The Fourth Outstanding Person of Huangpu Military Academy

Li Zongren: "The Fengtian Army mainly used 75 mountain guns and 77 field guns, but there were a lot of them. We destroyed a lot of boats when they were crossing the river, but the Fengtian Army still rushed ashore. Fortunately, the Seventh Army counterattacked and annihilated them on the beach.

Chen Tianheng: "It seems that the Fengtian Army's heavy artillery has not yet arrived at the front line due to railway transportation capacity scheduling issues. They probably plan to send the infantry and divisional artillery first, and then transport the Fengtian Army's artillery.

Li Zongren: "We also know this information. Two artillery brigades of the An Guo Army Artillery Corps have been stationed in Xuzhou and may reach the Huai River line at any time.

Front Command.

"Reporting to the Commander-in-Chief, the reconnaissance battalion of the 1st Division of the 1st Army has arrived in Bengbu by train. I request that the headquarters dispatch a boat to transport the reconnaissance battalion across the river tonight.

Bai Chongxi: "Chen Tianheng, the command has sent scouts to the north bank of the Huai River. Of course, I estimate that your First Division's reconnaissance battalion is also the most elite. In that case, I will have the logistics department dispatch ships."

Chen Tianheng: "Commander-in-Chief, the First Division's reconnaissance battalion's intelligence gathering range extends to the vicinity of Xuzhou. If you deem it necessary, you may establish a dedicated communication line between the First Division headquarters and the intelligence department of the General Command to obtain real-time battlefield information."

"Xuzhou? Go to Xuzhou?" Bai Chongxi looked at the map. "The straight-line distance between Xuzhou and Bengbu is 150 kilometers."

Chen Tianheng said, "Our reconnaissance battalion can dispatch a battalion east of Suxian to serve as a communications relay station. The reconnaissance detachment in Xuzhou and the communications relay station both use radios with a communication range of approximately 100 kilometers. Information from Xuzhou can be forwarded once by the relay station and received in Bengbu, with a delay of no more than half an hour. If we cross the river tonight, all the battalions of the reconnaissance battalion will be in place within 48 hours."

Bai Chongxi: "Okay, your division headquarters will pull a telephone line to me. I will make the arrangements for the battle now."

"Currently, three corps of Zhang Zuolin's An Guo Army have appeared opposite our army. Sun Chuanfang's First Front Army consists of only one division and one brigade, with a total of less than 10,000 men, and can be ignored. Zhang Zongchang's Second Front Army includes the 1st Army, of which Zhang Zongchang is also the commander, the 2nd Army, which Zhang Jingyao commands, and the 4th Army, which Fang Yongchang commands. Zhang Xueliang's Third Front Army consists of Wan Fulin's 8th Army, Gao Weiyue's 9th Army, Wang Shuchang's 10th Army, and Zou Zuohua's artillery corps.

"The Anguo Army has been attacking the Huaihe River defense line for five consecutive days without making any progress. The 6th and 7th Armies, as well as part of the 2nd Army, are currently holding their ground. In the next few days, Zhang Xueliang will lead the entire Third Front Army to the Huaihe River battlefield, accompanied by heavy artillery. However, the front-line command believes that even Zhang Xueliang's all-out offensive will not shake the Huaihe River defense line."

"Therefore, my plan is to have the First and Fourth Armies, which have joined the battle, break through and move back on both wings, encircle the An Guo Army's offensive group north of the Huai River, and annihilate the enemy in the Xuzhou-Bengbu area."

Bai Chongxi came up with a super radical battle plan right from the start.

Of course, this was based on his clear understanding of the combat effectiveness of the First and Fourth Armies. With all three of the Northern Expedition's Tigers present, Bai Chongxi had the capital to be radical.

第四军12师、25师在淮河下游，凤阳-临淮关处的河段强渡北上，26师作为预备队;第一军1、2师在淮河上游，30公里处强处渡，22师作为预备队。后续抵达的14军则作为淮河正面防线的增强力量。两个钳子在宿县合围敌军。”

Zhang Fakui asked, "Are there enough boats to force a crossing of the Huai River at Linhuai Pass?"

Bai Chongxi said: "All the boats the Northern Expedition Army can gather along the entire Huai River will be used to cross the river at Linhuai Pass. For the First Army's forced crossing, our Eastern Route Army Logistics Corps can build a pontoon bridge upstream of the Huai River."

