Volume 1 Turbulent Times Chapter 41 Overthrowing the Warlords

  "Quiet! We are all revolutionary soldiers, what kind of discipline is this?" Seeing the commotion below, Brigade Commander Huang Kaiyuan immediately became displeased and sternly shouted. As the noise gradually subsided, he hastily stepped back half a step, bowed his waist and politely said to Fang Zidao: "Deputy Commander Fang, please continue..."

  He nodded slightly, and Fang Zidao loudly began to issue orders, requiring all regimental and battalion commanders to enter combat readiness immediately. The troops originally stationed in the southern part of Nanjing would be redeployed to the defensive line, preparing to set out.

  "Deputy Commander Fang, I'd like to ask, who is our 8th Division going to fight against?" As soon as Fang Zida's voice fell, a very young regimental commander stood up and asked loudly, followed by other lower-ranking officers asking one after another, even several division commanders looked at Fang Zida with puzzlement.

  The Eighth Division, although under control as a whole, has also heard some unpleasant news from Fang Zidao recently. The main thing is the reaction of the division to Sun Wen, Chen Qimei, Li Liejun and others' so-called "Second Revolution". Although the Eighth Division is a KMT army, the historical roots between the KMT and Sun Wen's revolutionary party cannot be severed. Many mid-to-low-level officers in the Eighth Division, including some high-ranking officers, come from the Tongmenghui. It can be said that you have me in you, and I have you in me, with broken bones still connected by tendons. Suddenly turning these people around to fire at their former revolutionary comrades is unbearable in many ways, whether it's from the perspective of camp changes, psychological endurance or other aspects.

  Some officers were even more resentful, thinking that the Eighth Division had become a complete puppet of the Beiyang government, losing its original revolutionary ideals. If it weren't for Fang Zidao's strong control over the troops, plus the large sums of money used to buy people's hearts and the shock caused by Lin Hu's death, perhaps the entire Eighth Division would have fallen apart long ago.

  Just as the 31st Division was ordered to march south and quell the Shanghai uprising, within the Eighth Division there were all sorts of rumors circulating. Even Liu Zhen and Xiong Shihui couldn't understand Fang Zidao's actions. If it weren't for Fang Zidao using all his eloquence to explain to them the KMT's policies and concepts such as national stability and economic development, and actually analyzing the true purpose and terrible consequences of this "Second Revolution", perhaps Liu Zhen and Xiong Shihui would have already harbored resentment like the lower-ranking officers.

  Looking at the battalion commander standing in front of him, the young face was firm and resolute, with a questioning gaze in his eyes, staring fearlessly at himself. Perhaps when Fang Zida only said that he wanted to take the 8th Division south to coordinate with the Beiyang Army's attack on the Jiangxi Revolutionary Party, he would have launched an attack.

  "What a group of hot-blooded young people!" Fang Zidao calmly looked at him, and then glanced at the same expression on the faces of the officers in front of him. In his heart, he thought that maybe it wasn't a bad thing to have a fight with Zhang Xun now. The current situation of the Eighth Division was indeed somewhat embarrassing. Although from the perspective of national affairs or political stability, what Song Jiaoren and Fang Zidao did in the Eighth Division was not wrong, but the Eighth Division's considerable military power was an exception in Yuan Shikai's Beiyang system and Sun Wen's revolutionary party. Whoever was in their position had only two choices for the Eighth Division: either to win them over or to make the Eighth Division disappear completely.

  Pulling, Sun Wen had already done this move. Isn't Zhu Zhaowen sent by Chen Qimei? Lin Hu isn't secretly plotting with Li Liejun? Fang Zidao resolutely cut off the revolutionary party's idea of pulling in the Eighth Division, making all their calculations fall through. Now, Yuan Shikai's Beiyang is playing another calculation, which is to try to eliminate the Eighth Division.

  Of course, to openly and uprightly take action against the Eighth Army would be something that a cunning person like Yuan Shikai would never do. Moreover, Song Jiaoren had already taken office as Premier, and the Parliament was also under his control. Once the Beiyang Army launched an attack on the Eighth Army, not only would they have to face the criticism of Song Jiaoren, Parliament, and the people, but it would also push the entire KMT and the Eighth Army completely into Sun Yat-sen's camp, leading to a chaotic political situation. As the President, Yuan Shikai absolutely did not want to see such an outcome.

  As a result, Zhang Xun's troops became the best pawns. Yuan Shikai was cunning and deceitful, using the name of constitutionalism to watch from the sidelines, issuing one after another beautiful "blank checks" in front of the public, doing nothing wrong in terms of justice. However, in reality, Yuan Shikai had already tacitly approved Zhang Xun's actions, and the Ministry of Army's mild dismissal and investigation order had no effect on Zhang Xun, who held a large army. Moreover, although Zhang Xun was a military rascal, he was also a high-ranking official who had been a provincial governor, so he understood the intricacies of officialdom. With Yuan Shikai's secret support, Zhang Xun became even more reckless, leading his troops to march towards Nanjing with great fanfare.

  In this case, having a fierce confrontation with Zhang Xun in Nanjing might not be a bad thing. Firstly, it can thoroughly change the current unstable situation within the 8th Division and take this opportunity to unite the minds of the people in the 8th Division. Secondly, it can also give a head-on blow to the various factions that are plotting against the 8th Division and the KMT, demonstrating the military power of the KMT. Thinking of this, Fang Zidao's anxiety was swept away, and he couldn't help but reveal a smile on his face.

