Chapter 149: The Road Home

December 25, 1936, before dawn, the New City Building in Xi'an was already brightly lit. Zhang Xueliang paced back and forth in the conference room, his military boots thudding dully on the floor. Yang Hucheng sat nearby, smoking with a grave expression.

"We must send the principal back to Jinling immediately," Zhang Xueliang said, halting his steps, his voice firm.

The conference room erupted in a clamor. Yan Daogang, Chief of Staff of the Northeast Army, rose abruptly: "Deputy Commander-in-Chief, we should at least wait for the principal to sign a written agreement! Otherwise wouldn't we waste all our previous efforts?"

"Impossible!" Zhang Xueliang said sternly, "Sending the principal back now shows our sincerity. If we wait until the enemy forces press outside the city, we will be forced into a passive position."

Yang Hucheng stubbed out his cigarette and said slowly, "Han Qing, this matter still requires caution. Without a written agreement, if the principal changes his attitude after returning…"

"Brother Hu Cheng!" Zhang Xueliang interrupted, "I, Zhang Xueliang, act with a firm sense of promise. Since the principal has verbally pledged to cease the civil war and unite against the Anti-Japanese, we should trust him."

While the heated discussion continued inside the New City Building, Li Yuxuan was already beginning deployments at his temporary command post.

"Order the Fifth Army's vanguard units to occupy Ba Bridge immediately, and the Eighteenth Army to advance to Huayin," Li Yuxuan instructed Huang Wei, "Send an Encrypted Telegram to the city garrison, seize the Bell Tower, Drum Tower and other key sites at once, and monitor the movements of the Northeast Army and the Seventeenth Route Army."

Huang Wei hesitated slightly, "Commander, could this provoke a clash?"

Li Yuxuan's expression was solemn, "In these special times, special measures are required. Arrange for the Adjutant to liaise with Zhang Xueliang's guard, under the pretext of protecting the Chairman's safety, and learn their evacuation routes."

In the reception hall of the New City Building, the Chairman sat at the head seat, his demeanor calm as he looked at Zhang Xueliang and Yang Hucheng before him.

"Han Qing, Hu Cheng, let the past stay in the past," the principal said slowly, "My word is my bond; I have promised to end the civil war and unite against the Anti-Japanese, and I will see it through."

Zhang Xueliang rose at once, "Chairman, your wisdom! Xue Liang is willing to escort you back to Jinling personally, guaranteeing your safety with his own reputation."

Yang Hucheng asked cautiously, "Principal, could these commitments be put into a written document? It would also reassure the troops."

A flash of displeasure crossed the principal's eyes, but he quickly regained composure, "Hu Cheng, you and I are soldiers; a word is as heavy as nine tripods. A written agreement would seem out of place."

Meanwhile, Li Yuxuan was in the command post listening to reports.

"Sun Mingjiu, a close associate of Yang Hucheng, has been active lately," the Chief of the Special Services Department reported in a low voice, "He seems to be covertly contacting various parties."

Li Yuxuan's eyes hardened, "Notify the subordinates to closely monitor Yang Hucheng and his core staff. If any abnormal movements appear, take necessary measures immediately!"

He turned to Huang Wei, "Prepare two special aircraft at Xi'an Airport, one for the Chairman's use and the other as a backup. Ensure everything is flawless."

At noon, Xi'an West Gate Airport was under strict guard. The principal, accompanied by Er Song, walked toward the special aircraft, with Zhang Xueliang close behind.

Yang Hucheng stood at the front of the send‑off procession, his expression solemn. After a brief handshake with the principal, he stepped aside and watched the scene silently.

Li Yuxuan led his guard to patrol the airport perimeter. Upon seeing the principal, he hurried forward.

"Young Master is frightened," Li Yuxuan saluted the Young Master, "I have ordered the Fifth Army and the Eighteenth Army to fully deploy in Xibei, ensuring the subsequent situation remains stable."

The principal nodded approvingly, "Jingxing, the post‑conflict work in Xibei is yours. Remember to handle it properly."

"Yuxuan understands."

Just as the special aircraft was preparing to take off, Zhang Xueliang suddenly said to Yang Hucheng, "Brother Hu Cheng, we temporarily entrust the Northeast Army to you."

Yang Hucheng opened his mouth to speak but stopped, finally letting out a deep sigh.

At exactly 1 p. m., the special aircraft rose into the sky. Li Yuxuan watched it depart, then turned to Huang Wei, "Immediately send Encrypted Telegrams to all Xibei forces, ordering them to await central deployment. Anyone who acts on their own will be dealt with under Military Law!"

While the aircraft refueled during a stopover in Luoyang, the Chairman immediately sent a telegram to the Jinling Military Commission: "The Xi'an Incident has been peacefully resolved; the central army should temporarily halt its westward advance, but remain on guard."

At the same time, an Encrypted Telegram reached Li Yuxuan's hands: "You are fully responsible for the defense of Xi'an and Xibei, and to reorganize the Northeast Army and the Seventeenth Route Army."

Li Yuxuan acted immediately. He first dispatched personnel to contact the Northeast Army generals Wang Yizhe and Yu Xuezhong.

"General Wang, General Yu," the Special Envoy of Li Yuxuan got straight to the point, "Jing Gong promises you that as long as the Northeast Army obeys central deployment, not only will its original structure be retained, but all arrears will also be paid."

Wang Yizhe mused, "We need a security guarantee from Han Qing."

"That is natural," the envoy replied, "the principal has always been generous to people."

Meanwhile, the reorganization preparatory unit of the Seventeenth Route Army had already moved into Xi'an, beginning to take over certain military‑administrative affairs. Yang Hucheng paced anxiously in his own headquarters.

"Li Yuxuan is gradually trying to weaken our strength!" he said to his confidant Sun Mingjiu.

Sun Mingjiu whispered, "Commander-in-Chief, perhaps we should…"

"Do not act rashly!" Yang Hucheng cut him off, "Maintaining stability is the most important now."

At Jinling Airport, the Chairman's special aircraft landed in the afternoon. Military and civil officials lined up to receive it. Yet as soon as Zhang Xueliang stepped off the plane, a group of plain‑clothes personnel "protected" him.

"Deputy Commander-in-Chief, please come this way," Xu Enzhen came personally, "For your safety, a temporary inconvenience is required."

Zhang Xueliang's expression shifted slightly, but he quickly regained composure, "Since I am here, I am mentally prepared."

At the same time, a secret meeting was underway at Li Yuxuan's residence in Xi'an.

"Commander, you called for me?" Dai Yunong hurried from Nanjing.

Li Yuxuan gestured for him to sit, "Yunong, I need your assistance with Yang Hucheng's matter, to properly resolve the follow‑up issues of the Xi'an Incident."

Dai Yunong understood, "Your meaning is…"

"First settle matters, then make plans," Li Yuxuan said calmly, "Also, draft the reorganization regulations for the Seventeenth Route Army, appoint Sun Weiru as the commander after restructuring, and assign Yang Hucheng an appropriate position."