Chapter 23: Iron Blooded Military Soul

  The Battle of Hebei Bridge not only earned the Fourth Army the title of Iron Army, but also reignited the Guangzhou Revolutionary Government in China and around the world. It made people realize that the unification of China by the Guangzhou Revolutionary Government was no longer an empty talk, but a very possible goal, because in such a short period of time, Wu Peifu, this giant, had already fallen.

  On August 31, the Independent Regiment led by Ye Ting rushed to the foot of Wuchang City. The ones responsible for attacking Wuchang City were Li Zongren, commander of the Seventh Army, and Chen Kexu, deputy commander of the Fourth Army. Chiang Kai-shek also hastily arrived at the front line because he had disagreements with Li Zongren on whether to fight or not.

  Li Zongren was a general from Guangxi, skilled in fighting against the enemy in harsh environments, but at this time he was also very hesitant about Wuchang City, holding a cup of water and staring at the map for a long time, unable to make up his mind.

  He knew that siege warfare was no different from others. The Fourth Army, even if it wasn't his own elite troops, had no reason to be sacrificed in vain.

  "De Lin, Wu Chang city is within reach, why haven't you sent troops to fight yet?" Chiang Kai-shek said with a strong tone as soon as he entered the command center, expressing his dissatisfaction to Li Zongren.

  "Commander, you also know, this is a siege war, it's not easy to fight." Li Zongren sighed and said.

  "It's precisely because it's a siege war that we must take down Wuchang City before the enemy gains a foothold. If we're stuck in a standoff with them for several months, what's the point of even talking about the Northern Expedition?" Chiang Kai-shek struggled to contain his anger, silently cursing the poor devils who were trying to carve out their own kingdoms in Guangxi.

  "Commander, Wuchang is not unstable at all. Look at the high walls and deep moat of Wuchang City, and look at the soldiers on the city wall, there's no sign of instability. If we launch a strong attack, casualties will definitely be heavy." Chiang Kai-shek was after all Li Zongren's nominal superior, so he couldn't afford to be too confrontational with Chiang, and could only state the facts.

  "I knew you couldn't take it down, I came on purpose this time, as for taking Nanchang, I have a way." Chiang Kai-shek said confidently.

  "It's up to the principal to command in person now." Li Zongren shook his head bitterly, and he really didn't believe that Chiang Kai-shek could achieve anything special in commanding the battle. After Chiang Kai-shek gave the military order, Li Zongren just shook his head secretly, as Chiang Kai-shek was using the old method from the Eastern Expedition period, using bamboo ladders to climb the city wall and launch a strong attack. Chiang Kai-shek even brought skilled craftsmen from the Third Division specifically to make ladders.

  Independently stationed, Cao Yuan sat on a lawn, holding a pen in his hand, writing a word, and stopping for half a day. "Father is above, unfilial son Cao Yuan bows his head. Since participating in the Northern Expedition, every battle has been won, and every war has been taken, making great contributions to the country. Now, as a son, I may have to go on an impossible mission for the sake of the country and the people's cause. If successful, it will be a great achievement; if not, I will die for my country. I hope Father can raise my child to adulthood, and when he grows up, let him join Liu Fu Guo's army. My father is a hero, and I hope my son can also become a hero. Among many generals, Liu Fu Guo is the most talented and righteous. I was lucky enough to be his chief of staff for a period, and we were classmates. He will surely take care of my descendants. As for the rest of our parents' lives, it can only be entrusted to my younger brother. Unfilial son Cao Yuan bows his head."

  Before going to the battlefield, write a letter to your family, this is a tradition that has been passed down in the Third Division, now almost all the Northern Expeditionary Army are doing so. Looking at the soldier next to him with a happy face, Cao Yuan really wanted to tell him, "Soldier, go home, this war will take your life."

  The first battalion of the independent regiment is the Brave Troop, also known as the Dare-to-Die Troop. Cao Yuan didn't need to prepare; he just quietly looked at the clouds in the sky for half a day and thought about his future.

