Li Shuning...... It is Comrade Zhao Yiman in the future. A very beautiful, very witty and very fashionable female revolutionary. Well, fashion is a work necessity. Miss Li Shuning is wearing a sophisticated silk cheongsam, a fur coat on the outside, a pair of high-heeled leather shoes made in Shanghai on her feet, and a women's handbag also made in Shanghai. Riding in a Western carriage driven by a Belarusian coachman, I arrived at the Shanghai Hotel on Daoli Shopping Street in Harbin. After getting out of the carriage, he moved lightly, twisted his slender waist and entered the door of the hotel. Look at this appearance, it really looks like the aunt's wife in the Fengjun chief's house, she can't bear the loneliness, and secretly runs out to meet her lover!

A room in the Shanghai Hotel has now opened its doors for Li Shuning. Living here is a tall young man with a thin face and a wise and alert gaze in his eyes, whose pseudonym is Liu Zhiqi, and his real name is Liu Siqi! Now he is the new secretary of the Manchuria Provincial Party Committee, the second big man in the Northeast!

Perhaps because of the major progress made in the revolutionary work in Northeast China, Comrade Liu Siqi seemed to be in a good mood today, and there was a rare hint of a smile on his face. To be honest, the party's work in the northeast did not go very smoothly during this period, especially after the outbreak of the Middle East Road incident. Because the Chinese flag clearly stood on the side of the Soviet Union, which represented truth and justice, and at the same time neglected the explanation and education of the masses of the people (this is all Zhang Guotao's fault!). ）…… So the workers' movement in the Northeast is now a little sluggish. However, this temporary difficulty will soon pass, because the revolution in the northeast is about to come with the complete collapse of the warlords of the Feng family! At present, the main task of the Manchuria Provincial Party Committee is to send the instructions of the central authorities to the Greater and Lesser Khinganling Soviet Districts as soon as possible, so that they can make all necessary preparations.

At the moment when Liu Siqi was thinking about how to carry out the revolutionary work in Northeast China better and faster, a crisp female voice came from outside the door: "Mr. Liu, Mr. Liu is here?" ”

Liu Siqi stood up with a sigh: "Is it Miss Li?" Come in, come in. ”

The door to the guest room was not closed, but was hidden. Li Shuning looked around for a while, and saw that there was indeed no tail, so she gently pushed the door and walked in.

"Comrade Shuning, please take a seat. I've been waiting for you for a long time, and I haven't encountered any trouble on the way, right? Liu Siqi personally made tea for Li Shuning, and asked with concern.

Li Shuning glanced at the new secretary of the Manchuria Provincial Party Committee, smiled and shook his head: "It's okay, I came in a White Russian carriage." This is a symbol of status for the rich and noble in Harbin at the moment, and those white dogs generally do not check. Most of these White Russians who drove the carriages were aristocrats of Tsarist Russia! The old man who sent me here to-day is an earl, and he looks a little aristocratic......"

Listening to Li Shuning's words, Liu Sqi smiled coldly: "The end of these remnants of Tsarist Russia is not far away, let them be free for a few more days." ”

"What? Could it be ......" Li Shuning glanced at the other party with a complicated expression. Like most ordinary GCDs, they were somewhat resistant to the Middle East War. I always feel that the difference between the current practice of the Soviet Union and that of other imperialist countries is limited, and even worse than that of the current Anglo-American and French.

Seeing that Li Shuning also looked hesitant, Liu Sqi frowned slightly, and said in a deep voice: "The collapse of the Feng army is imminent, and the GC International and the Central Committee have instructed our Northeast Bureau and the Manchuria Provincial Party Committee to prepare for the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's entry into Harbin and the entire Heilongjiang. ”

Liu Siqi particularly emphasized the "Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army", that is, the more than 10,000 people in the mountains of the Little Xing'an Mountains and the more than 20,000 people in the Great Xing'an Mountains. These two Red Army armies are now branded as the First Route Army and the Second Route Army of the Red Third Front, respectively. The commander and political commissar of the Second Route Army was Wang Zhongyi...... I really don't know if Wang Ming and Hu Xun are really confused or fake? Anyway, they recognized the identity of this "Red Army". And the Central Committee of China G is also happy to pretend to be confused...... Li Shuning still frowned and sighed lightly: "So is the Feng army about to fail?" It seems that there is still an army of the Kuomintang with them, I don't know ......"

