Chapter 49: Torment

  The numerous troops who were just withdrawn from the Yellow River front line, not even having a good sleep, were driven by their superiors to rush to southern Shaanxi to suppress the newly risen Gaoquan bandits. This long-distance running is actually a torture not only for soldiers but also for officers.

  Along the way, they had to send soldiers to collect their belongings and hire porters to carry things; as for the concubines, they also had to send them into the city after a brief reunion. In fact, they didn't want to do this either, but Gao Daquan's reputation in southern Shaanxi made them worry that if they were defeated by him, they wouldn't be able to leave anything behind for their families, which would be unforgivable.

  The orderly's yell, the cavalry, and the artillery rolled up in a cloud of dust; The brutal company commanders swung their whips at will, driving the sheep-like troops forward. The scorching sun scorched the soldiers who still wore tattered military coats, as guest armies from the Northeast, they naturally enjoyed much worse treatment than the wealthy three provinces in the east! The troops that should have worn brand new spring and autumn uniforms were still wearing those sticky, black, and smelly winter overcoats. A layer of thick black grease on the collar could almost be scraped off with a knife!

  When life gets tougher, the soldiers can't help but miss their days in Northeast China even more. They miss eating steaming hot buns under Zhang's command; they miss the golden corn hanging on the walls of the village huts; they miss those wide noodles and the braised pork belly that could be devoured with gusto; they miss the big girls with two big braids, wearing bright red jackets, looking so charming and lovely. But all these are just a beautiful dream for them to indulge in when they're resting, lazily lying by the roadside, basking in the warm sun, drowsy and sleepy.

  The hardships of the march and the nostalgia for their hometown deeply tormented their hearts, a kind of torture, a sense of hellishness, with energyless footsteps, like a lost soul, without spirit, without thought, just quietly drifting on this land.

  In fact, attacking Zhang Yang's troops was also a kind of torture for them. They had to watch their own troops go and fetch chestnuts from the fire for Old Chiang, eliminate his arch-nemesis - the Red Army, and suffer losses themselves. Old Chiang's stinginess and cunning made both men feel disheartened. Several units had already been disbanded, so when two former famous generals recruited new soldiers, they were forced to take on a security team, a motley crew with such a name!

  It's even better now, Dai Li's Blue Shirts Society has openly set up a branch in Xi'an, right next to the Shaanxi Provincial Kuomintang Party Department. Even the newly established Military Investigation and Statistics Bureau of the National Government has begun to infiltrate and bribe military officers of all sizes within the Northwestern Army and Northeastern Army, developing informants. Zhang Yang duo, who were helpless in this regard, could only drive one away and another would appear.

  They are now even beginning to doubt that once they and the old Chiang start fighting, how many of their officers and soldiers will listen to their orders?

  The two people who were talking in the study of Zhang Gong's mansion, constantly exchanging documents and intelligence in their hands, had foreheads that were dripping with sweat, and the bitterness and helplessness in their hearts made it difficult for them to feel any joy or comfort about the ceasefire agreement they had just reached with the Red Army.

  "General, do you think Old Chiang has realized that we're making a big fuss about attacking the Red Army but not actually doing much? Recently, Dai Li's men have been making such obvious moves, and they've even sent people to persuade our subordinates, lavishing them with gold and silver. They must know something, and are trying to warn us not to get too carried away!" Yang Hucheng wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel, but inside he felt empty and hollow, without a shred of security.

  The young marshal, who had successfully quit drugs, still had a pale complexion on his face. He picked up the cup of strong coffee that was still steaming hot on the table and savored the bitter taste, reflecting on the complexities of life. During his years in Europe, he had developed a fondness for this dark, bitter drink, just like his past fondness for opium. On unhappy days, he would often brew a cup and slowly savor it.

  "We have now reached a ceasefire agreement with Zhu Mao's troops in northern Shaanxi, which is not bad! Although there are Chiang Kai-shek's agents monitoring us from the side, as long as we cooperate well with them and high-ranking officers keep it strictly confidential, we can still fool them! What I'm worried about now is actually Gao Guanzhong's troops in southern Shaanxi! According to Mr. Zhou, they already have nearly 10,000 troops, not including their local forces! The development speed is really chilling!"

  He stroked the still warm teacup, savoring the warmth before speaking slowly: "Besides, Mr. Zhou said that their connection is not very close either. This unit lacks a radio and cannot contact their central government at all times, and their messengers take more than a month to make a round trip! The treaty we just signed will take at least a month to reach Commander Gao's hands, even if everything goes smoothly!"

  Looking at the pale face without any expression, a morbidly pale complexion, and those dark eyes. Yang Hu-cheng deeply knew in his heart that this person actually wished to ride a fast horse to deliver this important message to Gao Daquan, and then have him coordinate with the Northeast Army's battle plan! The Northeast Army, now wandering abroad, although they had a large family business before and still had some foundation, but from September 18th until now, nearly six years have passed, and tens of thousands of troops have been squandering what was previously carefully managed.

  Decline! Yang Hu-cheng saw a decline in the military appearance of the Northeast Army! This is no longer the Northeast Army that dominated the Beiyang era! And the young marshal before him was no longer the one who looked down on his peers, full of vigor and momentum, like a fierce tiger descending from the mountain! Alas, hatred, resentment. The intertwined emotions made the young marshal look not as bright as he did many years ago!

  Yang Huicheng, who had resigned and was sitting in an American Ford car, felt that his own office as the director of the Pacification Headquarters was being taken over, and within three months, he signed his name to a battle plan to annihilate Gao Gang.

  Still one chapter, working hard