12dz Chapter 136: Motivating Morale in Despair
Chapter 136: Motivating Morale in Despair
As the first person jumped off the train, the men on the roof were finally aroused and followed the pioneer and jumped off the train one by one.
Perhaps they would be injured or even killed if they jumped down. Even if they were safe and sound, they would be shot to death under the dense firepower of the Japanese.
But at this time, for the sake of my family, I can no longer escape. It's time to stand up.
"Kill~~~"
Grunt, grunt...
The train passed through the firefight zone quickly because of the restraint of Cheng Yaojin, Hou Junji and several others, as well as the Teaching Corps.
Even if the Japanese army wanted to stop the two trains, they were unable to spare any troops.
Only a small number of the Japs raised their guns and shot at the train.
But their attention was drawn away again as the men who jumped off the train launched their death charge.
Huff huff.....
The train driver stepped on the accelerator and passed through the war zone at the fastest speed.
In the darkness of night, the sparks from the locomotive chimney were like the fire of life, carrying the men's hope of survival and helping them safely pass through the war zone with their wives and children.
But they themselves fell one by one under the enemy's firepower, and they would never see their families again...
The exchange of fire continued. The three major fighters, Cheng Yaojin, Hou Junji and Yuchi Gong, were inevitably killed in the enemy's machine gun fire.
Including the six original guards, they were beaten to pieces after completing their mission.
Zhou Zhenqiang looked at the train gradually moving away and quickly issued the order to retreat.
In just less than 5 minutes of exchange of fire, more than half of the -man teaching corps suffered casualties.
But their deaths were not in vain, they used their lives to protect the safe evacuation of thousands of people!
As Zhou Zhenqiang left, the railway line became quiet again.
In the dark night, the Japanese army did not dare to pursue them and could only watch them retreat.
As for the two trains that quickly disappeared into the darkness, the Japs didn't care.
Their target is Jinling City, for tomorrow's general attack!
This attack in the dark was at most an episode.
The loss of just over 200 people did not affect their pace of advancement at all.
Li Chengqian was still hiding in the darkness at this time, looking at the bodies of the people lying along the railway. After sighing deeply, he continued to ambush in the same place.
He wanted to see clearly the equipment of this large Japanese army and collect intelligence for tomorrow's decisive battle.
If possible, he hoped to kill a few more Japanese officers.
Zhou Zhenqiang led the teaching team back to Jinling City first. They needed to recuperate and wait for the decisive battle tomorrow.
At the same time, the city of Jinling was still bustling under the night sky.
The Great Retreat is still underway.
With the participation of more than 80 ferries, more than people had been transported across the river.
But at this speed, at most 20 people can be transported out before dawn.
In addition, it is difficult to see the river surface clearly at night, so the speed may be even slower.
Tang Shengzhi and Xie Jinyuan were discussing whether to defend the city gates to the death tomorrow or to engage in street fighting with the Japanese in the city.
Launching street fighting could certainly delay the Japanese advance as much as possible, but the civilians in the city who had not yet moved out would suffer.
But if they still defend the city walls, the remaining troops they have will not be able to hold out for long.
After all, what they will face tomorrow is a large Japanese army, not the Japanese vanguard of less than 10,000 people during the day.
There might even be a Japanese bomber, and the civilians gathered on the shore would surely suffer heavy casualties from the bombing and strafing! !
This is an unsolvable situation, there is no way to evacuate safely.
At this moment, Li Chengqian teleported back.
The two informed him of the situation after discussion.
Li Chengqian had no better idea after hearing this: "I suggest that we start street fighting in the city to hold back the Japanese. As for the Japanese planes, there are six destroyers on the river with anti-aircraft guns on the decks. They should be able to suppress the Japanese planes and prevent them from firing and dropping bombs wantonly."
"As for the final result..."
Li Chengqian was silent for a while: "Although success is uncertain, I am determined to die!"
He looked at the pairs of eyes around him, some were from the national army, some were young and strong men who voluntarily went to the battlefield, and even some women who chose to stay and fight to the death.
Li Chengqian looked at those pairs of bright eyes in the dark night, and his heart trembled constantly.
The breath stuck in his throat, suppressing him and also motivating him.
If the Japanese had not started the war, they should have lived and worked in peace.
Although the daily necessities of life may not be satisfactory, there is no danger to life in peace.
But now...
Li Chengqian looked at them and said, "No one... is born to fight against the Japanese. No one wants their children to go to the battlefield!"
"But now, the Japanese have invaded, and we have been forced to give up our lives and become the soldiers we are today."
"If one day this war is over, we won't need so many soldiers anymore. Everyone can go to school, farm, do business, and bask in the sun peacefully!"
A young man looked at Li Chengqian: "But when is that day..."
Li Chengqian grabbed his shoulders and said in a firm tone: "It will be soon, it will be soon. We must believe in the will of the people to fight the war. With 400 million compatriots working together, we are not afraid of any enemy."
"Today we use our bodies to block the bayonets and bullets of the Japanese, and use our blood to defend the land under our feet, so that the Japanese know that we Chinese will never become slaves of a conquered nation!"
"Don't bow your heads, hold your chests high and raise your heads. As long as we are united, the Japanese will be driven out of China sooner or later!!"
Another person stepped forward and asked, "Will anyone remember what we did today in the future?"
Li Chengqian turned his head and looked at him: "Maybe future generations won't remember your names, but history books will definitely record everything that happened in Jinling City today. Believe me, future generations will not forget, and history books will definitely record it..."
Xie Jinyuan, Tang Shengzhi, everyone was silent.
They don't care about the records in history books.
What they care about is whether their death is worth it, whether the country will perish, and whether they still have hope...
Li Chengqian quietly left the crowd, having done everything he could.
He didn't know how many Jinling people could be rescued in the end.
But he did his best.
They sat down in the corner, and Li Shimin came over with Li Jing.
The two of them just stood behind the crowd, looking at him silently.
They knew that Li Chengqian was very tired now.
It's not just the physical tiredness, but also the inner despair of powerlessness.
The difference in strength is too great and cannot be changed by human power.
Even if they are now comparable to Superman, they still cannot change the general trend...
But he had done well enough.
Faced with such a situation, it is extremely difficult to keep from mentally collapsing.
The two men sat down next to Li Chengqian. They didn't say anything, but just looked at the crowd silently, watching Tang Shengzhi and Xie Jinyuan organize the soldiers and young men to set up street defense lines.
The most brutal street fighting will begin at dawn, and many people will die, or even all of these people will die.