Not long after Li Du's 24th Brigade completed its assembly, Sabuli arrived with a regiment of Heilongjiang cavalry.

Once the troops were united, Li Dusabuli and others waved their troops south to Harbin.

At that time, the defenders of Harbin and the surrounding areas had two reading brigades, namely Ding Chao's 28th Reading Brigade and Xing Zhanqing's 26th Reading Brigade.

Among them, Xing Zhanqing's 26th Brigade of Reading Force, one regiment was stationed in Hengdaohezi, one regiment was stationed in Yimianpo, and the brigade headquarters and another regiment were stationed in Harbin.

The main task of the brigade is to be responsible for the defense of the Hadong region.

Ding Chao's 28th Brigade is mainly defended in Harbin, and he himself is a senior veteran in the Northeast Army.

In 1911, he graduated from the Infantry Department of the Army Non-commissioned Officer School, and after returning to China, he successively served as the chief of the Jilin Military Administration, the director of the Fengtian Ordnance Factory, and the head of the military station of the Fengtian General Headquarters.

Especially in the later Middle East Road incident, he was appointed by Zhang Xueliang as the commander-in-chief of the former enemy of the Jilin Army and the former commander-in-chief of the East Road of the Northeast Frontier Army.

He himself was promoted to lieutenant general as early as 1927, so in Harbin, it can be said that Ding Chao has the final say.

Historically, Ding Chao also raised the banner of resistance and participated in the defense of Harbin with Li Du and Feng Zhanhai and other famous generals.

However, because of his weak will, when the resistance failed, he finally betrayed the country and became a Han annihilation, and his reputation was ruined.

In the headquarters of the 28th Brigade of Harbin Reading Force, Ding Chao opened the collar of his military uniform, held a cigarette in his mouth, and sat on the desk with a big grin, looking at the several telegrams received successively on the table with a complicated face, not knowing what to think again.

At this time, Ding Chao had studied for forty years, and he had long since lost the youthful and enthusiastic patriotic enthusiasm that he had returned from graduating from the army non-commissioned officer school.

Twenty years of military career and officialdom have made his surname change greatly, and there is no difference between this sitting posture and a big old man.

In front of Ding Chao were three telegrams, two of which were letters and secret telegrams sent by Zhang Xinghan and Ma Zhanshan to the compatriots in Northeast China.

Regarding Ma Zhanshan's order, Ding Chao, who boasted that his identity and power were not lower than Ma Zhanshan, turned a blind eye to it, ignored it in vain, and didn't take it to heart at all.

** A commander-in-chief of the Heilongjiang cavalry, when will he be able to take care of Jilin's affairs.

This is what Ding Chao wants to say to Ma Zhanshan at this time.

As for Zhang Xinghan's letter to compatriots in the Northeast, Ding Chao didn't have a cold either, and what really made him care was the third telegram on the table.

It was just sent by Xi Qia, then chief of staff of the Jilin Military Administration, and it is not difficult to see from Xi Qia's telegram that he obviously has a momentum of favoring him.

Although Xi Qia did not indicate it on the surface, in his capacity as chief of staff of the Jilin Military Administration, he ordered himself not to move troops recklessly and to stay in his own defense area.

Isn't this clearly contrary to Zhang Xinghan's letter to compatriots in the Northeast?

When Ding Chao was hesitating, the adjutant hurriedly walked in and reported: "Brigade seat, Brigade Commander Xing Zhanqing of the 26th Brigade of Reading Power is here and wants to see you." ”

"Brigadier Xing? Please. Ding Chao immediately waved his hand.

The adjutant was ordered to leave, and after a short time, a person behind him walked in, Ding Chao saw this and hurriedly got up to greet him: "Brother Xing, why are you here?" ”

Xing Zhanqing's face was a little solemn, and after saluting Ding Chao, he solemnly took out a telegram and said: "Brigade Commander Ding, this is the telegram order that the Chief of Staff of the Military Administration Xi just sent to Zhanqing, take a look." ”

Ding Chao took the telegram and looked at it hurriedly, there was almost no difference from what he received, and he raised his head and said: "I have just received a telegram from Chief of Staff Xi, the content is the same as yours, and I will be stationed in place and stand by." ”

"Isn't that? He said that he is now assembling and preparing to attack Shenyang again at any time, how can our Jilin army stand still at this time? Xing Zhanqing was immediately furious.

"Brother Kuijiu, don't be excited, at the moment Zhang Fushuai (Zhang Zuoxiang) is not here, Jilin military orders and government affairs are all from the hands of Chief of Staff Xi, his order, that is a military order, if we order the troops to go south to aid Shen, it will be disobedience and disobedience, and besides, the railway line and Changchun are controlled by the 27th Brigade in Jixing, and his relationship with Chief of Staff Xi is very close, so if there is no consent from Chief of Staff Xi, even if we have the heart to go south, we are helpless." Ding Chao pretended to be annoyed and regretful.

"But, are we just watching Shenyang, the devil?" Xing Zhanqing said angrily unwillingly.

"Brother Kuijiu, don't be in a hurry, it's just one Shenyang, you can't turn the sky, at present, most of the northeast of Jihei Province is still under our control, even if I capture Shenyang, the sky can't fall." Ding Chao patiently reassured: "So, you and I should follow the order of Chief of Staff Xi for the time being, stay put, and wait for the opportunity." ”

"Humph!" Xing Zhanqing is a anxious surname, but Ding Chao blocked all the words for him, as the head of Harbin, Ding Chao did not nod, even if his reading power 26th Brigade had a heart, it was difficult to do anything.

