October 15, 1919. The Republic of China zhèngfǔ北都běijīng.

At this time, the city of Běijīng seemed to have completely turned into the world of the Wehrmacht of Huang Sè. Train after train of soldiers were transported from the Jinghan and Beijing-Tianjin railways. Including the Fengtai Barracks, Nanyuan Barracks, Beiyuan Barracks, and even the Temple of Heaven and the Temple of Earth outside the Zhengyang Gate of Běijīng, a large number of troops have entered.

These troops, who were successively transferred from the south, were all directly subordinate to the Military Council's "zhōngyāng army". Chang Ruiqing never relied on any "special jīng troops", and under his "zhōngyāng army" system, all infantry divisions, including the 281st Great Encirclement of the Four Orders for Monthly Tickets Military Academy Teaching Corps (which was nothing more than a unit where zhōngyāng military academy students practiced, and the soldiers and officers were better), were all equipped with exactly the same equipment and exactly the same training. Ordinary infantry mostly underwent four to five months of full training, and artillery and cavalry training took a little longer.

And the junior officers who directly commanded them were basically graduates of the crash course of the Whampoa Department of Qing Yisè. Although the Zhōngyāng Military Academy has now been merged with the Baoding Military Academy, and has also opened long-term classes with a duration of two years, and has hired a large number of Belarusian instructors, the new and more well-trained officers have not yet left the school in large numbers. Only some of the graduates of the sixth and seventh phases of Baoding were assigned to serve as staff officers in the organs directly under the Central Military Commission, the headquarters, or the combat units above the regimental level. Therefore, the command and training of the "zhōngyāng army" now has not improved much compared to a few months ago, but their weapons and equipment have been upgraded to a new level.

The capabilities of the m mortar. At the same time, the Fujian Manufacturing Bureau's new production lines for artillery shells and bullets, as well as its explosives and gunpowder factories, have all been put into operation. Although this kind of military industrial production capacity is far more than that of the 281st Great Encirclement and even British India, it is not much stronger than that of the same period in history, and it is enough to ensure that the Zhōngyāng Army of the National Defense Force has the most basic supply of weapons and equipment.

The M mortar company was assigned to a regimental unit. Each infantry battalion has a platoon armed with water-cooled heavy machine guns, and each infantry company has a water-cooled heavy machine gun. As for the "automatic firearms" such as submachine guns and light machine guns, which are expensive and particularly wasteful of ammunition, our Changda warlord is not willing to buy them to equip his huge army, and he has no plans to imitate them in the short term...... After all, China is still a very backward country in terms of basic industry.

However, Chang Ruiqing had a soft spot for large-caliber artillery, and since the end of April 1919, cannons purchased from the United States and France have arrived one after another. The artillery command under the Military Council used these guns to form the artillery brigade and the fortress artillery brigade (equipped with 7-inch cannons). This time, Chang Ruiqing brought all the four dúlì artillery brigades that had already been formed into the army, as if intending to fight a dignified positional battle with the Russians on the Mongolian steppe.

The Logistics Command directly under the Military Commission also opened the general military station to Běijīng, and set up a series of large military stations relying on the Jinghan, Jingsui, Beijing-Tianjin, and Bac Ninh railways, and also in Chahar and Suiyuan. and the opening of medium and small soldier stations in southern Mongolia. Officials of the Ministry of Munitions also bought sturdy mules and horses in the areas of Zhili and Chahar. He also ordered people to make military harnesses and carts, and placed a large number of orders for thickened winter military uniforms and military hats for the garment factories in the Beijing-Tianjin area, and put on a posture of preparing to attack northern Mongolia in the winter of 1919. And for this qiē preparation, Chen Jiongming, who is now left behind in Běijīng, has given the greatest convenience and support. Although the patriarch of the Kuomintang system was not accustomed to Chang Ruiqing's rule of Dúcái, he still appreciated his determination to defend the country. Therefore, for the time being, we have put aside our partisan and gateway views and supported our Standing Committee Chairman with the greatest enthusiasm.

