Chapter 6, Ceasefire Agreement

After the valiant soldiers carried the wounded away, only two companies remained on the entire battlefield. Sun Baili ordered the abandonment of the flanks, to consolidate the defense line, and to concentrate forces to guard the front position. All grenades were opened, and machine guns were fully loaded with ammunition. He instructed the soldiers not to conserve ammunition, but to use the most intense firepower to counter the enemy. At 1 PM, the Japanese army launched another attack. Having thoroughly understood the strengths and weaknesses of the defending troops, they even decided not to use tanks to clear the way. After a routine artillery bombardment, they directly began their charge. Sun Baili and the surviving officers each took a machine gun, forming a dense firepower network with the machine gun squads. When the Japanese troops entered range, they unleashed a concentrated hail of bullets, mowing down large numbers of enemies as if they were cut wheat. However, more enemies surged to the forefront of the position. The soldiers worked in pairs; one with strong arms was responsible for throwing grenades, while the other continuously handed him opened grenades. The relentless explosions tore the enemy apart, and each step forward came at a heavy cost. In the end, only a dozen or so managed to rush into the trench from the left side.

As soon as Sun Baili's words fell, the soldiers raised their arms in unison and shouted: "To fight to the death, to sacrifice ourselves for the country!"

Sun Baili could not help but shed tears, choked with emotion as he said: "I understand your determination, but the war between China and Japan has only just begun, and countless battles await you ahead. If we all sacrifice here, who will carry the banner of the 19th Route Army? Is there truly no one willing to stay behind, to preserve a seed for our battalion, for the 19th Route Army?"

After nightfall, the entire camp quietly retreated under the cover of darkness. Two hours later, those assigned to the cover mission, including Zhong Wu, also safely exited the position. On the same day, all units of the 19th Route Army and the 5th Army completed their strategic withdrawal, marking the end of the Shanghai resistance. The 19th Route Army and the later reinforcements from the 5th Army, with inferior troop strength and equipment, faced an enemy force that was twice their number and better equipped. Under the fierce bombardment from the enemy's naval and aerial firepower, they fought valiantly with a spirit of self-sacrifice. After more than a month of intense combat, they inflicted thousands of casualties on the Japanese forces, forcing them to change commanders five times, delivering a heavy blow to the arrogance of Japanese imperialism, and demonstrating the determination of the Chinese people to fight to the death in resistance.

After the Nineteenth Route Army regrouped in Kunshan, they immediately rested on the spot and replenished personnel and supplies. Inspired by the heroic deeds of the Nineteenth Route Army in their resistance against the enemy, passionate youth from all over the country rushed to the army's station, requesting to enlist. Consequently, more than 10,000 new recruits were quickly recruited, surpassing the pre-war numbers. During the Shanghai resistance, the Fourth Regiment of the Seventy-eighth Division inadvertently discovered a supply warehouse belonging to the Navy Department, which contained not only a large quantity of weapons and ammunition but also a considerable amount of communication equipment. Since the naval soldiers guarding the warehouse had long since fled, the Nineteenth Route Army unceremoniously accepted everything. In fact, the reason the Nineteenth Route Army was able to persist for such a long time can be attributed significantly to this batch of equipment. After the new recruits and equipment were gradually supplemented, Sun Baili immediately began a comprehensive military training plan. Drawing from his experiences in the Tax Police Corps and the early training of the First Battalion, he made some modifications to his own compiled "Army Manual," which was then distributed throughout the regiment, requiring each squad leader and above to have a copy and to train the troops strictly according to the manual's requirements. This manual borrowed the strengths of the German Army Manual while also taking into account the physical characteristics and weaponry of the Chinese, enabling a comprehensive and rapid enhancement of the troops' combat effectiveness. The officers and soldiers, inspired by patriotic fervor, actively engaged in training, while the veterans, who recognized the gap between themselves and the armies of stronger nations through real combat, trained with exceptional seriousness. Even Zhong Wu, who had previously mocked the manual as the 'Sun's Manual,' changed his attitude and earnestly studied and executed it.

Faced with the eager gaze of Captain Yin, the soldiers unanimously chose to remain silent, and the trench fell into a state of tranquility. Suddenly, a messenger from the regiment headquarters hurriedly ran over from the communication trench. After saluting Sun Baili, he said: "Captain Sun, the regiment headquarters has ordered the 1st Battalion to retreat immediately to Kunshan to join the main force. Please arrange for covering troops to ensure that we are not pursued by the enemy." It turned out that the Japanese army, taking advantage of the Chinese forces having committed all reserves to the front lines and being unable to divide their troops, had landed heavily from the Liuhua River, successfully flanking the rear of the Chinese army and forming a pincer movement against the defending troops. The command of the 19th Route Army, in order to avoid being caught in a situation of being attacked from both front and rear, subsequently ordered the entire army to resist in succession and retreat to the line of Kunshan, Taicang, and Jiading for defense, while simultaneously broadcasting a message to the entire nation.

Under the earnest persuasion of Sun Baili, the soldiers' emotions finally settled down. That evening, he gathered the officers for patient discussions. After several days of effort, the soldiers ultimately devoted themselves wholeheartedly to the training.

