Chapter 103: Central Plains War 1

In early 1930, Jinling was shrouded in a strange calm. The Chairman stood before the massive map in the President's Office, his red‑blue pencil drawing circle after circle over Huabei.

"Yan Baichuan has been acting a lot lately," the Chairman said to He Yingqin behind him, "I heard he summons generals from all routes in Taiyuan every day for meetings?"

He Yingqin bowed and replied, "Yes, Chairman. According to reliable intelligence, Yan Xisan has recently been in close contact with Feng Yuxiang and Li Zongren. Moreover… it is said that in January he intercepted a secret order, fled back to Taiyuan overnight, and then resolved to rebel."

The Chairman sneered, slammed the pencil onto the map, and said, "Niang Xipi! These people, who called each other brothers during the Northern Expedition, now all want a piece of the pie!"

At that moment, Li Yuxuan requested an audience. He brought a construction progress report from the Arms Factory, but his eyes revealed worry.

"Young Master, the northern situation is tense; does the Fifth Army need to be ready?" Li Yuxuan asked tentatively.

The Chairman waved his hand: "No need, Jingxing, just focus on building your Arms Factory. These people are merely a mob."

However, the development of the situation surprised the Chairman. In March of the same year, 57 Anti‑Jiang United Army General Officers jointly sent a telegram endorsing Yan Xisan as Commander‑in‑Chief. On April 1, flags fluttered in Taiyuan, and Yan Xisan assumed the title "Republic of China Military Commander‑in‑Chief" under the gaze of the masses.

At the parade in Taiyuan, Yan Xisan, dressed in military uniform, addressed the hundred thousand troops and civilians below, speaking passionately: "Chairman rules with dictatorship and tyranny, eliminating dissent. Today I, Yan Baichuan, have no choice but to rise up, truly to save the nation and the people!"

Beside him, Feng Yuxiang and Li Zongren consecutively swore in as Deputy Commanders‑in‑Chief. Feng Yuxiang's voice rang like a great bell: "I, Feng Yuxiang, today stand united with Brother Baichuan, vowing to overthrow the Chairman, this tyrant and traitor!"

On May 1, the Chairman issued the "Oath to Exterminate Yan and Feng," and two days later held a grand oath ceremony in Jinling. On the Yangtze River bank, a hundred thousand Central Army troops formed neat ranks, their rifles like a forest.

"Soldiers!" the Chairman's voice rang through the loudspeakers across the venue, "Yan Xisan, Feng Yuxiang and these traitors undermine unity, bring disaster to the nation! Today we march out; we must purge the rebels and restore our rivers and mountains!"

"Swear to die loyal to the Chairman!" amid the thunderous slogans, the war officially began.

On May 11, outside Guide City in the Central Plains, the Central Army's First Division and the Jin Army's Third Division fired the first shot. Artillery tore through the dawn, shaking the entire Central Plains.

In the Guide frontline command post, the Central Army Division Commander Hu Zhongnan held a telescope to observe the battle. Suddenly, a shell exploded near the command post, sending dust flying.

"Division Commander, the Jin Army's artillery is too fierce!" the Chief of Staff shouted.

Hu Zhongnan brushed the dust from his face: "If the Chairman hadn't dispersed the Fifth Army, they wouldn't have the audacity. Tell the artillery regiment commander to concentrate fire and destroy the enemy's artillery positions!"

Meanwhile, inside Guide City, the Jin Army Division Commander Li Shengda paced anxiously. He had just received intelligence that the Central Army was trying to turn his subordinate Niu Maoen.

"Order all regiments to contract their lines, especially Niu Maoen's unit; keep them under tight surveillance!" Li Shengda ordered.

But it was too late. That night, Niu Maoen indeed led his troops to defect, opened the city gates to welcome the Central Army into the city. When the news of Guide City's fall reached Taiyuan, Yan Xisan was so angry he smashed his most beloved tea set.

On the Southern front, Li Zongren led the Gui Army like a hot knife through bamboo, consecutively capturing Hengyang and Xingcheng. Outside Xingcheng, Gui soldiers charged through a hail of gunfire, their battle cries shaking the heavens.

