Newborn 1927

Chapter 244 Taking Advantage of the Fire

Yang Jiefang pondered for a moment, then said, "Your General Staff should draft a troop rotation plan for me: transfer Liu Zhennian's Fifth Army from the southern Shandong region to Jiaodong. The Third Army under Zhao Changming is sufficient to garrison the southern Shandong and eastern Henan regions. Also, the Guard Brigade stationed in Jinan needs to be expanded. Upgrade the brigade headquarters to a division headquarters and change the Guard Brigade to a Guards Division."

Lu Zhonglin immediately noted it down and then said, "Commander, after the attack on Longche, all units have entered a state of combat readiness. There's been some trouble in the eastern Henan region. Commander Zhao of the Third Army has led his troops to besiege Guide (i.e., Shangqiu)..." As he spoke, he presented the Third Army's military report.

Yang Jiefang was greatly surprised and asked in surprise, "What happened in the eastern Henan region? Why would Zhao Changming use troops without authorization?" As he spoke, he opened the military report.

The situation in eastern Henan was complex, and to explain it clearly, we must begin with the Central Plains War. At the end of the Central Plains War, the various units of the Northwest Army had different choices regarding their future. Some chose to join Chiang Kai-shek, after all, the Central Army was the legitimate authority, with a moral high ground. Unfortunately, Chiang Kai-shek didn't consider the Northwest Army as his own. Immediately after the war, he dispatched these Northwest Army units that had joined him south to encircle and suppress the Red Army. His purpose was self-evident: to let them fight each other, weakening them both.

Among them, Ji Hongchang's 22nd Route Army was transferred to Henan, Anhui, and Jiangsu provinces. Sun Lianzhong's 26th Route Army was transferred to Jiangxi. The 26th Route Army consisted of two infantry divisions and one cavalry division, and had been a main force in the Northwest Army. This cavalry division still had more than 5,000 men and more than 3,000 horses. The division commander was Guan Shuren, and his officers and soldiers at all levels were veterans who had experienced many battles. Although their equipment was poor, their combat effectiveness was quite strong. Sun Lianzhong considered that the Jiangxi region was all mountainous, and the cavalry would not be of much use. Therefore, he only led the two infantry divisions south, leaving the cavalry division in eastern Henan to fend for themselves.

Sun Lianzhong had no territory of his own, and his military expenses relied entirely on allocations from the Ministry of Military Affairs. The Ministry treated them like stepchildren; for the troops participating in the encirclement and suppression campaigns, they would at least receive some funding after much delay and scraping. But the cavalry division left behind in eastern Henan was in dire straits; the Ministry of Military Affairs wouldn't provide a single penny. Perhaps pressured by the demands, they simply passed the buck to Han Fuqu, the commander-in-chief of the 3rd Route Army. Han Fuqu was also the chairman of Henan Province, so it was reasonable for him to supply provisions to the local garrisons within Henan.

Han Fuqu's 3rd Route Army suffered losses in battle against Fu Zuoyi's Jin army in Xuzhou. The entire army numbered only slightly over 20,000, organized into three infantry divisions and one pistol brigade. Before the Central Plains War, Han Fuqu had a cavalry division under his command, commanded by Zhang Deshun. However, before the outbreak of the war, Zhang Deshun led his troops in a defection, first siding with his former superior Feng Yuxiang, and later joining Yang Jiefang, where they were incorporated into the People's Liberation Army's 2nd Cavalry Division. Warlords like Han Fuqu understood the principle that having guns meant being a warlord; the more troops under one's command, the more secure one's position. This cavalry division of the 26th Route Army became a target for Han Fuqu.

But to support the army, one needed food and money. Since Zhengzhou and Kaifeng were both in the hands of the People's Liberation Army, Han Fuqu had no choice but to establish the provincial capital in Guide. His troops were stationed in eastern Henan, and the area he could actually control was only a small part of eastern Henan.

The Central Plains War severely damaged production in eastern Henan. The people already had very little food. Even digging three feet into the ground wouldn't yield much profit. While plundering the people of eastern Henan, Han Fuqu also demanded money from Chiang Kai-shek. He further demanded, under the pretext of preventing Yang Jiechi's southward expansion, that the cavalry division of the 26th Route Army be transferred to the 3rd Route Army.

