Zhao Zhenzhong's analysis was not wrong, but the actual situation was a little more complicated than what he said.

After Yan Xishan returned to Shanxi in early August, the direct descendants of Yan's army in the Jinsui Army had a backbone and became active. Zhang Xueliang, who had just suppressed the rebellion of Shi Yousan, was afraid that Yan Xi would threaten his position in the north when he reorganized the Shanxi Provincial Government. On the one hand, he arranged his own people to serve as member and director of the Shanxi Provincial Government when reorganizing the Shanxi Provincial Government. On the other hand, he dispatched his direct troops to prepare to enter Jin from Pingsui and Pinghan. His vanguard troops, Bai Fengxiang Cavalry Division, had already arrived in Shouyang, only 60 kilometers away from Taiyuan. At the same time, Zhang Xueliang also restrained the Jinsui Army through Sun Dianying, Bao Gang, Zhang Renjie and other troops in Shanxi. The situation in Taiyuan became tense for a moment.

Under such circumstances, Fu Zuoyi, who had a good personal relationship with Zhang Xueliang and was once coldly treated by Yan Xishan, was inevitably embarrassed. In order to avoid being in a dilemma after the situation escalated, Fu Zuoyi simply sent his troops out in the name of suppressing bandits. Anyway, there were tens of thousands of bandits in Suiyuan, and it was also a good choice to use bandit suppression to avoid being caught in the middle.

In addition, Fu Zuoyi, who had just become the acting chairman of Suiyuan Province, also faced the problem of uniting the forces within the province. It is no need to mention the economic situation of Suiyuan's destruction after years of famine, and the coordination and resettlement of other troops of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army in Suiyuan made Fu Zuoyi quite troublesome.

After the defeat of the Jinsui Army in the Central Plains War, in addition to Fu Zuoyi's troops, there were also Wang Jingguo, Zhao Chengshou and other troops in Suiyuan. Among them, Wang Jingguo's troops were stationed in Baotou, and Zhao Chengshou's troops were stationed in Suiyuan and the border areas of Shanxi. After Fu Zuoyi became the acting chairman of Suiyuan, the two sworn brothers Wang and Zhao did not make Fu Zuoyi too embarrassed. After consultation, Zhao Chengshou set up the command center in Datong, served as the commander of Datong's garrison and the commander of the Pingsui Road protection, and gradually faded out of Suiyuan; Wang Jingguo set up the Suixi Reclamation Supervision Office in Baotou, and transformed his troops into 28 reclamation teams, and cultivated wasteland in Baotou, Wuyuan and Linhe areas.

In this case, if Nanjing orders Fu Zuoyi's troops to attack Ningxia, in addition to re-assembling the troops, they also have to set off from Guisui to travel 7,800 kilometers, and face two major problems: long-distance marching in the rainy season and insufficient supply of materials. Although Wang Jingguo's troops are located in Wuyuan and Linhe areas, you can't let Wang Jingguo's troops lack food and salary. If you lead your own troops to fight, you will be hungry, right?

In other words, Suiyuan's attack on Ningxia in the near future may basically not exist.

Yang Hucheng, who took office as the director of the Tongguan camp in July, was responsible for the stability of several northwestern provinces, wanted to take advantage of the Lanzhou Leima Incident and the Ningxia Incident to extend his power to Gansu and Ningxia. However, in addition to the flood making it difficult for his troops to be dispatched for a while, the opposition within his troops also made Yang Hucheng feel a little worried.

The 42nd Division commander Feng Qinzai, who opposed Yang Hucheng's dispatch of troops.

Among the three division commanders under Yang Hucheng, although Sun Weiru is not the strongest, he has followed Yang for a long time and is the most loyal to Yang; Ma Qingyuan is also good at being good, but he follows Yang late, which makes Yang a little worried about him; while Feng Qinzai is the most capable and cooperates with Yang the earliest, but he is straightforward and stubborn by nature, and his words are unrestrained, often makes Yang Hu unable to get out of the market.

