Chapter 17: Heavy Responsibility on Shoulders

  January 31, 1925, Chiang Kai-shek issued a combat order.

  The First Regiment was ordered to assemble at Sha Jiao and then rush to Hu Men, Dongguan area, preparing for battle against Chen Jiongming. The troops of the Second Regiment took part in the battle by boat. The Huangpu Military Academy adopted a water-land coordinated military approach, aiming to quickly arrive at the front line for combat.

  After hastily convening the oath-taking ceremony, Principal Chiang called Sun Xinghua over again.

  "This time, the Eastern Expedition against Chen Jiongming is the first battle for our party's military forces. I have discussed with Jingzhi and decided that your three regiments will serve as the vanguard, rapidly advancing to Humen. Jingzhi will lead the main force of the regiment, following behind you and providing support at any time. This battle concerns the prestige of our party's military, only victory is allowed, defeat is not permitted." Principal Chiang looked at Sun Xinghua in front of him, speaking seriously.

  "Don't worry, Principal, I won't let you down." Sun Xinghua said hastily with a salute.

  "Assistant, you are the vanguard troops and must set a good example. When marching, do not disturb the people, when camping, do not startle the masses, without the permission of the people, the troops are strictly forbidden to enter houses. Those who violate military discipline will be severely punished." Liao Zhongkai also said on the side.

  "Yes, Party Representative." Sun Xinghua said with another salute.

  Then Principal Chiang told him about the route of the march, and only then did he let Sun Xinghua leave.

  Sun Xinghua arrived at the troops after Cai Guangjie was holding a mobilization meeting to boost the morale of the officers and soldiers.

  The officers from Huangpu were excited and had high morale.

  "Now I order, the first company as vanguard, the battalion headquarters leads the artillery company, following behind the first company, the third company is responsible for covering the safety of both wings, and the second company is responsible for cutting off the rear. The troops will quickly march to Humen." Sun Xinghua immediately issued the command.

  "Yes." The three company commanders quickly saluted and returned to their respective units.

  In no time, a troop of five hundred men marched in unison, swiftly advancing towards Humen Fort.

  "Overthrow the imperialists, overthrow the warlords, national revolution succeed, national revolution succeed! Sing in unison, sing in unison!" The officers and soldiers were heroic and majestic, mighty and awe-inspiring, shouting slogans all along the way.

  All the way, the three battalions did not encounter Chen Jiongming's troops' ambush. Instead, during the march, the three battalions were in strict discipline, with neat uniforms and red scarves tied around their necks, marching forward spiritedly, winning the admiration of the people.

  Along the way, the residents on both sides enthusiastically sent water, boiled eggs and roasted sweet potatoes. The officers and soldiers drank a bowl of water and left a few copper coins, and they also paid for the eggs and sweet potatoes.

  "Company Commander, the propaganda team from the Political Department has arrived." Cai Guangjie ran over from behind and said to Sun Xinghua.

  It's already February 1st, the three regiments have passed through many villages and towns, and Humen is not far away. In order to better publicize the revolutionary principles, the political department organized a propaganda team, took vehicles, and quickly caught up with the vanguard of the three regiments. They will hold simple propaganda meetings in the towns along the way, telling the people not to be nervous, so as not to cause unnecessary panic.

  "Notify Hu Wei, withdraw a infantry squad, responsible for protecting the propaganda team, the rest of the troops speed up." Sun Xinghua quickly gave the order.

  "Yes, Battalion Commander." Cai Guangji hastily saluted and ran towards the back.

  February 2, 1925, the First Regiment of the First Division was approaching Humen, only a few kilometers away, and the sky was gradually darkening.

  "Captain, the troops have been on a forced march for three days. Shall we take a rest in the village ahead?" Cai Guangju led three company commanders to say to Sun Xinghua.

  Sun Xinghua took out the map and looked at it, confirming that he had not gone in the wrong direction, and that Humen was not too far away. He immediately gave the order: "The troops will rest in the village, and are not allowed to disturb the civilians."

  Under Sun Xinghua's command, a 500-man troop quickly advanced into the village.

  Before entering the village, the dogs in the village started barking.

  The originally quiet village suddenly became lively, with lights shining everywhere.

  Before long, more than a hundred villagers arrived at the village entrance, armed with various weapons, vigilantly watching the three battalions of government soldiers advancing from afar.

  "Halt! Who are you?" The troops had not yet entered the village when the villagers in the distance began to shout.

