However, the rapid deterioration of the situation was beyond the expectations of all Sheng Shicai, Li Du and Ma Zhanshan reversed their previous hesitation after resting for a few days, and publicly expressed their position, announcing that they would accept the incorporation of the 15th Route Army, join the 15th Route Army, and lead troops into Tacheng and Yili respectively. Although the volunteers who fought dozens of battles with the Japanese army were defeated in the end, they had an overwhelming advantage over these indigenous forces in Xinjiang, whether in terms of tactics or equipment. At this time, Jiang Li also rushed to the outside of Dihua City with a forward of more than 5,000 foot riders.

Sheng Shicai dragged his sick body, looking at the army outside the city that was not much denser than Ma Buying's before, and felt a little bottom in his heart, it seemed that Jiang Li was just bluffing, and there were no rumored 20,000 people. Ma Bufang's kid didn't have a special seed, and when he heard that Jiang Liqin led a large army to Xinjiang, he directly led his troops to continue to flee west, and Sheng Shicai was able to withdraw all his main forces to Dihua. At this time, Sheng Shicai's troops had already surpassed the 15th Route Army, which was the first to arrive outside the city.

"Shizuo, this Jiang Li must be a bluff, not to mention that there are only four or five thousand people under the city, even if the opponent's soldiers and horses are together, we rely on the defense of Dihua City, it is enough to drag the other party to the sleepy horses, Jiang Li came from Gansu all the way, even if the baggage supplies carried are more than the Ma family's army, but it should be limited, and it will not last long, as long as the other party's food is exhausted, it is the time for the division to counterattack, it is Ma Zhanshan, Li Du's coalition army, the previous food still depends on our funding, and the stored food is only a day or two, Even if they have more troops, they won't be able to hold out for long. Sheng Shiqing, who came back from Li Du, said with a determined face.

"Looks like that's all there is to it now." Sheng Shicai nodded gloomily, feeling a little better than before. A few of his staff officers were right. There is no hope of engaging directly head-on, and it is not known to drag it out until the opponent runs out of ammunition, and then counterattack at the right time, repeating the victory against Ma Buying before.

"According to the information I received, Sheng Shicai's troops have more than 8,600 troops and 13 old artillery pieces of various types. There are less than seven that can really be used. There were more than 200 rounds of artillery shells of various types and more than 600,000 rounds of bullets of various types. Ma Bufang did not really flee far after fleeing west, but hid in Huyang Fort, waiting for an opportunity to sneak attack our army's logistics baggage troops in the area of Azarsu. After receiving the telegram from the commander, King Hami did not move, and the enemies that the commander had to face at this time were mainly Sheng Shicai and the hidden Ma Bufang, and the biggest enemy was the food supply problem that needed to be solved as soon as possible. Next, Yang Ying explained the situation in the Dihua area to Jiang Li again.

"I also have a piece of information here, which was collected by my subordinates from Dihua, but I didn't expect it to be as detailed as the one in your hand, it seems that you have really put a lot of effort into this area. So to speak. Only by defeating Dihua as soon as possible can our army avoid the embarrassment of transporting grain from Yumen Pass. Jiang Li nodded and said appreciatively, since he was going to conquer Xinjiang, he would naturally not be unprepared, as early as when he was stationed at Yumen Pass, Jiang Li had already arranged for people to figure out the approximate strength and distribution of Sheng Shicai's troops. And Yang Ying in front of him was introduced by his brother, and after hearing Yang Ying's more detailed information, Jiang Li was also a little surprised, even Sheng Shi had stored grain in advance. There is also an arsenal whose location has been found, which is not something that ordinary people can do.

"Xinjiang's grain production has been low. There are only three forces that have a large amount of grain in their hands, one is the local chamber of commerce, which controls the grain trade. One is Sheng Shicai, and the other is King Hami. King Hami is too far away from Dihua to be counted on for a while, and the chambers of commerce in various places basically store grain in Dihua. In a large town like Aksu, it is the commander's best choice to break Dihua as soon as possible. Yang Ying nodded and said.

"Li Guofei, you lead your troops to rest on the spot for a day, and Dihua will be handed over to you, after gaining a firm foothold in Xinjiang. You are the commander of the 6th Division. Jiang Li smiled when he heard this.

"Thank you, Commander, for promoting!" Li Guofei's face was overjoyed when he heard this, and he looked at the envious eyes of others and felt smug on his face.

"As soon as the matter in Xinjiang is over, Yang Yaofeng, you and Zhou Dafu will go to the military academy to study for a period of time." Jiang Li's next words made Yang Yaofeng happy again, and Zhou Dafu's face was relatively calm.

"Commander, Li Du, Ma Zhanshan has arrived." There was a report outside.

"Okay, you two continue to patrol, don't let Ma Bufang take advantage of the loophole. I'm going to meet old friends. Jiang Li got up very happily and walked out of the low room, and in the distance, a team of people came one after another.

"Commander!" Seeing Jiang Li, Ma Zhanshan, Li Du and others again, they all looked excited, and they seemed to have landed all of a sudden.

"Lao Li, old horse, you can still ride fast horses after traveling thousands of miles, it seems that your body is still as tough as before." Jiang Li laughed and greeted him.

"The Japanese invaders have not been extinguished, how can I, Ma Zhanshan and Li Yinpei, survive until the day when the Japanese are driven out of the Republic of China. Last time, I failed to listen to the commander's admonition, Lao Li and I led the troops to the north, and finally the army was defeated Qiqihar, the loss of the army was broken, the original tens of thousands of people, now brought to Xinjiang only 14,500 people, embarrassed westward, ammunition and food, if not now desperate, it is really ashamed to see the commander. The commander is also asked to punish him. Ma Zhanshan turned over and dismounted, and pleaded guilty to Jiang Li with a look of shame.

"Please, Commander." Li Du slowed down and said to Jiang Li.

"What a crime, the lone army and the Japanese army have been circling in the northeast for many years, and the support is cut off, and more than 10,000 Japanese troops can still be eliminated. If you hadn't dragged more than 100,000 Japanese troops in the northeast, wouldn't it be even more difficult for us to move forward in Shanghai and on the Great Wall. The Volunteer Army and the 15th Route Army have the same origin, and now they have been transferred to the northwest, and I also regard them as my own, and the supply of military and ordnance is treated equally. Jiang Li hurriedly dismounted and supported the two of them and said in a solemn voice. The army of 14,500 people brought over by Li Du and Ma Zhanshan had fought with the Japanese army repeatedly, and the 15th Route Army had been expanded several times, and the veterans had been diluted to a certain extent. And Ma Zhanshan, Li Du and others are also battle-hardened generals, and it is also a valuable wealth to enrich the 15th Route Army.

"Commander!" Li Du's throat squirmed twice, since he parted ways in Fengtian and Jiang Lidu has been so generous, and has been in the Northeast Army system for many years, I am afraid that only Zhang Laoshuai back then had such courage. Reunited in a different place, I thought that Jiang Li could provide them with a place to live was already extraordinarily kind, but I didn't expect Jiang Li to still treat them as his own people, fighting side by side in the past, and the friendship of the bloody Fengtian battlefield came to my heart, how could it not make people feel emotional.

"Okay, we should have had a good drink after a long absence, but now that Dihua City has not been lowered, when we enter Dihua, let's have a good drink and talk about the past and the future." Jiang Li stepped forward and pulled the two of them to the barracks. (To be continued.) )