Chapter 11: The Bloody Battle of Nanjing (1)

  Liu Zhenfeng led the soldiers of the Second Battalion of the Guard Regiment, quickly breaking into the Zhonghua Gate. The first to encounter them were the enemy's 6th Division, 47th Brigade. As the saying goes, "when enemies meet, their eyes turn red", and the already enraged guardsmen didn't say a word. In this narrow alleyway encounter, they could only fight to the death. Liu Zhenfeng loudly shouted to all his soldiers: "Comrades, when paths converge, the brave win! Since our swords are out of their sheaths, we must shed blood within seven steps, and not stop until we die!" After finishing speaking, he drew his bayonet and charged towards the Japanese devils. Because they encountered each other too suddenly, the Japanese soldiers didn't even have time to fire their guns, and instead directly charged forward with their bayonets fixed on their rifles.

  At this time, it was already December 13th, 1937 (the 11th day of the 11th month of the lunar calendar in the 26th year of the Republic of China) at 10 o'clock in the evening. They engaged in a fierce battle with the enemy in the dark night, which doomed the miserable fate of this group of Japanese invaders. On the North China battlefield, the 77th Army was most skilled at fighting night battles, and had done many sneak attacks and ambushes. Therefore, on this pitch-black night without a single ray of light, the eyesight of the soldiers of the 77th Army far surpassed that of the Japanese invaders. The result can be imagined: the 47th Regiment left behind more than 50 corpses and fled in disarray, while my entire 2nd Battalion did not have a single soldier killed, only about ten people were injured. It can be said that this encounter battle was a great victory for my guard battalion!

  Liu Zhenfeng led the exhausted officers and men to a nearby bunker building, where they took a rest in place and sent out a picket. Since the fire would attract the Japanese army's attack, he ordered everyone to only eat dry food to fill their hunger, and after eating, immediately rest, ready to fight at any time.

  After a day of fighting, everyone was exhausted. This physically exhausting battle method was a cruel test for everyone.

  The sky gradually brightened, and the devils' new round of attack began. Liu Zhenfeng led this guard regiment in an endless battle with the encountered Japanese army on the streets of Nanjing, the soldiers bearing national hatred and family enmity, fighting for their lives with the enemy to the death, many soldiers fell, the survivors looked at their comrades' bodies with tears, without burying them, they threw themselves into the cruel melee again, all the officers and men of the 77th army were in a state of frenzy, as long as they saw people wearing Japanese military uniforms, they rushed up like wolves, determined to kill them before stopping.

  As wave after wave of attacks, the Japanese army that entered the city gradually could not withstand our army's crazy counterattack and retreated to the outside of the city.

  Outside the international security zone, a part of the enemy's 16th Division was trying to break through the defense line of the 102nd Division and rush into the safety zone. This group of Japanese invaders, who had already regarded Nanjing as their own pocket, were staring at the women in the safety zone with wolf-like eyes, eager to rush in and loot. However, blocking their way was an insurmountable mountain - the National Revolutionary Army's 77th Division, 102nd Brigade, known as the "Wild Wolf Troops". This barrier could not be breached no matter what methods the Japanese used. The scene of soldiers fighting to the death deeply moved the civilians watching from within the safety zone. They cheered for their country having such a strong and brave army. An old lady with tears streaming down her face said, "If the previous troops had the same spirit as these children, Nanjing would not have been occupied by the Japanese." Although what she said was not entirely accurate - before the 77th Division arrived, the defenders of Nanjing were fighting to the death against the Japanese invaders under the command of high-ranking officers who abandoned their troops and fled in disarray. However, it was rare for a unit like the 77th Division to suffer heavy losses for the sake of the civilians in the city.

  Xu Meiting and photographer Lin Wanxiang stood by the wooden fence, Lin Wanxiang desperately taking these precious battlefield photos. You know, among the Chinese journalists staying in Nanjing now, it's just him and Xu Meiting. The information they have is first-hand material, not even a Jinshan seat can be exchanged for it.

  "What a pity, what a pity!" Lin Wanxiang exclaimed while taking pictures. Indeed, such an intense battle may only be seen once in a lifetime. Although he had interviewed other troops before, whenever the fighting reached its climax, journalists were forcibly pulled to safety zones, so they hadn't seen scenes like this close-quarters combat before!

  "This troop belongs to whom? Its strength is far beyond the previous Nanjing garrison!" Xu Meiting muttered to herself.