  "Zhang Xun! Queue Army!"

  "Zhang Xun?!"

  Fang Zida's words left everyone in the room stunned, including the young regimental commander who had intended to question him.

  "Comrades, perhaps some of you have already learned that Zhang Xun's queue army suddenly occupied my Xuzhou city a while ago and is now marching towards Nanjing with great momentum. The Central Government, Premier Song, and the Ministry of War have repeatedly ordered Zhang Xun's troops to immediately withdraw from Jiangsu and not to come into contact with my 8th Division, but this man Zhang Xun has not changed his stubborn nature, does not respect orders, and still insists on taking Nanjing. Is such an army a national army? No! In name, Zhang Xun's queue army is a national army, but in reality it is purely a warlord!"

  A loud voice echoed in the room, Fang Zidao's piercing gaze swept across the crowd, and he asked loudly: "What is a warlord? What is a warlord? Owning an army, occupying a region, not listening to central orders, forming one's own faction - that is what we call a warlord! Zhang Xun was the Jiangsu governor during the Qing dynasty, opposing the revolution, slaughtering revolutionary personnel, accumulating blood debts, and his hands were stained with the fresh blood of our revolutionary soldiers! After the fall of the Qing dynasty, the Republican government, for the sake of national unity and stability, pardoned him for his past crimes and allowed him to continue leading troops for the country. However! Although Zhang Xun's troops were retained by the central government, he himself did not repent, still nostalgic for the "Great Qing Dynasty", still wanting to be a loyal minister of the Qing dynasty. Just look at how stubbornly he clings to his old ways, as evidenced by the fact that his troops are called the "Braided Army". And now, with rebellions breaking out across the country, Zhang Xun's troops should have listened to central orders and put down the rebellions, but what did he do instead? He took advantage of the opportunity to attack friendly forces, seize territory, and try to continue his old dream of being the Jiangsu governor! What can we do with such a person, such a warlord? There is no other choice - we must thoroughly overthrow him! To maintain national integrity and military unity! Premier Song proposed that our China needs constitutional government. What is constitutional government? Perhaps many people have heard this term, but how many truly understand it? The concept of constitutional government actually originated in the West, specifically from Britain...

  Fang Zidao spoke eloquently on stage, giving a political lesson to ordinary military officers and a mobilization speech for war. He skillfully shifted the main contradiction from Sun Yat-sen, Li Liejun, Chen Qimei, and others to Zhang Xun, who was currently being targeted, and pointed out the essence of warlords. Although he said some words about Zhang Xun, in fact, he was also talking about Sun Yat-sen, Li Liejun, Chen Qimei, and even those stupid southern governors who were eager to move. Moreover, he vigorously promoted Song Jiaoren's constitutional ideas, and many young revolutionary military officers had hot heads and unclear revolutionary ideals. Fang Zidao's indoctrination may not have had an immediate effect, but there were not a few military officers in the army who supported and worshiped Song Jiaoren. He believed that with the passage of time, all this would gradually change.

  He waved his arms vigorously, loudly condemning Zhang Xun and the evil warlords, condemning the harm that warlords brought to the country and democracy. As he spoke, the officers' eyes gradually flashed with excitement.

  "I, Fang Zidao! Here I swear as the deputy commander of the 8th Division! As a revolutionary soldier, it is my duty to obey national orders and maintain national integrity, overthrow Zhang Xun! Overthrow warlords! Long live the 8th Division!"

  "Down with Zhang Xun!"

  "Down with the warlords!"

  "Long live the Eighth Route Army!"

  For a time, the morale of all officers was boosted. In their eyes, what is Zhang Xun, this Chignoned general? It was they who were defeated by revolutionary soldiers and escaped from Jiangsu last year. Now he dares to come back? The Eighth Division must let him taste the bitter pill this time!

  Xīn wèi de kàn zhe yǎn qián de qíng jǐng, shuō dé sāo zi dōu kuài mào yān le de fāng zǐ dá zhōu xiào le. Jūn duì shì qì dòng yuán qǐ lái le, zhè ge zhàng jiù hǎo dǎ le, bù jǐn shì tā, zài chǎng de huáng kuài yuán děng rén yě fàng xià le xīn tiáo, wéi dú zhǐ yǒu shī zhǎng zhào héng yī yán bù fā, xiàng zūn ní fó sà yí kàn zhe zuò zài yī biān, shuí dōu cāi bù chū tā xiàn zài xīn li zài xiǎng shén me.

  The 8th Division reacted quickly, and after the mobilization meeting, the entire army immediately set out, leaving behind one battalion to defend Zhongshan, Pukou and other places. The main force of the division quickly gathered in the ** direction. When Fang Zidao arrived at the front line, he also sent a small group of scouts to Yizheng and other places to closely monitor the movements of Zhang Xun's troops in the north.

  At the same time as the Eighth Division was making preparations, Zhang Xun's troops had also arrived in Yangzhou along the railway line. It can be said that both sides are no longer far apart, and at most half a day later, the two armies will clash. From this point on, an unprecedented great war will unfold.