The Fourth Outstanding Person of Huangpu Military Academy

In the letter, he ordered the First Regiment to climb out of the mountains, reach the Nanxun Line, and then go south to join the attack on Nanchang.

徐向前：“估计他对二三团以及薛岳也写了同样的信，10月5日2、3军攻城，孙传芳从九江火速南下增援，10月8日第一师抵达南浔先后南下也投入到攻城部队中。”

Chen Mingren: "What about the Nanxun Line? Pick a railway bridge, bury explosives, and blow it up?"

Xu Xiangqian: "That's probably what I meant. But there's one thing the principal didn't anticipate, and neither did Sun Chuanfang. Our regiment's 300-kilometer march across the Luoxiao Mountains took not eight days, not nine days, but six days."

Huang Wei: "Everyone, we have just completed the third marching day today, 148 kilometers. There are still 172 kilometers to go."

Chen Tianheng put down Chiang Kai-shek's letter and pointed to the marching routes of the 2nd and 3rd Regiments on the newly opened map at the regimental headquarters:

"The biggest problem is that the 2nd and 3rd Regiments of the 1st Division absolutely cannot arrive in six days. It may take them 8 to 9 days to reach the Nanxun Line. How big a battle can we fight on the Nanxun Line with just one regiment of 1900 people?"

……

Hunan-Jiangxi border, Luoxiao Mountains.

After three days of marching, the First Regiment had crossed the highest area of ​​the Luoxiao Mountains, and the rest of the journey was mainly down the mountain.

This was great news for the First Sacred Mule and Horse Infantry Regiment, as climbing the hill with a carriage was very tiring for both the men and the horses.

In addition to the improved road conditions, we also received increased support along the way. On the third day, we received support from farmers' associations along the way, and the same was true on the fourth day.

At noon, the entire First Regiment took a "big rest" outside the village arranged by the Farmers' Association. A banner that read "Welcome the Northern Expedition Army" and a large blue sky and white sun flag were hung at the entrance of the village.

“Huh—ah—”

Xie Jinyuan, a student of the fourth term, lay down on the grass slope by the road, raised his feet to speed up the blood circulation in his feet and calves. He then took out a bayonet with a scabbard and used it as a small hammer, gently hammering his thighs.

Next to him, Zhang Zongshun also put his feet on the same stone, and both of them were giving themselves leg massages.

The officers and soldiers of the Second Battalion basically have the same posture and perform similar movements.

After marching more, everyone has gained more experience and knows how to use 15/30 minutes to maximize physical recovery and reduce fatigue.

"Eggs! We have boiled eggs! One for each person!"

Ma Buyi, the battalion's Party representative, shouted from the front of the crowd. Then, several local villagers, each carrying a large basket, appeared in the rest area of ​​the Second Battalion.

"Thank you, thank you fellow villager!"

After peeling the eggshell and swallowing it with the water in the kettle, Xie Jinyuan immediately felt a warm current flowing in his stomach.

Zhang Zongxun: "We have to walk three more sections this afternoon, right?"

Xie Jinyuan: "Yes, we walked a little further than yesterday."

Zhang Zongxun: "That's awesome! Doesn't that mean we have to cover 70 kilometers today?"

Xie Jinyuan: "Don't think about whether it's awesome or not. Think about the fact that we won't reach our destination until nine in the evening, and we have to get up at six tomorrow morning..."

……

On October 2, the fourth day of the march, the 10st Regiment once again broke the marching record, covering 70 kilometers a day.

October 3rd, the fifth day of the march, we covered 65 kilometers per day.

"Still no news on the radio?"

On the evening of October 3, Chen Tianheng asked the regiment's communications team, but the telegraph operator shook his head.

Well, the First Army is completely adopting a laissez-faire style of command.

During the War of Liberation, during the mobile warfare, any column or division that did not turn on its telegraph machine at night after a day's march would be severely criticized. Regardless of whether it was Su Yu or Lin Biao, they would single out and criticize any unit that cut off communication.

but now……

Chen Tianheng estimated that behind the First Regiment, there were at least two signalmen riding on express horses from the post station chasing after them.

