Chapter 82: Rolling to the West

The Xuzhou Southern Federation Autonomous Representative Conference was over, but the central city in the south now had no intention of getting comfortable. Everyone was urged to move around by Yuchen's orders. According to the self-deprecating words of the federal party staff who were preparing for the election that was about to be held, the work they did far exceed their due salary.

Now there are several major events in front of them. In southern Henan, the army needs to mobilize the bandit suppression operation, and logistics supply must be kept up. In addition, Yuchen also plans to implement land reform in southern Henan, and cooperate with relevant policies...... The Jiangbei Army is about to enter Hunan, and Hunan will also become a Jiangbei autonomous province. The implementation of relevant policies, the election of local councils, the sorting of local finances in Hunan...... The Jiangbei Army also plans to draw troops into eastern Sichuan to mediate the civil war in Sichuan Province. Although it is planned to draw only one brigade troops, most of the logistics needs to be guaranteed by Hubei. Hubei has just joined the Jiangbei local autonomous province for a short time. Can this work be done well... There are also the federal party election, the implementation of some policies determined at the Xuzhou meeting, etc.

These things were about to end in 1912, which made the relevant responsible personnel in Xuzhou, both soldiers and civilians, so busy that they were too busy.

Yuchen knew that his steps were too fast, and the stall was too big now. But he always felt that he was unavailable. The foundation of the hostile forces he faced was far greater than his. He took advantage of the advantages of understanding the direction of history in advance and took the lead until now. So now he is even more doubling to let his opponent recover. He paused a little, and when the enemy recovered, he gradually understood his style and weaknesses. Then he would be really doomed! When he pressed against the enemy step by step, his weaknesses would no longer become his weaknesses.

Sometimes he felt so tired that he couldn't hold on. His nerves were always too tense. When he finished his office resting every day, his mind was like a piece of tofu. But when he thought of resting, he could only sigh and bear it. When he really reached the peak of the country, he would take a breath? But he didn't know that at that time, he might be more responsible.

At this time, he was discussing the election with Chen Zhuo. The election will be held on December 29, only a month away. Before the election began, he planned to go to the north. Now he is waiting for news from Shanghai and Beijing. Now the three aspects are restraining each other, and he cannot let the Tongmenghui be won over by Yuan Shikai! Moreover, there are several parties in Beijing that have a very ambiguous attitude. Those party leaders are very prestigious in Chinese politics. When they reach their own position, they can start to win over and put some people into their bags.

He and Chen Zhuo tried to check the list of members who participated in the election in the five provinces under their rule. Even Chen Zhuo, a person who has been in charge of this work, was surprised. Looking at Yuchen's focused look, he smiled and said, "Commander, don't worry, I dare to issue a military order to ensure that it is our federal party. In addition to the cross-party elements that other provinces can contact, we are also hopeful to grab 200 seats in the House of Representatives. Now that the power of the Kuomintang has been dispersed, the most optimistic estimate is that we may have a weak majority among the members of the House of Representatives, but we cannot form a cabinet yet... If we can contact any of the Kuomintang or the Unified Republican Party, it is absolutely no problem to form a joint cabinet."

Chen Zhuo was optimistic. This young man is really proud now. The Southern Provisional Senate has almost become the base camp of the Federal Party for the election. This Senate is said to be the highest institution for discussing affairs of various provinces in the south. In fact, it is the general institution of Yuchen's royal party, the Federal Party, which influences the electoral situation in various provinces. As a person who is in it and has important responsibilities, how can Chen Zhuo not feel proud? The Federal Party now has half of the southern country, and with any party, the responsible cabinet is almost in the pocket. What kind of responsibility should Chen Zhuo bear at that time? I really feel satisfied if I think about it.

Yuchen is not as optimistic as him. He is now divided into several places. The first is to care about the situation of bandit suppression in Henan. Military affairs must be stabilized and not to hinder his overall situation arrangement. At that time, the white wolf army was spreading over several provinces, which made the Beiyang Army's dusty shadow at the peak of the Second Revolution make him careless at all. The second thing is the integration problem of several new provinces. How to deal with and appease the original vested interests is a problem that takes a lot of attention. If it is improper, it will easily affect the overall situation. After all, the Jiangbei provinces are his foundation. The implementation of Jiangbei local autonomy policy also entrusted all his hopes and efforts.

