Newborn 1927

The current situation is unfavorable for Chiang Kai-shek, so he naturally hopes for external support. Following Wu Tiecheng, he sent Zhang Qun to Shenyang to try and persuade Zhang Xueliang to lead his troops into the pass. As for Yang Jiefang, no one was sent. He directly and publicly announced the appointment, officially appointing Yang Jiefang as the commander of the Pingjin Garrison. Whether he wanted to appease Yang Jiefang or sow discord between Yang Jiefang and Yan Xishan, he achieved his goal.

Yang Jiefang did not publicly comment on this appointment. Yan Xishan, however, dared not be careless, ordering Fu Zuoyi to hold firm in Beijing and Tianjin, and not to rush south. Ultimately, he was reluctant to abandon Beijing and Tianjin; the current situation was excellent, and there was no need for Fu Zuoyi's troops to march south. It was precisely because of his meticulous calculations that he not only failed to secure Yang Jiefang's strong support, but also effectively trapped Fu Zuoyi's 100,000-strong army in Beijing and Tianjin. He had to guard against both the Northeast Army and the People's Liberation Army. Yang Jiefang secretly shook his head at him; when it came to decisiveness, Yan Xishan was far inferior to Feng Yuxiang.

When Yang Jiefang returned home that afternoon, he found Zhao Xiaohui waiting at the door, holding her child. Seeing her red-rimmed eyes, he couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong? What happened?" Zhao Xiaohui replied, "My second brother is in trouble. Can you help him?" Yang Jiefang frowned and asked, "What happened to him?" Zhao Xiaohui answered, "His unit suffered a defeat. He's trapped in the chaos of battle and is very likely to have been captured by the enemy."

Yang Jiefang pressed further, "Can you be sure? Are they really captured?" Zhao Xiaohui replied, "Not entirely sure. They're nowhere to be found, neither alive nor dead. It seems they were captured by the enemy?"

Yang Jiefang comforted her, saying, "Since no body was found, he must still be alive. Here's what we'll do! I'll go and find out. If he really was captured by the Northwest Army, rescuing him shouldn't be too difficult. Don't be sad! Come inside!" His words reassured Zhao Xiaohui, and she followed Yang Jiefang into the house, comforting the child in her arms as they went.

Yang Jiefang took his son from her arms and held him in his own. The little rascal, who had been sleeping soundly in Zhao Xiaohui's arms, immediately woke up in Yang Jiefang's. He seemed unwilling to stay in Yang Jiefang's arms, crying and fussing incessantly. Zhao Xiaohui had no choice but to take him back. Strangely enough, as soon as he was in Zhao Xiaohui's arms, he immediately quieted down.

Yang Jiefang frowned, his face darkening. "Looks like this kid's just not close to me!" Zhao Xiaohui replied, "It's because you haven't spent enough time with him. He's shy around strangers." There was a hint of resentment in her voice. Yang Jiefang responded, "Okay, I'll spend more time with him when I have time."

Upon entering his study, Yang Jiefang quickly drafted a telegram and sent it out immediately, instructing his bodyguard to run the errand. The telegram was addressed to Feng Yuxiang. He sent the unit number of Zhao Changyi and asked him to check if such a person had been captured. If so, Yang Jiefang was willing to pay a ransom for him.

Yang Jiefang had expected a reply, but received one that very evening from Feng Yuxiang. In the telegram, Feng Yuxiang stated that he didn't want money; if Yang Jiefang was willing to exchange weapons and ammunition, he could have his men investigate. Yang Jiefang deduced from the telegram that Zhao Changyi was likely in Feng Yuxiang's hands, simply waiting for Yang Jiefang to make an offer. Ye Ting was right; the Northwest Army was certainly short of ammunition.

Yang Jiefang immediately replied with a telegram, offering to exchange the weapons and equipment of an infantry company and ten rounds of ammunition for Zhao Changyi. Zhao Changyi was only a deputy company commander; to offer him the weapons of an entire infantry company was a great honor.

The next day, Feng Yuxiang telegraphed back, saying that Zhao Changyi had been found. He instructed Yang Jiefang to prepare weapons and ammunition to exchange for Zhao. Yang Jiefang immediately telegraphed Sun Zhiyong, who was stationed in Xinxiang, instructing him to prepare ammunition to exchange Zhao for Zhao in Zhengzhou.

