Black Flag Army

After listening to Hu Canglan's narration, Di Xiong sighed deeply and said: "It has been quite difficult for you in the past few months. Although your actions have been quite careful, you still attracted the enemy's attention and caused certain casualties. It can only be said that the world is unpredictable."

Hu Canglang replied: "The conflict with the two princes was difficult to avoid. After all, it was the inefficiency of the reinforcements that led to their sacrifice. These Mongols are unreliable after all. But at least the mission was accomplished, and I think they have no regrets."

Di Xiongdao picked up Huter's handwriting and customs documents and said with some emotion: "That's right, at least their sacrifice was not in vain. Since Huter has become a prince, we have a reason to go to Erdenet. Beihai Company is also preparing to move there. If the aircraft factory is not moved, I am afraid we will have to face endless troubles. It is indeed time to say goodbye to the city of Baotou. It's a pity that we have spent so much effort to govern Baotou well."

Afterwards, Di Xiong convened his subordinate factory managers and some gentry in Baotou to hold the largest meeting in Baotou so far, mainly to discuss how to transfer to Erdenet.

However, many gentry in Baotou were completely opposed to Di Xiong's behavior. Among them, Bu Zhaorui, the president of the Baotou Chamber of Commerce, said: "Mr. Di, you have made unparalleled contributions to the development of Baotou. Our living standards have been significantly improved. At this critical period, how can you abandon us and leave? In addition, it seems that you have offended too many people. If all your troops withdraw, the city of Baotou will probably suffer a catastrophe!"

Di Xiong replied: "Baotou's economic construction is now quite stable. Even if I and the senior leaders are not here, I think the construction of this city will not be greatly affected. As for the enemy's revenge, it is actually largely directed at me and the local aircraft factory. When I leave, I will move the aircraft factory away. The enemy will lose their target and naturally will not cause trouble for you. If you are still afraid, you can unite and pay to organize an army to protect yourselves. I can leave some officers to serve as instructors for your army."

The gentry remained silent on Di Xiong's proposal and were obviously unwilling to pay.

It was not only the local gentry who opposed going to Erdenet. Some factory managers of the Beihai Group Company also opposed it. The manager of the sawmill also said: "Boss, I heard that the environment in Mongolia is quite harsh, with Gobi Desert everywhere, moving sand dunes that can swallow up an entire caravan, severe sandstorms, and bandits and wild beasts in many places. I heard that the wind and sand over there are getting more and more severe. I think our workers may not be able to adapt to the environment there, and many of us here don't want to go."

Di Xiong continued, "The environment in Mongolia is caused by the accumulation of human factors. If you are willing to go with us, I am confident that I can change the environment over there. I think that as Chinese, your willpower and spirit will never be inferior to those of the Mongols and Tsarist Russians, and you will definitely be able to persevere. Of course, if some people really don't want to, I won't force you, and you can stay here, but I myself and the senior executives of the military and the company will definitely go there."

Later, the director of the iron factory, Guo Zhiming, also expressed his opposition. He said: "Mr. Di, Mongolia is still a foreign territory after all. Your infiltration operation this time was not very smooth. Even my son died in a foreign land. I am not very optimistic about your prospects of going to Mongolia. I don't plan to participate in your migration this time."

Di Xiong said: "Mr. Guo, Guo Jincai sacrificed his life for the country and the nation. His name will be engraved on the monument to the heroes who recovered the lost territory in the future. I am very sorry for Guo Jincai's sacrifice, but the current situation in Baotou is not much better than that in Mongolia. Ladies and gentlemen, the current situation is ultimately caused by the aircraft factory. We have become the enemy of the Beiyang government. Last year, they defeated the Southern Revolutionary Party, the largest opposition in their country. At least on the surface, there is no force in the country that can resist the Beiyang government. The warlords in various places are currently surrendering to Yuan Datou. Those who control The people of an entire province cannot resist, so how can I, who only has a say here, change these things? Once the Beiyang Army launches a large-scale attack here, my current strength is tantamount to hitting a rock with an egg. Therefore, going to Mongolia is my only way out at the moment. It is not under the jurisdiction of the Beiyang Government, and the Beiyang Army does not have the courage to attack directly. After all, Mongolia is now a vassal state of Tsarist Russia, and the Beiyang Government is also a bully. Therefore, I can clearly tell you that life in Mongolia will indeed be harder than here, but it will definitely be much safer than at home."

After listening to Di Xiong's speech, many people fell silent, but some people were still worried. One of the business representatives asked: "Mr. Di, if you just leave like this, who will protect our business interests? Since you have offended the Beiyang government, they will probably retaliate against us soon."

Di Xiong continued, "It is irreparable to offend the Beiyang government. If you do not want to suffer too great a loss in your interests, I suggest that you join our migration team. Of course, if you really don't want to go, I won't force you. I will use my domestic connections to try my best to protect you, but how much of a role it can play is not something I can control."

