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

Inside the city, the 123rd Brigade used residential buildings and sandbags to build a heavy firepower point on Hanyang Street to block the advance of the reinforced regiment.

This tactic was indeed effective. The two sides engaged in a skirmish in the city. The 123rd Brigade fought with all their might and defended the second line of defense centered on Hanyang Street. Machine gun bullets kept firing like they were free.

Temporarily resisted the offensive of the reinforced regiment.

In the division headquarters, Yue Zhongxiang was still worried and paced back and forth anxiously.

The 2nd Brigade has only managed to get in one reinforced regiment so far, and the 123rd Brigade has begun to retreat step by step. If other troops launch a full-scale attack, they may lose their heads.

After thinking it over, Yue Zhongxiang said, "Send a telegram to the 122nd Brigade immediately and ask Xing Jun to lead the troops to quickly support Zhenyuan City!"

Shen Jing on the side hurriedly dissuaded him, "Commander, don't act rashly. If the 122nd Brigade is ambushed on the way here, it will be very dangerous."

"My nest is about to be robbed, and the muzzle of a gun is about to be pointed at my forehead. How can I care about so many things? Tell Xing Jun to be careful along the way and try not to pass through terrain that is prone to ambushes. Come here quickly."

"Also, tell Yuan Jing of the 79th Division that we are all from the same family and if our 76th Division is destroyed by the Northwest Revolutionary Army, the Northwest Revolutionary Army will sooner or later point their guns at the 79th Division. Tell him to send troops to support us as soon as possible."

In Qinggang City where the 79th Division's headquarters was located, Yuan Jing, who received Yue Zhongxiang's telegram for help, sneered, crumpled up the telegram paper in his hand, and threw it casually at his feet.

"Yue Zhongxiang has finally gotten what he deserved. In front of the commander, this bastard has said a lot of bad things about our 79th Division. He even asked the 76th Division to pick the weapons and equipment sent down from above. Our 79th Division has had enough of Yue Zhongxiang's bullying, and he still wants me to lead the troops to rescue him. No way!"

The chief of staff Yao Dahai frowned and said, "Commander, Yue Zhongxiang is an old fox. If we refuse to send troops to rescue him, he will definitely report it to the commander. If the commander gives the order, we will have to go."

Yuan Jing sneered and said, "Reply to the 76th Division immediately and ask them to hold Zhenyuan City and wait for help. I will immediately mobilize the 27th Brigade to rescue them."

"We agreed to his request for help on the surface, but in reality we did nothing. I want to watch this old bastard die at the hands of the Northwest Revolutionary Army."

Su Zhengyang's analysis was absolutely correct. The 79th Division had deep-seated grievances with Yue Zhongxiang's 76th Division and was impossible to lend a helping hand. Yue Zhongxiang's only trump card now was the 122nd Brigade. Zheng Jiahai was hiding in Yuanshan City like a coward. Even with Yue Zhongxiang's order, he probably wouldn't dare to take a single step out of Yuanshan City.

After receiving the telegram, Xing Jun of the 122nd Brigade immediately prepared his troops and mobilized the 31st, 32nd and 33rd Regiments under his command in regiments, leaving only the rd Regiment to guard Hengshan County. Led by Chief of Staff Pan Long, they rushed to Zhenyuan City for support.

In the temporary command post of the 3rd Brigade, a messenger walked into the tent and saluted Hao Zhao.

"Report to the brigade commander! Our spies in Hengshan County have sent news that the troops of the 122st and 31nd Regiments of the 32nd Brigade have left Hengshan County and are heading towards Zhenyuan City via the Huaishupo Road."

"Yue Zhongxiang, the old fox, has finally lost his patience. It seems that the pressure from the 2nd Brigade is very great. Our 3rd Brigade cannot let us down. Send a message to the reinforcement regiment and ask them to set up an ambush at Hukou Mountain, 122 miles away from Huaishupo, and hit the support troops of the nd Brigade hard."

"Yes, Brigadier!"

Pan Long led his troops all the way south from Hengshui County through Anshan Town. Three hours later, they arrived at Huaishupo, a must-pass place.

"Chief of Staff! From Huaishupo to the south, there are two roads that lead to Zhenyuan City. One is Hukou Mountain. If you take Hukou Mountain, you can reach the north side of Zhenyuan City in another 40 miles. The other is Gucheng Town. To get to Gucheng Town, you have to go west and walk an extra 30 miles."

Pan Long took out the map and carefully observed the terrain around the two roads of Hukou Mountain and Gucheng Town.

After a while, Pan Long said firmly: "Go through Gucheng Town! There are wide roads and plains over here. If you go through Hukou Mountain, there are high mountains and forests on both sides, and the terrain is complicated. It is very likely that you will be ambushed by the enemy."

"But the orders from the division and regiment commanders are for us to reach Zhenyuan City in the shortest possible time."

"When a general is on the battlefield, he is not subject to military orders. If we encounter an ambush while marching through Hukou Mountain, our two regiments will be in danger. I cannot joke with the lives of my soldiers. If the regimental and divisional commanders punish me later, I will bear the consequences alone!"

"The predecessor of the Northwest Revolutionary Army, the Security Corps, loves to use ambush tactics. Feng Dingshan from Ganzhou and Du Xiaojun from the 358th Regiment fell into their hands. We must not be fooled. Notice them to speed up the march and get to Zhenyuan City before o'clock in the evening!"

At the 3rd Brigade headquarters, the messenger came again to report.

"Commander, the support troops of the 122nd Brigade did not choose to take the Hukou Mountain route, but chose the farther but flatter Gushan Town official road."

Hao Zhao touched his head and said, "Damn it, there are also capable people in the other team. Yue Zhongxiang must have issued a death order for them to take a shortcut and rush to Zhenyuan City as soon as possible. If they go too late, Yue Zhongxiang's ashes will be scattered by the 2nd Brigade. Who on earth can be so cautious in this situation and even disobey military orders and go through Gushan Town?"

"Who is in control of Gushan Town now?"

"Reporting to the brigade commander, the one previously stationed in Gushan Town was a reinforced platoon of the 122nd Brigade. They have been wiped out by our army. Now the actual control of Gushan Town is in our hands."

"Send a telegram to the 104th and 105th Regiments! Tell them to lead their men to Gushan Town and set up a battle with the two regiments of the 122nd Brigade. Since there is no advantageous position for an ambush, I will use force against them. Tell the two regiment commanders that if they cannot annihilate the 31st and 32nd Regiments, they don't need to come back to see me."

"Also, immediately notify the reinforcement regiment ambushed in Hukou Mountain, and have them bring the artillery battalion and directly penetrate into Hengshan County from Hukou Mountain. While there is only one 33rd Regiment left in Hengshan County, take down Hengshan County for me. I only give them one night. Tomorrow morning, I will sit in the garrison of the 122nd Brigade in Hengshan County and eat cornmeal porridge!"

"Yes, Brigadier!"

Three hours later, the deliberate waterproofing of the 2nd Brigade's reinforced regiment created an illusion that they were about to break through the 123rd Brigade's defense line, but were just one step away.

Yue Zhongxiang's heart was in his throat, as if he was riding a roller coaster, and the clothes on his back were soaked with cold sweat.

The 123rd Brigade also suffered heavy losses, with the 22nd and 23rd Regiments suffering more than % casualties. The morale of the soldiers was close to collapse, and a total defeat was possible at any time. As a last resort, Yue Zhongxiang even sent his own guard battalion to the front line to plug the gap.