Chapter 82

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

These words hit Wang Bolin right where he liked to hear them; he stroked his nonexistent mustache and said, "I love hearing you say this. Remember, when you see the Principal, tell him these exact words again—the Principal loves your mouth."

"Division Commander, rest assured. If the Principal comes, I'll get the chance and definitely report everything happening inside the city to him."

Wang Bolin grunted in agreement, unable to hide his smugness, so he pretended to be aloof and ignored Sun Yuanlang. While riding his horse, his eyes kept scanning the crowds along the street.

Many people came to welcome the Northern Expedition Army, including plenty of young students—many male students and quite a few female students too.

Wang Bolin's eyes kept scanning several female students. Sun Yuanlang followed his gaze and immediately understood.

"Division Commander, you've been campaigning day after day and must be exhausted. Although Nanchang City isn't as prosperous as Guangzhou, it's still a place of talented people and spiritual land. I've already sent people to investigate last night and found a quiet, elegant spot in the city with excellent tea;

please move there for a short rest and experience the local customs... I guarantee it will satisfy you, Division Commander."

Hearing this, Wang Bolin showed a knowing smile. "Tea sounds good. Tea must be drunk. You understand me. Have Xue Yue and Hu Gongnan strengthen security. As for my whereabouts, absolutely do not reveal them casually..."

Sun Yuanlang hurriedly said, "Division Commander, you've worked hard with great achievements. A little rest is only natural. Regimental Commander Xue and Regimental Commander Hu are watching the city defenses, so nothing will go wrong. I'll go with you, Division Commander, and stay by your side as a guard."

On the Zhangjiang Gate City Tower of Nanchang City, Regimental Commander Xue Yue of the Third Regiment of the First Division was not immersed in the joy of victory.

At this moment, Xue Yue was holding binoculars, looking toward the northwest at Niuhang Station on the opposite bank of the Gan River.

Through the binocular lenses, one could see the soldiers on the Second Division's positions across the river, busy like little ants.

Hu Gongnan also climbed onto the city wall and had someone bring up an artillery observation mirror. "Regimental Commander Xue, shouldn't we use this to look?"

Xue Yue nodded and switched to the artillery observation mirror. Indeed, he could clearly see the Second Division across the river had turned Niuhang Station into an iron barrel.

After looking for a while, Xue Yue left the artillery observation mirror and sighed to the Second Regimental Commander Hu Gongnan beside him: "Gongnan, look across the river. Liu Zhifu (Liu Zhi)'s Second Division moves so fast! In just one night, this Niuhang Station is almost turned into an iron barrel formation by them."

Hu Gongnan seemed to have expected this long ago. "Most likely the work of Lv Muzhi's regiment of the Second Division. When this kid was at the military academy, the subjects he studied and practiced—only surveying and earthworks were most outstanding."

"Hmm! Looking at the construction of these fortifications, it's methodical and well-organized. Lv Muzhi's Supplementary Regiment really does have some skill."

Hu Gongnan also stood behind the artillery observation mirror and looked for a while, then lost interest. "The Second Division's deployment is indeed proper. This is good—it makes things much easier for us. We've occupied this sturdy city of Nanchang, and enemy troops will find it hard to threaten us. I think we can relax well inside the city. The local old ties have sent many comfort supplies."

Xue Yue frowned and then asked: "By the way, did you see the Division Commander? Even if the Second Division is holding the front, there are still many matters regarding Nanchang's city defense that need the Division Commander to establish an overall charter;

coordination and liaison with the Second Division across the river also need to be clarified as soon as possible."

A flash of embarrassment crossed Hu Gongnan's face. Sun Yuanlang had already told him where Wang Bolin had gone.

The first thing Wang Bolin did after entering the city was to seek flowers and ask willows. Xue Yue graduated from Baoding Military Academy and was not a Whampoa Clique general. It was inconvenient to say this plainly to Xue Yue, as it would easily invite ridicule.

Hu Gongnan could only speak vaguely, finding an excuse to brush it off: "This... the Division Commander, it seems he went to meet some important gentry representatives in the city, to pacify the locality. That's also an important matter."

As for city defense, the Division Commander already had a general plan before. As for specific details, I suppose there will be instructions later."

Xue Yue heard the evasion in Hu Gongnan's words and understood a few points in his heart, but it wasn't appropriate to investigate further. He only reminded him,

"With the Second Division present, Niuhang Station is indeed reliable now. But the area north of Niuhang Station—there is Yangzi Island in the middle of the Gan River, with a fairly large area;

it's currently the dry season. If the enemy abandons Niuhang Station and instead uses Yangzi Island in the center of the Gan River as a springboard, building two bridges, I truly worry the enemy will direct their blade straight at Nanchang City."

Hu Gongnan was stunned, thought for a few seconds, "Don't panic. I'll send a battalion of soldiers to guard near Yangzi Island. If there's any situation, I can naturally go to resist the enemy."

After Nanchang City was overcome for one day and one night, Beiyang Warlord Sun Chuanfang personally took a ferry, along the Yangtze River, from Jinling to Jiangxi, ordering the forces around Jiujiang to immediately march south along the Nanlu Railway Line, annihilate the two divisions of the First Army, and retake Nanchang City.

Around Jiujiang, the warlord sent Zheng Junyan's Tenth Division and Yang Genghe's Independent Brigade to attack Nanchang City.

South of Niuhang Station, Cheng Qian's Sixth Army of the Revolutionary Army came from Ga'an and had already reached the Nanchang battlefield, but stopped at Shengmi Street, dozens of li south of Niuhang Station, refusing to move forward.

"Cheng Qian's Sixth Army seems very dissatisfied. I asked him to advance north along the Meiling Mountain Foot on our eastern front to Lehua Town, always ready to support and attack the enemy's right wing, but he refuses to advance and stays behind us." Liu Zhi sighed, very helpless.

"After all, he is the Commander of the Sixth Army. There's no reason for him to listen to our Second Division's suggestions. But the most important reason is still that Wang Bolin didn't wait for Cheng Qian's Sixth Army troops to arrive and prematurely occupied Nanchang City. The merit of capturing the provincial capital—Cheng Qian can't get a single bit of it. How could he be willing to help us?" Lv Muzhi said.

"Indeed. Since the Sixth Army refuses to advance, and the Second and Third Armies are pinned down by the enemy around Zhangshu to the south, only my Second Division can guard Niuhang Station on the west bank of the Gan River, while Wang Bolin's First Division guards Nanchang City on the east bank of the Gan River."

"Report! Received the battle report from the Fifth Regiment guarding ahead. They have already encountered the enemy and opened fire. The enemy is coming with great momentum—the vanguard forces already include one division plus one brigade!" The Communications Soldier ran into the command post and reported the frontline situation.

After hearing this, Chen Jicheng, Deputy Division Commander of the Second Division and Regimental Commander of the Fourth Regiment, stood up and said: "The enemy has many troops. The Fifth Regiment shouldn't hold out too long ahead. Let the Fifth Regiment fight while retreating, luring the enemy army to the front of Niuhang Station, and here launch a great battle with the enemy!"

"Correct! You take the Fourth Regiment, Lv Muzhi takes the Supplementary Regiment, immediately enter Niuhang Station to command from the front. I'll go up to the highland to observe the situation and provide artillery support, always ready to let the reserve forces attack the enemy's flank!" Liu Zhi waved his hand and sent everyone out to deploy for battle.