Chapter 19 Arrival at Humen

  In the morning, the sun rises. It shakes off its golden glittering clothes, sets off a gentle breeze, drives away the night and disperses the silence.

  The village gradually became lively, and the traces of last night's fierce battle were also cleaned up by the three battalions. The main streets and places where people lived in the village were all swept again by the soldiers.

  "Regimental commander, we killed 85 Chen army soldiers, captured 27, seized three light machine guns, one heavy machine gun, 90 rifles and five Mauser pistols." Cai Guangju walked up to Sun Xinghua's front, reporting the situation.

  Sun Xinghua nodded and continued to ask: "What about the casualties here?"

  Twenty-five people were lightly injured, with no fatalities.

  Sun Xinghua's face broke into a smile, the first battle was won, and for Sun Xinghua, this was what he needed most. This victory not only boosted the morale of the three battalions but also inspired the entire Party Army troops.

  "Send a dispatch to the headquarters and send the captives there." Sun Xinghua hastily gave orders.

  Just then, villagers came over with things in hand.

  "Officer, we really must thank you this time. A few days ago, we heard that Chen Jiongming's defeated soldiers were looting villages everywhere. This time, you've eliminated them all and done us a great favor. These things are gifts from the villagers to comfort you, and we hope you can accept them." An older villager walked up to Sun Xinghua and said with gratitude.

  Now for the villagers, as long as they don't take their property, they are already very happy. But this army gave them a surprise they had never had before. This army spoke civilized language, no matter who they talked to, they were polite and courteous, and several officers didn't have any airs.

  When using things from the common people, they always make an advance notice. If something is damaged, they compensate according to the original price. Even for things that the common people give them, they pay according to market price. Such troops have never been seen before in their lifetime.

  "Alright, you don't have to see me off." A lieutenant in the distance hastily declined, behind him were many civilians carrying things to send off this lieutenant.

  Shao Wei was around 26 years old, much older than Sun Xinghua and others.

  "I've lived to such an old age, but I've never seen a troop like this, helping the common people clean up the streets without taking any benefits from them. The military doctors are treating the common people's illnesses for free." A villager in his seventies said with emotion.

  The three battalions left the village at 7:00 in the morning and continued their march towards Humen.

  The good military discipline of the three battalions made the people remember this troop.

  "What's written on their backpacks?" A villager looked at the soldiers' backpacks and asked.

  "No money, no life. Love the country, love the people."

  On February 3, 1925, the three regimental troops rushed to Taipingwei, a few kilometers away from Humen, and in the afternoon of that day, the main force of the First Division also arrived at Taipingwei and stationed there.

  Not long after the main force of the First Regiment arrived, Chiang Kai-shek, the principal of the Whampoa Military Academy and chief of staff of the Guangdong Army, accompanied by Political Department Director Zhou, Soviet adviser Galen, and personnel from the academy headquarters, took a boat from Whampoa to Humen and stayed at the Fang family ancestral hall in Taiping Village, several miles south of Humen.

  After arriving here, Principal Chiang's first thing was to summon Sun Xinghua, the deputy commander of the First Teaching Regiment and the third battalion commander.

  "Fu Guo, you did a great job this time, showing the prestige of our party's military forces." Principal Jiang smiled when he saw Sun Xinghua and pointed to a chair beside him, indicating for Sun to take a seat.

  Sun Xinghua sat on only one-third of the chair, with both hands placed on his knees, listening to Principal Jiang's praise.

  "The principal is overpraising." Sun Xinghua hastily said a sentence.

  Principal Chiang shook his head, looking at Sun Xinghua and said: "This matter, you don't have to be modest. The outcome of the first battle has a great impact on the morale of the troops. You did well this time, I want to commend you."

  "The principal is right, you guys did a good job this time. Especially in the treatment of prisoners of war, there are many things worth learning from. Fanguo, don't be too modest." The director Zhou on the side also hastily added a sentence.

  Sun Xinghua heard Director Zhou say this and didn't dare say anything more.

  Chiang then praised Sun Xinghua again, until He Yingqin led the other two regimental commanders to arrive, only then did he walk in front of the map, looking at the map near Humen, Chiang fell into silence.

  "The Guangdong Army troops plan to attack Shilong via Shi'xia, and the Training Corps troops have not received any combat tasks for the time being." He Yingqin reported to Chiang.

  Chiang's face showed no expression, although he held the position of Chief of Staff of the Guangdong Army, in reality, those officers of the Guangdong Army did not give Chiang any face and were unwilling to accept his command. Although Xu Chongzhi had said that the orders of Chief of Staff Chiang were his own orders, those Guangdong Army officers still looked down on Chiang.

  As for the Huangpu Instructional Brigade, they didn't even take Chiang Kai-shek seriously, let alone the troops personally trained by him. The so-called joint operations were just the Cantonese army fighting separately on their own, and they didn't expect the instructional brigade to be of any help either. They wouldn't assign any combat missions to the instructional brigade.

  "They want to see us make fools of ourselves, but we will achieve a great victory and not let them laugh at us. Director Zhou, immediately report the achievements of the three battalions to the Commander-in-Chief." Principal Jiang's voice was not loud, but full of anger.

  Director Zhou replied with one sentence and walked out towards the outside.

  "Principal, judging from the current situation, it's better for us to take the initiative to attack Dongguan and sandwich the Guangdong Army troops in a pincer movement. As long as we capture Dongguan, it will have great benefits for future battles. The most important thing is that Chen Jiongming's troops will never think that we will appear in Dongguan at this time." Sun Xinghua fell silent for a moment, then stood up and said.

  Chiang Kai-shek hesitated for a moment, his expression firmed up, and immediately issued the order: "The First Battalion of the Instructional Corps will set out tomorrow to participate in the battle in Dongguan via Xiashanmen, Longwangbu, and Shigudun. The Second Battalion of the Instructional Corps must depart from Baisha on the fourth day and arrive at Longwangbu and Chiling area. The Artillery Regiment must arrive near Jiale on the fourth day to await orders, and the Student General Team will serve as the reserve team for the entire army."

  "Yes." He Yingqin and Sun Xinghua hastily saluted and said.

  "Fu Guo, your three battalions will rest for a moment and then set off immediately to continue serving as the vanguard battalion." Principal Chiang said, looking at Sun Xinghua.

  It wasn't that Principal Chiang was intentionally making things difficult for Sun Xinghua, but rather he thought Sun's three regiments were strong and powerful, and with the experience of the last battle, they were most suitable to be the vanguard.

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