Since the Northern Expedition, in addition to the victory of the first army in Ganzhou in the face of the weak enemy, there is no other commendable record, Liu Zhi lied about the military situation under the city of Wuchang and made Chiang Kai-shek lose face, and the victory of the copper drum in repairing water has become the most beautiful battle fought by the first army, especially in the report of Cheng Qian, Zhuang Jihuasheng also specifically mentioned that Zhuang Jihuasheng captured Yang Zhendong, commander of the Seventh Mixed Brigade in Jiangsu, and his series of battles in Xiushui, and gave high praise, and the achievements of the first division saved Chiang Kai-shek's face in time.

Chief of Staff Bai Chongxi was suspicious, and in four days, he traveled back and forth for more than 100 miles, won three battles and won three victories, destroyed more than 2,000 enemies, and captured a brigade commander.

However, Bai Chongxi couldn't question it, the report made it very clear, no matter what Cheng Qian's purpose was, at least there were no loopholes in this report.

"The copper drum of Xiushui has been taken down, and northern Jiangxi is basically decided, and the next step is that the Sixth Army and the First Division will attack Wuning De'an and cut off the Nanxun line."

"No, Jiansheng, I have a new idea, the Sixth Army will attack Wuning alone, and the First Division will attack Nanchang in the south, forming a north-south attack with Zhu Peide." Chiang Kai-shek gestured with both hands in a flanking gesture, and his face was radiant.

The Sixth Army attacked De'an alone, Bai Chongxi broke out in a cold sweat, and hurriedly reminded: "Although there are not many defenders in De'an, but they are backed by the Nanxun line, and Lu Xiangting's main force is nearby, plus Xie Hongxun, who retreated to De'an, I am afraid that it will be difficult for the Sixth Army to complete the task." ”

"The strength of the Sixth Army is a little weaker, so let's do it, there are three armies on the Wuchang side, and one army can be transferred out, so the Seventh Army will be transferred to Jiangxi and join the battlefield in northern Jiangxi." Chiang Kai-shek thought a little and found a solution.

Bai Chongxi couldn't laugh or cry, the Seventh Army was still under Wuchang City, at least half a month's road away from De'an, and Cheng Qian could kill under De'an City in three days at most, such a dispatch was unheard of.

"It's not proper, I'm afraid it's too late to transfer the Seventh Army to Jiangxi now." Bai Chongxi said unceremoniously: "It will take seven days for Wuchang to reach northern Jiangxi at the earliest, and Cheng Qian can reach De'an in three days." ”

"General Gallen, what do you think?" Chiang Kai-shek was a little unhappy when he saw Bai Chongxi's opposition, but he didn't show it on his face, but turned to ask Gallen.

"Yes, General Jiang's opinion is very clever, but after General Cheng Qian conquers De'an, don't rush to attack Tujiabu first, rest in De'an, and wait for the Seventh Army at the same time." Gallen made some changes to Chiang Kai-shek's plan, and after the Sixth Army conquered De'an, both the logistics and the fatigue of the soldiers needed to rest.

"It's still the advisor who is smart." Chiang Kai-shek smiled, Bai Chongxi was helpless, Chiang Kai-shek's intentions he knew that if the first division could conquer Nanchang, then the position of chairman of Jiangxi Province would probably be Wang Bailing's.

Now Deng Ruzhuo, Tang Fushan and other troops have been hit hard, Nanchang is empty, and it is planned to send the first division of the first army south to attack Nanchang with the second and third armies, and the whole army of the sixth army will attack De'an, and after conquering De'an, it will be transferred to rest and recuperate, and the seventh army plans to transfer to northern Jiangxi, and after the arrival of the seventh army, the two armies will jointly attack Tujiabu and cut off the enemy's retreat. How, please consider. ”

In a happy mood, Chiang Kai-shek's order was more polite, but he didn't expect that he was very smart, and Cheng Qian was not stupid.

After the order was issued, Wang Bailing immediately led the first division to Fengxin, Fengxin did not have many enemies, and the forward Sun Yuanliang regiment went down with a drum; After taking Fengxin, he learned from the mouth of the captives that the defenders in Nanchang City had been transferred to Zhangshu by Deng Ruzhuo, and that there were only two companies of military police and two companies of the garrison in Nanchang City, including the police, and the total strength was less than 800 people.

