Warlords: Rising from the Northwest Border and Sweeping Across the Powers

Two days later, in Jiangye City, Jiangbei Province, which is located at the border of Jiangbei and Yunzhou, the special train that Su Zhengyang was riding on slowly stopped at Jiangye Railway Station.

Under the close protection of the Dragon God Special Forces, Su Zhengyang left the train and came to the Second Army's temporary command post in Jiangye City.

Zheng Zeyu and other senior generals of the Second Army, as well as Yan Baoguo's only son and Yu Zihang, commander-in-chief of Yan's Second Army, had been waiting in the command center for a long time.

The moment Su Zhengyang walked into the headquarters' combat meeting room, Zheng Zeyu and others stood up collectively and saluted Su Zhengyang in unison.

"All commanders of the Second Army of the Northwest Revolutionary Army and above, report to the commander-in-chief!"

The generals of the Yan faction, including the young-looking Yan Jiayin, all cast glances of admiration and appreciation towards Su Zhengyang.

Yu Zihang, commander-in-chief of the Yan faction's Second Army, walked up to Su Zhengyang with steady steps and extended his right hand to Su Zhengyang.

"Hello, Councillor Su. I am Yu Zihang, the commander of the Second Army of Yunzhou. I have long heard that Councillor Su is young and promising, and a great man. Seeing him today, I can see that he is indeed a man of great reputation."

The senior generals of Yan's Second Army, including Yu Zihang, were extremely warm and polite to Su Zhengyang.

Su Zhengyang showed a smile that was as refreshing as spring breeze, and shook hands with Yu Zihang calmly and forcefully.

"Commander Yu, you are too polite. I went to the frontline in person this time just to see with my own eyes the demise and fall of the Pang family that betrayed my father. The Northern Frontier government was able to hold out under the continuous and surging offensive of the rebels and turn the tide of the war. The Yunzhou Army played an indispensable role. Please give my regards to Governor Yan later."

After some polite greetings, Su Zhengyang took the main seat and began to learn about the detailed battle situation on the front line.

"Governor, in the more than half a month since our Second Army arrived at the border of Yunzhou, we, together with our allies, have launched a siege against the First Army of the Pang Clan Jiangbei Corps. We have fought seven or eight large-scale battles with more than 100,000 men. Now the First Army of Jiangbei has been defeated by our counterattacks. We have not only taken back the Jinzhou City they occupied, but also launched a counterattack all the way into Jiangbei, and annihilated the two army-level combat units of the enemy stationed in Jiangye City."

Zheng Zeyu paused, glanced at Su Zhengyang's calm expression, and continued, "Five days ago, Tang Zhengqi, an advisor from the General Staff of the Northwest Revolutionary Army, called the Second Army and asked us to delay the offensive and wait for him to rush to the front with you. We should adopt a strategy of appeasement and rebellion against the Jiangbei Army."

Su Zhengyang nodded. If the Second Army continued to launch offensives without mercy, with the assistance of Yan's 80,000 troops, they would probably have reached Yanzhou City, the capital of Jiangbei, by now.

Old men like Tang Zhengqi, who accompanied Su Zhengyang's father from the very beginning to build the Jiangbei Army from scratch, have a special feeling for the Jiangbei Army from the bottom of their hearts. They also do not want to see the internal friction between the Jiangbei Army and the current Northwest Revolutionary Army. This is completely understandable.

And Su Zhengyang is not a person who likes to start a civil war and internal consumption. No matter what, even if everyone has different positions, they are at least fellow Chinese. All their anger should be directed at invaders like Fuso and Western powers instead of an endless civil war.

However, for the long-term development of China and to establish a unified regime in China, this is a pain that must be experienced.

Tang Zhengqi, who was sitting at the first seat on the right side of Su Zhengyang, with mottled white hair on his temples but still standing straight and energetic, said in a loud voice: "Pang Jinghong took advantage of Commander Su's trust in him. After Commander Su's death, at Commander Su's funeral, he suddenly suppressed a large number of senior generals of the Jiangbei Army who were loyal to the Su family and the Northern Frontier by force. He used despicable and high-pressure means to seize control of the Jiangbei Army."

"I believe that, apart from Pang Jinghong's direct troops, all the veteran troops of the Jiangbei Corps, until today, still have many low- and middle-level officers who remember the old relationship with the Su family and are loyal to the Northern Frontier Government from the bottom of their hearts. They are all hot-blooded men from the native land of Jiangbei, born with strong bones. No one is willing to kowtow and become a running dog of the Fuso people. As long as we actively get in touch with them and explain the righteousness of the country and family, and Zhengyang personally comes forward, most of the Jiangbei Corps troops will make a correct choice!"

Zheng Zeyu interrupted at this time and said, "According to the latest news from the Northwest Intelligence Bureau, Pang Jinghong suffered a cerebral infarction a few days ago when the Chen and Yuan factions announced their surrender. Although he was rescued, he is now in a state of hemiplegia. The control and command of the entire Jiangbei Army has now fallen into the hands of Pang Jinghong's confidant Zuo Jinzhong and his eldest son Pang Yunshan. At present, they have temporarily blocked the news that Pang Jinghong is seriously ill and bedridden, probably because they are afraid of causing unrest in the Jiangbei Army."

"Several intelligence sub-office leaders under Director Yan have already established contact with several regimental and even divisional commanders in the Second and First Army of the Jiangbei Army who have served since the time of Commander Su."

"But the current situation is that these former members of the Su faction are all accompanied by people who are responsible for monitoring their every move. Therefore, they have been very cautious and treading on thin ice, and dare not express their opinions easily."

Su Zhengyang made a prompt decision: "Immediately sort out the information of the officers of the Jiangbei Corps who want to join the light. I will write a secret letter myself. This is also the last chance for them. We cannot be dragged into the quagmire of war in Jiangbei forever. If they continue to be indecisive and dare not express their position at this time, they are cowardly and useless! After seven days, the coalition forces will launch the final general attack on the Jiangbei Corps. By then, all the old members of the Su faction who have not expressed their position will be regarded as our enemies."

Tang Zhengqi was slightly startled, and looked at Su Zhengyang, who had a murderous look and a serious expression. His lips moved slightly, but in the end he didn't say anything more.

Extraordinary times call for extraordinary treatment. Su Zhengyang was right. The Northwest Revolutionary Army has shown enough patience. If they still hesitate and dare not express their position, Su Zhengyang will not have time to delay here any longer.

That night, sixteen secret letters written by Su Zhengyang himself were delivered in batches by intelligence personnel from the Northwest Intelligence Bureau to the former Su faction members of the Jiangbei Corps who had secret contacts with them.

And how many of Su Zhengyang's former subordinates' patriotic feelings hidden deep in their hearts can be awakened by these secret letters written with full sincerity, and how much can they ignite their blood, will ultimately determine the direction of the situation on the Jiangbei battlefield.

In Yanzhou City, in the Governor's Mansion, Pang Jinghong's eldest son Pang Yunshan frowned tightly, paced back and forth in the office with his hands behind his back.

The rapid sound of military boots touching the ground also reflected Pang Yunshan's extremely anxious mood at the moment.