The Fourth Outstanding Person of Huangpu Military Academy

"...Victory flags fluttering in Wuchang City"

"Mountainous Nine Mountains Connected with Clouds"

“We travel everywhere with pride”

"Sword of Nanxun Railway"

"The charge for the decisive battle sounds"

"Galloping heroic spirit"

"The best of the hundred teachers are famous"

"Galloping heroic spirit"

"Forward, forward"

"Forward always moves forward"

……

As he walked among the welcoming citizens along the way, Chen Tianheng spotted a group of people standing out from the crowd. He immediately pointed and asked the other people to look in the direction of his finger. When the citizens saw what he was pointing at, they cheered, and the atmosphere at the scene became even more heated.

Henderson, the British Consul of the Jiujiang British Concession, Captain Geller, the head of the garrison, and several consulate staff were also present. Of course, they didn't welcome the Northern Expeditionary Army from the street. Instead, they watched the Northern Expeditionary Army from a distance of 20 to 30 meters from a shop at a right-angled corner of the street, some distance from the roadside and with a good view.

"This is the First Division of the First Army of the Northern Expedition, the Guangzhou government's initial armed force. Captain, do you think this Northern Expedition Army is elite?" Henderson asked.

"Just observing their mental state, they're much better than Sun Chuanfang's troops. For every dozen or so soldiers passing by, there's a Madsen light machine gun and two MP-18 submachine guns. And after about an infantry battalion of infantry, there's a two-mortar crew. It's obvious they're organized according to their organizational structure," Captain Geller shook his head. "We, and even our concessions along the Yangtze River, are in trouble."

"Downing Street has to learn to deal with a nationalist Chinese government. ... Huh?"

Henderson felt a chill run down his spine for some reason, and he turned abruptly. The mounted officer at the front of the column, after turning at the intersection, suddenly turned toward his group and pointed at him brazenly, even provocatively.

Chapter 120

The Jiujiang British Concession was established in 1861. It is one of the seven British concessions in China and the only concession in Jiujiang.

The British Concession is located outside the Jiujiang Prefecture City, covering an area of ​​150 acres. It is basically a narrow area between the Yangtze River and Gantang Lake, with the Yangtze River to the north and the lake to the south, which is conducive to defense and the management of mobile population.

Concessions were common in many countries throughout modern world history. China had 27 concessions (including two public concessions) in modern times. Japan established concessions in seven ports between 1854 and 1869, all of which were public concessions. Furthermore, the Qing government established three concessions in Korea: the Incheon, Busan, and Wonsan concessions. Today's Incheon Chinatown and Busan Chinatown are remnants of these concessions.

The core principle of concessions is that sovereignty belongs to the original country, but the laws of the leasing country are enforced. This is a humiliation to the sovereignty and national politics of the original country. From a grassroots perspective, the public in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China did have a favorable impression of some concessions and leased territories, while others were notorious and full of conflicts. The Jiujiang British Concession was one of the latter.

On the day the Northern Expedition entered the city, the slogans shouted by the people in their welcome and the slogans posted in the streets and alleys included not only "Down with the warlords" and "Down with the imperialist powers," but also many slogans that directly clarified the meaning of "Down with the imperialist powers" to "Down with British imperialism."

At this time, Chiang Kai-shek also issued an order to Chen Tianheng, who was now also the deputy commander of Jiujiang City Defense, to "abolish or restrict the authority of the British Concession in Jiujiang."

This order actually came from the Soviet Union/Comintern. There was a reason why Chiang Kai-shek was considered a staunch leftist general by Soviet advisers.

"The plan is complete! Commander, Commander?"

Chief of Staff Chen Mingren drafted the "Jiujiang Concession Action Plan," which was then discussed and revised by the various staff members of the General Staff before it was finally finalized. He excitedly went to find Chen Tianheng, but Chen Tianheng was not at the division headquarters.

Chen Mingren: "Where is the division commander? The hospital?"

"No, the division commander went to the telegraph office today."

Chen Mingren rushed to the telegraph office, and Chen Tianheng had already come out of the telegraph office.

"Is the plan ready?"

Chen Mingren: "Yes, it can be implemented at any time."

Chen Tianheng shook a file bag in his hand and said, "Once we have this, we'll be more confident in our actions. We'll start implementing it tomorrow."

