Warlords: Rising from the Northwest Border and Sweeping Across the Powers

Chapter 221: The Fall of the 8-Corner City and the Destruction of the Zhao and Han Clan

On the northeastern Haizhou border, the Battle of Bajiaocheng lasted for six days. In this battle, the Fuso side demonstrated an extremely determined and crazy offensive posture.

The nine Class A divisions, including Suzuki, Shokaku, Umekawa, Mitsui, and Yamamoto, were in the main attack on the front, and the four Class B divisions were responsible for logistics and battlefield support in the rear. The Kwantung Army assembled a total of thirteen divisions and more than 170,000 combat troops in the battle, with the momentum to swallow the Fifth Army of the Northeast Army in one fell swoop.

The entire Bajiao City within a radius of 100 miles was a battlefield. The nearby villages, the Northeastern Army's fortifications, defensive positions, including the entire Bajiao City, were almost reduced to ruins by the continuous artillery fire. The Northeastern Army also showed its bravery in this battle.

The entire Fifth Army, with a combat force of more than 100,000 people, fought off Fuso's wave after wave of devastating offensives and almost completely crippled the enemy's four Class A divisions, demonstrating the resilience of the Chinese army and the passion of the Northeastern men.

Unfortunately, the Northeast Jiang faction was ultimately unable to compete with the main force of the Kwantung Army, which was as ferocious as a jackal.

Six days later, Bajiaocheng fell, and the Fifth Army was left with only less than 10,000 remnants of troops, which evacuated from Bajiaocheng to Songjiang City in the north-central part of Haizhou.

The Northeastern Army's Fourth Army stationed in Quanzhou had to send troops to rescue and assist the remnants of the Fifth Army to build a defense line around Songjiang City again.

As the commander-in-chief of the Northeastern Army, Jiang Yanlin, also known as Jiang Dapao, personally rushed to the front line of the battlefield during the Battle of Bajiaocheng. Despite being seriously injured, he was forcibly evacuated under the protection of his own guards.

After a short rest, the Fuso Kwantung Army once again rushed towards Matsue City, south of Bajiao City.

At the same time, the two Class A divisions also began to send troops towards Quanzhou in the northeast, southwest of Linzhou. The Northeast Army, which had lost Linzhou, was once again facing an extremely severe test.

"Extraordinary! The situation in the Northeast is unfavorable. Bajiao City has been lost. Northeast Governor Jiang Yanlin is seriously injured!"

"Extra! The Northeastern Army was defeated! The Fuso Kwantung Army is about to march south and enter the country!"

The latest news about the situation in Northeast China has been spreading across the country, and major newspapers and media have been competing to report on it. While 900 million Chinese people are worried about the situation in Northeast China, they are also indignant about the decision of Huang Guangtai of the Southern Government to insist on the Northern Expedition despite the invasion of foreign enemies.

And just today, the Northwest Revolutionary Army ended the tug-of-war with the Zhao clique and officially announced that it had taken over the entire Ganzhou. The Zhao clique, including Zhao Zhiyuan and his three sons, all became prisoners of the Northwest Revolutionary Army. The Zhao clique, which once enjoyed great glory in Ganzhou, has now completely become history.

In the entire Linzhou vicinity, only the Korean brands in Yongzhou are still struggling to survive.

"Governor, do we need to escort the Zhao family back to Linzhou to await your disposal?"

Listening to Tang Yuanfei's voice coming from the phone, Su Zhengyang said firmly: "No need, don't spare any of the Zhao family, young or old! If you follow Zhang Chengxiang and become a traitor, you must be prepared to pay the price!"

After finishing the call with Su Zhengyang, Tang Yuanfei said to Wang Xiangdong, who had been promoted to the chief of staff of the Third Army, "The governor has ordered that no one in the Zhao family should be spared."

Wang Xiangdong nodded. He had a deep understanding of the ruthlessness and decisiveness of his brother-in-law.

