Chapter 20: The Great War Begins

  The Jiangsu and Zhejiang battlefields have fallen into a stalemate, with the main force of the Soviet army gathering in Nanjing to defend against Gao Yang's attack. The main force of the Zhejiang army has moved south to fight fiercely with Sun Chuanfang's Fujian-Guangdong allied army near Jiangshan, Zhejiang. Gao Yang is busy reorganizing his troops and arranging for elite officers to launch a surprise attack within their actual control area, while forming security teams and local military divisions. As for Mr. Sun in the south, apart from jumping out to shout slogans at the beginning of the war, there has been no news from him since then. Everyone is waiting to see how things develop in the north.

  Since being driven out of the pass by the Zhili clique in 1922, Zhang Daqi has been thinking about revenge and regaining his lost power. Because most of his subordinates were from the Green Forest and were basically a mob, they could still do well in looting and plundering, but when it came to fighting against the well-equipped and well-trained Zhili army, they would collapse at the slightest touch. This was also why Yu Daqi looked down on Zhang Daqi.

  Zhang Zuolin then decided to reform the Fengtian Army and reuse new-style generals. In late July 1922, the "Three Eastern Provinces Land Army Reorganization Office" was established. Sun Liechen served as the supervisor, Zhang Zuoxiang and Jiang Dengxuan served as deputy supervisors, and Zhang Xueliang served as the chief of staff. The Fengtian Army implemented military reforms through martial law, adopting the following measures:

  First, reform the military system and reorganize the army. The original military system in the three provinces of the east was not uniform, and this time the Army Reorganization Office unified the military system of the three provinces of Fengtian, Jilin, and Heilongjiang, canceling the division-level numbers and changing to a brigade system. After reorganization, the Feng army had 27 infantry brigades and 5 cavalry brigades, all with 3 regiments as the standard unit. The artillery had 2 independent brigades and 1 heavy artillery regiment, and each division and brigade did not have an artillery regiment or battalion. The total strength of the Feng army was approximately 250,000 people, who were trained by Japanese instructors and equipped with Japanese-style military equipment, preparing for rigorous training.

  Second, establish a navy and expand the air force. After Zhang Zuolin's defeat in the first Zhili-Fengtian War, he deeply felt that controlling the sea would make it easy to advance or retreat. Therefore, he decided to establish a navy and strengthen coastal defense construction. He appointed Shen Honglie as the lieutenant general of the Navigation Police Department, responsible for preparing naval affairs. Before the second Zhili-Fengtian War, the Northeast Coastal Defense Fleet was formed with four ships: "Jinghai", "Weihai", "Dinghai" and "Feipeng".

  To expand the air force, the Northeast Aviation Administration was established, and Zhang Xueliang was appointed as the general manager of the Northeast Aviation Administration. After Zhang Xueliang took charge of the aviation administration, he actively recruited talents, purchased aircraft, and set up an aviation school. Before the Second Zhili-Fengtian War, the Fengtian Army had more than 200 aircraft of various types, forming five flying squadrons, with good conditions in terms of facilities and pilot training, ranking first in the country.

  Third, strengthen equipment and expand the arsenal. In 1922, Zhang Zuolin appointed Yang Yutong as the director of the Northeast Three Provinces Arsenal, and Han Linchun as the general manager. After taking office, they recruited a large number of domestic and foreign military talents, purchased various machines, and engaged in munitions production. After the expansion, the arsenal not only produced original firearms and ammunition but also new mountain guns, field guns, howitzers, and heavy artillery, producing a large quantity of munitions every year, becoming the largest arsenal in the country.

  Fourth, recruit and cultivate talents. The above-mentioned series of military reforms by the Fengtian warlords cannot be separated from various talents. Zhang Zuolin adopted preferential policies to absorb a large number of talents. At the same time, with Yang Yuting, Zhang Xueliang, Han Linchun, Jiang Dengxuan, and Guo Songling as the core, they recruited talents from all sides through personal relationships. In addition, Zhang Zuolin also expanded enrollment in the "Dong San Sheng Lujun Jiangwutang" and established Northeast University to cultivate talents. Due to the Fengtian warlords' resolute reuse of new factional figures, extensive recruitment of national military talents, and military reforms, within just two years, the appearance of the Feng army was greatly changed. The former mob became a well-trained and powerful force, laying the foundation for the Second Zhili-Feng War.

