On November 22, 1912, the red flags on the flat open space that appeared in the dry season on the Yangtze River in Wuhan were displayed, and the queue was strictly organized. At the People's Party Railway Corps Completion Conference, all 20,000 troops of the Fifth Division of the Fourth Army of the Railway Corps in Wuhan participated in the flag-awarding ceremony. Chen Ke, chairman of the People's Party, personally presented flags to the four railway units.

The officers and men of the Fifth Division of the Railway Corps never imagined that they would be able to meet Chairman Chen Ke in person, let alone that the honor of Chairman Chen Ke personally presenting the flag would fall on their own division. Because the 4th Division of the Railway Corps is a unit stationed in Huaihai Province. Representatives of the 4th Division, the 6th and 7th Divisions formed three small phalanxes to participate in the flag presentation ceremony.

Chen Ke's voice came from the loudspeaker, "The ancients said that the journey of a thousand miles is a beautiful imagination. Now, this beautiful imagination is about to become a reality in the hands of your comrades in the railroad soldiers. The future China will first of all be a China on the track, and everyone will have to step over the mountains, cross the rivers, and step on the plains, and lay the railroad tracks on the land of the motherland. It will not be tens of thousands, not millions, or even tens of millions of people who will benefit from the railway, but tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of Chinese people will benefit through the railway. And everyone will remember the glorious name of the railroad soldiers. All the comrades of the railway soldiers are members of this great team, and your names will surely be famous for eternity along with the great achievements of this great team! You are destined to be the heroes of China! ”

These young soldiers all looked up at Chen Ke with a wistful gaze, although many did not know what they were doing in their jobs, and many of them only saw the railway for the first time after arriving in Wuhan, and saw the locomotives running on the tracks. There was even a sense of dread at the smoke-sprayed behemoth. But when I heard Chairman Chen Ke personally tell everyone that the railway soldiers are destined to be the heroes of China, the irrepressible excitement and the ensuing cheers still resounded in the sky.

As a child of the railway, Chen Ke has a natural affinity for the railway soldiers. Because Chen Ke was accustomed to seeing the front of the locomotive and the railroad tracks as early as he was a child, and was accustomed to the sound of the whistle. I know that there is no holiday 365 days a year, and there is a study meeting that will be held every period. This is the life of a railroad worker, day after day, year after year. Therefore, there is enough enthusiasm in Chen Ke's voice, this is the first time since returning to the beginning of the 20th century that he really feels the life he once was familiar with, and everything in front of him is a part of Chen Ke's life. At least this team will build a part of Chen Ke's life.

In the face of thunderous cheers, Chen Ke waved his hand, and the stretching phalanx quickly fell silent. Minister Hua Xiongmao took the opportunity to shout into the microphone in front of him: "Now, give the flag!" ”

The railway soldiers did not have their own military song, so the march of the People's Liberation Army was played. Commanders of units at the corps, division, regimental, and battalion levels took to the podium. The master of ceremonies shouted out the number of the unit, and Chen Ke held the flag of the unit with both hands and solemnly handed it to them. The commanders received the flag with both hands, then raised the flag with their left hand and saluted Chen Ke with their right hand. Chen Ke also solemnly returned the gift. Spectators of the unit applauded and cheered. Where have the young soldiers ever seen such a warm and solemn scene, and the cheers were higher and higher, and tens of thousands of officers and soldiers could be heard cheering within a few kilometers on both sides of the riverbank.

Hundreds of kilometers away from the flag-awarding ceremony, the 4th Division of the Railway Corps of the Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army and the 4407th Division of the Huai Naval Region of the Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army had received orders to march into Shangqiu. The Longhai Railway is the most important railway trunk line running through the eastern, central and western parts of China, traversing Jiangsu, Anhui, Henan, Shaanxi and Gansu provinces. The Longhai Line and the Beijing-Guangzhou Line intersect in Zhengzhou, thus building the foundation of Zhengzhou City. Zhengzhou City has an east-west Longhai Road and a north-south Jingguang Road. Chen Ke's life from junior high school to high school was spent on these two roads. The intersection of these two roads is the location of the Zhengzhou Railway Bureau.

