EBE Chapter 156 Return to the Troops
Chapter 156 Return to the Troops
Zhang Wenwu did not chat too much with Colonel Lin. He asked Cao Huaguo to stay at the dock while he took the transport boat back to the "Duncan" and had people load all the boxes from the plane onto the transport boat and send them to the dock.
After all the boxes were safely delivered to the dock, Zhang Wenwu returned to the dock and made a handover with Lieutenant Colonel Lin. After Lieutenant Colonel Lin and his men loaded the boxes of aircraft parts onto the truck and transported them away, he took Cao Huaguo back to the warship on a transport boat.
"Major Zhang, congratulations, you have successfully added a little strength to your army." Smith stood on the deck with Zhang Wenwu, smoking a cigar, looking at the busy Sanzhen Wharf.
"Smith, thank you very much for your help this time. Without your generous assistance, I would not have been able to accomplish these things. Thank you." Zhang Wenwu thanked Smith very sincerely.
Smith waved his hand nonchalantly and said, "Major Zhang, it's nothing. Compared with the just battle you are fighting, what I'm doing here is really not worth mentioning. Besides, are you really not going to return to Shanghai with me? You know, your mediation team hasn't finished its work yet. Although your presence in the mediation team is not important, there is an opportunity to stay away from the battlefield. I think you can still consider it carefully."
Zhang Wenwu smiled and rejected Smith's proposal. He felt that he should return to the army as he could not adapt to the atmosphere of the mediation group. Besides, once the Japanese army completely occupied the Shanghai area, the mediation group would be disbanded. Without the guarantee of victory on the front line, the mediation group would be useless.
"Oh, Major Zhang, I just received news that the Japanese army has landed in Jinshanwei. Your Chinese army in Shanghai is in big trouble." Lieutenant Colonel Philip walked over quickly with a telegram document in his hand and said.
Smith took the telegram from Lieutenant Colonel Philip with an anxious look on his face and read it carefully. After he finished reading the contents of the telegram, he said to Zhang Wenwu with a little frustration: "Major Zhang, your prediction of the Japanese army's actions is too accurate. It seems that your troops in Shanghai need to start retreating immediately."
Zhang Wenwu did not read the content of the telegram, but asked Lieutenant Colonel Philip to return as soon as possible and stop when arriving in Nanjing. He would get off the ship there and then return to the troops.
At seven o'clock the next morning, after saying goodbye to Smith and Lieutenant Colonel Philip, Zhang Wenwu took Cao Huaguo on a transport boat to Jinling's Xiaguan Wharf. After entering Jinling City, Zhang Wenwu first went to the roadside telephone office to call his eldest brother's house. He wanted to report his safety to his eldest brother, but no one answered the phone. Zhang Wenwu estimated that his eldest brother and his family should have evacuated to Sanzhen in advance, so he took Cao Huaguo to the train station, showed his officer ID, and got on a train to Nanxiang.
Nanxiang Station was now in even greater chaos. Zhang Wenwu and Cao Huaguo finally squeezed out of the station. When they arrived at Wu Jincheng's office, Wu Jincheng was shocked: "Deputy Director Zhang, why are you here? The Japanese army has landed in Jinshanwei, and the Nanxiang military station is about to retreat. Your 18th Army has already withdrawn to guard the Wufu Line and Xicheng Line, and your temporary camp has also been evacuated with the troops."
When Zhang Wenwu heard that the troops had already withdrawn, he hurriedly asked Wu Jincheng about the specific defensive position of the 18th Army. As a result, Wu Jincheng spread his hands and said that he didn't know either.
Zhang Wenwu had no choice but to use Wu Jincheng's office phone to call the theater headquarters to ask Deputy Director Chen. After finally getting through to Deputy Director Chen, Deputy Director Chen asked him to go to the Xicheng Line to look for the troops after learning that Zhang Wenwu had returned to Nanxiang Station. Before Zhang Wenwu had time to ask where exactly they were, the call was disconnected.
Zhang Wenwu could only get two sets of military uniforms from Wu Jincheng and put them on, then returned the casual clothes to Wu Jincheng, and then took Cao Huaguo to the northwest to chase the troops.
The landing of the Japanese army at Jinshanwei completely put the front-line troops in Shanghai in a passive position, and the retreat gradually turned into a major rout. The Japanese army took advantage of this opportunity to divide into several small forces to pursue from behind, and sent people wearing the uniforms of the Chinese troops, constantly creating chaos and panic along the way.
Zhang Wenwu and Cao Huaguo chased the troops all the way until they arrived at the north bank of the Yangtze River, where they met the 102th Division of the th Army, which was responsible for the rearguard. After learning that the nd Division was deployed at the northernmost part of the army, Zhang Wenwu was speechless. He had to bid farewell to the officers and soldiers of the th Division and continue on his journey north.
At noon the next day, Zhang Wenwu saw an acquaintance, Li Shangping.
"Major Li, you've been promoted very quickly. I wanted you to salute and say hello to me. It seems I still have to work harder." Zhang Wenwu joked to Li Shangping with a smile.
Li Shangping took a puff of his cigarette and rolled his eyes at Zhang Wenwu. Zhang Wenwu was really capable, but he just didn't behave properly. However, he still explained to Zhang Wenwu: "Wenwu, the Military Commission has issued an appointment. All the surviving personnel of the original 18th Army will be promoted to the next level."
Zhang Wenwu almost choked on his cigarette. It turned out that whoever saw it would be eligible. Wouldn't he be promoted to lieutenant colonel? Oh my god, I can be promoted to lieutenant colonel at such a young age. It seems that what General Luo said last time about his promotion to general is really possible.