The weapons used by the Northwest Army were rather varied, differing from the standard weapons used by the People's Liberation Army after its re-equipment. However, the weapons used by local security forces were also miscellaneous. Sun Zhiyong selected a batch from the local security forces' arsenals and sent them over. After Zhao Changyi was ransomed, Sun Zhiyong immediately arranged for him to be flown to Jinan.

After surviving a brush with death, Zhao Changyi was inevitably filled with emotion upon meeting his family. After they finished speaking, Yang Jiefang received him privately in the study. The original owner's memories of Zhao Changyi were quite hazy; this was Yang Jiefang's first time meeting this brother-in-law, whose allegiance was uncertain. The two sat facing each other, neither knowing where to begin.

Finally, Zhao Changyi spoke first, saying, "Thank you very much this time!" Yang Jiefang replied, "We're no strangers now, so let's skip the formalities. What are your plans for the future?" Zhao Changyi asked, "Could you help me ransom all the captured brothers in my company?" Yang Jiefang frowned and said, "Do I have that obligation?" Zhao Changyi replied, "The reason I was captured was because I didn't want to abandon my brothers and escape alone. Now I've been ransomed, but my brothers are imprisoned in a prisoner-of-war camp... How is this any different from desertion? How can I face my former comrades?"

Yang Jiefang asked, "You still want to go back to your original unit?" Zhao Changyi replied proudly, "I am a soldier. As long as I have a breath left, I should return to my unit." Yang Jiefang smiled slightly and said, "It's rare to see someone so loyal, still thinking of his brothers at this time. I'll spend a little money to help you redeem those men." Zhao Changyi stood up and said, "Thank you!" After that, the two had nothing more to say and took their leave.

Yang Jiefang telegraphed Feng Yuxiang again, offering to exchange weapons and ammunition for all the prisoners from Zhao Changyi's company. Feng Yuxiang quickly replied in agreement, providing a list of ammunition. He didn't care about the few dozen prisoners; the more weapons and ammunition, the better.

Yang Jiefang immediately arranged for weapons and ammunition to be transported to Zhengzhou to exchange for the prisoners. Zhao Changyi received the news and requested to go to Zhengzhou personally to hand over the prisoners. Yang Jiefang agreed and sent a plane to take Zhao Changyi to Xinxiang. After receiving the prisoners, Zhao Changyi did not return to Jinan, but instead led the prisoners through northern Henan into southwestern Shandong, and then south to Xuzhou to rejoin his unit.

Yang Jiefang thought the matter was over. However, a few days later, Zhao Changyi returned to Jinan. This time, he actually wanted Yang Jiefang to intervene and ransom all the captured Central Army officers. This was certainly not his own idea; it was probably on Chiang Kai-shek's orders. Chiang Kai-shek still valued his students highly.

Yang Jiefang said with a playful tone, "I saved you back then because you're my brother-in-law. What do the others have to do with me? Why should I redeem them?" Zhao Changyi asked, "What are your conditions?" Yang Jiefang replied casually, "If they also have a beautiful younger sister who can be sent to my side, I might consider it."

Zhao Changyi said coldly, "I didn't know my little sister came to Jinan to find you, otherwise I would have stopped her. Now that things have come to this, there's nothing we can do. Those captured officers are all my comrades-in-arms, and their sisters are like my own. I would never trade my own sister!"

Yang Jiefang laughed heartily and said, "There's nothing I can do, it's just one of my hobbies. If you don't want to, then forget it."

Zhao Changyi said, “You are not short of money, nor are you short of weapons and ammunition. Your territory is not small, and your position is not low. I doubt you would be interested in what I have to offer. If you help me get this done, I will owe you a favor.”

Yang Jiefang said disdainfully, "Are your favors worth that much? I saved you and helped you save your brother last time only because of Xiaohui. Don't think you're something just because you're Xiaohui's second brother!"

Zhao Changyi said with a stern face, "My favors are indeed worthless right now. Who can guarantee that you won't need them in the near future?"

Yang Jiefang looked at Zhao Changyi with some surprise. Where did this guy get the confidence to talk like that?

