240 Land of the Fourth World War

Marshal Li issued an order to supervise the war.

The ancient road in Handan raises the desert yellow dust.

From the west of Tongguan, more than a dozen tall horses, carrying the capable command team of the Northwest Military Region, galloped here.

On Tongguan Road, running in the front is a chestnut long mane and four-shoe snow horse. On the back of the horse sits the burly Lin Tiechang. Almost parallel to him is the well curtain riding a pure blue horse, followed by its accompanying staff and guards.

During the Spring Equinox, the weather is still cold, but every flying mount is sweating profusely, and the nostrils are sprayed with milky heat, as if they know the owner's eagerness.

From the depths of Taihang, the command team carrying the base of Taihang Mountain is also eager.

At this time, the section from Xinxiang to Handan on the Pinghan Line was already full of clouds and dust.

Lin Tiechang and Ji Yulin met in an inconspicuous mountain village.

Ji Yulin pointed to the map and said, "It was still last winter that our Taihang Mountain base leadership team had the idea of attacking and occupying a large city fortified by the Beiyang army. The big city that made the leader of our Taihang Mountain base have this idea is Handan in front of us.

Handan has been the place of the Fourth World War since ancient times. During the Warring States Period, the capital of Zhao was blocked in front of Tongguan and the first fortress to block the eastward advance of the Qin army. It was like a nail wedged into the hinterland of the Central Plains. It can be said that since the Zhengji Yulin split from the white wolf and opened up a base in Taihang Mountain, every battle he launched in the Taihang Mountain area had the intention to isolate it. Ji Yulin almost longed for the capture of the city. In that way, the National Revolutionary Army in the Taihang Mountain area and even the Central Plains can really gallop freely.

Ji Yulin turned his fingers around Handan and continued, "Now Handan is surrounded by the liberated area, and the city has become an "island" deeply trapped in the liberated area!"

"However," Lin Tiechang walked to the map and said, "After all, Handan is the key defense of the Beiyang Army since the outbreak of the civil war. Our army is not very sure about launching an attack on a city of this size. More importantly, your Taihang Mountain Field Army captured a "Semi-permanent fortifications, Force Deployment and Firepower Alignment Map" on the Qingfengdian battlefield. Judging from the map, Handan's defense is not as weak as expected.

Under the instructions of Lin Tiechang, the Chief of Staff laid out the "Semi-permanent Fortifications, Force Deployment and Firepower Alignment in Handan".

"You see, after the outbreak of the civil war, Handan became an important strategic support for the Beiyang Army in the Central Plains battlefield. The Third Army stationed in the city has built fortifications for years. Although the city has no wall, the Third Army has built three defense systems around the edge of the city, and the total number of bunkers has reached more than 6,000. The first defense system is the blockade ditch built by the Qing army in those years. Henan rushed out. The poles of the Qing season are very fierce, so the Qing army is in The city defense of Handan City is very strong. The ditch is three meters deep, two meters wide and has a circumference of more than 30 kilometers. There are mine groups, barbed wire, deer forts and other defense facilities outside the ditch. There are walls and power grids in the ditch, and a bunker is built every dozens of meters. The bunker, dark forts and traffic trenches and scattered pits are connected to each other. The second defense system is a Neishi ditch, which is composed of large buildings surrounding the city and the North Barracks. The Neishi ditch is five meters wide, five meters deep and 18 kilometers in circumference. There are fortifications composed of bunkers and bunkers in the ditch, and a 25-kilometer railway with iron armor trains patrol day and night, which has become an activity. The fortress. There are a large number of bunkers and dark ditches between the outer gutter and the inner gutter. The third defense system is a core position composed of Zhengtai Hotel, Dashiqiao, railway factory, electric light factory and railway station in the urban area, with a strict firepower network and communication system deployed on the position. There is a clear and hidden road between the core fortifications and the important bunker.

More than 6,000 bunkers have been built in the three lines of defense, and there is a flat river around Handan. It is very difficult to get close to the city wall.

Although Lei Zhenchun has led the main force to leave Handan, the total number of left-behind troops in the city is still as high as 25,000. The garrison is under the unified command of Wang Yuxiu, the commander of the Third Brigade.

After Lin Tiechang finished speaking, his face was dark.

