The Fourth Outstanding Person of Huangpu Military Academy

Before Chen Ying went to Hong Kong to develop her business, Chen Tianheng promised to provide her with information about business opportunities. If the company only earned normal profits, all of that would go to Chen Ying. If Chen Tianheng's information led to a significant profit, the two would each share half of the excess.

Up to now, the assets of Yingzhe Company have skyrocketed, and it is clear which projects the money comes from. For example, "Kobe and I scored 82 points in total."

Besides, Chen Ying has always been enthusiastic about revolution and making trouble, and before the Northern Expedition began, she really wanted to start spending money.

"Is that all it takes?"

At Uncle Chen Er's house, Chen Ying and Chen Tianheng were talking on the phone.

"Yes, I said it last time. I won't ask for much money in the second half of the year."

Chen Tianheng asked Chen Ying to work hard to make money and become one of the top five Chinese businessmen in Hong Kong. He originally planned that if Chen Duxiu announced his withdrawal from the Communist International, he would use the money from Yingzhe Company to support an army and launch a "partial northern expedition" at the same time as the Kuomintang's northern expedition.

But for now, withdrawing from the Communist International was just an idea. The party's current program was to support the Northern Expedition and complete the National Revolution. Therefore, Chen Ying only needed to provide a small subsidy to the First Regiment.

……

Huang Wei, You Buying and a dozen soldiers from the engineering company immediately started digging with pickaxes after the boss signed the contract and the warehouse changed hands.

After scraping away the warehouse's floor tiles, it became clear that the soil beneath had been dug up and then refilled. This greatly encouraged You Buying, and he swung his pickaxe several times faster. When the pickaxe struck, it didn't make a dull sound, but a thud. Clearly, they had unearthed a large wooden box buried in the earth.

"One, two, hey! One, two, hey!"

The box was lifted up, and You Buying carefully brushed away the dirt on the box with his hands, but Wang Yaowu was even more anxious than him. He inserted the shovel into the gap of the wooden box and pried it open with force.

Huang Wei: "From now on, we are finally no longer the First Rifle Regiment of Changzhou Island."

Chapter 91

Auditorium of Guangdong University (Sun Yat-sen University).

"The Northern Expedition was for revolution. Why revolution? For the liberation of the Chinese nation, for the realization of people's rule, and for the people to achieve economic happiness."

"The peasant question is the central issue of the National Revolution. Without implementing Dr. Sun Yat-sen's policy of 'equalizing land rights' and realizing the ideal of 'land to the tiller,' the current peasant problem cannot be solved. If the peasant problem is not adequately resolved in the current Northern Expedition, the peasants will not support this movement. If the peasants do not rise up to support the Northern Expedition, the revolution will not be completely successful."

"As the Northern Expedition marched, it was the right time to formulate the Outline of the Land Law of the Republic of China."

"We must use it to clarify the goals of the national revolution and show the people of the country and the world that the government of the Republic of China is anti-feudal, democratic and progressive, and fights for the most fundamental interests of the people."

At the temporary plenary meeting of the Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang, Mao Runzhi spoke at the meeting, calling on the executive members and alternate executive members attending the meeting to pay attention to the peasant problem and urgently formulate the "Outline of the Land Law of the Republic of China" before the Northern Expedition started.

Mao Runzhi's speech aroused strong reactions from all members of the Central Executive Committee.

It's just a strong reaction, not strong support.

In fact, most members of the Executive Committee, including those from the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, had no idea about the peasant issue and land reform. They had no idea about the process of the national revolution.

The National Revolutionary Army launched the Northern Expedition, swept away all warlords, and established a unified Republic of China regime. After achieving unity and peace in the country,...they promoted equal land rights and realized the principle of "land to the tiller."

This is also the idea of ​​Wang Jingwei, the "Kuomintang Left" now recognized by the Communist Party.

Probably the only person in the entire meeting who supported Mao Runzhi was Xia Xi, alternate member of the Central Executive Committee.

