The Fourth Outstanding Person of Huangpu Military Academy

Chiang Kai-shek wanted to centralize the Northwest Army.

Nanjing proposed a "National Army Adjustment Plan," starting with the Northwest Army of the Three Armies in Wuhan, then the Henan garrison, and then the entire Northwest Army. They brainwashed and replaced the troops, gaining complete control, and then re-equipping and training them. Before the uniforms were changed and the German-style drill manual was adopted, the troops after brainwashing and personnel replacement were no longer Feng Yuxiang's own.

Then a pacification zone was established. Within the pacification zone, troops participating in the suppression or blockade of the Communist Party would receive food, military pay, and ammunition. Troops not in the pacification zone would not be given priority for supplies, but would be given priority for disarmament.

If he did nothing and waited patiently for Chiang Kai-shek to complete the adjustment of the national army and no longer be under Feng Yuxiang's control, then Feng Yuxiang himself would have nothing to do and could find a fishing rod and go fishing in the Wei River.

"Commander."

Dong Zhentang, commander of the 2nd Division of the 40th Army, came in and said, "Marshal, the 2nd Division has posted notices throughout Xi'an. Furthermore, all major newspapers in Xi'an will publish your announcement tomorrow."

Feng Yuxiang: "Well done, very well done. I wonder if the plan to move the three armies north from Wuhan will be implemented?"

Dong Zhentang: "This matter is being handled by the General Staff Office of the Headquarters."

Feng Yuxiang resisted Chiang Kai-shek's adjustments and reorganizations of his army, using the excuse that he would not fight the Communists.

The content of the declaration he will release tomorrow is: The soldiers from the Northwest are unwilling to fight the Communist Party and refuse to join the military organization sequence of the pacification zone. Therefore, the 41st, 42nd and 46th Armies are dispatched to move north, leave Hankou and Hanyang where the three pacification zones are about to be established, and return to Zhengzhou.

Feng Yuxiang's real plan was to move the three armies from Wuhan northward, leaving Zhengzhou with five Northwest Army armies. He intended to use these five armies to advance northward along the Pinghan Railway to attack Baoding and Peking. Even if he encountered obstacles in the attack on Baoding and Peking, he could use this concentrated Northwest Army to isolate the Northwest from the central government and rebuild his own independent Northwest Kingdom.

How can I put it in this declaration... To be honest, Guangzhou was completely unaware of this.

What difference does it make whether your Northwest Army comes to fight or not? It's not like the Hubei-Henan-Anhui Military Region troops haven't fought the Northwest Army before; they were just about average among Chiang Kai-shek's armies. Now you say the Northwest Army swore not to fight the Communists out of national justice... Fine, I'm just a scarecrow, use me as you please.

Feng Yuxiang checked his plan again.

There are now 8 armies in the Northwest Army, 3 in Wuhan, 2 in Zhengzhou, and 2 in Xi'an, stationed in Xi'an City or guarding Tongguan, and one army is stationed in the Northwest. In addition, the Northwest Army has 7 independent brigades and more than a dozen security regiments, all of which are firmly controlled by its own "Thirteen Guardians".

These 26 people who rose up against Chiang Kai-shek may not have enough strength, but Yan Xishan of Shanxi had colluded with him some time ago. Yan Xishan also intended to respond to Feng Yuxiang's anti-Chiang campaign because Shanxi also felt that the central government's hand was extending further and further, and its control was becoming stronger and stronger.

If the Jin faction also joined in the overthrow of Chiang, the success rate would be much higher.

The next morning, Feng Yuxiang waited for the morning paper to arrive. He wanted to see the effect of his propaganda. At this moment, his secretary rushed into the official residence and said, "Marshal, Nanjing has issued a notice!"

Feng Yuxiang: "Oh. Chiang Kai-shek is well-informed."

