Chapter 48: Republic of China: Starting from the First Phase of Whampoa Chapter 48 Swearing-in and Departure

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Lv Muzhi felt it was strange. He hadn't asked Liu Zhi for it, so why had Liu Zhi delivered it himself? And he was even given preferential treatment in terms of ammunition quantity.

Lv Muzhi held the Flower Mechanism, not yet speaking.

Liu Zhi stood with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle: "We're about to go to war again. Once hostilities begin, all a soldier can rely on are his comrades. Your platoon is now officially appointed as the Guard Platoon of my Second Battalion. You will no longer be under the Company Commander's jurisdiction; you only need to be responsible for the safety of the battalion headquarters officers."

Lv Muzhi finally understood. It turned out he was being made the Guard Platoon. What 'protecting the battalion headquarters officers' really meant was protecting Liu Zhi himself. No wonder he'd been given so many extra bullets!

"Yes! Muzi understands! Our platoon will surely defend the Battalion Commander to the death!"

The Eastern Expedition was being prepared, but the New Year still had to be celebrated.

On January 23rd, it was New Year's Eve.

Besides organizing grain and fodder everywhere, the Whampoa Student Army also had to find time to hold a banquet.

Even though the Student Army soldiers were sleeping with their weapons on Changzhou Island, celebrating the New Year, as the most important custom of the Huaxia people, could not be neglected even in the army.

The New Year's Eve dinner at the Military Academy and the Training Regiment was much more lavish than usual, and large pieces of meat were a rare sight in the rice bowls. Apart from the lack of alcohol, it truly felt like a festival!

Some even joked that this was a 'last meal before execution.'

After the banquet, a cultural performance was held at the Training Regiment's garrison, featuring programs written and performed by Whampoa students.

The Blood Flower Drama Society performed plays such as 'The White-Haired Girl' and 'Huanghuagang' for all officers and soldiers of the Training Regiment to watch, strengthening the regiment's ideological construction before the official outbreak of war.

Members of the Blood Flower Drama Society, including Li Zhilong, Chen Geng, Hu Gongnan, and others, performed with great effort on stage, achieving excellent results. Many soldiers were emotionally moved, and some even cursed the actor playing the villain, Hu Gongnan, shouting that they wanted to overthrow Hu Gongnan.

Hu Gongnan was so frightened his face turned green, as if he had really done something wrong. As soon as he left the stage, he removed the makeup from his face, fearing the soldiers would attack him.

Besides the Blood Flower Drama Society's plays, there were other programs.

For example, Lv Muzhi's Guard Platoon went on stage to perform an improved version of the bayonet drill for the Training Regiment's officers and soldiers, winning the applause and approval of the Principal and other leaders.

After the performance, Changzhou Island was lively for a while, and the curfew was lifted that night. As long as they didn't leave the island without permission, drink alcohol, or gamble, officers, soldiers, and students could celebrate together.

The Principal and others had no objections. The Eastern Expedition was the first test for the Whampoa Student Army, and before this great exam, proper relaxation was necessary.

The previous Merchant Corps Incident was merely an appetizer side dish; compared to Chen Jiongming's forces, it was not on the same scale at all.

Moreover, Navy warships were patrolling the Pearl River, and since Changzhou Island was surrounded by water on all sides, they didn't fear an enemy sneak attack.

For some officers, soldiers, and students on Changzhou Island, this would be their last Spring Festival.

In the villages across the Pearl River, some wealthy families set off fireworks, drawing the students to stop and watch.

Song Xilian pointed at the brilliant fireworks in the sky and asked, "We're about to go to war, but it looks like the common people aren't panicked at all."

Chen Geng crossed his arms over his chest: "What's there to panic about? The common people are just used to it. In these war-torn times, gunfire and firecrackers are equally common."

Lv Muzhi sat on the ground and smiled bitterly: "The common people not panicking is actually what we should be most alert to. They probably don't care about the outcome of this war. If we win, everything stays the same; if we lose, it's just Chen Jiongming taking over Guangzhou City."

Jiang Xiangyun smiled and said, "Reasonable, but I always believe that as long as the revolution achieves final victory, the common people will support us from the bottom of their hearts. That day will surely come!"

"Exactly! Whether we set out on campaign or return in triumph, the common people will see us off and welcome us!" Chen Geng was obviously as confident as Jiang Xiangyun.

"Mm! Chen Geng, how is your propaganda team organizing?" Jiang Xiangyun asked.