"Runzhi, your idea is not wrong, but it is a bit hasty." Wang Jingwei, the president of the Kuomintang, said to Mao Runzhi.

"The Northern Expedition depends on the army. There are so many things to deal with, including food, ammunition and military pay for an army of 200,000. I don't oppose the late Premier's idea of ​​'equal land rights', but where do we have the energy and financial resources to carry out land rights reform now? It is better to concentrate on completing the Northern Expedition." - This was the opinion of T.V. Soong, Minister of Finance and Governor of the Central Bank.

In the end, although the Central Executive Committee discussed the proposal, it did not adopt the proposal to formulate a land law or a land law outline.

However, this proposal will become a topic that will make historical researchers and enthusiasts sigh whenever it is mentioned in a few years or decades.

The main agenda of the temporary plenary session was still the Northern Expedition.

At this time, the National Revolutionary Army was already engaged in fierce fighting in Hunan with the Beiyang warlord Wu Peifu, but was this just a fight over Hunan province? No.

The National Government in Guangzhou now announced that the ultimate goal of the Northern Expedition was to eliminate all warlords in the country, including Zhi, Feng, Anhui, etc., and unify China.

"The suffering of the Chinese people has reached its peak to this day."

"As for the farmers, their blood and sweat are all plundered by soldiers and bandits, and they are levied on them endlessly. They toil all year round, yet cannot even get enough to eat. They have to sell their fields and cattle, and end up unemployed. And this is the lucky one."

"As for workers, the earnings from their daily toil are barely enough to sustain their lives. They have no surplus and few guarantees. In normal times, they worry about losing their jobs every day. When disaster strikes, they are inevitably reduced to the ranks of the rogue."

"…To fulfill the sole need of the Chinese people, to build a unified government, and to consolidate the base areas of the National Revolution, our Party must launch a campaign to eliminate the influence of the traitorous warlords. We must speak for the people and eliminate traitors for the country, regardless of success or failure, and we will not hesitate to make any sacrifice."

……

Cheung Chau Island.

All members of the First Division of the First Army are assembled.

Guan Linzheng, the reconnaissance company commander of the First Regiment, stood in the front row, holding the flag of the First Regiment in his hand.

Chen Tianheng and party representative Yuan Zhongxian, Xu Xiangqian, Chen Mingren, Lu Deming, Huang Wei, and Qian Dengruoxian (Rong Yaoxian) from the regiment staff followed the regiment flag closely.

Following the regimental headquarters was Zheng Dongguo's first battalion, with three infantry company commanders: Song Xilian, Fan Hanjie, and Qiu Qingquan.

Xu Jishen’s second battalion, company commanders Wang Erzhuo, Li Guangshao, and Hou Jingru.

Du Yuming's Third Battalion, company commanders Li Mo'an, Sun Shucheng, and Zhao Zijun.

Quartermaster Battalion, Battalion Commander Liu Yongyao.

Supplementary Battalion, Battalion Commander Yu Chengwan.

Engineer Company, Company Commander You Buying.

Mortar Company (externally known as the 4th Company of the Supplementary Battalion), Company Commander Yuan Yelie.

Chen Tianheng glanced at the front of the entire regiment and said to Xu Xiangqian, "This is basically the best condition the First Regiment has ever been in."

Xu Xiangqian: "It would be great if Zuo Quan, Jiang Xianyun, and Chen Geng were here. And He Zhonghan who just left."

In the past seven months, except for necessary field training exercises, almost all members of the First Regiment have been stationed on Cheung Chau Island in Huangpu, training with great effort.

The officers and core soldiers of the First Regiment had all participated in actual combat. The first-term students had participated in the First and Second Eastern Expeditions, and the second-term students had participated in the Second Eastern Expedition and part of the First Eastern Expedition.