  "Fellow countrymen, we are troops from the Huangpu Instructional Brigade, ordered to attack Chen Jiongming's forces." Cai Guangjie, who was fluent in Cantonese, quickly shouted towards the front.

  There were some murmurs among the villagers, but they still held up their torches and watched the troops in front of them with vigilance.

  Sun Xinghua and Cai Guangju walked directly over.

  The villagers saw the blue sky and white sun emblem on Sun Xinghua and Cai Guang's military caps, as well as their uniforms, and only then did they confirm that it was a revolutionary army. The villagers showed great enthusiasm for this revolutionary army.

  The original hoes and sickles in hand were all put away, and an older villager walked to the front of Sun Xinghua.

  "Is the officer going to rest? I'll find someone to clean up the place right away," said the villager looking at Sun Xinghua.

  "Fellow countryman, we are just staying here for one night and will leave immediately," Sun Xinghua said hastily.

  The villagers looked somewhat disappointed, but they didn't say anything and instead welcomed the troops in.

  After entering the village, the officers and soldiers arrived at the designated location and began to rest.

  A few female comrades of the propaganda team were arranged separately in a civilian residence.

  Seeing the troops eating hard dry rations, the civilians hastily took out food and handed it over to these officers and soldiers.

  The officers and soldiers initially all refused, but seeing the civilians still persisting, they could only surrender one after another. The party representatives of each regiment then took out money and distributed it uniformly to the civilians.

  "Sun Xinghua." Just as Sun Xinghua was eating his dry rations, Song Ling'er suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

  "How did you get here." Sun Xinghua was extremely surprised by Song Ling'er's appearance.

  Song Ling'er let out a cold hum and walked directly in front of Sun Xinghua.

  "Do you have a gun? Can you give me one?" Song Ling'er's tone changed slightly as she looked at Sun Xinghua.

  Sun Xinghua looked puzzled, looking at Song Ling'er and said: "You came with the propaganda team, what do you want to do with weapons? The further forward, the more dangerous it is. I'll discuss with the party representative later, let them leave you behind, and catch up with the main force of the regiment in the back."

  Although Chen Jiongming's troops have not been found until now, Sun Xinghua dare not be careless. The farther the troops go forward, the more dangerous they are. Sun Xinghua dare not guarantee that he can take care of the propaganda team during the battle.

  "Our propaganda team has five people, we are not afraid to die for the revolution, as long as you can give us weapons, we can go to the front line to fight." Song Ling'er said excitedly with her big eyes wide open.

  Sun Xinghua was clearer, the female students of Guangzhou Normal School were very enthusiastic about the revolution, and even after the opening of Huangpu, some female students still wanted to apply for Huangpu Military Academy. However, since Huangpu Military Academy did not plan to recruit female students, they politely rejected them.

  Even so, these female students did not give up their spirit of dedicating themselves to the revolution. They went around spreading revolutionary ideas, participating in parades and providing whatever help they could. During this Eastern Expedition, the female students spoke with Director Zhou of the Political Department, who was pleased to let them join the propaganda team and follow the troops into battle.

  "Nonsense." Sun Xinghua said harshly.

  If it were someone else, they might be intimidated by Sun Xinghua, but Song Ling'er was not afraid of Sun Xinghua, who served as the deputy regiment commander and camp commander.

  "Sun Xinghua, if you dare to keep me here, I'll expose all your ugly secrets. Who was it that still wet the bed at eight years old? Who was it that played house as a kid and said they wanted to marry me?" Song Ling'er said with a defiant face, staring at Sun Xinghua.

  Sun Xinghua recalled that when he was eight years old, he still had some memory of wetting the bed. However, playing house and saying he wanted to marry Song Ling'er, Sun Xinghua didn't have any impression of this at all.

  "What do you want?" Sun Xinghua hastily looked around and asked solemnly.

  "No matter what, give me a handgun and I'll follow the troops. If you don't agree, I'll tell all your childhood secrets, remember when you were 12 years old, you even kissed me on the mouth? I still remember that, I'll go tell your father." Song Ling'er puffed out her chest, saying with satisfaction.

  However, it is clear that Song Ling'er did not consider these things to be important matters. If it were another woman, she would probably have married Sun Xinghua for sure.

  "Alright, I'll agree to it." Sun Xinghua said helplessly and handed over his Colt pistol to Song Ling'er, but only gave her five bullets.

  Song Ling'er took the pistol and skipped out, Sun Xinghua's face showed a helpless smile, and he holstered the Mauser pistol on his armed belt.

  Then at this moment, gunshots rang out outside.

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