……

Since the Northern Expedition Army captured Jiujiang, citizens have held marches for several consecutive days, and the themes of the marches are mostly related to anti-imperialism and anti-concession.

Xu Xiangqian: "Captain, these parades weren't organized by us, were they?"

Chen Tianheng: "No, it was organized by the Jiujiang branch of the Kuomintang. Of course, it can also be said that it was jointly organized by members of the Kuomintang and the Communist Party."

Xu Xiangqian: "It's a shame. We can't control it. It would be much better if we could control the crowd's route."

浩浩荡荡赶往租界入口的部队是1师1团1营、1团工兵连、炮兵营的山炮1连。在租界边界游行示威的市民足有上千人，拥挤在并不宽敞的街道上。市民看见北伐军列队而来，情绪更加高亢激昂，以至于1师的部队要挤挤挨挨地从游行民众中间挤过去。

Chen Tianheng: "Find a way to get the protesters to make way? Or, better yet, evacuate them?"

Li Hanfan, the 1st Regiment Party representative, said: "I will go and explain to the masses."

"No need to go to all that trouble, just look at me!" Qiu Qingquan, the company commander of the 3rd Company of the 1st Battalion, came out. He stood on a bench in a shop on the street, gathered his luck, and then shouted at the top of his voice:

"There's a war!!! Get out of the way!!!"

……

The crowd dispersed.

The British soldiers guarding the concession had been keeping an eye on the crowd marching across the street. They noticed that the bustling crowd of citizens holding placards suddenly disappeared like the receding tide, and then, the Northern Expedition soldiers wearing large hats appeared.

After these Northern Expedition soldiers appeared, they dispersed into battle formation without saying a word!

The infantry dispersed in squads, found favorable terrain, and lay down in a line, with their rifles and Madsen light machine guns set up.

Behind the infantry line were heavy machine guns. Several heavy machine guns were lifted out and placed on the ground. The machine gunners were in position, and the assistant gunners opened the ammunition boxes. The yellow bullet belts were clicked into the heavy machine guns and loaded.

Engineers were busy next to the heavy machine gun. First, they used three sandbags to press down the three tripods of the heavy machine gun. Then more engineers pushed carts to unload more sandbags. Soon, a low-profile bulletproof sandbag wall was formed around the heavy machine gun.

The concession defenders broke out in a cold sweat. A dozen soldiers retreated a few steps, entered their own sandbag fortifications, and peeled back the rainproof canvas covering the heavy machine guns. The concession defenders had no use for heavy machine guns, and rifles were rarely used. Batons and rifle butts were sufficient for maintaining law and order.

But soon, the defenders of the concession found that heavy machine guns were useless.

After the light and heavy machine guns were set up, draft horses appeared on the opposite street, dragging cannons behind them...

Three or four hundred meters outside the entrance to the concession, there were four 76mm mountain cannons, two on the left and two on the right, with their muzzles pointed at the concession. The gunners and loaders were all in place, and the ammunition boxes were open.

"I'm Chen Tianheng, commander of the 1st Division and deputy commander of the city defense. I want to speak to the highest commander of your garrison."

Chen Tianheng and Xu Xiangqian rode on their horses and spoke loudly to the guards at the entrance of the concession.

……

"I am Captain Wicks Geller, commander of the Jiujiang Concession garrison."

Geller arrived. He appeared remarkably calm. "On behalf of Consul Henderson of the British Concession, I want to inform you, General Chen, that the existence of the British Concession in Jiujiang is based on a treaty endorsed by both China and Britain, a contract between governments. Any act of intrusion or seizure of the concession by force will be considered an aggression against British sovereignty."

"I'm not here to invade or seize the concession."

Chen Tianheng did not dismount, and spoke condescendingly to Gailer:

"I am here to announce that, in accordance with international law and the terms of the Sino-British treaty, the British Concession in Jiujiang will soon be abolished!"

"An investigation revealed that several key figures under the warlord Sun Chuanfang, including Deng Ruzhuo, commander-in-chief of the Gan Army; Feng Shaomin, commander of the 10rd Division of the Gan Army of the Five Provinces Allied Forces; Li Hongcheng, garrison commander of Jiujiang and commander of the city defense of the Five Provinces Allied Forces; Zou Rihong, governor of the province; Gao Peishu, supervisor of customs; Lei Yunpeng, governor; and Zhang Zaochen, chief of the police department, entered the British concession in Jiujiang between October 22nd and 23rd."