Zhao Changyi continued, "To be honest, my capture and subsequent release, even if it proves I didn't defect, is still a stain on my record. Moreover, our relationship has been completely exposed. If nothing unexpected happens, my path to promotion is blocked. That's why I took on this task. If I handle this well, it will be a merit. I won't expect a promotion beyond my rank, but a normal promotion is definitely possible. The higher my position, the greater the favor I'll have to repay you in the future."

Judging from his confident demeanor, Yang Jiefang guessed that there must be important figures or their sons and nephews among these captured officers.

Zhao Changyi continued, “We both know the grudges between our two families. It was all done by my father, my uncle, and my brother. I myself have never done anything to harm your family in the slightest. I have always opposed their scheming and plotting against the villagers. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Zhao Changming and the others. My view has always been that if you have the ability, go scheme against outsiders; what kind of skill is it to bully your own people? He was beaten to death by the villagers, which is what he deserved. So, don’t worry that I will seek revenge on you in the future. Besides, for the sake of your sister and grandson, you should let go of what needs to be let go!”

He spoke with such sincerity that if he was acting, then his acting skills were truly exceptional. Yang Jiefang immediately said seriously, "We're family, so let's not beat around the bush. If you need help, who else can I rely on? However, let me make this clear: I can help you redeem your people, but don't try to settle scores later and accuse me of aiding the enemy!" Zhao Changyi replied, "Don't worry! I can guarantee that."

Yang Jiefang telegraphed Feng Yuxiang again, proposing to exchange prisoners for weapons, ammunition, and medicine. Feng Yuxiang was conflicted; releasing the prisoners would undoubtedly strengthen the Central Army, but keeping them meant he lacked the necessary supplies. After careful consideration, he agreed to the exchange.

Clearly, Feng Yuxiang lacked the ability to convert prisoners of war. The Central Army treated prisoners much better than the Northwest Army, especially the officers who had graduated from military academies, whose loyalty to Chiang Kai-shek was still considerable. Although captured, they were unwilling to join Feng Yuxiang's forces. For Feng Yuxiang, killing prisoners was inauspicious, and keeping them alive was useless, only wasting already scarce food supplies; it was better to exchange them for urgently needed weapons and ammunition.

After Yang Jiefang prepared the supplies based on the list provided by Feng Yuxiang, he was personally escorted by Zhao Changyi to Xinxiang, and then went south to Zhengzhou to trade with Feng Yuxiang.

Yan Xishan eventually learned of Yang Jiefang's help in redeeming Chiang Kai-shek's captors. Yan became increasingly wary of Yang, sending him multiple telegrams attempting to persuade him to lead his troops south to attack Xuzhou. However, Fu Zuoyi's Jin army remained in the Pingjin area, refusing to move. Yang was exasperated; it would be a miracle if he could defeat Chiang Kai-shek. It was foreseeable that even without the Northeast Army's entry into the pass and without his unexpected intervention, the outcome of the Central Plains War would not have been reversed. The anti-Chiang alliance was doomed to defeat.

In mid-June, the two sides engaged in fierce fighting again. Feng Yuxiang set up an ambush in eastern Henan and won another battle. He immediately contacted Yang Jiefang, wanting to exchange prisoners for ammunition. This shows that under the intense fighting, his ammunition supply could not keep up with the rate of consumption.

However, a turn of events occurred on the Hunan battlefield. The Central Army dispatched its navy and air force to support He Jian's three-pronged attack on Yueyang. While the fighting raged, the Guangdong Army under Jiang Guangnai and Cai Tingkai launched a surprise attack on Hengyang, successfully cutting off the Guangxi Army's retreat. The Guangxi Army was forced to withdraw from Yueyang and Changsha and return to counterattack Hengyang.

At this point, Yan Xishan also realized the situation was dire. Last year's two Jiang-Gui wars had both ended in disastrous defeats for the Guangxi army. The Guangxi army was already severely weakened, and its weaponry and ammunition supplies were far inferior to those of the Central Army. Unless a miracle occurred, the Guangxi army's defeat was inevitable. Once the Central Army in the southern theater was freed up to move to the Central Plains theater, Feng Yuxiang would definitely not be able to hold out.