President Chiang Kai-shek did indeed agree to Han Fuqu's request, but there was no payment for the troops. He needed to prioritize supplying his own Central Army's elite troops with the money he had on hand. As for these non-elite warlord troops, he naturally had to be careful with them.

The cavalry division was struggling to keep up with the daily food and fodder consumption, not to mention the need to purchase winter clothing. Han Fuqu was quickly reaching his limit, and the supplies he could provide were dwindling. Guan Shuren, in order to help his troops get through the harsh winter, had to find his own solution, so he set his sights on the People's Liberation Army.

The People's Liberation Army stationed in eastern Henan was the Third Army under Zhao Changming. This Third Army, apart from its Third Division, which was Yang Jiefang's direct subordinate force, also included the Tenth and Fifteenth Divisions, which were reorganized from the Northwest Army. Many of its officers were acquainted with Guan Shuren. Guan Shuren then went to them to borrow grain.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) had ample supplies; its units lacked neither food nor clothing, and their pay was neither withheld nor delayed, so they lived quite comfortably. However, they couldn't secretly provide any aid to Guan Shuren or smuggle supplies out for sale. Unlike other warlord armies, the PLA had its own independent logistics system, and unit commanders couldn't directly interfere with the allocation of supplies within their units. They couldn't directly supply Guan Shuren, but they did report his plight to the higher authorities.

Upon receiving the report from his subordinates, Zhao Changming's mind immediately began to work. Han Fuqu wanted Guan Shuren's cavalry division, and so did Zhao Changming. Since following Yang Jiefang, Zhao Changming had learned Yang Jiefang's methods: problems that could be solved with money weren't problems at all. He immediately allocated a batch of grain and a thousand sets of new clothing to Guan Shuren. He also sent a message: "We are all Chinese soldiers, comrades-in-arms fighting to protect our country. We should help each other in times of difficulty. If you encounter any problems in the future, feel free to come to Kaifeng to find me."

The grain that Zhao Changming sent wasn't just any ordinary grain; besides high-quality white flour, it also included pork, chicken, and fish. This delighted the officers and soldiers of the cavalry division, who hadn't tasted meat for three months, allowing them to celebrate the Lunar New Year early.

The noble virtue of doing good deeds anonymously was something Yang Jiefang hadn't taught, and Zhao Changming hadn't learned. Sending out so much grain and clothing all at once—if Han Fuqu didn't know, wouldn't it be a waste? Upon hearing the news, Han Fuqu immediately became suspicious and sent men to the cavalry division's camp to investigate. Actually, no investigation was needed; simply entering the cavalry division's camp and seeing some men wearing camouflage uniforms and new cotton-padded coats revealed everything. Therefore, Han Fuqu became wary of the cavalry division, and the supplies he provided dwindled even further.

The cavalry division quickly ran out of rations, and the officers and soldiers below pointed the finger at Guan Shuren to borrow some more from the People's Liberation Army. Guan Shuren knew in his heart that no matter how nicely Zhao Changming spoke, he couldn't just eat his rations for free. So he went to his two brigade commanders, Zhang Huatang and Zhu Changde, to discuss the matter.

Guan Shuren said, “My two brothers, you both know the current situation. Our cavalry division belongs to the 26th Route Army. Now we are caught between Han Fuqu and the People’s Liberation Army. If we try to offend neither side, the result will definitely be that we will please neither side. What should we do? Tell me your thoughts!”

Zhang Huatang and Zhu Changde were of the same mind: "Commander Sun led his army south, but the initial battle was unsuccessful, and the losses were considerable! He can't afford to worry about us now. We have several thousand men; we can't just starve to death here, can we? We have no choice but to find a way out ourselves. If we're going to change allegiance, we need to find a reliable and wealthy patron."

The meaning couldn't be clearer: they were going to defect to the People's Liberation Army. Even though they were both from the Northwest Army, the treatment of defecting to the PLA was worlds apart from that of defecting to the Central Army! They were now somewhat regretful; why hadn't they chosen to defect to Yang Jiefang back then?

