Wu Peifu still came in the end.

At the same time, Wang Zhanyuan, the overseer of Hubei, and Chen Guangyuan, the overseer of Jiangxi, finally sent troops to Hunan in view of the current critical situation and the repeated urging of Yanjing Zhengaxe.

Hunan is about to turn into a huge battlefield.

Both the north and the south will hunt in Hunan.

This is a decisive battle that will determine the fate of Hunan, and to some extent, it is also a decisive battle that will determine the fate of China!

On the side of the Northern Army, Zhang Jingyao, Wu Peifu, Wang Zhanyuan, and Chen Guangyuan invested a total of 12 divisions and 100,000 local troops in the Hunan battlefield, and pulled out a posture of fighting to the death.

On the part of the Northern Expeditionary Army, 9 infantry divisions, 6 reading mixed brigades, and 1 reading artillery division, as well as aircraft and armored units were put into the battle.

In terms of absolute numbers, the Northern Army has the upper hand, but the current battle is not just about the number of people who can win the battle.

The two sides were not in a hurry to fight a decisive battle, but arranged their troops unhurriedly and made all preparations for the decisive battle.

The National Revolutionary Army was divided into two routes on the left and right in the Northern Expedition, one under the command of Liu Zhaocheng and the other under the command of Zhang Xiaohuai. These two peerless celebrities will join forces to stage a good show in Hunan!

"Although the northern army is strong and strong, but the numbers are mixed, the orders are different, there are Hunan army, Hubei army, Jiangxi army, each has its own thoughts, each has its own plan, if you attack Hunan, Hubei will not be saved, and if you attack Hubei, Jiangxi will not be saved, why worry." Facing the menacing Northern Army, Liu Zhaocheng said confidently: "The only opponent is none other than Wu Peifuer, although Wu Peifu is strict in governing the army and is quite familiar with the army's method of fighting, it is difficult to support it alone, and it is difficult to make a difference." ”

Li Zongren said with a smile: "The commander-in-chief has not yet started the battle, and the victory or defeat is known. At the end of the decisive battle in Hunan, the victory of the Northern Expedition is already in our hands. Zhang Xiaohuai's division of my right army, facing Chen Guangyuan's division in Jiangxi, I don't know what the commander-in-chief thinks will win or lose? ”

"The person that Heng Shuai likes can't be wrong." Liu Zhaocheng blurted out: "Besides, Zhang Xiaohuai is as famous as Cai Yi and General Jiang, and it is expected that Chen Guangyuan is not his opponent!" ”

"According to the report, Zhang Jingyao and his younger brother Zhang Jingtang were the commander-in-chief of the former enemy. Zhang Jingtang used the mixed 11th Brigade to deal with the Hunan Army, and moved in the direction of Loudi with the main force of the 7th Division and the 24th Division. ”

"Zhang Jingtang? That Zhang Sishuai, Xiao Zhuge ? Liu Zhaocheng listened, "haha" smiled: "I heard that this person often compares himself to Mr. Wolong, and the decisive battle in Hunan, so he will take this Mr. Wolong first!" ”

With a straight look: "Order, Rao Guohua Brigade sticks to Loudi, the 9th and 10th divisions, divide troops to attack Lianyuan and Xiangxiang, and read the 3rd mixed brigade and move along the direction of Xiangtan." The planes concentrated on bombing Huashi and Chaen! ”

"Yes!"

Li Zongren said with a smile: "The commander-in-chief is ready to fight [***] battle?" ”

Liu Zhaocheng's words were a little disdainful: "Zhang Jingtang compares himself to Zhuge , but in fact, he is just a mediocre talent. I am blooming everywhere, and he must be tired everywhere, and the two main divisions under him will be dragged down and thin in a short time! ”

Liu Zhaocheng didn't take Zhang Jingtang in his eyes at all, but Zhang Jingtang, who was very self-assured, was proud of himself as soon as he gained military power, and he couldn't live forever!