Wang Bailing was overjoyed when he got this information, and immediately took Xue Yue's regiment as the vanguard, and Sun Yuanliang's regiment followed up, and asked Zhuang Jihua to lead a regiment as the guard to attack Nanchang.

The first division moved quickly, and arrived at the north bank of the Ganjiang River that night, and the whole division crossed the river at Shengmi Street, in order not to alarm the enemy in Nanchang City, Wang Bailing strictly ordered that no fire should be lit, no loud noise, and those who violated the order were executed on the spot.

In the dark, the 1st Division collected ships along the river, but the soldiers crossed the border, and the local families closed their doors and did not dare to show their heads.

"Fellow, fellow, open the door, we are the Northern Expeditionary Army." Soldiers knocked on doors along the street.

"You are the Northern Expeditionary Army!" The person who opened the door asked in surprise.

"Yes, we are the Northern Expeditionary Army. Do you have a boat? ”

"I know where it is, I'll take you there."

With the help of the secret peasant association of Shengmi Street, the first division collected more than 20 boats and began to cross the river.

"Damn, why should we be guards!" Song Xiongfu watched Xue Yue lead the first echelon to cross the river on the boat, and couldn't help but start scratching again.

"Be quiet, worried about letting the deputy division commander hear." The party representative persuaded that Song Xiongfu was scratching along the way, annoying Zhuang Jihua and scolding him twice before he shut up.

Song Xiongfu looked left and right, but didn't see Zhuang Jihua: "What are you afraid of, originally, our regiment fought best in Xiushui, and we should be in the front, why is it the third regiment, whether they captured more than us or captured more prisoners than us, the division commander is unfair." ”

"What nonsense are you talking about," the party representative looked left and right, and said to the soldiers next to him: "The battalion commander's words are not allowed to be passed out, you know?" ”

"Report, what the battalion commander said, I didn't hear." The soldier replied.

"Okay, it's good that I didn't hear it." The party representative was happy, and said in his heart that the kid had a future.

"Look at your unpromising appearance, you are not afraid of the rain of bullets, you are scared in a few words, the deputy division commander is in front." Song Xiongfu squinted at the party representative with "disdain".

"You also know that the deputy division commander is in front, and you have the ability to say it in front of the deputy division commander." The party delegates were happy.

The two were arguing when the soldier in charge of the guard came to report.

"Report, there's a troop coming from behind."

Song Xiongfu and the party representatives looked at each other and stood up in unison.

"Prepare for battle, report to the regimental headquarters."

After receiving the report from the regimental headquarters, Zhuang Jihua immediately ordered the whole regiment to prepare for battle, with the first battalion responsible for frontal defense, the second battalion responsible for the left side, and the third battalion responsible for the right flank.

Within a few minutes, the high ground behind Shengmi Street was all controlled by a regiment, Zhuang Jihua quickly ran to the position of the first battalion, and when he saw Song Xiongfu, he asked, "How many people?" ”

"About a regiment, I wonder if there are follow-up troops?" Song Xiongfu replied.

Zhuang Jihua looked at the torches that were getting closer and closer, and wondered in his heart, where did this enemy come from? How did you get behind them? And apparently did not know that Shengmi Street had fallen into the hands of the Northern Expeditionary Army.

"Let's take a look, don't shoot just yet." Zhuang Jihua observed for a while before ordering.

The torches moved quickly, and soon approached the forward position of the first battalion, and Song Xiongfu asked nervously: "Let's shoot, let's fight first." ”

Zhuang Jihua thought nervously, and he was able to walk so fast overnight, which showed that the morale of this army was very high, not like Sun Jun, but very much like the Northern Expeditionary Army, but if it was the Northern Expeditionary Army, what kind of army was this? In this direction, there should be no Northern Expeditionary Army except for the first division.

"Don't be busy yet, tell everyone to ambush, wait for them to come, and we'll catch them alive." As soon as Zhuang Jihua finished speaking, there was a sound of soft footsteps behind him, and before he could turn back, he heard someone speak:

"Cultural Revolution, why don't you shoot?"

"Chief of Staff, why are you here?" Zhuang Jihua turned around and saw the anxious look of Chief of Staff Chen Zhuo.

