Volume 1 Teacher Chapter 33 Northward
"What? Are you sure this is true?"
Chen Shufan suddenly stood up from his chair with an incredible look on his face.
"300 against 3,000, and this guy Hu Liseng even captured Lu Chengwu alive."
"Yes, garrison commander. I was also shocked when I heard about it just now. I didn't expect Hu Dabing to be so damn good at fighting. He was as powerful as a black tiger and destroyed Lu Chengwu's headquarters in one fell swoop. The First Brigade was leaderless and collapsed in an instant."
Cui Shiqing spoke with great excitement.
"Now the militias from all over the country are rushing to Fuping, and the core regiment has thousands of guns waiting to be divided. If you don't take action, this fruit will be eaten by Hu Liseng alone."
"He swallowed it. Could he swallow it?"
Having said that, Chen Shufan has already made his decision.
"Let's go! Get the troops ready immediately and go to Fuping. With Lu Chengwu as our hostage, I don't believe that I, Chen, won't have a chance to become the governor of Shaanxi."
"Captain, Governor, what's the matter with you?"
Unlike the jubilation in Chen's command post in Tongzhou, the Shaanxi Governor's Office in Xi'an was in chaos. Lu Jianzhang had only one son, and when he heard that he had been captured alive, he suddenly felt dizzy and fainted.
After being rescued with great difficulty, all he could hear were the crying of his wife and daughter and the wailing of his subordinates.
"I'm not dead yet!"
Lu Jianzhang struggled to get up.
"The Guards are on the streets. If my son dies, I want the whole of Xi'an to be buried with him. Where's He Guangfu? Come here!"
Looking at the adjutant beside him, Lu Jianzhang grabbed the collar of his military uniform tightly.
"Go, prepare some kerosene. I want to burn down Xi'an."
"Marshal, I can't!"
Not only was He Oucai dumbfounded, but the entire room suddenly quieted down as everyone was horrified by Lu Jianzhang's insane decision.
"Didn't you say that the junior governor was only captured? Generals are exempted from death. This is a rule that all the Democratic Party members must abide by. At this time, you must not give them an excuse!"
"Mitsuo is right! Master, you can't lose your composure!"
Lu Jianzhang's wives and concubines also sobbed and joined in, and it was only then that Lu Jianzhang was temporarily dissuaded from the idea.
Although he couldn't vent his anger by burning the city or massacring people, Lu Jianzhang still wanted to take revenge. "He Oucai, send people to Xi'an Model Prison immediately and kill all the prisoners inside. If anyone tries to stop us on the way, they are all members of the Kuomintang and will be killed without mercy. I, Lu Jianzhang, am not finished yet. I want to see who dares to jump out."
"yes!"
Seeing that Lu Jianzhang was still a little mentally unstable, He Oucai did not dare to retort and hurried out to mobilize troops.
"Governor, we have to mobilize troops quickly, otherwise if the Kuomintang attacks, we won't be able to defend Xi'an with just one garrison regiment!"
In the past two years, Lu Jianzhang has made large-scale cuts in the Shaanxi Army. Not only has he reduced the original two divisions and four mixed brigades into three mixed brigades, but he has also successfully forced a considerable number of the original Shaanxi Army to become militia. Now, the biggest trump card in his hand is gone, and his weakest core has been exposed in an instant.
"Mobilize troops?"
There are no more troops to be deployed. The 1st Mixed Brigade still has a regiment in Baoji, but it is a drop in the bucket.
Although Chen Shufan's Fourth Brigade is in Tongzhou and Pucheng, this guy has been colluding with the Kuomintang for a long time. It is good enough that he does not add insult to injury now. It is a daydream to rely on him.
"Commander-in-chief, the Second Brigade, we still have the Second Brigade in Hanzhong?"
The people around reminded him that although Dai Jiliang had obeyed orders but not instructions for more than a year, the time was right now and the Beiyang government's rule in Xi'an was about to collapse. Out of brotherhood and considering the fact that the lips and teeth are in danger, he should give himself a hand no matter what.
"The Second Brigade, the Second Brigade is across the Qinling Mountains. Is it too late to transfer them?"
In fact, in addition to his original ruthlessness, Lu Jianzhang was already in a state of panic.
"Distant water cannot quench immediate thirst!"
"Not far, not far. Brigade Commander Dai used to be able to go from Tongzhou to Beijing and back in one day. It's only 660 miles along the Ziwu Valley, which means it takes at most ten days. Even though the Kuomintang is now running to Fuping, they need time to deal with all aspects. This trip is enough."
Lu Jianzhang was confused, but there were people around him who understood that if the Kuomintang entered the city, everyone would be doomed, so it would be better to transfer the Second Brigade to take a chance.
"Then give the order to mobilize the Second Brigade!"
Lu Jianzhang was like a puppet being manipulated by the people below.
"Governor, money, travel expenses!"
Seeing Lu Jianzhang's dazed look, the staff officer who was fanning himself with a small fan also broke out in sweat.
You, Lu Jianzhang, tricked them back then, and now you want to use them. How can you transfer them here with just one word? How can it be so cheap? Besides, even direct descendants need money. No old Beiyang army will go an extra step without the travel expenses.
"Departure fee?"
Lu Jianzhang was startled and suddenly became much more sober.
Yes, if you want to use someone, you must be willing to give up.
"Send a telegram to Dai Jiliang immediately, give him 200,000 yuan for travel expenses, and ask him to send troops to Xi'an immediately.
