The Fourth Outstanding Person of Huangpu Military Academy

Of course, these soldiers have the First Division's micro-insignia on their uniforms.

Zheng Junyan: "I've long heard that the First Division of the Communist Army is exceptionally strong, while the other Northern Expeditionary Army units are of varying strength. My unit first defeated the 26th Army, and then was defeated by yours, proving this to be true. May I ask why your army is so unique in its combat effectiveness? Did it receive the full range of Soviet military training?"

Guo Rugui shook his head: "Of course not. Our First Division studies the armies of all the world's military powers. We learn from whichever country's military is useful. The Soviet military is just one of the objects of study. In addition to learning from foreign countries, our division commander has also created many unique methods and tactics. Let me put it this way, you warlords, any army, don't even think about being able to fight against the First Division.

Zheng Junyan is silent. Every word he says is met with a retort, and every word is a critical hit. What else is there to say?

tmh

Nanjing.

The Five Provinces Allied Forces' headquarters was in Nanjing. Although Shanghai was the largest city in Sun Chuanfang's jurisdiction, the foreigners in Shanghai did not welcome Sun Chuanfang's decision to station his headquarters there. In fact, the concession countries did not even want the Five Provinces Allied Forces stationed in Shanghai.

"Bai Li, Bai Li! Look, there's victory news from Hangzhou! Zheng Junyan's and Wang Miao's divisions took the initiative yesterday and simultaneously defeated the 26th Army of the Northern Expedition, which was approaching Hangzhou. This entire army was crushed in a single day!"

Sun Chuanfang placed the telegram on the table at the headquarters and looked at Chiang Bai-ri: "Our army still has a chance of winning! At least the prosperous and core areas of Jiangsu and Zhejiang can be guaranteed to maintain a long-term standoff with the Guangzhou government. Why do you need to leave?"

Jiang Baili did not reach for the telegram on the table. He was too lazy to read it. He just shook his head wearily: "Marshal, what can we do if we defeat the 26th Army?

Sun Chuanfang: "Defeat the 26th Army and prevent it from recovering its combat capability in a short period of time. Only the 1st and 2nd Divisions of the Northern Expedition will be able to fight in the Hangzhou direction. Our two elite 10th and 11th Divisions will withdraw and form a group to hold Hangzhou. The same is true for the Ningshao direction. Meng Zhaoyue has coordinated with Zhou Yinren to set a trap for the 19th Army of the Northern Expedition. The 19th Army will definitely fall into it. Once the 19th Army suffers the same fate as the 26th Army, only the 21st and 22nd Divisions of the Northern Expedition will be left in the Ningshao direction. They will also not be able to take Ningshao."

"If I can buy a month or two, I can train four or five fully equipped regular divisions in the rear to further strengthen the defense in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang directions. By then, the Fengtian Army will also be able to fight against the Northern Expedition Army."

Chiang Bai-ri: "Jiangxi and Fujian have been lost, and the Allied forces have suffered heavy losses, especially in the battle on the Nanxun Line, where the Allied forces lost tens of thousands of troops, all of whom were elite troops. The short counterattack to improve the situation in Zhejiang was only a victory in a local battle stage. From the overall perspective, the Northern Expedition Army still has a huge advantage over the Allied forces. We have bought time in Zhejiang, but, Marshal, our only feasible way to make use of time is to ask for help from the Fengtian Army, asking them to give money, guns, or even directly to the troops.

Sun Chuanfang: "Yes? Zhang Zuolin has hundreds of thousands of troops, arsenals, and the largest territory. The Fengtian Army is willing to assist us. With support from behind, we don't have to worry about the Northern Expedition Army raiding our homeland."

Chiang Bai-ri: "But the Fengtian Army is just a bunch of bandits! Wasn't what the Marshal did in several southeastern provinces in 13 and 14 to expel the Fengtian clique? Why did he expel the Fengtian clique at that time? Wasn't it because they were incompetent?"

Sun Chuanfang: "This is a different time. I know the Fengtian clique loves to grab money and territory, but now the Northern Expedition is so powerful that the various Beiyang cliques must unite to fight the enemy together.

Chiang Bai-ri: "Marshal, why don't you surrender to the Guangzhou National Government, or even change your flag? In my humble opinion, even if Guangzhou is close to the Soviet Union, it is still better than Zhang Zuolin.

