The Third Army of the Southeast and Wu Peifu's direct Third Army held each other for a long time under the city of Handan, during which there were frequent incidents of misfire, and small-scale conflicts also occurred from time to time, but the battle above the regimental level has not yet happened......

Wu Peifu takes Handan City as the center, surrounded by a bunker for five miles, a fortress for ten miles, and densely covered with mine arrays and barbed wire between the fortresses, and a high-voltage power grid has been erected in some places, this kind of formation is really eye-opening, Chen Jiongming couldn't help but be amazed when he saw it, and was amazed by Wu Peifu's learning ability, he thought that after the battle in Central China, Wu Peifu would focus on recruiting new soldiers and training soldiers, but he didn't expect that he himself also greatly absorbed the results of the European war. These new gadgets were used on the battlefield so quickly, in fact, Chen Jiongming also knew very well in his heart that these new gadgets could greatly help Wu Peifu defend the city, but the plague could not help Wu Peifu meet the retreating enemy, but as long as Wu Peifu could contain Chen Jiongming's troops here, Chang Zhenbang's Northern Expedition would completely collapse.

"Report, an urgent telegram came from the front line of Xian County!"

Adjutant Liu Tao hastily presented a telegram to Chang Zhenbang. After Chang Zhenbang opened it, he couldn't help but sigh and handed it to Chen Jiongming. Chen Jiongming opened it carefully, and it turned out to be the battle report of Xian County.

Commander-in-chief He Zonglian met the enemy Cai Chengxun in Xian County, and no one on both sides was polite, and without saying a word, a fierce battle began, and they fought for three days and three nights. At this time, the direct line Liu Zhenhua took the opportunity to conquer Hengshui, Wuyi, Jingxian and other places, in a vain attempt to cooperate with Cai Chengxun before and after, in view of this matter, the deputy commander-in-chief He Fenglin divided his troops to rescue Liu Zhenhua's troops in the Hengshui Hutuo River, blood stained the river red, and also successfully repelled Liu Zhenhua's troops to the territory of Ji County, and achieved a great victory on the Hutuo River, but this Liu Zhenhua Department is now a shotgun for artillery, and was also appointed as the Ninth Army of Zhili, although the combat strength is not as strong as Cai Peifu is not as good as Cai Chengxun's department, but there are many people, and the equipment is good, and the battle through the Hutuo River is a battle, although defeated but not chaotic, it was still possible to send troops to Hengshui and other places to harass the rear of the Fourth Army in the southeast, so that He Fenglin's troops were exhausted and had to Chen Bing Hengshui and Liu Zhenhua across the river to contain each other.

It doesn't matter if He Fenglin divides his troops, He Zonglian's pressure is a lot greater, under the pressure of Cai Chengxun step by step, many battles have been launched, all of which have been repulsed, and the whole army has to retreat to Wuqiang, the situation is very unoptimistic, and the telegram was also sent out at this time to ask Chang Zhenbang for help.

"Where is He Zonglian, the commander-in-chief of the Fourth Army, and what arrangements do you have?"

Chang Zhenbang thought for a while and said, "I plan to let Wang Guilin and Lu Yongxiang go up!" ”

"These two divisions go up, and the Fourth Army is saved, but what about Shandong? Dongying people are aggressive, and if they don't handle it well, I'm afraid they will bring about big international problems. ”

Chang Zhenbang said: "I also thought of this, Shandong fell into the hands of the direct family, it is still my Chinese place, if it falls into the hands of the Dongying people, from now on the Chinese will no longer set foot here, and the Dongying people occupy Shandong, enter can coerce Beijing, retreat can harass Jiangsu and Zhejiang, it is really difficult to do." ”

Chen Jiongming said: "Since the adults also know that Shandong cannot fall into the hands of the Dongying people, then it is good that Wang Guilin's division and Lu Yongxiang's division will not leave." With these two armies, it is impossible to deter the arrogance of the Dongying people. ”

Chang Zhenbang thought for a while and said, "These two people are not enough to fight against the Dongying people, it is useless to stay and go north to support He Zonglian's army!" ”

"Are you going to give up Shandong?" Chen Jiongming was taken aback and said.