After learning about the incident in Ningxia and Lanzhou, Lao Chiang was reprimanded by Lao Chiang. Yang Hucheng Committee really wanted to take the opportunity to make a difference, but Ma Qingyuan's army is now in Luoyang, so Yang Hucheng discussed the issue of sending troops with Sun Weiru and Feng Qinzai. Sun Weiru naturally only followed Yang Hucheng's orders, but Feng Qinzai said bluntly: "Just build Shaanxi well, why do you need so many territory? Besides, Shaanxi is flooded and epidemic, and if you have the time to go to Gansu to wipe others' butts, we might as well do something practical for the people, I won't go!"

Feng Qinzai's words were choking, but thinking about this brother's previous glorious deeds, Yang Hucheng knew that his character was like this, so he endured it. Not to mention it, just from the two things that happened last year, Feng Qinzai's temperament can be appreciated.

When he was fighting Tang Shengzhi around New Year's Day in 30, Feng Qinzai's army had a good record. When Chiang Kai-shek went to Zhumadian to comfort him, he specially summoned Feng Qinzai and rewarded him with 20,000 oceans. He said to Feng in public: "Your team plays well, and you are a powerful general." Feng Qinzai grinned, patted his chest, and blurted out: "Let's fight Shanxi, I'll take the battle against Yan Xishan!" You know, just after New Year's Day in 30, when Chiang Kai-shek and Yan Xishan were still good brothers on the surface, although anyone with discerning eyes knew that Chiang Kai-shek and Yan Xishan were not in the way of fighting, it was a matter of time before Feng Qinzai's cannon even pierced the window paper in public, which made Chiang Kai-shek feel embarrassed and speechless for a moment.

Later, in the first half of 30 years, Feng Qinzai's troops stationed in Zhumadian, Yang Hucheng invited many cultural people to help with local work and military work. Once, after his speech, Yang Hucheng asked who was still speaking. Feng Qinzai strode to the podium and fired fire at the literati present: "...You see, the people present today have added many people who are not wearing military uniforms. Where did they go when they fight desperately? It's safe, big-shirted boys have come. Today is the county magistrate, and tomorrow is the tax bureau chief. Why do you make so much money? Money is external things, and there are opportunities to make money in the future!" This "crazy cannon" that ignored Yang Hucheng's whisper to stop made Yang Hucheng's thoughts almost in vain, and the meeting naturally ended in dissatisfaction.

...

Since Feng Qinzai gave up, Yang Hucheng could only rely on Sun Weiru's 17th Division. But the 17th Division is also facing the trouble of floods in the Jinghe River and Weihe River basins. It is impossible to send troops to Lanzhou and Ningxia before the water situation ceases. Yang Hucheng had to temporarily hold back his mind and wait.

Compared with Fu and Yang, Ma Lin, who had just taken office as the chairman of Qinghai Province, was also upset. Ma Lin was originally the security commander of Gansu Province and the commander of the 1st Division of the Gansu Cavalry, and now he has become the chairman of Qinghai Province. However, the troops on Qinghai were captured by his nephew Ma Bufang. Ma Bufang was in charge of the name of Ma Lin as the chairman of Qinghai, and he was unable to take into account military affairs. He asked Ma Lin to resign as the commander of the 1st Division of the Gansu Cavalry, and handed over this position to Ma Buqing. Ma Lin did not agree to Ma Bufang's proposal. He knew in his heart that if he really did what Ma Bufang said, he would have no army in his hands. Nowadays, he had no troops in his hands and the governor was not tough in his words.

Therefore, Ma Lin seconded the opportunity to mediate the Lanzhou Incident, and Ma Lin grabbed the 1st Cavalry Division in Gansu and refused to let go. However, Ma Lin was not keen on resolving the Lanzhou Incident. Ma Hongbin embarrassed himself in Lanzhou, but this time he suffered a little.

In the first half of the year, the Bagua Platform of Longkou, Wuquan Shandong was built. Ma Lin loved the fun and took the opportunity to invite civil and military officials, gentry and merchants in Lanzhou to eat mutton. Of course, Ma Hongbin, the provincial chairman, was listed as the chief. Unexpectedly, Ma Hongbin wrote on the invitation: "There are many things to do, so I have free time to do this unnecessary social engagement." He also brought Ma Lin back.

