87 years ago today, on June 27, 1938 (the 30th day of the fifth lunar month), the Nationalist government proposed to "defend Great Wuhan".

On June 27, 1938, the Military Commission of the Nationalist Government issued the "Propaganda Outline for the First Anniversary of the Anti-Japanese War", which put forward the slogan "Defend Great Wuhan".

Before the fall of Xuzhou, Mao Zedong pointed out in a telegram to Wang Ming, Zhou Enlai, Bogu and Kaifeng: "We must be prepared to fight for the defense of Wuhan after the decisive battle of Xuzhou fails." After the fall of Xuzhou, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China proposed that the current urgent task is to "defend Wuhan, defend the whole country" and "defeat the enemy in a protracted war." The Central Committee delegation also put forward specific opinions on defending Wuhan to the authorities. On the 15th, Wang Ming, Zhou Enlai and Bogu jointly published an article in Xinhua Daily "Our Opinions on Defending Wuhan and the Third Phase of the Anti-Japanese War".

In mid-June, the Military Commission of the Nationalist Government formulated a plan to defend Wuhan. The combat principles were as follows: defend the southern coast of China and the current positions in eastern and northern China, actively develop guerrilla warfare, and suppress and destroy the enemy; support Madang Fortress, confront the enemy east of Poyang Lake, and prevent it from concentrating on the Jiujiang River; place the main force on the periphery of Wuhan, use the ground barriers of Poyang Lake and Dabie Mountains to engage in a protracted battle with Yueling Lake and Marsh on both sides of the Yangtze River, and focus on the outer flank. Prepare to fight against the enemy's main force for 4 to 6 months, and consume its ability to continue the offensive.

On the 18th, the Japanese base camp issued an order to prepare for an attack on Wuhan: the naval fleet captured Wuhan; Central China sent troops along the Yangtze River and Huaihe River, cooperating with the navy to seize the Huangmei and Jiujiang lines; the North China Front Army advanced towards Zhengzhou with one force to contain the Cheng Qianbu of the First Theater of War, and coordinated the Central China sent troops to attack Wuhan.