Chapter Sixty-Five: Nowhere Left to Retreat

“Fellow countrymen and women across the nation, I am Chen Qingzhi, commander of the Independent Mixed Zhongzheng Brigade of the Fifteenth Group Army of the National Revolutionary Army. First, I must solemnly announce a grievous piece of news: On December 13, 1937, after the fall of Nanjing, the Japanese army launched a brutal and inhuman massacre within the city!”

“To this day, according to incomplete statistics, the Japanese troops have slaughtered over two hundred thousand civilians and prisoners in Nanjing, and the killing continues!”

“Tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Nanjing were trapped within the city by the Japanese, subjected to merciless slaughter. Corpses litter the streets; Japanese military trucks drive recklessly over the bodies. Countless corpses lie abandoned, blood streaming forth, converging into rivers that flow into the Yangtze, staining its mighty waters red!”

“After massacring the people of Nanjing, the Japanese gathered many bodies into piles and burned them. The fire raged for seven days and nights, illuminating the city as if it were daytime, while thick smoke hung over Nanjing, refusing to dissipate. Still more corpses were thrown into the Yangtze, clogging the river and halting its flow!”

“Nanjing has become a living hell!”

“The barbarity of the Japanese army is beyond words, an outrage to heaven and earth! Though my words may carry little weight, I, Chen Qingzhi, cannot stand idly by!”

“In response, every officer and soldier of my Independent Brigade requests permission to fight, asking Chairman Chiang to issue a formal declaration of war against the Japanese army!”

“If we do not avenge the Nanjing massacre, we are unworthy to be called soldiers! Today, every officer and soldier of my brigade swears an oath: we will fight to our last drop of blood; if we do not eradicate the Japanese invaders, we are not fit to be called men!”

Once this message was broadcast, the entire nation was thrown into an uproar!

No one had imagined—or dared to imagine—that the Japanese could be so savage, that they would commit such a horrific massacre in Nanjing.

Everyone listening to the news at their radios was struck by disbelief.

But soon, newspapers across the country, like sharks scenting blood, published the news at once. In an instant, the tragedy of Nanjing was everywhere.

“Extra! Extra! The Japanese massacre in Nanjing—corpses everywhere, rivers of blood!”

“Extra! Extra! Three hundred thousand compatriots slaughtered in Nanjing, corpses thrown into the river, stopping its flow!”

“Extra! Extra! Nanjing civilians burned alive by the Japanese, fires raging seven days and nights, black smoke enveloping the city!”

“Extra! Extra! Tens of thousands massacred, the city turned into a ghostly wasteland!”

These newspapers included photographs, clear and undeniable proof of the truth. Upon seeing them, people were silenced; but after this silence, a furious reaction erupted!

The entire populace was stunned!

All the people poured into the streets, demanding the government declare war on Japan and avenge the slaughtered citizens of Nanjing!

Countless students marched in protest, asking the government to take action and declare war. Patriots ran through the streets, giving speeches to awaken the nation’s resolve for vengeance.

Scholars and professors denounced the Japanese atrocities in the press, wielding their pens as weapons. Though they could not join the battle, their words inspired countless passionate youths to enlist and fight on the front lines.

In Wuhan, hordes of students marched through the streets, arriving at the gates of the provisional government, shouting to demand an audience with Chairman Chiang and urging the government to declare war.

“The Nanjing massacre claimed countless lives—why did we hear nothing for so long?”

“Why, after receiving the news, has the government made no statement? What are our armies doing?”

“We strongly demand the government declare war on Japan and avenge our fallen compatriots!”

Throughout the country, in every major city, patriots, young people, and progressives filled the streets, spreading the news in every alley and corner.

“Compatriots, classmates, fellow citizens!”

“We must rise! The time for resistance has come!”

“The Japanese slaughtered hundreds of thousands of our people in Nanjing; such acts are condemned by both gods and men. If we do nothing, what place does our nation hold in the world?”

“Compatriots, our nation stands at the brink of life and death, at the edge of a precipice. One step back and we fall; we have nowhere left to retreat!”

“If we shrink back any further, if we do not resist, if we do not fight, the destruction of our nation and race is at hand!”

“Our country is on the verge of destruction—wake up, compatriots! Rise up! Strike back at the Japanese, restore our nation, strengthen our homeland!”

Those giving speeches stood in streets and alleys atop makeshift platforms, megaphones in hand, shouting with passionate fervor.

Below, throngs of citizens and students raised their arms in righteous indignation, shouting in anger, “Declare war! Declare war!”

“Strike back at the Japanese! Restore our nation! Strengthen our homeland!”

In that moment, Wuhan, Chongqing, Xuzhou, Shanghai, Beiping, Changsha, and cities across the country erupted. Countless citizens took to the streets, petitioning the government for an explanation and demanding a full-scale war against the Japanese army!

The whole nation was ablaze!

...

“Damn it!”

Chairman Chiang cursed, grumbling, “Hell’s bells! This Chen Qingzhi really knows how to stir up trouble!”

“I used to call him my ‘White-Robed Lucky General,’ but in no time at all he’s landed me in this mess! What a troublemaker!” he shouted. “Didn’t I tell you to warn the Independent Brigade not to spread the news? How did this turn into a citywide storm?”

Chairman Chiang was furious. He had just decided with several generals to cover up the events in Nanjing, but in the blink of an eye, Chen Qingzhi had made it known everywhere.

“Chairman, we did warn the Independent Brigade not to publicize the news, and even issued severe warnings. But unexpectedly, Chen Qingzhi dared to defy orders...” He Yingqin explained, hastily adding, “Chairman, should I impose punishment now and remove Chen Qingzhi from his post?”

“What’s the use of saying that now?” Chiang snapped. “The whole country is in turmoil! First, calm the public’s emotions. If this isn’t handled properly and public opinion explodes, the situation will become even more dangerous!”

“Yes!” He Yingqin replied at once.

“Truly, nothing gives me peace of mind!” Chairman Chiang sighed, angry yet helpless.

Faced with the passionate crowds demanding war against Japan, he too wished he could act.

But he had to consider the bigger picture. The nation’s military industry and fighting strength were not yet sufficient for a full-scale war; rash action now would destabilize the situation.

Moreover, the Battle of Xuzhou had been prepared for so long and was about to begin.

If he disrupted the preparations now, not only would the previous plans be wasted, but if he launched an offensive against Japan, where could he gather elite troops for the fight?

He could only suppress the unrest for now, patiently preparing for the Battle of Xuzhou.