There were more than a dozen battles in the two Eastern Expeditions, large and small. In addition to the fierce battle of Mianhu, there were also some small battles in which the enemy was defeated at the first touch.

Over the past seven months, combat experience had been continuously summarized and refined, and transformed into the tactical awareness of the entire regiment through training, just like the Fourth Field Army's winter training in 1947 and early 1948. That's why Chen Tianheng confidently said that the First Regiment was in the best condition now.

Of course, in addition to training, there were also various benefits that Chen Tianheng had requested from Chiang Kai-shek. If there was anything good, the First Regiment would definitely get a share. For example, submachine guns. In this way, the First Regiment had already equipped the Reconnaissance Company and the First Battalion with submachine guns and light machine guns.

Even the first regiment had one more meal of meat per month than other regiments.

"The current eastern expedition is mainly taking place in Hunan, but battles in Jiangxi and Fujian are also inevitable."

He Yingqin conveyed the overall deployment of the Northern Expedition headquarters.

"My First Army will be divided into two parts. The 3rd, 14th, and 20th Divisions will remain in Guangdong and be under my direct command. The 1st and 2nd Divisions will enter Hunan from Guangdong, but will not be used in the offensive along the Hunan-Hubei line for the time being. Once our army enters Hubei, the 1st and 2nd Divisions of the First Army, the Second Army, and the Fifth Army will form the Eastern Route Army, marching from Changsha to capture Nanchang."

The First Army now has five divisions under its command, three of which remain in Guangdong...

Because Guangdong still needed troops to maintain order, and the British troops in Hong Kong had to be considered. The Nationalist government's relationship with Britain was currently extremely poor. From a purely military perspective, Britain could quickly mobilize several thousand colonial troops from Southeast Asia and East Asia and, with the firepower support of the Far East Fleet, attack Guangzhou from Hong Kong. Therefore, Guangzhou could not be left without some troops.

Xue Yue: "When will our First Division march from Guangdong to Hunan?"

何应钦：“还不急。现在北伐宣言刚刚通告全国，大本营预定的计划是8月1日启程。三个星期后。想早也早不了，铁路运力、粤湘道路运力都要优先满足已在湖南战斗的4、7、8军的后勤要求。”

Chen Tianheng: "Commander, during the war mobilization period, was the entire railway from Guangzhou to Shaoguan requisitioned for military use?"

"That's not the case. At least half of the wagons will be reserved for civilian use. Industry and commerce must also operate during the Northern Expedition, and they can't do without railways."

……

The Guangdong-Hankou Railway has not been fully completed yet and consists of two dead-end roads: one runs north from Guangzhou to Shaoguan, and the other runs south from Wuhan through Changsha and Hengyang, and then ends there.

If the Northern Expedition Army in Guangdong wanted to go north, they would first take the railway to Shaoguan, then get off the train, take bus No. 11 over the mountains, enter Hunan, and then take the train again.

Chen Tianheng specifically asked whether all the railway wagons from Guangzhou to Shaoguan had been requisitioned, mainly because his First Regiment still had its own supplies to transport.

"Hello, Commander Chen. Hello. My name is Luo Tianmao. Boss Chen has instructed us to provide you with our best services."

The Luo Tianmao that Chen Tianheng met was the owner of the Nanmao Caravan. Of course, this was funded and established by Chen Ying.

"Shopkeeper Luo," Chen Tianheng said, "Boss Chen has also told you who I am."

Luo Tianmao nodded. "Yes, I did. I know. Chief Chen... is also Boss Chen."

Chen Tianheng: "The caravan needs to establish its own exclusive logistics route from Guangzhou to Changsha, unaffected by external influences. The key section is between Shaoguan and Chenzhou, as there is no railway and the route requires crossing the Nanling Mountains. In addition, the caravan needs to conduct preliminary scouting of locations and routes in several provinces, including Jiangxi, Fujian, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu."

"Okay, Commander Chen."