Now that the Bianluo railway from Kaifeng to Luoyang has been completed, the railway from Lianyungang to Xuzhou has been basically completed, and the railway from Xuzhou to Shangqiu is also under construction, the People's Party has made up its mind to connect the eastern section of the newly built Longhai line with the Bianluo line. Once the Jinghan Railway and the railway backbone line from Luoyang to Lianyungang on Longhai Road are completed, the rich and vast Great Plains can be controlled to a great extent through the railway.

Wu Xingchen, commander of the Huaihai Provincial Military Region, stood on a dirt slope, in front of him was a vast 50,000 troops, although the manuscript was written by Chen Ke, Wu Xingchen still felt the passion, he shouted into the microphone: "Comrades, today is the day of the official establishment of the Railway Corps of the Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army. It was also the day when the Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army officially marched into Henan. This day has already been written in our military history, and it will be written in the history of China in the future, which is not only the beginning of the liberation of Henan, but also a new beginning of the construction of Henan. This railway behind the comrades will follow in the footsteps of the comrades, to the west, to the west. In the next few hundred years, but thousands of years, the name of the Longhai Railway will definitely exist in Chinese school textbooks. Every Chinese will know this name. Because tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of Chinese people, will take the train through this railway. This railway will be the history of China, and everyone here is a participant in this history. ”

In the past, Chen Ke seldom mentioned history in his speeches to the vast number of officers and soldiers, because more than 90 percent of the soldiers who had just joined the army had never heard of the word, and 99 percent of the soldiers did not understand what the word "history" meant. Wu Xingchen knew that the 50,000 officers and soldiers he was facing had received sufficient education, and a considerable number of them had even graduated from primary school, and they were already able to understand the meaning of the word "history" and the meaning of "creating history." Even this alone has created an unprecedented page in Chinese history. Not to mention the great feats that these 50,000 officers and men want to accomplish are brilliant.

The cheers rang out with Wu Xingchen's speech, and the officers and men of the Workers' and Peasants' Revolutionary Army did not have the slightest fear, let alone the slightest hesitation. The work that everyone had to face had long been known to every comrade at the mobilization meeting, not only to defeat the enemy, but also to build a new world. The difficulties they had to face were described in detail by political workers at all levels, and because of this, the enthusiasm of the young people was redoubled. Seeing it with his own eyes and experiencing the earth-shaking changes in the base area, every soldier was surprised, rejoiced, and moved. Everyone knows how difficult it is to face in front of us, and everyone knows how hard it is to face it in front of us. While some comrades were confident, others were uneasy. But at the moment, so the comrades already knew that this order would not change, and every comrade knew that as long as he heard the order to march, he would move forward side by side with other comrades, forward, forward.

"I now order, go!" Wu Xingchen shouted out the words that his comrades were looking forward to. The mighty tune of the People's Liberation Army's march sounded, and the troops, led by the commander, rumbled in the predetermined direction.

On November 23, the sky over Kaifeng City was bleak, and dense clouds obscured the sky, indicating that a rain in late autumn and early winter was about to fall. Zhang Zhenfang, Duan Zhigui, Lei Zhenchun, these current Henan military and political officials sat together silently, their faces were even darker than the sky before the rain. The news that the People's Party officially entered Henan in the name of building a railway overwhelmed everyone.

Although the infiltration of the People's Party was hated in the past, it did not lose the county seat and the capital city, but this time the People's Party no longer had the slightest intention of concealing it, and thousands of troops entered Shangqiu City all the way. The defenders of Shangqiu City surrendered without a fight. Guide Fu Daotai was captured alive. He is now imprisoned in the prison of Shangqiu City.