"De Gong, at this rate we can reach Wuhan in less than half a month!" Bai Chongxi said excitedly.

Li Zongren, however, wore a grave expression: "Don't be too joyous yet. Moreover, if we hadn't jointly dispersed the Fifth Army, progress wouldn't be this smooth. Besides, the Chairman's main forces are in the north; our success here doesn't mean the overall situation is optimistic."

In June, on the Qilu battlefield, the fighting entered a fever pitch. Under Zhang Yinwu's command, the Jin Army launched a fierce assault on Jinan.

Outside Jinan, on the Yellow River bank, the Central Army and the Jin Army engaged in a brutal stalemate. The river water turned crimson with blood, and corpses piled up like mountains.

Jin soldier Wang Tiezhu lay in a shell crater, the barrel of his rifle already glowing red. Beside him, fellow townsman Li Goudan had a chest wound, barely clinging to life.

"Brother Zhuzi… tell my mother… I didn't disgrace her…" Li Goudan said his final words before his eyes closed forever.

Wang Tiezhu, eyes reddened, leapt out of the crater: "Er Gouzi, brother will avenge you!"

He charged toward the Central Army's position with a bayonet, stabbing down two enemies in succession, before being cut down by a hail of gunfire.

On June 25, the Jin Army finally captured Jinan. When the news reached Jinling, the Chairman erupted in fury.

"Niang Xipi, it's only a temporary setback!" the Chairman roared at the military meeting, "Tell Jingxing not to panic, to focus on building his Arms Factory! Also, inform the Fifth Army officers to get ready."

The aide quickly recorded: "Yes, Chairman."

However, the frontline generals were deeply worried. He Yingqin privately told Gu Zhutong: "The loss of Jinan and the severed Jin‑Pu line make the situation truly grim."

In July, the Qilu region sweltered unbearably. The Chairman personally went to Xuzhou to command, deciding to launch a full‑scale counter‑offensive along the Jin‑Pu line and the Jiao‑Ji line.

In the early hours of July 31, the Central Army massed three hundred guns to pound the Jin Army positions. The artillery painted half the sky red, and deafening explosions rang on without end.

Outside Tai'an City, the Central Army's 2nd Corps commander Liu Zhi personally went to the front. He stood on a height, using a telescope to observe the artillery's effect.

"Order the Tank units to launch a charge in one hour!" Liu Zhi ordered.

The Central Army's Renault FT‑17 tanks Rumble— forward, while Jin soldiers countered with cluster grenades and explosive packs. The fighting was exceptionally brutal; every inch of ground was contested repeatedly.

Jin Army Division Commander Fu Zuoyi was frantic in the command post: "We request the Commander‑in‑Chief to dispatch reinforcements quickly! We can hardly hold on!"

However, at this moment Yan Xisan was still quarrelling with Feng Yuxiang over strategic policy, delaying the optimal reinforcement timing.

Although the Jin Army fought bravely, it was at a disadvantage in equipment and supplies. In early August, the Central Army recaptured Jinan.

On August 6, the Anti‑Jiang United Army launched an unprecedented "July Offensive" along the Longhai line, surging toward Xuzhou in seven thrusts.

The Chairman urgently telegraphed Jinling from the Guide frontline command: "Notify Jingxing to come; we cannot proceed without him this time."

A few days later, Li Yuxuan personally arrived at the front. Watching the retreating troops, he furrowed his brow: "With such high equipment, yet we still can't defeat them?"

Blood‑smeared Huang Wei sobbed: "Chief, the enemy fire is too intense. Our tanks are few; each loss leaves us with one fewer."

Li Yuxuan immediately allocated Fifth Army officers and its weapons, ordering all units: if you still acknowledge me as the chief, all of you, come over here.

"Yes," Chairman Huang Wei said.

And Li Yuxuan began reorganizing the frontline command system. Under his coordination, the Central Army's defensive line gradually stabilized for the time being.