In response to Tang Shengzhi's series of questions, Master Gu shook his head and said: "What I said is all from the brigade commander, this brigade commander is Han Fuyu's cronies, although Han Fuyu and Song Zhewu were a little dirty before, but this time the two went to Hankou together to meet Chiang Kai-shek, and Song Zhewu rescued Han Fuyu at Heishi Pass, the relationship between the two should be very good now, and his words are very credible." What is his relationship with Yan Xishan? It's not very clear now, but the relationship with Chiang Kai-shek should be good, otherwise Chiang Kai-shek would not be so generous and add so many establishments to him at once. As for the source of his military expenses, I did hear something from the brigade commander, according to him, this Song Zhewu himself is very rich, and the ultra-white flour, Xiangxue noodles, and brightly colored cloth on the market are said to be from his factory. There is also a conflict between Song Zhewu and Shi Yousan and Han Fuyu in northern Henan, which is said to be for the treasures stolen by Sun Dianying Dongling, according to what the brigade commander said, these treasures all belonged to Song Zhewu. I guess these treasures have been exchanged for military expenses by this Song Zhewu. ”

Master Gu stroked the chess pieces in his hand and said: "And the combat effectiveness of his troops should be very good, this also has evidence, in that conflict in northern Henan, Song Zhewu annihilated a brigade of Shi Yousan and defeated a division of Han Fuyu, and it only took less than half a day. Han Fuyu and Shi Yousan's troops are all the elite of the Northwest Army, although their brigade and division are all downsized from their troops, but the combat effectiveness of such a unit is far from being comparable to other ordinary troops. According to the brigade commander, this time Song Zhewu was in Hubei, and it only took more than two hours to annihilate one of Yang Tenghui's brigades. Yang Tenghui's troops are from the Seventh Army, the starting troops of Li Zongren and Bai Chongxi, and their combat effectiveness should not be mentioned. Later, a regiment of Song Zhewu blocked the retreat of Hu Zongduo's four divisions of the 19th Army at Zhujiahe, forcing Hu Zongduo, Xia Wei and others to hand over their troops and go to the wild. ”

Master Gu put down the chess pieces in his hand, glanced at Tang Shengzhi, who was a little dazed, and then said: "Just now I said that the commander-in-chief has two points that he has not clarified, about the number of troops this is only one of them, if you count Song Zhewu's Fourth Route Army, Yan Xishan and Feng Yuxiang have nearly 900,000 troops, not 600,000; Second, it is also wishful thinking to think that Yan Xishan and Feng Yuxiang's troops have the ability to compete with Chiang Kai-shek just by looking at the number of their troops. Just now I said that Yan Xishan wants to achieve the goal of controlling the Northwest Army by controlling Feng Yuxiang, which will do him all kinds of harm but no benefit, because Feng Yuxiang is extremely ambitious, and he will never submit to Yan Xishan. He is now just being dragged away by Han Fuyu and others more than 100,000 people, his strength has suffered a lot of losses, and he is temporarily unable to fight with Chiang Kai-shek, if Yan Xishan detains him at this time, once Feng Yuxiang turns over, Yan Xishan will be killed. Moreover, those generals of the Northwest Army were not fuel-efficient lamps, they would not only resent Yan Xishan for holding Feng Yuxiang, but would even meet with the Jin Sui saber soldiers for Feng Yuxiang's affairs, and once the fight started, they would give Chiang Kai-shek the benefit of fishermen. The rift between Yan Xishan and Feng Yuxiang's Northwest Army could no longer be repaired. Moreover, if Yan Xishan left Feng Yuxiang in Shanxi, Chiang Kai-shek would also be very jealous of Yan Xishan, if Feng Yuxiang and Yan Xishan joined forces, it would be an army of nearly one million. Therefore, Chiang Kai-shek will definitely consider solving it together with Yan Xishan, and even list him Yan Xishan as the biggest threat, and he will want to get rid of him and then settle down. ”

Tang Shengzhi was silent for a while, frowned and said: "Master Gao Jian, he has a deep understanding of the current situation, and his words made Meng Xiao wake up like a big dream, Meng Xiao really admires!" It's just that what do we do now? I also asked the master to show Meng Xiao a clear way. ”

Master Gu leaned forward, looked at Tang Shengzhi and said, "That is to follow the plan of Mr. Lingshi Baili and develop in the northwest." ”

Tang Shengzhi spread his hands in embarrassment and said: "But there are still more than 300,000 Northwest Army there, although Feng Yuxiang is not in Shanxi, and the Northwest Army has no leader, but those Northwest Army is not something that our 100,000 or so people can gnaw." ”

