"Retreat to Shanxi? Can the Jinsui Army agree to our withdrawal to their territory?" Liu Ruming asked.

"We can discuss this with Yan Xishan. I think Yan Xishan will not refuse us, because with us guarding the Shanxi border, we can form a buffer zone for him to prevent the Northeastern border troops from directly attacking Shanxi." Xiao Zhenying

road.

Song Zheyuan, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke, stood up and said: "Everyone, since everyone has no objections to the chief of staff's suggestion, let's act quickly. The sooner the better, otherwise once the Northeast Frontier Defense Force learns of it,

They will definitely pursue us, and by then our retreat will become a problem, but it will be very bad."

"Yes!" A group of senior officers of the 29th Army, including Zhang Zizhong and Liu Ruming, stood up at the same time and responded.

……………………

In Zhangjiakou, one day and one night have passed since Zhang Zizhong left, and there is still no reply from the 29th Army.

In the headquarters, Jiang Baili asked Zhang Xinghan in confusion: "Commander, why didn't you temporarily agree to Zhang Zizhong's request for peace talks yesterday? Then deal with them like you dealt with Sun Dianying."

Zhang Xinghan shook his head slightly and smiled: "I said, there are many talented people in the 29th Army. Even if we agree to negotiate with them, they will not really surrender to us like Sun Dianying's 41st Army, so I want to fool them, Nan

The crossing is too big.

Moreover, this Western Expedition is imminent. The small 29th Army, with less than 30,000 troops, is really not our most important target. Our most important target is the Majia Army in the northwest.

They have ruled the northwest for a long time, and there are many ethnic minorities in the northwest with different religious beliefs. The Ma Jiajun is good at exploiting various ethnic and religious conflicts and is a difficult opponent, so one must treat it with caution."

Suddenly, a communications soldier hurried in and reported to Zhang Xinghan and Jiang Baili without even saluting: "General seat, attendant seat, forward troops report, they found that all the 29th officers in front of them have been evacuated."

"Evacuated?" Jiang Baili was a little surprised.

But Zhang Xinghan smiled and said: "You see, this is a group of talented people who would rather run away than live under others for a long time and accept my command.

If I were **, they would be hypocritical and selfish."

"Commander, what should we do next?" Jiang Baili asked, "Should we send troops to pursue him?"

Zhang Xinghan shook his head and said: "Pursuit? It's not necessary. Since they are unwilling to stay, don't regret it in the future. It's not that we didn't give them a chance."

Walking to the map and swiping his pen, Zhang Xinghan immediately ordered: "Order the 212th Division to seize Xinghe County immediately, and the entire army is preparing to march to Ulanqab."

"Yes." Jiang Baili nodded vigorously, turned around and took the order.

……………………

The eight divisions led by Zhang Xinghan are the 210th, 211th, 212th, 213th, 214th, 215th, 216th, and 217th Divisions. The main composition of the divisions is basically the former Northeastern Army captured and integrated in the Battle of Pingjin more than half a year ago.

However, after more than half a year of reorganization, transformation and infiltration, more than 70% of the mid-level and junior officers in these divisions are former elites from various units selected by Zhang Xinghan from other units and even Longxing Military Academy.

It can be said that the old Northeastern Army of 100,000 troops has been firmly in the hands of Zhang Xinghan.

This group of troops are elite veterans of the Northeastern Army. During their previous service in the Northeastern Army, they were affected by various factors such as weapons and equipment, which caused them to fail to exert their due combat effectiveness.

But now, after joining the Northeast Frontier Defense Force, the weapons, equipment and logistical support are all the same, and the combat power has naturally increased sharply. Compared with Zhang Xinghan's original ten reorganized direct divisions, it is not much better, because these officers and soldiers are basically one person.

All are veterans who have served for more than three years.

I have been training for a long time when I was in the Northeastern Army, and many of them are elite veterans brought out by Zhang Xueliang. After going through the Battle of Pingjin when I came out of the border, and the subsequent battle against Shi Yousan, both training level and combat experience are all

Pretty good.

For this western expedition, Zhang Xinghan mobilized nearly 200,000 land and air forces, all of which were elite veterans with combat experience, aiming to defeat the Ma Jiajun in the northwest and completely occupy several northwest provinces.

In terms of military strength, the total number of regular troops that the four-horse Ma's Army could muster at this time was less than 100,000. The equipment was inferior and was not at the same level as the Northeast Frontier Defense Force.

Even the Jinsui Army and Zhang Xueliang's Northeastern Army were inferior.

Therefore, during this Western Expedition, the Northeastern Border Guards had an absolute advantage. The only thing that needs attention is the gathering of ethnic minorities in the northwest, and the Ma Jiajun is mostly composed of Muslims. It is likely that the disputes between various ethnic groups will be used to organize the Northeastern Border Guards to take over the northwest. Therefore,

If you want to conquer the northwest, you must deal with the conflicts that may break out among the local ethnic groups and appease them.

The main force of the Northeastern Border Guards came out of the border in large numbers and captured Chahar without a single blow. Naturally, such a big movement could not be hidden from the eyes of the Ma Jiajun.

Chahar was captured by the Northeast Frontier Defense Force, and Ningma, led by brothers Ma Hongbin and Ma Hongkui, bore the brunt.

