Chapter 20

In the Jiang-Zhe battlefield, the situation had reached a stalemate. The main forces of the Su Army gathered in Nanjing to guard against Gao Yang's attack, while the main forces of the Zhe Army moved south to Jiangshan, Zhejiang, to engage in fierce battles with Sun Chuanfang's Min-Gan Allied Army. The Wan Army in southern Anhui, having received money from Gao Yang, sat on the wall watching the show, and secretly communicated with Qi Xieyuan, refusing to help either side. Gao Yang was busy re-equipping his troops and arranging intensive training for his elite officers and non-commissioned officers. Within his actual control, he organized security teams and local military districts. As for Mr. Sun in the south, after making a show of support at the beginning of the war, he had not been heard from since. Everyone was waiting to see how the situation in the north would develop.

Since being driven out of the pass by the Zhili clique in 1922, Marshal Zhang had been determined to take revenge and reclaim his lost power. Most of his subordinates were from the Green Forest, essentially a ragtag group. They were good at raiding and plundering but were easily defeated in open battles against the well-equipped and well-trained Zhili elite forces. This was why Marshal Yu looked down on Marshal Zhang.

Determined to reform the Fengtian Army and promote new-style commanders, Marshal Zhang established the "Three Northeastern Provinces Army Reorganization Office" at the end of July 1922. Sun Liechen was appointed as the supervisor, Zhang Zuoxiang and Jiang Dengxuan as deputy supervisors, and Zhang Xueliang as the chief of staff. The Fengtian Army implemented military reforms, adopting the following measures:

First, reform the military system and reorganize the army. The original military system in the three northeastern provinces was not unified. The Army Reorganization Office standardized the military system, abolishing the division-level designations and adopting the brigade system. After reorganization, the Fengtian Army had 27 infantry brigades and 5 cavalry brigades, each with 3 regiments. The artillery had 2 independent brigades and one heavy artillery regiment, and each division and brigade had its own artillery regiment and artillery battalion. The total strength of the Fengtian Army was about 250,000, trained by Japanese instructors and equipped with Japanese weapons, making it a well-trained and well-equipped force.

Second, establish a navy and expand the air force. After the First Zhili-Fengtian War, Zhang Zuolin deeply felt the need to control the sea to facilitate both advance and retreat. He decided to establish a navy and strengthen coastal defenses. He appointed Shen Honglie as the director of the Maritime Police Office, responsible for naval construction. Before the Second Zhili-Fengtian War, the Northeastern Coastal Defense Fleet consisted of four ships: "Zhenhai," "Weihai," "Dinghai," and "Feipeng."

To expand the air force, the Northeastern Aviation Office was established, and Zhang Xueliang was appointed as the director. After taking charge, Zhang Xueliang actively recruited talent, purchased aircraft, and set up aviation schools. Before the Second Zhili-Fengtian War, the Fengtian Army had over 200 aircraft of various types, organized into 5 air squadrons, with excellent facilities and well-trained pilots, making it the best in the country.

Third, strengthen equipment and expand the arsenal. In 1922, Zhang Zuolin appointed Yang Yuting as the supervisor of the Northeastern Three Provinces Arsenal and Han Linchun as the director. After taking office, they recruited a large number of domestic and foreign military experts, purchased various machines, and began producing weapons. After expansion, the arsenal, in addition to producing guns and ammunition, could also produce new mountain guns, field guns, mortars, and heavy artillery, producing a large amount of military equipment annually, making it the largest arsenal in the country.

Fourth, recruit and cultivate talent. The Fengtian warlords' series of military reforms required various types of talent. To attract a large number of talents, Zhang Zuolin adopted preferential policies. With Yang Yuting, Zhang Xueliang, Han Linchun, Jiang Dengxuan, and Guo Songling at the core, they recruited talents from all over through personal connections. Additionally, Zhang Zuolin expanded the enrollment at the "Three Northeastern Provinces Military Academy" and established Northeastern University to cultivate talent. Due to the Fengtian warlords' resolute use of new talents and the recruitment of military talent from across the country, the Fengtian Army underwent a significant transformation in just two years, turning from a ragtag group into a well-trained and formidable force, laying the foundation for the Second Zhili-Fengtian War.