  Zhang Dashuai's troops were now well-trained and well-fed, with high morale, waiting only for the order to march into the pass and avenge their previous defeat!

  On September 15, the Fengtian Army launched a two-pronged attack on Rehe. Zhang Zongchang's troops entered the territory of Rehe Province, about 40 to 50 miles deep, and the local garrison troops retreated without fighting. The advance of Zhang's troops was extremely rapid. The Rehe garrison commander Mi Zhenbiao's unit and Wang Huaiqing's 13th Division, which had gone to reinforce it, were the weakest in the Beiyang Army. From September 15 to 22, one route of the Fengtian Army advanced smoothly, successively occupying Kaiyuan, Chaoyang, and beginning to attack Lingyuan. At the same time, the main forces of the Fengtian and Beiyang armies began to clash at Shanhaiguan.

  On September 23, the famous turncoat general Feng Yuxiang and Shaanxi army commander Hu Jingyi led their troops to leave Beiping. When they arrived at Huairou, the troops stopped again, citing poor communication, and ordered the soldiers to repair the road while advancing. Feng Yuxiang had already secretly contacted the anti-Zhili alliance and did not lead his troops to the front line for reinforcement, but instead lingered near Beiping, waiting for an opportunity.

  The main forces of the two armies, Feng and Zhili, confronted each other in the Shanhai Pass area for several days before the battle turned fierce on September 28. The Zhili army was on the defensive, occupying high ground and geographical advantages. However, the elite troops of the Feng army's 3rd Corps, under the command of Zhang Xueliang and Guo Songling, fought bravely and launched a fierce attack, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. On October 6, the Feng army broke through Jiumenkou and then took Shimenzhai. On October 7, under the strong offensive of the Feng army, the Zhili army was unable to resist, and after Jiumenkou was broken through by the Feng army, the commander of the 13th Mixed Brigade of the Zhili army, Feng Yurong, saw no hope in defending the city and took his own life.

  Due to the critical situation at Shanhai Pass, General Yu urgently ordered the troops stationed in Beidu to rush to the front line. He himself left Beidu on October 11 and arrived at Luanzhou to take command. On the 12th, General Yu went to Shanhai Pass to inspect the battle situation and personally directed the troops, which stabilized the situation of the direct army's front line.

  As the throat of Shanhai Pass, General Zhang's troops must occupy it no matter what. Immediately, he mobilized most of the air force and heavy artillery to bombard the enemy's position at Shanhai Pass, while ordering each unit to attack with all their might at any cost. The besieged Yu Shuai ordered Feng Yuxiang's troops to reinforce quickly.

  On October 15, Wang Chengbin and Feng Yuxiang met at Gubeikou, foreseeing that the development of the war situation would be unfavorable to the Zhili clique, and the long-awaited opportunity had arrived. On the 19th, Feng Yuxiang received an urgent telegram from Zhang Fangyan, Chief of Staff of the General Headquarters, urging the Feng Army to quickly launch an offensive in response to the battle in the Shanhai Pass direction, with a sentence saying "the overall situation will turn from danger to safety with this one move".

  At the same time, Feng Yuxiang saw the battle report and learned that the Zhili Army had suffered heavy casualties in the Battle of Shanhai Pass and was already exhausted. In this situation, Feng Yuxiang believed that the opportunity to return to Beiping had arrived, so he ordered Sun Yue to quickly withdraw the troops stationed in Daming back to Nanyuan, while ordering his own troops to change their rear guard to a vanguard and immediately return to Beiping.

  Feng Yuxiang's army cut off the telegraph lines and blocked messages, marching 70 kilometers day and night to quickly return to Beiping. On October 22nd at 9 pm, Feng's 8th Division commander Li Mingzhong and 22nd Division commander Lu Zhonglin led their troops back to Beiping first. Later, Shanxi Army Hu Jingyi's division also entered Tongzhou, cutting off the connection between Yu Xuezhong and Beiping.

  At this time, Shanhaiguan had been breached by the Feng Army, and Yu's commander led his defeated troops in a rout, unaware of Feng Yuxiang's actions.