"Li Shangping, after I return to the army to report on my duties, I will be promoted to lieutenant colonel. Haha, remember to salute me next time we meet. I guess I will be the first one among my classmates who will be assigned to the 18th Army to be promoted to lieutenant colonel. When the time comes, I want each of you to stand at attention and salute me. Hahaha." Zhang Wenwu felt so happy when he thought of the scene of having his classmates stand at attention and salute him.
After hearing what Zhang Wenwu said, Li Shangping smiled bitterly and said, "Wenwu, I guess I'll be the only one who can salute you when the time comes. Among the classmates who came to the 18th Army at the same time, there are only two of us who can still stand and talk."
When Zhang Wenwu heard that of the classmates who came with him, only he and Li Shangping were left, he was shocked and asked quickly: "Li Shangping, are you saying that they are all killed? There are only two of us left?" His mood suddenly became very depressed.
"Well, there are only two of us left. If you hadn't been in charge of military supplies and I had been in charge of the military police, it is estimated that the more than 20 people who came to the 18th Army would have been gone. The grassroots officers of the entire 18th Army have been replaced at least three times. Have you ever seen a platoon leader become a battalion commander after fighting for two hours? This time our 18th Army has been seriously damaged." Li Shangping took a few puffs of his cigarette and complained depressedly.
After listening to Li Shangping's words, Zhang Wenwu remained silent. He just lowered his head and smoked hard. He was in no mood to joke anymore. This was just the beginning of the war, and there would be even more difficult times in the future.
Zhang Wenwu asked Li Shangping to take him to the military headquarters. After all, he went to Shanghai to participate in the mediation group under the order of Commander Luo. Now it was not known whether the mediation group had been disbanded or not, but he came back first. It was reasonable for him to report to Commander Luo first.
"Wenwu, you really gave Commander Chen and me a great shock this time. You did a great job. Commander Chen specially sent me a telegram before, asking me to reward you well. It happens that this time the Military Commission has issued a promotion and commendation order for our 18th Army. You kid should go and change your rank and certificates later. Congratulations, Lieutenant Colonel Zhang." Commander Luo looked haggard, but still smiled and told Zhang Wenwu that he was promoted.
"Thank you Commander Luo and Commander Chen for your concern. This is what I should do." Zhang Wenwu was still not able to recover from the shock. After simply expressing his gratitude, he asked Commander Luo if he could return to the army. Commander Luo agreed immediately. As for the mediation team, Commander Luo told Zhang Wenwu not to worry about it.
Zhang Wenwu was luckier this time. He didn't have to walk back to the unit. The military headquarters happened to have a truck transporting weapons and ammunition to the 102nd Division, so Zhang Wenwu and Cao Huaguo got a ride.
When Zhang Wenwu returned to the 102nd Division Headquarters, he felt as if he was in another world. During the Battle of Shanghai, he basically stayed at the Nanxiang Military Station to recruit soldiers. Later, he was sent to Shanghai. He did not return to the army until all the troops withdrew here. Thinking about it, he felt that he was quite capable.
"Wenwu, you are a great contributor to our 102nd Division in the battle of Shanghai." Chief of Staff Zhao Dong praised Zhang Wenwu with a smile on his face and pulled him into his office.
"Chief of Staff, is our division's mission this time to defend the Xicheng line? What's the current situation of our division?" Zhang Wenwu was still quite concerned about the actual situation of the troops. As soon as he entered the office, he couldn't wait to ask Chief of Staff Zhao Dong.
Zhao Dong looked at Zhang Wenwu with relief and said, "Well, the troops have received orders to guard the northern section of the Xicheng Line. After the previous battle in Shanghai, the troops have been severely damaged. There are less than 5,000 people in the entire division. However, the new recruits have already set out from the three towns and will be delivered to the troops in a few days. According to the Japanese attack route, we should not encounter a large-scale attack from the Japanese in the near future, so the troops can have a good rest."
After listening to Zhao Dong's words, Zhang Wenwu nodded slightly. The troops were already very tired and could not engage in large-scale battles with the Japanese army. Moreover, he estimated that most of the 102 troops were new recruits who had been added later. Even if the nd Division was sent to fight the Japanese army now, it would definitely be defeated within a day or two. Not only would it not be able to provide any help, but it would easily lead to the collapse of the friendly army's defense line.
When he came out of Chief of Staff Zhao Dong's office, Zhang Wenwu was already the director of the Quartermaster Department of the 102nd Division. This didn't really feel like anything to Zhang Wenwu, after all, he was the only one who had the final say in the Quartermaster Department of the 102nd Division before, and now he was just promoted to the position in name only.
When Zhang Wenwu brought Cao Huaguo back to the courtyard where the Quartermaster Department was temporarily working, Lei Dong and Li Hou rushed out of the house excitedly: "Deputy Director Zhang, Deputy Director Zhang, you are finally back."
"Li Houcai, the Chief of Staff has just appointed Commander Zhang as the director of the Quartermaster Department. You called the wrong person." Cao Huaguo reminded Li Houcai with a happy face. He and Lei Dong were not familiar with each other, so he reminded Li Houcai first.
"Okay, since everyone is here, let's have a meeting later. We need to know what supplies the Quartermaster Department has now." Zhang Wenwu announced with a smile that the first meeting after he was promoted to the position would be held soon.
(Thanks to Zhi Xia Xia, Si Bu, Li Xunle who loves to eat vegetarian stir-fried cowpea, the knight who reads a lot of books, the Duke of Wei who loves to eat beef jerky, the dark night of the universe stars, the user, Kan, Lu Yilin who likes to chop melons, Tianle, Mr. Bean is also crazy, ???? Chenyuan ????, for their gift support! Thank you all for your support and encouragement!)