Finally, it was the issue of this election. He had no doubt that Chen Zhuo could master this level of seat. This young man was smart and enthusiastic. He was indeed very effective in doing things. But the parliament was in Beijing after all. Just under Yuan Shikai's chariot, he had no say in his political situation and fiddling with the ability of the parliament. And he was in Xuzhou at that time, so he would not be out of reach! So he had to take a walk and arrange some chess pieces in person. But he was still considering some steps. These things were not something that Chen Zhuo, who was eager to say now.

He was pondering about his thoughts when suddenly the door of the office was pushed open by Deputy Chief Tao Ding. He stood at the door and whispered to Yuchen: "Commander, Sima's acting chief of staff is here. I have something to report to you."

Chen Zhuo stood up and smiled at Yuchen, "Commander, my subordinates dare not disturb the military affairs, so I will say goodbye first. If the commander has any matter, he can summon his subordinates at any time......... In the matter of the general election, my subordinates must do their best and dare not neglect the slightest."

As Chen Zhuo walked out, Sima Zhan's slightly thin figure appeared at the door. Now he has temporarily replaced Wu Cai's position, but he still looks a little lazy and casual, and there are a few spots on the neckline of the military uniform, but he doesn't care at all. He smiled and shouted a report at the door, and sat next to Yuchen.

Yuchen didn't mind either, and looked at him with a smile: "Cunru, Niansun and others have reviewed the plan here?"

Sima Zhan had a slight tiredness in his expression. It seemed that the burden of this acting chief of staff was really not light. After driving him, who was a little enthusiastic about military and academics and command operations, he had overdrawn all his future diligence these days.

He looked at Yuchen with a lazy look, but his tone was very solemn: "It's not like fighting the bandits, there is no such thing as forming a complete front line and making a roundabout way. He just steadily beat the front line and push the order forward gradually. If you want to go around with the bandits, you don't know when the battle will be completed. Brother Nian Sun arranged it very well. The left combat army aimed directly to Nanyang with five regiments, and the right combat army aimed directly to Wuyang with five regiments. The reserve teams of four regiments were controlled on the Jinghan line to prevent bandits from rushing eastward. Ten regiments were connected to each other and pushed the front line.

Later, there were two regiments of the Ganzhou-European Army of Ouyang Wu Detachment......Leave a gap between Nanyang and Wuyang. They had no other way except to escape back to Henan. The Beiyang Army is now huddled in northeastern Henan. If everything goes well, we should be able to oppress the White Wolf Army between our Jiangbei Army, Beiyang Army and Shanxi......And we can cover most of the Henan Province and take the exit to Shanxi and Shaanxi into our hands. If the northwest starts to catch it again, there will be a good foundation."

This is exactly what Yuchen really wants to mobilize a large army of 21 regiments to suppress the bandits this time. He wants to continue to push the Beiyang Army northward and strive to completely tie Shanxi to his own chariot. Finally, if he needs to have a decisive battle with the Beiyang Army, this key point in Shanxi must be mastered. It is really interesting to think about how he can suppress Yan Xishan, the old fox, in the future.

However, he did not put this proudness on his face, but continued to remind Sima Zhan: "I have a lot of government affairs in charge now. Now, military affairs in various places, Chunru, please help me get a little more. The reorganization of left-behind troops should be accelerated, and the troops in Hunan should be stationed in as soon as possible... There is also Henan bandit suppression. I am very relieved. Please help me keep an eye on Ouyang Zhige! His detachment is the main force in blocking the White Wolf Bandit Army's road to Shaanxi. These generals join forces with Shanxi and Shaanxi swordsmen, that's really amazing! Pay close attention to the movements of their detachment, do you understand?"

The left combat army was led by Zhang Xiongfu, and they were all basic old teams of the 9th Division. They were well-equipped and well-trained. They set out from Xinyang and advanced along Wujiadian, Pingchangguan and Guxian. Wu Cai gave them the greatest autonomy to the combat commanders. As long as they could eliminate bandits, any means would be possible!

