Age of Conquest Reborn

The brutal defense of Nanning lasted for ten days. Many heroic stories happened around the ancient city of Nanning. More than 80,000 Gui soldiers fell on this land. Correspondingly, the Japanese

In order to achieve their campaign goals, they occupied Nanning at the cost of more than 50,000 casualties. A total of more than 130,000 soldiers from both sides fell in Nanning.

This is a blood-stained ancient city that has been occupied by the Japanese. What they got was ruins everywhere and an empty city. Bai Chongxi could not escape, but he did not lose anything. More than 70,000 Gui Army soldiers who had gone through the baptism of blood and fire,

Safely evacuated Nanning and moved into the mountainous area of ​​​​Shanglin in northeastern Guangxi. This was the first assembly point designated by Bai Chongxi before the retreat. [Search for the latest updates at]

Shanglin is located in the Mingshan Mountains. The only advantage is that the terrain here is relatively dangerous. The troops who arrived early can deploy defenses on the spot, which is conducive to air defense. In the dark night, more than 70,000 people evacuated Nanning, where the positions are intertwined. How many people got lost and how many lost their way.

Bai Chongxi had no idea. He would have to stay in Shanglin for more than half a day before he could finally determine how many troops to gather back.

As for the more than 20,000 defenders of Luancheng, Bai Chongxi has not yet issued an order to retreat. He can only do this. Sacrificing the defenders of Luancheng and retreating to Shanglin can avoid the danger of being attacked from two sides.

Bai Chongxi's heart was bleeding. He had no more time to think about Luan City. There should be a large number of Japanese troops chasing him behind.

In the evening when the siege broke out, more than 40,000 troops arrived in Shanglin one after another. However, the headquarters of Liao Lei of the 21st Group Army and the military headquarters of Zhang Gan of the Ninth Army had not arrived yet. The troops responsible for guarding at the front had already arrived.

After several calls, we discovered that the leading troops pursuing the Japanese army were in the Mingshan area. From where Bai Chongxi was stationed, dense gunshots could be vaguely heard. Staying in Shanglin for one more minute would increase the risk.

Bai Chongxi and the senior officers around him knew it, as did all the more than 40,000 Gui army soldiers who had withdrawn to Shanglin. However, Liao Lei and Zhang Gan were Bai Chongxi's most trusted generals. They led an army of about 30,000 people...

It was impossible to escape the pursuit of hundreds of thousands of Japanese troops. Only by following the brigade could there be a chance to escape. Although the gunshots of the Japanese pursuing troops were getting closer and closer, Bai Chongxi decided to wait for another two hours.

"Report to the headquarters that the 96th Division, which is responsible for the rear break, has exchanged fire with the Japanese pursuing troops. The division commander called, urging the headquarters and other troops to immediately withdraw to the direction of Liuzhou," a report from a communications staff officer added to the tension.

In the atmosphere, everyone's eyes were turned to Bai Chongxi. The Ninety-sixth Division was already a crippled unit with less than 4,000 men left. How long could it hold off the Japanese army? In other words, it was risking its life.

Other troops buy time.

"Report to the main office, a call from the Luancheng garrison. Three hours ago, the Japanese army broke through our Luancheng defense line. The remaining troops of the garrison, Chongzuo Garrison 1st and 2nd Brigade, Guigang Garrison 1st Division and other remaining troops have dispersed and broken through."

A communications staff officer reported a bad news, and the atmosphere at the scene became even more tense. Luancheng was lost, and the Japanese army could insert themselves behind Shanglin from the east and cut off the Gui army's retreat before the breakout troops reached the Hongshui River.

What's more, tens of thousands of people need to cross the river, and a large number of boats must be prepared and pontoons built. In a hurry, there is a big river blocking the road in front, and there are chasing troops behind. How many troops can cross the Hongshui River and reach Liuzhou? "Luancheng's troops

, how many casualties are there?" Bai Chongxi asked in a dry voice, "According to the telegram, the casualties of each unit in Luan City are more than 70%," the staff officer replied.

Bai Chongxi shivered with distress. There were less than 5,000 troops of more than 20,000 people in two garrison brigades and one garrison division. It was still unknown whether they could escape the pursuit of the Japanese army. The fighting situation in Luancheng was more intense than in Nanning. They

It was difficult for them to hold off the Japanese troops for more than half a day. Although they did not receive the order to retreat, they still fulfilled their duties as soldiers.

"Send a report to the retreating troops in Luancheng. They don't need to assemble in Shanglin and evacuate directly to Liuzhou." After a slight pause, Bai Chongxi added another sentence, "When we meet in Liuzhou, I will invite them to drink." "The chief seat, just

Just now, there was a sudden confrontation with Luan Cheng

The communication with the surrounding troops has been interrupted, and your order cannot be issued," the Minister of Communications said in embarrassment. Bai Chongxi sighed and said in an almost whispering voice: "It's up to God, it depends on their luck, but don't come.

Shanglin."

"Headquarters, the Ninety-sixth Division has an urgent telegram. Large numbers of Japanese troops continue to appear at the southern foot of Mingshan Mountain. It is extremely difficult for our division to block it. Please retreat as soon as possible from the headquarters." The series of telegrams pushed the tense atmosphere to the climax. In fact, you don't need to read it.

The telegram, just getting closer and closer, and the sound of gunfire becoming more and more intensive, had clearly and unmistakably told Bai Bai

Regarding Chongxi's current situation, a senior staff member's expression suddenly changed and he said: "General seat," Bai Chongxi waved his hand and said extremely seriously: "Needless to say, convey my order, all troops will march to the guests immediately, the vanguard troops

Responsible for finding ships and building pontoons. After three hours, the 96th Division can retreat on its own."