Getting this news is not how capable the intelligence system set up by Zhang Zhenfang is. After the people sent Guide to Daotai in prison, they immediately wrote a letter and sent someone to Kaifeng on a fast horse. The letter listed the "five major crimes" of the Daotai of Guide Prefecture, what is to harm the public for private purposes, and ignore the interests of the people, these charges are unbearable to read. In the final analysis, it is a sentence, "The refusal of the Daotai of Guide Province to join the management committee of the Shangqiu section of the eastern line of Longhai Road in the city with the People's Party is a counter-revolution and needs to be imprisoned." ”

At the end of the official document, Zhang Zhenfang, the governor of Henan, ordered the beheading of Daotai in Guide Prefecture and spread it to all parts of Henan to set an example.

Zhang Zhenfang had never seen such an arrogant "official document", and he scolded in his heart, "Why don't you behead me, the governor of Henan, and pass it on to all parts of Henan to set an example?" This is certainly unspeakable, and the implicit meaning of the People's Party's official document is actually a strong threat to Zhang Zhenfang.

Duan Zhigui, as the ruler of the second town of Beiyang, faced Zhang Zhenfang, the governor of Henan, as if Xu Shu had entered Cao Ying, no matter how Zhang Zhenfang asked, he remained silent as much as possible. Zhang Zhenfang couldn't bear it anymore, slapped the table and shouted angrily: "Duan Tong, your second town is stationed in Henan, just to protect the territory and the people." The People's Party has now entered Henan, and you still don't say a word, do you want to sit here and wait for the People's Party to enter Kaifeng? Although I have never fought in a war, I know a little bit about this military matter, and the current plan should be to take advantage of the fact that the People's Party is not firmly on the ground and attack them head-on. I, the governor of Henan, may not be able to transfer you, but I have already sent a telegram to the president, or will I send a telegram to the president again, telling him that you are not in a position to do so at the moment? ”

Duan Zhigui saw that Zhang Zhenfang was already going crazy, and he had to speak. "Governor Zhang, I send troops to Beiyang to talk about the rules. Before sending out the army, the first thing is to increase the salary on weekdays by one or two pieces of silver. No matter how long it is since last month's salary, even if you just paid yesterday, and you want to send troops today, you have to pay this promotion fee immediately. In addition, when you are fighting, you have to pay your life before you charge, and everyone is not for the silver, who will give you your life. It's best to pile up a bunch of silver dollars in front of the battle, and you have to explain that if you are unlucky and killed, our Beiyang Army will be compensated with a generous ......."

Duan Zhigui babbled about the rules of the Beiyang Army, and Zhang Zhenfang almost fainted when he heard it. Beiyang is really "disciplined", and many places where money is spent are clearly marked with prices, which is quite orderly.

After talking about the expenses that need to be paid during the pullout, during the pullout, and during the battle, Duan Zhigui looked embarrassed, "Zhang Dudu, since the brothers are stationed in Henan, this is also strictly controlled, and the people are not allowed to be harassed." There has been no fight, and the brothers have received the lowest salary. This salary is often delayed and cannot be paid on time. Let me send troops, okay. Zhang Dudu, you have to take out a million silver dollars first. Otherwise, brother, I can't explain to my subordinates. Even if they send troops to face the People's Party, they are afraid that they will not be able to do their work. Wouldn't that be even worse? ”

Zhang Zhenfang's lips trembled at this time, "Raising soldiers for a thousand days and using soldiers for a while, now the People's Party has arrived in Shangqiu." Having defeated the BJP, we will naturally be rewarded. I want money now, this ......, can this still fight? ”

Duan Zhigui replied loudly: "Governor Zhang, rules are rules. You are also a Jinshi, there are rules of officialdom in this officialdom, and we also have rules and regulations in the ranks. The rules of the Beiyang Army have been set by the Beiyang Army over the years, and they have been doing this for many years. It's not that I don't want to help, but if I break the rules, how can I convince my brothers in the second town of what I'm saying? ”

"No wonder! No wonder! Zhang Zhenfang muttered. He wanted to say that it was no wonder that the Beiyang Army mutinied in Beijing, but because of Yuan Shikai's face, Zhang Zhenfang couldn't say anything. And Zhang Zhenfang has not heard of these rules at the end of the Qing Dynasty, and the key at the moment is that Henan has no cash, even if the price of grain has risen recently, but this grain will not be sold for a while. The money was spent as soon as he got it, and now he couldn't get a million silver dollars together.