Chang Zhenbang said: "Brother Chen, don't worry, when I came from Hebi, I already asked President Tang to go to Jinan, I believe that with Sakura's help him, he can temporarily stabilize the Dongying people!" ”

"Steady?" Chen Jiongming said with some embarrassment: "Isn't there a solution for adults? ”

Chang Zhenbang glanced at him, slammed it on the table in front of him, and the document cup on the table couldn't help jumping a few times, and said: "There is information from Dai Yunong's side that the Dongying Military Department has formulated a military plan for a full-scale invasion of China, although the Dongying government has not supported this battle plan, but the power of the military department has continued to expand over the years, and it has become a big trend. Even with the current fragmented situation of our country, what can we do to oppose the military strength and national strength of Dongying? Instead of using the mantis arm as a car and not measuring oneself, it is better to lie down and taste the courage and wait for the day of the decisive battle! ”

"The adults are far-sighted, and Jiong Ming admires them very much, but the Chinese people are afraid that they don't understand the good intentions of the adults."

"How can things in the world be as good as they want, and the big husband does things without being ashamed!" Chang Zhenbang said: "I have granted Tang Baichuan full authority to negotiate, and the army of the three provinces of Zhejiang and Anhui and the southeast navy are at his disposal, and I believe that his ability is enough to deal with those Dongying people." This time, I, Chang Zhenbang, have to give up some rights more or less. ”

Chen Jiongming said: "The building will fall, it is difficult to support alone, and the state affairs have taken this step, relying only on the strength of adults alone, only relying on the strength of our southeast, I am afraid that we will not be able to catch it." ”

Chang Zhenbang said extremely miserable: "That's why the southeast wants the Northern Expedition at this time, taking the opportunity to unify the country, and then ten years of life and gathering, ten years of lessons, ten years of refining a million troops, ten years of learning the military and political affairs of the British Empire, ten years of accumulating wealth, fifty years of hard work, and a decisive battle with Dongying!" Hopefully, you and I can wait until that day. ”

"My lord, my subordinates are willing to swear to follow my lord, unify China, and expel Dongying!"

Chen Jiongming only understood at this time why Chang Zhenbang was so insistent on the Northern Expedition, it turned out that the state affairs had reached such a point, and the blood in his chest couldn't help but surge, and the generals at all levels in the camp were also moved by Chang Zhenbang's good intentions, and shouted one after another.

The voice is not loud, but it is accompanied by tears, the third army in the southeast is Chen Jiongming's old department, and the first team to follow Chen Jiongming to do the revolution, compared with other armies, there is a sense of family and country that is all extinguished, but with Chen Jiongming's southern and northern wars, the east and the west, this feeling is gradually suppressed by reality, and it becomes inactive Everyone got up, and when they heard Chang Zhenbang's words, they inadvertently lit a huge dry wood left after the fire was extinguished in their hearts. With a bang, the blood of reunion after a long absence suddenly surged up. The spirit is different, the face of the whole army is naturally different, the spirit is one of the troops is more energetic hope to be able to conflict with the barbed wire in front of them, conquer the city of Handan in front of them, but unfortunately no matter how good the spirit is, it cannot be turned into a force in reality, and the defense system carefully set up by Wu Peifu is swept away, but it also greatly affects the morale of the soldiers of the Wu army in Handan City.

Wu Peifu also knew why these soldiers of the Southeast Army swept away the door and became vibrant, he immediately became vigilant, sent spies to reconnoiter around, and learned that Wang Guilin's department stationed in Shandong, Lu Yongxiang's department had left the station, and killed Zhili in two ways, he couldn't help but be surprised, he also knew about the wartime in Xian County, with Liu Zhenhua and Cai Chengxun's combat power was enough to wrap the Northern Expeditionary Army in Shandong into dumplings, and make Chen Jiongming's Northern Expeditionary Army a lonely division, but this Lu Yongxiang and Wang Guilin are who they are. How could he, Wu Peifu, not know? This Wang Guilin is Lu Yongxiang's ironcore, and Lu Yongxiang is Duan Qirui's ironcore, and now the two have Chang Zhenbang's protection, although Lu Yongxiang has always flaunted that he is finally loyal to the second master, and a good woman does not marry a second husband, but in fact, his interests have been completely integrated into the southeast of Chang Zhenbang, and even with the face of the old minister of the Anhui system, he surrendered and rebelled, gathered forces, and the military power in his hands was not reduced, but expanded, counting Wang Guilin's strength, the two of them together are no less than the combat power of a group army, with their intervention, Whether it is going north to Xian County to rescue the He family's uncles and nephews, or going east to Handan to put pressure on his side, it is not a good thing. Thinking of this, he glanced back at his secretary and asked, "What's going on over there in Fengtian?" When will the troops be dispatched! ”