Chen Tianheng said: "Commander-in-Chief, the First Army has also prepared river crossing equipment. The engineering battalion of the First Army's First Division can build a second pontoon bridge upstream."

Chapter 64: What does it mean to be armed to the teeth?

Bengbu Railway Station.

The military train arriving from Pukou stopped. Speedwagon trucks from the 1st Division's Quartermaster Battalion's Motor Company unloaded their flatbed trucks one by one. These trucks then towed the 1st Division's artillery battalion's artillery pieces off the station.

"The artillery battalion will be stationed here," Huang Wei said. "The truck team will first take the engineering battalion's equipment and drive to Gongyao Ferry. Then they will return to tow the artillery. I will lead the way."

Yuan Yelie, commander of the artillery battalion, said: "We can use draft horses to pull the artillery."

"No need. Let's save the horses' energy for now. Besides, the pontoon bridge won't be built in no time..."

蚌埠现在已经成了一座大军营。程潜的第6军、李宗仁的第7军、鲁涤平的第2军(已折损了一个师)，加上第一军1、2师。再过两天，还要添一个14军和第1军的22师。

As for the Fourth Army, they had already gotten off at Fengyang Station in front of Bengbu, and the place where the Fourth Army crossed the river was near Fengyang Station.

The First Division Command in Bengbu now needs a slight upgrade.

The First Army will establish a temporary headquarters in Bengbu," Chen Tianheng said. "From now on, the command structure of the First Division will be divided into the Bengbu headquarters and the forward headquarters. The Bengbu headquarters will be the temporary army headquarters. Chen Mingren, Qian Deng Ruoxian, and Yu Chengwan will remain in Bengbu. Lu Deming, Huang Wei, Yuan Zhongxian and I will cross the river as the team of the forward headquarters. The forward headquarters is the division headquarters. Xu Xiangqian, you will temporarily serve as the chief of staff of the forward headquarters, and Zheng Dongguo, the chief of staff of the first regiment, will serve as the commander of the first regiment.

Xu Xiangqian: "Yes!"

Chen Tianheng: "In this Jinpu Road Campaign, Commander-in-Chief Bai Chongxi will command down to the division level. Therefore, the Provisional Army Command will be responsible for coordinating the relationship between the Front Command and the 1st, 2nd, and 22nd Divisions of the First Army. The attacking fist, the 1st and 2nd Divisions, must act together. I will directly command the 2nd Division from the Forward Command."

"The Northern Expedition Army and the An Guo Army are now facing each other across the Huai River. The An Guo Army is on the other side of the Huai River, with its forces distributed west to Huaiyuan County and east to Yong'an. We have arranged to cross the river in a roundabout way from the west. Therefore, we must not only leave Bengbu, but also go to the river section further west of Huaiyuan County to cross the river. Fortunately, the upstream section of the river is narrower, so a pontoon bridge can be built. The mission of the First Division is to march to Gongyao Village tomorrow, March 1st, and use the pontoon bridge to cross the Huai River at night.

Huang Wei: "The engineering battalion has already set off for Gongyao Village. The Northern Expedition Army's logistics regiment is already there constructing the first pontoon bridge. The flow rate and river width data they've measured can be used as a reference when constructing the second pontoon bridge.

Chen Tianheng: "This saves some trouble, but since we are the second to build the pontoon bridge, we must consider that the best location for the bridge may have been occupied by the logistics regiment. ... Two pontoon bridges, one for each of the First and Second Divisions, so they do not interfere with each other. After crossing the river, the Second Division will monitor the An Guo Army in Huaiyuan County to ensure that they will not advance eastward to cut off our logistics line within 48 hours. The First Division will march quickly from the right side of the Jinpu Road and between Mengcheng to seize Su County.

Suxian Railway Station.

Zhang Xueliang, commander of the Third Front Army of the An Guo Army and son of Zhang Zuolin, commander-in-chief of the An Guo Army, stepped down from the military train.

Born in 1901, Zhang Xueliang was a typical second-generation warlord, practically born with a rifle butt in his mouth. At 18, he entered the eighth class of the Baoding Military Academy and later transferred to the Northeast Army Academy. He graduated first at 19 and was promoted to major general before turning 20.

Although Zhang Xueliang graduated from the military academy at lightning speed, his subsequent combat record, especially his performance in the battle against Guo Songling, was quite satisfactory. Perhaps it was due to his diligent study at the academy, or perhaps it was because his father equipped him with an all-star team of strong advisors to ensure that this young man would achieve military success on the battlefield. Regardless, Zhang Xueliang clearly had little interest in leading troops in battle or delving into the art of war. He probably found these pursuits less enjoyable than the glitz and glamour of women and Western operas.

