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

Chapter 352: Ma Jingze raises an army and Lu Yongan suppresses the rebellion

"There is no time to lose. Commander Ma can go straight to Suiye City under the banner of eliminating traitors and sacrificing relatives for the greater good. The news of Ma Changfang's collusion with Fusang has spread, and the people of the entire Xiazhou despise it. If Commander Ma raises an army now, it can be said that one call will attract a hundred responses and it will follow the will of heaven."

Ma Jingze pondered, "It would be difficult to achieve great things if I only rely on the Sixth Army in my hands, even if I add the well-equipped Guard Division. Once I start the army, the commander-in-chief of the First Army, Lu Yongan, will be the first to attack me. In addition, He Liao of the Second Army is also not an easy person to deal with. Now that the old thief Ma Changfang is dead, everyone is eyeing the Ma family's property. There are wolves all around. What should I do?"

Pang Hai pretended to be profound and said, "I have already made arrangements in advance. Commander Ma does not need to worry. Besides, the more chaotic Xiazhou is, the less threat it will pose to the Northern Frontier government. What Su Zhengyang is afraid of is that the Xiazhou army will unite and start an uprising. As long as we can demonstrate our value, Su Zhengyang will never watch us perish easily. Who knows, he may take the initiative to contact us and provide support."

Ma Jingze nodded and said, "Then it all depends on you, sir, to control the overall situation."

"We will raise troops early tomorrow morning and take Suiye City! The Ma family's kingdom should have belonged to my father. Ma Changfang, that old man, would rather let his heavy-smoking son inherit the family business than hand over the Ma family to me. It's really abominable. In this case, I will take everything I want myself!"

In the next four or five days, the entire Xiazhou was in complete chaos, just as Su Zhengyang had expected. First, Ma Changfang's nephew Ma Jingze, under the banner of sacrificing relatives for the greater good, directly sent troops, and with the cooperation of the Suiye City Guard Division, he captured the capital of Xiazhou without bloodshed.

Afterwards, in front of the entire city's citizens, he executed his cousin, the opium addict Ma Jingtian, in public, and even spared Mrs. Ma, who was seriously ill.

As soon as Ma Jingze captured Suiye City, the commander-in-chief of the First Army, Lu Yongan, responded. While guarding against the Second Army stationed in the northwest of Xiazhou, he raised the banner of suppressing the rebellion and dispatched the Fifth Army to launch a fierce offensive like a tide against the counties and cities around Suiye City.

The entire Xiazhou suddenly fell into war. In the middle of the night, a special force wearing the uniform of the First Army raided Dangyang County, where the Second Army was stationed, and destroyed a regiment-level force stationed in Dangyang County on the spot. As a result, He Liao, who had originally planned to stay out of the matter and reap the benefits, was forced to join in. Pang Hai had already arranged an insider, the only surviving deputy commander of the 762nd Regiment, claimed that it was Lu Yongan's direct troops that attacked Dangyang County.

Northwest of Xiazhou, in Black Rock City, at the Second Army Headquarters, the generals of the Xiazhou Army’s Second Army gathered together.

"Everyone, what do you think about Lu Yongan's direct troops' surprise attack on Dangyang County?"

One of the major generals of the army, Chang Deguang, the commander of the 16th Division of the Second Army, said angrily, "Lu Yongan clearly doesn't take our Second Army seriously. Damn it, everyone knows that Lu Yongan has coveted Dangyang County, a strategic location, for a long time. Governor Ma just passed away, and Lu Yongan has begun to exclude dissidents. This is simply unreasonable."

The regimental-level troops that were destroyed were Chang Deguang's direct troops, so Chang Deguang was most excited and angry at this time.

"Damn it, everyone in Xiazhou has always known that our Second Army was raised by a stepmother. Our equipment and soldiers were all left over by Lu Yongan. When facing the arrogant First Army, our Second Army could only endure it. This time, Lu Yongan went too far. Commander, I think we must send troops to teach them a lesson!"

The chief of staff of the Second Army also spoke up at this time: "Ma Jingze's Sixth Army under Lu Yongan has openly rebelled. Now the First Army only has two army-level units, less than 60,000 troops. Our Second Army is well-rested and waiting for the opportunity. If we send troops now, we have a 60% chance of directly destroying the First Army and taking over the entire Xiazhou."

He Liao, who was tall and had a mustache, frowned and said, "Lu Yongan's brother, Lu Yongtai, is currently leading a well-equipped and highly combat-capable border garrison corps of 70,000 troops stationed in the southeast of Xiazhou. If we move lightly and the border garrison corps moves north, Lu Yongan is likely to turn his guns around and eliminate our Second Army, which is a major threat to him. In terms of hard power, we are no match for Lu Yongan."

"Commander, should we wait and see until Lu Yongan captures Ma Jingze, will he let us go? We have a long-standing grudge against Lu Yongan's faction. Even if we do nothing, Lu Yongan will definitely kill us all. In my opinion, the disaster in Dangyang County this time is Lu Yongan testing our attitude. If we don't give any response and continue to swallow our anger, wouldn't it make our Second Army look weak and vulnerable!"

“Commander! What I mean is that we can send someone to contact Ma Jingze. Only by working together can we gain a glimmer of hope for survival under Lu Yongan!”

After weighing the pros and cons in his mind, He Liao finally made the decision.

"Okay, let's do as you said. Lao Kang, you immediately send someone to contact Ma Jingze so that we can form an offensive and defensive alliance!"

"Chang Deguang! Shen Changqing, the two of you will immediately lead the 762,763nd and rd divisions to launch a counterattack against Dangyang County!"

"This time, I'm going to have a good fight with Lu Yongan! Let him know that it's not that our Second Army doesn't have the strength to fight, but that we don't want to fight. If our Second Army really gets angry, no one can stand it!"

Two days later, the Second Army and Ma Jingze successfully reached an offensive and defensive alliance. The 8th Army of the Second Army, like a tiger descending from the mountain, launched a fierce offensive from behind Lu Yongan's First Army. Lu Yongan's younger brother Lu Yongtai, led the border garrison corps northward. The entire central area of ​​Xiazhou was in a state of complete chaos. Multiple combat units were intertwined and the killing was fierce.

Beilong City, Su Mansion.

"Governor, the chess pieces we planted have played a decisive role. Now the entire Xiazhou has fallen into the flames of war. It is difficult to determine the winner in the short term. Under this circumstance, the Xiazhou army cannot pose any threat to the northern border."

Su Zhengyang put down the brush in his hand, looked at Fu Jiang and said, "What's going on with the Qu Clan in Huzhou?"

"Qu Chen has already begun gathering his troops and is ready to send troops to Ganzhou at any time. He is clamoring that if his father Qu Guowei is not released, he will directly rebel against Northern Xinjiang."

Su Zhengyang sneered, "Just like his father Qu Guowei, they are all brainless reckless men. Send a message to the Viking Division and the Storm Assault Division. If Qu Chen crosses the line, beat him hard until the Huzhou Army is crippled and scared, and the entire Huzhou is taken over!"