svetikya Chapter 150 The Crisis of the Northern Expedition!
Chapter 150 The Crisis of the Northern Expedition!
Current funds: £6,543,876
Current Strength:
• Military: German-trained Guards Division (30,000 men), Newly formed German-trained Division of the Wehrmacht (200,000 men), Centrally reorganized Army Division (100,000 men), Engineer Brigade (50,000 men), Independent Armored Division, Independent Heavy Artillery Brigade, Wusongkou Fortress and its garrison brigade, Maritime Anti-Smuggling Brigade of the Tax Police Corps
• Industry: Ma'anshan Coal-Steel Complex (annual production of 500,000 tons of special steel), Jiangnan Shipyard (10,000-ton dry dock already in operation)
• Navy: Three Type A destroyers have entered service, and six new batches are under construction.
• Territory: Zhejiang, Shanghai, Fujian (Xiamen), the entirety of Jiangsu, and Huaibei, Suzhou, Bengbu, Ma'anshan, and Wuhu in Anhui.
[Mission Progress]: Fujian Annexation Plan - The Battle of Xiamen has ended, Fujian is basically unified, and preparations are underway to deal with Chiang Kai-shek's Northern Expeditionary Army.
December 29, 1925, morning.
Shanghai, Chen Mansion.
Chen Zijun stood in front of the map, looking at the border between Zhejiang and Jiangxi.
"Young Master," Mo Lanzhi said as she walked in, "Master has arrived from Hangzhou and is waiting downstairs."
Chen Zijun nodded: "Okay, please invite my father up."
Mo Lanzhi nodded: "Yes!"
A moment later, Chen Yuhe entered the Chen Mansion.
Chen Yuhe is Chen Zijun's father and the current military governor of Zhejiang Province. He was dressed in military uniform and looked serious.
"Father," Chen Zijun said, "you've arrived."
Chen Yuhe nodded: "Zijun, Chiang Kai-shek's Northern Expeditionary Army has broken through the Jiangxi defense line, and the vanguard is less than 100 kilometers from the Zhejiang border. We must discuss countermeasures as soon as possible."
Chen Zijun sneered: "Father, although Chiang Kai-shek's Northern Expeditionary Army has 200,000 men, most of them are recruited Jiangxi troops and their combat strength is not strong. Although his National Revolutionary Army is not as strong in combat, not to mention that they only have about 100,000 men in total, my German-equipped divisions are not afraid of them at all and can definitely defeat them."
Chen Yuhe shook his head: "Zijun, although Chiang Kai-shek's Northern Expeditionary Army is not very strong, it still has 200,000 men. If we launch a rash attack, we may be drawn into a protracted war, which would be detrimental to our development."
He walked to the map and looked at the border between Zhejiang and Jiangxi.
"Zijun, I suggest we adopt a two-pronged strategy," Chen Yuhe said. "On the one hand, we should deploy German-equipped divisions to guard the Zhejiang border, and on the other hand, we should send a special envoy to Guangzhou to negotiate with the Nationalist government."
Chen Zijun frowned: "Negotiation? Father, do you think Chiang Kai-shek will accept negotiations?"
Chen Yuhe said, "Although Chiang Kai-shek is ambitious, the National Revolutionary Government is not something he can control alone, and besides, he's not stupid. If we can resolve the issue through negotiations, it will benefit both sides. If the negotiations fail, we will have enough time to deploy our defenses."
Chen Zijun nodded: "Father is right."
He turned to Mo Lanzhi and said, "Immediately notify Shen Li, Yang Yanzhao, He Maofeng, Zang Keping, and others to convene an emergency military meeting."
Mo Lanzhi nodded: "Yes!"
Half an hour later, in the meeting room of Chen's mansion.
Chen Zijun, Chen Yuhe, Shen Li, Yang Yanzhao, He Maofeng, Zang Keping and others sat around the conference table.
"Gentlemen," Chen Zijun said, "Chiang Kai-shek's Northern Expeditionary Army has broken through the Jiangxi defense line, and its vanguard is less than 100 kilometers from the Zhejiang border. We must discuss countermeasures as soon as possible."
Yang Yanzhao said, "Young Marshal, I have led the Fourth Division and the armored battalion back to Fuzhou from Xiamen and deployed them on the border of Fujian and Zhejiang. According to my observation, the Northern Expeditionary Army is not very strong in combat; most of them are troops that have been incorporated from Jiangxi."
He Maofeng said, "Young Marshal, my fully German-equipped independent motorized infantry division has just been reorganized and is very strong. The troops have already made defensive deployments in Quzhou, and we are not afraid of them at all."
Shen Li said, "Young Marshal, I suggest a cautious and steady approach. Although Chiang Kai-shek's Northern Expeditionary Army is not very strong, it still numbers 200,000 men. If we launch a rash attack, we may be drawn into a protracted war. The important thing is that their Northern Expeditionary Army is mainly composed of Whampoa Military Academy graduates, and their fighting strength has been honed in battles against warlords. We cannot be careless."
Chen Zijun nodded: "Shen Li makes sense."
He turned to Chen Yuhe: "Father, what suggestions do you have?"
Chen Yuhe said, "I reiterate what I just said: adopt a two-pronged strategy. On the one hand, deploy German-equipped divisions to guard the Zhejiang border, and on the other hand, send a special envoy to Guangzhou to negotiate with the Nationalist government."
Shen Li nodded: "What the commander-in-chief said makes sense."
Chen Zijun pondered for a moment and nodded: "Okay, let's do as Father says."
