Black Flag Army

While waiting for Zhang Zhenyang and Zhang Shusheng, Di Xiong said seriously: "Mr. Wu and Sister Lan are indeed military strategists. If you work together to think about extremely difficult things, you will be able to come up with a solution."

Lan Jinping smiled and said, "It's not as exaggerated as you said. It's just a plot to sow discord. Anyone who has read the Thirty-Six Stratagems knows that you have always been cunning. As long as you calm down and think about it, you can also think of it. It's just that you have too many things to do recently and can't devote your energy to it."

When Zhang Zhenyang and Zhang Shusheng walked into the conference room, the venue fell silent. Everyone listened to Di Xiong telling the two Zhangs about the difficulties they faced and how to deal with them.

After Zhang Shusheng defected to Di Xiong, Di Xiong appointed him as the commander of the third regiment of the Baotou Guard Brigade.

As expected, Zhang Zhenyang said, "Xiao Qingzhi, the commander of the 2nd Regiment of the 1st Infantry Brigade of the 20th Division, was originally the deputy brigade commander of the 20th Town. Because he had conflicts with Pan Juying in the past, Pan Juying was vindictive. After becoming the commander of the 20th Division, he originally planned to drive Xiao Qingzhi away like he drove us away. However, the Beiyang boss spoke for him, so Xiao Qingzhi stayed. However, he was demoted to the commander of the regiment. He must hate Pan Juying very much in his heart. I can visit Xiao Qingzhi and persuade him to turn against us and help us win this battle."

Zhang Shusheng said, "When I was in the 20th Town, I often drank with Xiao Qingzhi, so I am more familiar with him. Let me go. I have just arrived at the Baotou Security Brigade not long ago, and I have not made any achievements, but I have become the regiment commander. There must be people who are dissatisfied. I hope Commander Di can give me this opportunity."

Di Xiong took out his checkbook and pen, filled out a check, and then said to Zhang Shusheng, "Being an envoy is very dangerous, especially an envoy who is trying to rebel. You haven't seen Captain Xiao for a long time, and people's hearts can change. Are you sure you want to go?"

Zhang Shusheng said: "No venture, no gain. Now is an extremely dangerous moment in Baotou. As an old subordinate of Brigade Commander Zhang, I cannot retreat at this time. Even if my life is in danger, I don't want to give up participating in this subversion operation."

Di Xiong said: "In this case, the task of instigating rebellion this time will be handed over to Captain Zhang. In order to prevent the other party from becoming suspicious, it is not convenient for me to send too many people to protect you. You have to be more careful."

Zhang Shusheng said: "There is no need to arrange anyone to protect me. I know many people in Xiao Qingzhi's group. If I go alone, they will feel more at ease."

After hearing what Zhang Shusheng said, Di Xiong didn't say much and handed the check to Zhang Shusheng. After Zhang Shusheng prepared the things he wanted to take, he set off directly.

After Zhang Shusheng left, Wu Zhong asked Di Xiong: "Do you think this man is reliable? Will the other side's regiment really turn against their old boss?"

Di Xiong replied: "No matter whether Captain Zhang can come back alive or not, and no matter whether he can instigate Xiao Qingzhi to rebel, we cannot relax our preparations. Pan Juying is aggressive this time and is aiming at Baotou and the aircraft factory. I'm afraid a fierce battle between us and the 20th Division is inevitable."

On the other side, although the Beiyang 20th Division had arrived not far from Baotou, due to the large number of people, almost all of the division was dispatched, including the heavy artillery regiment and a large number of logistics troops. Therefore, the marching speed was slow. Although there were only ten miles left to Baotou, it was already dark. The officers and soldiers of the 20th Division were exhausted, and everyone was exhausted. Brigade commanders Fan Guozhang and Xiao Guangchuan began to complain to Pan Juying. Staff officer Qian Dashan also suggested to Pan Juying that they should attack tomorrow. Although Pan Juying was still angry, looking at these soldiers who lacked fighting spirit, he had to agree with Qian Dashan's suggestion and let the troops prepare to rest on the spot. They occupied a nearby village. The people here had already fled, and the bungalows in the village suddenly became the headquarters of the 20th Division headquarters and the direct regiment, and most of the officers and soldiers of the brigades below could only camp nearby to rest.

At this time, Zhang Shusheng, wearing a businessman's clothes, holding a pot of wine and wearing a straw hat, quietly approached the 20th Division's station. Since the 20th Division was resting in a hurry, the sentries were arranged in a sloppy manner, and Zhang Shusheng, who was an old officer, easily bypassed them. After a while, he found the regiment headquarters where Xiao Qingzhi was. Xiao Qingzhi's regiment headquarters was in a farmhouse. There were two sentries standing at the door. They both looked quite tired. One of them leaned against the wall and fell asleep. Zhang Shusheng was not unfamiliar with these two sentries. He quietly walked up and said to the other one: "Xiao Zhao, you are lazy again!"