After seeing this, Ma Lin was so upset that he thought to himself: You have to leave the chairman to be arrogant, so it’s okay if you don’t come. There is no need to let me down like this. Is it a special mockery? In addition, Ma Hongbin had lowered the supply standards for Ma Lin’s troops before, so the two sides had a rift.

...

Zhao Zhenzhong and others did not know the details of the Shaanxi, Gansu, and Suizhou parties. After listening to Zhao Zhenzhong's previous analysis, everyone sat together and started a discussion on the situation in the northwest.

"Old Zhao, since the various forces in the northwest cannot take into account our base in the short term, it is better for us to expand outward as soon as possible, occupy a more favorable position, and completely change the strategic situation between the enemy and us in the northwest." Zhou Hao suggested, "It is better to include all areas near the southeast of the Yellow River in Gansu, east of the Tao River, and near the Wei River in our control. In this way, we can attack and defend by advancing. There is no need to worry about external enemies at all, and we can build bases with peace of mind."

Zhou Hao grew up in the northwest in the world before. In addition, he heard Zhao Zhenzhong’s plan for the country before, so he worked hard on the mountains and rivers in the northwest. At this time, he was not afraid of speaking.

"At present, Lanzhou has a civil strife, domestic floods, and surrounding forces are powerless or have no time to take care of it. This is indeed a rare fighter. I have indeed considered the next stage of combat plan before, but the expansion range is larger than what you said." Zhao Zhenzhong nodded to Zhou Hao and said, "In addition to the areas you mentioned, we must also occupy the three places of Hongshui, Gulang and Yongdeng within the Hexi Great Wall to lay a foundation for further development in the future. Moreover, Ming Rui and others were preparing for this in Hexi, Ningxia. Tianming and others also conducted drills when attacking Jingyuan. If they have sufficient arrangements, they will be sure to seize these areas in one fell swoop."

Then, Zhao Zhenzhong analyzed the forces comparison between the enemy and us.

The Lei Zhongtian tribe in Lanzhou was originally the temporary second brigade left by Feng Yuxiang's troops in Ganzhou, with only about 3,000 people. After being organized into the Eighth Division, the team expanded, but to this day there were only 7,800 people, and the combat power was low, which was not worth worrying. The First Cavalry Division in Gansu was previously transferred to Liangzhou by Ma Lin and moved to the Gulang area of ​​Yongdeng, leaving only 2,000 troops in the western part of Lanzhou. In other words, the total enemy in Lanzhou and nearby areas was about 15,000.

In addition, Ma Tingxian's troops in the Tianshui area originally had more than 10,000 people, but in the first half of the year, Ma Tingxian had an internal conflict with his subordinate Han Jinlu. After a fierce fight, Ma Tingxian's troops are now only 67,000. Although the Lu Dachang troops occupying the Wudu and other places in Longnan, although it is said to have two brigades of soldiers, it is only 67,000.

Zhao Zhenzhong concluded: "In general, these enemies with different minds have only about 30,000 people in total. Among them, except for the combat power of the First Cavalry Division, which Ma Lin now has some combat power, poor discipline, and even worse training, the other routes are basically not much different from the mob. If we launch the next stage, we will draw the first column, special column, education column, and second column and other units, with a total of about 32,000 troops. With preparation and training advantages, we are prepared and unprepared, and victory is completely guaranteed."

"Sir, when will we start?" After listening to Zhao Zhenzhong's strategic plan and analysis of the power comparison between enemies and us, Yang Tianming felt itchy.

"Don't worry, it's not too late. We must solve the matter in Lanzhou before the Japanese start. Otherwise, if the Japanese start and then attack in the northwest, we will be a little passive." Zhao Zhenzhong smiled and looked at Yang Tianming and others and said, "The specific time is in early September. After we hold this meeting, we will formulate a detailed combat plan together. You two can start to arrange it after you go back."

"Old Zhao, you promised me that there will be wars during my return to China this year." Zhou Hao shouted, "Let me, Mingrui, Tianming and others do it."

"You don't go there now," Zhao Zhenzhong shook his head, "Since you have to go back to the United States for another year at the end of September, then this time I will go to the Northeast with me after the meeting."
Chapter completed!