Communications Staff Officer Qian Deng Ruoxian said, "Continue monitoring, as before, until midnight."

Chen Tianheng: "Tomorrow we only have to march 37 kilometers, which is good news. However, the First Regiment needs to formulate a battle plan. According to the letter from President Chiang, on October 5th, the day after tomorrow, the Second and Third Armies will take action in Nanchang. Once the fighting in Nanchang begins, the Nanxun Line will definitely be very busy. Guan Linzheng?"

Reconnaissance Company Commander Guan Linzheng: "Yes."

"We will arrive near the Nanxun Line tomorrow afternoon. The reconnaissance company will travel light tomorrow to conserve their energy. We will rest briefly at the campsite and deploy the entire reconnaissance team in the evening. I need to ascertain the specific deployment of the five-province coalition forces from De'an to Yongxiu."

"Yes!"

Chen Tianheng looked at Xu Xiangqian and said, "Since the principal has changed the battle plan, the First Regiment's mission is different from before. I also plan to change the First Regiment's battle plan. We will not occupy De'an County."

Although the exact number of troops stationed in De'an County is still unknown, the capture of De'an will inevitably result in casualties and the consumption of a lot of ammunition. Another important reason is that De'an County is too close to Jiujiang.

Once Chiang Kai-shek started the battle in Nanchang, the 30,000 troops in Jiujiang would rush towards Nanchang frantically, and the First Regiment might be stuck alone on the Nanxun Railway for the first three days.

Xu Xiangqian: "Destroy the railway line south of De'an, all the way to Yongxiu County. We will seize Yongxiu County and establish a defense line relying on the Xiushui Railway Bridge."

……

October 4, 5 p.m.

From Pingjiang to De'an, the first regiment's 320-kilometer forced march reached its end.

The entire group did not enter the village and camped in the wild.

Now the whole world, including Chiang Kai-shek, has no idea of ​​the exact location of the 1st Regiment of the 1st Division.

Chiang Kai-shek thought that the 1st Regiment was still struggling on the road. Sun Chuanfang also knew that the 1st Division had been withdrawn from Wuchang, but he also believed that the 1st Division was still on the march.

This is a huge information gap advantage that should be utilized well.

"This is the De'an-Yongxiu section of the Nanxun Railway, about 8 kilometers south of De'an City."

Xu Xiangqian looked at the map, and Chen Tianheng used a telescope to look at the railway line one kilometer away.

About 8 kilometers south of De'an City, it is the location of today's Gongqingcheng. Of course, there is no city here now, only a few small villages.

Chen Tianheng stared at the railway line for about half an hour before a train came along, emitting black smoke from north to south. The Nanxun Railway is now a single-track railway and is not that busy.

Guan Linzheng's reconnaissance team spread out in all directions, and at nine or ten o'clock in the evening, the reconnaissance team returned one after another.

"There are over 1,500 Anhui troops stationed in De'an County. We were unable to identify the unit numbers, but we discovered that they have artillery. There is a regiment of Anhui troops and a garrison company of Jiangxi troops stationed in Yongxiu County, totaling over 1,000 men. There are basically no troops stationed between Yongxiu and De'an, but there are two railway police stations, each with about 20 officers."

Railway police also carry guns, mainly to prevent villagers from pickpocketing on the tracks and bandits from stopping trains and kidnapping passengers.

Chen Tianheng: "What's the situation with the boats at Xiushui Ferry?"

Guan Linzheng: "I went to Xiushui Ferry in person, found 23 boats, and paid the boatmen."

Xu Xiangqian: "The battle plan is: tomorrow morning, the engineering company will be responsible for destroying the railway. The two railway police stations will also be handled by the engineering company. The three main battalions will move south at full speed. The second and third battalions will force a crossing of the Xiushui River from the flanks. The first battalion will attack the railway bridge from the front to contain the enemy and strive to occupy Yongxiu County before noon tomorrow."

Chen Tianheng: "Is everyone resting now?"

Yuan Zhongxian: "Of course. From 8 to 8:30, everyone lay down to rest. But the main officers of the battalion and company were still there."