"You have participated in the civil war and violated neutrality. According to international law and the spirit of the Sino-British treaty, the British Concession in Jiujiang no longer has any reason to exist. I have been ordered to inform you that in 24 hours, my troops will disarm the concession and take over its defense!"

"I object to your statement."

Although Gailer rushed to the border of the concession, he was well prepared:

"The aforementioned Chinese citizens did enter the British Concession in Jiujiang, but they entered as refugees, not as soldiers. Upon entering the concession, our troops were ordered to disarm the aforementioned individuals and their entourage. The weapons they carried are all here."

Gailer pointed behind him and saw two drivers pushing two carts coming over. On the carts were one or two hundred assorted rifles, carbines, and pistols.

"General Chen, these are all the weapons that were confiscated from them upon entry. Do you doubt that we haven't recovered all of their weapons?"

"Ha ha."

Chen Tianheng laughed twice.

"Captain Geller, the breach of neutrality by the concessions doesn't just mean they became Sun Chuanfang's arsenal and military camp. Whether a Chinese citizen becomes a refugee or continues to participate in the civil war isn't determined solely by whether or not he carries weapons. I have a document here that I think you and the consul would be very interested in seeing."

"This is a telegram sent by Deng Ruzhuo from your concession to Ganzhou. 'Shihuang: Mixed Brigade, hold your ground. The 4th Division, withdraw from Ganzhou immediately and proceed eastward into Fujian. Ruzhuo, Gengri.'"

Chen Tianheng slapped the telegram paper in his hand. "Many marshals and generals were not accustomed to carrying their sidearms when commanding battles, but you can't say they didn't participate in that war. I believe you have confiscated the sidearm of Deng Ruzhuo, the commander-in-chief of the Gan Army. However, he sent a telegram from the British Concession in Jiujiang, commanding the remaining troops in Ganzhou. This shows that Deng Ruzhuo set up his headquarters in the British Concession, and that this headquarters was always in operation."

"And you allowed a warlord who was still fighting in the civil war to set up a combat headquarters in your concession."

Chen Tianheng turned his horse around and reminded him again before leaving:

"Captain Geller, 24 hours from now, it will be tomorrow afternoon at 3:00 PM, not 3:23 PM. See you there."

……

"Watfuck! Is this true?"

As soon as Geller returned, he went to see Henderson, the consul of the British Concession in Jiujiang. Henderson was also shocked when he heard the news.

"Mr. Consul, we can ask the telegraph department or the Yangtze River Fleet's telegraph detachment for confirmation. ... But I'm afraid this is true. We haven't restricted the personal freedom of Sun Chuanfang's men, and they are fully capable of doing these things in the concession."

Henderson: "So what if it's true? ... We can get rid of this from a legal perspective. Let the Foreign Office debaters do the work."

Geller smiled bitterly: "Mr. Consul, can the debaters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs make the 75mm mountain guns outside the concession disappear?"

Henderson: "Will they attack the concessions by force?"

Geller: "I don't know. ... But what I want to say is that if they attacked the British Concession by force, it would fall within a few hours and would suffer serious damage from the war."

Henderson: "I need to contact the Yangtze River Fleet immediately."

Gailer: "Which Yangtze River Fleet?"

"All of the British and American Yangtze Fleets."

When the Northern Expedition captured Jiujiang, there were two foreign warships on the river near Jiujiang, one British and one American. However, just as Geller and Henderson were talking, the American Yangtze River gunboat sailed downstream, claiming to be returning for repairs.

Henderson was speechless and had to contact the British gunboat, the 630-ton "Bee".

"We have 6-inch guns that can destroy any military installations in Guangzhou, but please tell me, where are their troops?"

Geller: "They have four 3-inch mountain guns, deployed directly across from the concession, sandwiched between the streets. There are a large number of infantry, and their position may be moved at any time. By the way, they are an infantry division, so I am not sure they only have four mountain guns. Common sense suggests that they are more likely to have 12."

The captain of the Bee frowned painfully: "I can't destroy those four mountain guns in such a short time, not to mention the other mountain guns whose exact locations are still unknown."