"Northwest Governor Feng Yuxiang has been in charge of the Northwest since the 15th year of the Republic of China. However, his administration has ignored the people's livelihood, employed people without seeking talent, concealed financial information, and was corrupt in politics..."

"The party is uniting to suppress dissidents, building a private military and political group, and has a tendency to split the country." "We hope Feng will repent in time, stop before it's too late, obey the central government, build domestic peace together, and implement the teachings of the late Prime Minister..."

The secretary handed the telegram to Feng Yuxiang, who was unimpressed, thinking it was just empty talk. He put down his bowl of porridge and took a bite of his roujiamo (a steamed bun) and said, "You want to force me out of office with just one telegram? Haha."

Sun Lianzhong, commander of the 40th Army, came in with his secretary. The news he brought finally made Feng Yuxiang unable to sit still:

"Marshal! Han Fujia and Shi Yousan have rebelled in Zhengzhou!" Feng Yuxiang replied, "Ah?!"

根据1928年蒋介石对全国军队的整编,西北军暂时获得8个军的番号:40~46军，48军。

40、43军在西安—带,41、42、46军在武汉，48军在新西兰拔草，韩复架的44军、石友三的45军在郑州。

Now, two of Feng Yuxiang's "Thirteen Guardians," the commanders of the 44th and 45th Armies, have defected to Chiang Kai-shek!

This was actually not something that was agreed upon last night. Chiang Kai-shek had begun bribing the 44th and 45th Armies a month earlier.

In December 1929, He Chengjun, a capable general under Chiang Kai-shek, known as "Little Mengchang", arrived in Wuhan.

He Chengjun's orders in Nanjing were to deal with the Northwest Army, but he stayed in Wuhan for half a month to prepare. During this half month, he modified a train, with most of the carriages being high-end soft sleeper cars and a small number being luxury dining cars.

The high-end soft sleeper was filled with high-quality prostitutes he had recruited in Nanjing and Wuhan, and the kitchen in the luxurious dining car was staffed by famous chefs from all over the country who were skilled in preparing delicacies from land and sea.

After everything was ready, He Chengjun commanded the special train to Zhengzhou.

The sight of beautiful women and delicious food immediately captivated the middle and lower-ranking officers of the 44th and 45th Armies. Feng Yuxiang's Northwest Army was known for its financial constraints, and Feng Yuxiang himself set an example by living a simple life, and his subordinates were expected to follow his example.

The problem is, you have lived a simple and frugal life, but where are your ideals and convictions? ... None. So it's no wonder Feng Yuxiang's men fell for him at the first sign of material temptation. Officers from the 44th and 45th Armies fell for him in droves.

He Chengjun personally met with Han Fuque and Shi Yousan, commanders of the 44th and 45th Armies, in the most luxurious compartment of the special train.

He Chengjun did not beat around the bush. He started by asking the two of them to stop following Feng Yuxiang and come to Commander-in-Chief Chiang, where there was plenty of money and beautiful women.

Shi Yousan: "Beautiful lady, I did see you. I wonder what conditions Commander-in-Chief Chiang Kai-shek offered to the 45th Army?"

"As long as you two are willing to reorganize your troops according to the 'National Army Adjustment Plan,' Commander Han can be appointed Chairman of Shandong Province, and Commander Shi can be appointed Chairman of Henan Province. Furthermore, in recognition of your noble response to the Central Committee's call, Commander-in-Chief Chiang will offer you this amount of reward."

He Chengjun stretched out his right hand with his five fingers spread out.

Shi Yousan's eyes lit up: "Five hundred thousand!" He Chengjun shook his head: "No, five million."

Chapter 60: Liu Zhi's luck is overflowing

Before the meeting with He Chengjun, Shi Yousan thought Chiang Kai-shek would offer a price like that of a provincial governor, plus several hundred thousand dollars. Unexpectedly, He Chengjun stretched out his five fingers and said "five million."