The Ningma's sphere of influence is based on Ningxia and radiates from the Ma Jiajun that exists in Gansu and Inner Mongolia. Its military strength is slightly weaker than that of the Qingma led by Ma Bufang and Ma Buqing.

There is only one newly-organized unit and one newly-organized 7th Division. Its main components are three brigades and a special agent regiment that Ma Hongkui brought back after the Central Plains War. After several years of expansion, the strength of the regular army has reached more than 25,000.

people.

There is also Ma Hongbin's 35th Division, with about 10,000 people, plus several cavalry regiments and a group of militia groups. Ningma's total strength is about 60,000 to 70,000, of which less than 40,000 are regular troops.

When he learned that the Northeastern border guards were leaving the border in two groups, Ma Hongkui was shocked and immediately summoned his elder brother Ma Hongbin and other close generals to discuss countermeasures.

The capital of Ningma is located in Yinchuan City, the capital of Ningxia Province, in the Provincial Chairman's Office Building of Ma Hongkui.

Ma Hongkui, Ma Hongbin and a group of senior generals from Ningma, a total of more than ten people, were conducting emergency consultations in a conference room.

A fat, middle-aged man in his forties wearing a military uniform sat at the front. This man was Ma Hongkui, Chairman of Ningxia Province. Sitting below and to his left was Ma Hongbin.

Everyone present at the meeting was Erma's confidant, but they were extremely nervous at this moment. There was no longer the lively laughter in the previous meeting, and the entire meeting room was silent.

"Brothers, Zhang Xinghan, the king of the Northeast, personally led more than 200,000 land and air troops to march westward in two directions, and captured Chahar without any blood in just a few days.

According to the news coming back from the front, its forward troops have shown signs of advancing towards Ulanqab. Their actions are very intriguing. What do you think of this?" Ma Hongkui broke the silence at the scene and asked visually.

After hearing what Ma Hongkui said, everyone's expressions changed again. Before coming, some of them knew more or less about the situation, but they did not expect that the situation would be so serious.

They are aware of the glorious achievements of the Northeastern Border Guards. More than 200,000 troops swept across the Korean Peninsula in less than a month, and the Japanese Kwantung Army was wiped out by hundreds of thousands of troops.

Behind these brilliant achievements is the performance of strong combat power. Now that Zhang Xinghan has mobilized more than 200,000 land and air forces to march westward in great force, how can they not feel trembling and fearful?

Ma Hongbin, who was sitting on the lower left side of Ma Hongkui, glanced at the crowd and said slowly: "Shaoyun, the Northeast Frontier Defense Force is so powerful that our Ningxia Army cannot compete alone. I suggest that you contact Ma Bufang and Ma Buqing immediately and gather together.

The Ma Jiajun of our two provinces will fight with all our strength against Zhang Xinghan's Northeast Frontier Defense Force, and only then can we have the possibility of victory."

Ma Hongkui nodded when he heard this and said: "What the elder brother said is true. I will send someone to contact the Ma Bufang brothers. I hope they can put the overall situation first and join us to fight against the enemy and protect the northwest!"

"They will definitely do it. Our relationship with the Qing Navy is at odds with each other. Zhang Xinghan is powerful. In order to avoid being defeated by each of them, only the four of us can protect the northwest!" Ma Hongbin said.

Ma Hongkui nodded in agreement and ordered his subordinates to draft a message to contact the Qingma Army.

At the same time, he said to Ma Hongbin: "Brother, if the Northeast Frontier Defense Force decides to advance westward, the Shanxi-Sui Army in Ulanqab and Guisui (now Hohhot) may not block its westward advance, so I think we should make preparations in advance.

That’s it.”

"Well, I suggest that we immediately mobilize three cavalry regiments and four militia regiments to garrison Jiuyuan to prevent the Northeast Border Guards from crossing the river into Ningxia! In addition, we urgently recruit rural braves to form and train the militia corps, just in case!" Ma Hongbin nodded.

"Okay, that's very good. In addition, I also suggest that the main force of our two divisions should march eastward along the Yellow River and set up defenses in Wuyuan as the second line of defense to resolutely block the northeastern border defense forces and wait for reinforcements from Qinghai!" Ma Hongkui

He nodded happily.

……………………

Both Ulanqab and Guisui now belong to Suiyuan Province. At this time, most of Suiyuan Province was under the control of the Shanxi-Sui Army of warlord Yan Xishan.

The main force of the Jinsui Army stationed in Suiyuan is Fu Zuoyi's 35th Army and some local armed forces, with only two divisions and less than 40,000 troops.

Moreover, the troops stationed in various parts of Suiyuan Province are less than 20,000 that can be concentrated in Guisui and Ulanqab.

After the 29th Army fled south, Zhang Xinghan, while commanding the troops to take over all Chahar counties, ordered Shen Ke to lead the 212th Division to advance westward along the Pingsui Railway.

The 212th Division took only one day and one night to march quickly to Ulanqab Station. The defenders of the 35th Army did not dare to resist and were ordered to retreat and get out of the way.

After the 212th Division retained more than a thousand troops directly under the division headquarters, the main force continued to advance westward along the railway line, aiming directly at Guisui, the capital of Suiyuan Province.

Fu Zuoyi called Yan Xishan urgently at the critical moment to ask for countermeasures.
Chapter completed!