  On October 23, the Army Inspection Commissioner and Commander of the 11th Division Feng Yuxiang, Commander of the Shaanxi 1st Division Hu Jingyi, and Garrison Commander of Daming and Commander of the 15th Mixed Brigade Sun Yue jointly issued a telegram calling for peace. In the telegram, they referred to the Zhili-Fengtian War as a "private struggle" between Wu and Zhang, denouncing Marshal Yu's actions as "relying on his military victories to intimidate others, manipulating the president to elevate himself, grasping state power to control it, treating local officials like servants, venting personal anger, and launching a war...". They had already telegraphed the President to issue a clear order to punish and warn him, to apologize to the nation, and to stop the war and negotiate peace to alleviate the suffering of the people. The Beijing Coup, which would change the course of modern Chinese history, began.

  What was Gao Yang doing during this time? Firstly, Gao Yang went north to visit Mr. Zhou Xuehe in Beijing and frankly told him, "Ma Liangcai has brought disaster to Anhui Province, the people are unbearable under his oppression, so Governor Gao chased him away. However, Governor Gao is from a military background and knows nothing about civil affairs, he's afraid of harming his hometown and parents, so he specially invites Mr. Zhou to take on the role of Chairman of the Anhui Rehabilitation Committee, asking Mr. Zhou to consider the welfare of his hometown and return to Anhui. The people of the whole province are eagerly waiting for him."

  "I, an old man approaching sixty years of age, had thought to spend my remaining years in quietude here. Since the elders and people of my hometown still have use for me, I am filled with trepidation. Thus, I shall return home and make a humble contribution." said Mr. Zhou.

  "Anhui province's people's livelihood is now all entrusted to Mr. Zhou." Gaoyang stood up and bowed.

  He then returned to Anqing to establish a relief committee to handle civil affairs, and militarily, Wei Kes was responsible for rushing to train new recruits and drill troops. Then he hurried back to his original time and space.

  After nominally controlling the entire province, he completed his mission and obtained 50,000 energy points. Then Yuán diǎn gave Gāo Yáng an irresistible temptation. "Although the CIA has been keeping an eye on you, you're not a big shot yet, in the eyes of the CIA, you're just someone who needs attention. Although you have a clone body in Africa monitoring them, can't you always stay in this time and space without going back? How long hasn't seen your parents? And that flight attendant, how long haven't you been in contact?"

  Yuán diǎn de huà, ràng Gāo Yáng gǎn jué jiù xiàng pēng yǒu zhī jiān liáo tiān yí yàng zì rán. Gāo Yáng dà wèi jīng yà shuō "Gǎn jué nǐ yuè lái yuè rén xìng huà le, gāng kāi shǐ de shí hòu xiàng jī qì yí yàng, zěn me huì?"

  "The more energy points you get, the more functions I have. Don't you like this kind of emotional language?" Yuandian continued to say.

  "Whatever, let's just leave it like this. I also want to go back, but if both of us appear at the same time, the CIA will not just pay attention, they'll be out to kill us." Gao Yang said helplessly.

  "There was no way before but now there is. This time you get 50,000 energy points and there will be a new method to solve it." The tone of the original point was somewhat cheerful.

  "...how come I feel like you're really hoping I'll use up all my energy points quickly?" Gao Yang said in confusion.

  "The specific method is that after returning to the original time and space, I can infiltrate the CIA's internal network, modify your information to be harmless, and cancel the surveillance on you. Because you are not an important figure, it will almost go undetected. Then, on the entire planet's network, I'll create a fake resume for you, giving you a brand new identity, of course still being yourself, just with a plausible explanation for your financial resources. As long as it's not being pursued by organizations like the CIA with full force, it won't be discovered, but you should still keep a low profile."

  "How much money? No, not that, how many energy points?" Gao Yang was anxious, having stayed here for several months and almost gone crazy. There wasn't even a TV! He now missed the TV he wouldn't have glanced at in his original timeline. He deeply missed his parents, the internet, and flushing toilets! As long as he could return, no matter how many energy points it took, it would be fine!

  Originally, Gao Yang did everything in 1924 just to gain energy points and return to the original time-space to use them! The original time-space was his main battlefield!

  "Fifty thousand points." The tone of voice had a hint of slyness, like a weasel encountering a little hen.

  "Damn it!"