Master Gu smiled and said: "It is precisely because there is the Northwest Army there that we will have a chance, and Chiang Kai-shek will not stop until he completely eradicates the Northwest Army." Although Feng Yuxiang went into the wilderness, so that Chiang Kai-shek could not find a reason to take action against the Northwest Army for a while, but this could not help Chiang Kai-shek, it was only time for the war to start again, once the time was ripe, Chiang Kai-shek would completely solve the Northwest Army, and to eradicate the Northwest Army, Chiang Kai-shek had to rely on the commander-in-chief. Although Henan now has the Fourth Route Army, the Central Army, our Fifth Route Army, and some miscellaneous troops such as Han Fuyu, Yang Hucheng, Shi Yousan, and others, in order to fight against the Northwest Army, it is necessary to have a person with qualifications and prestige to command, although the strength of Song Zhewu's Fourth Route Army is very strong, but his own prestige is not enough, in Henan, only the commander-in-chief can take on this heavy responsibility. At that time, we can take the opportunity to expand the ranks, and even incorporate some troops of the Northwest Army, as long as the Northwest Army in Shaanxi and Gansu is defeated, our wings will be full, even if Chiang Kai-shek does not want to hand over Shaanxi and Gansu to the commander-in-chief, he will not be able to help at that time. According to Shaanxi, Gansu, the commander-in-chief trained the troops with peace of mind while forming forces from all sides, and even took the opportunity to help Liu Wenhui to intervene in Sichuan. Once the situation changes, the commander-in-chief, together with Yan Xishan in Shanxi, Liu Wenhui in Sichuan, Li Zongren in Guangxi, He Jian in Hunan, and others, can march out of Tongguan and chase the Central Plains to the south proudly and oust Chiang Kai-shek from power in one fell swoop. ”

Master Gu's words made Tang Shengzhi's blood boil when he heard it, and he stood up excitedly and walked briskly back and forth in a circle around the room. After turning around a few times, Tang Shengzhi suddenly stopped, and said to Master Gu with some remorse: "What the master said is extremely true, and in the future, I will act according to the master's strategy." It's just that Song Zhewu is a great force, I can't help but not see him in Zhengzhou, and early this morning, I sent Hu Yisan to arrest him, which completely offended him. How good is that? ”

Tang Shengzhi told Master Gu about the desertion, and Master Gu was helpless after hearing this.

Seeing Tang Shengzhi's frustration, Master Gu comforted Tang Shengzhi and said, "The commander-in-chief has indeed done a very reckless job in this matter, if Jingyuan knew about it, he would definitely not let Hu Yisan go." ”

Master Gu changed his words and said: "But it doesn't matter, as long as the commander-in-chief puts down his body tomorrow, personally goes to Zhengzhou to visit Song Zhewu, and apologizes seriously." Chiang Kai-shek finally wanted to sweep away all dissident forces, including him Song Zhewu, he would not be unclear about this, and he would never refuse the commander-in-chief for the sake of this little face. ”

Tang Shengzhi hesitated for a while, gritted his teeth and said, "Okay! Just do what the master said, and I, Tang Mengxiao, will give this little guy a face. ”

At this moment, there was a sudden commotion outside the house, Tang Shengzhi, who was thinking, frowned, opened his mouth to call the adjutant to come in and ask, but before he could shout, Li Pinxian, the commander of the Eighth Army, looked angry and hurriedly pushed the door and broke into the room.

Li Pinxian is Tang Shengzhi's old subordinate, graduated from Baoding in the first phase, and is Tang Shengzhi's classmate in Baoding, who has followed him since Tang Shengzhi was still the commander of the Hunan Army in the third year of the Republic of China. Therefore, Li Pinxian never needs to report to Tang Shengzhi here. Li Pinxian, who entered the room, grabbed the hat on his head fiercely and slammed it on the table.

Li Pinxian's attitude made Tang Shengzhi a little dissatisfied, but he still smiled and said: "Heling, you are in your forties, why is your surname so big?" Why are you so angry? ”

Li Pinxian didn't notice the slight dissatisfaction in Tang Shengzhi's words, and said hatefully: "Commander-in-chief, the Fourth Route Army deceived people too much, they killed dozens of people by Hu Yisan and his law enforcement team, and we can't help but avenge this revenge!" I have ordered the Eighth Army to assemble its forces, just waiting for your order, Commander-in-Chief. ”

"What do you say? Hu Yisan was killed by the Fourth Route Army? Tang Shengzhi asked aloud in surprise.

"Yes, Hu Yisan was picked by them with a bayonet. The corpses are now outside the door, and a total of thirty-five people have died along with Hu Yisan, and the rest are all wounded. Li Pinxian learned from Tang Shengzhi what the law enforcement team that came back from Zhengzhou told him again.

