Black Flag Army

Chapter 176 The Fate of an Honest Official

In mid-July, on this morning, Di Xiong was reading the Justice Daily in his office. Wu Chunfeng walked into Di Xiong's office and said to him, "Brother! Wang Jiuguang, the leader of the Axe Gang in Shanghai, has found our intelligence station in Shanghai and wants to buy a batch of weapons. Should we sell them to them?"

Wang Jiuguang was Wang Yaqiao, and he was very familiar with the Shanghai Intelligence Station because the station had always sent him the Justice Daily and provided him with funds when he was in trouble.

Di Xiong smiled and said, "Wang Jiuguang became famous in Shanghai with his axe, which aroused the hostility of other gangs in Shanghai. They want to unite to deal with Wang Jiuguang. If Wang Jiuguang does not buy weapons, he really can't resist. Especially the Shanghai Green Gang where the three tycoons are located, they are backed by the British and American powers and are too powerful. What weapons does he want?"

Wu Chunfeng said: "Ten machine guns, one hundred rifles and pistols each, one hundred thousand rounds of bullets, five hundred grenades, and a few rocket launchers and fifty rockets."

Di Xiong said, "Give him all of them, and tell him that the first batch of weapons is free, and because he is a hero of the anti-Qing and anti-Yuan uprising, the next batch of weapons will be 30% off. In addition, I have to correct you one thing, Wang Jiuguang himself never admitted that his organization was called the Axe Gang, but the Anhui Laborers' Association in Shanghai, abbreviated as the Anhui Association."

Wu Chunfeng asked: "Then why do people from all walks of life in Shanghai call them the Axe Gang?"

Di Xiong said: "After Wang Jiuguang organized the Anhui fellows working in Shanghai to form the Anhui Association, several members were bullied by the contractor on the dock. They were owed wages and beaten. Wang Jiuguang took a group of members to negotiate with the contractor, but the contractor hired gangsters and suddenly drew knives to hack them. They had no weapons, so they had to flee. They fled to an iron shop on the street and saw many axes in the shop. Wang Jiuguang and his men picked up axes to fight back, hacking the contractor and gangsters so hard that they ran away. From then on, they were nicknamed the Axe Gang. Later, many gangs in Shanghai used axes when they killed and burned people, and then put the blame on Wang Jiuguang, so Wang Jiuguang insisted on not recognizing the name of the Axe Gang. In fact, they don't use axes anymore. Conditions are better, so of course they use pistols and bombs."

Wu Chunfeng asked: "How do we deliver the munitions?"

Di Xiong said: "The two submarines have been training for more than two months. It is time to go out and practice. It is just right to be used to deliver weapons and ammunition. Shanghai is closer than Yingzhou Island, so let's practice in Shanghai first."

Wu Chunfeng looked at the man in front of him expectantly, his eyes flashing with excitement and desire. He took a deep breath and said, "Brother! I have always been yearning for the legendary Shanghai, but I have never had the opportunity to go there and see it in person. Moreover, I have only heard of the famous and powerful hero Wang Jiuguang but have never seen him! Can I take on the important task of rhyming the munitions this time? I believe that with my ability, I will not disappoint you!"

After saying these words, Wu Chunfeng stood there quietly waiting for a response, feeling a little nervous but also full of expectations. He knew that this mission was of great significance and arduous responsibility, but he also thought that this was a rare opportunity for training. If he could successfully complete the mission, he could not only prove his strength but also gain a lot of knowledge and experience.

Di Xiong said seriously: "If you want to go to Shanghai, of course it's fine, but remember to act cautiously and ensure your own safety. After all, that dangerous place is full of good and bad people. Not only are there many concessions and foreign devils, but there are also countless powerful gangs entrenched in it. So unless you have to, don't show your skills easily!" He admonished the person in front of him earnestly, and seemed to be quite aware of the complicated situation in Shanghai.

After Wu Chunfeng left, Tian Mengxue came in to report on the intelligence in Hunan. She said, "I didn't expect that Zhang Jingyao's troops had such poor combat capabilities. An army of 70,000 was defeated by Tan Zuan and Zhao Hengti's several thousand southern troops, and even Changsha was lost. Zhao Hengti recruited the surrendered soldiers and quickly expanded his army to tens of thousands of people."

Di Xiong said solemnly, "Back then, the officers under Zhang Jingyao made a lot of money, but since they had money, they began to fear death! How could they win the battle like this? Those outsiders who didn't know the truth really thought that Tan Zuan and Zhao Hengti were particularly good at fighting! But in fact, the reason why Zhang Jingyao lost so badly was closely related to the gentry, common people and bandits in Hunan who opposed him! He has completely lost the support of the people now! His army was like a group of deaf and blind people when fighting, unable to hear or see anything! Tan Zuan's army, on the other hand, received support from local people everywhere, so how could they fight this battle? So, Zhang Jingyao's failure is a foregone conclusion!"