Geller: "If the Bee launches a punitive bombardment of Jiujiang City, will that dissuade Guangzhou from launching a military attack on the concession?"

"Captain, haven't you been observing what's happening in Jiujiang City today?" the captain shouted. "I've been watching from aboard! Jiujiang City has been on a war footing since this afternoon! They're deploying defenses against artillery fire and evacuating civilians!"

Geller and Henderson: "..."

……

The First Division did indeed notify citizens throughout Jiujiang this afternoon, urging them to prepare for emergency measures. If you can leave the city for an outing or something similar, it's best to do so tomorrow. For those staying home, avoid the streets until tomorrow afternoon. If you hear explosions or First Division sirens, take shelter in a safe corner of your home, preferably a basement.

In short, it is to tell the citizens that the Northern Expedition Army, the First Division, will not use citizens as human shields.

The Second and Third Regiments worked until dusk before they were able to convey the general notice of war to the entire city.

"Commander Chen."

Xiao Jinguang found Chen Tianheng who was busy with something.

The "volunteer combat force" of the 6th Division of the Hunan Army has been like a follower in the past few days. After the De'an battle, they watched the battle of the 1st Division's attack on Jiujiang. After entering Jiujiang City, they personally observed how the 1st Division rebuilt the public security and order in Jiujiang City.

"Commander Chen, it's time for these two hundred of us to return to the 6th Division of the 2nd Army," Xiao Jinguang said. "But more than half of these two hundred people don't want to go back. They've reported to your recruitment office, saying they want to join your replacement battalion and start as recruits for the 1st Division."

Chen Tianheng: "Oh? I didn't have time to notice that."

Xiao Jinguang: "Anyway, let's do this. I'll leave the over one hundred people who signed up to you. I'll talk to the Sixth Division about the rest."

"No, no, no," Chen Tianheng said, "Deputy Xiao, I have an idea. ... Let's work together to persuade these two hundred people to return to the Sixth Division."

Xiao Jinguang: "Ah?"

"If you can manage these two hundred people, it's actually a good thing."

Chapter 121

The Second Army of the Northern Expedition (Xiang Army) was equipped with a very famous lineup of party representatives. The party representative of the 6th Division was Xiao Jinguang, and the party representative of the army was Li Fuchun.

But in OTL, when Li Fuchun, Xiao Jinguang and other party representatives left the Second Army after the Nanjing Incident, they left with nothing...

The main reason was that the Second Army, a rebranded Northern Expeditionary Army under old warlords, still had warlord roots, and it was common for officers to form cliques driven by self-interest. First, the Party representatives had returned from abroad and were unfamiliar with the local area. Second, even if these Party members had attended military training courses in the Soviet Union, they had attended political commissar training schools like the Leningrad Military and Political Academy.

Soviet political commissars, unlike the PLA's later political commissars, were not allowed to serve as guest military cadres. Therefore, Xiao Jinguang was troubled by the difficulty he had in breaking into the Second Army's officer circles, and these officers also did not allow Xiao Jinguang to interfere in the army's daily management and training.

But during the battle of De'an, Xiao Jinguang discovered that he seemed to be able to learn a few tricks from the First Army.

Although the First Army contained no Communists, and its commander, Chen Tianheng, was a direct descendant of Chiang Kai-shek, the First Division was truly formidable, vastly outclassing the Hunan Army in terms of professionalism. Learning from the First Division and bringing back the Sixth Division would definitely be useful.

Secondly, Chen Tianheng did not seem to reject him as a party representative. Later, Xiao Jinguang also found out that Chen Tianheng's group, the "War Research Society," had many Communist Party members, who were currently with Ye Ting's Independent Regiment/the 25th Division of the 4th Army.

So after discussing with Xiao Jinguang, Chen Tianheng decided that Xiao Jinguang would take these two hundred people back and set up the Sixth Division's own "Tactical Training Camp."

After the Nanxun Road campaign was completed, the 1st Division was stationed in Jiujiang, and the 6th Division in De'an, only a few dozen kilometers apart and connected by rail. Chen Tianheng planned to train the 2nd and 3rd Regiments intensively during their stay in Jiujiang. He then planned to find an open space between De'an and Jiujiang for the Tactical Training Battalion to train alongside the 2nd and 3rd Regiments.

……