At this time, Marshal Zhang had a well-equipped and well-supplied army, and his confidence was soaring, waiting to lead his troops through the pass to avenge his previous defeat!

On September 15, the Fengtian Army launched a two-pronged attack on Rehe. Zhang Zongchang's troops advanced into Rehe Province, covering 40 to 50 miles. The local Rehe garrison, the Outer Eight Camps, had no fighting power and retreated immediately upon contact. Zhang's troops made rapid progress. The Rehe governor, Mi Zhenbiao, and the 13th Division of Wang Huaiqing, which went to reinforce, were the weakest part of the Zhili Army. From September 15 to 22, the Fengtian Army made steady progress, occupying Kailu and Chaoyang, and began attacking Lingyuan. Meanwhile, at Shanhaiguan, the main forces of the Fengtian and Zhili Armies began to clash.

On September 23, the famous turncoat general Feng Yuxiang and the Shaanxi Army commander Hu Jingyi left the capital. When they reached Huairou, the troops stopped, citing poor communication, and the soldiers were ordered to repair roads while advancing. Feng Yuxiang had already secretly contacted the anti-Zhili alliance and did not bring his troops to the front to reinforce, but instead lingered near the capital, waiting for the right moment.

After several days of stalemate between the Fengtian and Zhili Armies in the Shanhaiguan area, the fighting intensified on September 28. The Zhili Army was on the defensive, occupying the high ground with a geographical advantage. However, the elite 3rd Army of the Fengtian Army, commanded by Zhang Xueliang and Guo Songling, fought bravely, advancing despite heavy casualties. On October 6, the Fengtian Army broke through Jiukouguan, and on October 7, they captured Shimenzhai. Under the strong offensive of the Fengtian Army, the Zhili Army could not hold out, and the 13th Mixed Brigade commander Feng Yurong, seeing no hope of holding the city, committed suicide out of fear of punishment.

Due to the critical situation at Shanhaiguan, Marshal Yu urgently ordered the troops stationed in the capital to move forward and left the capital on October 11 to command from Luanzhou. On October 12, he went to Shanhaiguan to inspect the battle situation and personally supervised the front, stabilizing the situation.

As the key to entering the pass, Shanhaiguan was a must-occupy for Marshal Zhang. He then concentrated his air force and heavy artillery to bombard the Zhili Army positions at Shanhaiguan and ordered all units to attack at all costs. Marshal Yu, in a crisis, urgently ordered Feng Yuxiang's troops to reinforce quickly.

On October 15, when Wang Chengbin and Feng Yuxiang met at Gubeikou, they foresaw that the war situation would be unfavorable for the Zhili clique, and the long-awaited opportunity had arrived. On October 19, Feng Yuxiang received an urgent telegram from the headquarters chief of staff Zhang Fangyan, urging Feng's troops to launch an attack quickly to support the Shanhaiguan front, with the message stating, "The situation can be turned from danger to safety with this one move."

At the same time, Feng Yuxiang saw the battle reports and learned that the Zhili Army had suffered heavy casualties in the Shanhaiguan battle and was on the verge of collapse. In this situation, Feng Yuxiang believed that the time to return to the capital had come, and he ordered Sun Yue to quickly bring the troops stationed in Daming back to Nanyuan, and instructed his own troops to change the rear guard to the vanguard and immediately return to the capital.

Feng's troops cut the telegraph lines and sealed off the news, advancing at a speed of 70 kilometers per day and night, quickly returning to the capital. At 9:00 PM on October 22, the 8th Brigade commander Li Mingzhong and the 22nd Brigade commander Lu Zhonglin of the Feng Army were the first to return to the capital. Subsequently, Hu Jingyi's Shaanxi Army entered Tongzhou, cutting off Marshal Yu's connection with the capital.