  I have thought about it.

  The ladders were ready, under the clever craftsmanship of Zhou Shi and San Shi, three thousand ladders were made in half a day.

  Next, the absolutely stupid siege began in the eyes of Westerners. Chiang Kai-shek stood in the command center and confidently said to Li Zongren, "Do you see that young commander with a red scarf? He is from the 3rd Division, originally the chief of staff of the 3rd Division, named Cao Yuan. I don't know what medicine he took, but he insisted on being transferred to the Independent Regiment. Letting him command the Brave Troop is something I believe in more than anything else. The order I gave them was that they must take down Wuchang City within 48 hours, otherwise, it's a military failure."

  As for this young man named Cao Yuan, Li Zongren knew him and at this time only nodded slightly, hoping that this young officer could succeed. After all, warlords are ruthless, Chiang Kai-shek even brought out the military law, if this young man named Cao Yuan couldn't complete it, facing him would be only one word: death.

  Cannon fire, in ancient times used catapults to attack cities, but with the progress of the times, artillery became the main force on the battlefield, and shells hit the city walls one after another. The enemy's counterattack was still fierce, but not strong enough. At this time, Cao Yue set off.

  Cao Yuan led the charge, carrying a ladder under the cover of artillery fire, continuously climbing up the city wall, hand grenades constantly exploding above his head, people around him falling down one after another.

  One regiment had nearly a thousand people, and after half a day's effort, they lost more than half. The deputy regimental commander cried out to Cao Yun, "Regimental commander, let's retreat! This isn't an attack on the city, this is sending us to our deaths! We don't have to do this!"

  "Withdraw? Military orders are like mountains. How can we retreat? Let my brothers follow me in a charge, today even if I die, I will die under the city of Wuchang." After finishing speaking, Cao Yun led his troops to charge forward again.

  If there's one thing that the Independent Regiment can compare with the Third Division, it's military discipline. While soldiers kept falling down, those from the Independent Regiment didn't retreat a single step, until only over ten people were left by their side.

  Cao Yuan himself was seriously injured, with bandages wrapped around his shoulders. In the corner of the wall, he took out paper and pen and wrote: "The sky is about to dawn, entering the city is hopeless, my subordinates currently have more than ten people left, but revolutionary warriors are advancing without retreat, please instruct on how to deal with this situation." Signed Cao Yuan.

  As he wrote the last stroke of the character "yuan", a bullet hit Cao Yuan's forehead, and the final stroke was drawn very long. An excellent graduate of the first class bid farewell to the world.

  Ye Ting held the report left by Cao Yuan before his death, and tears flowed out with a sound. He joined the Third Division to learn their military tactics, but after arriving at the Third Division, he was quickly assimilated like Nie Rongzhen. When asked about the military secrets of the Third Division, he didn't say a word, nor would he talk about their unique training methods without the approval of his superiors.

  The party was afraid of losing such an excellent warrior, so they called him back to the independent regiment. After he returned to the independent regiment, although he didn't teach those unique things from the third division, he had the spirit and temperament of the third division on him. He could feel the rapid progress of the first battalion's combat effectiveness. He even prepared to write a letter to the central government, asking them to reuse this young man. But just such an excellent warrior was ended by a bullet just now.

  At that time, Guo Moruo was in the Political Department and heard about Cao Yuan's deeds. He picked up his pen and wrote an inscription: "The blood of revolution, the flower of ideology, Cao Yuan's achievements shook the world, he could keep discipline, not boast, love the people, save the country, charge into battle like a iron wall. The burden of revolution is on his shoulders like a iron shoulder, public affairs are as solid as iron, the people rely on him, wishing to be as solid as iron for billions of years."

  This poem was later widely circulated and gradually no longer represented Cao Yuan alone, becoming a synonym for the army to which Cao Yuan belonged at that time, known as the "Iron Army".