Sun Chuanfang: "From the day the An Guo Army was formed, this was already a decision that cannot be changed. Zhang Zuolin is the commander-in-chief of the An Guo Army, and I am the deputy commander-in-chief. What else can there be to dispute?"

Jiang Baili: "This is exactly why I bid farewell to the Marshal.

Chiang Bai-ri resigned last week. Today he said his final goodbye to Sun Chuanfang. After that, he packed his suitcase and set off for an overseas inspection.

Shortly after Chiang Bai-ri defected from Wu Peifu's army to Sun Chuanfang, the Northern Expedition began its march north. Chiang Bai-ri strongly advocated that the five-province coalition attack Changsha from Nanchang as soon as the fighting began, exposing the Northern Expedition to attacks from both sides. However, Sun Chuanfang, after much deliberation, still lacked the courage to initiate an offensive.

Since the Five Provinces Allied Forces did not take the initiative to attack and instead allowed the Northern Expedition Army to take over Jiangxi, Chiang Bai-ri stopped giving Sun Chuanfang much advice. In fact, starting in November, he used euphemisms to persuade Sun Chuanfang to simply change his flag and submit to the Guangzhou National Government.

As a renowned military educator and theorist in the early Republican era, Chiang Bai-ri's actual combat command record was lackluster, but he certainly played a role in the continued existence of the Baoding Military Academy during the Republican era. Because he served as the academy's principal and had numerous students, he was viewed with special regard by various warlords.

Sun Chuanfang rejected Jiang Baili's proposal to change the flag, but still let Jiang Baili continue to be his advisor.

However, because Sun Chuanfang firmly chose to ally with the Fengtian clique, Chiang Bai-ri finally resigned and left.

"How can we strengthen Hangzhou's defenses now? Everyone, give me some ideas.

Only one counselor left, and Sun Chuanfang still had counselors around him.

"General, although Zheng Junyan and Wang Miao's divisions have won, they are still on their way south of Fuyang. We can only decide how to strengthen our defenses after they return to Hangzhou.

--The Marshal's Mansion in Nanjing is still receiving yesterday's battle report information.

Sun Chuanfang: "Of course I know the 10th and 11th Divisions are fighting. But after we take out the 26th Army, we'll have to rely on Hangzhou to defend against the attack from the 1st Division of the Communist Army. Will the Northern Expedition receive reinforcements from Hangzhou?"

"Report to the Marshal, the Northern Expedition Army has newly trained the 14th and 17th Armies, both of which are located on the Zhejiang-Jiangxi border. It is not yet known which army will be sent to Hangzhou." A staff officer replied.

Sun Chuanfang: "Well, I think at most we can send one army to join the Hangzhou direction.

"Marshal Sun, I believe the battlefield situation in Hangzhou requires further confirmation. The current battle reports may be misleading.

Sun Chuanfang turned to the unassuming strategist and asked, "Oh? Are you saying that battle reports aren't necessarily true?"

“Battle reports may not be timely.

Sun Chuanfang: "The telegram from Hangzhou at 11 o'clock last night was based on the report from Zheng Junyan and Wang Miao yesterday afternoon after a day of fighting. It was quite timely.

"In fact, I want to go to Hangzhou in person to inspect the city defenses and arrange defenses on behalf of the Marshal."

Sun Chuanfang: "Okay, go ahead. I authorize you to serve as the deputy commander-in-chief of the An Guo Army.

"Hi!

Ningci Okamura stood up and bowed to Sun Chuanfang to express his gratitude.

Chapter 40: Du Yuming Waits for the Rabbit

Okamura Neiji bought a ticket at Nanjing Railway Station. Before entering the station, he bought a newspaper on the street. The headline on the front page was:

The Five Provinces Allied Forces Victory in Fuyang, and the Third Division of the Northern Expeditionary Army Annihilated

--On January 5, the news circulating in Nanjing was still about the "Fuyang Victory". The Northern Expedition Army that attacked Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, was defeated by Sun Chuanfang's elite coalition forces of five provinces, and Zhejiang Province was temporarily safe.

Okamura Yasuji also believes this news at present, but out of professional vigilance, he feels that there will be many unpredictable changes in the subsequent battle situation.