Early this morning, Chen Jiongming rushed to the military committee of Zōngnánhǎi, but it was not for the Northern Expedition to Mongolia, but for the dúlì movement that had just taken place in Korea. Although the official was still covering up the events of the revolution in Korea, the garrisons of Incheon and Uiju also cut off the cable telegraph to China at the first time. However, Chen Jiongming still communicated with the intelligence network of the Kuomintang, and learned the general situation of the incident the day after the outbreak of the revolution in Korea. Then he heard some bad news, and came to see Chang Ruiqing in a hurry.

When he walked into zhōngnánhǎi's běijīng行辕, he found that the atmosphere was different from usual, and the staff officers were all gods. The telephones were ringing much more frequently than usual, and high-ranking officers were constantly rushing in from the troop station, and when they entered the zhōngnánhǎi, they hurried to the war room of Huairentang, as if they were going to hold some emergency meeting. Chen Jiongming's heart sank: "Could it be that there is some big military action?" But the preparations for the invasion of Mongolia are not yet complete! ”

At this time, Xu Chongzhi, the commander of the Mongolian Front, also hurried to the outside of Huairentang, and Chen Jiongming hurriedly stopped him: "Brother You, what happened?" Is it time to open up for Mongolia? Are mules, horses, and folk men enough? Do you want to find a way to raise some more from the Běijīng Left-behind Division? ”

Xu Chongzhi has great respect for Chen Jiongming, a veteran of the Kuomintang. Therefore, he hurriedly walked up to him and replied in a low voice: "Look at this posture, there must be some big move, but it can't be to go to Mongolia, at least it won't let the main force march to Mongolia." Chang Yaoru gathered 8 infantry corps around Beijing and Tianjin, with a total strength of nearly 400,000, and more than 100 heavy artillery pieces in four heavy artillery brigades...... With so many troops and heavy equipment, how many people, mules, and horses do you have to go to Mongolia to ensure logistics? It's completely impossible to raise. ”

Chen Jiongming was stunned by his words, where could Chang Ruiqing's army go if he didn't go to Mongolia? Could it be the Northeast? Thinking of this, he took Xu Chongzhi's hand and said, "Let's go, let's go see Chang Yaoru together, right...... Do you know what happened in North Korea? ”

Although Chen Jiongming does not have a military position now, the status of Běijīng's stay is still very high. And Chang Ruiqing also intended to win over this giant in the Kuomintang who could be ranked with Hu Hanmin and Jiang Jshi, so he was given a pass to enter and exit the Běijīng Xingyuan War Room.

Xu Chongzhi knew nothing about North Korea. As he walked to the war room with Chen Jiongming, he asked the other party, "What happened to North Korea?" ”

"Rebellion! There was a dúlì revolution in North Korea...... Just yesterday, both Seoul and Pyongyang were occupied by the rebels! It seems that their GCD and Donghak Party joined forces to do it, and they also established a provisional Republic of Korea in Pyongyang, and the head of the Donghak Party, Son Byung-hee, became the interim president. What a hassle! ”

Chen Jiongming sighed, and together with Xu Chongzhi, he walked into Chang Ruiqing's Xingyuan war room in Huairen Hall in three steps and two steps. Sure enough, seeing that a large number of senior generals of the National Defense Force had gathered, Chang Ruiqing stood with Lu Yixuan holding his hands, listening to what Shen Xingye, the former head of the Far East Station of the Military Intelligence Bureau and the current head of the Intelligence Section of the Military Commission, said.

“…… East of Chita. The Trans-Siberian Railway, north of the Amur River, was very badly damaged. Almost all of the railway bridges were blown up, and Rì himself did not repair them, at least not when he left. Therefore, the only logistics line that the coalition forces on the Chita front can rely on now is the Eastern Railway, and once something goes wrong on the Middle East Road, the 400,000 troops on the Chita front will probably be defeated without a fight! However, Commander-in-Chief Chiang and Rì himself knew this. Therefore, they deployed heavy troops along the Middle East Road, especially along the East China Railway east of the Great Khing'an Mountains. Among them, a corps of the Northeast Army was responsible for guarding the section from Manchuria to Daxinganling, and there was an infantry division in Manchuria, one in Hailar, and another in Yakeshi. In addition, there was also a cavalry brigade of Tang Yulin, jǐng, the Hulunbuir grassland. It should be foolproof. ”