"Commander Zhang, Commander Sun." Zhang Xueliang greeted Zhang Zongchang and Sun Chuanfang, the two deputy commanders of the An Guo Army on the front line.

Zhang Zongchang: "Commander, the Northern Expedition Army is a bit difficult to defeat. We have charged three times but failed to break through. Now we have to wait for the heavy artillery of the Third Front Army.

Zhang Xueliang: "No, the troops gathered on your front lines now have hundreds of cannons. Can't you defeat them?"

Zhang Zongchang: "Defending the Huai River across from us is the Northern Expedition's Seventh Army, known as the Steel Army. The Second and Sixth Armies are also holding on. Furthermore, Commander, according to reports, the First and Fourth Armies are also on their way to Bengbu. Now all three main forces of the Northern Expedition have gathered in Bengbu."

Sun Chuanfang: "The main force of the An Guo Army has also gathered in Xuzhou.

Zhang Xueliang: "The Northern Expedition Army has a Steel Army and an Iron Army. Which army is the Iron Army?"

"The Iron Army is the Fourth Army. Commander, there's also the First Army. Their First Division is known as the Sword of Revolution."

"Hiss..." Zhang Xueliang hissed. "Sword of Revolution, what a pretentious name! My... Commander-in-Chief said that the An Guo Army must break through the Northern Expedition Army's Huai River defenses and drive them to the Yangtze River. Only when the An Guo Army government and the National Government confront each other across the river can peace talks between the North and the South be possible."

Zhang Zongchang nodded. Sun Chuanfang, whose old territory was in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, looked embarrassed.

Zhang Xueliang: "The Third Front Army is not holding back. We are sending out all our forces, including the artillery. You simply cannot cross the Huai River. Let the heavy artillery do the talking. I am not in Suxian either. The special train will continue to the front line."

"Commander-in-Chief! ...Xueliang! Why do we need you to be at the front in person? Just let the other commanders do the work!"

"I want to see whether the heavy artillery of the 15th Land or the Steel Army is more powerful. Do you want to go and see it?"

Zhang Zongchang and Sun Chuanfang: "Since the corps commander is going to the front line in person, then naturally we should go to the front line as well.

Military trains passed Zhang Xueliang one after another, each loaded with 150mm Type 14 howitzers. These were imitations (materials and key parts imported) of Japan's Type 38 150mm heavy howitzers. While their range was shorter (developed earlier), their shells were no less powerful.

After the 150mm howitzers passed, another military train arrived, carrying a large row of 14th-year type 100mm howitzers. Like the 150mm howitzers, these were assembled at the Fengtian Arsenal using materials and key components imported from Skoda.

The artillery corps has two artillery brigades, one brigade is a mixed composition of 150mm and 100mm howitzers, and the other brigade is fully equipped with 100mm howitzers. This is the strongest field artillery cluster on the current domestic battlefield.

The Guo Songling Rebellion severely weakened the Fengtian Army's combat effectiveness, primarily its infantry. Even after Guo's troops were reunited, their morale and control were significantly reduced. However, the Fengtian Army's artillery was less weakened, and in fact, they had accumulated considerable experience in the use of artillery clusters in previous battles.

Since the Huaihe River defense line was firmly defended by the Northern Expedition Army, let's see if the artillery army's 150mm artillery shells can open a breakthrough.

"Boom boom boom boom boom."

"Click, click, click, click, click"

There was a huge roar of engines and mechanical noise. The soil on the platform shook slightly. A column of Renault FT-17 tanks arrived.

The independent tank battalion of the Third Front Army of the Anguo Army, equipped with French-imported Renault FT17 light tanks, is the only fully-fledged tank unit in China.

Zhang Xueliang: "Hey! Why are you getting off the train? Get on the train, everyone!

"Wherever I go, the tanks will follow. Do you understand? Get on the train and follow me!"

Guzhen.

Guzhen Station of Jinpu Railway.

Suxian is the midpoint of the railway line between Xuzhou and Bengbu, and Guzhen is the midpoint of the railway line between Suxian and Bengbu. It is 50 kilometers away from Suxian and more than 40 kilometers away from Bengbu. The Huaihe River, a tributary of the Huaihe River, passes through the south side of Guzhen.