In addition to the three newspapers of the day, Okamura Yasuji also shopped at the newspaper stand and bought several magazines including the month's "Eastern Magazine", "Story Club", "Jiayin Monthly", "Story King", "National Geographic of China", etc.

From Nanjing to Hangzhou, he first took the Shanghai-Nanjing Line, and then changed to the Shanghai-Hangzhou Line in Shanghai. Okamura was not riding the Marshal's special train but an ordinary passenger car, and had to stop and go on the train for more than ten hours.

"Sir, has an elderly person in your family passed away?

Okamura Yasuji was wearing the uniform of the Five Provinces Allied Forces, but he had a black veil on his arm.

"Yes and no," said Okamura Yasuji.

The passenger sitting next to me was so confused that he didn't know how to respond.

"Mr. Okamura, Emperor Taisho passed away recently, but the Crown Prince has been acting as regent for several years, so there isn't much suspense. The enthronement ceremony should be held soon, right?

A staff officer from the Five Provinces Joint Forces' General Staff who was traveling with them also studied in Japan, and his conversation with Okamura Yasuji was in Japanese.

Okamura Neiji nodded and said, "I think the new emperor will ascend the throne very soon.

Kang'an Nixuan

Ningji Okamura was looking forward to and excited about the new emperor ascending the throne.

When the new emperor was still the crown prince, Okamura was already a member of the small group of young military officers surrounding the crown prince. During that time, he and a group of Japanese officers traveled to Europe and the United States. Coincidentally, the crown prince (Hirohito) also undertook an extended study tour of Europe in 1921. Okamura and these officers met and discussed with the crown prince in Europe. The officers subsequently formed the "Baden-Baden Pact," a group of interest groups that would later dominate military and political circles.

In this small group, Okamura Yasuji, Nagata Tetsuzan, and Obata Toshishiro were the most talented and were collectively known as the "Three Crows of the Army".

Okamura Yasuji knew a little about the inner workings of the palace of the recently deceased Emperor Taisho. Taisho was frail and had little influence on government affairs since his accession to the throne. After 1921, the Crown Prince was appointed Regent.

Not only was Emperor Taisho often frail, but his mind was also said to be in poor condition. For the first decade or so of his reign, the country looked exclusively to the West, abiding by European and American rules of the game and aiming to "integrate into mainstream international society," a move that earned the young military officers their disdain.

The current Japanese government maintains strict neutrality regarding what is happening in China. However, the consensus in "Baden-Baden" is that Japan must strive to maintain at least the Southern and Northern Dynasties structure in China, with the divisions along the Yangtze River separating the two. Even better would be a division into three factions—the Fengtian clique, the Southern Revolutionary Government, and the Northwestern Nationalist Army. A de facto unification of China would be detrimental to Japan.

Okamura Yasuji volunteered to go to China and serve as Sun Chuanfang's senior advisor in order to realize his faction's intention to let Sun Chuanfang and the An Guo Army withstand the attack of the Northern Expedition Army and "maintain a balance of power among all forces in China."

4ai

Hangzhou.

Before Nanjing could react, Hangzhou was in chaos.

On the morning of January 5, defeated soldiers who had escaped from the front line entered Fuyang City one after another.

The remaining Five Provinces Allied Forces in Fuyang were few in number, consisting of a local security regiment and the unmoved baggage trains of the 10th and 11th Divisions. Upon learning of the mishap with Zheng Junyan's 10th Division, the remaining troops in Fuyang were horrified and, while sending a telegram back to Hangzhou to report the incident, they prepared to pack up and leave.

After a long time of hustle and bustle, someone finally remembered that there was one thing they hadn't done yet: they should immediately notify the 11th Division, which was still on the front lines. The 10th Division, the backbone of the Zhejiang Provincial Allied Forces, was gone. What was the 11th Division still doing? Stop chasing them and come back quickly.

The person in charge of overall planning in Hangzhou was Lu Xiangting.

After Sun Chuanfang assumed command of the Five Provinces Allied Forces, Lu Xiangting became the commander of the Second Central Division and the commander of the Zhejiang Army within the Five Provinces Allied Forces. Therefore, despite his capture and suspected PTSD, Sun Chuanfang still had to redeem him and allow him to continue commanding the Zhejiang Army.