Just as Ye Ting had predicted, the Northwest Army failed to advance south in time to join forces with the Guangxi Army, and the main force of the Shanxi Army was also stuck in the Beijing-Tianjin area. The various units of the anti-Chiang Kai-shek alliance were fighting their own battles and would inevitably be defeated one by one; the balance of power was quietly shifting.

Even more seriously, it is said that Zhang Xueliang, the young marshal in Northeast China, accepted 2 million silver dollars from Chiang Kai-shek as payment for military intervention. On June 21, Chiang Kai-shek officially appointed Zhang Xueliang as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Zhang Xueliang immediately issued a telegram suggesting that both sides withdraw their troops and cease hostilities, while still maintaining neutrality. Accepting 2 million silver dollars while maintaining neutrality was clearly an attempt to extort money.

Yan Xishan was now convinced that Yang Jiefang's initial assessment was correct: the Northeast Army would definitely side with Chiang Kai-shek. He dared not hesitate any longer and issued an appointment, appointing Yang Jiefang as the Commander-in-Chief of the Beijing-Tianjin Garrison in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armed Forces. He also dispatched Xu Yongchang to Jinan again to discuss the troop rotation with Yang Jiefang.

Yang Jiefang, having anticipated this, took out a map and spread it on the table, saying, "Brother Xu, please take a look! To prevent the Northeast Army from taking the opportunity to enter the pass and seize territory, what do you think of this arrangement? My Fourth Division will be transported by ship from Jiaodong to Qinhuangdao for landing. We will first take over the defense of Qinhuangdao and Zunhua. Subsequently, my troops stationed along the Jinpu Railway will be transferred away from the railway line. Fu Zuoyi's troops will then move south and can be stationed in the Tengxian and Minxian areas. At the same time, my Second Division will move north along the Pinghan Railway to take over Beiping, and the Fifth Division will take over Tianjin, Tangshan, and other places."

Xu Yongchang nodded and said, "I have no objection to this arrangement. However, to avoid accidental clashes between our two armies, the handover time needs to be carefully planned!" Yang Jiefang said, "Then let's create a time difference. Please withdraw your troops quietly tonight, and my troops will take over the next morning. The same applies to the Lunan side." Xu Yongchang sighed and said, "Alright, let's arrange it that way!"

Yang Jiefang laughed and said, "Brother Xu, why are you sighing?" Xu Yongchang said, "Brother Yang, you've seen it yourself. I'm afraid the Northeast Army can't be brought back. If even you side with them, we will surely be defeated. If that day comes, you won't need to lift a finger, Brother Yang. Just let me know, and I will surrender without resistance and make you a hero."

Yang Jiefang laughed and said, "Brother Xu, what makes you say that? I made it clear beforehand that I would not interfere in the Party's internal affairs, but I would help you prevent the Northeast Army from entering the pass. To this day, I am also following Commander-in-Chief Yan's orders to take over the defense of the Beijing-Tianjin area. Do you not trust me?"

Xu Yongchang gave a wry smile. The procedure for the troop rotation revealed that neither side truly trusted the other. The difference was that Yang Jiefang held the upper hand. He stood up, took Yang Jiefang's hand, and said, "Brother Yang, let me say something that will boost our morale. If we are defeated, could you lend us a hand? Let's preserve some seeds for our Jin army!"

Yang Jiefang replied, "To declare defeat before even fighting is not the way of a general! Brother Xu, as a soldier, even when surrounded by powerful enemies and trapped in a desperate situation, you should have the courage to fight to the death! If you act like this, what will your officers and soldiers think?"

Xu Yongchang shook his head, composed himself, and said, "Brother Yang, from the first time we met, I've had a special fondness for you. I just hope we never meet on the battlefield!" Yang Jiefang replied, "Brother Xu, I feel the same way. If unfortunately it really comes to that, I will never fire the first shot."

The two then saluted each other. Xu Yongchang took his leave. Watching his retreating figure, Yang Jiefang felt a pang of regret: he only possessed a somewhat prescient, God-like perspective. In terms of foresight, he couldn't compare to Ye Ting and Xu Yongchang; they had long foreseen the outcome of the Central Plains War. Poor Xu Yongchang! Knowing defeat was inevitable, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and persevere.