Tian Mengxue asked, "Does Tan Zuan have a good reputation in Hunan?"

Di Xiong said: "After the first governor of Hunan, Jiao Dafeng, was killed, he was the second governor. Of course, he was not as honest as Feng Jishan, but he was much better than Zhang Jingyao. The people of Hunan naturally supported him, provided intelligence and guidance for his southern army, and actively participated in his troops. Only then could he and Zhao Hengti create a record of defeating the enemy with fewer troops."

Tian Mengxue said: "Now the Southern Army has completely controlled Hunan Province. Originally, the Southern Army was most worried about the 16th Mixed Brigade. Now your sworn brother Feng Shenshan has also retreated from Changde to Hubei. When the 16th Mixed Brigade withdrew from Changde, Tan Zuan thanked Feng Jishan for considering the overall situation and retreating without fighting. He sent someone to give him 100,000 yuan in military expenses, but he actually refused and said that if he accepted the money, wouldn't he be the same kind of person as Wu Ziyu?"

Di Xiong shook his head helplessly, smiled bitterly and said: "My brother is too stubborn and pedantic! He is just a person who would rather suffer than save face! Hasn't he ever thought about it? Seeing that the army is already facing serious food shortages and lack of military pay, the situation is so difficult, what's wrong with accepting this money? After all, this money can solve urgent needs, so that the soldiers will not starve or freeze, and it can also ensure the normal operation of the army! But he treats money as dirt and insists on so-called principles and morality. It's really ridiculous!"

Tian Mengxue frowned and said, "Since he retreated to Hubei, the 16th Mixed Brigade has been in trouble! It is no longer like when they were stationed in Changde before, they can rely on taxes to make a living! The Beiyang Beijing government does not pay them at all! And the Hubei Governor Wang Zhanyuan is even worse, he didn't even lend them a little military pay! This is really a headache! Now this army has been short of food and military pay for three consecutive months! The soldiers can only eat two meals of porridge a day to fill their stomachs, how can they have the energy to participate in military training? Even some outstanding officers chose to leave the 16th Mixed Brigade because they couldn't stand such harsh conditions. Alas, it's really a pity!"

Di Xiong said: "Which officers are there?"

Tian Mengxue said: "They are all Wu Chunlei's former subordinates, Cao Fulin, Sun Lianzhong, Feng Zhian and more than 20 other officers. They usually keep in touch with Feng Anbang and Liu Ruming through letters. They are very jealous of them becoming the commanders of the group army, so they want to come and join you."

Di Xiong was shocked when he heard about Sun Lianzhong. Sun Lianzhong was the actual commander of the Battle of Taierzhuang! He came to join him. Who would fight in the Battle of Taierzhuang? Would he be the one to fight? When Sun Lianzhong fought in the Battle of Taierzhuang, his superior was Chang Guangtou. Di Xiong was not willing to be Chang Guangtou's subordinate, even in name only.

The forum of later generations evaluated Chang Guangtou's ten crimes. The biggest crime was to blow up the Yellow River dike at Huayuankou, which caused more than 800,000 people to drown and 12 million people to become disaster victims. At that time, most of the country fell into the hands of the Japanese invaders. The disaster victims had nowhere to go, and most of these people later died tragically on the way to escape. Chang Guangtou's reputation was really bad, so Di Xiong strongly agreed with Wang Jiuguang's later assassination of Chang Guangtou.

Di Xiong said to Tian Mengxue, "You should immediately send a telegram to the Wuhan Intelligence Group and ask them to stop Sun Lianzhong and his men from leaving Hubei Province. I will not accept them even if they come. Now is the most difficult time for Feng Jishan. How can he do such a treacherous thing? Lack of money and food is not a problem. Let Wuhan Dashengkui give them to them in the name of donation, and we will transfer the money to Dashengkui."

Tian Mengxue was stunned, then smiled and said, "Your attitude this time is completely different from last time! Last time Wu Chunlei brought more than a hundred officers and soldiers here, you were very happy to accept them. Why do you refuse now?"

Di Xiong said, "This time is different from last time. Last time, Beihai Lake, Outer Northeast, and Outer Northwest were not recovered, and the army was in urgent need of officers. Their arrival was a timely help. Now, except for Yingzhou Island, all other places have been recovered. After the baptism of war, a large number of excellent officers have also been produced. There is no shortage of officers. What are they doing here? Moreover, poaching your sworn brother's girlfriend is shameful if you do it once, so how can you do it a second time?"