According to reports from the fleeing soldiers, most of Zheng Junyan's 10th Division had been annihilated, with the last remaining troops trapped in Tangjiabu, where the Northern Expedition's 1st Division was fiercely attacking. Lu Xiangting's staff suggested informing Wang Miao's 11th Division to abandon pursuit of the remnants of the 26th Army and return to rescue the 10th Division. Lu Xiangting flatly rejected the suggestion, ordering Wang Miao to abandon the rescue of the 10th Division and return immediately to Fuyang, from where he would return to Hangzhou.

On the way back, Jue Tao urged the 11th Division not to engage the 1st Division!

Xiaojing Village.

Two days ago, the Si Lie Division of the 26th Army was attacked at night by the 11th Division while stationed here, and the entire division was defeated.

Now the 3rd Regiment of the 1st Division has entered Xiaojing Village, and the nearest route for the 11th Division of the Allied Forces to return to Fuyang and Hangzhou has been blocked.

When leaving the division headquarters, Chen Tianheng gave Du Yuming the following task: to maintain contact with the 11th Division of the Allied Forces, limit its range of maneuver and prevent it from running around, but to prohibit the Third Regiment from launching an encirclement and annihilation of the 11th Division of the Allied Forces on its own.

This was Chen Tianheng's particular emphasis. The encirclement and annihilation of the Allied Forces' 11th Division should only begin after the 1st and 2nd Regiments had finished fighting at Tangjiabu, cleaned up the battlefield, and had rested sufficiently.

"What's happening ahead?

A detachment of the reconnaissance company returned from the front.

"Commander, the 11th Allied Forces Division is still near the Fenshui River. They are... preparing to force a crossing.

Du Yuming: "What?! Is Wang Miao crazy? Sun Shucheng, show me the map."

Du Yuming, Sun Shucheng, and Tang Zhen opened the map. The Allied 11th Division had been pursuing the Si Lie Division yesterday. The Si Lie Division fought and retreated, avoiding further losses and retreating to the other side of the Fenshui River before dark.

Wang Miao felt uncomfortable because the 11th Division failed to defeat the Si Lie Division, so he surveyed the upper and lower reaches of the Fenshui River early this morning, looking for a suitable location to cross the river or build a bridge. It seemed that he wanted to cross the Fenshui River and completely defeat the Si Lie Division.

Sun Shucheng: "The 11th Division is on the north bank of the Fenshui River, about 20 to 25 kilometers away from us. If they cross the river and continue to pursue Si Lie's troops, then we have to chase them down and attack the 11th Division.

Du Yuming: "I always feel that the 11th Division should not do this. This is not in line with common sense. Now the 10th Division has been eaten up by us. Half an hour ago, their captured division commander was sent to Lianwu Ferry. There is no reason to let the 11th Division continue to attack. They have already lost this battle here.

Sun Shucheng: "Could it be that Wang Miao of the 11th Division is still following the military order given by the headquarters two days ago? They don't know that the 10th Division has been annihilated, so they foolishly continue to attack until they defeat the Si Lie Division and then return?

Du Yuming: “This possibility is very high.

Sun Shucheng: "They are stupid, so there is nothing we can do. Let's chase them. If we chase them quickly, we can stab them in the ass when they are halfway across the river.

Du Yuming: "No pursuit. The 11th Division has been looking for boats and building bridges since early morning, but that doesn't mean they will continue to do so. New orders from Hangzhou will be passed on to the 11th Division. We, um, will just sit back and wait."

"Got it!" Sun Shucheng and the other three members of the staff immediately started moving. "... Got it, Commander. We have rolling terrain to the south, and the most advantageous location for defense is here. One and a half kilometers from Xiaojing Village, two consecutive unnamed hills block the road from Fenshui River to Xiaojing Village. The height difference between the hills is relatively small, but the advantage is that mortars can be deployed behind them, easily covering the front slope.

Du Yuming pointed to another place on the map and said, "If the 11th Division wants to retreat, there is more than one way to retreat. This road can also lead back to Fuyang City. The distance is only a few kilometers farther than the road blocked by the nameless mountain.

Sun Shucheng: "Then the second battalion will guard the continuous unnamed mountains, and the third battalion will guard this, Tiange Ridge.

Du Yuming: "Place two mortars at Tiange Ridge and four at Wuming Mountain. The Supplementary Battalion will assist the Second Battalion at Wuming Mountain in digging trenches. Complete the simple fortifications within two hours."

im language field

The third group immediately got to work in full swing.