Of course, the situation that the law enforcement team said was to add to the branches, and even the people of the law enforcement team insisted that Song Zhewu instructed his subordinates to do it. The people of these law enforcement teams who were beaten violently all hoped that Tang Shengzhi would avenge them, and some people even said that Song Zhewu scolded Tang Shengzhi's eighth-generation ancestors on the spot. Of course, if he scolded Tang Shengzhi, Li Pinxian just passed by.

After listening to Li Pinxian's story, Tang Shengzhi was so angry that he trembled, it was he Tang Shengzhi who bullied others all these years, where was he bullied like this, the chief of the military justice department was killed for catching deserters! Unexpectedly, Song Zhewu, a small warlord, was so bold and reckless that he dared to stroke Tang Shengzhi's tiger whiskers.

At this time, Tang Shengzhi had already put all the things he wanted to get along with Song Zhewu behind, and said viciously: "Okay, you Song Zhewu, the person who killed me is okay, I didn't expect to dare to even pick my military justice chief, this revenge will not be avenged, I Tang Shengzhi swear not to be a person." ”

Tang Shengzhi slammed the teacup in his hand to the ground, and said gloomily: "Pass my order, all the troops of the Fifth Route Army will be assembled immediately, Heling is the commander-in-chief of the former enemy, give me to kill in Zhengzhou, I want Song Zhewu to pay for Hu Yisan's life!" ”

Master Gu hurriedly called out to Li Pinxian, who was going to give an order.

Tang Shengzhi said angrily: "Master, if Song Zhewu doesn't kill Hu Yisan, everything is easy to discuss, now that Song Zhewu has deceived me to get home, if I don't kill this person, how can I Tang Mengxiao have face!" ”

Master Gu pondered and said: "Commander-in-chief, I always feel that this matter is very strange, Song Zhewu is by no means a reckless and domineering person, although it is not right for us to arrest people without saying hello, but we will not kill people, especially Hu Yisan is also a major general appointed by the national political axe." By doing this, he is obviously deliberately provoking, and what purpose is he trying to achieve by doing so? ”

Li Pinxian was very disdainful of Master Gu who was pretending to be a ghost, but it was just because of Tang Shengzhi's face, and when he saw that Master Gu was still going to stop him from fighting Song Zhewu, he couldn't help but be angry, and said impatiently: "What other purpose can there be?" Song Zhewu dared to do this, obviously he didn't take our Fifth Route Army seriously, he wanted to revenge the commander-in-chief for not seeing him at Zhengzhou Station, just to humiliate the commander-in-chief. ”

Tang Shengzhi felt that Li Pinxian's words were very reasonable, but after all, he was not a simple soldier, he was the leader of a party, and he was also a powerful party that could be ranked in the country, and Master Gu's words still made Tang Shengzhi calm down. If this incident happened before he went down to the field last time, then he would not have any hesitation at all, and would immediately lead his troops to attack Song Zhewu's Fourth Route Army. But since experiencing the unforgettable pain in Shimono, Tang Shengzhi's unique unruly energy of Hunan people has disappeared a lot, and he has calmed down a lot when encountering things.

Tang Shengzhi shook his hand to stop Li Pinxian, who was still talking, and said to Master Gu after thinking: "Master is saying that Song Zhewu did this on purpose?" Is the drunkard not meant to drink? ”

Master Gu thought about it and said, "Song Zhewu must not have known about the fact that we sent someone to arrest the deserters. Hu Yisan went directly to their recruit training ground when he arrived in Zhengzhou, and Song Zhewu would not have known about it before, that is, he only found out after the incident. ”

After Master Gu said this, Tang Shengzhi and Li Pinxian already understood that the words of the people from the law enforcement team who said that it was Song Zhewu's instigation were definitely lies. Tang Shengzhi glanced at Li Pinxian, and then said to Master Gu, "Master, please speak." ”

Master Gu frowned and said, "However, his subordinates killed Hu Yisan and dozens of people from the law enforcement team, he must know about this, no one dares to hide such a big thing!" But Song Zhewu didn't have a word of apology or expression, which is a bit abnormal, after all, this lawsuit is to Chiang Kai-shek, and he is also at fault. ”

Master Gu stood up, put his hands behind his back, lowered his head on the ground, and slowly measured his steps while saying: "If the world is abnormal, it is a demon, and he will only have one result in this way, and that is to meet the sword soldiers." can look at Song Zhewu's appearance, he hopes so. ”

Li Pinxian asked in surprise: "However, if we have a conflict with him, it won't do him any good?" Even if it is not beneficial to Chiang Kai-shek and Yan Xishan, it is Feng Yuxiang who wants to see this situation the most, can Chiang Kai-shek and Yan Xishan agree to do this? ”