The sentry named Zhao woke up immediately when he heard the familiar voice. He looked at the passers-by and found that it was his former boss Zhang Shusheng. He said, "It's the old commander! I heard that General Zhang went to Beijing, didn't you go with him? How did you come here?"

Zhang Shusheng replied: "I have no interest in going to Beijing. I followed Lu Zhankui to become a mountain king some time ago, but my life was ordinary. Today I met a few refugee civilians and heard that your troops were nearby, so I wanted to come and chat with your commander. Look, I even brought some wine."

Seeing that it was his old boss who came to visit, Xiao Zhao did not think too much about it and let Zhang Shusheng in without even disturbing his companions. At this time, Xiao Qingzhi in the room was not asleep. He was meeting with several staff officers to discuss the plan for attacking Baotou tomorrow. At this time, someone knocked on the door of the room. Xiao Qingzhi thought it was his boss who came to inspect, so he hurried out to check, but found his good friend Zhang Shusheng standing at the door with a pot of wine. He immediately realized that this old brother might have something to do with him again, so he pointed to the nearby kitchen and signaled Zhang Shusheng to hide there first. Then he closed the door and said to everyone in the room: "I think there is no need to discuss tomorrow's attack plan anymore. Brigadier General Pan is a fickle person himself, and he will probably not accept our opinions. Everyone go back and rest first."

The Brigade Commander Pan mentioned by Xiao Qingzhi is a distant relative of Pan Juying, named Pan Erxi. He is a typical good-for-nothing. At the beginning of last year, he was just a battalion commander of a ragtag army of the Beiyang government. As a result, he kept giving gifts to Pan Juying and always flattering him. This year, he suddenly became the brigade commander of the 20th Division and the superior of many veteran officers of the 20th Division. Many people were quite dissatisfied. Hearing what Xiao Qingzhi said, several staff officers were too lazy to continue to complete Pan Erxi's orders and left one after another. It was already late at night, and they all found a place to sleep.

Zhang Shusheng had been hiding in the corner of the kitchen. He waited until everyone else left before he walked back into Xiao Qingzhi's meeting room. Xiao Qingzhi looked at Zhang Shusheng solemnly and said, "Brother Zhang, you are not here to treat me to a drink, are you? What do you want to do by sneaking in to find me? We have some friendship, so please speak directly."

Zhang Shusheng put the wine jug aside, then found two bowls and filled them with wine. Then he said slowly: "Brother, you are indeed a straightforward person. Then I will tell you straight. General Zhang and Pan Juying have always had an old grudge. This time the control of Suiyuan was taken away by a man named Pan. He was dissatisfied and found out about your actions through an insider. He planned to use Di Congmo's army left in Baotou to defeat Pan Juying. But General Zhang knew that Di Congmo's power alone was not enough, and he also knew our friendship, so he sent me to infiltrate here as a lobbyist and asked you to cooperate with Di Congmo to defeat Pan Juying."

Zhang Shusheng was still cautious when he spoke. He did not say that he was sent by Di Xiong, but brought up Zhang Shaozeng's name. After all, Zhang Shaozeng had a higher prestige in Suiyuan. According to this statement, it seemed that both he and Di Xiong were still his subordinates. Anyway, Zhang Shaozeng had gone to Beijing and would probably not come back in the next few years. He could use him as an excuse to say anything. On the other hand, Zhang Shusheng felt that Xiao Qingzhi was not familiar with Di Xiong at all. If he told him the truth, he might not be willing to cooperate. If he used the name of his old boss, he would be more likely to listen.

After listening to this, Xiao Qingzhi said half-doubtingly: "It has been a long time since the Luanzhou Uprising. The Qing Dynasty has fallen, and General Zhang has gone to Beijing. Are you still unable to let go of the old grudge with Commander Pan? You said that you want me to cooperate with Di Congmo to defeat Commander Pan. If I do this, wouldn't I actually become a traitor? This is a very shameful and dangerous thing. Once it is exposed, my entire family will be executed. What's more, it is not easy for me to be the regiment commander. My family and money are basically in Beijing. Even if I cooperate with you to defeat Pan Juying, as long as someone escapes to Beijing alive, not only will the regiment commander not be able to continue, but everything left in Beijing will be gone, and my whole family will go to hell. I'm afraid they will curse me for being disloyal and unfilial."