Wang Bailing and Chen Zhuo were shocked after receiving Zhuang Jihua's report at the division headquarters, Wang Bailing immediately ordered to stop crossing the river, and the whole division was ready for battle, Chen Zhuo hurriedly went to the regiment to check the situation, Chen Zhuo arrived at the regiment headquarters, heard that Zhuang Jihua went to the first battalion, and chased to the first battalion, at this moment looking at the torches that were getting closer and closer, and his heart was very anxious. If it is the enemy, then the 1st Division will be in a dangerous situation with the Gan River in the rear and a strong enemy in front.

"I suspect it could be our people." Zhuang Jihua explained: "It's just that I don't understand, where did they come from? ”

"Our people?" Chen Zhuo said suspiciously: "In addition to us, there are no more people in this area." ”

"If it's an enemy, where did they come from?" Zhuang Jihua asked rhetorically.

Chen Zhuo couldn't answer, and as he spoke, the torch striker entered the forward position, and the soldiers of the first battalion ambushed in the front line showed super quality, and they just lay on both sides of the road and did not move.

"Ask them which part they are." Zhuang Jihua said to Song Xiongfu, Song Xiongfu nodded, turned around, and passed.

"Stop!" Song Xiongfu exposed half of his body from his hiding place and shouted loudly.

The torches stopped suddenly, and then became confused, and the sound of guns was repeated.

"You guys are that part?" Song Xiongfu asked.

"We are the 56th Regiment of the 19th Division of the 6th Army of the Northern Expeditionary Army." The other side replied, the voice clear in the silent night sky.

"Fifty-sixth regiment! How did they get here? Zhuang Jihua and Chen Zhuo were surprised.

The problem lies in Chiang Kai-shek's "deliberation". Cheng Qian began to obey orders, he marched to Wuning with the 17th Division as the forward and the 19th Division as the rearguard; After Xie Hongxun was hit hard in Xiushui, he didn't have the heart to defend Wuning, so he retreated to De'an non-stop, and the soldiers of the 17th Division drove into Wuning without blood.

After receiving the report of conquering Wuning on the way to Wuning, Cheng Qian ordered the attack to be stopped and rested on the spot, while he lived in Lijia Town, which was more than ten miles away from Wuning.

Cheng Qian's mood was not good along the way, and he didn't even make him smile when he conquered Wuning, he read another meaning from Chiang Kai-shek's order, Jiangxi didn't have his share of Cheng Qian.

General Staff Yang Jie knows very well that Cheng Qian wants Jiangxi, and if the soldiers of this era have no territory, they are like duckweed without roots, and they can only drift down the river. Since Cheng Qian's failure in the battle for Hunan with Tan Yankai, he has always wanted to seek a piece of territory, and he can still suppress this idea when he is in Guangzhou, after all, Guangdong's territory is limited; But since the Northern Expedition, this idea has become stronger and stronger. Look at the armies of the Northern Expedition, Li Zongren has Guangxi, Li Jishen has Guangdong, the first army has troops on the Fujian-Guangdong border, it is obvious that Fujian is Chiang Kai-shek's, Tang Shengzhi not only owns Hunan, but now Hubei also falls into his hands. The 236th Army, which has no territory, must think of ways to win a piece of territory, and if it can't get it at this time, it will be difficult to get it in the future. Why is Zhu Peide working so hard in Jiangxi, isn't he just staring at the fat meat in Jiangxi.

"Song Gong, if Jiangxi doesn't have our share, do you think Jiangsu has ours?" Yang Jie asked Cheng Qian in private.

Cheng Qian shook his head and did not answer. Jiangsu, of course, is much better than Jiangxi, at least ten times richer, but will Chiang Kai-shek do it? Will the other armies do it?

"The one who enters the customs first is the king, so it is better for us to turn south and attack Nanchang first, imitating the old example of Tang Shengzhi." Yang Jie's words made Cheng Qian's heart pound.