At this time, Shanhaiguan had already been captured by the Fengtian Army, and Marshal Yu was retreating with his defeated troops, unaware of Feng Yuxiang's actions.

On October 23, the Army Inspector and 11th Division commander Feng Yuxiang, the 1st Division commander of the Shaanxi Army Hu Jingyi, and the Daming Garrison and 15th Mixed Brigade commander Sun Yue jointly issued a telegram calling for peace. In the telegram, they described the Zhili-Fengtian War as a "private feud" between Wu and Zhang, harshly criticizing Marshal Yu for "using the power of victory to hold the president hostage, controlling the government, treating provincial governors as subordinates, and launching a desperate war out of personal anger... We have already requested the president to issue an order to punish and warn him to apologize to the people and stop the war to alleviate the suffering of the people." The Beijing Coup, which would change the course of modern Chinese history, began.

What was Gao Yang doing during this time? First, Gao Yang traveled north to the capital to visit Mr. Zhou Xueji. At Zhou's residence, he frankly said, "Ma Lianjia has been a scourge to Anhui Province, and the people could no longer bear the oppression, so Commander Gao expelled him. However, Commander Gao, being a military man, is clueless about civilian affairs and fears causing harm to his fellow countrymen. Therefore, he has specially invited Mr. Zhou to serve as the president of the Anhui Province Post-War Reconstruction Committee, hoping that Mr. Zhou will return to Anhui for the sake of his fellow countrymen. The people of the entire province are eagerly awaiting your return."

"I am already in my sixties and had planned to spend my remaining years in peace. However, since my fellow countrymen still need me, I am honored to return and do my best," Mr. Zhou said.

"I entrust the welfare of the people of Anhui Province to you, Mr. Zhou." Gao Yang bowed.

After returning to Anqing, he established the Post-War Reconstruction Committee to handle civilian affairs, while militarily, Wei Ke was responsible for training new recruits and organizing the troops. He then hurriedly returned to the original timeline.

After nominally controlling the entire province, he completed his mission and received 50,000 energy points. Then, the Origin Point offered Gao Yang an irresistible temptation. "Although the CIA has been watching you, you are not a major figure. In their eyes, you are just someone to keep an eye on. Although you have a clone in Africa being monitored by them, you can't stay in this timeline forever, can you? How long has it been since you last saw your parents? And how long has it been since you last contacted that flight attendant?"

The Origin Point's words made Gao Yang feel as if he were chatting with a friend. He was greatly surprised and said, "You seem to be becoming more human. At first, you were like a machine. What's going on?"

"The more energy points you get, the more functions I have. Don't you like this emotional language?" the Origin Point continued.

"Never mind, let's just leave it at that. I want to go back, but if two of me appear at the same time, the CIA will not just watch but will hunt me down," Gao Yang said helplessly.

"There was no way before, but now there is. With the 50,000 energy points you just earned, there is a new method to solve this," the Origin Point's tone was somewhat cheerful.

"…Why do I feel like you really want me to spend all my energy points quickly?" Gao Yang asked in confusion.

"The method is as follows: After returning to the original timeline, I can hack into the CIA's internal network and modify your records to make you harmless and remove the surveillance. Since you are not a significant figure, it is almost impossible to be discovered. Then, I will forge a new resume for you on the entire planet's network, giving you a new identity, still you, but with a reasonable explanation for your financial sources. As long as you are not fully investigated by an organization like the CIA, you won't be discovered, but you still need to be low-key," the Origin Point explained in detail.

"How much? Spit, not, how many energy points?" Gao Yang was anxious. He had been stuck here for months and was almost driven mad, with no TV! The TV he used to ignore in the original timeline, he now missed terribly! He missed his parents, the internet, and the flush toilet! He would spend any number of energy points to go back!

Originally, everything Gao Yang did in 1924 was to earn energy points to return to the original timeline! The original timeline was his main battlefield!

"50,000 points." The Origin Point's voice had a tone of a fox eyeing a chicken.

"…Your sister!"

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