After listening to Li Pinxian's words, Master Gu was inspired, couldn't help but stop, thought for a while and had an idea, looked at Tang Shengzhi and said: "Commander Li is right, our two families are fighting, and only Feng Yuxiang will benefit, and the one who least wants this is Chiang Kai-shek. If the two of us make a move, Chiang Kai-shek can only get one side to withdraw from Henan. ”

Tang Shengzhi was taken aback, and asked Master Gu in surprise: "Master, could it be that this Song Zhewu has the same mind as us?" So you want to squeeze us out of Henan? ”

Master Gu shook his head and said: "No, from Song Zhewu's brisk withdrawal from Hankou, and then letting Sun Liangcheng go west, and then receiving Han Fuyu, the chairman of Henan Province, to go east, it can be seen that Song Zhewu does not want to occupy a place, especially Henan, and is unwilling to fight hard with the Northwest Army. ”

After a pause, Master Gu said firmly: "Judging from Jingyuan, Song Zhewu wants to withdraw from Henan. ”

"Exit Henan? But this Song Zhewu has an army of more than 200,000 people, and he is willing to nest in that ravine and listen to Yan Xishan's drive? Tang Shengzhi asked in disbelief.

Master Gu said with certainty: "It is indeed strange that Song Zhewu is willing to nest in the ravine, but I can definitely say that Song Zhewu's move is to take advantage of this to withdraw from Henan. As for the reason, I guess it is likely that Yan Xishan and Feng Yuxiang reached some kind of compromise and tacit understanding, or Yan Xishan was afraid that Chiang Kai-shek would hide all his birds and was unwilling to destroy the Northwest Army. wanted Song Zhewu to retreat to Hebei, and it was not good to disobey Chiang Kai-shek's orders, so he made this decision. If Jing Yuan guessed correctly, his troops were already beginning to evacuate Zhengzhou. ”

At this time, Tang Shengzhi's face was no longer angry, but slightly flushed because of excitement, and he said with some excitement: "What does the master mean is that Song Zhewu will take the initiative to give up Zhengzhou?" Then we can occupy Zhengzhou, an important place of transportation, not only to separate Han Fuyu from the west of Zhengzhou, so that the area around western Henan is actually under our control, but also to raise part of the food and salary on the spot, recruit soldiers, and when the time comes, we will enter Guanzhong and possess Shaanxi and Gansu. ”

Seeing Master Gu nodding with a smile, the impatient Tang Shengzhi said loudly: "Heling, you immediately personally lead the Eighth Army to occupy Zhengzhou immediately." ”

Master Gu hurriedly stopped Tang Shengzhi and said with a smile, "Commander-in-chief, you can't do this. ”

Li Pinxian asked puzzledly: "Since Song Zhewu is going to withdraw from Zhengzhou, we don't want to occupy it quickly, if Han Fuyu takes the lead, we can't grab it from his hands." Li Pinxian's words were exactly what Tang Shengzhi wanted to say, and both of them couldn't help but look at Master Gu.

Master Gu deliberately said slowly: "Commander-in-chief, don't forget that Song Zhewu only has an excuse to withdraw from Henan if he clashes with our Fifth Route Army. ”

Seeing that the two were still puzzled, Master Gu said helplessly: "Since we want Song Zhewu's Fourth Route Army to withdraw from Henan, we have to cooperate with him, which means that the two families will definitely need to clash." Since there is going to be a conflict, then Commander Lee's Eighth Army cannot be allowed to take the lead. ”

At this time, Tang Shengzhi and Li Pinxian both understood that Master Gu meant that the two families had to fight hard to make things irreconcilable, so that Chiang Kai-shek could force Song Zhewu to return to Hebei. Once the battle starts, the troops of both sides will suffer some losses, and since this is the case, it is natural that they cannot let their own lineage, the Eighth Army, take the lead.

Tang Shengzhi ordered Li Pinxian: "Heling, pass on my order, order Deng Baoshan's troops to attack and advance to Zhengzhou overnight, and I will personally lead the main force to follow." ”

Li Pinxian excitedly ran out to give the order. Tang Shengzhi called the adjutant again and ordered: "Send a telegram to Chairman Chiang in Nanjing, 'Song Zhewu of the Fourth Route Army instigated our soldiers to defect, and he connived at his subordinates to accept our deserters. Hu Yisan, chief of the military justice department of our department, led people to arrest the defected soldiers, and was instructed by Song Zhewu to shoot more than 100 people under Hu Yisan in a frenzy. Song Zhewu ignored the overall situation of the chairman of the committee and attacked friendly troops, and his crimes are beyond words. The grief and indignation of all the officers and men of the Fifth Route Army are inexpressible, and their hearts of rebellion are mournful. Meng Xiao specially asked the chairman of the committee to order Song Zhewu to hand over the murderer and severely punish Song Zhewu in order to comfort the officers and men of the Fifth Route Army......"

(To be continued)