Rebirth from the Ashes: Rebuilding the Red Soviet Area

October 1937, 4

The Hangzhou negotiations between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party ended

The Red Army reiterated ZG's five demands and four guarantees, and submitted 11 written demands and five oral statements to the National Government.

Insist that the administrative division of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region must remain intact

Government officials are elected and recommended by the people and appointed by the Nanjing government

The chief person in charge of the border region is sent by the Nanjing government, but must be nominated and recommended by the Communist Party of China.

The Red Army was organized into three divisions, each with 15,000 people, and a general headquarters was established, with the leadership remaining unchanged.

On April 5, representatives from both the Kuomintang and the Communist Party paid tribute to the Yellow Emperor's Mausoleum.

April 21st: The first flight of the China-US regular route

The route runs from Shanghai via Hong Kong, Manila, Guam, Huki Island, Midway Island, Hawaii to San Francisco, and the journey takes about 7 days.

On April 30, Yang Hucheng was dismissed from his post and ordered to go abroad for inspection.

On May 14, the Northeast Army was reorganized, and the Northeast local military group ceased to exist.

On June 1, the Japanese authorities in Taiwan ordered all newspapers to stop publishing Chinese editions.

July: Completed On Practice

Fengtai Japanese Army Headquarters

Kazuki Seiji said: "Twenty-nine is a local powerhouse."

“Tianjin and Beijing are both controlled by them.”

"And North China is close to Manchuria."

"If we bring the 29th Army over here"

"That connects the West Mountain and the Hanfu Canal"

"And even the whole of North China"

“We can eat it all.”

"If you want to rule the world, you must first conquer China"

"We must take down the 29th Army."

"Capture of Marco Polo Bridge"

“It’s a necessary step for the empire.”

Kawabe Shozo thought for a moment and said, "Mr. Katsuki Seiji"

"In addition to the 5500 people at the garrison headquarters, we

"Only the 1st and 2nd Infantry Regiments of North China Garrison"

"And the garrison troops, cavalry, artillery, engineering corps, as well as the North China Air Group under the control of the garrison troops, garrisons in various places, etc., totaling about 2 people."

"But the 29th Army has nearly 80,000 people."

"I'm worried"

"Once war breaks out"

"It is difficult for us to quickly eliminate the 29th Army"

"This gives the Chinese army time to send reinforcements."

Xiangyue Qingsi smiled and said: "Don't worry about this."

"During this period, we are superficially"

"Has been negotiating with the 29th Army"

"And promised Song the title of King of North China"

"It is to stabilize the 29th Army"

"Buy time for headquarters to secretly send more troops to North China"

Kawabe Masazo excitedly said: "Then we will turn North China into the second Manchuria."

"Realizing the Grand Vision of the Tanaka Memorial"

Kazuki Seiji said: "Hebian-kun"

“It’s not that simple.”

"There is an old saying in China"

"A legitimate mission"

"Although my Great Japanese Empire"

“Not afraid of anyone”

"But if we want to take over North China, it will inevitably harm the interests of the British and American powers in China."

"For unnecessary trouble"

“We still need an excuse.”

Kawabe Masazo immediately reacted

Said: "Your Excellency Xiangyue Qingji"

"you mean"

......

Kazuki Seiji whispered, "The Willow Lake Incident"

......

The night of July 1937, 7

Outside Wanping City

A gunshot rang out.

Breaking the silence

Headquarters of the 219th Regiment, 110th Brigade, 37th Division, 29th Army

A soldier with a full beard

He said worriedly: "Captain, listen!"

"Three-Eight Large Cover"

“It seems to be from the northeast of the city.”

"Direction of the Japanese Drill Ground"

Captain Ji of the 129th Regiment checked his watch.

He cursed: "It's almost eleven o'clock."

"damn it"

"The Japanese are still conducting exercises"

The bearded soldier said: "Captain"

"Do you think the Japanese will attack Beijing?"

Commander Ji shook his head: "The commander has been dealing with the Japanese recently."

"I guess"

“There won’t be a big war for the time being.”

“But we can’t take it lightly.”

......

