Volume 2 King of the Northwest Chapter 46: Northern Expedition (XI)
Resolving the issue of Zhang Xun did not mean that the Kuomintang in northern Shaanxi had escaped from its current predicament. As Hu Jingyi's troops retreated northward, the Shaanxi Army immediately entered Suide County. Faced with such a serious situation, under the lobbying of Li Yuanding, the northern Shaanxi militia finally sent envoys for negotiations.
"What is there to discuss? Hasn't our commander-in-chief already told Mr. Ziyi his bottom line?"
In the Suide County Government Office, Zhang Zilii looked down at the other party with a cold expression.
"As long as your army agrees to abandon the banner of the National Salvation Army and recognize the leadership of the governor, the provincial government can designate the counties north of Suide as your defense zone."
"North of Suide, isn't it Qingjian?"
Suide is the grain-producing area of northern Shaanxi. The rice tax revenue of one county is equivalent to that of the six counties west of Hengshan. Moreover, Anding and Wubao have fallen into the hands of the Shaanxi Army in disguise. This is even more unacceptable to the militia, which has been overwhelmed by the tight financial situation.
"The provincial government is so insincere, I think our trip here was in vain."
Wang Ziyuan's face suddenly changed and he couldn't help but stand up with a timid look on his face.
"Let's go back. I don't believe that we can't say who will win or lose in the end."
"It's better to go back and tell Hu Liseng and the others that the provincial government is only asking for Suide now, and the next time it may be Mizhi. When my riding boots step on the top of Yulin City, you will have nothing to ask for."
Zhang Zili looked at the representative of the Kuomintang with disdain and said, "You can scare me, but I will threaten you even more. If you don't believe me, let's try it again."
"Chief of Staff Zhang, Yutang, don't get excited, talk properly, talk properly!"
Li Yuanding had no choice but to come out and mediate.
" It will not benefit anyone if we continue to fight. The governor also means this. I think Liseng and Songsheng also mean this. Since everyone is interested, why don't you two talk calmly? Why not force each other?"
Li Yuanding was taking sides, but he used Dai Jiliang to pressure Zhang Zili, and even used the word "aggressive" to mock the pressure from the provincial government.
"Mr. Ziyi."
Zhang Zili smiled and said, "It's just that our Marshal doesn't have any other preferences, but he is a bit of a widow. There is a saying in northern Shaanxi, women from Mizhi, men from Suide. Since brother Yu insists, then my 6,000 brothers would like to snatch the most beautiful woman in Mizhi and present her to our Marshal."
"Nonsense, it doesn't count, it doesn't count."
Li Yuanding's eyebrows jumped and he hurriedly interrupted the conversation, pushing Wang Ziyuan to his seat.
"How about this, let me make a suggestion. The county governor of Suide will be appointed by the provincial government, but the taxes will be paid to northern Shaanxi. The county governor of Anding will be appointed by northern Shaanxi, and the taxes will be paid to the provincial government. Both sides will not station troops in Suide, Anding, Qingjian, Ansai, Baoan, and Fushi counties. The rest will be handled according to the original suggestion of the warlord. What do you think?"
"Isn't it too cheap for Northern Shaanxi?"
Zhang Zili looked at Wang Ziyuan thoughtfully.
"How about this, let northern Shaanxi pay the provincial government 50,000 yuan in salt tax every year as compensation for the provincial government's abandonment of Suide tax revenue. In addition, the provincial government can stop stationing troops in Suide, but Fushi and Qingjian must station garrisons."
"Then we request to retain at least 6 regiments."
Zhang Zili asked for an exorbitant price, and Wang Ziyuan naturally paid back the money on the spot.
"Besides, since the provincial government has stationed garrison troops in Qingjian and Fushi, we will also station an equal number of troops in Ansai and Baoan."
"Six regiments? An entire division. Does the provincial government agree that you can afford it?"
Zhang Zili joked.