Even if he said the total was five million, that was still two hundred and fifty per person. Faced with Chiang Kai-shek's gold and dollar offensive, Han Fuqu and Shi Yousan simply raised the white flag and surrendered.

He Chengjun met with Han and Shi and finalized the price for betrayal in early January. However, Han Shi's telegram against Feng was sent on January 15, which happened to be when the three armies of the Northwest Army in Wuhan were assembled and Feng Yuxiang was preparing to issue a secret order for them to leave Wuhan.

The defection of Han Fujia and Shi Yousan from the Northwest Army not only reduced Feng Yuxiang's army by two, but also prevented the 41st, 42nd, and 46th Armies in Wuhan from returning to Zhengzhou. Zhengzhou was no longer Feng Yuxiang's territory, and the Pinghan Railway was also controlled by the two defecting armies and the Central Army.

The dispute between Feng and Jiang had lost its suspense from this moment on.

But Chiang Kai-shek wanted more than that. He didn't want to dissuade Feng Yuxiang from seizing Baoding and Peking; he wanted Feng Yuxiang to step down. Go abroad for an inspection, you say?

Considering that Lao Feng eats simple meals every day and is proud of it (at least he shows it so in front of others), I will arrange for you to go to the UK for an inspection.

The day after Han Fuqu and Shi Yousan rebelled, Feng Yuxiang received another piece of bad news:

He had previously announced through his secret ally, Shanxi King Yan Xishan, that he would respond to the central government's call, obey the "National Army Adjustment Plan", reorganize the Shanxi army, oppose Feng Yuxiang's behavior of splitting the Kuomintang and the country, and announced that he would send troops to attack Feng Yuxiang.

Yan Xishan even sent a troop from Shanxi to Shaanxi. Of course, it was just a show, and they walked 5 to 10 kilometers a day.

Chiang Kai-shek immediately commended Yan Xishan's behavior and said that the Shanxi army could be completed by the Shanxi faction and the Shanxi Military Academy itself, as long as it was organized according to the unified organization needs of the National Army, with one army and three divisions and one division and three regiments.

The two men sang the same tune, and it was Feng Yuxiang who was hurt. Feng Yuxiang had previously secretly sent 40 yuan to Yan Xishan as a deposit for the secret alliance. Now, of course, Yan Xishan would not return the money. Secret alliance, when did I ever sign a secret alliance with you?

After Han Shi's defection and Yan Xishan's surrender to Chiang, Feng Yuxiang was speechless. The First Division of the First Army stationed in Wuhan, together with the Second Division that rushed to Wuhan from Anqing, began the "March to Xi'an" operation.

"Look, the First Army. That's Chiang Kai-shek's most loyal troops, the First Army."

Since they could not go anywhere in Wuhan, several generals of the Northwest Army squatted at Hankou Railway Station, just in time to watch the officers and soldiers of Chiang Kai-shek's First Army board the train and head to Zhengzhou.

Gao Guizi, commander of the 46th Army, pointed at the officers and soldiers of the "Chiang First Army" who were busy at the station. Fang Zhenwu, commander of the 41st Army, snorted disdainfully:

"What do you mean by 'the most legitimate of the legitimate'? Chiang Kai-shek's original legitimate troops had already fled to Guangzhou. The soldiers of this First Army are newly recruited, and the generals are the ones left over from Chen Tianheng's selection."

Gao Guizi: "I think I've heard that before, but this army looks pretty strong. How did Chiang Kai-shek's rebuilt First Army perform against the Communists?"

Fang Zhenwu: "I never lost, because I never fought against the Communist Party, and I never fought against the Communist Party's main force."

Gao Guizi: "Hmm. Alas. Marshal Feng can't be relied upon."

Fang Zhenwu: "Yes. ... I don't know what my future will be like if I follow Commander-in-Chief Chiang."

Gao Guizi: "Have we all received General Chiang's lobbyists?" "Yes, they did, and they promised me a sum of money. You also got some, right?"