Chen Tianheng: "Notify all battalion and company commanders to wake up at 2:00 AM tomorrow morning. Eat dry rations in the morning, and the kitchen staff will boil a few pots of water before going to bed tonight."

Yuan Zhongxian: "Yes."

Chen Tianheng looked at his watch. It was 10:50.

"Well, now, regimental headquarters and battalion commanders, go to sleep."

Chapter 105

October 5th. 3:00 AM.

It was still dark. At the Lengshuiao Railway Station on the Nanxun Railway, a dozen or so police officers were fast asleep. None of the eight night patrol officers were out on patrol; instead, they were playing two mahjong tables inside the station.

When they heard chaotic footsteps and voices outside the police station, the traffic police simply put down their mahjong tiles and went out to see what was going on. As soon as they pushed open the door, they saw a row of gleaming Gurkha knives from the engineering company in the police station yard...

"From now on, you will be on duty by the phone. No matter what call comes from the Railway Bureau or the Allied Forces Headquarters, you must answer it as usual. Do you understand?"

The engineer company commander, You Buying, held his dog-leg knife to the neck of the traffic police station chief, who nodded repeatedly: "Okay, okay, sir!"

Nanchang City.

"Prepare—release!"

The artillery positions were filled with smoke and the thunderous sound of artillery echoed in the southwest of Nanchang City.

Under the personal command of Chiang Kai-shek, the Northern Expedition Army attacked Nanchang for the second time on the morning of October 5.

There were quite a few troops involved in the battle, including the Second and Third Armies, plus the 1st Army's 2nd Division, which had only one regiment left. But the number of troops was small: the two armies and the remnants of the 1st Division totaled only 30,000.

Chiang Kai-shek had ordered the 2nd Independent Division of the Gan Army and He Yaozu, commander of the Hunan Army, who had surrendered to the Northern Expedition, to come to Nanchang to assist, but it was estimated that they would take several days to reach the outskirts of Nanchang. However, the fierce struggle among the Kuomintang high-ranking officials in Guangzhou meant Chiang Kai-shek could not wait any longer.

"The Second Division has launched an attack on Niuxing Station!"

"The 6th Division of the 2nd Army has reached Zhangshu and Fengcheng!"

Hearing the battle reports coming in one after another, Chiang Kai-shek nodded with satisfaction: "Good, good! Order Liu Zhi to occupy Niuxing Station and hold it there! Don't let the enemy in Nanchang escape north!"

……

In fact...the defenders of Nanchang had no intention of fleeing north.

Nanchang now contained 25,000 troops, including Deng Ruzhuo's Gan army and the Soviet troops that had come to support them. They were well-equipped with machine guns and artillery, and had ample ammunition. Upon discovering that the Northern Expedition had once again attacked Nanchang, Deng Ruzhuo deployed his troops into defensive positions to resist while sending a telegram to Jiujiang.

However, somewhat strangely, the telegram could not be sent, perhaps because the telegraph line between Nanchang and Jiujiang was faulty. Deng Ruzhuo quickly switched to wireless telegraphy to report the situation to Marshal Sun Chuanfang in Jiujiang. Sun Chuanfang quickly replied with a telegram, saying that they should hold on and that reinforcements from the five-province coalition would be arriving soon.

Deng Ruzhuo replied with great enthusiasm to express his determination, saying that Nanchang's defenses were strong and there was sufficient food and ammunition. He had seen that the Northern Expedition Army's manpower was not so abundant in the past few days, and he, Deng Ruzhuo, could hold on until the end of time.

Nanxun Railway, Xiushui Iron Bridge.

The Xiushui River originates from the Luoxiao Mountains, winds eastward, merges with the Ganjiang River in Yongxiu County, and flows into Poyang Lake.

The garrison in Yongxiu County consisted of the 5th Regiment of the 3rd Mixed Brigade of the Anhui Army, which had been dispatched there by Sun Chuanfang a month earlier. The reconnaissance company reported that there was a regiment, but in reality, the 3rd Mixed Brigade's headquarters and commander, Wang Pu, were also present.