Seeing that Di Xiong had said so much, the people below could not think of anything to ask for the time being, so they all began to discuss, thinking about their own way out, and whether they should join the team to Mongolia. Although Yuan Suifeng, the director of Beihai Hospital, also lost his son Yuan Xiaobao, he still chose to move with Beihai Company because he believed that his son sacrificed for the country and was not shot as a death row prisoner. Therefore, he had to go to Outer Mongolia to do something to be worthy of his son in the afterlife. Although Guo Zhiming was unwilling to leave, his younger brother Guo Zhiliang had the opposite opinion. He insisted on going with Di Xiong and was appointed by Di Xiong as the new director of the ironware factory.

The top executives of Beihai Company and the army were naturally going to Outer Mongolia. The aircraft factory was too conspicuous in China and had to be moved. Moving the aircraft factory was a very complicated task. Many equipment began to be dismantled, and horse-drawn carriages began to run around the factory. Feng Ru and his two assistants were also busy. The few planes that could still take off would fly slowly with the team, and the faster cavalry regiment would be responsible for leading the way and finding a place to park the planes.

Just when everyone in Baotou was busy in full swing, Leng Hanbing suddenly came to Di Xiong and asked: "What should we do with the prisoners of the Ma family army? There is still no news about Ma Fuxiang. I wonder if he is playing tricks."

Di Xiong replied: "Just dismiss the soldiers and low-ranking officers and the like, but the organization must be disrupted, and take the officers at the battalion level and above with them. Ma Hongkui is naturally the most important. As long as he is still there, there is no need to worry about what tricks the Ma family army will play."

However, their migration work was already very difficult, and it would be even more troublesome if they carried these captives with them.

Fortunately, the next morning, people sent by Ma Fuxiang came with 300,000 silver dollars to redeem the people. Di Xiong ordered the release of Ma Hongkui and other officers. Last time, Yan Xishan also spent 200,000 silver dollars to redeem former Suiyuan commander-in-chief Zhao Chengyuan and other officers. A total of 500,000 silver dollars finally alleviated the financial tension caused by the relocation.

Because many people were afraid of the sandstorms, cold, poverty, and horse bandits in Outer Mongolia, they chose to stay in Suiyuan. Beihai Group has a total of more than 12,000 people, and only more than 4,000 people chose to go to Outer Mongolia, including hundreds of employees' families. In addition to the more than 3,000 people in the Baotou Guard Brigade, there are less than 8,000 people. Hundreds of people in the Baotou Guard Brigade have also left the army. They would rather give up high military pay than go to Outer Mongolia. Therefore, these more than 3,000 guard brigades also include hundreds of officers and soldiers' families. In this way, the families on both sides add up to thousands of people, which brings great trouble to the migration. What makes Di Xiong happy is that all the top leaders of the Justice Party chose to go to Outer Mongolia. In order to transport machines and goods, Di Xiong and his team not only prepared a large number of horse-drawn carriages, but also bought thousands of camels.

Li Laoshi stayed, but it was Di Xiong who ordered him to stay and lie undercover. All the personnel of the Baotou intelligence station stayed. They will go underground to collect and transmit intelligence for the Justice Party headquarters in Outer Mongolia. Intelligence from Beijing and Tianjin will also be transmitted through them.

After about three days of preparation, a team of about 7,000 people set out on the road to Erdenet in the early morning. The aircraft factory had been demolished to an empty factory building, and several planes had all taken off. The same was true for other factories. The textile factory had the largest number of workers, and most of the workers moved with their families to Beihai Group. Under the strong propaganda of the factory director, workshop director and team leader, everyone believed that following Di Xiong would have a bright future. Although Di Xiong hoped that the local businessmen and gentry in Baotou would participate in their actions, many people still decided to stay in Baotou. After all, many people could not bear the bitter cold land in Outer Mongolia. Only Duan Luzhuang, the general manager of Da Kuisheng, sent his men Wang Baochuan, Zhang Wentang and others to participate, because Da Kuisheng used to do business in Outer Mongolia and Tsarist Russia, and they were very happy to return to their hometown. Wang Baochuan was the descendant of Wang Xiangqing, the founder of Da Kuisheng. Those who stayed believed that after Beihai Company left, there would be new companies to fill the vacancy, and they would live as before. Later facts proved that they were wrong.

The armed forces of Di Xiong's brigade are an important guarantee for the entire team. The cavalry regiment has been at the forefront under the leadership of Zhang Zhenyang and Zhang Shusheng. They constantly use flags to signal the air to guide the flight team. The follow-up troops are constantly moving. These soldiers cross the vast grassland in neat queues. They carry bags on their backs and move forward in the direction of Erdenet. There are also many difficulties and obstacles on the way. At this time, Suiyuan is not as dry as in later generations, and there are not few rivers. The queue carries a lot of luggage. Some people are not careful and drop their luggage into the river when crossing the river. Therefore, the team's speed is quite slow. Because the team has a large number of people and a lot of food, the transportation team is very important. Di Xiong directly manages the work of the transportation team. The nearby scouts are also very cautious, fearing that there will be any major accidents with food.