Liu Siqi also frowned: "You're talking about the 18th Division of the National Revolutionary Army, right?" They are now in Harbin, and with them are the direct Central Third Division and a convoy of Fengjun, a total of more than 50,000 people! I don't know how it was done, but this time the main force of the Feng army went west without bringing them. At that time, I am afraid that they will become an obstacle to our reddening of Heilongjiang, and you have to tell the comrades in the mountains about this situation. And also...... The Soviet Red Army was not going to help us capture Harbin, they were only responsible for destroying the reactionary troops on the Sino-Soviet border. These armies need to be eliminated by us, and you must remember their strength and number. ”

…… Harbin Songbei Daying. Now it is the base of the 18th Division of the National Revolutionary Army and the 3rd Division of the Central Army, and there is a small airfield to the north of this barracks, where the 1st Air Brigade of the 18th Division, which went north with the 18th Division, is stationed. In addition, there was also an artillery wing of the Kwantung Army wearing the uniform of the Feng Army, which was also crowded into this not too big barracks. Now the entire Songbei area of Harbin has almost become a sea of military uniforms, and the officers and men of the brigade come and go.

A small three-story western-style building in the middle of the Songbei camp has now become the residence of Luo Yaoguo's staff group and Wu Peifu. An old man and a young man, as soon as they had free time, they nested in the study, spread out a large military map of Heilongjiang to study the battle situation, and the more they studied, the more they pinched a cold sweat for Zhang Xueliang.

"Zhang Hanqing is really too risky this time, thinking that he can sit back and relax with 100,000 soldiers? They are in the army...... Not at all. Wu Peifu sighed again, his eyes fixed on a small town on the map called Zalainuoer.

"Fuwen, you see that this Zalainuoer is probably the key to this battle. It guards the back road of Manchuria, more than 20 kilometers away from Manzhouli, but less than 10 kilometers from the Sino-Russian border. This time, the Russians first crossed the border and occupied Zhalainor, and then they were able to encircle Manchuria. ”

Luo Yaoguo looked at the town pointed out by Wu Peifu, and his heart was also full of emotions, the name of this town he had heard in his previous life. It is also known that there was a fierce battle there, and Han Guangdi, the commander of the Fengjun brigade, died in the battle of Zhalainor. Historically, it was after the Soviet Red Army occupied there that it cut off the retreat in Manchuria...... In the end, it led to the destruction of the defenders of Manchuria.

I only heard Wu Peifu sigh slightly, and said: "These Feng troops have always relied on Yue himself, and they often rely on Yue Ben's military advisers to command wars, and the army also asks them to train...... This time, I also said that I was in the back. But what is my purpose this time? Why did they send the Feng army to the front to be consumed, and let us stay in the rear? It stands to reason that they should want to consume your and my strength! ”

Luo Yaoguo shook his head, and he didn't understand Yue Jun's intentions. But...... But he already knew that Zhang Xueliang's army was in imminent disaster. Sun Yuanliang had just told him the terrible news that the GC International and the Central Committee of the Central Committee had ordered the Red Army in the Great and Small Xing'an Mountains to prepare to seize the entire Heilongjiang after the collapse of the main force of the Feng Army! This shows that the main force of the Feng army is about to be in danger. Looking at the terrain near Manchuria, Luo Yaoguo's eyebrows tightened.

To be honest, Manchuria was really not a suitable place for a decisive battle with the Soviet Union. Manchuria is bordered by Soviet territory to the northwest and Mongolia to the south. Such a protrusion is placed there, and it is very easy for the enemy to make dumplings. And now, Zhang Xueliang is rushing there with another 100,000 troops by train. And Zha Lai Nuoer is indeed a key position, which Wu Peifu is still experienced.