At dawn on October 5, Wang Pu received a report that unidentified troops had been spotted on the north bank of the railway bridge. Just as Wang Pu arrived at the bridgehead defense zone, two artillery shells blasted through the trenches, followed by heavy machine gun fire towards the Anhui troops.

"They want to storm the bridge? Our two bridgeheads are made of imported steel and cement. Even the 75mm field artillery can't penetrate them. How can they attack them?"

Wang Pu used his telescope to scan the situation on the other side of the iron bridge, and then looked to the left and right sides of the bridge. There was not a single boat. He immediately understood.

"The enemy intends to use part of their forces to feint and divert the enemy's forces from the front, while the rest should wait for an opportunity to cross the river upstream and downstream. Scouts, go along the river and scan within ten miles upstream and downstream to see if there are any enemy troops attempting to cross. Captain Zhao, you will take one battalion to hold the bridgehead, and give me your second and third battalions," Wang Pu said. "I want to personally teach them the meaning of attacking them halfway across the river!"

The first regiment's crossing point was 3 kilometers downstream from the iron bridge. Chen Tianheng, perched on a hill on the north bank, peered through a telescope for a long time across the river, but ultimately couldn't see anything because the vegetation in this area was too dense.

"Has the Second Battalion made all preparations for battle?"

Xu Xiangqian: "Yes, we are ready to fight as soon as we get ashore."

The 23 wooden boats were of varying sizes, each capable of carrying between 10 and 25 soldiers. They could only carry the second battalion at a time, while the third battalion waited on the north bank. Xu Jishen jumped off the boat and waded a few steps ashore through the knee-deep river. The soldier who had disembarked first shouted,

"Battalion Commander! Enemy activity on the left front!"

Xu Jishen: "Everyone, find your company commanders and return to your company. First, second, and third companies, from left to right, prepare to fight!"

Anhui Army.

Wang Pu also reached the section of the river where the Northern Expedition Army was crossing. As he had expected, the enemy didn't have enough boats and was using separate transports to cross the river—there weren't many boats on the Xiushui River. He drew his command knife and said, "Charge! Drive them down the river!"

The heavy machine guns of the Anhui Army opened fire in a relentless manner. After all, they were a well-trained and well-coordinated unit. Their heavy machine guns also knew to use half of their firepower to carry out long-range overfighting shooting, sweeping across the river to prevent the second wave of transportation.

Under the cover of heavy machine guns, more than 400 soldiers screamed, rushed out of the woods with guns in hand, and rushed to the river bank 400 to 500 meters away.

Go, go, go! Speed ​​up! Go quickly!

Wang Pu could see a lot of Northern Expedition troops moving around on the riverbank, but these figures were just moving frequently, probably to reorganize their troops after landing. They did not open fire to intercept the Anhui troops when they just rushed up.

In fact, if Wang Pu had not been looking from afar, but had approached the riverbank within two hundred meters, he would have heard the whistles and commands coming from the second battalion.

There was no shooting, no noise or shouting. More than 300 officers and soldiers first found their own company, and then found their own platoon. After everyone gathered, the deputy platoon leader used a whistle to command the entire platoon to lie down in a line in the appropriate position. The platoon leader himself, holding a rifle, lined up with the soldiers.

"Clatter", the squad leader Huimin pushed the bullets from the five-round magazine into the magazine and pulled the bolt.

“Beep beep beep” “There are too few people here, you, bring your class over!”

Under the command of the deputy platoon leader, Guan Huimin's entire class moved a few steps to the left.

"Target, 11 o'clock!" "First shooting point, left first!"

Guan Huimin: "Left one, take your position!"

"...Second from the left, take your position!"

"Left three, take your positions!"

After calibrating the salvo aiming point, the deputy platoon leader said: "Beep!"

The three deputy platoon leaders all blew their whistles, and the fifth company commander Li Guangshao raised the flag.

Xu Jishen: "Ready—fire!"

The Anhui troops charging towards the riverbank suddenly saw a long row of flashes in front of them. It was more than 300 rifles firing in unison.

“Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang, bang…”