  "It is the 77th Corps of the First Army Group of the First War Zone of the National Revolutionary Army." A pretty girl standing next to Xu Meiting replied.

  "The 77th Army?" Xu Meiting turned her head and asked the girl.

  "Yes, his predecessor was the 29th Army of the National Revolutionary Army, the 37th and 132nd Divisions." The girl replied.

  "Twenty-ninth Army Thirty-seventh Division?" Xu Meiting exclaimed in shock.

  "Yes, now the commander of the 77th Army is the former commander of the 37th Division." The girl said.

  "No wonder! No wonder! Only his troops can be called the ace army, only they can be called the elite!" Xu Meiting said excitedly.

  "Who is he? Do you know him?" Lin Wanxiang turned his head to ask her with a puzzled expression after hearing Xu Meiting's excited voice. The girl who just answered Xu Meiting's question also looked at Xu Meiting in confusion.

  "Liu Zhenfeng! It must be Liu Zhenfeng!" Xu Meiting exclaimed with an excited face.

  "Do you know Liu Zhenfeng?" The girl next to Xu Meiting looked at her in surprise.

  "Yes, he, he is mine, he is mine..." Due to over-excitement, Xu Meiting couldn't continue speaking when she said the four words "he is mine", and as a result, it was inevitable that others would think of that aspect.

  "Mei Ting, isn't your boyfriend Zhou Jun Sheng? And I know you and Zhou Jun Sheng aren't in touch much anymore, how can this be...” Lin Wan Xiang felt a pang of bitterness in his heart. This guy had been secretly in love with Xu Mei Ting for a long time, and just when the relationship between Xu Mei Ting and Zhou Jun Sheng was on the verge of collapse, another Chen Yao Jin appeared out of nowhere, and to make matters worse, he was a high-ranking military officer, the commander-in-chief of the National Revolutionary Army. Didn't this mean that he had no hope left?

  "What are you blindly guessing? I'm saying, Liu Zhenfeng is my university classmate. Five months ago, I met him in Beiping, but what made me angry was that he didn't let me go to the front line for an interview. Hmph, this time when I meet him again, even if I die, I'll follow him to the first line for an interview!"

  "Oh dear, my aunt! Why did you have to go to the front line? Look, the director wanted you and all the staff to evacuate together, but you insisted on staying behind. Now look at us, we can't even leave if we want to. Although I admit that this battalion is very strong, the Japanese are determined to take Nanjing, and it's only a matter of time before it falls. We might not even make it out of here alive." Lin Wanxiang said with a bitter smile.

  Xu Meiting looked at Lin Wanzhang and said, "We are reporters. It is our duty to report the real combat situation to the outside world as quickly as possible. How can we get good news material? Of course, it can only be obtained by going to the front line of the most intense battlefield! What valuable news can I get in a safe area?"

  "What are you still chatting about? The Japanese are about to break through our army's defense line! Look, our troops can't hold on any longer, hurry up and run!" A middle-aged man next to them reminded Xu Meiting and Lin Wanjun before turning around and fleeing towards the safe zone.

  At this time, outside the wooden fence, only five or six warriors were left, all of whom were wounded. In front of them was a company of Japanese devils. This defensive line was basically finished.

  "What to do, Commander?" a little soldier asked an officer beside him. The officer said: "Brothers, at this point, we can only fight the devils to the death! I have a box of explosives here, when the enemy soldiers reach our position, we'll blow it up and die together with the devils! Are you afraid of death?"

  Don't be afraid, just charge forward!

  "Cowardice is shameful!"

  "I've had enough, I can still drag a few of those devilish soldiers down with me before I die, it's worth it!"

  "Great, everyone is great, worthy of being the 77th Army!" The company commander said excitedly. "Brothers, what do we do now? Right, let's sing our 77th Army song - 'Chinese Military Soul'. I'll start: If the motherland suffers invasion, hot-blooded men should rise up. Prepare to begin!"

  "If our country is invaded, we should strengthen ourselves. Let us drain this cup of wine from our hometown, and the brave warriors will never return..."

  "Hummm..."

  With a loud explosion, these warriors and a group of Japanese devils who rushed up perished together.

  When Xu Meiting saw this scene, tears kept flowing down. At this time, a British journalist behind her patted Xu Meiting's shoulder and asked in English: "What are these soldiers singing?"