This "Xiao Zhuge and Zhang Sishuai", with the main force of two divisions, immediately launched a fierce attack on Loudi as soon as he arrived on the battlefield.

Rao Guohua's brigade did not show any panic in the face of the menacing enemy, they relied on Loudi and calmly coped with this challenge from Zhang Jingtang!

attacked several times in a row, and under the strict defense of Loudi, Zhang Jingtang returned several times in vain, which made "Little Zhuge a little unbreathable".

And the news that came later also made Zhang Sishuai panic.

Instead of reinforcing Loudi, the Northern Expeditionary Army launched an attack on Lianyuan and Xiangxiang.

"Lianyuan, Xiangxiang? What did the Northern Expeditionary Army want to do? Zhang Jingtang stared at the map for a long time, and then suddenly realized: "Liu Zhaocheng wants to occupy the two places and outflank the two wings of our army." The order was given that the mixed 11th Brigade immediately gave up the pursuit of the Hunan army, and the troops entered Lianyuan, and the 24th Division entered Xiangxiang to defend on the spot, and the offensive of the Northern Expeditionary Army must be blocked, and Lianyuan must not be lost! ”

After that, he sneered: "I will defend the second place, storm Loudi, and take Loudi as the center, what can you do to me!" ”

Zhang Sishuai gave an order, and the mixed 11th Brigade and the 24th Division immediately gave up whatever they had and rushed towards Lianyuan and Xiangxiang.

The 9th and 10th divisions of the Northern Expeditionary Army, after arriving at the designated battlefield, did not immediately launch an attack on Lianyuan and Xiangxiang, but unhurriedly built an offensive on the spot, as if they were going to confront the enemy for a long time.

Before Zhang Jingtang could figure out what the other party meant, suddenly the Northern Expeditionary Army dispatched planes to launch a fierce bombardment of Huashi and Chaen.

At first, Zhang Jingtang didn't take it too seriously, but the reports that kept coming after him made him confused again.

The bombing of the two places by the air force of the Northern Expeditionary Army has not stopped, and the wave has passed, and the planes that have been replenished with fuel and bombs will soon fly back again to continue bombing.

Although there were two planes back and forth, this abnormal behavior made Zhang Jingtang unsettled.

"What to do, what exactly does Liu Zhaocheng want to do?" Zhang Jingtang frowned, staring at the map, his eyes unblinking for a long time, as if looking at the map like this would tell him that it was really similar.

"Not good!" Suddenly, Zhang Jingtang shouted: "Liu Zhaocheng's attack on Lianyuan and Xiangxiang is to disturb my vision, his real purpose is to seize Huashi and Chaen, and then enter Xiangtan, storm Zhuzhou, and directly attack Changsha!" ”

Thinking of this "plan", Zhang Jingtang was covered in cold sweat.

Is this worth it? If Xiangtan and Zhuzhou fall into the hands of the Northern Expeditionary Army, then Changsha will directly face the attack of the Northern Expeditionary Army!

"Herald, herald!" Zhang Jingtang shouted loudly: "The mixed 11th Brigade gave up Lianyuan, moved to Loudi, and took over my 7th Division to attack Loudi, the 24th Division entered Xiangtan one step ahead of the enemy, and my 7th Division accepted the defense of Xiangxiang!" ”

The order that had just been issued for less than two days was once again overthrown by Zhang Sishuai, and the two troops that had only entered Lianyuan and Xiangxiang had quickly set out overnight in accordance with Zhang Sishuai's arrangement.

The mixed 11th Brigade gave up Lianyuan, and the Northern Expeditionary Army got the city without a single shot!

"Report, the soldiers of my 9th Division entered Lianyuan without blood, and there were no casualties!"

