Chapter 81

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Liu Zhi heard Lv Muzhi's words and felt somewhat helpless, "Muzi, don't joke, Wang Bolin's First Division holds Nanchang City firmly, we are guarding Niuhang Station ahead;

The enemy will surely seize Niuhang Station for troop transport; if Wang Bolin runs away, doesn't that mean our Second Division has already been defeated......"

Lv Muzhi just smiled, "Commander Liu, no matter how you put it, this floating bridge is still necessary to build; if we lose at Niuhang Station, the First Division can come over via the floating bridge to support us, or our Second Division can retreat into Nanchang City through the floating bridge; no matter what, it's a line of retreat;

And now it's the dry season, using the sandbars exposed on the river surface as stepping stones, building a floating bridge isn't difficult."

Liu Zhi nodded, "That's a reasonable statement; I'll have the Engineer Battalion build the floating bridge first; as for the defense of Niuhang Station, it must proceed simultaneously."

"Commander Liu, besides this, I suggest all trees near Niuhang Station be cut down, so they don't become cover for the enemy; the railway north of Niuhang Station should be dismantled as much as possible, dismantle as much as you can, making the enemy walk to Niuhang Station."

"Alright, do this: Deputy Division Commander Chen Jicheng leads the Fourth Regiment, you take the Supplementary Regiment to garrison Niuhang Station, dig fortifications and deploy defenses; the Fifth Regiment advances north along the railway while dismantling it, simultaneously guarding against the enemy to the north; the Artillery Unit and the Sixth Regiment are deployed behind Niuhang Station, serving as the Reserve Force."

That night Niuhang Station was captured, Liu Zhi's orders were issued, and the officers and men of the Second Division all sprang into action.

Wang Bolin's First Division exclusively enjoyed the merit of retaking the provincial capital; although the officers and men of Liu Zhi's Second Division felt some dissatisfaction in their hearts, now being sent to this dangerous Niuhang Station to garrison, for self-preservation, naturally they dared not slacken easily.

Between Niuhang Station and Nanchang City lies the Gan River; the Gan River flows from south to north; the position on the left bank near the north is Niuhang Station, garrisoned by Liu Zhi's Second Division; the position on the right bank near the south is Nanchang City, garrisoned by Wang Bolin's First Division of the First Army.

Currently, the enemies within Jiangxi mainly consist of two forces; one force is in Jiujiang to the north, possibly advancing south along the Nanlu Railway Line on the left bank of the Gan River at any time to attack, getting off at Niuhang Station, crossing the river to seize Nanchang City.

The other enemy force is in Zhangshu City to the south; the Second Army and Third Army are restraining the enemy in the Zhangshu area.

Niuhang Station, as the terminal station of the Nanxun Railway, relies on the Gan River, its scale is not small, but in Lv Muzhi's view, the structure is still relatively simple; after all, Republic of China stations cannot compare with stations in modern small county towns.

Behind the main gate is the Waiting Hall; going out is the Platform; the left side of the Platform is the Dispatching Room; the right side is the Electromechanical Room and Water Room.

Railway tracks crisscross inside the station, with locomotives and carriages parked in multiple places.

At the east exit of the station, near the Ferry Crossing, after passengers or cargo arrive at Niuhang Station, they still need to be transported by boat into Nanchang City.

In the night, inside and outside Niuhang Station was brightly lit with firelight.

Lv Muzhi patrolled back and forth, issuing orders while doing so: "The brick-and-stone structures such as the Waiting Hall, Dispatching Room, and Electromechanical Room are natural strongholds; sandbags must be stacked in two layers at the foot of the walls for reinforcement; all doors and windows must be covered with sandbags, leaving firing ports."

Interior walls should be opened up as appropriate to facilitate troop movement and mutual support.

The roof also needs inspection and reinforcement; sandbags can be laid on the roof to provide some protection against artillery.

Soldiers wielded shovels and picks, digging trenches vigorously; all sleepers and rails inside Niuhang Station were dismantled and used as construction materials for trenches and defensive lines.