Seeing that Zhang Zhenfang and Duan Zhigui were almost their heads, Lei Zhenchun hurriedly tried to break the siege, "Zhang Dudu, now the People's Party is clearly coming to Kaifeng for us." It's better to send a telegram to the president quickly. Please send troops from the central government. At the very least, we should quickly mobilize some money to solve this urgent need. ”

Zhang Zhenfang barely controlled his emotions, "The telegram has been sent, I will send another one and ask the central government for some money." ”

The next day, Yuan Shikai's call back arrived. In the telegram, Yuan Shikai told Zhang Zhenfang that he had ordered Duan Zhigui to defend Kaifeng, and what Zhang Zhenfang had to do was to ensure the supply of food. And as much money as possible. The telegram repeatedly emphasized that Zhang Zhenfang, as the governor of Henan, had the responsibility of defending the territory, and if Kaifeng was lost, Zhang Zhenfang would definitely be asked.

Knowing that he was not involved in the matter of sending troops now, Zhang Zhenfang felt a little better in his heart. The city wall of Kaifeng is quite high, and it is still very promising for 20,000 Beiyang troops to defend Kaifeng City. Moreover, the news that the sentinel sent by Zhang Zhenfang Dudu to inquire back also made Zhang Dudu feel relieved. Instead of gathering to prepare for the attack on Kaifeng, the People's Party troops scattered and went to the countryside. Hearing the news, Duan Zhigui immediately came to his senses, "I think the People's Party is going to the countryside to grab things." Well, they won't come back if they don't grab a month. ”

Zhang Zhenfang looked at Duan Zhigui with a malicious look, and he also knew some news about the Beiyang Army. Duan Zhigui sent a number of spies from the Beiyang Army to reconnoiter the intelligence of the People's Party, but the cavalry unit was pursued by the People's Party cavalry, and hundreds of people had already been captured. The sentinels of the second town of Beiyang now only dare to operate in the vicinity of Kaifeng City for more than 20 miles, which is equivalent to becoming blind and deaf. Zhang Zhenfang hated the army harassing the people the most, but at this time, all the attention of the People's Party was on going to the countryside to harass the people, so it was unable to attack Kaifeng. Zhang Zhenfang couldn't help but hope that the People's Party would be in the countryside for as long as possible.

However, it is better to ask for others than for oneself, and Zhang Zhenfang was not idle, he not only urgently assembled the tax police troops left in Kaifeng for arming and training, but also urgently ordered the tax police troops scattered in various places to send half of their men to Kaifeng. If we really encounter the situation of the People's Party attacking the city, whether there is an armed force that we can trust or not, this is a very different result.

Zhu Danma, the principal of the Tax Police Academy, was also anxious, although he did not like Zhang Zhenfang, but the People's Party made its political program public to the whole country. The first thorough land reform made His Majesty Zhu Dan decide to oppose the People's Party. At this time, His Majesty Zhu Dan couldn't care about the previous conflicts, and he tried to encourage the members of the parliament to stand with Zhang Zhenfang for several days.

With the People's Party's land reform background, the attitude of the parliamentarians is naturally completely unanimous. In response to Zhu Danma's request for everyone to donate money and food as much as possible to support the government's resistance to the invasion of the People's Party, the parliamentarians also agreed. But every time a meeting is held, there will be fewer members. After a few days, only a few members of Shangqiu remained in the parliament. The other councillors are either on their way back to their hometowns or are preparing to run back to their hometowns. Looking at the seat of the parliament, Zhu Dan simply found Zhang Zhenfang and asked for help.