Zhang Shusheng replied: "I have also thought about what Brother Xiao has considered. If you agree to cooperate with us to fight against Pan Juying, then our people will immediately send a telegram to General Zhang, asking him to send someone to relocate your family in advance. As for the issue of property..." Before Zhang Shusheng finished speaking, he slowly took out a check from his pocket, and then continued: "Di Congmo's Beihai Company has made a lot of money in Baotou. Do you think he has no money? This is a check that can be exchanged for 100,000 oceans. If you cooperate with us, then the payee of this check will be you. I think 100,000 oceans is enough to compensate for the property you lost in Beijing. I am afraid that you will not earn 100,000 oceans in your entire life as a group leader?"

When Xiao Qingzhi saw the check for 100,000 yuan, his breathing suddenly became heavy and he felt a little overwhelmed. 100,000 yuan had long surpassed all his property in Beijing. Seeing Xiao Qingzhi's attitude change, Zhang Shusheng continued: "Brother Xiao, I know you are not doing well in the 20th Division. You were originally the deputy brigade commander of the 3rd Brigade. Just because you gave too few gifts to Pan Juying, you were demoted to the regiment commander this year. Isn't this quite excessive? With your qualifications, the position of the brigade commander of the 3rd Brigade of the 20th Division should be yours. Pan Erxi is a scoundrel. What qualifications do he have to be the brigade commander? Pan Juying is so nepotistic, why do you have to follow him?"

Zhang Shusheng's words touched Xiao Qingzhi's sore spot. He was really dissatisfied with Pan Erxi being his superior, and Pan Erxi often came to him to complain and withhold his military pay. Moreover, the 100,000 yuan really made Xiao Qingzhi very tempted. After all, he was just a regiment commander suppressed by Pan Juying. If he continued to do this, he would definitely not make so much money in his lifetime. But Xiao Qingzhi was still a little hesitant and continued, "Old regiment commander, with only one brigade of Di Congmo in Baotou and one regiment in my hands, it may not be enough to destroy Pan Juying's nearly one division. What's more, the whole regiment may not listen to me. If I fail, I will definitely die."

Zhang Shusheng continued, "I didn't ask you to turn against us now or tomorrow. According to my intelligence, Pan Erxi is still a coward who is afraid of going to the battlefield, and he is particularly stingy with his strength. I think he is just pretending to ask you to make a battle plan. He probably won't let his brigade go to attack Baotou tomorrow. Pan Juying, as his distant relative, will probably give him face. So as his subordinate, your troops probably won't need to attack tomorrow, and even if they do, they won't be the main attack."

At this point, Zhang Shusheng sat down on the kang beside him and continued: "Commander Di and I are confident that we can withstand the attack of the 20th Division tomorrow. If your attack during the day fails, the two brigades of Fan Guozhang and Xiao Guangchuan will inevitably be seriously injured, and the cannons of the heavy artillery regiment will most likely need to rest. The time when I really need you to turn against us is the next night. I can only talk about the specific plan if you agree with me."

Xiao Qingzhi was still a little worried and asked, "Is Di Congmo's army really sure it can withstand the attack of the 20th Division? Even if you defend it with all your might during the day, how many people will be left to counterattack at night?"

Zhang Shusheng continued to explain: "Baotou has air support, and I heard from Commander Di that many traps and bunkers have been prepared in Baotou. It will not be easy for the 20th Division to take Baotou. As for the number of troops for the counterattack, you don't have to worry. Commander Di is quite prestigious in Baotou, and he can mobilize the workers to form an army. In addition, brother, I have to say something unpleasant. Can the current military discipline of the 20th Division be compared with the 20th Town back then? You should know more about the corruption problems in the army than I do. Now, I just need you to say something straightforward. Do you want to join us in fighting against Pan Juying?"

After listening to Zhang Shusheng's words, Xiao Qingzhi remained silent and began to pace back and forth in the room, thinking about his plan. The two fell into a long stalemate. After about a cup of tea, Xiao Qingzhi stopped and looked at Zhang Shusheng's check and said, "We have been brothers for many years. This time, I will trust you. I don't plan to stay in Suiyuan afterwards. If Baotou is not lost during the day tomorrow, I will rebel against the two Pans at night. You can tell me the specific arrangements. This time, I am also risking my life."

Zhang Shusheng said: "Tomorrow night at twelve o'clock, our two coalition forces will launch an attack at the same time. Our guard brigade will split into two groups to contain the first and second brigades. You will first send elite soldiers to kill Pan Erxi and seize the command of the third brigade. Then lead the officers and soldiers you can incite to attack Division Commander Pan and the division headquarters. The reason is: Pan Juying colluded with the Mongolian bandits to rebel, and the president secretly ordered us to quell the rebellion. As long as the division headquarters is destroyed, the 20th Division will collapse."

Xiao Qingzhi nodded in agreement, then smiled and said, "Collaborating with the Mongolian bandits was the reason Pan Juying announced to attack you. I didn't expect you to pin the same crime on him."