Gao Guizi: "Yes. But this is a one-time gift. We don't know what will happen in the future."

Ma Wende, commander of the 42nd Army, interjected, "I heard that after Commander-in-Chief Chiang accepted us into his corps, he really wanted to reorganize us. He wanted to provide us with new equipment and train the troops according to the drill manual developed by the German military advisory group."

Gao Guizi: "Well, that German military advisory group trained a teaching division, and last year they were sent to Jiangxi to fight. They disappeared inexplicably in just one afternoon. It was such a shame."

Fang Zhenwu: "I think that's because the German military advisory group is too weak. After losing that battle, Chiang Kai-shek should have changed the head coach, no, the head of the advisory group."

Ma Wende: "In the end, nothing changed. Chiang Kai-shek rebuilt the training division, recruited new soldiers and officers, and still let the German military advisory group lead them."

The three men pointed at the First Army troops, complained, and exchanged gossip, but Liu Zhi, commander of the First Army, remained busy. Even after entering the commander's compartment on the train, Liu Zhi was still instructing the logistics quartermaster to bring in kerosene when transporting supplies. He had purchased it wholesale from Shanghai Mobil, filling two tank cars.

"It's settled," Yu Jishi said as he entered the carriage. "Commander, there are six trains ahead of us. The kerosene is on the fifth train, and it just departed."

Liu Zhi: "That's good. ... Gentlemen, this time we're marching west from Zhengzhou to attack Tongguan. Have you figured out how to attack it?"

Hu Zongnan: "Tongguan connects Shanxi, Shaanxi, and Henan, and has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times. With the Yellow River on one side and the Qinling Mountains on the other, the terrain is dangerous and the fortress is fortified. It's impossible to break through without suffering heavy casualties."

Liu Zhi: "It's not that serious. The military morale in Guanzhong is wavering. We may be able to enter Tongguan directly without a fight."

"That depends on whether the principal has given enough money." Yu Jishi smiled bitterly. Liu Zhi: "I don't think the principal will be short of that little money."

Guangzhou.

“…..….The United Government’s position and views on the establishment of a pacification zone by Nanjing have long been expressed.”

"Although the Chiang Kai-shek clique temporarily suspended hostilities amidst nationwide outcry, they have not fundamentally abandoned their anti-communist and anti-people stance. Regarding military and political institutions like the pacification zone, who are they pacifying, and what areas are they pacifying? The brazen establishment of the pacification zone during a period of peace and truce demonstrates that the Chiang Kai-shek clique has been preparing for civil war."

"At the same time, the establishment of pacification zones is a severe restriction on the freedom of the people in the relevant provinces and regions, and a trampling on democracy and the rule of law."

"In the so-called pacification zones planned by Chiang Kai-shek, the headquarters implemented strict social control, commanding local party, government, military, and special forces affairs. They used military force to control local social order, suppress popular protests, and implement spy politics. The army personally controlled local resources, including human, material, and financial resources, and expropriated them to provide support for the Kuomintang army."

"The establishment of the pacification zone marked a further step for the Chiang Kai-shek clique toward a military government and secret police politics. It marked Chiang Kai-shek not only as an enemy of the Guangzhou revolutionary government, but also as an enemy of the peace-loving and freedom-loving people of the entire country."

At the coalition government press conference, Qu Qiubai answered a reporter's question: "Mr. Spokesperson, what are your thoughts on Feng Yuxiang, the Northwest Military and Political Chief's 'Telegram Rejecting Civil War'?"

Huo Qiubai stated: "We note that Feng Yuxiang, the Nanjing-appointed military and political leader of the Northwest, has recently engaged in a series of conflicts with Nanjing, stemming from his refusal to comply with Nanjing's orders to disband and reorganize his troops. The Chiang-Feng conflict is the result of intensified conflicts within Chiang Kai-shek's clique. We appreciate Feng Yuxiang's declaration of his refusal to engage in civil war and his refusal to send troops to the pacification zone and incorporate them into the pacification zone headquarters. However, we hope to see concrete action from Feng Yuxiang, rather than just this one telegram costing 7700 silver dollars."