The three quickly reached a consensus. Guan Shuren wrote a letter to Zhao Changming, mainly about borrowing grain. However, he also wrote in the letter: "Today we have received your help, my virtuous brother. If there is any war in the future, we brothers are willing to do our best to help you."

Without a word, Zhao Changming sent another batch of grain to the cavalry division, but did not immediately incorporate them into his forces. Some things cannot be rushed; you have to play the long game to catch the big fish.

When news spread that Yang Jiefang's chariot had been destroyed, Zhao Changming was shocked and immediately ordered all units to enter a state of high alert. He knew that at this time, the most important thing was to stabilize the troops and prevent anyone with ulterior motives from taking advantage of the situation. As it turned out, their actions were not superfluous. He soon received a letter from Guan Shuren.

In his letter, Guan Shuren told Zhao Changming that the cavalry division had received a secret order from Han Fuqu to launch a surprise attack on Minquan County and seize the supply warehouse at the Minquan Railway Station. This warehouse contained a large quantity of grain. This grain was not military supplies, but rather intended to provide rations for the people of eastern Henan.

Unlike local warlords such as Han Fuqu, Yang Jiefang did not levy taxes or grain levies on the newly occupied areas of Henan. Instead, he sought to provide relief to the people in these areas and help them get through the winter. His method was simple: work relief. Within the areas he controlled, he undertook water conservancy projects and road repairs. The grain, cotton cloth, and other supplies stored at the Minquan County railway station were used to pay the workers' wages.

Although there were troops stationed in Minquan County, their numbers were small. With the cavalry division's fighting strength, taking it wouldn't be difficult. However, Guan Shuren was unwilling and dared not do so. He didn't know if this was Han Fuqu's intention or the higher-ups', but provoking the People's Liberation Army at this time, regardless of whether the junior commander was dead or alive, could potentially invite the PLA's full-scale retaliation. Therefore, he chose to inform Zhao Changming.

Zhao Changming was seething with anger. He knew that whether Han Fuqu was testing him or the higher-ups were using this opportunity to deal with the People's Liberation Army, he couldn't afford to show weakness now. He immediately sent someone to contact Guan Shuren and ask if he was willing to join the People's Liberation Army. If he was, he would do as he was asked; if not, they would part ways and have nothing to do with each other anymore.

At this point, what else could Guan Shuren consider? He decided to take a gamble, hoping that this exceptionally talented young commander wouldn't die young. So he told the messenger that he was willing to follow Zhao Changming's orders.

Subsequently, Guan Shuren assembled his cavalry division and charged towards Minquan County. They did not engage the People's Liberation Army (PLA), but instead entered the PLA's 3rd Army's defense zone through Minquan County. He then sent a messenger to Guide to report: "Our unit has successfully occupied Minquan County and captured a large quantity of supplies. What should we do with them?"

Upon hearing the news, Han Fuqu was overjoyed. The cavalry division had taken the blame, but he was determined to reap the benefits. He immediately ordered the 20th Division of the 3rd Route Army to rush to Minquan County to take over the supply warehouse, and ideally, transport the supplies back to Deyang.

Sun Tongxuan, commander of the 20th Division, had just arrived in Minquan County when his troops were surrounded by the People's Liberation Army and the cavalry division of the 26th Route Army. Realizing he had been tricked, Sun Tongxuan quickly telegraphed Han Fuqu for help. However, Han Fuqu was already in dire straits, as Guide was also surrounded by the People's Liberation Army at almost the same time. At that time, Guide only had one pistol brigade, which was struggling to defend itself, let alone rescue the 20th Division. Not only that, the 22nd and 29th Divisions of the 3rd Route Army were also surrounded by Zhao Changming's 3rd Army in their respective garrisons.

Because the young commander's fate was unknown, Zhao Changming dared not go too far. He simply surrounded the various units of the 3rd Route Army, then reported to the General Staff and awaited instructions. However, the General Staff also dared not make a decision on its own. If the young commander was safe and sound, Zhao Changming could do whatever he wanted; but if the young commander met the same fate as Old Zhang, then the matter would become troublesome. So the matter was put on hold.