Outside the East Gate of Wanping City

The Japanese were shouting outside the city

"Open the door, open the door quickly"

The guards on the city frowned

Shouted loudly towards the city: "Old rules"

“The city gates are not opened at night”

"We'll talk about it tomorrow if there's anything."

Captain of the 8th Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, North China Garrison, Japan

A Japanese sergeant named Iwaya

He said confidently: "I just heard gunshots in the city."

"The Empire Lost a Soldier"

“We’re going into the city to search.”

"Open the door quickly"

The guards on the city wall argued: "The gunshots came from outside the city."

“It was not our army that fought this battle.”

"Your lost soldiers have nothing to do with us"

The guard in Yangu refused to open the door.

Shouting "Baga"

He took out the turtle box and shot it at the city wall

......

Headquarters of the 219th Regiment, 110th Brigade, 37th Division, 29th Army

The bearded soldier cursed: "The Japanese fired first!"

"Leader"

"Let's fight back"

The commander of the 219th Regiment, Ji, who had received the news that the Japanese had opened fire, was furious.

But calm down instantly

He ignored the bearded man's words.

Instead, make a phone call

"Hello, I'm looking for Brigade Commander He."

After a while, a deep voice sounded: "Captain Ji, what's the matter?"

Captain Ji took a deep breath and said, "Brigade Commander..."

"Wanping City has been surrounded by Japanese troops"

Then Captain Ji told the story again.

Brigade Commander He pondered for a moment and said, "Your 219th Regiment must not open the city gate."

"I will report this to my superiors immediately."

Commander Ji was anxious: "Brigade Commander"

"The Japanese have already opened fire"

Brigade Commander He said: "Let the brothers get ready"

“But the situation up there is very delicate now.”

"Wait for our orders"

"Without my order, you must not fight back."

Brigade Commander He quickly hung up the phone.

29th Army Headquarters

Commander Feng said: "Commander

“We will go to negotiate.”

"The Japanese killed one of their soldiers and lost him."

"Their ambassador requested to lead troops into Wanping for a search."

"otherwise"

“They don’t mind attacking Peking”

Qin Junchang, Acting Commander of the 29th Army

At this time, the face is weak and frosty

He slapped the table hard: "Fuck!"

“These are all excuses made by the Japanese.”

"They wanted to take Wanping City without bloodshed."

"Command Captain Ji"

"Secure Marco Polo Bridge and Wanping County"

"Not a single Japanese soldier is allowed to enter, and not a single inch of our territory can be surrendered."

"If the Japanese dare to attack our army"

“We will fight back head on.”

......

The top brass of the 29th Army, the Japanese headquarters in North China, and the Japanese ambassador to North China

Regarding the "missing soldier" incident

Launch multiple rounds of negotiations

The upper echelons of China and Japan also began to mobilize troops and generals

War is imminent

Caijiaya Village, Anti-Japanese Vanguard, Headquarters

Chief of Staff Lu Zhiguo said: "July 8th at 5:30"

"The Japanese army suddenly opened fire on the guards guarding the Marco Polo Bridge"

"A platoon leader was unfortunately shot and killed"

"219th Regiment Commander Ji ordered a counterattack"

"The two sides fought fiercely for about an hour, but were eventually surrounded due to the enemy's superiority and our inferiority."

"All the soldiers of the two platoons died on the bridgehead"

"On the afternoon of July 8, the Japanese army bombarded Wanping County with heavy artillery fire."

"The Commissioner's Office was blown up and a battalion commander was seriously injured."

"night"

"Captain Ji personally led the assault team, using rope ladders to climb out of the city and approach the railway bridge along both sides of the Yongding River."

"Almost wiped out a Japanese squadron"

"Then they organized a suicide squad of 150 people."

"Almost all the soldiers on the Japanese-occupied Marco Polo Bridge and nearby Japanese positions were annihilated."

"From the outbreak of the July 7 Incident to the withdrawal of the defense area, a total of 23 days"

"Captain Ji with the strength of one regiment"

"Killed 3,000 men from the enemy's Riverside Brigade, Ikki Kiyonao's Battalion, and other regiments"

......