Tang Shengzhi can declare himself the chairman of Hunan Province, or he can announce himself as the chairman of Jiangxi Province, and the national political axe can only be posthumously recognized in the end. It's just ...... "There won't be many defenders in Nanchang, Zhu Peide's two armies attacked fiercely, and Deng Ruzhuo emptied all the troops in Nanchang." Moreover, after we conquered Nanchang, Deng Ruzhuo faced a two-sided attack from us and Zhu Peide, and he could only retreat to southern Jiangnan. Yang Jie then analyzed the evolution of the battle situation, it should be said that his analysis is reasonable, Deng Ruzhuo seems to have no other better way than to retreat.

Cheng Qian stopped abruptly and asked, "Then where did Chiang Kai-shek explain?" ”

"Didn't he say you should do it at your discretion?" Yang Jie reminded lightly.

Cheng Qian smiled: "Okay, order the troops to go south and take Nanchang directly, with the 19th Division as the vanguard, let Zhang Zhen serve as the vanguard, and the 17th Division will follow." ”

Cheng Qian's order surprised the adviser Garekin, he hurried to see Cheng Qian, and when they met, he asked Cheng Qian if he ordered the whole army to go south, and Cheng Qian nodded and admitted.

"General Cheng, you are too anxious, you should go to cut off the Nanxun line, not go south to Nanchang, only by cutting off the Nanxun line can we ensure the capture of Nanchang."

"No, no, Mr. Advisor, Nanchang is empty of troops now, and we can easily conquer it." Cheng Qian casually explained, how can these Russians understand China's affairs.

"No, General, if the Nanxun line is not cut, the enemy can counterattack through the Nanxun line." Galekin still tried to persuade Cheng Qian, he spread out the map and analyzed for Cheng Qian: "If Deng Ruzhuo blocks Zhangshu and Lu Xiangting moves south quickly, it will be difficult for our army to hold Nanchang." General, you should cooperate with General Zhu and coordinate your actions. ”

But at this moment, Cheng Qian's determination has been made, he can't listen to Galekin's words at all, Galekin is anxious, and a large string of bird words pops out, and the translator looks at Cheng Qiancai with an embarrassed face and says: "The adviser said that if you insist on going south, he will go to the chief adviser of Gallon to sue you, and ask the commander-in-chief to remove you from your position as commander." ”

"Yes, as long as you lay down Nanchang, you can do anything." Cheng Qian said quietly, Galekin went away in a rage and went back to the headquarters to find Gallen.

After Garekin's back disappeared, Cheng Qian said disdainfully to the left and right: "I don't think this Garejin has any ability, even the first division and Zhuang Wenge are better than him." ”

After the battle plan for repairing water and copper drums that Garekin participated in was overthrown by Zhuang Jihua, his ability was doubted by the six armies. Therefore, Cheng Qian's disdain for Galekin aroused the approval of some people.

"I think it's the same, according to his plan, we don't know how many more people will die." Left and right flattering.

"That is, Nanchang is empty, and it is ......natural to take Nanchang," someone said flatteringly.

"Tell Zhang Zhen to catch up with Wang Bailing as fast as possible, don't be afraid of fatigue, don't be afraid of falling behind, catching up is victory."

With Cheng Qian's order, the Sixth Army abandoned Wuning and marched south day and night, regardless of fatigue, and repeatedly accelerated the pace of marching, and finally caught up with a division on the edge of the Gan River.

After Zhuang Jihua listened to Zhang Zhen's introduction to the situation, he was shocked, and he asked a little unwillingly: "Are you really the whole army going south?" The Seventeenth Division also went south? ”

Zhang Zhen nodded affirmatively, Zhuang Jihua still didn't give up: "Are you sure?" ”

Zhang Zhen looked at Zhuang Jihua with some puzzlement, he didn't understand why Zhuang Jihua behaved so depressed.

Zhuang Jihua felt a strong uneasiness in his heart, there is no army to cut off the Nanxun line, the main force of the enemy entrenched on the Nanxun line can continue to move south, we can flank Deng Ruzhuo, Lu Xiangting and Deng Ruzhuo can also flank us. Zhuang Jihua felt that the prospect of the Battle of Nanchang suddenly became unpredictable.

Sun Yuanliang's group was just halfway through, and Cheng Qian also arrived, standing by the Gan River, blowing a slightly humid river breeze, holding the dark Nanchang City, in a happy mood. Cheng Qian, regardless of fatigue, took over the command of crossing the river as soon as he arrived, and regardless of the fact that Sun Yuanliang's regiment had already passed halfway, he ordered to stop the first division from crossing the river and transport the 19th division across the river first.