Reporter: "This morning, Chiang Kai-shek dispatched his First Army to break through the natural barrier of Tongguan and enter Guanzhong from Henan. What is Guangzhou's opinion on this?"

Zhai Qiubai: "The United Government expresses its concern for the advance of Chiang Kai-shek's army today and for the living conditions of the urban and rural residents through which Chiang Kai-shek's army passes. If, during Chiang Kai-shek's military operations, the economic interests of the people along the route are harmed, their property is plundered, or their lives are threatened, then Chiang Kai-shek's government and its military commanders must be held accountable."

Reporter: "Does the First Army's breakthrough through Tongguan mean that the dispute between Chiang Kai-shek and Feng Yuxiang has come to an end, and that this dispute will end with Feng Yuxiang's defeat?"

Qu Qiubai: "We have been closely following the development of the Chiang-Feng dispute, and the current situation is within our expectations."

General Staff.

By the time the press conference was held, news of Liu Zhi's breakthrough through Tongguan had also reached the General Staff. Liu Zhi was truly incredibly lucky, having made it through Tongguan with zero casualties despite the formidable terrain.

"The information gathered by the intelligence community is essentially consistent with what local reporters reported via telegraph," Zhou Shidi said. "Before Liu Zhi's two divisions reached Tongguan, a section of the 43rd Army guarding the city quickly opened the gates, clearing the way for Liu Zhi to pass. Reporters on the scene reported that intense gunfire, mixed with explosions, erupted at Tongguan this morning for half an hour. However, other reporters reported that the Tongguan defenders were actually firing into the air."

Li Kenong: "The Intelligence Department previously provided clues. Before Liu Zhi marched into Tongguan, Chiang Kai-shek's messenger passed through Tongguan and entered Guanzhong. Given Chiang Kai-shek's bribery of the 44th and 45th Armies stationed in Zhengzhou, the Tongguan defenders must have had contact with Chiang Kai-shek's messenger and accepted money."

Chen Tianheng: "It was the intelligence report on Chiang Kai-shek's fundraising and bank withdrawals from the Intelligence Department that allowed the General Staff to determine that the Chiang-Feng dispute would not escalate into a civil war, or even into armed conflict."

Li Kenong: "Well, what if the intelligence provided is different, and the General Staff determines that the dispute between Chiang Kai-shek and Feng Yuxiang will evolve into a major war between Chiang Kai-shek and Feng Yuxiang, or in the Central Plains? How should we respond?"

Chen Tianheng: "We will take some local... military actions under the pretext of maintaining peace in the Central Plains and protecting the survival of the residents."

The dispute between Chiang and Feng did not evolve into the Central Plains War.

Because Li Zongren did not participate this time, Chiang Kai-shek had a way to use money to deal with those who challenged him when dealing with the crisis.

If Feng, Li and Yan fought against Chiang Kai-shek, Chiang Kai-shek might not have enough money to bribe all the key figures of the three parties, and a fight would break out on some battlefield.

Why didn’t Li Zongren rebel... The people in the General Staff and the coalition government did not think this was a problem, but Chen Tianheng kept thinking “why” in his mind.

The result of thinking is that Li Zongren and his New Guangxi Clique are relatively satisfied with their current achievements.

Although they lost 85% of Hunan and the core areas of Changsha, Zhuzhou and Xiangtan, the New Guangxi Clique gained Nanchang, Jiujiang and the Nanxun Railway. This gave them control of Hubei, Jiangxi, and part of Anhui, plus their homeland of Guangxi, a vast territory.

In terms of their positions, Li Zongren served as the commander of the Second Suiyuan District, Bai Chongxi was the deputy commander and chief of staff of the First Suiyuan District, and Huang Shaoze was even more "high-end". Because of his "outstanding achievements in governing Guangxi", he was invited by Chiang Kai-shek to Nanjing to serve as the Minister of the Interior of the Nanjing National Government.

