Chapter 85: The End of the Second Northern Expedition

On the operational map of the Xu Prefecture Field Headquarters, the blue arrow representing the Fifth Army stalled on the northern segment of the Tianjin–Pukou line for a full ten days. President Jiang repeatedly circled the characters "Cangzhou" with a red pencil, the lead breaking three times, yet still no next advance route was drawn. Outside the tent, the staff officers stood on tiptoe to peer, hearing the crisp sound of an enamel cup shattering inside—this was already the seventh cup the Chairman had broken in three days.

"Chairman, a telegram from the north‑west direction reports that Zhang Zuolin's An‑guo Army has begun withdrawing beyond the Pass." The Adjutant, clutching the telegram, dared not step into the tent.

A brief silence fell inside the tent, then President Jiang's suppressed roar rang out: "If they retreat, they retreat! Order the Fifth Army to tail‑chase; Tianjin must be taken within three days!"

The Adjutant stood awkwardly in place: "But… the Fifth Army's telegram says the flank has spotted Kwantung Army movements and requests a temporary halt to the pursuit…"

"Am I the Chairman or is he the Chairman?" The tent curtain was ripped open, President Jiang's cap tipped back on his head, "Transmit my order; anyone who disobeys will be dealt with under Military Law!"

At the edge of the Training Ground far away, Li Yuxuan stared at the telegram paper crumpled by the Adjutant, the ink for "pursuit" already blurred by sweat. He recalled the vivid faces before the Jinan Campaign; now the battlefield was burning, sigh.

In June, the North China Plain was already hot, and when Zhang Zuolin's Special Train left Jingcheng Station, the guard on the platform was still polishing the wooden sign "An‑guo Military Government". The "Grand Marshal" who had ruled the Northeast for fourteen years looked out at the receding streets, his fingertips tracing the jade snuff bottle— a trinket he had just taken from the Forbidden City, its inscription "Peace Under Heaven" warmed to a glow by his body heat.

"Grand Marshal, the Japanese Legation called again, saying they hope you will sign the Manzhou Railway Agreement before crossing the border." The Secretary‑General bowed to report, his voice trembling.

Zhang Zuolin slammed the snuff bottle onto the small table: "Tell the little Japanese, if there's no railway, they'll lose their lives!" He lifted a corner of the curtain, looking at the scattered Japanese expatriates on the platform, "I've fought wars all my life; can I still be scared of them?"

The next day, when the Special Train reached San Dong Bridge near Huanggutun, the sky suddenly darkened. Zhang Zuolin was humming the Northeastern folk song "Crescent Moon at Five‑Watch" when a huge blast ripped the carriage roof off—pre‑planted explosives detonated, steel shards mixed with earth rained down, reducing the luxury carriage to a twisted frame.

"Grand Marshal!" the guards shouted as they lunged through the smoke, only to see Zhang Zuolin lying in a pool of blood, his Pocket Watch at his chest shattered, the hands forever frozen at 5:23.

When the news reached the Xu Prefecture Field Headquarters, President Jiang was holding a military meeting. His fingers gripping the telegram turned white, and he suddenly slapped the paper onto the table: "Zhang Zuolin was blown up."

The whole assembly gasped. Li Yuxuan stared at the "Huanggutun" mark on the map, suddenly recalling the still‑warm corpses in Jinan city—Japanese swords had ultimately cut further north.

"Chairman, with Zhang Zuolin dead, the Northeast will descend into chaos." Yang Jie stepped forward, "Now we should seize the chance, order the Fifth Army northward to take over Shanhai Pass."

President Jiang looked at Li Yuxuan, his gaze complicated: "What do you think?"

"The Japanese daring to act at Huanggutun only want to use the chaos to seize the Northeast," Li Yuxuan said evenly, "Going north now would fall into their trap, likely clash with Zhang Xueliang, so we should first stabilize Pingjin."

The meeting ultimately decided to hold position. Three days later, on June 8, the Fifth Army, encountering no resistance, advanced along the retreat route of Zhang Zuolin's remnants and entered Yanjing City.

Yanjing's city gates swung open, and civilians stood on both sides of the street, watching the Northern Expedition soldiers in steel helmets march by. Their rifles were still wrapped with red ribbons, the marks left from the oath‑taking. Li Yuxuan rode his horse at the front of the column, gazing at the old "Great Ming Gate" inscription on Zhengyang Gate now covered by a new "Zhonghua Gate" plaque, suddenly recalling a textbook line from a previous life: "Drive out the Barbarians, restore China."

"Chairman, people from the Forbidden City are asking whether they may go in for a look?" the Adjutant asked beside the horse.

Li Yuxuan tightened the reins: "Tell them the army may enter the Forbidden City, but not private homes." He pointed at the clothes hanging in the alleyways, "We are here to unify the nation, not to seize territory."

On June 12, the British concession in Tianjin raised the Blue Sky White Sun Flag. Indian police stationed at the concession's entrance watched the Northern Expedition troops march in, quietly sheathing their batons— they had learned from the Legation's telegram that this country seemed truly about to change its heavens.

The most poignant scene was the seizure of the Tianjin armory. Inside, weapons piled like mountains included Japanese Type 38 rifles, Beiyang Army Hanyang‑made guns, and even former Qing cavalry pistols. Li Yuxuan picked up a bird‑gun engraved "Guangxu Year"; its barrel's rust was mottled, yet it flashed a glaring light in the sun.

"All these must be registered and catalogued," he said, placing the bird‑gun back, "Later we'll build a military museum so future generations can see how we arrived at today, step by step."

On June 15, 1928, a brand‑new national flag rose before the National Government building in Jinling. A portrait of Sun Zhongshan was hung at the center of the podium, and President Jiang stood before the microphone, reading the "External Declaration":

"The unification of Huaxia is now declared complete. From now on, the nation's soldiers and civilians will be of one heart and one mind, devoted to construction… All our friendly nations shall be duly recognized, and the National Government will, in accordance with international law, respect the rights of friendly states."

The declaration's voice traveled across the nation via radio waves, reaching the alleys of Yanjing, the docks of Tianjin, and the desolate hill graves of Jinan. Li Yuxuan stood in the Telegraph Bureau in Beiping, listening to the speaker's broadcast, and suddenly felt tears well up at the corners of his eyes.

He recalled the soldiers who fell in Jinan, the Zhang Zuolin blown up at Huanggutun, and the displaced civilians he had seen along the way— the price of unification was paved with countless lives, and this peace would not last long.

"Chairman, the Chairman has sent a telegram calling you back to Jinling for a victory banquet," the Adjutant handed over the telegram.

Li Yuxuan took the telegram but did not read it immediately. He walked to the window, gazing at Yanjing City's skyline, where the pigeon whistles pierced the clouds.

"Tell the Chairman I still have matters to settle in Jinan," he said, turning to grab his cap, "Once I've settled the brothers here, I will return on my own."

The Adjutant watched his silhouette and suddenly felt that this middle‑aged Chairman bore on his shoulders something heavier than unification— countless unfinished lives, and a nation's hope for the future.

A few days later, the celebrations in Jinling continued, the salutes deafening. Under Jinan's sunset, Li Yuxuan walked slowly along the desolate hill graves, where tiny grass sprouted on the barren slopes, swaying gently in the wind as if soothing this weathered land.

The Second Northern Expedition ended, but he knew this was only just beginning.