"Even our Shaanxi Army doesn't have a division-level organization. Isn't it a bit too much for you to ask for?"
"That's right! We are asking for the establishment of the Shaanxi 1st Division."
Wang Ziyuan ignored Zhang Zili's sarcasm and made his request calmly.
"As for whether we can afford it, that is our business. Chief of Staff Zhang does not need to worry about it."
"Then let's put this question aside for now."
Zhang Zili motioned the staff officer beside him to come over and whispered a few words. It was obvious that this matter was of great importance and required Dai Jiliang's approval.
"Then let's confirm one thing first. Suide is a buffer zone for both sides and no troops are allowed to be stationed there."
After giving instructions to the staff officer, Zhang Zilii raised his head, and it was obvious that he was now serious.
"yes!"
Wang Ziyuan looked at the people around him and then nodded.
"So, in order to prevent the governor's orders from being delayed, can we send another 30 police officers?"
"Yes, it's equal. We will also receive the same treatment in Anding."
Of course Wang Ziyuan was unwilling to suffer a loss, so he immediately made a counter-proposal.
"Okay, then these two points can be confirmed."
Zhang Zilii nodded, and the next question was about the garrison on the northern front.
"We will retain a security battalion in Qingjian and Fushi respectively, each with 400 men, without artillery or machine guns. As for your garrisons in Bao'an and Ansai, they should not exceed the same size. Is there any problem with this?"
"no problem!"
Gradually, Zhang Zilii took control of the situation, which was something Wang Ziyuan did not want to see.
"In addition to the personnel arrangements of the 13 counties in northern Shaanxi being led by us, we also asked the provincial government to consider our opinions when appointing the county governors of Suide, Qingjian, Yanchang, Yanchuan, Fushi and Ganquan."
"Brother Yu, please stop making trouble ."
Zhang Zili glared at the other person.
"This matter concerns the authority of the province. We will never agree to it. At most, we will consider your opinion when appointing the governors of Suide and Fushi counties. In addition, you must obtain the consent of the province when appointing the governor of Anding County."
"This is acceptable!"
Wang Ziyuan whispered with the people around him for a while before he reluctantly nodded in agreement.
"chief of staff."
When the two sides were arguing over a little benefit, the staff officer who had just left came back and put a telegram in front of Zhang Zili. Zhang Zili picked it up and saw that it said: "Premier Duan has submitted his resignation on Xianri. Please do not insist too much on the Shaanxi-Northern side. Your request can be granted. In addition, the Army Department has telegraphed the number of the 14th Division of the Shaanxi Central Army at noon today. Please return as soon as possible to discuss it."
Zhang Zilii returned the telegram to the staff officer and nodded at Wang Ziyuan.
"The Marshal just called and said that the Shaanxi Army's 1st Division can be granted the designation. However, as I said before, apart from the taxes from the 14 counties in northern Shaanxi, the provincial government will not allocate a single cent. How to maintain the system is up to you all to figure out."
"That's great!"
Li Yuanding interrupted hurriedly.
"Yutang, go back quickly and discuss this matter with Liseng, Songsheng and the others. There is no time to lose, the sooner the better."
It made sense that Li Yuanding was so anxious . The weather was getting colder and colder. The cotton-padded clothes of the Shaanxi Army had been delivered, and the supplementary 7th Regiment had already reached Qingjian. On the other hand, the Shaanxi-Northern militia was short of medical care, medicine, food and ammunition, and could no longer hold on.
"I disagree!"
Although Li Yuanding was extremely anxious, when the news that the incorporation agreement had been finalized reached Mizhi, different opinions immediately arose within the militia.
"This is a betrayal of the gentleman and a betrayal of the revolution."
Deng Baoshan was obviously very excited. He loudly rebuked Wang Ziyuan who went to negotiate.
"Wang Yutang, what benefits did you receive from Dai Jiliang that you dared to betray our National Defense Army?"
"enough!"