Financially, the New Guangxi Clique is also better off than in the past. Jiangxi's fiscal revenue has always been stronger than Hunan's, and Guangxi's economic development has been injected with new momentum due to the secret agreement between Guangxi and Guangdong.

"Are you ready? Up, up, up, up!" "Release! Release! Release!"

At Liujiang Wharf, a simple crane sprang to life, lifting a heavy object from an inland cargo ship and hoisting it ashore.

This heavy object was a steam locomotive. It was hoisted to the shore and, after several adjustments and adjustments, it slowly landed on the ground, its wheels accurately embedded in the rails, making it very stable.

"Damn, that Cantonese guy has a lot going on. He said he wanted to open an iron mine here, but ended up building a railway here first."

Yu Zuobai, deputy commander of the Guangdong-Guangxi Border Defense Army and Liuzhou District Industrial and Commercial Supervisor, sighed in admiration.

Yu Zuoyu: "Brother, that's an iron mine with an annual output of 50 tons of ore. If we don't build a railway, are we going to have to carry the iron ore out?"

Yu Zuobai: "I know. Hey, brother, do you think the Communist Party wants to swallow us up or eliminate us?"

Yu Zuoyu: "It's hard for me to say. I'll ask my cousin when he comes back after the New Year.

Chapter 61: What are those people in Guangxi doing?

Yu Zuobai and Yu Zuoyu's cousin, Li Mingrui, missed New Year's Eve. On the tenth day of the first lunar month, Li Mingrui returned to Nanning from Jiujiang, accompanied by a team of guards and officers from the 8th Division of the 7th Army. He had come back primarily on official business.

"Cousin," Li Mingrui said to Yu Zuobai, "the 7th Army needs more troops. My 8th Division is particularly short of men. We need trustworthy men. Zuoyu, I think you shouldn't stay in Guangxi anymore. You're not going to make a name for yourself. You should come back to the 7th Army with me."

Yu Zuobai: "If you really need someone, then take Zuoyu with you. But Mingrui, you have to keep an eye on him and don't let him get into trouble."

Yu Zuobai was of the same generation as Li Zongren in the New Guangxi Clique and had a lot of seniority. Among the four brigades of the Guangxi Clique's Seventh Army when it went on the Northern Expedition, the 2nd Brigade was led by Yu Zuobai. He was once called the "fourth person of the New Guangxi Clique" after Li Bai and Huang.

However, during the formation of the New Guangxi Clique, Yu Zuobai was marginalized. In addition, because of his pro-communist tendencies, before the Northern Expedition was over, Yu Zuobai was transferred from the Seventh Army to Nanning to serve as the principal of the Huangpu Nanning Branch (Nanning Military and Political School).

Later, the New Guangxi Clique participated in Chiang Kai-shek's anti-communist campaign, and suffered heavy losses among its officers. Yu Zuobai came out of retirement and served as the deputy commander of the Guangdong-Guangxi Border Defense Army (actually the acting commander). He had many troops under his command, but the actual commander of the border defense army was Huang Shaozi. He always kept the command and final decision-making power of the troops in his own hands.

Yu Zuoyu, Yu Zuobai's younger brother, served in the Seventh Army during the Northern Expedition and achieved considerable military success. After the Battle of Jinpu Road, he was promoted to deputy regimental commander. However, after the battle and the Northern Expedition concluded, Yu Zuoyu left the Seventh Army and traveled through Nanjing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong for six months before returning home. In fact, he joined the Communist Party of China during this period, having been a member for a year longer than Li Mingrui.

After returning to Guangxi, Yu Zuobai also discovered that his younger brother had some pro-communist tendencies, but he did not tell anyone about it. He also brought Yu Zuoyu to work by his side to avoid trouble.