As soon as his words fell, Lu Yixuan frowned and said, "What is foolproof, it is simply full of loopholes!" Tang Yulin's cavalry brigade also bullied the Mongols on the steppe, and if it encountered the First Cavalry Army of Soviet Russia, it would definitely collapse at the touch of a button. As for the infantry corps, it is even more unreliable, with 3 divisions on a railway line of almost 300 km. It's no problem to defend your stronghold. But if you leave the stronghold and go to fight with the cavalry army of Soviet Russia, you will definitely not be an opponent...... According to the intelligence, the Russians have gathered tens of thousands of Mongolian strongmen and 20,000 Mongolian people to set off together, and they can't fight a war, so they can still make do with a railroad or something. At that time, even if Jiang Jishi's men held the three points of Manchuria, Hailar and Yakeshi, they would be in vain, and the Eastern Railway would still be cut off. As soon as the railway is broken, the 400,000-strong army of Chita is waiting to starve to death! It seems that the next situation can only be saved by us. ”

When Lu Yixuan said this, Chen Jiongming and Xu Chongzhi had already come up. The two of them heard clearly, and their faces changed greatly. Chen Jiongming walked up to Chang Ruiqing and Lu Yixuan in a few steps, and asked loudly: "Yaoru, Zixiu, what's going on?" Could it be that there is a jǐng on the Middle East Road? ”

Chang Ruiqing nodded with a grim face: "I just received a report that the cavalry of King Darhan of Horqin found a large number of Soviet-Russian puppet-Mongolian coalition troops marching eastward in the upper reaches of the Krulun River, counting the baggage troops, the number may exceed 100,000!" ”

"Lower Krulun? Not far from the Eastern Railway? Is it too late to send reinforcements right away? Although Chen Jiongming was the commander-in-chief of the Guangdong Army, his military literacy was very poor, and he didn't know the terrain of Outer Mongolia, so he asked such an imbecile question.

Xu Chongzhi stomped his feet and shouted, "It's too late, it's too late...... The lower reaches of the Krulun River are just over 200 kilometers away from the Eastern Railway. And the cavalry of King Darkhan did not fly back to report the news! Wait for them to send the news to the palace of Hailar, and then report it to the Northeast Army Headquarters...... I'm afraid that this old man has already called! ”

Chang Ruiqing glanced at Xu Chongzhi, who was a little angry, and said lightly: "It's useless to be anxious now, I still feel like I want to take countermeasures." My idea is that the three strongholds of Manchuria, Hailar and Yakeshi must be held no matter what, and if they hold there, there will be no way for the Soviet-Mongolian army to stay in the Hulunbuir grassland for a long time...... When our main forces reach the northeast, it will not be difficult to drive them out. ”

"But......" Xu Chongzhi's face turned blue for a while, and he didn't know what to say when he opened his mouth.

Chang Ruiqing said again: "Who is guarding Manchuria, Hailar and Yakeshi now?" ”

"It's General Guo Maochen's 5th Army of the Northeast Army." Lu Yixuan replied.

Chang Ruiqing nodded: "In the name of the chairman of the Military Commission, give an order to General Guo Maochen, let him stick to Manchuria, Hailar and Yakesh no matter what!" If one of these three places is lost, it will be ruthless in military law! ”

Chen Jiongming and Xu Chongzhi glanced at each other, both with surprised and inexplicable expressions. The 5th Army of the Northeast Army is not a direct force of the Military Council! Chang Ruiqing now actually wants to use the name of zhōngyāng to give orders, and also threatens Guo Songling with military law. What are you trying to do?

……

"This and this...... This Soviet Russia is about to come over, what are you planning? If they cut off the Eastern Railway. Chita's 400,000 allied forces are all over! Jiang J's stone face was blue, looking at the generals of the Northeast Army who were hurriedly summoned to the Shenyang Marshal's Mansion for a meeting, all of them looked at a loss.