Tell him that when we arrive in Xi'an, I will open the provincial treasury to provide him with supplies.
No, tell him again that I appoint him as the commander of the First Division of the Shaanxi Army."
As expected of an old fox, once he regains consciousness, the decision he makes will definitely be a bold one.
But will Dai Jiliang listen to his arrangements?
"Two hundred thousand, to go through Ziwu Valley. They also appointed the commander of the First Division of the Shaanxi Army. What a huge price!"
After receiving the urgent telegram from Lu Jianzhang on Yangri, Dai Jiliang curled his lips and threw it on the table.
"Have you all read Adjutant He's secret message? Xi'an is in a mess after the Fuping Incident. Lu Jianzhang has gone crazy. He wants us to work for him with just this little trick? Forget it!"
He Oucai sent a telegram to Dai Jiliang because he saw that Lu Jianzhang's days in Shaanxi would not last long. Lu Jianzhang could live as a retired official after making a fortune, but he, He, was still hungry, so he had to find a way out for himself. Therefore, Dai Jiliang was his only choice.
Well, connections are very important. If Dai Jiliang had not had a prior relationship with him, the insider would never have fallen into the hands of the Second Brigade.
Dai Jiliang's words caused everyone to laugh. Yes, although the bait offered by Lu Jianzhang was very tempting, one had to be alive to take it, and secondly, it was Lu's usual style to cross the river and then destroy the bridge. No one dared to believe him.
"But it's the right time to take this opportunity to go north and seize all of Shaanxi."
Zhang Zilii's words immediately made everyone's eyes light up. If Dai Jiliang became the governor of Shaanxi, their status would rise accordingly. So, everyone looked at the chief of staff holding the baton with burning eyes.
"The brigade commander and I have conducted a simulation in advance, and now the orders are as follows."
All the officers sat up straight immediately. Over the past year or so, Dai Jiliang had gone deep into the grassroots and shared weal and woe with the people below. He had firmly turned this army into a private armed force, and no one dared to question his decision.
"Captain E of the garrison regiment led his troops to stay in Hanzhong. This is our hometown and we must not give it up easily."
"clear!"
E Tao nodded. The recent reorganization had already made him smell something unusual. However, it was also well known in the Second Brigade that he did not want to fight with his own people. He was very satisfied with Dai Jiliang's arrangement.
"I will definitely defend Hanzhong for the brigade commander!"
This is certainly not an exaggeration. You have to know that the surrounding bandits have been mostly wiped out by the Second Brigade, and Gansu and Sichuan are temporarily unable to reach Hanzhong due to the mountains. Of course, he has the confidence.
"The 1st and 2nd Regiments will form the Northward Detachment, and the battalions and companies of the brigade will also be incorporated into it."
Zhang Zili nodded and continued to read Dai Jiliang's order.
"But we won't go through Ziwu Valley."
The Ziwu Valley has been in disrepair for many years. Although it is only about 600 miles long, it is extremely difficult to travel due to the bumpy roads. Lu Jianzhang's staff probably saw too many Three Kingdoms stories and came up with such a bad idea.
"Let's take the Chencang Ancient Road."
Zhang Zilii gestured on the map.
"Baoji has a regiment in the First Brigade. The regiment commander is an old acquaintance of ours, Deputy Regiment Commander Zhang Binnan. I believe he will recognize the current situation. In this way, our strength will be greatly strengthened."
Of course, what is more important to the Second Brigade is that Zhang’s regiment can provide enough supplies and ammunition, so that even if it cannot take Xi’an, the Second Brigade can advance and retreat freely.
"Take Xi'an and continue eastward."
"Brother Park Chu, isn't this a waste of time?"
Li Guo had some questions.
"What if the Kuomintang enters Xi'an first? Then wouldn't our work be in vain?"
"If the Kuomintang doesn't enter Xi'an first, do we have to go back and continue to look at Lu Jianzhang's face?"
Since he was preparing to replace him, Dai Jiliang had no intention of going back to save him. He was just using Lu Jianzhang's order as a legitimate excuse.
"Can Xi'an be defended with just those chickens and dogs?"
"Well said, Brigadier General!"
Now everyone understands that this is the key reason why we must incorporate the First Regiment of the First Brigade.
"Report!"
Communications staff officer Song Cheng walked in. This guy is now also a major.
"I just received a message from the telegraph office, Lao Yuan has abdicated."
Old Yuan abdicated? Dai Jiliang and the others were frozen in time. After a long while, they took the telegram from Song Cheng. Sure enough, it clearly stated that Emperor Hongxian abdicated and restored the name of the Republic of China.
Dai Jiliang loosened his grip, and the telegram paper fluttered to the ground.
"A giant has fallen, and China is about to enter an era of strife among princes!"
Everyone looked at Dai Jiliang in confusion, and Dai Jiliang sighed.
"The president's prestige has been destroyed, but who else can continue to unify the Beiyang under one will?"
Everyone gasped, and the scene suddenly became frighteningly depressing.
"Okay, no matter who is standing on the stage in Beijing, let's do our job."
Dai Jiliang stood up.
"I am actually rebelling. I won't say anything else. If we win this fight, we can all be rich and prosperous."
"I wish to share the prosperity with the brigade commander!"
The atmosphere finally became lively.
"Okay, now it's 2:00 p.m. on March 22, 1916. Gentlemen, take action!"