Hu Jingyi immediately shouted angrily, it was clear that Deng Baoshan's words were a veiled attack.
"I sent Brother Yu to negotiate with the Shaanxi Army. I betrayed the National Salvation Army. You, Deng Baoshan, are here to kill me!"
After Hu Jingyi said this, no one dared to speak.
"Brother Songsheng, Brother Junfu, Brother Fengwu, what do you think of this agreement?"
Seeing that no one dared to object directly, Hu Jingyi turned around and asked Jing Xiu Yue and the others.
"I don't think it's a big deal. Our top priority is to have a chance to catch our breath."
Jing Xiu Yue nodded first. In the incorporation agreement, he was still the garrison commander of Yulin, but his subordinates were reduced to one regiment. However, this was not a big loss for him. After all, his original two regiments were temporarily expanded for the purpose of fighting, and in fact, they only had about 800 guns. Now that they were reorganized into one regiment, it was in name only.
"There's nothing wrong with us both looking at it."
Cao Shiying and Gao Jun also expressed their agreement. According to the agreement, they would be organized into a brigade, with them serving as the brigade commander and deputy brigade commander respectively. Naturally, they were temporarily satisfied.
"Very good. Xifeng, you will be the commander of the Second Brigade, Runchu will be the deputy commander, and Baoshan will be the chief of staff of the Second Brigade."
Hu Jingyi assigned them one by one.
"Kang Bangchu, you are the commander of the independent regiment. Let Zhang Fukui be the commander of the division's artillery battalion. Huchen, you will be the commander of the division's cavalry regiment. Hucheng, you will still be the commander of my guard battalion."
After being promoted to an official and making a wish, Hu Jingyi closed his eyes to calm himself. When he opened his eyes again, he slapped the table beside him.
"Send a telegram to Dai Jiliang, and send it to the whole country, asking us to cancel the name of the Shaanxi National Defense Army and accept its incorporation."
"Baoshan, don't be like this. I have already decided that the banner of the National Salvation Army cannot fall. I want to lead the troops out to fight."
After the meeting, Yang Hucheng found Deng Baoshan, who looked depressed.
"Come with me!"
"Tiger City."
Deng Baoshan looked at Yang Hucheng in surprise, knowing how difficult it was for the other party to say such words.
Yang Hucheng was originally Guo Jian's subordinate. Hu Jingyi brought him over because he valued him. Logically, he should not have betrayed Hu Jingyi.
Moreover, even if they betrayed him, he could not drag along many people. But despite such difficulties, Yang Hucheng still made a resolute decision. Deng Baoshan had to admire him very much.
"No, I won't leave. I think Brother Li Seng has other plans and will never become a running dog of Dai Jiliang and the Beiyang faction. I will write a letter to you and ask you to teach Brother Li Seng personally."
"Hey! You still don't give up."
Yang Hucheng sighed.
"Everyone has their own aspirations. I won't force you, but I've seen through it all. Relying on others is fake. Only having a gun in your hand is real. So, Baoshan, do me a favor and get me some bullets from the armory. I'll leave tonight without further ado."
"Brother Liseng, something bad has happened!"
Cao Shiying knocked on Hu Jingyi's door hurriedly.
"Yang Hucheng ran away with his men."
"What!"
Hu Jingyi opened the door with a look of disbelief on his face.
"How many people did he take away? What did he want to do?"
"There aren't many of them, about 70 or 80. They took more than 40 guns with them. They said they wanted to uphold the banner of the National Salvation Army and would never join forces with the Shaanxi Army. They looked like they were heading for Jingbian. Do you think we should send someone after them?"
"never mind!"
Hu Jingyi sighed and dropped his hands helplessly.
"Let him go."
On November 20, 1917, the Shaanxi-Gansu militia announced its acceptance of incorporation. At this point, except for a small group of militiamen such as Yang Hucheng who still insisted on upholding the banner of the National Salvation Army, the war in northern Shaanxi was finally declared over.