  Xu Meiting wiped away her tears and said to the reporter, "It's a battle hymn. The lyrics say that if our motherland is invaded, brave sons should rise up..."

  "Mei Ting, don't say anything more, the devils are going to rush over, let's escape quickly!" Lin Wanxiang saw the Japanese devils rushing towards the wooden fence and was suddenly frightened out of his wits.

  At this time, the devils behind them suddenly fired a shot, and a troop emerged from behind them, rushing towards the wooden fence without regard for their lives. In less than ten minutes, they had annihilated the group of devils that had just broken through the blocking position.

  "Guard company, organize defense immediately, remember, we cannot let the devils enter the safety zone even if we die!" an officer shouted.

  At this time, Mei Ting was shocked. She looked at the officer covered in blood and exclaimed excitedly: "Zhenfeng, Zhenfeng! Is it really you?"

  The officer wiped the sweat and blood from his face, looked at the person who called him, and said in surprise: "Mei Ting? How are you still in the city? Why didn't you leave Nanjing? Don't you know that Nanjing is very dangerous now?"

  "Great, it's really you. This time you can't escape, I'm counting on you. What do you say? You have to take me to the front line for an interview?"

  "Who?" The British journalist next to Xu Meiting looked at Liu Zhenfeng and then asked Xu Meiting.

  "He, he is the commander of the 77th Army - Liu Zhenfeng. Oh, also the leader of those Chinese soldiers who fought to the death against the Japanese invaders just now." Xu Meiting said with a smile to that British reporter.

  "So this is the commander of those brave soldiers from earlier, great! Commander Liu, may I interview you?" The British reporter exclaimed excitedly.

  "Sorry, the battle is urgent now, and we decline all interviews." Liu Zhenfeng solemnly rejected the interview request of this British journalist and said to Xu Meiting: "Our 77th Army will open up a lifeline as soon as possible. At that time, there will be no reason for you not to leave Nanjing immediately!"

  "No, I'll follow you, I want a real interview!" Xu Meiting said stubbornly.

  "What nonsense!" Liu Zhenfeng was extremely angry at Xu Meiting's uncooperative attitude, and just as he was about to say something else, he suddenly heard...

  "Cousin? Cousin, it's really you, cousin!" A girl wearing a white coat ran to the wooden fence and excitedly called out.

  "Yunxuan? Why are you still in the city? Where's your aunt and uncle?" Liu Zhenfeng looked at Yunxuan in surprise.

  "Waaah... My dad died in battle at Songhu, and my mom has already gone to Wuhan with Big Aunt and Second Aunt!" Yunxuan cried out.

  "Then why are you still in Nanjing? Why didn't you leave with your aunt?" Liu Zhenfeng asked somewhat anxiously.

  "It's all my fault, the night before I was going to leave by boat, I had a big fight with my mom, and in a huff, I ran out. Now it's too late, I want to leave Nanyang but can't, Brother, I'm scared!" Yunxuan finally let go of his fragile heart after seeing his loved ones, and tears flowed down his face.

  "Hey, cousin, don't cry. Don't worry, as long as I'm here, no one will dare to hurt you!" Liu Zhenfeng comforted her.

  "Alright, Mei Ting, you two stay inside the safety zone and don't come out. We'll do our best to ensure the safety of the zone. As long as the 77th Army is in Nanjing for one more day, those devils won't dare harm you!" Liu Zhenfeng said firmly.

  "Report, sir." A communications soldier ran up to Liu Zhenfeng, saluted and said, "In the northern part of the city, Commander Ji's troops have pinned down two regiments of Japanese soldiers. The western part of the city is currently in our hands. The fiercest fighting is now taking place in the south and east, where the Japanese are attacking particularly fiercely!"

  "Are the armory and supply depot, especially the grain stores, in our hands?" Liu Zhenfeng asked a communication soldier.

  "Report to headquarters, these places are all in our hands."

  "Very good, keep in touch!" Liu Zhenfeng replied with a military salute.

  He then marched towards the armoury with several guardsmen...

  "Is he your older brother, Jun Zhang?" Mei En asked Yun Xuan curiously.

  "Yes, he is! He's my cousin! Now I can confidently say that my cousin is the commander of the 77th Army, the commander of this powerful army!" Yun Xuan said proudly.

  "Your brother is really impressive." Wang Qinxin said in a low voice.