Jing Bumu still covered it tightly. He wiped his nose and sighed, "No wonder Wang Yuxiu, the commander of the 3rd Brigade of the enemy, proudly threatened: "The Handan army is as solid as gold, and the Hubei army can't take it." After defeating the White Wolf Uprising Army, Yuan Shikai also cheered up Wang Yuxiu: "The Hubei army dares to attack Handan. The great powers will send pilots to fly the airship and go directly to support." Wang Yuxiu also knew that this promise could not be fulfilled, but this was undoubtedly the highest courtesy that a small teacher could get, and he was already flattered. The minister of the great powers in China also publicly shouted, "It is not enough to be punished for the future" and suggested to "throw bombs with airplanes". British, Russian and other military officials are also ready to go to Handan to watch the battle in person to cheer for the Beiyang Army and make suggestions.

"Although we swept the northwest and swept the southwest, we have not yet taken a strong fortified big city actually controlled by the Beiyang Army. Many people doubt whether they can succeed in attacking Handan now. The important members of the Beiyang Army shouted proudly: "The Kuomintang said that it has been a full counterattack for a long time, but it has not yet won a big city." Even Huang Ju, who had just become a prisoner, concluded that we could not attack Handan. But..."

Ji Yulin said angrily, "But I don't think so. Look--" Ji Yulin pointed to the map, "The enemy of Handan is just a bluff. In fact, it has become an isolated island on land. After the White Wolf Uprising Army made trouble with this guy in Henan, our army has the confidence to fight Handan in terms of strength comparison and attack ability. The strong attack on Handan is a practical training to rely on weapons in hand to defeat the enemy in a strong fortified city. If this one succeeds, Yuan Shikai's last trump card will be gone.

"The future can only be won by our army, and the Beiyang army will be defeated!" Ji Yulin said confidently.

The "breakers" who came from the depths of Taihang Mountain immediately screamed.

Although Jing Bumu's illness is not good, he rode all the way. He was very tired, but after listening to Ji Yulin's speech, he also raised his energy and encouraged the leaders of the field army to say, "We know that Handan is a fortified city, but no matter how strong the fortifications are, soldiers must be defended. Lei Zhenchun led the main force to clean up the remnants of the white wolf. It is very likely that Handan will be beaten down. Since we have studied various factors and believe that Handan can be beaten, we should be confident. When the conditions are met, we must attack and have this determination. This is not a blind adventure, but a confidence and a dare to win. If you don't fight, it's wrong to lose the fighter.

The leader of the Northwest Army exchanged eyes. Ma Hongkui stood up and said on behalf of everyone, "Our opinion is also advantageous to fight Handan. Handan has no wall, only 3 regiments of soldiers, and there is a 40-mile route around it. Its supervisor is captured and shaken internally, and the situation is easy to understand. Taking advantage of the victory attack, it may be opened, and it may also cause peace and protection of the enemy's southern aid. Seeking opportunities for large-scale sports battles in Bao and Shijian.

At the same time, these senior generals of the Northwest Army are all top students who graduated from the regular military academy. They also have a clear estimate of the strength and difficulties of Handan's defense, which is higher than the strategic ideas of the "breaker generals" in Henan.

"I want to reiterate," Lin Tiechang stood up and said, "The general issued an order to supervise the war and set a strategy to attack Handan. That is to think that the failure of the White Wolf Uprising Army is of great significance for the further transformation of your fighting style in Taihang Mountain. At present, if the enemy in the north goes south, one of them will be annihilated. If the enemy in the north stops, our army should rest for about ten days, rectify the team, recover fatigue, scout Handan, and complete all preparations for fighting Handan. Then, not only the main force of 9 brigades should be concentrated, but also several local brigades should be concentrated to attack Handan and fight against Handan, focusing on the assistance.

Indeed, Li Xiang planted a small flag in Handan at that time, envisioning "encircling the city to help", which was a departure from Ji Yulin's vision of knowing the actual situation of Taihang Mountain.

But Ji Yulin made up his mind to occupy Handan and said stubbornly, "We also know that Handan is a fortified city, but no matter how strong the fortifications are, soldiers need to defend it. It's not enough to have many soldiers. Besides, even if it can't be fought down, there is no danger. There is a liberated area around. What's more, in terms of strength and morale, there is a great possibility of fighting, so it's right to be determined to fight Handan.

"If the general is in Wuchang, he may not be able to understand the actual situation here. As long as we report the actual situation here to the general, the general will definitely agree to our battle plan to attack Handan.

