Volume 2 King of the Northwest Chapter 37: Northern Expedition (Part 2)
Unlike the right detachment which encountered resistance from the militia at the very beginning, after crossing the Jinsuo Pass, which was known as "a natural barrier where even eagles and kites cannot fly", the left detachment had a smooth journey and captured the two county towns of Yijun and Zhongbu without bloodshed.
It was not until the fourth day after the right detachment captured Huanglong that the vanguard of the left detachment encountered an interception by Hu Jingyi's troops at Jiaokou River where the Ju River and Luo River meet.
"Brother Binnan, look at Brother Guangfu's belly. It's only been a few days, but he's already so fat."
Hearing that there was sporadic exchange of fire between Qianfeng and Hu Jingyi, Dai Jiliang felt relieved. He even teased He Oucai for a rare occasion.
"I don't care about Brother Guangfu's belly. What I care about is that Brother Guangfu's Tax Police Corps should not be like Brother Guangfu's belly, which is good-looking but useless."
It was rare that Dai Jiliang was in such a good mood, so Zhang Binnan naturally tried to please him.
"You are good-looking but useless."
Zhang Binnan was implying He Oucai's ability in a certain area, and Director He would naturally refute this.
"Although the Tax Police Corps uses the Manlisha, if we try them out, we will find that they will not lose to your brigade in terms of both individual and company tactics. I'm just afraid that someone will talk big but still be useless."
"Good job He Guangfu, if we weren't facing the Kuomintang now, I would let you taste the power of our First Brigade."
Zhang Binnan became excited when he heard this, and rolled up his sleeves to have it clear in person.
"That's enough! Stop talking."
Seeing that the friendly banter was about to turn into a physical fight, Dai Jiliang acted decisively and stopped both parties from continuing.
"When you two have time to talk about this, why don't you analyze for me where Hu Jingyi's main force is now? What is he planning to do? How should we respond?"
"Hu Jingyi's militia is the local boss here, but why didn't they resist along the way? Why didn't they use the good terrain of Jinsuo Pass? To be honest, I'm scared!"
He Oucai glared at Zhang Binnan and stammered out his opinion.
"I am afraid that he will use one part of his army to resist step by step, while the main force will make a feint, or he may break through my right detachment and go straight to my heartland through the vast area between the central part and Huanglong."
“I don’t see it that way, Hu Jingyi would never do that.
Northern Shaanxi is a vast area where he can continue to engage with our army. Once he enters Guanzhong, our army will surround him on all sides and he will have no way to escape.
Didn’t he abandon Guanzhong and head straight for northern Shaanxi last year? I don’t think he will easily go south this year either.”
What Zhang Binnan said made sense. In Dai Jiliang's previous life, Hu used 200,000 people but failed to solve the problem in northern Shaanxi. This was enough to show that this ghost place was the best place to fight guerrilla warfare.
"Besides, our army still has a large number of troops between Baishui and Pucheng. They will definitely not fall into our trap."
"Do you think the Democratic Party in Pucheng will rise up in response to the rebels in northern Shaanxi?"
Most of the main members of the Kuomintang in Shaanxi are from Pucheng, so it is very necessary for Dai Jiliang to have such concerns.
"Immediately order Li Guo to keep a close eye on the situation and kill any members of the Kuomintang who cause chaos without mercy."
Once there is a real possibility of harm to himself, Dai Jiliang will never show mercy.
"There is a saying that goes 'It is better to kill three thousand people by mistake than to let one go'. Brother Binnan, please continue. What do you think Hu Jingyi would do?"
"Hu Jingyi's life is full of chaos. This guy is best at winning in chaos."
"The attack on Yaozhou on a snowy night was a night attack, and the Xingping Incident was also a night attack. I think his main force may not be in front of us, but is hiding under some mountain, waiting for us to relax."
Zhang Binnan could see through it. He had obviously made progress during the past year of training and studying.
"If we really let our guard down, he would pounce on us, tear off a bite and leave, slowly making us bleed, forcing us to retreat without a fight."
“It is indeed possible.”
Since Zhang Binnan's analysis made sense, and the Shaanxi Army's rule was to deal with matters rather than individuals, He Oucai changed his view.
"And Hu Jingyi is best at attacking enemy leaders. He is the so-called one-shot winner. I think our command post should also be on high alert."
"As the saying goes, three cobblers are better than one Zhuge Liang, it makes sense!"
Dai Jiliang sighed and realized that if he were to consider things on his own, he would never be able to think of them in such detail, so he immediately gave the order.
"Brother Guangfu, Jinsuo Pass, Yijun, and the two counties of Zhongbu are related to our retreat and supply lines. Your tax police corps must guard them strictly. If they violate the rules, you will be held accountable!"
The next thing Dai Jiliang had to explain was Zhang Binnan.
"Brother Binnan, the militia in northern Shaanxi are all poor and are good at rushing in to seize the equipment of other troops, so we can't let the supply company move on its own. I'm afraid they can't protect themselves with just a few guns.
We now have three regimental supply companies, plus your brigade supply company and the first artillery regiment supply company, a total of five.
Except for the two companies at the forward depot in Zhongbu County and the rear depot in Yintai County, you must arrange one, no, two infantry companies to escort each other company when it goes out. "
"Won't this tie up a large number of our troops?"