"Councilor Zhu, did you say you were going to blow up the People's Party's arsenal?" Zhang Zhenfang looked at Zhu Dan with an incredible gaze.

His Majesty Zhu Dan's expression was sad, "Exactly, the People's Party army is outside, and I heard that their troops have all gone down to the countryside to harm the people. I led some people to infiltrate Shangqiu and blew up the People's Party's arsenal. Without munitions, they are bound to be in chaos, and when the time comes, whether the central government sends troops or the second town sends troops, the odds of victory are much greater. ”

Zhang Zhenfang nodded slightly, this was not a commendation to Zhu Danma, but he recalled Zhou Zhentao's words, "The People's Party strongly opposes the petty bourgeoisie joining the ranks of the People's Party. These petty bourgeoisie are restless by nature, and if they are given three points of color, they will dare to open a dye shop. I think Zhu Dan is a standard petty bourgeoisie, he is not afraid if you let him die, they are afraid that they will not be able to write earth-shattering things. So Zhang Dudu, whether you like Zhu Dan Majesty or not, as long as you are good at it, let him feel that what he has done is an earth-shattering thing. This Zhu Dan will not disappoint you. ”

Zhou Zhentao's knowledge of people made Zhang Zhenfang feel sincerely admired, since the establishment of the tax police brigade, Zhu Dan Majesty has always dared to stand out in these things that offend people, but he blocked a lot of open guns and hidden arrows for Zhang Zhenfang. And as long as Zhang Zhenfang lightly "covers" Zhu Dan at the critical moment, Zhu Dan feels sincerely grateful.

Since Zhu Dan was willing to take a great risk to blow up the People's Party's arsenal, Zhang Zhenfang naturally had no reason to stop it. He stood up and made a deep snort at His Majesty Zhu Dan, "Councilor Zhu, people say that the vicissitudes of the sea show the true character of a hero, and at the moment Kaifeng is in danger, only Councilor Zhu dares to stand up." In the past, I offended Congressman Zhu a lot, but now I am really ashamed to think about it. ”

"Where did Zhang Dudu say!" Zhu Danma hurriedly supported Zhang Zhenfang, "If it weren't for the teacher recommending me to go to Beiyang Normal School, where would I be where I am today." At this time, it is time to do something for our Henan fathers, and I am willing to stand up. ”

Zhang Zhenfang didn't know if he was moved, or if he felt a little too funny, anyway, when he couldn't help grinning, he suddenly felt a sour nose, and tears actually flowed out, "Councilor Zhu, you resigned from nine deaths, I naturally hope that you can come back safely." But if you can't come back, I will definitely build you a big tomb in our Xiangcheng, so that the people of Xiangcheng can remember Councilor Zhu. ”

His Majesty Zhu Dan lowered his voice and said, "Dudu Zhang, I must not reveal my identity on this trip. It's just that I'm not worried about the Beiyang New Army, they hesitate, I'm afraid that they are completely unreliable. ”

Zhang Zhenfang hurriedly wiped her tears, "Councilor Zhu, I am ready to live and die with Kaifeng." If the People's Party breaks down the seal, I will personally supervise the battle with a gun. The Beiyang Army will never be allowed to abandon the city and leave, and the people of Kaifeng will be disgraced by the People's Party. ”

Zhu Dan Majesty heard what Zhang Zhenfang said sincerely, and there were already tears in the corners of his eyes, "Zhang Dudu, if it can really be like this, it would be great." ”

Zhang Zhenfang stepped forward and patted Zhu Dan's shoulder, "Councilor Zhu, I also know the situation in your family." You are an honest person, and when the tax police come to Xiangcheng, you ask them to go to your house to collect taxes first. I'll send someone to Xiangcheng right now and order the local officials to exempt your family from paying taxes. Even if you can't come back from this trip, you definitely don't have to worry about things at home. ”