Honma Masaharu was so angry that he fought for ten days and crushed more than 50,000 imperial soldiers, leaving an empty city full of ruins. The Guangxi army that should have been able to break out of the encirclement calmly and more than half of its people escaped. This is a shame for your Excellency, Commander.

, pursuit, Masaharu Honma had only one idea, to catch up with the Guangxi army, catch up with Bai Chongxi, kill them all, and chop off Bai Chongxi's head.

This anger included Honma Masaharu's embarrassment. If he hadn't had a whim to break through Luan City and envelop Nanning from behind, the imperial army would not have attacked Nanning and stopped attacking, giving the Guangxi Army a chance to break through. If

If the Guangxi Army is always entangled in Nanning, the final result will inevitably be total annihilation.

The mistake is irreversible. Only by wiping out Bai Chongxi's Guangxi Army can this shame be washed away. In order to increase the speed of pursuit, Masaharu Honma gathered all the vehicles of the Third Army and the Fourth Army together to form a formation.

A fast pursuit force, consisting of two regiments, and his order to the two regiment captains was very simple, "Catch up with the Guangxi Army, entangle them, and drag them until the main force arrives. If the Guangxi Army escapes again, both of you will

Just commit suicide with your belly,"

When the Commander said this, his tone was so cold that he was frightened, and there was a fierce light in his eyes. The two Japanese commanders were trembling in their hearts. Without saying any nonsense, they quickly got in the car and pursued the Gui army along the retreat route.

, you dare to talk nonsense? Your Excellency, Commander, has the urge to eat people, who would dare to touch this bad luck.

Chief of Staff Masaharu Honma reminded: "Your Excellency, Commander, according to the order of Commander-in-Chief Juichi Terauchi, after occupying Nanning, our department's first priority is to continue to advance northward and attack the Central Army troops deployed in southern Guizhou. In order to dispatch

The main force of the army advances

Attacking Chongqing opens the way. Now, all the troops are going to pursue the defeated Guangxi Army. If the Commander-in-Chief presses you, we will find it difficult to answer. I have a suggestion: use the Third Army to pursue the Guangxi Army, and the Fourth Army to march north to attack Guizhou.

how?"

Masaharu Honma was furious at that time and rebuked loudly: "Baga, with less than 80,000 troops, can the Third Army complete the task of encircling and annihilating the Guangxi Army? Can the Fourth Army complete the attack on the Central Committee with more than 200,000 soldiers?"

Is it the mission of the dispatched army? Stupid, only after annihilating the Guangxi Army and turning all our forces to the direction of Guizhou can we complete the order of the dispatched army headquarters. Do you understand?" The chief of staff blushed slightly and stepped aside speechlessly.

.

In fact, the Chief of Staff did not quite agree with what Masaharu Honma said, but who could argue with a madman? He turned his attention to Lieutenant General Kenji Iijima, the commander of the Fourth Army, and Iijima frowned.

Brow, he was in a dilemma. It was important to complete the mission of the headquarters, but the losses he suffered in Nanning City made him unable to give up the idea of ​​pursuing the Gui army. He didn't know what to say, but he felt that Honma-kun's actions

More in line with the style of an imperial general.

"Report to your Excellency, Commander, the rapid pursuit troops report that they have caught up with the Guangxi Army's rearguard troops in the Mingshan Forest area and are in the midst of a fierce battle." Masaharu Honma ordered loudly as if he had been given a shot of chicken blood, his eyes shining brightly:

"All troops, immediately speed up and march all night. They must surround the Guangxi Army in the Shanglin area and gather together to annihilate them." In the dark night, the tired Japanese soldiers cursed in a low voice and pursued in the direction of Shanglin.

The 96th Division of the Gui Army responsible for blocking was completely destroyed. More than 4,000 people died in the battle at the southern foot of Mingshan Mountain. The favorable terrain and the life-threatening bravery of the Gui Army soldiers could not offset the disadvantage in strength. More and more Japanese troops

They swarmed in. By three o'clock in the morning, Japanese soldiers entered the Mingshan Mountains, stepping on the bodies of Gui soldiers and their companions. The 96th Division spent nearly five hours fighting for Bai Chongxi's evacuation of the guests with more than 4,000 lives.

time.

The sky was dimming, and the morning breeze brought the refreshing breath of Bagui. The gunshots from the direction of Mingshan could no longer be heard. The headquarters radio station had lost contact with the Ninety-sixth Division. Bai Chongxi did not ask the reason, he knew very well in his heart,

The 96th Division would never come back. Including their division commander, this was the second senior officer at the division commander level to be killed since the Battle of Nanning began.

At around seven o'clock in the morning, Bai Chongxi took the withdrawn Gui army and arrived at Pingtang on the south bank of the Hongshui River. This is a small town still more than 20 kilometers away from the Hongshui River. Bai Chongxi had just entered the town.

Unexpectedly, he met Liao Lei, commander of the 21st Group Army of the Guangxi Army, Zhang Gan, commander of the Ninth Army, and more than 20,000 troops led by them.

Bai Chongxi was extremely surprised and followed the staff to find Liao Lei and Zhang Gan. For these two men who were both subordinates and had deep feelings, he worried for a whole day and night. He lost contact and his life or death was uncertain. What if Liao Lei and Zhang Gan encountered each other?

Unexpectedly, Bai Chongxi could not forgive himself, and this regret would accompany him throughout his life.

Under a big banyan tree outside Pingtang Town, Liao Lei and Zhang Gan were rushing over. Seeing the two figures from a distance, Bai Chongxi suddenly felt a rush of heat in his heart. He couldn't remember how many years he hadn't felt like this.

feeling.