Having to give up six companies at once made Zhang Binnan, who was already short of money, feel reluctant.
“No, it’s worth it.”
Dai Jiliang patted Zhang Binnan on the shoulder and said, "Once we take over Luochuan and Ganquan counties, the forward military station in the central part will become a transit military station. We will also need to place , which will free up two companies of troops."
As he spoke, Dai Jiliang looked at the picture carefully and pointed with his finger.
"Fudi Lake, we need to send troops to this place."
Dai Jiliang was thinking.
"Brother Guangfu, your Taxation Police Corps will have to work hard. Please send 200 people over, and I will have the First Artillery Regiment send out a mixed artillery company to cooperate with you."
"yes!"
He Oucai pulled in his stomach with force, obviously going to make arrangements.
Looking at him from behind, he still looks a bit like the capable adjutant he was back then.
"Marshal, should we remind the Chief of Staff that we may be attacked from the right?"
The top leaders of the Shaanxi Army were having a conversation just now, so naturally a small intelligence chief had no say.
But now, Song Cheng is also a member of the General Staff, so naturally he has to fulfill his duties as a staff officer.
"Also, where will our main force stay overnight tonight?"
"It's already three o'clock in the afternoon. Even if we successfully cross the Luo River from Jiaokou River, we won't be able to enter Luochuan County tonight."
Dai Jiliang thought about it.
"Order, except for one part to control the outposts such as Tongshudi, the rest should immediately move into the villages of Shangxiazhuanghucunshang and Chuanzaoyuan. Each unit should be centered around machine guns, artillery and logistics units, and widely deploy necessary sentry positions to strictly prevent the rebels from attempting night attacks."
The order was issued immediately and nothing happened that night.
But unexpectedly, something happened at dawn the next day.
The time before dawn is when people are tired, and the Shaanxi Army's sentries are naturally the most focused. However, there was no movement at all, so the Shaanxi Army sentries, whose attention and spirit had been overdrawn, naturally felt relieved and their actions were somewhat lax.
Just as the sky was beginning to dawn, suddenly the militia from northern Shaanxi came charging from the hillsides behind several villages. They broke through several light and dark checkpoints before being stopped by the awakened sentries who fired shots.
After a while of shooting, there was another round of close combat.
In the small village, the Kuomintang's snow knives were far more flexible than the Shaanxi Army's bayonets. Seeing that a large group of Kuomintang were about to break in, the highest officers in each village ordered the machine gunners to shoot indiscriminately, which suppressed the attack of Hu Jingyi's troops. After a brief reorganization, they finally drove the civilian army out of the villages with their advantages in numbers and firepower.
"Report the casualties!"
Dai Jiliang sat on the kang in the home of the village chief with a grim face.
Despite his repeated strict orders, such a thing still happened, which made Dai Jiliang angry and ashamed.
"Song Cheng, send a telegram to ask Yijun County, Zhongbu County, Huanglong County, Fu County and the Chief of Staff whether they encountered the same night attack. Quick! I want an answer."
Dai Jiliang's tone was so sharp that several officials came over soon.
Song Cheng quickly summarized the information, and the radio operator also delivered replies from various places, then he walked up to Dai Jiliang.
"Marshal, besides us, the county town in the central part was also attacked at night. The situation there is even more serious. The Kuomintang is hiding in the houses in the city, trying to cooperate with the outside forces. Fortunately, Director He rushed over last night, and there were 500 people from our reserve half a regiment of the Tax Police Corps in the city, so nothing serious happened. However, 2,000 kilograms of food and some horses were burned in the Qianjin military station, but no ammunition was lost."
Song Cheng looked at Dai Jiliang's expressionless face and had to suppress his uneasy heart and continue reporting.
"Our army's casualties have come out. A total of more than 70 people were killed in the battle, more than 200 were injured, and more than 110 rifles were taken away by the Kuomintang. The number of bullets is too high to count.
Including the losses in Fu County, a total of 370 Kuomintang soldiers were killed or captured by us, and the number of wounded is incalculable.
As for the right detachment, the chief of staff reported that it was not attacked at night."
"Well, it's become a war of attrition."
Dai Jiliang smiled, looking quite creepy.
"What kind of people are our opponents? They are just a bunch of thugs. My soldiers are so precious, but two companies were wiped out in one morning."
As he said this, Dai Jiliang stood up suddenly.
"Stop looking so sad, this matter can't end like this.
After you go back, you must give me a written summary.
Song Cheng, remember to ask the chief of staff to make a night training outline when you return.
In the future, we will conduct night raid and counter-night raid training and exercises.”
No one expected that Dai Jiliang would just raise it high and then put it down gently. They were all staring at him in a daze.
"You're already so depressed after just losing half the game. Go reorganize the team and send back the wounded and the dead. Hu Jingyi wants to slow us down, but I won't let him succeed.
The first regiment sent out a scout company to search the nearby ridges.
The rest of the troops will cross the river one by one. I will stay overnight in Luochuan County."
"yes!"
Everyone suddenly came to their senses and woke up. After paying their respects, they all hurried back.
"Hu Liseng, you must be very proud now. 300 cannon fodders have exchanged for more than 100 of my guns."
Watching everyone busying around, Dai Jiliang raised his head, looking at the rising red sun, punching and cursing loudly, "This matter is not over yet, let's wait and see!"