In addition to leaving the 54th Regiment of the 18th Brigade in Xinyang, the other five infantry regiments and two brigades directly under the attack were all involved in the offensive operations. Zhang Xiongfu was also really patient. Anyone who had forts and forts on the road he passed by would send troops to sweep them. The Type 12 mortars and the Type 12 B 107mm heavy mortars produced by the Ma'anshan Arsenal played a huge role in attacking these forts and forts on the mountain. These forts that were regarded as impregnable by the bandits, and the shells were completely smashed out. The bandits who were caught in the head always had only one word, killing. All the other small bandits and people who were strapped down the mountain and returned to the farm. It turned out that Zhang Zhihe's first division could not do anything, but now Zhang Xiongfu is doing it steadily.

As for the main force of the White Wolf Bandits Division? Apart from keeping in touch with Zhang Xiongfu's division, they have no intention of having a head-on confrontation with this army. Under their oppression, they retreat step by step.

According to the information obtained from the interrogation of the bandits caught, Bai Lang is still in Fangcheng area and is stepping up contact with local armed forces in western Wan. However, it was shocked by Ouyang Wu's advance. Bai Lang has repeatedly sent a group of more than ten bandits who are still ruining southern Henan, and asked them to quickly go to Fangcheng to concentrate and decide their future direction. According to the information summary, Zhang Xiongfu had learned that the bandits in front of him had nine so-called brigade numbers, including Song Laoxiang, and nine so-called bandit numbers, six or seven thousand, and there were signs of retreating to Fangcheng. Fangcheng was in the middle of the escape opening left by the Jiangbei army for them. Could it be that they could leave easily? Zhang Xiongfu was always a little unwilling to give up. He was always convinced that these bandits who did all kinds of evil need to be severely attacked.

"Have you noticed that the combat area of ​​our left combat army is surrounded by Bishui. Tanghe River is surrounded from the west and north, the south is our brother troops from Hubei, and the east is us... These bandits are still in front of us, thinking that they can walk lightly and run away at any time, thinking that our regular army cannot catch up with them... I want to draw out 2 to 3 regiments of troops, go around to Biyang, arrange defenses along Bishui, and suppress our troops from the front. Even if these bandits can escape, at least half of them will be left behind!"

Zhang Xiongfu looked at all the officers of his combat army with bright eyes. The officers looked eager to try. His chief of staff was Colonel Shi Zhuang who had been transferred from He Sui, Anhui Division. He frowned and looked at the map for a long time. He thought for a long time in his mind, thinking that this plan was quite feasible. Although he divided the troops into two places, he did not believe that there was a bandit and this force that caused any one to suffer. The worst result was that the bandits slipped away in advance and everyone was busy in vain. He just added: "Mr., do you think you should inform the Xinyang General Command first? Then contact the right combat army and then carry out our actions? If we progress too fast and cannot keep a line with Zhang Zhankong and the others, there is a gap in the middle, I am afraid it is difficult to explain."

Zhang Xiongfu smiled disapprovingly: "When we get in touch with each other and the left and right before we get in touch, the daylily will be cold! I have made up my mind and cannot be changed. Under the unified leadership of Zhang Tao, the 49th Regiment of the 17th Brigade, under the leadership of Zhang Tao, the commander of the 49th Regiment, strengthened a battalion of mortars and search battalions of brigades, and detours from Boshan and Gaoyi of Songjiachang, and unfolded along the Bishui River. Our three main regiments and their direct troops forward and oppressed the bandits before Bishui River. Let them have to escape from Tanghe and hit Ouyang Wu's detachment in Nanyang! The detour should be fast and the attack should be fierce. We cannot set up a regular front for these bandits to fight them, just to chase and suppress them to the five routes of heaven and have no way to enter the ground!"

It was already a day later after Wu Cai received the notice of Zhang Xiongfu and his other change of deployment. Since he released the two combat armies, his attention has been mostly focused on stabilizing the rear of southern Henan. He was still very letting go of their bandit suppression operations. However, the matter of appeasement in this place was the one who was the one who was most worried about. The commander wanted to eliminate the century-old bandit trouble, and this task was much more difficult than simply killing the White Wolf away. He spent all day comforting and exile, and met with the county magistrates who were about to take office in the local area, and temporarily implemented military control of the local government. There were also the follow-up of relevant policies and the handling of local forces. Xinyang has been constantly killing people these days, which has severely shocked the local forces in Henan. Everyone knew the iron fist of this chief of staff. Now some officers and staff below looked at Wu Cai who had a stern face all day, and they didn't even dare to let out a sigh of vigilance.

