In January 1928, the principal returned and resumed his duties as commander of the Northern Expeditionary Army. In the same month, Li Delin appointed Bai Jiansheng as the commander-in-chief of the expedition to Hunan and launched an attack on Hunan Province. After two months of fierce fighting, Bai Jiansheng invaded Tanzhou and annexed Tang Mande's troops. The Guangxi clique's strength reached 200,000.
Subsequently, the principal was elected as the Chairman of the Political Committee and the Military Committee. In April, the Northern Expeditionary Army was reorganized into four armies. The principal served as commander-in-chief and commander of the First Army. Feng Jishan, Yan Baichuan, and Li Delin served as commanders of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Army respectively. , 4 group armies, totaling more than 700,000 people.
On April 7, Chiang Kai-shek pledged his allegiance to the Northern Expedition in Pengcheng and issued the order for a general offensive. The armies from all directions set out at the same time and headed towards Peiping.
The four group armies had more than 700,000 troops and were strong. The Fengcian warlords were no match. After two months of fierce fighting, Zhang Yuting was forced to withdraw from Peiping on June 3.
On June 4, Zhang Yuting was killed by Xiaori when he passed Huanggutun Station on his way back to Fengtian.
On July 1, the young marshal switched on power, stopped the war, and started negotiations with the Jinling government.
At the end of 1928, the Marshal issued a telegram announcing the change of flag in Northeast China. At this point, two years after the Northern Expedition of the Principal's group, the country was finally formally unified.
On January 23, 1928, the Spring Festival, Zhang Yunhan held a high-level gathering of the Northwest Army in the office of the Northwest Military Government in Jincheng. Speaking of high-level people, they are basically system soldiers, but system soldiers are also human beings, and Zhang Yunhan will not treat them differently.
"Yuntai did a good job. He took Qing Province in 10 days and played a good leading role for us."
Zhang Yunhan raised his wine glass as he spoke.
Zhang Yuntai quickly stood up and made a toast: "Commander, this is mainly because you have a clear goal, and your rule is stable and supported by the people. Without your support, how can I take credit?"
"Hahaha, I'm just praising you for leading troops to fight. I'm indeed not as good as you. Of course I will be rewarded for my merit, but now is not the time. I will arrange for someone to record the files and wait until the Great Northwest is pacified. It will not be too late to reward you then. .”
Everyone nodded, and after eating for more than an hour, Lu Bohan said to Zhang Yunhan: "Commander-in-Chief, after the year our army takes over Ning Province, are there any other combat goals next?"
Lu Bohan is a soldier. What do soldiers think about? Of course it is a war. If there is no war, where will the merits come from? How can he be promoted without fighting? Although he is now the chief of staff, wasn't Zhang Yuntai the chief of staff before? You have to do something practical.
"Right now, we can't develop eastward, so we only have room for development in Mongolia and Xinjiang provinces. Of course, we can also go south. However, our army's next goal is to develop the three provinces of Qingnan, Gansu and Ningxia, and also expand the army. Therefore, there will be no external expansion war this year. Of course, if the enemy comes to fight, we will not be ambiguous."
"Director Lu, we will dispatch government personnel to Qing Province in the next year. Our army is expanding rapidly and there is a shortage of government personnel. We will use those who can be used by the previous people. As for those who are corrupt, my intelligence bureau is not a vegetarian."
"After the year, the new 5th Division will be stationed in Qing Province to carry out anti-bandit work. Zhiyuan, I don't want to hear about bandits operating under my rule."
"Don't worry, Commander-in-Chief, I will definitely handle it properly." Ma Zhiyuan immediately stood up and saluted in reply.
Zhang Yunhan waved his hand: "Sit down, today is a party, this matter has come to this point, just say this, don't stand up all the time."
"Zhang Hong, I will send you Li Yi's 2nd Brigade to help you defend Longdong. This is where our army started. It has some industrial foundation. Don't make any mistakes."
"Understood! The enemy can't get in while we are here."
"Wang Chengwu, Commander Wang, the 3rd Division will march into Ning Province in a few years. The enemy's main forces are basically in the Phoenix area. They must be wiped out. If the troops are insufficient, go to Commander Qiu. It's up to you to attack Ning Province. I only ask for one thing. It’s okay, don’t let me get away!”
"Make sure to complete the mission."
"Um."
"Liu Jun's 4th Division is stationed near Jincheng to prepare for Sichuan Province's troops and to fight bandits. Commander Li of the 1st Division arranged for a regiment to go west with Wu Qi's 3rd Brigade to occupy Shazhou and Suzhou."
"After arriving in various places, establish militia groups and reclaim wasteland. Our army's territory is too big now, but it is not a wealthy place, so it must develop quickly and stably. The militia groups in various places report to the military headquarters. Each group has 1,000 people. It is planned to establish 30 militia groups. Around this time, the military department will make a plan. The militia soldiers must be well trained so that they can farm during the farming season and be able to fight during the war as reserve soldiers for the main force."
"In addition, we will arrange for all smart soldiers to go to Jincheng Driving School to obtain driver's licenses. In the future, our army will be reorganized into a mechanized infantry division. I plan to equip the army with a large number of military trucks. In addition, I will also plan to recruit tank drivers, so this matter is very important. "
"Before the end of the year, each ministry will expand again and train 100,000 troops."
We originally had a good meal, but later on, everyone took out their notebooks and started recording. Zhang Yunhan talked a lot. The military aspect is to capture Ning Province, expand the army, pay fees, prepare for reorganization, and establish a militia.
In terms of government affairs, it means building roads, building factories, development, development.
At the end of January 1928, people had a good year. This was mainly due to the policies of the northwest military government. Zhang Yunhan used millions of dollars from the sale of arms and systematic food to finally reluctantly provide food to Gan and Qing provinces, mainly cities and towns. Nearby residents distributed a batch of food and set up relief points in major cities.
For many people who had no shelter, the government also arranged military tents.
When Zhang Yunhan's troops entered Jincheng from Longdong and reached Xiping, what the people were thinking was, what is this new boss like? Isn't it another hungry wolf that eats people?
There were more soldiers when I saw them. At first, the government officials and soldiers did not get much good treatment. Until they saw the government officials put a bag of food at his door, and the soldiers arrested the gangsters who were doing evil in the city, the people started to pay attention. Support the new government and the new army.
At the end of January, Qiu Ziwen arranged for Wang Chengwu's 3rd Division to march urgently along the highway in the Haiyuan area and approach Phoenix City. Liu Jun's 4th Division went north from the Yan Great Wall near the Five Buddha Temple.
Ma Hongkui didn't know that Zhang Yunhan had already captured Qing Province. Ma Qi fell off his horse when he was arrested because of his old age. He died after being rescued. Ma Bufang and his brother were arrested. , closed in prison.
February 7, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, was a great day. The sound of gunfire resounded throughout Phoenix City. Wang Chengwu's 3rd Division was galloping all the way. When it was 13 kilometers away from Phoenix City, the news reached Phoenix City. Ma Hongkui was shocked. , quickly commanded the troops to prepare to occupy the city and defend it. Who would have thought that the 4th division behind them did not follow martial ethics and directly exploded.
Ma Hongkui's troops had no time to resist and entered the stage of street fighting. However, anyone familiar with Ma Hongkui knew that his men were all good at running away and were unwilling to fight.
With no other choice, Ma Hongkui took his family and ran away in a hurry. They were caught up in the Yanchi area. Ma Hongkui was shot several times and died on the spot. One of his sons was missing.
