Chapter 3, Collapse and Escape

"Engineering Regiment One?" Dai Anlan exclaimed in surprise and urgency, "Aren't you stationed at the airport? Who ordered you to return?"

Following the rout, Zhang Chi was somewhat out of breath as he fled towards Tonggu.

Chen Qiming was rendered speechless by the question; he was solely focused on escaping and had no idea about the current situation at the airport

Under the command of the commander, how could the soldiers dare to be negligent? Immediately, several individuals rushed to find the regiment commander.

"Did you encounter the enemy?" Dai Anlan couldn't help but gasp: "What about the airport?"

What the soldiers of the engineering battalion did not expect was that worse news was yet to come

It is unclear whether it was due to running too fast or the haunting image of comrades struggling in pools of blood that lingered in his mind, but as soon as Zhang Chi entered the defensive perimeter of the Tonggu garrison, he crouched down and began to vomit

It is ! ''

Before long, Chen Qiming and a large group of disheveled deserters were left standing in place, dazed. After quite some time, Chen Qiming finally took off his hat, sat down heavily on the ground, sighed, and uttered two words: "Useless!"

With this thought, Dai Anlan turned and walked towards the division headquarters. After taking a few steps, as if recalling something, she turned back and ordered irritably: "Where is Li Shuzheng? Call him to the division headquarters to see me immediately"

Certainly, Dai Anlan would assign such an important airport to the engineering corps for defense, firstly because he did not anticipate that the Japanese would bypass the front line and launch a surprise attack on the rear, and secondly because the fighting on the front lines was too intense. It is important to note that the 200th Division was facing a Japanese division with the strength of just one division, meaning over 9,000 troops against more than 20,000 Japanese soldiers. Dai Anlan simply could not spare additional forces to defend the airport. Furthermore, Dai Anlan always believed that even if there were enemy threats at the airport, the engineering corps would hold them off, and reinforcements could be sent later. Who would have thought that the engineering corps would collapse at the first encounter? It is important to note that the 200th Division was facing a Japanese division with the strength of just one division, meaning over 9,000 troops against more than 20,000 Japanese soldiers. Dai Anlan simply could not spare additional forces to defend the airport. Furthermore, Dai Anlan always believed that even if there were enemy threats at the airport, the engineering corps would hold them off, and reinforcements could be sent later. Who would have thought that the engineering corps would collapse at the first encounter?

The engineering corps is the root cause of all this... After this incident became known, even the soldiers who had passed by the engineering corps cast disdainful and even hateful glances.

The commander was taken aback upon hearing this, realizing that the young officer was none other than Dai Anlan, the commander of the 200th Division

Contempt arises from the fact that the soldiers on the front lines are fighting valiantly and bloodily against the Japanese army, while the engineering corps is so easily defeated

What? ! '' Chen Qiming sprang up from the ground like a spring, but after a moment's thought, he let out a heavy sigh and sat back down

Zhang Chi believes that, if possible, the soldiers of the engineering corps would eagerly rush to the battlefield to fight the Japanese devils and avenge their past humiliation, but unfortunately, they do not have this opportunity

Now is the time for the engineering corps to pay the price for failure

Zhang Chi thought about it and felt that it was indeed the case. The modern him knew that Chiang Kai-shek originally intended to engage the Japanese army in a major battle at Tonggu, using 200 divisions to first withstand the Japanese offensive, allowing the main force of the Fifth Army to arrive at Tonggu to halt the momentum of the Japanese advance. ... And now, with the airport lost ... . ... On a smaller scale, the 200 divisions were trapped in the heavy encirclement of the Japanese army, while on a larger scale, it disrupted the strategic plans of the entire expeditionary force, and one could even say the Allied forces, no wonder Dai Anlan was so angry.

However, now that the situation has come to this, it is of no use to think about these matters any further. Dai Anlan also understands that what is urgent at this moment is to see if there are any remedial measures available

After a considerable amount of time, he finally felt somewhat more comfortable. Just as he lifted his head, he saw a fully armed middle-aged officer striding towards them with several guards. From a distance, he shouted at them, "What is going on? Which unit are you from?"

Upon this thought, Zhang Chi couldn't help but glance at Dai Anlan a few more times. He noticed that Dai Anlan had quite a scholarly demeanor; if it weren't for Zhang Chi having heard of him in modern times, he truly wouldn't dare to associate him with the renowned general who had repeatedly defeated the Japanese army.

Report, Commander! At this moment, another officer rushed over and said firmly: "Commander, the airport... the airport has also fallen!"

Dai Anlan was increasingly infuriated. Although he knew that the engineering corps could not compare to the Japanese devils in terms of equipment or quality, at the very least, they should be able to hold their ground, giving him a chance to call for reinforcements!

"Brother!" Liang interrupted his fellow townsman, saying, "Do you know how important the airport is to us? Originally, this airport could serve as a supply base for the British and Americans to provide us with military supplies, and when necessary, it could also be used to provide us with air support. Now, look at what has happened; the airport is lost... Not only have we lost this support and supply, but it has also turned into a place that provides support and supplies to the Japanese. More seriously, our retreat has also been cut off by the Japanese... I tell you, brother, this matter is beyond the capability of even the King of Heaven, let alone a fellow townsman!"

"What? You all..." Upon hearing this, Dai Anlan was infuriated. He glared with wide eyes and scolded, "Every soldier in my 200th Division is fearless and undaunted. I never expected that you would be a bunch of cowards who fear for your lives. You lost the airport after just one encounter! How can you... how can you face those brothers who are still on the front lines fighting the enemy with their lives?"

This is a distance of more than ten miles. Under normal circumstances, Zhang Chi would never be able to run this far, but now it is a matter of life and death. Just the thought of the Japanese behind him, and the guns they hold... Zhang Chi found an unknown source of strength and ran tirelessly to his destination.

Report to the instructor ... ... '' Chen Qiming lowered his head in shame: `` We encountered the enemy while sabotaging the railway near Hill 5 ... ... ''

Although there are various reasons for the defeat of the engineering corps at the hands of the Japanese army, the battlefield is the battlefield; it is a place that does not discuss reasons but only results

The soldiers of the engineering corps, in such a situation, certainly felt uneasy, each holding their rifles and sitting on the ground in silence.

After listening to Officer Liang's words, the soldiers exchanged glances with one another. Previously, they had merely regarded the task of guarding the airport as a simple duty, without considering its deeper implications. This is not entirely their fault, as the locations where the engineering battalion was stationed had always been unimportant positions. How could they have anticipated that the airport they were guarding this time held such significant importance

"Squad Leader!" In the evening, as soon as Xiao Zhejiang returned from his duty, he ran up to Chen Qiming and said, "Have you heard? The division commander wants to execute the regiment commander!"

Hatred arises from the retreat of the engineering troops, which has placed the entire division, and even the entire army, in a strategically passive position. Most directly, it has put the 200th division in danger of being encircled and annihilated by the Japanese army

"Advisor Liang!" A fellow townsman captured an officer heading towards the division headquarters and said, "Advisor Liang, for the sake of our hometown connection, could you please say a few good words in front of the division commander..."

"Report, Commander!" Chen Qiming hurriedly stepped forward and said, "We are from the Engineering Corps, Unit 1!"

As he spoke, Officer Liang shook his head and sighed as he left