Jiang Jshi was also a little panicked, although he had the title of an anti-Russian hero, and he also commanded the army to defeat Semenov's 60,000 White Russian troops last year. But he has long since figured out the difference between the Soviet Russian Red Army and the Semenov White Russian Army! The 400,000 Chinese and Xianbeilian coalition troops on the Chita side are all pressed and beaten, how can the more than 30,000 people who are placed along the Middle East Road to the west of the Great Khing'an Mountains be the opponents of the "100,000" Soviet-Mongolian coalition forces? If the Middle East Road is cut off, not only will not only his 4 armies not be able to return, but even Rì's 15 divisions will also be cut off! What will he use to defend the Northeast at that time? Now it is possible to attack the Northeast, but not only the Soviet Russia, but also Chang Ruiqing's 400,000 zhōngyāng troops placed around Beijing and Tianjin!

This time. What Jiang Jshi thought was to come up with a way no matter what. Maintain the battle situation on the Middle East Road, and not let the back road of Chita's 400,000 coalition troops be cut off! But what can he come up with now?

Several senior generals of the Northeast Army below began to talk nonsense.

"Or ...... Hurry up and take the 6th Army in Harbin and the 7th Army in Jinzhou? In this way, 3 armies can be put into the western section of the Middle East Road, and it should be able to fight a war. ”

"No, no, the troop movement is not so fast, and both armies are now deployed. It would take several days just to gather it, and then it would not be possible to reach it in a week by rail. By then, the railroad tracks in the western section of the Middle East Road have already been picked, and even if the old Mao soldiers are driven away, it will be over. Now it's better to let Rì himself transfer troops from Chita. I wonder if they can move faster? ”

"Let's transfer troops together at both ends, let's transfer the 6th Army up, and then let Rì himself transfer a division to reinforce ......"

"To prepare for the worst, no matter how fast Rì himself moves, it will take two or three days to transfer the troops of a division to the area around Manchuria, and then start fighting, and then open up the Eastern Railway at least a week. If Lao Maozi does damage again, then he will have to find a way to repair it, at least for a week, right? Is there half a month's supply reserve in Chita? I think it's better to let Chita's main forces retreat along the Middle East Road...... Hold the troops first, and then find a way to counterattack! ”

"The Russian Red Army on the Chita front will not watch the coalition retreat...... When the time comes, someone will definitely stay behind the broken queen, who do you say Rì himself will let stay? ”

In the end, the people under him are all from the non-commissioned officer, and they are still good at the military. After discussing it for a while, I already had an idea. The Battle of Chita must be abandoned! The main force withdrew to the "Chinese" country, but the question is who will be the palace army? This is an ironclad annihilation! Jiang Jishi's brows also tightened more and more, as if he had seen that all four of his armies had been taken prisoner of the Soviet Russian Red Army, and Chang Ruiqing also took advantage of the fire to rob and send troops to occupy his northeast nest!

At this moment, there was a loud sound of boots at the door, and then I saw Matsui Ishine, the military adviser of the Northeast Army, running in sweating profusely. As soon as he saw Jiang Jishi, he shouted loudly: "Commander-in-Chief Jiang, the cavalry of the Soviet Russian Red Army and the Mongols has reached the Hulunbuir steppe!" Please hurry up and order the 5th Army of the Northeast Army to attack, be sure to ...... To hold back the Soviet-Mongolian army! It will be delayed for at least three days, and the reinforcements of the imperial army will arrive in Manchuria within three days. ”

Listening to Matsui Ishone's words, everyone in the room couldn't help but gasp. Cool air. This is to use more than 30,000 lives of the Fifth Army to buy time for them themselves!

Jiang J Shiyi was silent with a silent face, and Wang Boling, chief of staff of the Northeast Army on the side, hurriedly said to Matsui Shigen: "Matsui-kun, after we have studied it, we feel that we still have to give up Chita, withdraw the main force to Manchuria first, and leave the green mountains behind, not afraid of no firewood!" ”

Matsui Shigen glanced at Wang Boling with yīn Yu eyes: "General Wang, the imperial army knows how to fight, and I don't need you to teach you!" Now that the Imperial Army has gained the upper hand on the Chita front, the sneak attack of the Soviet Russian Red Army is already their last stand! As long as we show the courage to start a decisive battle with them on the Hulunbuir grassland and hold out until the imperial reinforcements arrive, our two countries will be able to win this war. At that time, Commander-in-Chief Chiang will be the number one hero of the [China] country, and the Rì Empire will also fully support him to become the first person in the "China" country! ”

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