The 5th Battalion of the 1st Division Reconnaissance Battalion - the Reconnaissance and Demolition Battalion is hiding in Guzhen

outer.

In this Battle of Jinpu Road, all seven battalions of the reconnaissance battalion were deployed and distributed in every corner of the war zone.

Huang Yinglong, wearing a gray-yellow military uniform and a yellow, gray and white cloak, observed Guzhen Station in the distance through a telescope.

"Note: At 14:10 PM, a heavy artillery train carrying 20 heavy howitzers arrived. At 14:25 PM, a heavy artillery train carrying 20 howitzers arrived. At 14:35 PM, a passenger train carrying an unknown number of troops arrived.

"At 14:55, a flatbed military train carrying... 11 tanks arrived.

"Remember, the Reconnaissance and Demolition Squadron has ascertained the enemy's deployment in Guzhen. They believe a surprise attack and the destruction of the Guzhen Railway Bridge are possible. That's all. Return immediately and have the radio transmit the message."

Chapter 65: Breakthrough on Both Wings

The radio station of the reconnaissance and blasting brigade was within direct communication range of the division headquarters, and the division headquarters left in Bengbu soon received the telegram and forwarded it to Bai Chongxi.

Bai Chongxi had anticipated the Anguo Army's heavy artillery joining the battlefield. After several consecutive setbacks in his offensive, Zhang Xueliang naturally wanted to deploy the Fengtian Army's most powerful artillery to break through the Huaihe River defense line.

In addition to relaying the information gathered from the front, Chen Mingren also added:

"In addition to the 1st Division, the 25th Division of the 4th Army was also prepared for anti-tank operations and had undergone certain training.

Bai Chongxi said he understood.

The two sides fighting on the Huai River were still connected by a railway bridge. Neither side blew up the bridge, but both sides used various field artillery and flat-fire guns to target it. If the An Guojun tanks dared to drive across the several hundred-meter-long railway bridge, they would probably be destroyed on the spot.

旋

The An Guojun was also unable to send tanks directly to the tank landing on the other side.

Therefore, the main threat from this wave of reinforcements was heavy artillery, not tanks. The frontal Huaihe River defense line could still be carried solely by the 2nd, 6th, and 7th Armies, while the 1st and 4th Armies could continue to outflank the enemy on both sides, achieving a reversal of the battle.

Bai Chongxi was fully aware of the combat effectiveness of each Northern Expedition unit participating in this campaign. In his combat effectiveness evaluation system, the 1st Division's combat effectiveness was "epic," the 25th Division of the 4th Army was platinum, the 12th and 26th Divisions of the 4th Army were gold, and the four brigades of the 7th Army were also gold. The 2nd Division of the 1st Army's combat effectiveness was probably somewhere between silver and gold, while the 3rd Division, the 2nd and 6th Armies, and the upcoming 14th Army were bronze.

As for the An Guo Army, the combat effectiveness of each infantry division should be at the Bronze and Black Iron levels. Judging from the battles of the past few days, the Bronze and Black Iron level troops in the An Guo Army are a minority, and the majority are Black Iron.

The next morning, the An Guo army launched its fourth attack under the cover of heavy artillery.

The An Guo Army participated in the battle with three fronts: the First Front was the An Guo Army's Five Provinces Allied Forces, the Second Front was the An Guo Army's Zhili-Shandong Allied Forces, and the Third Front was the Fengtian Army led by Zhang Xueliang. While their strengths appeared fairly even, Sun Chuanfang's First Front only had a 5,000-man division and a 3,000-man brigade.

In addition, the Anguo Army also had the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Front Armies, all of which were Fengtian troops, respectively stationed in the direction of the Beijing-Hankou Railway, the northwest direction, guarding Beijing and Tianjin, and stationed in the northeast.

At 8 a.m., 80 heavy artillery pieces of the artillery corps opened fire. In addition, 77mm field guns and 75mm mountain guns of several divisional artillery battalions also cooperated in the firing. The artillery positions on the north bank of the Huai River were filled with smoke, and the defensive positions of the 6th Army of the Northern Expedition on the south bank of the Huai River were exploded and bricks and stones flew everywhere.

The bombardment lasted for a full two hours. The Fengtian Army fired tens of thousands of artillery shells in one breath, plowing through the 3-kilometer-wide defensive positions on the front. Then the artillery fire was extended, and more than a thousand infantrymen of the Fengtian Army's Gao Weiyue's 9th Army forced their way across the Huai River by boat.

