always think he is a real soldier who pays attention to national justice! Maybe after we understand it with reason and emotion, there will be a turning point?"

Chen Bulei can be said to be in Cao's camp and is in the heart of Han. Before coming, he knew very well that Nanjing is still surrounded by enemies. If he does not get strong foreign aid, it is only a matter of time before he falls!

After the Battle of Shanghai, the disorderly retreat turned into a major escape, leaving Nanjing, the capital, more than 300 kilometers away from Shanghai, directly under the threat of the Japanese army.

The Japanese army believed that capturing the capital of China was just around the corner, and that invasion of China was even more arrogant. They believed that once they occupied the political center of China, they could force the Chinese government to surrender!

So, taking advantage of the opportunity of the Chinese army's retreat, the Japanese army mobilized eight divisions to advance together in three directions, land and water, and advanced to the capital Nanjing!

Due to the evolution of the war situation, the national defense fortifications of the Wufu Line and the Xicheng Line that Chiang Kai-shek had been constructed for many years did not play a role in blocking the Japanese army at all.

In order to deal with the crisis in Nanjing, Chairman Jiang held three senior staff meetings at his cemetery residence for two days after the fall of Shanghai.

Only He Yingqin, Bai Chongxi, Xu Yongchang and Liu Fei attended the first meeting.

Liu Fei, a native of Hunan, spoke first, believed that the National Army suffered heavy casualties during the Battle of Songhu, and that Nanjing's geographical location was not conducive to defense. The Japanese army had the ability to attack Nanjing from sea, land and air!

Therefore, it is recommended that Nanjing do symbolic defense, at most 18 groups are enough!

Then, Bai Chongxi, deputy chief of staff of the base camp, He Yingqin, commander of the Fourth War Zone, and Xu Yongchang, director of the Military Commission's Military Order, also expressed his agreement.

Chiang Kai-shek's German military adviser once advocated not to make "meaningless sacrifices"!

During the meeting summary, although Chiang Kai-shek did not draw a conclusion, he decided to transfer the troops with serious combat losses in Shanghai to the rear to make up for it, which was consistent with the symbolic plan to defend Nanjing!

However, two days later, Chairman Jiang held the second senior staff meeting, and many people attended the meeting this time. In addition to He Yingqin and others, there were also Army first-level general Tang Zhisheng and Nanjing garrison commander Gu Zhenglun.

At the meeting, Tang Zhisheng was extremely excited and said that Nanjing was the capital and the location of Premier Sun’s tomb. If Nanjing was given up, how would he face the Prime Minister’s spirit in heaven?

Liu Fei still insisted on his last opinion, and the two Hunanese expressed completely different views!

At the second meeting, facing Tang Zhisheng's righteousness and the commanding heights occupied, Chiang Kai-shek still did not make a conclusion, saying, "Meng Xiao's opinion is very correct and worth considering. Let's study it again!"

Another day later, the third senior staff meeting was held in the evening. Tang Zhisheng still insisted on sticking to Nanjing. After repeated weighing, Chairman Jiang finally clearly agreed.

Member Jiang then asked: "Who is responsible for sticking to Nanjing?"

However, no one made a sound in the huge venue!

After a while, Tang Zhisheng finally broke the silence and said confidently: "Chairman, I am willing to live and die with Nanjing!"

"Very good! Meng Xiao is responsible for this matter!"

Chairman Jiang nodded happily, and then said to He Yingqin: "Just do it like this. Do what you need to prepare immediately. Let Meng Xiao take the matter first and issue the order immediately!"

The next day, Tang Zhisheng took office and the garrison headquarters was located in a two-story building near Baizi Pavilion of Gulou.

For a time, Tang Zhi became the focus of attention all over the world. Chinese and foreign journalists interviewed him one after another and asked him to talk about his determination to fight the war!

Tang Zhisheng said righteously: "I am ordered to defend Nanjing, and at least two things are sure! First, my troops vow to live and die with Nanjing, and sacrifice at the battle to defend Nanjing!

Second, such sacrifice will definitely cost the enemy a great price for casualties!”

On November 20, Tang Shengzhi issued a martial law order, and the Nanjing area entered a wartime state!

Tang Zhisheng was indeed determined to fight the Japanese army to the end. He later ordered the blockade of the road from Nanjing to Jiangbei, destroy the ferry, and prohibit any troops and soldiers from crossing the river from Xiaguan and Pukou!

Tang Zhisheng really made the situation of fighting against the enemy. It is a good thing to have determination and courage, but he is not Han Xin, the Marquis of Huaiyin, but he does not have the ability to turn the tables against the wind!

Chairman Chiang determined the policy of sticking to Nanjing and decided to move the capital to Chongqing. At this time, the Japanese Air Force had carried out three air strikes and bombings on Nanjing. All departments of the National Government had moved to Wuhan one after another, and only a few were still in Nanjing!

Just today, on November 25, Chairman Jiang issued a combat sequence to defend the capital, with a total of seven armies, fourteen divisions and subordinate units.

Among these 14 divisions, except for Xu Yuanquan, the Second Corps, who had just been transferred from Wuhan, most of the rest were troops withdrawn from the Songhu battlefield, with heavy casualties and no time to replenish and rest!

The combat plan approved by Chairman Jiang focused on the defense in the direction of Zhenjiang, followed by Tangshan Town and Chunhua Town on the Nanjing-Hangzhou Highway.

Tang Zhisheng made arrangements and deployments with this.

However, these troops were all in the new defense zone. The 48th Division of the Second Corps arrived in Nanjing from Hankou on December 7 after the Battle of Nanjing was launched!

"Haha, Director Chen, Special Commissioner Wang, I'm sorry to let you wait for a long time! The matters have been complicated recently, and I really can't help myself!"

He sent Gao Yizhen away, Roland and Zhang Shaotang, and then Yang Fan drove to the hotel where Chen Bulei was staying, shook hands with a smile on his face and said hello!

"It is fully understandable that Commander Yang is now a member of the heavy army, so he is naturally in a complicated matter. We have been disturbing this trip. Please forgive me!"
Chapter completed!