Since the commander chose me to make this butcher knife, I want people here to have nightmares when they hear my name. In Wu Cai, in fact, he still has the unique harshness and stubbornness of Hunan people. But these are usually hidden in the heavy work of dealing with the daily affairs of the Jiangbei Army.

He looked carefully at the report message in his hand, and evaluated Zhang Xiongfu's sudden change of deployment and determined to severely attack the main force of the bandits. Finally, he felt that it would be a good idea to give the bandits a serious injury, which would be very beneficial to the implementation of the policy. He also noticed that the White Wolf mentioned in Zhang Xiongfu's report is now on the front line of Fangcheng. This guy is indeed not an easy person. He put himself in a position where he could roam everywhere. Are he going to advance to western Henan and travel to Shanxi? Or is he going back to Henan? From which perspective, it is a big thing that is the man who is moving west. It seems that it is still very difficult to capture him in one fell swoop.

He shook his head slightly, and ordered the additional recognition order on Zhang Xiongfu's report, and handed it to the staff waiting at the table: "Create this order. From now on, we will ask Zhang Xiongfu's left combat army to report their location and actions every day, and give it to me at any time. Do you understand?" The staff officer stood at the right time and turned around and went out, and then Feng Yuxiang knocked on the door and walked in.

This tall northern man had already put on the colonel's epaulette, but he still only led a guard of more than 800 people. Everyone knew that he wanted to make another contribution and let him go and be alone. Wu Cai also believed that the captain of the guard was more than enough to lead a brigade. But he didn't know what the commander thought, just keep him by his side. And this man had asked him for battle countless times since he arrived in Henan.

Feng Yuxiang bowed to Wu Cai, but he was silent for a moment and did not speak. He knew that Wu Cai knew his purpose. He came to Xinyang and did not just wander here all day! With such hard training and complete equipment, his guards have always been the most elite combat force. He also needs greater contributions and a higher status in the Jiangbei army! Since that is the case, he cannot miss any opportunity!

Wu Cai ignored him, lowered his head and read a few more official documents. Finally, he put a red hook on the list of criminals. When he raised his head, he saw Feng Yuxiang standing in front of him with a stern face. Wu Cai leaned against the back of the chair, and this action seemed to be as good as Yuchen's usual way before he spoke: "Okay! I originally wanted to keep you, and the commander would still use you when he went north! Since he was so determined to fight, he couldn't keep it. You can set off today and join Zhang Xiongfu's left combat army. You can fight. Remember, if the guards suffer more than fifty casualties, I don't care whether you are the captain of the guards personally selected by the commander, and you will be dismissed. Do you understand!"

The winter night in Henan is vast, and a winding team is advancing rapidly along the cracked water with light in the night. The team is light-fitting. The people and horses are sweating at night. They are the roundabout troops of Zhang Xiongfu's left combat army. The combat style of the Jiangbei Army is in line with Germany and Japan, with vast encirclements and narrowing annihilation. Since the rise of the army, all battles have been successfully won by roundabouts. This time, this move was used against these bandit troops.

Zhang Tao was the first company commander of the Nanjing Company of the Jiangbei Army. Zhang Caizi, who was famous in the army before, was highly valued by the commander who had led him. Now he is the regiment commander. But that kind of madness is not reduced at all. When he let him out for a detour, he led the troops to run day and night! He planned to detour to Biyang County within two days, and then block the western section of Bishui to see how many bandits would fall under his gun! In his mind, there seemed to be no task that he could not complete, nor any enemy that could stop him from advancing.

Zhong Yang, the commander of the Fifty Regiment, rushed to his side with panting. None of them were riding horses. All the pedestals were used to carry ammunition and accommodate the soldiers who were left behind. In Zhang Tao's opinion, his officers could not travel with the soldiers. Why should they ask them to march with such great intensity? Zhong Yang had already taken off his hat, and the sweat on his face was washed like water: "Old Zhang, let the troops take a breath. They have been rushing 120 miles a day, don't drag yourself down!"

Zhang Tao was also gritting his teeth and struggling with his legs, and his legs were filled with lead: "No, the bandits are lighter than us. If you want to win this battle, you must move faster than their movements! You can rest for three hours in the second half of the night, but you must arrive at the Song family farm before midnight! Tell your brothers, fight this battle well and I will ask everyone for me!"
Chapter completed!