In fact, what Di Xiong was most worried about was that once Cao Fulin and Sun Lianzhong left, it would trigger a domino effect, and other officers and soldiers would follow suit, and the 16th Mixed Brigade would completely collapse and disappear. You know, the 16th Mixed Brigade was the predecessor of the Northwest Army! Without the 16th Mixed Brigade, where would the Northwest Army come from? Without the Northwest Army, Di Xiong would be guilty of a great crime.

On the morning of July 10, in Chenjiaji Town, Hubei Province, regiment commander Song Zheyuan walked into the dilapidated meeting room of the 16th Mixed Brigade headquarters and unexpectedly heard Feng Jishen crying in the next room. He was shocked and hurriedly asked Captain Zhao of the guard company what was going on?

Captain Zhao sighed, "Cao Fulin, Sun Lianzhong, Feng Zhian, three battalion commanders, and more than 20 company commanders, deputy company commanders, and platoon leaders have all left. They left letters saying that they couldn't stand it anymore and joined the Black Flag Army. The brigade commander has spent so much effort to train them over the years! Isn't this a loss of his heart? How can he not be sad?"

The other two regiment commanders, Zhang Zhijiang and Li Mingzhong, also sat in the conference room and sighed. Li Mingzhong said, "At the beginning, Dashengkui Trading Company sent a check for 100,000 oceans. The brigade commander wanted to buy all the food and clothes to give to the Hunan refugees. The quartermaster Song Zhongliang wanted to keep 30,000 oceans for emergency use in the army, but he was severely scolded by the brigade commander and forced to spend all the money. Later, Tan Zuan gave him 100,000 oceans, but he didn't want a penny, saying that he couldn't be like Wu Ziyu. After Wu Ziyu received 600,000 oceans from the Southern Army, he managed everything and lived a more comfortable life than anyone else. Now all the brothers in the brigade are poor and destitute, and their hearts are scattered. At the beginning, the brigade commander pitied the Hunan refugees, but who will pity us now?"

Zhang Zhijiang looked at Song Zheyuan with a worried look on his face, and said in a heavy tone: "Just now, the brigade commander was so desperate that he even planned to submit a letter of resignation! Fortunately, after our earnest persuasion, he finally gave up the idea temporarily. However, after all, you and he are brothers-in-law. Compared with outsiders like us, it will definitely be easier and more effective for you as a relative to persuade him. So, I still have to trouble you to make a trip and give him some advice!"

Song Zheyuan sighed deeply, his heart filled with endless emotion and helplessness. He murmured to himself: "Is this the fate of an honest official who upholds integrity? If so, who will dare to be an honest official willingly in the future? Forget it... Let me go and persuade them!"

His voice revealed an indescribable fatigue and disappointment, as if he had lost faith in the world. However, despite the pain in his heart, Song Zheyuan still decided to personally persuade the other party.

Song Zheyuan walked into the next room.

At this time, Battalion Commander Zhang of the Training Battalion came in to report: "Report to Commander Zhang, Commander Li! Cao Fulin and his men are back. I ordered the soldiers in the battalion to tie them all up and wait for the brigade commander to decide their fate!"

Zhang Zhijiang was surprised and asked, "How many people came back?"

Captain Zhang said, "All 24 of them have returned, not one less. Cao Fulin said that they were not deserters, but went to Dashengkui Trading Company to borrow money and food. Now the money and food have been borrowed. One thousand tons of food and fifty thousand dollars will be delivered this afternoon."

Captain Zhao of the Guard Company immediately said, "You're lying! Do we need to go to 24 officers to borrow money and food? And how do you explain the letters that were left behind?"

Battalion Commander Zhang said, "Sun Lianzhong said that what was written in the letter was just angry words. The brigade commander has been so kind to them, how could they possibly leave him? Especially when the brigade commander is in the most difficult time."

Zhang Zhijiang laughed and said, "Sun Lianzhong is such a bullshitter. It's obvious that he was rejected when he tried to seek refuge with someone, so he came back in disgrace and is trying to deceive us with lies."

Li Mingzhong asked: "How do you know they were rejected? The Black Flag Army is thousands of miles away in Beihai Province, how could they know so quickly?"

Zhang Zhijiang said: "The Justice Party must have an intelligence group in Hubei. We will know it from a telegram. Dashengkui is the white glove of the Justice Party. Without Di Congmo's nod, why would Dashengkui lend us so much money and grain?"

Captain Zhang said, "Di Congmo is really loyal this time. He didn't accept everything like he did last time."

Zhang Zhijiang said to Battalion Commander Zhang: "You should report this good news to the brigade commander immediately. He is still sad!"