The counterattack firepower on the south bank of the Huai River, which had been plowed by heavy artillery, was weak. Gao Weiyue's infantry landed and launched a charge. The first line of defense of the Northern Expedition Army was captured, and the Fengtian Army successfully established a bridgehead!

Gao Weiyue was overjoyed. He ordered the boats to return to ferry the second batch of infantry. At the same time, the Fengtian Army's pontoon troops arrived and assembled a pontoon bridge on the Huai River.

As the second ferry of infantrymen reached the shore, a flurry of shells flew in from the south bank of the Huai River. This was likely a concentrated barrage of fire from the Northern Expedition's mountain artillery. Over a hundred infantrymen were knocked over by the bombs as they were disembarking. The remaining soldiers sped away from the riverbank.

After the sloppy artillery barrage ended, the Northern Expedition infantry launched a counterattack.

The infantry that came ashore were defeated...

"Oh, this, this, this.

Gao Weiyue beat his chest and stamped his feet.

Zhang Zongchang: "It should be the Seventh Army of the Northern Expedition that launched the counterattack. These Guangxi monkeys are charging headlong into the artillery fire.

Zhang Xueliang put down the telescope, looking a little disappointed.

The artillery support on this day was very strong, with more than 20,000 artillery shells fired throughout the day. However, the Fengtian Army infantry's ability to withstand pressure was too poor.

He vaguely saw the Northern Expeditionary Army, divided into more than a dozen company-based groups, launching counterattacks against the Fengtian Army at the bridgehead. This approach minimized the effectiveness of the Fengtian Army's artillery shield, but the attacking capabilities of each Northern Expeditionary group were relatively limited. Thus, from noon to afternoon, the nearly 3,000 Fengtian troops who had landed were gradually being eaten away.

The Northern Expedition Army, which counterattacked and rushed to the Huai River, launched a barrage of heavy machine gun fire. More than 300 Fengtian Army's third wave of ferrying infantry were knocked into the river, and 70 to 80 engineers who were building the bridge were also killed or wounded.

"We were able to establish a bridgehead in Huainan this time, which shows that the heavy artillery cover is still effective. Let's change a group of infantry troops to continue tomorrow," Zhang Xueliang said. "It was agreed that the three front armies would take turns. It should be the turn of the first front army tomorrow.

Sun Chuanfang, who only had a brigade and a division left: "..., Street Hai City Thank You Letter

Zhang Xueliang: "I'm back on the train.

6Tongnan City

Late at night. Huaihe River, Gongyao Village Ferry.

Lights dotted the banks of the Huai River, and torches illuminated the two floating bridges. In those days, wars didn't involve worrying about air raids, especially not at night; crossing the bridges was easy.

The First Division of the First Army took the left pontoon bridge, and the Second Division took the right pontoon bridge, crossing the river in turn.

"Instructor Liu, the Second Division's mission for the first 48 hours is to monitor the enemy in Huaiyuan County. The An Guo Army stationed in Huaiyuan consists of two divisions from Zhang Jingyao's 4th Army.

"Huaiyuan County is the westernmost part of the An Guo Army's formation on the Huai River. Theoretically, Zhang Jingyao will not send troops to expand westward. However, if Zhang Jingyao does, the Second Division will be responsible for driving him back.

Amidst the torches, Chen Tianheng and Liu Zhi coordinated their actions after crossing the river.

Liu Zhi: "I understand. That is, if Zhang Jingyao didn't attack, the Second Division wouldn't have taken the initiative to provoke them."

Chen Tianheng: "Yes. 48 hours later, if all goes well, the 1st Division and the 4th Army will have occupied Suxian, and Xue Yue of the 22nd Division will have arrived at Gongyao Village to cross the river. At this time, your division will hand over the surveillance mission to the 22nd Division, and the entire division will move north to Suxian. In Suxian, our two divisions, one facing the south and the other facing the north, will encircle the 120,000 An Guojun troops."

"Also, keep the Second Division's radio on. My divisional radio is also on 24/7 standby. Communications between the First and Second Divisions and the Bengbu Command Post must be unimpeded at all times. See you in Suxian!"

Street Thank you Xie Tian1

The starting point of the 1st Division's march.

Huang Wei walked up to a truck and patted the front of the truck: "Six trucks. Apart from the artillery, you are the only motorized troops in the entire division. Do you know what I want you to do?"

"Quickly reach the Rui River and build a floating bridge."