87 years ago today, on March 24, 1938 (February 23, 1938), Chiang Kai-shek arrived in Xuzhou to inspect the operation of Taierzhuang. On March 24, 1938, the Chinese Air Force supported the offensive operations of Tang Enbo's 20th Army by bombarding the Japanese troops in Hanzhuang, Lincheng and Zaozhuang with 14 bombers, but the 20th Army did not launch an attack as planned, only the 52nd Army (Commander Guan Lin) arrived at the offensive departure line. On the same day, Chiang Kai-shek arrived in Xuzhou for inspection, and accompanied Deputy Chief of Staff Bai Chongxi and Deputy Chief of Military Command Lin Wei to stay in the Fifth Theater to assist Li Zongren in planning the operation. At the same time, the 31st Division of the 2nd Army (division commander Chifengcheng) was converted to defend Taierzhuang, and a field gun battalion (10 75 mm field guns) of the 7th Artillery Regiment, a mechanized field heavy artillery company (2 German 150 mm howitzers) and the 3rd Squadron of Iron Armored Vehicles were assigned to the 31st Division, and the 31st Division was reorganized into the 2nd Army, and the commander of the army, Sun Lianzhong, commanded the Taierzhuang operation uniformly. Sun Lianzhong advanced his 27th Division to the vicinity of Taierzhuang on the same day as the backing of the 31st Division.