After marching for about a day, it gradually got dark. Di Xiong ordered the whole army to set up camp and find a place to rest in the wild. Many people in the queue had walked such a long distance for the first time. They were all exhausted and many fell asleep without eating. Di Xiong's old subordinates were not much relaxed. Wu Chunfeng sat by the fire, eating canned meat and drinking boiled water. He looked very hungry. Di Xiong used the knowledge of later generations to make rust-proof white iron, so he opened a cannery; Leng Hanbing was smoking on a stone and holding a small meeting with Gu Xingzhi, Su Jinxu and other subordinates; Wu Zhong was sick and had a fever. He drank the medicine prescribed by Yuan Suifeng and was already sleeping in the tent. His wife and five-year-old son were watching over him; Li Fei seemed very nervous and led people to the camp. The team was patrolling; Bai Xiuling was directing the nurses to take care of the sick workers in the camp, and Lan Jinping was helping; Feng Ru, Zhu Zhaohuai, Situ Biru and a group of workers were nervously checking the plane, fearing that something might happen to the plane; Tian Mengxue was listening to the report of her intelligence officer in the tent; Lan Jinchun was playing the accordion for the female workers who were eating by the fire, trying to relieve their fatigue on the way; and Di Xiong convened several senior officers to hold a meeting in a tent, pointing at the map while discussing the next route. The whole team was dealing with various problems, and the camp was full of firewood piles with flames, which was a different kind of excitement.

The red campfire flickered in the velvety darkness, illuminating the flat faces, bodies, carriage horns, and horse mouths that seemed to be cut out of cardboard. The whole night in the camp was filled with noise, talking, shouting, and laughter; songs from far and near rose and fell; various musical instruments were also competing to sound, and even the tired horses seemed to be beginning to be energetic.

The next morning, the whole team continued their journey. After walking for more than ten days, the surrounding environment began to become worse and worse, the wind and sand became stronger, and the road conditions became worse and worse. After a while, a group of troops appeared in front of the cavalry regiment. Zhang Zhenyang immediately became alert. He observed the surrounding terrain and realized that the team had reached the border. He immediately rode to find the steward of Erdenet Palace, Zhebie, and asked him to come forward and bring two silver dollars and a box of white wine to negotiate with the army in front. There was only one company of the Beiyang Army on the Sino-Mongolian border, and the team seemed quite lazy. Seeing a Mongolian coming with some items, they did not care too much. In fact, the Beiyang government's defense of the Mongolian border was quite lax. The Beiyang Army arranged here was also some troops that were not liked by the Beiyang high-level officials, and their military discipline and quality were also quite poor. Sure enough, after the old steward gave the soldiers a box of white wine and two silver dollars, and showed the documents of the Mongolian government, these people stamped and released them very happily. Di Xiong and his team also set foot on foreign land for the first time.

Di Xiong went to the carriage to visit the sick Wu Zhong. After taking the medicine and taking a nap, Wu Zhong's condition improved. He said to Di Xiong, "I'm so sorry, boss! The migration is so busy, but I'm sick. I have to trouble you to come and see me. I'm really old and useless."

Di Xiong said: "You are only 47 years old, still very young, you still have to shoulder the position of general manager. After arriving in Outer Mongolia, there will be many responsibilities to be placed on you!"

Wu Zhong said: "The position of general manager can be given to Lan Jinping or Hu Lin. They will do a better job than me."

Di Xiong said, "After arriving in Outer Mongolia, we will have our own bank and newspaper. Now the company uses Da Kui Sheng's bank for settlement and transfer. Although Da Kui Sheng is our ally, it is better to control the economic lifeline in our own hands. There are three candidates for the bank president: Hu Lin, Tuo Qingyun, and Lan Jinping. Which one do you think is suitable?"

Wu Zhong said: "Lan Jinping is knowledgeable, good at learning, and decisive. He is the most suitable person to be the president."

Di Xiong smiled and said, “I thought you would choose Hu Lin or Tuo Qingyun.”

Wu Zhong said unhappily, "Am I a nepotist in the boss's eyes? This is underestimating me, Wu Zhong."

Di Xiong smiled and said, "You are too suspicious. You can also recommend the virtuous regardless of your relationship with them!"

Wu Zhong asked, "After we left Baotou, has there been any news from there?"

Di Xiong said, "The Baotou Intelligence Station sent a message that after we left, the various forces fought fiercely for the city of Baotou. General Pan and the Jin army fought a bloody battle for the city of Baotou, and then the Ma family army was also involved. The three armies fought in chaos in Baotou."

Wu Zhong sighed, "We worked hard to build Baotou City. The tax revenue alone is tens of thousands of dollars every month, and the company's revenue is as high as hundreds of thousands of dollars. It would be a pity to give it up like this. Our factory and office building in Hongliu Town are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. No wonder these people are fighting so hard for it."

Di Xiong said: "You have to be willing to give up. Only by giving up can you gain. In order to realize their dreams, Zhang Heimian, Ma Tiehan and others even sacrificed their lives. Money is just a thing outside of our body. Why should we be reluctant to give it up?"