Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Fall of Nanjing!

December 13, 1937 · Nanjing

The remnants led by Chen Qingzhi held their position at Zhonghua Gate throughout the night. Since the Japanese 115th Regiment assaulting their position had already been annihilated, that night was a rare moment of peace. In stark contrast to the eerie calm at Zhonghua Gate, the rest of the city was engulfed in the relentless roar of artillery and gunfire, echoing through the darkness. The fierce fighting and shouts of battle drifted faintly from other fronts, intensifying as dawn broke.

During the night that Chen Qingzhi and his troops defended Zhonghua Gate, the entire situation in Nanjing underwent a dramatic upheaval. Tang Shengzhi, the commander of the Nanjing Garrison who had declared, “I swear to live and die with Nanjing,” astonishingly issued the order for the defending forces to retreat at the height of the battle, plunging most units into chaos.

Frontline soldiers were gripped by fear, unable to fight with resolve, and the defenders at each gate, forced by sudden orders, withdrew in disorder. Most troops were stranded within the city, unable to escape. By dawn on the 13th, under the concentrated bombardment of Japanese aircraft and artillery, every defensive line had fallen: Yuhuatai was seized, Purple Mountain lost, Zhongshan Gate breached. Thousands upon thousands of Republic soldiers, without commanding officers, used their bodies to stem the tide of the Japanese assault.

By midday, Sun Yuanliang, who was holding the Guanghua Gate position, fled toward Xiaguan with some troops while his men still defended. Although persuaded to return by Song Xilian, commander of the 36th Division, it was already too late. A small Japanese detachment had infiltrated the city amidst the confusion, joining forces with the Sixth Division to capture Guanghua Gate.

Meanwhile, Japanese naval vessels broke through the blockade to reach the Yangtze at Xiaguan, and part of the 16th Division advanced by boat to the waters near Bagua Island. Large numbers of Republic officers and soldiers crossing the river were killed or wounded by the Japanese navy and the 16th Division’s fire and ship collisions.

It is worth noting that, unlike Commander Tang Shengzhi who fled in the chaos, Xiao Shanling, acting commander of the military police, abandoned the crossing when pursued by the Japanese. To cover the soldiers retreating across the river, he led the remaining military police in a desperate charge, fighting until their ammunition was spent and reinforcements gone, ultimately dying in battle from exhaustion. Xiao Shanling’s sacrifice fulfilled his oath to “live and die with Nanjing.”

Thus, Nanjing fell completely. The Battle of Nanjing was over.

When news reached Chen Qingzhi, he was leading his troops toward the Yangtze River.

The soldiers already knew Nanjing had fallen. Their spirits were low; they marched listlessly, each weighed down by the news. Watching this scene, Chen Qingzhi could not help but shake his head. There was a bitter expression on his face.

Despite having crossed into the Republic era, despite possessing the Iron Blood Resistance System as his trump card, he ultimately had not been able to change Nanjing’s fate. The city had still fallen, the forces had still scattered, and 150,000 troops were forced to cross the river in disarray—everything unfolded as history had recorded.

The time was too short! Had Chen Qingzhi arrived a month before the battle began, even just before the defense started, he might have had a chance to change Nanjing’s destiny. But it was simply too late! He was only a minor battalion commander, and had but a single day—he could do nothing! With his understrength battalion, eliminating a regiment was already the utmost he could achieve. It was no exaggeration to say Chen Qingzhi had truly done his best!

He kept telling himself this, but—

Witnessing 150,000 troops pursued by the Japanese, Nanjing teetering on the brink of disaster, knowing full well what would befall the city in enemy hands, he was powerless. Once, he had merely read about this chapter of history, unable to grasp the emotions of those times. Now, having lived through it, everything he saw and felt shook him to his core.

He knew he could not turn the tide, but the pain was inescapable. That sense of knowing the outcome yet being utterly helpless was enough to drive one to despair.

Chen Qingzhi’s complexion was grim; he finally understood just how hopeless true powerlessness could be. Never before had he so desperately wished to expand his forces, to strike fiercely at the Japanese, and make them pay a terrible price!

“Battalion Commander, what’s wrong?”

Fang Xiaodong noticed Chen Qingzhi’s troubled look, knowing it must be because of Nanjing’s fall. He sighed quietly.

Though he too felt anguish, the Battalion Commander was their highest officer. With over a hundred brothers now in low spirits, it was up to him to rally their morale and lead them out of confusion. At this moment, the troops could be downcast, but the Battalion Commander could not lose heart; so he stepped forward and spoke.

He wanted to ease Chen Qingzhi’s mood.

“Battalion Commander, are you still hurting over the fall of Nanjing?” Fang Xiaodong walked up beside Chen Qingzhi, pulled a shriveled cigarette pack from his pocket, and handed him one of two crushed cigarettes, asking as he did.

Taking the cigarette, allowing Fang Xiaodong to light it for him, Chen Qingzhi inhaled deeply, exhaled heavily, and marched on in silence.

Fang Xiaodong lit his own, blew a smoke ring, and offered comfort: “Battalion Commander, the brothers are all grieving over Nanjing’s fall. I know you’re hurting too, but in times like this, the last hundred plus men of our 527th Regiment are relying on your command. If you lose heart now, what hope will the brothers have?”

“You must pull yourself together!” Fang Xiaodong said. “Though Nanjing has fallen, how many other places haven’t we lost these years? This is only temporary! As long as we never give up, keep fighting the Japanese, I believe that one day, we’ll retake Nanjing!”

Facing Chen Qingzhi, Fang Xiaodong pressed on: “Battalion Commander, pull yourself together! Lead us to build our strength, and when we return in force, we’ll give those bastards a reckoning! No matter what, the brothers will follow you to fight the Japanese!”

“To the death, unwavering!”

Hearing Fang Xiaodong’s words, Chen Qingzhi knew he meant to console him. He understood, but Nanjing was different from other fallen places!

That world-shocking tragedy was sure to follow soon; every time he thought of this, how could Chen Qingzhi find peace?

He wanted to share his knowledge of what was to come, but how could he speak of such horror? How could he explain it to others?

Chen Qingzhi had no way. He could only endure the torment alone.

Perhaps this was the suffering of being a traveler from another time, Chen Qingzhi reflected.