Hearing Zhang Zhenfang talk about his family, Zhu Danma's face showed a sad look, and he hesitated for a while before he said: "I will accept Zhang Dudu's kindness." ”

Sure enough, as Zhou Zhentao once predicted, Zhang Zhenfang talked to His Majesty Zhu Dan "from the bottom of his heart" and fully recognized the great significance of His Majesty's actions. His Majesty Zhu Dan did not have the slightest shamelessness of the old fritters in the officialdom, and selected a few capable tax policemen, and quietly set off three days later. Before leaving, he only left a few letters, and he didn't even say goodbye to Zhang Zhenfang.

Of course, Zhang Zhenfang couldn't let His Majesty Zhu Dan go like this, so he sent someone to chase after him and sent a few horses and two hundred taels of silver. After the errand's personal entourage assured Zhang Zhenfang that Zhu Danma and the others were indeed heading in the direction of Shangqiu, Zhang Zhenfang breathed a long sigh of relief.

His Majesty Zhu Dan and his entourage went straight to Shangqiu, and the People's Party robbed and killed the spies from Kaifeng City along the way, and His Majesty Zhu Dan knew the news. In order to avoid the robbery and murder of the People's Party, their group specially went to the sales routes between the villages.

Zhu Dan also knew about "the People's Party troops scattered into the countryside to harm the people", but along the way, he did not encounter a large number of fleeing people as he imagined. When I asked the people along the way, they heard that the People's Party had arrived in Xuchang, but they had not heard of any looting by the People's Party. But the farther west you go, the more legends there are. The people swore that some silver-white birds had been flying in the sky recently, making a great buzzing sound. There seems to be someone sitting on top of the bird. This news is really too strange, and those people who say this news swear to see it with their own eyes, and His Majesty Zhu Dan has to feel quite puzzled.

On the third day, Zhu Dan heard a strange buzzing sound, which was not like the sound of mosquitoes, nor was it like the sound of any kind of flying insects that Zhu Dan had heard, it was only faint at first. No matter how you look around, you can't see any signs. As the buzzing sound became louder and louder, His Majesty Zhu Dan looked up, only to see two strange things suddenly flying down from the clouds.

It looked like a bird, and it had wings. It's just that the wings don't flap at all. And the wings are still two-layered, with a long silver object sandwiched in the middle. When His Majesty Zhu Dan and others noticed the things in the sky, the things in the sky seemed to have also noticed His Majesty Zhu Dan. The strange thing flying in the sky turned to its side, revealing what appeared to be a glass object directly above it. Zhu Danma's eyes were sharp, and he saw that a strange-looking head was poking out of it, and he looked at Zhu Dan and the others carefully for a moment.

It didn't take long for the two sides to intersect, and soon the two strange things flew into the clouds, and after a while, the buzzing disappeared without a trace. Encountering such strange things, His Majesty Zhu Dan and his party slowed down their horses and argued about what was in the sky. As he was talking fiercely, he heard the sound of horses' hooves in the distance. Soon, a group of cavalry galloped towards Zhu Dan and the others. They were all dressed in the dark blue BJP uniforms and had rifles in their hands. Seeing that this group of people was well-trained, more than a dozen people surrounded them in a semi-encircled posture without stopping.

Hit or run? Zhu Dan's heart pondered fiercely for a moment. He still felt that the person opposite might just be a spying of the BJP, and he didn't know who he really was. With this thought, Zhu Dan ordered his subordinates to continue to walk forward as if nothing had happened.

After being tightly surrounded, His Majesty Zhu Dan did not resist, but just pretended to be innocent and asked, "I don't know what happened to the military masters." ”

The officer of the cavalry squad looked at His Majesty Zhu Dan carefully, and suddenly smiled: "Principal Zhu, what is the matter with you coming to Shangqiu?" ”