Chen Tianheng: "That is to say, if I need it, the caravan should be able to deliver the supplies to a certain place in these provinces in the shortest possible time. If this requirement is met, will your caravan expand?"

Luo Tianmao: "For these provinces, no. If we expand provinces in the future, then we will need to expand our staff."

Chen Tianheng: "It seems that Mr. Chen from Hong Kong has thought of everything very carefully. Oh, here is something that your caravan should need. Take it. However, you are not allowed to spread it to anyone else."

Chen Tianheng handed Luo Tianmao six file bags.

China Provincial Maps - China National Geographic Publishing House

This is the result of China National Geographic spending hundreds of thousands of yuan to obtain a large-scale map.

It's available for public sale. It's not a military-grade map, but it's much more detailed than the current Chinese maps, making it a near-military-grade map. This map has been printed, but it doesn't cover the entire country yet, so it's not available for sale yet. But it's perfect for the first group.

"Is your caravan involved in purchasing and transporting supplies from Hong Kong to Guangzhou?" Chen Tianheng asked another question.

"Boss Chen has some supplies to be shipped from Hong Kong to Guangzhou. The caravan is responsible for escorting them, but we don't do the purchasing. We only handle the transportation."

……

This caravan is Chen Tianheng’s “logistics contractor”.

Of course, the Northern Expedition's logistics weren't a major problem at the moment. With T.V. Soong's Ministry of Finance and Soviet gold rubles, the Northern Expedition had ample financial resources. Judging by the First Army's current preparations for the expedition, the two divisions expected to be deployed were adequately supplied with food and wages. However, Chen Tianheng still wanted to raise his logistical standards a bit.

In short, except for weapons and ammunition, which are difficult to obtain (the Nationalist government has established an anti-smuggling system in the Pearl River Delta), all other logistical supplies needed by the First Regiment must be meticulously provided.

Chapter 92

"Size 7 shoes are a bit small. My toes have to bend when I wear them. Please change them to size 7.5."

General Staff. Xu Xiangqian threw a pair of mountain boots back to Huang Wei.

"Go to the logistics office to change it. Don't leave it here." Huang Wei didn't even look up as he wrote on a thick memo pad. "I'm extremely busy right now."

"Benqiong" is a new name that is wildly popular among the officers of a regiment. This word covers the self-proclaimed words such as "I", "I", "Ou", "I", "Benqiong", "Laozi" and so on that were used by everyone in different accents in the past.

The reason is simple. Everyone now realizes that compared to Chen Tianheng, everyone is poor.

Chen Tianheng's life had always been simple, and it hadn't changed much. He wore his military uniform, ate his meals in the cafeteria, and trained from morning till night, conducting drills, regimental affairs, and attending war research meetings. On weekends, he'd routinely hand over his duties and then head to Guangzhou to meet Dai Xiaoxue.

We also stayed in a hotel in Guangzhou City, no, Liu Zhi’s Second Division Guesthouse.

The salaries of the regimental commanders of the National Revolutionary Army were already very good. Of the nine infantry regimental commanders in the First Army, seven had already purchased properties in Guangzhou, and only two still made the barracks their home: Chen Tianheng and Hu Zongnan of the 4th Regiment of the 2nd Division.

But as everyone knows, Hu Zongnan now has neither a wife nor a girlfriend.

One month before the Northern Expedition, Chen Tianheng suddenly paid out of his own pocket to improve the equipment of the entire regiment.

The equipment here includes all supplies and materials except guns, artillery and ammunition. As long as Chen Tianheng feels that the standard "official configuration" of the base camp is a little unsatisfactory, he will replace them all.

Soviet-style military boots were too snug and heavy, cloth shoes too thin, and straw sandals too shabby, so they all switched to Swiss Army mountain boots. In addition, each soldier was given a few pairs of high-quality cotton socks.