Wang Bailing was anxious, he couldn't watch the chairman of Jiangxi Province fly, he showed a certain tenacity at this moment, and found Cheng Qian to fight for reason.

"According to the order of the General Headquarters, the first division is assigned to the six armies to fight, and I am responsible for commanding it." Cheng Qian said to Wang Bailing expressionlessly: "Now I order the 19th Division to be transported over first, Master Wang, do you want to resist the order?" ”

"According to the commander-in-chief's order, the troops attacking Nanchang are our division and the second and third armies, and your sixth army came to Nanchang, which is a violation of the order." Wang Bailing shouted loudly.

"You see clearly, this is an order from the commander-in-chief." Cheng Qian threw Chiang Kai-shek's order in front of Wang Bailing and said sharply: "The commander-in-chief asks me to handle it at my discretion, and I have the right to decide on the actions of the Sixth Army." ”

Wang Bailing was dumbfounded, he didn't expect Cheng Qian to explain Chiang Kai-shek's order like this, and he was stunned for a long time before he stammered: "But, but, but, my division has already passed, more than half of it has passed, and I should let my division pass first." ”

"Commander Wang, you're welcome, it's your responsibility to attack Nanchang, I can't let you go to attack the city, we'll watch the excitement in the back, if that's the case, I won't have the face to see the commander-in-chief in the future, don't you say." Cheng Qian said to Wang Bailing with a pleasant face.

No matter what Wang Bailing said, Cheng Qian did not give an inch, and insisted on transporting the 19th Division first and then the 2nd Regiment. Wang Bailing had no choice but to return abruptly, Xue Yue had only one regiment on the guard, it was impossible to attack, it seemed that Cheng Qian was going to have what he wanted, Jiangxi, this piece of fat that was not dripping with oil, was about to fall into his hands.

Wang Bailing wanted to discuss with Zhuang Jihua, but after thinking about it, this seemed to be a loss of face for the teacher, so it was better to discuss it with Miao Bin first.

When they were fighting for the right to cross the river, Zhuang Jihua was in a regimental headquarters and Xiong Shouyun conducted a battle situation. As early as when repairing the water, Zhuang Jihua asserted to Xiong Shouyun that the key to winning Nanchang was not in Nanchang but on the Nanxun line, and only by cutting off the Nanxun line could Nanchang be taken; Chiang Kai-shek asked the first division to go south to seize Nanchang, but Zhuang Jihua did not approve of it, but he couldn't make a statement to Chiang Kai-shek. Fortunately, the Sixth Army still has to move west to cut off the Nanxun line, although Zhuang Jihua is not optimistic about the strength of the Sixth Army, but it is more or less a containment, so that Lu Xiangting cannot go south with all his strength.

But now that Cheng Qian took the whole army of the Sixth Army to Nanchang City, Zhuang Jihua felt that things were beginning to change, and when he returned to the regiment headquarters, he pulled Xiong Shouyun to conduct a battle situation deduction.

"According to the latest information, at present, Deng Ruzhuo is in Zhangshu, Lu Xiangting is near De'an and Tujiabu, after our army conquered Nanchang, the enemy's actions are two, one is to abandon Nanchang, Lu Xiangting is waiting for our army on the Nanxun line, and the forward is going forward to Lehua; Deng Ruzhuo retreated to the southwest, and the Second and Third Armies led by Zhu Peide quickly converged with our army, which was the most ideal situation. Xiong Shouyun's tone was calm but worried.

"We can't pin our hopes on the enemy." Zhuang Jihua's eyebrows locked into a Sichuan character: "What if Lu Xiangting counterattacks Nanchang?" There are two situations, you see, Lu Xiangting attacks us, Zhu Peide attacks Deng Ruzhuo, and we and Deng Ruzhuo defend each other. ”

Zhuang Jihua drew his intention on the paper, and then said: "Then the hope of deciding victory or defeat is on Zhu Peide, which is a better situation, and the most dangerous situation is that Lu Xiangting counterattacked us, Deng Ruzhuo also counterattacked us, and Zhu Peide stood by and watched." ”

(To be continued)