In this Eastern Expedition battle, Chen Geng had been appointed Propaganda Team Leader, responsible for inspecting the troops' military appearance and discipline, and spreading revolutionary ideas to the villages and towns along the Eastern Expedition route.

"It's long been ready. I picked some junior students from the Second Phase to join the propaganda team!"

Chen Geng was very happy. Originally, he had been a conscript company commander among the Second Phase students and had not entered the Training Regiment. Now, with the position of Propaganda Team Leader, he could participate in the Eastern Expedition battles.

Mastering literary and martial arts, dedicating them to the revolutionary cause—this is the pursuit of every Whampoa student.

Everyone chatted about everything on Changzhou Island, enjoying the last bit of leisure. After all, they were about to leave this novice village of Guangzhou and engage in a real contest with actual armies.

January 31st, the eighth day of the first lunar month.

Whampoa Military Academy held a swearing-in rally for the Eastern Expedition. Political Department Instructor Wu took the stage to give a speech, making the final mobilization for the Eastern Expedition and explaining its important significance to a total of three thousand men from the two Training Regiments.

After the swearing-in rally, the Military Academy issued a red scarf to every soldier participating in the Eastern Expedition. They turned down the collars of their uniforms and tied the red scarves around their necks, which served as the mark distinguishing Whampoa cadet troops from other units.

At the same time, the troops began organizing the writing of last wills and testaments, so that if they died in battle, they could leave a few words for their families.

Lv Muzhi picked up his pen, thought and thought, but didn't know how to write. Since crossing over, he had never even seen the parents of this body.

He simply decided not to write it. He put a check for four hundred dollars into an envelope, wrote his hometown address, and put it in his pocket.

On the last day before setting out, Lv Muzhi looked at the thirty-three men under his command serving as Liu Zhi's Guard Platoon, and spent money to have someone buy a large bag of cigarettes—Old Knife brand cigarettes, one carton per person—which he distributed to his subordinates.

February 1st, the ninth day of the first lunar month.

The festive atmosphere in Guangzhou City had not yet faded, and the sound of firecrackers still occasionally came from the small fishing village opposite Changzhou Island. The Whampoa Student Army officially set out on the Eastern Expedition.

The First Teaching Regiment departed by boat at eight o'clock in the morning. The Principal rode aboard the Yongfeng Warship, sailing east along the Pearl River toward Humen to assemble.

That afternoon, the First Teaching Regiment arrived at the Humen area and disembarked near the Shajiao Battery.

There had originally been some enemies on the beachhead preparing to launch a counter-landing battle against the Whampoa Student Army.

But when they saw the Whampoa Student Army had warships supporting them, and that the Shajiao Battery was unfortunately in the hands of Xu Chongzhi's Yue Army—easy to defend but hard to attack—and failed to take it after several attempts, the helpless enemy troops had no choice but to retreat, allowing the Whampoa Student Army to land.

Ships landed one after another. Lv Muzhi's Guard Platoon stayed closely by Liu Zhi's side, and the soldiers of the First Teaching Regiment continuously unloaded heavy weapons from the boats.

The Maxim Heavy Machine Guns and six Russian Mountain Guns were the First Teaching Regiment's assault force.

Chen Cheng, the company commander of the artillery company, as a recently risen new talent, was highly regarded by the Principal. With these precious mountain guns, the Whampoa Student Army's assault power would be greatly strengthened.

The Eastern Expedition Army was divided into left, center, and right routes. The Whampoa Cadet Army and the Yue Army, as the Right Wing Army, were similarly divided into left and right routes.

The Yue Army Second Division and the Seventh Independent Brigade formed the left wing, while the two Teaching Regiments of the Whampoa Cadet Army formed the right wing.

As the right wing of the Whampoa Cadet Army, the Second Teaching Regiment would cooperate with the Yue Army to attack Dongguan County City along one route, while the First Teaching Regiment would go along another route to attack Pinghu Station, an important node on the Guangjiu Railway Line.

And Lv Muzhi, as a member of the First Teaching Regiment, would advance with the troops toward Pinghu Station.

Once Pinghu Station was taken, the Guangjiu Railway Line could be reopened, and grain and equipment transported from Guangzhou could be quickly delivered to the Eastern Expedition frontline.

First Regiment Commander He Yingqin personally led the force, mobilizing the Armored Vehicle Fleet, coordinating with the three battalions of the First Regiment, to launch an attack on Pinghu Station.