Marching on foot was the norm, and leggings were essential. However, the "official" leggings now consisted of two long pieces of cloth. They had to be tied starting at the ankle, looping upwards, folding the cloth strips after each loop, and continuing all the way around the calf. Soldiers would spend three to five minutes tying their leggings in the morning before setting off on a march. They were all replaced with quick-on/off ankle gaiters.

Besides the things they wore, they also had to have all sorts of marching and camping equipment. The tents needed to be light, strong, and durable, and cooking equipment was essential. The staff had folding chairs and tables that could be folded up in a few seconds, and everything could be thrown onto a carriage and taken away in a few minutes.

Horse-drawn carriages were still horse-drawn carriages; they couldn't be replaced with cars. Even if there were roads in the country suitable for cars, gasoline was hard to come by. However, the First Regiment's supply battalion had upgraded the axles of eighty or ninety carts. Besides the supply battalion, the First Regiment also had a large number of Nanmao caravans assisting with logistical transportation during its deployments.

In addition to fixed assets and equipment, consumable supplies were also purchased, but they were temporarily stored in Guangzhou instead of being transported to the first regiment’s base.

A food base was undoubtedly prepared for the expedition; if there were no food, the Northern Expedition would be pointless. However, as far as Chen Tianheng knew, the only rations distributed during the march were rice and salted radish, which was not what he had expected. Marching and fighting were both physically demanding, requiring animal fat and protein. Therefore, the Nanmao caravan and its parallel shops were purchasing tons of cured meat and sausage.

In addition to rice and salted radish, headquarters also gave each regiment a certain amount of silver dollars, which were used by their logistics departments to purchase meat, vegetables, and food along the way. Chen Tianheng would certainly take these silver dollars, but it was estimated that the money spent on procurement along the way would be several times more than the money allocated by headquarters.

Chen Tianheng thoughtfully distributed only supplies and didn't disclose the total cost to the General Staff or the battalions. However, some details were still apparent. For example, the dozen or so British-style kitchen carts, which had been DIY-modified by the workshop, could cook enough food for an entire company at once, even though they were pulled by a single horse. This certainly wasn't cheap.

When later generations summarized the reasons for the victory of the Northern Expedition, they would find out after reading some information that in addition to ideological beliefs, the Whampoa Military Academy, and Soviet guns and artillery, the abundant financial resources of the Guangzhou National Government were also a very important reason for the victory of the Northern Expedition.

After Song Ziwen became the Minister of Finance of the Guangzhou National Government in June 1925, he established a comprehensive system for taxation and financial operations. In the second half of 1925, Guangdong's net fiscal revenue reached 12.2 million yuan, almost three times that of the first half of 1925.

By July 1926, when the Northern Expedition officially began, Song Ziwen's Ministry of Finance had allocated 6.6 million silver dollars for military expenses, not including the purchase of guns and ammunition, which the Soviet Union footed the bill. It can be said that the Northern Expedition Army was the most financially well-off army in China throughout the 1910s and 1920s. The Beiyang warlords were defeated by ideology, but they were also drowned by the silver dollars of the Northern Expedition Army.

Now, the First Regiment has transferred 100 million silver dollars from Chen Ying's account to Chen Tianheng for war expenses...

"Is everyone here? Now that we're here, let's talk about something."

More than a dozen battalion and company commanders from the First Regiment gathered at headquarters. Chen Tianheng told them, "The new Zeiss 630s have been issued to you, but the old Soviet binoculars need to be collected and given to the reconnaissance company. Guan Linzheng said the reconnaissance company doesn't mind having too few binoculars, and he wants them all. This was a bit of a mistake. We should have ordered more binoculars when we first placed the order."

Xu Jishen: "Tsk tsk, now I don't know how much Benqiong and the warrior's belongings are worth."

"Equipment isn't worth much, but human lives are. I need to give you something else."

Chen Tianheng threw out a dozen small boxes. "Jiangstanton 10901, a specially ordered edition with our First Regiment insignia. You can also throw away the large pocket watches you were issued now."

……