Chapter 23: The Little Devil is Not Human

  That night, the incident occurred under the cover of darkness.

  On this night when many people were off guard, Zhang Xueliang, the commander-in-chief of the Northeastern Border Defense Army, who was responsible for defending the land, had just recovered from a serious illness and was not in the military camp or in the Northeast, but in Beiping, with his wife Yu Fengzhi and Zhao Si Miss, sitting at the Zhonghe Theater outside Qianmen, watching Mei Lanfang's performance of the Peking Opera "Cosmic Sword"; Acting Commander-in-Chief Zhang Zuoxiang was also not on duty, having returned to Jinzhou the day before to mourn his father; Deputy Commander-in-Chief Wan Fulin was temporarily staying in Beiping; As for Chief of Staff Rong Zhen, he had hosted a grand banquet the day before to celebrate his father's birthday, with guests filling the door, and the festivities were still not over.

  Fengtian, the city where the Northeast Border Defense Army Headquarters was stationed, when the Japanese army lay in ambush in the dark and opened its bloody mouth, not a single high-ranking commander was stationed here. Even Wang Yizhe, the commander of the 7th Division stationed in Fengtian, was not in the barracks that day.

  However, the Japanese Kwantung Army Command in Dalian has ordered its troops to be on high alert, with their military strength pointing directly at Shenyang.

  Actually, as early as April this year, the Japanese army had already transferred the 2nd Division of the Imperial Japanese Army, which was adapted to fighting in cold regions, to Northeast China. Soon after, the garrison troops were secretly ordered to concentrate on Sujiatun and Shenyang areas. Two 240mm caliber siege artillery pieces were disassembled by the Japanese army, packed into wooden boxes resembling coffins, and secretly transported from Dalian to the Japanese military camp in Shenyang. Japan also dispatched an additional division from its mainland to garrison Korea, preparing to cross the river into China for battle at any time.

  The sky is sleeping under the night curtain.

  A crescent moon hangs high in the sky, with dense stars twinkling like eyes watching from above Fengtian, witnessing the Japanese invaders secretly brewing a sinister plot.

  This plot has been brewing for nearly a year. At this moment, Sakaki Seizaburō, the senior staff officer of the Japanese Kwantung Army in Fengtian, is anxiously waiting for its outcome.

  The Kwantung Army carried out the plot in a place called Liutiaohu, north of Shenyang. This is about three miles from Beidaying, where the Northeastern Army was stationed, and is a desolate village with dense forests and marshes. A group of Japanese soldiers quietly approached the South Manchurian Railway line near Liutiaohu Village.

  A few months ago, the newly appointed commander of the Liu Tiao Lake detachment, Lieutenant River End, stuffed several yellow small medicine packets used by Japanese cavalry into the joints of two rail tracks, waiting proudly for his carefully planned "glorious result".

  At 10:20 in the dead of night, a train from Changchun to Fengtian passed over the rail track filled with explosives. A deafening explosion shook the air, flames danced and pierced through the dark veil that shrouded the vast wilderness.

  The Japanese army blew up a section of rail track about 15 meters long. Kawabata's plan was flawless, the railway was blown up but did not affect the safe passage of the train, and the fast-moving train simply tilted to one side and passed through this section of track.

  He immediately placed the bodies of three Chinese people wearing Northeast Army uniforms at the scene as evidence that the Northeast Army had destroyed the railway, and falsely accused the Chinese army of destroying the railway and attacking the Japanese guard troops.

  This time's explosion with limited destructive power was actually a deliberate excuse made by Sakakibara Seitaro.

  After the explosion, the rumor that "the Chinese army blew up the South Manchurian Railway" quickly spread to the Kwantung Army, which was intensifying its "exercise" under the cover of night. The commander of the Kwantung Army cried out for the thief to be caught, accusing the Chinese army of destroying the South Manchurian Railway and attacking Japanese garrison troops, in order to stir up military morale.

  Invading troops are like dry firewood, and rumors are like sparks.

  In an instant, the Japanese officers and soldiers' arrogance turned into a raging fire. These self-proclaimed superior Easterners' eyes turned red, their impatience turning into frenzy, letting out beast-like roars.

  The phone on Sakaki Seishirō's desk rang. He hastily picked up the receiver, and his ear was immediately filled with the urgent and excited voice of a subordinate: "Colonel, the Ryūjō Plan has been successfully completed! The troops have entered combat readiness, please give the order to attack!"

  "God save the Emperor, let's proceed with the plan!"