The train carriages and locomotives parked inside the station; soldiers found railway workers and pushed them all to designated positions, forming an outer barrier and firepower support points.

Especially in the direction facing the northern railway, the defensive line must be solid to delay the enemy's assault speed.

Lv Muzhi came to the outer trench again, looking at several Battalion Commanders under his command: "The trenches must be dug well; all weeds and bushes within one kilometer north of the station must be cleared, so the enemy has nowhere to hide when charging."

Du Yuming, Guan Linzhen, and Song Xilian received Lv Muzhi's orders and all returned to urge their soldiers to begin position construction.

Hualalala~

A crackling sound rose from the north, accompanied by red firelight.

Division Commander Liu Zhi, to save trouble, set a fire north of the station, burning all grass and trees, leaving the enemy a stretch of bald scorched earth.

Early the next morning, the defense of Niuhang Station initially took shape.

The exterior of the station was almost covered with sandbags; the outer perimeter also bulged forward with three winding trenches.

The trenches were interlocking like dog teeth, almost as high as the soldiers.

Sleepers and rail steel dismantled from the tracks were also sent into the trenches, used as retaining supports for the trenches to prevent trench walls from collapsing.

Communication trenches crisscrossed, connecting the three layers of trenches, connecting to each firepower point, and to Niuhang Station behind, all the way to the Second Division Headquarters Command Post and the reserve force positions, like an anthill.

Lv Muzhi inspected his own position; the north had already been burned into a stretch of bald scorched black; if the enemy came, they would almost have nowhere to hide.

The railway in the distance had been stripped clean by the Fifth Regiment's advance detachment; over a thousand people worked all night, dismantling nearly ten kilometers of railway.

Division Commander Liu Zhi, accompanied by Chen Jicheng, inspected the defensive position of Niuhang Station; when he came to the garrison of Lv Muzhi's Supplementary Regiment, he couldn't help but nod with satisfaction, "Haha! In one night, such complete fortifications were formed out of flat ground; I see even if the enemy troops come with twenty thousand, we are not afraid!"

Chen Jicheng was the regimental commander of the Fourth Regiment; besides that, he was also Liu Zhi's Deputy Division Commander: "Not bad, thanks to Muzi; my Fourth Regiment is deployed on the left side of the station; the brothers received much help from Muzi in building the positions."

Lv Muzhi humbly said: "The position is not yet complete and needs further improvement; I am organizing soldiers to dig anti-artillery caves on the side walls of the trenches, to avoid possible enemy artillery fire and reduce casualties."

"Good! If the enemy really dares to come by train, as long as we block them, the merit of capturing Nanchang City, I must strive for it from the Principal!"

On the Niuhang Station side, it was bustling with activity, tense war preparations, sweating profusely.

Inside Nanchang City on the opposite bank of the Gan River, however, it was full of joy and exceptionally lively.

Wang Bolin's First Division, as the victors, upon entering Nanchang City, received a warm welcome from the people inside the city.

Approaching the Mid-Autumn Festival, even some people carried baskets of mooncakes to reward the troops.

Wang Bolin rode a tall horse into Nanchang City; people lined the streets to welcome him; in his heart, he was already elated.

Along both sides of the street, there were many curious onlookers; more were gentry and merchants actively expressing their support for the Northern Expedition Army, setting off firecrackers that crackled loudly.

Baskets of mooncakes, vats of rice wine; this scene made Wang Bolin, already complacent from easily taking the provincial capital, even more elated.

Sun Yuanlang by Wang Bolin's side was most adept at reading words and expressions; he immediately urged his horse forward:

"Division Commander, look, how much the people of Nanchang City love our First Division! The people bring food and drink; the Principal's decision is wise; the officers and men of my First Division fight with their lives; the primary merit of retaking the provincial capital of Jiangxi belongs to none other than you, Division Commander!

You are the undisputed first meritorious official on the Jiangxi battlefield since the Northern Expedition!"