Luo Yaoguo looked at the direction of Zalainuoer on the map, sighed softly, and analyzed: "If I were the commander of the Soviet Red Army, I would let the troops defending in Zalainuoer fight and retreat, and lead the Feng army to Manchuria...... Let Zhang Xueliang and Liang Zhongjia's troops join forces. Then launch a surprise attack from the north of Zhagainor, in the direction of Abagatu in the Soviet Union, seize Zarainuor again, and cut off the retreat of the main force of the entire Feng army! In this way, the 100,000-strong army was besieged in Manchuria by the Soviet Red Army. At last...... Even if you don't get killed, you will starve to death. ”

"You think the same as I do, this Zalainorr is the key to the whole battle." Wu Peifu picked up the red and blue pencils and drew a circle on the map. He also said: "As long as the Feng army can hold Zhalai Nuoer after relieving the siege of Manchuria, and then it can cover the main retreat to Hailar, and there will be more than 100,000 troops guarding there at that time...... The Western Front will be able to hold on. Moreover, it can contain tens of thousands of Russians, so that the battle on the eastern and northern fronts will be enough to deal with the two elites of you and me. ”

"I hope so......" Luo Yaoguo shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Yushuai, I think we are still ready to pull out at any time and go to relieve Zhang Xueliang." ”

…… At the beginning of April, the climate in Heilongjiang was still a bitter cold, and there were gusts of cold wind blowing from time to time in the north. The ground is still not thawed, and the hard ones are easy to march. At this time, the Middle East Road was still barely running, although it was destroyed by unknown people in three days, but there was no major mistake. This is probably the efficiency of the War Department's Bureau of Investigation, which is controlled by the Al-Shabaab, right? To replace it with the original Fengjun intelligence agency (I don't know if there is one?) Zhang Xueliang's army may have to walk to Hailar.

There is still about 170 kilometers of the journey from Hailar to Zhalainur, and this section of the railway has been interrupted. The elite of the 100,000 Feng Army marched westward in whole groups from 5 April, and after 3 April, there was a brief exchange of fire between the vanguard of the army and the reconnaissance cavalry of the Soviet Red Army. The cavalry of the Red Army finally withdrew on its own initiative and conceded victory to the vanguard of the Northeast Army.

"Good! He Zhuge (He Zhuguo) deserves to be a strong general! The victory in the first battle greatly boosted the morale of my army, and the order was telegraphed to reward the ocean, and the ocean was rewarded with 3,000 yuan! ”

Zhang Xueliang heard the first good news from the front line in the Maoyaodi headquarters, which is more than 10 kilometers away from the small town of Zhainuoer. Zhang Shaoshuai, who was in a good mood, waved his hand and gave a heavy reward. At the same time, it is also an example for other troops, so that they know that there is still a "way to make money" by fighting well.

At this time, Zhang Zuoxiang, a veteran of the Feng Army, didn't know when he appeared in the headquarters, and he seemed to be holding a telegram in his hand.

With a snap, Zhang Zuoxiang put the telegram manuscript on the table, frowned and sighed: "This is a telegram jointly sent to us by Wu Ziyu and Luo Fuwen, asking us to pay attention to the back road, it is this Zha Lai Nuoer." This is the key to the success or failure of the whole battle, as long as we can fight it down, and then hold it, we will be able to advance and retreat freely. And...... They analyzed that there was nothing wrong with us playing down. The Russians may put us in Manchuria and then close us up. Han Qing ...... Do you think we should be careful? ”

Zhang Xueliang walked to the front of the map and looked at the terrain near Manchuria: "How many Russians are there in Zhalanuoer?" ”

"There are at least three thousand or more Russians! The ammunition should be quite sufficient, and when we conducted fire reconnaissance, they rained down bullets and did not let us get close at all. The trench fortifications have been dug up, and there should still be anti-artillery bunkers, but they were not found during reconnaissance...... There were also mines in front of the position, barbed wire was pulled, and the defense was quite tight...... They should also have cannons, which we heard from the herdsmen in this area. The staff officer on the side hurriedly replied.