  The Kwantung Army troops surrounding Shenyang received orders from their superiors:

  The Second Guard immediately launched an attack on Pei-tai-yen.

  The Fifth Regiment immediately attacked Beidaying from the north.

  The 29th Infantry Brigade immediately occupied Mukden City.

  Among the Chinese soldiers who were lax in their vigilance, there was still one person who remained sober.

  Before the Japanese army blew up the railway, the chief of staff of the 7th Brigade of the Northeast Army, Zhao Zhenfan, was inspecting the camp. For some reason, he had a premonition that something was going to happen.

  For a year, the Japanese Kwantung Army has repeatedly created trouble in Northeast China. The Japanese troops stationed in Shenyang even used the city gate and the barracks of the 7th Brigade as targets for military exercises. In the past two months, the Japanese army has frequently transported ammunition to Shenyang, with truckloads of goods wrapped in tarpaulins being unloaded at Shenyang South Station and taken into the Japanese army's barracks.

  King with Zhe and he felt the Japanese army's killing intent around Shenyang, repeatedly reported these situations to Zhang Xueliang, but Generalissimo emphasized that the central government's intention was to avoid conflict at all costs, and every instruction issued was "do not resist". In order to implement the superior's instructions, the officers collected the soldiers' firearms and locked them in the armory. With the enemy approaching, the border defense army first tied up its own hands and feet, how could Zhao Zhenfan feel at ease?

  At 9 o'clock in the evening, the whole camp was extinguished, and Zhao Zhenfan lay down and got up again. He knew that defending the country was a soldier's duty. The heart's anxiety and worry often made him sleepless all night. He couldn't sleep, so he went to check the sentry post. As soon as he walked out of the door, he heard a dull explosion sound coming from the direction of the South Manchurian Railway.

  "What's the noise?" he asked the officer beside him.

  Nobody knows.

  Before long, he heard the sound of gunfire coming from the north of the camp, growing more and more intense, accompanied by the shouts of Japanese soldiers. The duty company commander ran to him, panting and saying: "Report to the Chief of Staff, the Japanese! They are attacking us, what should we do?"

  Zhao Zhenfan's mind flashed with an idea: his premonition had come true! At this time, he calmed down and immediately issued the order: "Distribute the guns to our brothers and counterattack!"

  The company commander rushed to the scene. At this time, a 280mm giant howitzer shell fired from the artillery position set up by the Japanese army at the Dahu Hotel in Nanman Railway Station exploded on the ground one after another.

  The ground of the Northern Great Camp was shaking, and the 7,000 officers and soldiers who were awakened by the sound of gunfire rushed into the courtyard, where they were thrown into extreme panic by the explosion of shells.

  Zhao Zhenfan soon received a report: several hundred Japanese troops were charging towards Beidaying.

  Zhao Zhenfan immediately ran back to the hotel, grabbed the phone and shouted: "Quick! Connect me to General Wang's residence on Fengtian Third Road!"

  When Wang Yizhe's voice came over the phone, Zhao Zhenfan said: "Commander, the Japanese have taken action! They are shelling the main camp and infantry is also attacking, what should we do?"

  "Steady, little brother," Wang Yi Zhe said. "First gather the troops and wait for my orders. Don't fire carelessly before we figure out what's going on! I'll go find Honorary Chief of Staff right away."

  Calm down? Easy for you to say! The Japanese have already broken in, and you're telling me to stand still?! Zhao Zhenfan couldn't help but burn with anger. However, a soldier must obey orders. He hastily ordered each regiment to assemble, but not to fire, waiting for further commands.

  However, the Japanese attack was imminent, and Zhao Zhenfan couldn't wait any longer. He decided not to wait for Wang's response and had someone connect him with Rong Jun's phone.

  "Report," Zhao Zhenfan said to Rong Zhen, "the Japanese army suddenly launched an attack on the North Camp. Shells are falling inside the camp, what should we do?"

  "How long will you be traveling?" Regarding the Japanese army's actions, Rong Jun had already received a report from his deputy officer. He knew that the Northeast Army was empty outside the pass, and several main officers were not in their positions. The troops outside the pass were scattered throughout the northeast, and had not entered a state of combat readiness. Moreover, he still wore a "tight箍咒" on his head that forbade resistance. Therefore, when faced with this emergency situation, he was completely flustered and actually thought of pushing the responsibility onto his subordinates.

  "I called him and he's on his way to the government office now. Senator, what I want to know is, can we strike back?"

