Chapter 45: The Great Battle of Mianhu (Four)

  Just after Liao Zhongkai left, Sun Xinghua's elder brother Sun Jianhua walked over from outside.

  This time Sun Jianhua followed Liao Zhongkai to the front line, comforting the officers and soldiers who were fighting. Moreover, Sun Jianhua also brought a batch of weapons and equipment and military supplies.

  These things are undoubtedly a timely help for the Right Route Army which is engaged in continuous fighting and has an extended supply line.

  The two brothers talked for a while in the command post, and Sun Jianhua stood up to bid farewell. This time he left some supplies for the First Instructional Team, and the rest were to be sent to Jieyang, where Principal Jiang would distribute them uniformly.

  Time flies, three hours have passed.

  Liao Zhongkai comforted the officers and men of the three battalions after returning to the regiment headquarters to assist He Yingqin in commanding the battle.

  Inside the Third Division headquarters, Sun Xinghua was carefully thinking over some issues.

  Liao Zhongkai's words made Sun Xinghua feel a bit ashamed, Sun Xinghua now has a little warlord mentality, everything is for the sake of his own three regiments, as for other things, Sun Xinghua won't think about them and doesn't even bother to think.

  What he is thinking now is to expand the troops of the Third Battalion, strengthen the weapons and equipment of the Third Battalion, and let the Third Battalion become an elite force under his leadership.

  But in this process, Sun Xinghua overlooked one thing, that is, the three battalions of Sun Xinghua were not only his own, but also the third battalion of the First Division, and even more so, a battalion of the Party's army.

  Three camps belong to the group, not to Sun Xinghua personally!

  "Guiting, am I being a bit selfish?" Sun Xinghua asked solemnly, looking at Zheng Dongguo beside him.

  Zheng Dongguo fell silent for a moment before finally nodding his head.

  The current party army is of one mind, and the officers are all from Whampoa, they are not only comrades-in-arms but also teacher and student, as well as revolutionary comrades.

  Compared with the complex factions of the national army in later generations, the current party army troops can be said to be the most united. They have a common ideal and also have the affection between classmates.

  "I was wrong again, a team that only thinks of itself will eventually be defeated no matter how strong its combat power is. The reason we can win is because of unity." Sun Xinghua muttered to himself.

  This is the second time Sun Xinghua has been blackmailed by Principal Jiang, but this time after being blackmailed by Principal Jiang, Sun Xinghua was also uncomfortable at first, but after Liao Zhongkai's guidance, Sun Xinghua's heart is now much more comfortable.

  Their armed forces are not withdrawn for personal gain, but for the sake of the country and nation, they fight with the same effect wherever they go.

  After figuring all this out, Sun Xinghua's mood improved a lot.

  "Director Sun, are you okay?" Just as Sun Xinghua was about to rest, Shen Nan walked in, smiling at Sun Xinghua.

  "Vice Minister Shen, what are you doing here?" Sun Xinghua said with some surprise.

  Shen Nan smiled and said to Sun Xinghua: "I came with the party representative, this time I came to your third camp to give you gifts."

  After saying these words, Shen Nan took out a red flag from behind his back. In the middle of the flag were four big characters, and in the lower right corner, there were three small characters.

  The four big characters are the honor of the Party Army, and the three small characters were given by Sun Yat-sen.

  "Premier Sun has heard about your three battalions in Beijing and specially wrote these four big characters. The party representative had them embroidered on the flag, hoping you won't disappoint Premier Sun's high expectations." Shen Nan handed the flag to Sun Xinghua with a serious expression.

  Sun Xinghua looked at this flag and his face showed an excited expression.

  "I heard that the Central Executive Committee has decided to award your two instructional battalions with the Double Red Banners of the Party Army, commending you for your battles during this period. This idea also came about after Premier Sun presented you with these four characters." Shen Nan sat down in his chair and said with a smile.

  Zheng Dongguo poured a glass of water for Shen Nan and handed it over to him.

  Sun Xinghua looked at the flag in front of him and said to Zheng Dongguo, "This flag is our three regiments' military flag. As long as this flag is here, our three regiment troops will not fall, and the party army will not fall either. As long as this flag is here, there are no enemies that can stop the pace of our party army."

  "Yes, Camp Commander." Zheng Dongguo took over the flag and hung it inside the camp.

  None of them had thought that this banner would follow the Party army to all parts of the country, and this banner, being the handwritten honor of the Party army by Premier Sun, even the highest commander, Chiang Kai-shek, who considered himself a disciple of Premier Sun, would have to salute it first when he saw it.

  "The situation I've already heard about, you guys need to be careful." Shen Nan said in a low voice, glancing at Sun Xinghua before shifting his gaze to Zheng Dongguo and the camp personnel, covering up his true intentions.

  Sun Xinghua did not mind these and was thinking about tomorrow's battle.

  "Hmm." Sun Xinghua responded with a sentence and walked in front of the map.

  Shen Nan saw Sun Xinghua walk in front of the map and didn't say anything, but got up and left.

  On March 13, 1925, the First Division of the Training Regiment set out from Mianhu Town.

  However, before departure, He Yingqin conveyed the latest order, with the first battalion of Jinfosi as the vanguard, Liu Zhen's second battalion as the reserve team, and the third battalion changed from the vanguard to a flanking maneuver to assist the first battalion in battle.

  This plan was formulated by Principal Chiang, and undoubtedly it alleviated the pressure on Sun Xinghua's three battalions. After all, the troops that launched a frontal attack bore tremendous pressure.

  At 7:00 am, the First Battalion of Jin Fo Zhuang encountered Chen's troops and immediately became embroiled in a fierce battle.

  He Yingqin ordered the 3rd Regiment to quickly launch a flanking attack and relieve pressure on the 1st Regiment.

  But Chen Jun's troops, nearly 10,000 strong, were five times that of the instructional corps. The third battalion had just launched an attack when it was counterattacked by more than 3,000 of Chen's troops and immediately became surrounded.

  "Commander, the 3rd Regiment has lost contact. The 1st Regiment is in a fierce battle, if we don't send reinforcements immediately, the entire army will be annihilated." Chief of Staff Zhu Tang walked to He Yingqin's side and reported the situation.

  He Yingqin was also somewhat flustered, looked at Zhu Tang, remained silent for a while, and then gave the order: "Quickly, command the second battalion to join the battle, immediately rescue the first battalion, dispatch communication soldiers to contact the third battalion troops, and report the situation here to the school principal."

  Zhu Tang bowed and ran towards the back.

  Liu Zhen received the order and immediately led his troops, with bayonets at the ready, to launch an attack on Chen Jun's army.

  After a three-hour fierce battle, Liu Zhen's second battalion rescued the first battalion, and the two battalions retreated to the outskirts of Mianhu Town, Zengtang Village, where they confronted Chen Jun's troops. Meanwhile, there was still no news from Sun Xinghua's third battalion.