So there was nothing he could do but snort coldly.

At this moment, Ding Chao's attendant adjutant went and returned again, this time his expression was particularly panicked: "Brigade seat, General Li Du, the guard of Yilan Town and the deputy commander of the defense of the Jilin Military Administration, led the 24th Brigade of Reading Force and a regiment of the Heilongjiang Cavalry to rush towards Harbin.

In addition, the 21st Brigade of Reading Force, which was stationed in Ning'an, also headed towards Harbin under the leadership of the brigade commander Zhang Zhibang.

"What? Li Du? Ding Chao was shocked when he heard this, he knew Li Du's personality too well, and in terms of his official position at this time, Li Du was not only the guard of Yilan Town, but also the deputy commander of the defense of the Jilin Military Administration, one level higher than him.

The most important thing is that Ding Chao's 24th Brigade is the elite of border defense, and its weapons and equipment are much better than his 28th Provincial Defense Brigade.

………………………………………………

Changchun City, the headquarters of the Jilin Military Administration.

Xi Qia, Ji Xing, commander of the 27th Brigade of Reading Force, Li Guilin of the 23rd Brigade of Reading Force, and Mu Dechun, commander of the 10th Artillery Regiment, were sitting around a rectangular conference table.

Xiqia sat at the head, and Jixing and Li Guilin sat on his left and right.

Glancing around at everyone, Xi Qia said in an official tone: "Colleagues, now that there have been some armed conflicts between the Shenyang garrison and the Kwantung Army, I have just received a secret order from the young marshal, in order to avoid the escalation of the conflict, all the troops such as the Jilin Provincial Defense Border Guard and the Public Security Guard Force have been on standby without an order, not only acting without authorization, but also severely punishing those who violate the order. ”

Xiqia's voice fell, and Ji Xing, who was already a lieutenant general in the army, was the first to stand up, slapped the table and pretended to be fierce: "Since the young marshal has an order, whoever dares to disobey it is to disobey the young marshal's order, and I, Ji Peizhi, am the first to spare him." ”

Li Guilin, who was on the side, was silent when he saw this, and Mu Dechun, the commander of the 10th Artillery Regiment, lowered his head and didn't dare to speak more.

Historically, Li Guilin and Mu Dechun were unable to withstand the temptation and pressure under the coercion and temptation of Xiqia, and finally joined them to become Han annihilation.

As for the other military and political personnel in Jilin, they didn't even dare to breathe.

Seeing that everyone did not refute, Ji Xing was very satisfied and turned his head to look at Xi Qia, Xi Qia immediately got up and said, "Since everyone has no objections, let's break the meeting." ”

Li Guilin, Mu Dechun and others immediately got up and dispersed with different expressions.

After seeing everyone leave, Ji Xing immediately turned his head and asked, "Chief of Staff Xi, how did you talk about it with Yue himself?" ”

"I gave me an ambiguous answer." Xiqia said meaningfully.

"Why, you didn't promise them? Refused? Ji Xing asked anxiously.

"No, I temporarily stabilized myself on the grounds that I needed time to rectify and incorporate, Ding Chao, Li Du, Zhang Zhibang and other departments." Xiqia said.

"Why? Wouldn't it be better for us to directly accept Yue's own suggestion, support the restoration of Emperor Xuantong, and then lead the army south to join the Kwantung Army under the city of Shenyang, and flank Zhang Xinghan's garrison brigade? Jixing asked puzzled.

Xi Qia shook his head and said, "No, now is not the time to support the restoration of the first emperor. ”

"What do you mean by that?" Jixing was puzzled.

"First of all, the Kwantung Army has been defeated by Zhang Xinghan in a row, and suffered a big loss in Shenyang, and now when the victory and defeat of Shenyang are not divided, we rashly changed the flag and supported the first emperor, some extremely risky, Li Du, Ding Chao and even Ma Zhanshan of Heilongjiang are very likely to send troops to oppose.

On the contrary, if the Kwantung Army can win a battle this time and take the entire territory of Mukden, then it will be able to wave its troops into Jilin, and once the Kwantung Army enters Jilin, then Ding Chao, Li Du and others are not afraid. Xiqia explained.

"Oh." Ji Xing suddenly realized, and said with some disapproval: "Chief of Staff Xi, didn't I say that they gathered the strength of three divisions this time?" Are you still worried that they won't be able to capture Shenyang and destroy Zhang Xinghan's small garrison brigade? Besides, Zhang Xinghan has sent a letter to the Northeast compatriots asking for help. ”

"There are no absolutes, think carefully about everything, and act well." Xiqia said.

"Anyway, I don't think that the Kwantung Army will fail this time, the previous time, it can be said that the Kwantung Army was careless and paralyzed, which gave Zhang Xinghan a chance to take advantage of, but this time I have already suffered a loss, and I will never make the same mistake again, this battle of Shenyang will be a frontal battle without any fancy face-to-face battles, not to mention that the Kwantung Army used the strength of three divisions and regiments, I think even if there is only one division, the Kwantung Army will win." Ji Xing said, his voice changed, and he said: "But what you said is not unreasonable, Chief of Staff Xi, the stakes are very high, and we should be cautious." ”