  "What measures have you taken?" Rong Zhen's voice was filled with alarm.

  "I have commanded my brethren to resist in this matter."

  Rong Jun did not express his approval or disapproval. He did not dare to make a decision on his own, hung up the phone and immediately had someone send a telegram to Zhang Xueliang in Beiping.

  The Chinese army was waiting for orders, while the Japanese Kwantung Army carried out every step of launching a war as planned. After blowing up the railway, they marched overnight to reinforce Mukden and attacked Pei-tai-yang and the city walls of Mukden. At 11:30 pm, the Japanese occupied the northwest corner of Pei-tai-yang.

  The soldiers of the Northeast Army were in disarray, seeing the Japanese army rushing into the barracks, they were terrified. The Japanese soldiers stabbed anyone they saw with bayonets, and the unarmed Northeast Army was thrown into chaos. Zhao Zhenfan called Rong Jun again. Rong Jun had already called Beiping, but couldn't find Young Marshal, so he told Zhao Zhenfan: "Do not resist, put the guns in the warehouse, die with honor. Everyone will sacrifice for the country."

  Zhao Zhenfan said, "Put the guns in the warehouse and let the enemy slaughter at will, I'm afraid it's not easy to do!" But he had already cursed in his heart, "Damn! If you only look at the last eight words, they seem like a brave warrior's heroic words!"

  "Zhao Zhenfan, this is an order! If you don't comply, and something goes wrong, you will be held responsible." Rong Zhen insisted on his own proposal.

  Zhao Zhenfan failed to persuade Rong Jun, and seeing the urgent situation, he brought the orderlies to the third battalion of the 621st Regiment. He saw Chinese officers and soldiers being beaten passively, Japanese troops entering as if there was no one around, his brothers under him falling down one after another. The Chinese officers and soldiers were beating their chests and stamping their feet, crying out loud. A tall man shouted loudly: "The little devils are slaughtering us, but they don't let us fight back, this is asking us to wait for death! Which bastard doesn't let us hit the little devils, I want to kill him! What kind of soldier is this, disgracing our ancestors!" As he spoke, he kept banging his head against the wall, staining it with fresh blood.

  A soldier covered in blood stumbled to Zhao Zhenfan's side, knelt down with a thud, and begged: "Commander, let us counterattack! Save our brothers! The little devils are not human! The company commander doesn't allow us to fire, we hide in the house, afraid to come out. But the little devils charge in, stabbing anyone they see. Some brothers are scared, hiding under the bed pretending to sleep, but the little devils use bayonets to pull them out. We run, and they shoot at us from behind. Commander, you must save the 7th Regiment!

  Zhao Zhenfan's face turned red with rage, his temples bulging. Damn it! He was determined to go all out today and not let the 10,000 soldiers of the Seventh Brigade be slaughtered in vain! He shouted loudly: "Orderly! Order the guard company to launch a counterattack and drive out the Japanese troops who have broken into the camp! Order Commander Zhang to cover the rear, and the other units to retreat quickly to Dongshanmouzi!"

  After the guard was connected to the command, they suddenly launched a counterattack against the Japanese army, beating them into chaos. After the Japanese reaction came over, they concentrated their firepower on the guard company located in the northwest of the big camp. At this time, fortunately, the soldiers sent by Zhao Xiao Feng made great contributions at the critical moment, instantly stabilizing the situation and tying down Ichida Masayuki's army to the north.

  The officers and men of the 7th Brigade of the Northeast Army, hearing the sound of their own troops' counterattack, were suddenly filled with spirit and cheered in unison. They all picked up their guns and asked their superiors to kill the enemy.

  Each department officer conveyed Zhao Zhenfan's order to the soldiers: "Withdraw from the east gate! Quickly!"

  Most of the officers and men in the Seventh Army were brave, fighting against the well-equipped and numerous Japanese army without knowing that the Nationalist government had given their superiors the shameful order of non-resistance. They asked while counterattacking the enemy: "Why didn't our brother units come to reinforce us?" "Why didn't our planes take off to join the battle?" Until they withdrew from Beidaying, they still asked with concern: "When will we launch a counterattack and return?"

  On the 19th, at 4 o'clock in the morning, Zhao Zhenfan led most of the officers and men of the Seventh Brigade to withdraw from Beidaying. The Japanese army pursued closely, with cannon fire extending into the darkness. From time to time, someone from the Seventh Brigade let out a miserable cry as they fell down in the dark. The troops fled in disarray, defeated and scattered.