"When will you be able to attack?" Zhang Xueliang suddenly spoke, his eyes were heavy, and he seemed to be a little anxious. Because Liang Zhongjia, who was entrenched in Manchuria, had repeatedly sent telegrams asking for help, saying that there were tens of thousands of Russian invaders surrounded there, and he continued to attack and attack, and his troops suffered heavy losses...... Xi Qia, who served as the chief of staff of the army, walked over and gave a military salute cleanly, with respect in his words: "Young marshal, our brigade has been marching rapidly for three days, and we are very tired, according to the plan, we will set up camp here, rest for a day, and wait for the heavy artillery regiment to come up, and then ......."

"That's tomorrow?" Zhang Xueliang interrupted Xiqia's words with some impatience, and he paced back and forth in the tent that served as a temporary headquarters, his brows tightly locked, as if he was thinking hard: "No, there are brothers from our brigade there...... And they are still holding back tens of thousands of Russians. If they are defeated, we will have to face more than 13,000 Russians, which is even more dangerous. Can we attack right away? ”

"Immediately?" Xi Qia frowned slightly, looked up at Zhang Xueliang, who was full of anxiety, and immediately said loudly: "Please rest assured, the young marshal, I will go to the front and personally supervise the troops to attack, and promise to defeat Zarai Nuoer to you within twenty-four hours!" ”

Seeing the teacher's diligent appearance, Zhang Xueliang's face also showed a long-lost smile: "Okay! Teacher Xiqia, this battle has been fought well, I will personally go to the old man to ask for credit for you! ”

"A humble duty will not fail in the mission!" Xi Qia gave another respectful military salute, and then walked backwards out of the tent. This humility was very rare during the Republic of China. In this era, the dignity of teachers is very important, and as a teacher, Xiqia called himself a "lowly job" to his student Zhang Xueliang, which is really good.

Zhang Xueliang looked at the teacher's distant back, and a trace of eager anticipation flashed in his eyes. I don't know what's going on in this battle, and suddenly it's a battle of life and death? It turns out that when he was preparing to provoke the Soviet Union, didn't he say that it didn't matter if he was defeated? Why ...... now? Zhang Xueliang shook his head, sighed, turned around and left the tent, and walked towards the small tent that belonged to his private one, where the orderly had prepared smoking equipment for him...... Under Xicha's vigorous supervision, the 15th Division of the Central Army was reluctantly mobilized and under the cover of two mountain artillery regiments, it was ready to engage in this attack. The 15th Division is Zhang Zuoxiang's troops, and it is also considered by the Zhang family to be the most confidant, and the treatment is relatively favorable. Today, at a critical moment, it is indeed better than the average army.

…… Zalainor, Bald Tail Mountain. This is the commanding height of the entire Zalainuor region, and it is also the key defense place of the 1st Infantry Brigade of the Soviet Red Army. About one regiment of the Red Army was deployed on this high ground, and to the west of the town of Zalainor, there was also a regiment of heavy artillery assigned to the Red Army in the Far East, ready to support the battle on Bald Tail Hill and the Zalainorr line with 152mm heavy howitzers.

April 5, 1927, at 3 p.m. Seventy-two 75mm mountain guns of the 13th type lined up behind the Fengjun positions opened fire at the same time. At the command of the artillery commander, a shiny shell filled into the chamber and then spat out. This kind of artillery imitation of the Meiji 41-year mountain cannon is a very easy to manufacture and very easy to use weapon, which is very suitable for the [***] team of this era. It's just that...... The firing range of this artillery was very close, and the firing level of the Fengjun artillery was also limited, so this kind of artillery was often placed close to the front and fired at the direct point. In history, this kind of artillery of the Northeast Army was placed too far forward, and it was captured a lot by the white-knuckle charge of the Guangdong army!

At such a close distance, the accuracy of direct shooting is quite guaranteed. Seventy-two cannons smashed thousands of shells per minute on the positions of the Soviet Red Army on the opposite side, and for a moment a ball of fire flashed, and then a column of smoke rose high, soaring into the sky in various postures. At first, they rose in rows almost at the same time, but then they were scattered in clusters.

Looking at the positions of the Soviet Red Army on the opposite side, they were completely covered in black-blue smoke, and you could faintly see patches of fire, and corpses of shattered fortifications that had been kicked up by the shock wave. In addition to the National Revolutionary Army in the south, only the Feng army with the Mukden Arsenal can fight such a dense artillery bombardment in China at the moment!

(To be continued)