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

Two days later, Zheng Shan, director of the Provincial Political Affairs Department, accompanied by the 352nd Regiment of the Guo faction warlord, came to Tashan Town, 352 miles north of Sanjiang County. Here, the nd Regiment was intercepted by the third and fourth battalions of the Security Corps.

On the outskirts of Tashan Town, the security corps soldiers had already built a large number of defensive fortifications, set up outposts on major traffic routes, constructed military positions outside the town, and dug a large number of trenches.

"What do you want to do! Put down your guns. I am Yang Qiangong, the commander of the 122nd Regiment of the 352nd Brigade under Governor Guo. You people in the security group are so bold. Who told you to establish a military defense position outside Sanjiang County? Do you want to rebel?"

Li Yuan, the commander of the Third Battalion, was not fooled by Yang Qiangong's words. He said calmly, "Our regiment commander has said that any troops that are not part of our security regiment are not qualified to enter Sanjiang County. You can try. If you dare to let the people of your 352nd Regiment cross the line, I will immediately let my soldiers open fire!"

"You are fucking rebelling against me! I will immediately order the 352nd Regiment to launch a full-scale attack on Tashan Town. I don't believe that Su Zhengyang really has the guts to attack the Governor's Office's direct troops!"

Zheng Shan, deputy director of the Provincial Government Affairs Department, who was standing next to Yang Qiangong, pulled Yang Qiangong and then said to Li Yuan, "The Governor's Office sent me to Sanjiang County to ask why your regiment commander killed the Sanjiang County magistrate appointed by the Governor's Office. You have to think clearly. If you intercept us, you will be regarded as a rebel and be strangled by the entire Guo faction."

"I don't know what accountability is or isn't, and I don't care who you are. In short, if anyone dares to lead troops to invade Sanjiang County, our security team will definitely fight back with all our might!"

In the position, more than 352 soldiers from the rd and th battalions were standing ready with weapons in hand. As soon as Li Yuan gave the order, they would immediately launch a head-on attack on the nd Regiment.

Except for the logistics personnel, all combatants entered the first level combat readiness state. Facing the 352nd Regiment with a number of nearly people, the soldiers of the security regiment showed no fear and waited attentively for Li Yuan's orders.

Zheng Shan was also very angry, but this time when he came to Sanjiang County, the order issued by the Governor's Office was to try to be gentle and peacefully resolve the possible mutiny in the Sanjiang County Security Corps.

Zheng Shan suppressed his anger and said to Li Yuan, "Okay, I won't go into Sanjiang County. Send a message to your regiment commander Su Zhengyang and tell him that I'm waiting for him outside Tashan Town. Ask him to come and explain to me why Sanjiang County Magistrate Ma Jiawei was killed!"

"I will convey your words to our regiment commander truthfully. Please wait where you are. The 352nd Regiment is not allowed to step into our defense zone!"

At the security corps’ headquarters, Su Zhengyang received a telegram from Li Yuan.

"Someone from the Governor's Office has arrived, and they brought with them a 352-man force from the nd Regiment. It's clear that they want to put military pressure on our security group, but we were stopped outside of Tashan Town by the rd and th Battalions."

Qin Huaiyi said thoughtfully: "Captain, how about I take two reorganized battalions and go over there and eat up the 352nd Regiment in one go?"

Su Zhengyang shook his head and said, "Let's test the attitude of the Governor's Office first. The 352nd Regiment did not directly launch military operations to attack our security group's defense zone, which has already explained the problem. Now is not the time to go to war with the Guo faction warlords."

That afternoon, Su Zhengyang rushed to Tashan Town to meet with Zheng Shan. In the Tashan Town Security Corps’ base, Su Zhengyang and Qin Huaiyi sat opposite Zheng Shan.

Zheng Shan got straight to the point and said, "Captain Su, you instigated the soldiers of the Security Corps to execute Ma Jiawei, the county magistrate of Sanjiang County who was personally appointed by the Governor's Office. You need to give our Provincial Government Affairs Office and the Governor's Office a reasonable explanation for this matter."

Su Zhengyang spoke without hesitation: "During his tenure in Sanjiang County, Ma Jiawei colluded with local bandits and murdered the people. Together with the gentry and landlords, he took human lives lightly and robbed the people of their property at will, which aroused public anger. I executed him to comply with public opinion."

"Even if Ma Jiawei did something out of line, he is still the highest political official in Sanjiang County. You can report the situation to the Governor's Office, but you do not have the right to execute Ma Jiawei privately. I now seriously suspect that your Sanjiang County Security Corps may have a mutiny!"

Su Zhengyang sneered, "Don't worry about putting a big hat on me. Since I dare to do this, I am not afraid of the accountability of your Governor's Office. Bringing the 352nd Regiment to Sanjiang County, are you planning to take military action against our security group?"

Su Zhengyang's tough attitude was obviously beyond Zheng Shan's expectations. Yang Qiangong slapped the table angrily, stood up, pointed at Su Zhengyang's nose and scolded: "I tell you, immediately let your troops open the defense line and let our 352nd Regiment enter Sanjiang County. At the same time, take the initiative to go to Yong'an City to accept the investigation of the Governor's Office, otherwise I will mobilize troops immediately and force my way in."

Su Zhengyang had a smile on his face, squinting his eyes, and took out his pistol from his waist. He shot Yang Qiangong in the calf unexpectedly. Yang Qiangong let out a shrill scream and collapsed to the ground, covering his calf that was constantly bleeding. He looked at Su Zhengyang like a madman and cursed: "Su Zhengyang, if I hadn't wiped out your security team, I would have served as a soldier for nothing for so many years!"

Zheng Shan's face turned pale and he was shaking with anger. He pointed at Su Zhengyang and said, "Is this the attitude of your security team?"

Su Zhengyang sneered, "You're putting a big accusation on me right away and threatening me to take military action. Then, as you wish, the war has begun! If I don't destroy the 352nd Regiment within two days, I, Su Zhengyang, will take your surname Yang from now on."

"Also, Director Zheng, I hate it most when people point fingers at me. What if I get excited and the gun goes off accidentally? Your death would be in vain."

Zheng Shan took a step back with a look of horror and almost fell to the ground.

Several guards of Zhengshan rushed in upon hearing the gunshots, but were pointed at the heads by black guns of more than a dozen soldiers from the security regiment and dared not move.

"Get back here right now. Also, let me tell you, hasn't the Governor's Office been investigating who killed Feng Dingshan? There's no need to investigate. This was done by our Sanjiang County Security Group."

Several guards, like stray dogs, carried the injured Yang Qiangong and Zheng Shan and fled out of Tashan Town.

"Captain, since you've already torn your relationship apart, why don't you just kill them both?"

Su Zhengyang pondered and said, "Zheng Shan's identity is not ordinary. After all, he is a provincial-level senior official. If we touch him, the situation will be different. The Guo faction warlord will definitely launch a comprehensive suppression of Sanjiang County. At present, more than half of our security team are new recruits who have never been on the battlefield. It will take time to develop, but we still have to show the attitude we should show. We can't let them think that I, Su Zhengyang, am a soft persimmon that anyone can step on."