Liu Zhaocheng and Li Zongren looked at each other and smiled: "Zhang Jingtang, stupid, not a single shot, not a single bullet was used, and he gave Lianyuan to us." Add another fire to him, and order the 9th Division to move in the direction of Shaoshan along Sigu and the river, and put on a posture of annihilating the 11th Brigade of Loudi! ”

Zhang Jingtang may have some military talent, but sadly, he faced one of the most outstanding generals in the Northern Expeditionary Army:

Liu Zhaocheng!

Liu Zhaocheng easily controlled the situation of the battle firmly in his own hands with the posture of the game!

The 9th Division of the Northern Expeditionary Army, after occupying Lianyuan, quickly turned around and moved in the direction of Loudi. And the Rao Guohua Brigade in Loudi also put on an offensive appearance, looking like they wanted to encircle the 11th Brigade in Loudi!

Zhang Jingyao, who had just taken over the defense of Xiangxiang, had not yet sat hot in his own headquarters, and received an urgent request from the 11th Brigade in the direction of Loudi.

The planes of the Northern Expeditionary Army also suddenly stopped bombing Huashi and Chaen, but flew over the positions of the mixed 11th Brigade, and there was another burst of bombing.

There were two planes coming and going, one Huashi, one Chaen, and one Loudi, and the bombs did not throw away a few, but they blew Zhang Jingtang dizzy.

What exactly did the Northern Expeditionary Army want to do? Where does Liu Zhaocheng want to fight?

The mixed 11th Brigade is well-equipped, and like the 7th Division, it is Zhang Jingyao's housekeeping unit, if it is lost in Loudi, the eldest brother will have to unscrew his head, Zhang Jingtang thought with some fear.

In such a situation, Zhang Jingtang adjusted his strength again, and a brigade was assigned from the 7th Division to rescue Loudi and become the 11th Brigade!

Zhang Jingtang was exhausted from the mobilization of his troops, and the soldiers were dizzy, and he didn't know how this Zhang Sishuai wanted to fight!

Not to mention the soldiers, even Zhang Jingtang himself was in a mess, and he himself didn't know how to continue fighting at this time!

"Transfer an artillery brigade up and bomb Xiangxiang." Liu Zhaocheng said with a smile in his headquarters: "Only bomb, not attack." At the same time, the 9th Division and the Rao Guohua Brigade were ordered to blow a charge horn and fire a machine gun every hour, but not to attack! ”

"Yes!"

Li Zongren took a sip of tea, put a record into the record player, and the melodious music sounded, Li Zongren said: "The commander-in-chief uses soldiers everywhere, and suspects soldiers everywhere, does he really want to defeat Zhang Jingtang with zero casualties?" ”

"It would be nice if there were really zero casualties." Liu Zhaocheng smiled slightly: "I just want to drive Zhang Jingtang away at the lowest cost, control the line from Loudi to Xiangxiang, and give us a place to gather troops, and we can prepare for the decisive battle in Changsha." ”

As he spoke, he sat down, closed his eyes and immersed himself in the music

Liu Zhaocheng and Li Zongren could enjoy the music in their headquarters, but Zhang Jingtang was almost crazy at the moment.

The Northern Expeditionary Army transferred a large number of artillery pieces and bombed Xiangxiang non-stop, making their subordinates panic. And in the direction of Loudi, there was also news that the Northern Expeditionary Army would attack every hour.

Zhang Jingtang was completely confused. The Northern Expeditionary Army in Loudi seems to be the 11th Brigade that will not give up until it is annihilated, and Xiangxiang is experiencing the baptism of artillery fire all the time.

Enemies everywhere! Defend passively everywhere!

The feeling of fear is almost every minute, and there is no peace for a moment. It's okay if you really start a big fight, but the Northern Expeditionary Army just won't make direct contact with you.

"Commander-in-chief, the direction of Loudi is asking for reinforcements again."

Zhang Jingtang swallowed a mouthful of saliva with difficulty, and said unwillingly:

"Order, bring all the troops back from Loudi to me!"

(To be continued)