"Yes, at the beginning of the battle to liberate Chongqing in the southwest, the marshal wanted to slow down, but General Yang explained to the marshal to hurry up, and the marshal agreed to General Yang's battle plan. We should also report our new battle plan. With the wisdom of the general, we will definitely agree.

Wuchang.

The telegram was quickly sent to Li Xiang, who decided to go to the Central Plains battlefield in person.

When Li wanted to tell his landline driver Anthony, an American, the order to go to the front line. When Lieutenant Colonel Storey was there, the Lieutenant Colonel thought that the young Marshal Li was just joking.

Li wanted to call four foreign journalists from Hankou to his office to announce his decision, and said that he could take them there as long as they were not afraid of death. Li wanted to deliberately describe the operation as horrible and exciting: "This plane is unarmed, and there is no fighter escort, and I'm not sure where it can land. If I don't see you before leaving tomorrow, I will think you are going to carry out other tasks.

The reporters were fascinated by the atmosphere almost like an adventure movie, saying that they all wanted to go. In fact, this is another performance by Li Xiang. Not to mention that this is a flight to the battlefield, even this Marshal Li took the plane to play, and the only air force in the Far East could not fly the special plane of the Supreme Commander alone.

Li Xiang's landline is called "Yowan".

Four o'clock in the morning.

Li wanted to get up and was shaving when captain Stoli called.

"Marshal, the weather is extremely bad today. It's storm, rain and low clouds. For safety reasons, whether to postpone the departure by one day.

Li Xiang only said, "wego!" I hung up the phone.

Under the escort of four fighters, the special plane "Yowan" left the airport in the wind and rain at 6:00. Carrying Li Xiang, his five staff officers, and four reporters flew to the hinterland of the Central Plains.

When the plane reached the cruising altitude, Li wanted to start smoking his pipe. David, an accompanying reporter of Life magazine in the United States. Douglas later wrote: "Young Marshal Li is energetic and his eyes are shining, just like the face of a high fever patient I have seen."

Outside Changning Village, Licheng County, in the hinterland of Taihang Mountain, the "Yowan" special plane landed at the temporary airport here with a huge roar.

When the hatch opened, a soldier who was not burly but supported the endgame of the Second Revolution appeared. He was Marshal Li. He stood on the gangway and looked motionless at the happy crowd at the airport, his eyes full of tears.

The crowd below is boiling:

"Marshal Li!"

People dance and cheer, full of joy.

Li Xiang waved his hands and got off the plane.

At this time, it is the season of spring breeze. The towering mountains and the running river are shining with waves.

People flocked to the airport to welcome the legendary figure - a living Bodhisattva who brought people to the poor to "land reform" and let them have fields and food to eat. While singing and dancing, they celebrated.

People hug, cheer, sing and dance, as if they can't express their inner joy at this moment no matter what they do, and they are all excited to tears.

The art troupe of the military region was even more unyielding. They danced flower basket dance, dragon lantern dance, Yangko, lion dance, and stilts in the field of the airport.

Gorgeous colors, touching songs, exquisite performances, accompanied by heart-warming **, are dazzling. Many ordinary people also came. They carried wine, baskets with boiled eggs, persimmons and apples, and kept shouting: "Comrade, drink a bowl of sorghum, my own."

"Comrade, eat a red-skinned egg. It's hot!"

In the crowd, there was an honorary soldier with a crutch, surrounded by people. He lost a leg in a battle.

He shed tears excitedly and said emotionally, "My blood is not in vain."

I don't know who shouted, "Marshal Li is coming!"

Suddenly, a tide of people poured into them.

Li Xiang's heart was hot. Looking at the familiar faces and the kind smile, tears suddenly gushed out. He stretched out his thick hands and clenched them tightly with a pair of hands that trembled with excitement.

Dozens of sea bowls of different colors stretched out in front of the chiefs with fragrant wine. Li wanted to close his lips tightly. Usually, he didn't drink.

Li wanted to apologize and said, "Comrades, I can't accept this bowl of wine. Like you, I just did a little work that should be done. Thank you, comrades..."

"Shal Li, you have given us the poor a way to live and a way to live. You are the living Bodhisattva of Cihang. You must drink this bowl of wine!"

Everyone shouted together, and the face closest to him turned red with excitement