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

After Zhang Chengxiang was assassinated, at the same time, Zhang's five major army groups in the three provinces of Zhili began to face encirclement and suppression from three major armies.

The first was the coalition force of about 170,000 people consisting of the Second Army of the Northwestern Revolutionary Army in the west and the Second Army of Yunzhou.

Secondly, Feng Chang'an of Huizhou raised an army of 120,000 and launched a frenzied attack on the southern border of Jiaozhou.

The Duan army that marched south from Longzhou in northern Jiaozhou and the elite troops from the six towns in northern Xinjiang also brought great pressure to the Jiaozhou First Army stationed on the border.

With Fuso temporarily suspending its activities and Zhang Chengxiang being assassinated, the troops in the three provinces of Zhili were leaderless, and the commanders of the major army groups each had their own ulterior motives, making the situation a complete mess.

The first to feel the tremendous pressure were the Central Plains First Army stationed in Yuzhou. Yuzhou borders Jiangbei to the north and Mingzhou of the Yuan faction to the west. The Second Army led by Zheng Zeyu, together with the Yunzhou Second Army, launched a continuous tide-like offensive against the Central Plains First Army.

In the large-scale battle between the two sides, the combat effectiveness of the Northwest Revolutionary Army was fully demonstrated. After only half a month of fighting, the Central Plains First Army was severely damaged, with more than 30% damage, and lost all territory east of Minglu City, the capital of Yuzhou.

As the First Central Plains Army Commander-in-Chief Lu Gang was losing ground, he sent a telegram for help to the Second and Third Central Plains Army in Fengzhou, as well as the Four Major Jiaozhou Army stationed in Jiaozhou.

But the response they received was that Fengzhou and Jiaozhou were already unable to take care of themselves and it was impossible for them to send troops to support.

In Minglu City, at the headquarters of the First Central Plains Army, Lu Gang angrily tore the telegram in his hand into pieces.

"Zhuang Mingqi is a bastard! After the governor was assassinated, the entire Jiaozhou army of 260,000 fell into his control. Together with the direct troops led by Zhu Haidong, the number of troops reached 300,000. The main focus of the Feng faction of Huizhou was on Fengzhou. He was only facing the Duan faction and the central government troops heading south from Longzhou. His Jiaozhou army clearly had enough strength to rescue Yuzhou, but this bastard kept making excuses and didn't care about our lives at all. It's really unreasonable!"

Ge Min, the chief of staff of the First Central Plains Army in front of Lu Gang, said indignantly: "Commander, the governor has been assassinated, and the three provinces of Zhili are leaderless. Our First Central Plains Army is defending Yuzhou, and 30% of the troops under us have been killed. This is also a way to repay the governor's kindness. Since he is so cruel, don't blame us for being unjust. Instead of continuing to fight with the Northwest Revolutionary Army, it is better to surrender directly. When the governor got involved with Fuso, you were quite dissatisfied, but the governor never considered our feelings. Compared with the direct lineage Jiaozhou Army, our Central Plains Army is like a stepmother."

Beside Ge Min, Wang Xiao, the commander of the Sixth Army of the First Group Army, also frowned and said, "This battle is really frustrating. Everyone in our Central Plains Army is made up of strong men. Now, not only do we have to fight hard on the front battlefield, but we also have to be pointed at and scolded by our own people as traitors. What is the point of fighting like this!"

Lu Gang, who had always been loyal to Zhang Chengxiang, also rarely remained silent. This move showed that this general, who was like a mainstay under Zhang Chengxiang, also had some doubts in his heart.

In Qingyun City, the capital of Jiaozhou, ever since Zhang Chengxiang was assassinated, Zhuang Mingqi, the former commander-in-chief of the First Army, who had the highest prestige and the longest experience in the Jiaozhou army, has naturally become the supreme commander of the Jiaozhou army.

It is extremely ironic that Zhuang Mingqi, who had followed Zhang Chengxiang for seventeen or eighteen years and was always regarded by him as the most trustworthy person, although he shouted the slogan of fighting to the death and avenging the governor, in fact, even the funeral of Zhang Chengxiang and Zhang Zhixiao was hastily handled.

After receiving the news that Zhang Chengxiang was assassinated, Zhuang Mingqi immediately handed over the command of the troops to the General Staff of the First Army Group, and returned directly to Qingyun City with a division-level force. After dealing with Zhang Chengxiang's funeral, he could not wait and blatantly moved into the Governor's Mansion, took possession of everything originally owned by the Zhang family, and began to dream of becoming the supreme leader of the three provinces of Zhili.

For Zhuang Mingqi, he didn't want to pay any attention to the message for help from Yuzhou.

In his opinion, it would be better for Lu Gang of Yuzhou to lead his troops and fight to the death with the Northwest Revolutionary Army, causing losses to the other side while alleviating the pressure faced by the three provinces of Zhili. If Lu Gang still has a large number of troops under his command, he might compete with him for the top position in the three provinces of Zhili in the future.

After all, in terms of seniority and military achievements, Lu Gang is superior to himself.

At this time, Zhuang Mingqi was completely blinded by the pleasure brought by the power he had never touched. No matter if he was stupid or foolish, the position of commander-in-chief of the Jiaozhou Army, which was regarded as a hot potato by others at this time, was a rare and delicious commodity in his eyes.

Five days later, a piece of news came that shocked the three provinces of Zhili. Lu Gang, commander-in-chief of the First Central Plains Army, led the remaining troops under his command and formally declared surrender to the Northern Frontier Central Government. After losing the resistance of the First Central Plains Army, the entire Yuzhou had become a flat land under the iron cavalry of the Northwest Revolutionary Army Coalition. In just two days, more than 100,000 coalition forces had arrived at the eastern border of Yuzhou, preparing to launch a final encirclement and suppression of the Second and Third Central Plains Army in Fengzhou together with the Feng faction on the southern line.

"Lu Gang is such a bastard. Is he worthy of the Governor's training and the General Command's trust in him? This damn bastard actually led his army to surrender to the Northern Frontier Government. Now all the pressure is concentrated on Fengzhou. Once the two Central Plains Army Groups in Fengzhou can't bear the pressure and surrender, how can we defend Jiaozhou when enemies come from all directions?"

In front of Zhuang Mingqi, Zhao Tai, who was promoted by him to be the Secretary-General of the Jiaozhou Governor's Office, secretly complained in his heart that Zhuang Mingqi had it all to blame. If he had not refused to send troops to support Yuzhou, how could Lu Gang suddenly surrender? If you put yourself in his shoes, thinking about it, Zhuang Mingqi would probably be the first to surrender if he was in the same situation of running out of ammunition and food, being at the end of his rope, and being isolated and helpless.

Moreover, Zhuang Mingqi had the nerve to say that Lu Gang was ungrateful to the Governor's training. It had been less than half a month since Zhuang Mingqi moved into the Governor's Mansion, but he had already pulled several of Zhang Chengxiang's concubines into his bed. This was extremely despicable.

"Commander, I think we should find a way to send troops to support Fengzhou. Otherwise, if Fengzhou falls, Jiaozhou will be in a situation where we are alone and helpless. If one loses the other, the other will be in trouble."

Zhuang Mingqi nodded: "Send a telegram to Guo Yumin! Ask him to lead the Jiaozhou Third Army to the east to Fengshan City in Fengzhou to provide military support to the Second and Third Armies of Zhongyuan!"

"We must keep the enemy out of Jiaozhou. If necessary, we can withdraw the two armies to the border of Jiaozhou and unite them to resist the foreign enemies together!"

"Yes, Commander."