In Heishui City, the capital of Ganzhou, there was a sky prison built by the Zhao family specifically to detain serious criminals. Forty or fifty people from the Zhao family were all locked up in it, and the sound of crying could be heard from time to time.

Wang Xiangdong walked into the dungeon and glanced at Zhao Zhiyuan, who was slumped on the wet ground and seemed to have aged ten years overnight. He ordered the soldiers guarding the dungeon, "Take the entire Zhao family to the execution ground and execute them all!"

In the cell, Zhao Zhiyuan was trembling all over, crawling and holding onto the iron bars of the cell, and said in panic, "Don't kill me! I am willing to resign and give all the wealth that the Zhao family has accumulated over the years. Please, let my Zhao family live."

Wang Xiangdong glanced at Zhao Zhiyuan with disdain.

"Do you think that you can take the Zhao family away and live the life of a rich man somewhere just by sending a telegram to resign? You think you can get away with it as easily as before after falling into the hands of our Northwest Revolutionary Army? It's just a foolish dream! From the moment you decided to unite with Zhang Chengxiang and his gang to rebel against Northern Xinjiang, the fate of your Zhao family was already determined!"

Zhao Zhiyuan looked at Wang Xiangdong unwillingly. After a moment of silence, he begged again: "My five grandchildren, the oldest is only ten years old, can you let them go and leave a legacy for the Zhao family!"

"The Governor has issued a strict order! No one in the Zhao family should be spared, not even a dog. You'd better give up on this idea."

Wang Xiangdong was too lazy to continue entangled with Zhao Zhiyuan. No matter how he begged and kowtowed, he left without looking back, leaving behind a back that made Zhao Zhiyuan feel despair.

"Su Zhengyang! I won't let you go even if I become a ghost! Our entire Zhao family is waiting to meet you in the underworld!"

Zhao Zhiyuan was crying like a madman and laughing hysterically.

"You are about to die, so be quiet. If you dare to speak rudely to the Governor again, I don't mind making you suffer a little before you are sent to the execution ground!"

At three o'clock in the afternoon, dozens of members of the Zhao family were taken to the execution ground with pale faces. Zhao Zhiyuan, who had been entrenched in Ganzhou for nearly fifteen years, finally ended his life at the age of 63.

Because of his wrong decision to join forces with Zhang Chengxiang and Fuso, the entire Zhao family will be nailed to the pillar of shame in the future and will be infamous for eternity.

In Yuzhou City, in the Governor's Mansion, Han Jiwang was staring at the photo frame on the wall with a dazed look on his face, his eyes full of complicated expressions.

The news that the Zhao family in Ganzhou was defeated and the entire family was executed had already reached Han Jiwang's ears.

Su Zhengyang sent a telegram to the entire Northern Frontier with a clear attitude. Anyone who stood on the united front with the traitor Zhang Chengxiang, intending to overthrow the Northern Frontier regime and invite foreign enemies to invade, would be a sinner of China for all eternity. The Northwest Revolutionary Army would take up their weapons and eradicate all traitorous forces.

On the main roads of Yuzhou City, countless students, workers, and people of all kinds and occupations, holding banners and shouting slogans "Down with the traitor Han Jiwang", marched continuously in the streets.

At this point, Han Jiwang has completely lost the support of the people, and the entire Han family is about to fall into the abyss.

Looking back on his life, Han Jiwang revealed a look of deep regret in his eyes. He had fought in battles with Yang Jiakai and was one of the most experienced elders in the Northern Xinjiang government. He was respected by everyone. However, because of his greed and hatred for Su Zhengyang, the Han faction is facing its current situation.

Suddenly, a shell hit the Governor's Mansion. The deafening explosion woke Han Jiwang up completely.

"Governor, it's bad. The commander of the Ninth Army, Hou Qingnan, has announced his surrender to the Northwest Revolutionary Army and is now leading his troops to attack the Governor's Office!"

Han Xiwang collapsed on the sofa, exhausted.

"Get out! I want to be alone for a while."