The adjutant said: "Lord Liu Mengeng has already negotiated the alliance with Feng Zhang, and has also sent Jiang Dengxuan, Li Jinglin, and Sun Liechen as the vanguard of the three armies, a total of six divisions, and have entered the exit sequence, and I believe that they will arrive at the front line soon." ”

Wu Peifu said: "The Northeast is different from my direct lineage, the mountains are high and the rivers are far away, and it has become a world of its own. It's good that they sent troops to help us, but I'm afraid that when the time comes, I will fight back and give me a direct counterattack. That's not good. ”

The adjutant said: "The lips are dead and the teeth are cold, the Feng Department will not be so ignorant!" ”

"These horse bandits are all fierce and timid, do big things and sacrifice their lives, and forget their lives when they see small profits, if they put their lives on them, I am afraid that they will not know how they will die when the time comes." Wu Peifu sighed and said, "Compared to these reckless bandits, Xijing is more in charge. ”

"Since Wang Zhanyuan telegraphed the whole country to declare neutrality, all the elite soldiers in Hubei have fallen into the hands of Sun Chuanfang, but the two ends of this kid's head rat have not shown the slightest attitude, I'm afraid it can't be trusted!"

Wu Peifu smiled and said: "Sun Chuanfang is my direct lineage, and I will never stand idly by!" ”

"This person has lofty ambitions, but I'm afraid that he will kill two birds with one stone, and take advantage of the chaos to raise troops to go straight!"

Wu Peifu said with interest: "If the family declines, and the family property is sold, will it be left to the enemy or the neighbor?" Or cousins, cousins? ”

The adjutant didn't expect Wu Peifu to ask like this, and immediately replied: "How can the ancestral family business be cheaper than others?" Naturally, for cousins? If the cousin is gone, give it to the cousin, so that your brother will have the day to redeem it. I won't be ashamed of my parents and ancestors when I get down. ”

Wu Peifu smiled and said: "That's the reason, if so many soldiers and officials in our direct line are defeated by the Jiangxi department, the Feng department will naturally only have the share of dismissal and dismissal, it is better to give it to Wu Peifu, the brothers will be the soldiers, and the officials will do it, even if Sun Chuanfang is stingy, it is just a change of overseers, and the brothers still have something to eat." ”

"I understand the lowly position, so I sent a telegram urging Sun Chuanfang to come to help."

Wu Peifu smiled and said: "The battle situation is more miserable, and the victory and defeat are more intense, as long as his army goes out of Tongguan and enters Zhili, Chang Zhenbang's Northern Expedition will end here." ”

"Yes, let's do it!"

"Remember, no matter how good the food of a cousin's house is, it is not as comfortable as eating it at home. By the way, inform Cao Sanye that Zhang Fulai's department cannot be easily mobilized unless it is absolutely necessary, this is our means to guard against Zhang Zuolin. ”

"Yes, sir!"

"Cao Rui's division is sitting in the Beijing division, and it must not be easily transferred, let him arrest Wang Huaiqing and detain Xu Shichang when necessary. The central mouthpiece must not be allowed to speak for the Southeast. ”

"Yes, sir!"

"Mobilize Peng Shouxin's army to go south to Raoyang Anping, and help Cai Chengxun annihilate the southeast Shandong Army with one hand!"

"Yes, sir!"

"Electric, appoint Feng Yuxiang, the envoy of Western Henan, as the overseer of Central China, and order him to march east to recover Jiyin from now on!"

"Yes, sir!"

After saying the content of a series of telegrams, Wu Peifu couldn't help but feel tired, looking at the bright moon outside the window, and feeling full of emotion in his heart, as long as Feng Yuxiang sent troops to Luoyin, even if he couldn't conquer it, not only could Chang Zhenbang be in chaos, but he could also pull Sun Chuanfang, who was watching the play on the sidelines, in. It's just that this Feng Yuxiang has always been a thorn, I hope this time he is a good boy.

sanjiangge