After learning the details, Yang Jiefang sneered, "So some people really dare to take advantage of a crisis! If you want to rob others, you should be prepared to be robbed. Give me the order to have the Third Army confiscate the weapons of this Third Route Army. If there is any resistance, annihilate them on the spot!" Anyone who dares to come looking for trouble must be resolutely fought back. Just as the instructor said: "A good start prevents a hundred more."

However, before Yang Jiefang's order could be sent out, Zhao Changming's telegram arrived first. In the telegram, Zhao Changming reported: The People's Liberation Army has entered Guide, and the entire 3rd Route Army has surrendered.

Initially, Zhao Changming's siege of the 3rd Route Army was merely a show of force. Later, upon learning that Yang Jiefang was safe and sound, his courage grew. Especially after yesterday, when Yang Jiefang safely arrived in Jinan from Wanping Airport and made a public appearance at the air force base, Zhao Changming was completely reassured. As long as his young commander was around, he feared nothing, even if it meant causing a major upheaval. Therefore, early this morning, he issued an ultimatum to the besieged units of the 3rd Route Army: surrender within a specified time.

Meanwhile, Han Fuqu learned of the young commander's safe return and fell into utter despair. Since being besieged by the People's Liberation Army, he had repeatedly pleaded with Chiang Kai-shek for help. Initially, Chiang Kai-shek replied, urging him to hold on. Later, news arrived that the young commander was unharmed, and Chiang Kai-shek stopped replying. Now, needless to say, all his pleading telegrams had vanished without a trace. Finally, having exhausted all other options, he consulted with Wu Huawen, the commander of the pistol brigade and concurrently the commander of the Guide city defense.

Wu Huawen was speechless. How could his pistol brigade of just over two thousand men possibly withstand their planes and tanks? He directly advised Han Fuqu to surrender and relinquish military power, hoping he could retain his position as provincial governor. But Han Fuqu was unwilling to give up his military power. He clung to a sliver of hope, wanting to hold on a little longer, hoping a miracle might happen.

Wu Huawen had no desire to wait any longer, so he turned around and surrendered Guide City, voluntarily surrendering to the People's Liberation Army. Subsequently, he sent a message through the military headquarters' radio to three infantry divisions, ordering them to lay down their arms and surrender.

In this way, Zhao Changming captured Guide without losing a single soldier or bullet, and also seized the weapons of the 3rd Route Army. Guide was the seat of the Yudong Circuit, so capturing Guide meant controlling the entire Yudong region.

After receiving Zhao Changming's telegram, Yang Jiefang carefully considered the aftermath and quickly devised a solution. The 26th Route Army's cavalry division was directly reorganized into the People's Liberation Army's 5th Cavalry Division, under the command of the 3rd Army, with Guan Shuren remaining as the division commander. However, the division's personnel would increase, its horses would be replenished, and its strength would be further enhanced.

As for Han Fuqu, let him continue to serve as the commander-in-chief of the 3rd Route Army and the chairman of Henan Province. This was personally appointed by President Chiang Kai-shek, and Yang Jiefang didn't want to completely break off relations, so he didn't touch him. However, none of his soldiers were spared; they were all reorganized on the spot into the 6th Army of the People's Liberation Army. Peng Dahu, the deputy commander of the 3rd Army, was transferred there to become the army commander, and Peng Fangtao, one of the two "tigers" of the Peng family, was appointed as the chief of staff.

The three infantry divisions were reorganized into the 16th, 17th, and 18th Divisions, respectively. The brigade-level organizational structure was abolished, with each division headquarters directly commanding one of the four infantry regiments. All officers above the regimental level were demoted and transferred to the 3rd Army. A number of divisional and regimental-level officers were then transferred from the 3rd Army to the 6th Army. Only Wu Huawen was promoted instead of demoted, remaining as commander of the 16th Division. The pistol brigade was reorganized into a military dependents' guard regiment, but the regimental commander was definitely transferred from the 3rd Army.

The officers and soldiers of the 3rd Route Army showed little resistance to being reorganized into the People's Liberation Army; in fact, the lower-ranking soldiers were secretly pleased. After all, the PLA's treatment was far superior to that of the 3rd Route Army. After the entire army was reorganized, it was deployed to the southern Shandong region for further training. Meanwhile, Liu Zhennian's 5th Army unit in southern Shandong was transferred to the Jiaodong region for garrison duty.