Chapter 84: Republic of China: Starting from the First Class of Whampoa Chapter 84: Struck from Both Sides

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

After Liu Zhi issued the order, the messenger crossed the Gan River via the pre-built floating bridge, ran east toward Nanchang City, and went to report the enemy situation to First Division Commander Wang Bolin.

When the messenger hurried across the Gan River and reached the First Division Headquarters inside Nanchang City, he discovered that First Division Commander Wang Bolin had vanished since entering the city the day before, and Sun Yuanlang, the regimental commander who was usually inseparable from him, had also disappeared.

The staff officers left behind at headquarters could only find Third Regiment Commander Xue Yue and Second Regiment Commander Hu Gongnan; they reported the possible enemy movement toward Yangzi Island, which matched what Xue Yue had said earlier, and Hu Gongnan also felt the matter was serious.

The Beiyang warlords could not take the deep ditches and ramparts at Niuhang Station on the opposite bank, and they were very likely to find a way to cross the river from the north side and strike directly at Nanchang City.

Hu Gongnan had previously sent one battalion out from north of the city to guard Yangzi Island in the middle of the Gan River.

Now, having received the warning, Hu Gongnan personally went to inspect the enemy situation and took all two remaining battalions of his Second Regiment with him to prepare defensive deployments.

At the same time, north of Niuhang Station and west of the Gan River, Zheng Junyan and Yang Genghe moved with extreme speed.

Relying on their numerical superiority and their usual habit of bullying the common people, their troops forcibly requisitioned all boats from dozens of fishing villages along the Gan River banks—whether small fishing boats or slightly larger ferries—all were seized for military use.

On Yangzi Island, engineers and conscripted laborers cut bamboo and wood, hastily building a floating bridge connecting the island to the shore.

On the river surface, countless boats shuttled back and forth, transporting soldiers and equipment onto Yangzi Island.

The enemy's purpose in attempting to cross the river was now obvious!

Inside the Niuhang Station position, Liu Zhi was now extremely anxious.

On the Nanxun Railway, the vanguard of Xie Hongxun's division had already arrived by train; although the tracks ahead were destroyed, the enemy quickly disembarked, advanced to several li north of Niuhang Station, and began constructing positions, forming a posture to confront Liu Zhi and pin down the Niuhang Station garrison.

Most critically, Liu Zhi's temporary superior, Left Route Army Commander and First Division Commander Wang Bolin, could not be found at all; he could only contact the two regimental commanders of the First Division.

Standing outside the temporary command post at Niuhang Station, Liu Zhi held up his binoculars, his expression grave as he looked toward the north and the direction of the island in the middle of the river.

"Muzi, look at this situation: Xie Hongxun's division is arrayed against our front, Zheng Junyan and Yang Genghe have at least one division plus one brigade attempting to cross the river, I hear Deng Ruzuo has also divided troops from Zhangshu to advance north from the south—the enemy keeps growing, reinforcements come one after another, and what about us!"

Liu Zhi lowered his binoculars, his tone helpless: "It's still just our Second Division holding the north alone; Wang Bolin's First Division guards Nanchang City, Cheng Qian's Sixth Army replies that they are still resting at Shengmi Street, staying put—this is because they resent Wang Bolin hogging the first merit of capturing Nanchang City!"

Lv Muzhi stood to one side, his gaze also fixed on the direction of the Gan River, his brow tightly furrowed: "Division Commander, we still need to send someone to ask General Cheng for reinforcements, explain the stakes to him, and he will still send troops; the key is Division Commander Wang Bolin's side—have our people found him?"

Right now the enemy's tactical target has already shifted to Nanchang City; if we cannot unify the First Division's troops, once the enemy successfully crosses the river toward Yangzi Island, the river defense and city defense north of Nanchang City will be empty, and the consequences are unthinkable.

"Find him? Where am I supposed to find him! The messenger reported that the people at the First Division Headquarters simply don't know where their Division Commander Wang went! They only gave the intelligence to Hu Gongnan, for him to pass on to Wang Bolin—what's so good about this Nanchang City, more attractive than his division headquarters command post?"

