Chapter 52: Northern Expedition 5

A few days later in Jiangcheng, inside an unremarkable civilian house, candlelight cast several overlapping silhouettes on the paper windows.

"Li Yuxuan's side, do we have any of our people there?" The person seated at the head set down the coarse porcelain tea bowl, his voice pressed extremely low, as if afraid to disturb the night outside the window.

The person beside him shook his head: "No, what's happened?"

Li Yuxuan suddenly led his troops westward, heading to Badong. The leader furrowed his brow, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the rim of the bowl; the Chairman's order lay before his eyes, yet he ignored it and deliberately chose the remote Badong. This matter seemed odd.

"So there truly are no of our people by his side?" Another person asked with doubt, "Could it be that comrades below have acted privately without reporting?"

Indeed, there is no core layer beside him. The earlier speaker was certain, but under his command the Third Regiment seems to have comrades we placed years ago. Their positions are low, likely unable to affect his decisions.

"I see now," someone burst into a laugh, with a hint of self‑mockery. Chairman Jiang thundered at the conference, saying we had lured away his beloved commander. After all the fuss, it wasn't directed at us; we simply misread the situation.

"Then, do you think Li Yuxuan is trustworthy?" A steady voice posed the crucial question, its gaze sweeping over every face present.

Someone immediately responded, tone pragmatic: "Li Yuxuan grew up with Chairman Jiang from childhood, as close as brothers; their bond is inseparable. Do you think he would be easily swayed by us? In my view, his sudden westward move must conceal calculations we are unaware of."

Could it be a feigned action, actually probing our strengths and weaknesses?

At present it's premature to judge. The leader mused briefly, then said to observe further. He is a rare talent; if we can win him over, it would greatly bolster our Northern Expedition Campaign. His Forty Thousand Elite are not to be underestimated.

This matter requires caution! Someone immediately objected, resolute, without commenting on whether the recruitment could succeed. Even if he arrives, how to place him? He is already a Division Commander, wielding heavy forces; could we simply grant him the rank of Army Commander? How could the comrades who have fought alongside us obey? Moreover, his old bond with Chairman Jiang is deeply rooted; who can guarantee this isn't a self‑sacrificial ploy?

The group's opinions diverged, and they whispered in dispute. At that moment, someone lightly tapped the table: "Li Yuxuan's matter can be discussed later. First, we must handle the urgent issue; Chairman Jiang has sent an Official Letter urging us to hand over arms and integrate into the National Revolutionary Army…"

The topic shifted, and everyone's attention was drawn back to the more pressing real dispute; discussion of Li Yuxuan was temporarily set aside, drowned in the myriad affairs.

Meanwhile on the train, Li Yuxuan stared at the fields racing backward outside the window.

"Division Commander, after another five or six days on the train we'll reach Badong." Huang Wei entered holding a map, pointing to the route. Feng Yuxiang's troops were deployed along the railway, but oddly they did not stop us, merely watching us pass.

Li Yuxuan tapped the tabletop: "Feng Yuxiang didn't engage us. That really surprised him—this Northwest Army commander is notoriously capricious; having defied Chairman Jiang's order to go west, Feng Yuxiang had no reason to let him pass."

Du Yuming responded: "Division Commander, I heard Feng Yuxiang seems inclined to surrender to our National Government, though he hasn't made a final decision. Perhaps he wants to curry favor with us, securing a retreat route for the future."

"Enough, enough, we'll discuss Badong later." Li Yuxuan waved his hand, too lazy to speculate. His objective was clear—around Badong a few warlords aligned with the remnants of Wu Peifu's forces roamed, committing arson, murder, looting, and all sorts of evil; they should have been eradicated long ago. As for Feng Yuxiang's intentions, he lacked the energy to ponder them.

The train clattered forward, carrying the main force of the Third Division as well as a trail of speculation and the unknown.

On the other side in Yangcheng, within Jiang Ruiyuan's command post, the atmosphere was oppressively damp, as if rain were about to fall.

Where is Jingxing now? Jiang Ruiyuan, back to the doorway, stared at the massive Military Map on the wall, his voice tinged with an unmasked weariness.

The staff officer quickly bowed and replied: "Returning to the Chairman, we have just received news from Feng Yuxiang's unit; Division Commander Li's Special Train has passed Zhengzhou and is heading toward Badong."

"Alas, my brother, you truly give me no peace of mind." Jiang Ruiyuan turned, his eyes filled with complex, indecipherable emotions. Though he cursed, the lingering years of attachment at his core were hard to let go.

The Adjutant beside him could not help speaking up: "Chairman, forgive my bluntness, Division Commander Li's recent move… inevitably raises doubts. He abandons the established operation, insisting on leading troops to the Southwest, where the situation is tangled and close to their activity zone, this…"

"Damn it!" Jiang Ruiyuan slammed the table, a vein pulsing at his temple. "I grew up with him in the buff, yet I still don't fully grasp what kind of person he is? He may dabble in military theory, perhaps he gets it; politics? He hasn't even touched the threshold! His ability to lead troops in battle owes much to those few German Advisors who poured in their support!"

He exhaled, his tone softening slightly, yet with an unquestionable resolve: When he returns, his Military Power must be reclaimed! Give him a High Rank Idle Position, let him be retired with honors! He dares to disobey with a handful of troops, outright rebellion! Out!

"Yes, Chairman!" the Adjutant fell silent as a cold cicada, bowed his head and withdrew.

Outside the door, another staff officer leaned toward the scolded Adjutant, whispering: "You really... dare say anything in front of the Chairman! Directly questioning Division Commander Li's communist infiltration, you don't care about your future?"

The Adjutant, looking aggrieved, said: "I am also worried for the Party and the nation! If Li Yuxuan truly harbors ulterior motives, his Forty Thousand Elite are the core of our own lineage; we cannot afford to lose them!"

"What do you know?" the staff officer glanced at him, voice deep, "Putting other matters aside, if Li Yuxuan is indeed convicted, who do you think the Chairman will trust later? You? Or me?"

He paused, his voice even lower: Even if he was momentarily foolish, we must find a way to bring him back; besides, the situation is still unclear. Their bond, forged from childhood scrapes, is etched into their bones. This trust is not something you or I can easily shake.

The Adjutant was stunned: "Then... if he returns and still outwardly obeys while secretly defying..."

That will be a later matter. The staff officer's gaze turned cold; when he returns, you must act covertly, purge any 'Redification' elements in his troops, cut off his external support. As long as he remains within the Party and nation, once his Military Power is removed, there will always be a way to gradually turn his heart.

The Adjutant nodded as if half‑understood, yet in his heart he fully grasped—Li Yuxuan's weight in the Chairman's mind is far heavier than outsiders perceive.

Elsewhere

The train continued westward, crossing the plain and entering the mountains. Li Yuxuan stood by the window, watching the walls grow steeper, aware that the battle at Badong would be hard, and the storms awaiting after would likely be more perilous than the hail of gunfire on the battlefield.

Yet he did not look back. Amid the roaring friction of the train wheels, he seemed to hear the cries of Badong's people, the wails of those oppressed by warlords.

Accelerating forward. He said to the guard beside him, his voice calm yet firm.

No matter how many calculations or traps lie ahead, this battle he must fight. As for what follows… we'll take it step by step. At least now, the gun in his hand can still win a little more peace for the suffering. Consider it the last thing he does upon reaching here.

Outside the window, the setting sun slowly sank behind the vast mountains, staining the horizon a fierce, scorching orange‑red, like the blood that is about to congeal on a battlefield.