The south is also relatively humid in winter, and the soil on the mountains is soft, which is good news for the defenders, as trenches can be dug quickly. Moreover, if the enemy bombards, the shells will penetrate deep into the soil before exploding, and the shrapnel scattering and lethality will be relatively small.

However, near the summit of Nameless Mountain, there was a lot of exposed rock, making it a particularly challenging terrain. Artillery shells exploded upon contact with the rocky surface, sending shrapnel flying and the shattered rock also causing damage. Du Yuming directed his troops to build a defensive line away from the exposed rocky terrain at the top, ultimately establishing a defensive line midway up the mountain.

The front trench line, the side heavy machine gun fire, and the trees and shrubs in front of the heavy machine gun fire points were also cut down one by one by the engineering company to clear the firing range.

In front of the defense line was a mountain road. The road turned a corner in front of Wuming Mountain and went around the mountain. Du Yuming estimated from the mountain that the mountain road was only about 200 meters away from the Wuming Mountain defense line. If the enemy did not capture the top of the mountain, no one could pass through this road under the interception of various light and heavy firearms of the Third Regiment.

"Captain! There's coalition activity ahead!"

A horseman returned quickly, and the reconnaissance team ahead of the reconnaissance company sent back the news.

"We've captured prisoners from the 21st Brigade of the 11th Division of the Allied Forces! The entire 21st Brigade has turned around and is heading towards Xiaojing Village! The 22nd Brigade is behind them!

Tangjiabu.

At 12 noon, Chen Tianheng received a telegram from the 3rd Regiment. Du Yuming, having settled in Xiaojing Village, had set up a radio station at the request of the 1st Division, calling from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Chen Tianheng's divisional headquarters was on its way from Lianwu Ferry to Tangjiabu during this time, so contact was not established until 12 a.m.

Du Yuming's judgment was correct, and Chen Tianheng called back to agree with the deployment plan of the Third Regiment.

下午1点半，杜聿明再发来电报，防线前方出现了11师21旅的斥候，21旅距离第三团的防线10公0里。

Chen Mingren: "Old Du is about to be attacked by a brigade from the 11th Division. The 1st and 2nd Regiments have already cleared the battlefield this morning. Shall we march?"

"Why march? Let's eat, eat." Chen Tianheng dropped his pen on the map table and picked up his bowl. "The news reached me instantly. Wang Miao's division is 10 kilometers away from the 3rd Regiment. They won't reach the foot of the defense line for two hours, and then organize an attack. Even with their efficiency, it will take a long time to organize and coordinate. Even if a fight breaks out, I don't believe Wang Miao's 11th Division can shake the 3rd Regiment's defense line. Besides, their first batch of arrivals is only a brigade.

Chen Mingren: "Then the combat units of the 1st and 2nd Regiments will rest on the spot after lunch to fully recover their energy and physical strength. At 6 pm, they will set out for Xiaojing Village and launch a raid on the 11th Division tonight.

Chen Tianheng: "Tell the 1st and 2nd Regiments that they should not only sleep until 6pm, but also have dinner after waking up at 6pm, and then continue to rest until 8pm before setting off."

Chapter 41, "Zheng Junyan's division is defeated, and the Communist army has arrived in Hangzhou"

The mountain road from Shangrao to Quzhou.

Bai Chongxi, Chief of Staff of the Northern Expedition and Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Route Army, drove into Quzhou in a bumpy car.

As the second phase of the Northern Expedition, focusing on attacking Sun Chuanfang, unfolded, a large number of Northern Expedition troops entered Zhejiang. Nanchang was too far from the front line, and Bai Chongxi had to move forward with the army.

"Has the staff radio been installed?"

The first question Bai Chongxi asked when he got off the car was that he had waited for the front-line headquarters to arrive in Quzhou before he took the car from Shangrao. The front-line headquarters and the general staff had arrived seven hours earlier.

"Reporting to the commander-in-chief, the radio has been put into use and has received several battle reports from the front.

Bai Chongxi began by reading the latest telegram. This one was from the 19th Army in eastern Zhejiang. They had advanced rapidly, their headquarters already moved to Zhuji, and their vanguard troops had even reached the outskirts of Xiaoshan and Shaoxing. However, neither the capture of Zhuji nor the advance into Xiaoshan and Shaoxing had involved any major fighting.