Hearing this, Lv Muzhi shook his head silently; Wang Bolin and Sun Yuanlang had probably lost contact while visiting prostitutes.

"Commander Liu, don't worry; fortunately we've already built a floating bridge on the Gan River. If Nanchang City is in danger, our Second Division can send one or two regiments to support."

After hearing this, Liu Zhi nodded: "I'll write a personal letter asking the Sixth Army, garrisoned at Shengmi Street in the rear, to send a division up to support. That way, your Supplementary Regiment stays ready at all times; if Nanchang City is in trouble, immediately reinforce Nanchang City via the floating bridge!"

"Yes!"

……

On the east bank of the Gan River, Hu Gongnan was hurriedly digging field fortifications, observing the river surface with binoculars. His heart grew increasingly alarmed.

Only to see that on the wide river surface, hundreds of boats were ceaselessly traveling back and forth between the west bank of the Gan River and Yangzi Island; figures were thick on the island, clearly a large number of enemy troops had gathered.

Yangzi Island was vast, over ten li long from north to south, and about three and a half li wide at its widest point east to west—enough to accommodate one division plus one brigade of the Beiyang warlords Zheng Junyan and Yang Genghe.

Even more worrying was that the enemy had already built the floating bridge from the west bank of the Gan River to Yangzi Island last night under cover of darkness; at this rate, the enemy would soon build a floating bridge from Yangzi Island to the east bank of the Gan River. Hu Gongnan's troops were on the east bank, so a fierce battle was unavoidable.

"Hurry! Hurry and dig! What were you doing last night? Not digging fortifications?!" Hu Gongnan loudly urged his soldiers.

But Hu Gongnan didn't feel right shouting anymore; yesterday he had only ordered his soldiers to stand guard, without saying to dig fortifications and prepare defenses.

Hu Gongnan had thought to wait until Wang Bolin had his fun in the city, then coordinate with the divisional artillery to build river defenses; he hadn't expected the warlord troops opposite to move with divine speed, mobilizing so many boats in one go—obviously they had completely looted the fishing villages and small ferry crossings on the opposite bank.

"First Battalion Commander!"

"Here!"

Hu Gongnan quickly called out his First Battalion Commander: "You stay here and watch; once the enemy starts building the floating bridge right under our noses, immediately harass them with machine gun fire. If the enemy crosses the river, strike them while they are mid-crossing—don't let the enemy get across!"

After saying this, Hu Gongnan hurried back into Nanchang City to find Wang Bolin and Sun Yuanlang; if he still couldn't find them, big trouble would surely break out.

Upon entering the city, Hu Gongnan received another urgent military report from the staff department: Deng Ruzhuo's warlord troops, garrisoned at Zhangshu to the south, had detached a force of five thousand men, rapidly advancing north along the east bank of the Gan River. Their intention was obvious—to coordinate with the enemy crossing the river from the north and launch a pincer attack on Nanchang City from north and south.

Third Regiment Commander Xue Yue, upon receiving the news, also rushed to the staff department to find the division commander. He didn't find Wang Bolin, but happened to run into Hu Gongnan.

"Regimental Commander Hu! Where has Division Commander Wang gone? The military situation is urgent! And where is Regimental Commander Sun Yuanlang? His troops are still in the city with no one mobilizing them!"

"Regimental Commander Xue, don't be anxious. I'll go notify Division Commander Wang right now. Before Division Commander Wang arrives, you will be responsible for the city defense of Nanchang City, and I'll take charge of the river defense to the north." After saying this, Hu Gongnan was about to hurry off to find someone.

"Regimental Commander Hu!" Xue Yue roared, stopping Hu Gongnan. "This is simply child's play! Even if he's been visiting brothels, he should be back by now!"

Hearing this, Hu Gongnan merely paused, ignored Xue Yue, and directly strode quickly out of the division headquarters gate, leaving the staff officers inside the headquarters feeling very embarrassed.