He turned to Yang Yanzhao: "Uncle Yang, you must complete the reorganization and expansion of the Fujian army as soon as possible. The 4th Division of the National Defense Army, equipped with German weapons, and its armored battalions should be deployed along the border of Fujian and Zhejiang to build a solid defensive line. Then, in Fujian itself, only the newly reorganized 1st Division of the National Defense Army, equipped with German weapons, and the 5th Division of the National Defense Army, which was reorganized from Li Mingyuan's 2nd Fujian New Army Division, will remain. These troops can't even defend themselves. The reorganization and expansion of the troops must be completed as soon as possible. Money is not a problem!"
Yang Yanzhao nodded: "Okay!"
Chen Zijun turned to He Maofeng: "Uncle He, the combat effectiveness of your fully German-equipped independent motorized infantry division is still unclear, and we don't know if it's suitable for our national conditions. If the Battle of Quzhou breaks out, your motorized infantry division must win; it absolutely cannot lose."
He Maofeng nodded: "Yes! I will never let the young marshal down!"
Chen Zijun turned to Shen Li: "Shen Li, you are in charge of selecting a special envoy to go to Guangzhou to negotiate with the Nationalist government."
Shen Li nodded: "Yes!"
Chen Yuhe said, "Zijun, besides military deployment, you also need to accelerate the reorganization of the German-equipped divisions to prepare for a larger conflict. Don't we still have the Central Army's 4th, 6th, 12th, and 19th Divisions that haven't been reorganized?"
Chen Zijun nodded: "Father is right. I will immediately order the reorganization to be accelerated. But the Fourth Division is your core team..."
"You little brat, isn't my unit yours too? Reorganize it, hurry up and reorganize it. At this point, why are you still distinguishing between mine and yours?" Chen Yuhe said with a laugh and a curse.
After the meeting, Chen Zijun stood alone in front of the map, looking at the border between Zhejiang and Jiangxi.
"Chiang Kai-shek," Chen Zijun sneered, "If you want to fight, I'll let you."
The next day, at the border between Fujian and Zhejiang.
Yang Yanzhao led the Fourth Division and an armored battalion to the border and immediately began constructing a defensive line.
"General," the chief of staff said, "according to intelligence, the vanguard of the Northern Expeditionary Army is still eighty kilometers away from here. We have three days to prepare."
Yang Yanzhao nodded: "Good. Immediately construct trenches and barbed wire, and deploy artillery positions. Our armored battalion should be deployed on the flanks, ready to launch a counterattack at any time."
The chief of staff nodded: "Yes, sir!"
Yang Yanzhao looked at the distant mountains and sneered, "Chiang Kai-shek, since you dare to come, I'll show you what a real German-equipped division is."
Meanwhile, in Quzhou.
He Maofeng led his fully German-equipped independent motorized infantry division to Quzhou and immediately began defensive deployments.
"Commander," the adjutant said, "Quzhou is the gateway to Zhejiang. If Quzhou falls, the Northern Expeditionary Army can use Zhejiang's railway network to advance directly to Hangzhou."
He Maofeng nodded: "I understand. Immediately construct defensive lines and deploy artillery positions. Our motorized infantry divisions must leverage their mobility advantage and be ready to support other defensive lines at any time."
The adjutant nodded: "Yes, sir!"
He Maofeng looked at the map and sneered, "Although Chiang Kai-shek's Northern Expeditionary Army has a large number of soldiers, its equipment is outdated and its combat effectiveness is weak. My fully German-equipped independent motorized infantry division can completely defeat them."
Shanghai, Chen Mansion.
Shen Li walked into Chen Zijun's office.
"Young Marshal," Shen Li said, "the special envoy has been selected. He was recommended by President Cao Yu and is Sun Mengjin, the vice mayor of our Shanghai Special Administrative Region. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Beiyang Government, is familiar with diplomatic affairs, and is capable of handling the negotiation task."
Chen Zijun nodded: "Very good. Have him go to Guangzhou immediately to negotiate with the Nationalist government."
Shen Li nodded: "Yes!"
Chen Zijun said, "Tell Sun Mengjin that the bottom line for negotiations is that the Nationalist government must recognize the dominance of Chen's army in Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Fujian, and Huaibei, Anhui. If the Nationalist government refuses, we will resolutely fight back."
Shen Li nodded: "Yes!"
A few days later, in Guangzhou.
Upon arriving in Guangzhou, Sun Mengjin immediately began negotiations with the Nationalist government.
The representative of the Nationalist Government said, "Mr. Sun, the position of our Nationalist Government is very clear: Chen's army must accept reorganization and obey the leadership of the Nationalist Government. Only in this way can national unification be achieved."
Sun Mengjin shook his head: "The Chen family army's position is also very clear: the Nationalist government must recognize the Chen family army's dominant position in Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Fujian, and Huaibei, Anhui. If the Nationalist government refuses, the Chen family army will resolutely fight back."
The representative of the Nationalist government said, "Mr. Sun, this is impossible. Chen's army must accept reorganization; this is our bottom line."
Sun Mengjin shook his head: "If that's the case, there's no point in negotiating."
Negotiations broke down, and Sun Mengjin returned to Shanghai.
Shanghai, Chen Mansion.
Sun Mengjin reported the negotiation results to Chen Zijun.
"Young Marshal," Sun Mengjin said, "the Nationalist government refuses to negotiate and insists that we accept reorganization."
Chen Zijun sneered: "Since Chiang Kai-shek wants to fight, let him try my German-equipped divisions."