Sun Baili immediately announced the content of the order to the entire camp. A profound silence enveloped the camp, as he suppressed his inner reluctance and began to arrange the retreat. The soldiers, who had endured life-and-death trials, silently gathered their weapons and ammunition in preparation for the withdrawal, neither cheering nor weeping. This unprecedentedly brutal war had matured them completely. Sun Baili firmly believed that, given time and equipped with superior weapons, this battle-hardened army would undoubtedly grow into a formidable force that would instill fear in the hearts of the Japanese invaders.

As the training exercises were in full swing, news of the signing of the ceasefire agreement reached the military camp, immediately causing a great uproar. Upon learning that the National Government had made significant concessions, the soldiers were filled with righteous indignation, gathering in front of Sun Baili's command post, demanding to jointly petition the government, declaring that they would rather fight the Japanese army again than compromise. Seeing the seriousness of the situation, Sun Baili quickly assembled the entire battalion to address them. Looking into the pairs of angry eyes, he could not help but feel a surge of emotions. He said: "Brothers! When I learned of the contents of the agreement, I too felt an overwhelming sense of indignation! Tens of thousands of brothers have fought bravely for over fifty days, with thousands of comrades dying on the battlefield, only to receive such a result—who can accept this?" Then he shifted his tone, saying: "However, we should not simply blame the government for making too many concessions. Why? The reason is clear to everyone—we were defeated and driven out of the urban area of Shanghai by the enemy! If the army cannot defeat the opponent on the battlefield, can we expect to achieve favorable results through negotiations? Is that possible?"

Although this battle inflicted significant casualties on the Japanese army, our own losses were minimal, with only two soldiers sacrificed and one injured. However, the consumption of weapons and ammunition was excessive, and five machine guns were damaged due to overheating, with fewer than two hundred grenades remaining. Sun Baili gathered all the soldiers in the trench, facing the grimy faces blackened by smoke and dust, and the tattered uniforms stained with blood. He raised his hand and solemnly saluted, saying: "Brothers! No matter how advanced the Japanese weapons are, how fierce their firepower, or how aggressive their attacks, our defense line stands firm under our protection! We have defended the honor of Chinese soldiers with the corpses and blood of our enemies, letting the Japanese know that the Chinese army is formidable and that the Chinese people are not afraid of death! Our countrymen will surely take pride in us!" Then, in a heavy tone, he continued: "Now that our troops are out of ammunition and supplies, and we have no strength to continue fighting, but the higher-ups have not ordered a retreat, I am determined to fight to the death and sacrifice myself for the country! This is not an order; if anyone is unwilling to follow, I will not force them, for the battles of these days have proven that you are all true warriors, worthy of the title of heroes!"

On March 1, the Japanese army launched an unprecedentedly fierce attack along the entire front line. Infantry surged forward under the cover of tanks and artillery, repeatedly assaulting the positions of the Chinese troops. Some ferocious Japanese soldiers, stripped to the waist and bare-chested, charged forward with battle knives, howling as they engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the defending forces. The defending soldiers, dragging their exhausted bodies, repelled wave after wave of enemy attacks with indomitable will.

Zhong Wu let out a wild roar, raised his machine gun, and charged forward. The first few Japanese soldiers were immediately riddled with bullets, falling like a sieve. Just as the soldiers behind them were about to raise their guns to shoot, several grenades fell from the sky, sending them tumbling in all directions. As Zhong Wu rushed forward, ready to execute the last Japanese soldier, he realized he had run out of bullets. The enemy soldier charged at him with a bayonet. Zhong Wu sidestepped the blade, grasped the barrel of the machine gun with one hand, and swung the buttstock at the Japanese soldier's head. With a violent collision, red and white brain matter and shattered wood splattered everywhere. As Zhong Wu rushed forward, ready to execute the last Japanese soldier, he realized he had run out of bullets. The enemy soldier charged at him with a bayonet. Zhong Wu sidestepped the blade, grasped the barrel of the machine gun with one hand, and swung the buttstock at the Japanese soldier's head. With a violent collision, red and white brain matter and shattered wood splattered everywhere.

After the withdrawal of the Chinese army, the Japanese forces immediately occupied Shanghai. However, due to heavy losses, they were equally unable to continue fighting. The military actions of the Japanese army in Shanghai severely threatened the interests of the European and American powers in China. Consequently, they united to exert pressure on the Japanese government, demanding an immediate cessation of military operations in Shanghai and negotiations with the Nationalist government. Ultimately, on May 5, the "Soochow-Shanghai Ceasefire Agreement" was officially signed. According to the provisions of the agreement, Shanghai was designated as a demilitarized city, and the Chinese army was not allowed to station troops there, only police could be deployed to maintain public order, while the Japanese forces were required to withdraw to their positions within the concessions.

On this day, 17 men from Sun Baili's 1st Battalion were killed, and half of the volunteer army had also perished, completely losing the ability to continue fighting. After repelling another attack from the enemy, Sun Baili said to Zhong Wu beside him: "It seems the Japanese army is going to make a desperate gamble. We can no longer hold out until tomorrow! You must immediately command the volunteer army to send all the wounded to the rear and take away any unnecessary equipment, so they do not have to come back up! If they ask, just tell them that orders have come down from above to retreat. Do you understand what I mean?" Zhong Wu nodded and turned to leave.