Under the night sky of Fengxiang City, a full moon hangs high, sprinkling a faint light. Beneath these ancient walls, an unprecedented decision is brewing. Song Zheyuan, a patriotic general who rose to prominence in the flames and smoke of war, is facing a choice that may go down in history.
His brow was tightly knit, and the military order in his hand was like a heavy stone, pressing on his heart. In front of him were 5,000 captives of Dang Yukun, each of whom was a living being, each with its own story.
It was a dark and windy night, a time of life and death, justice and sin. Why would the patriotic general Song Zheyuan rather bear the charges of the ages than make this difficult choice? On the land of Shaanxi, the situation has changed abruptly, and a story of courage, wisdom and sacrifice is slowly unfolding ......
In the early days of the Northern Expedition, Feng Yuxiang distinguished himself on the Chinese military stage with his shrewd military acumen. Against the backdrop of wars raging across the country, Feng Yuxiang faced not only the pressure of the enemy army, but also the intricate game of interests between various factions within the country. In such an environment, Feng Yuxiang's decision was obviously well thought out.
When the horn of the Northern Expeditionary Army first sounded, the eyes of the whole country were focused on this major event. Feng Yuxiang, as a military strategist who is well versed in the art of war and is proficient in strategy, will naturally not miss this historical opportunity. But his strategy is not a head-to-head confrontation, but a more subtle and flexible approach.
He ordered Dang Yukun to lead a team to Wuhan to participate in the operation against Beiyang**. However, this is only a gesture of outwardness, a symbolic participation in politics. When Dang Yukun's troops set off, the soldiers were firm in their footsteps and neatly armed and equipped, and this team looked undoubtedly Feng Yuxiang's main force.
However, at the end of the road in the direction of Wuhan, what awaits them is not a fierce battle, but a temporary, ostensible participation. And Feng Yuxiang's real main force was arranged to be more secretive.
In Baoji, Feng Yuxiang's lair, everything seems to be calm, but in fact, this is the center of Feng Yuxiang's strategy. Baoji is located in the western part of Shaanxi Province, with a superior geographical location, and is a traffic artery connecting the northwest and southwest.
Here, Feng Yuxiang's troops did not travel lightly as the outside world showed, but were deployed more closely. Soldiers are trained more rigorously, their equipment is kept in the best condition, and the entire unit is ready to respond to any eventuality that may arise.
As the power of the National Revolutionary Army grew stronger, Shaanxi became the focal point of the conflict. Feng Yuxiang, as the military leader who controls the Shaanxi region, is under increasing pressure. He was keenly aware that if he did not act, control of the entire Shaanxi region could slip out of his hands. In this context, Feng Xiang, controlled by Dang Yukun, became a thorn in Feng Yuxiang's side.
Feng Yuxiang did not intend to sit idly by, he decided to send his trusted general Song Zheyuan to Fengxiang to carry out the task of suppressing bandits. Song Zheyuan, an experienced and brave general, did not hesitate to Feng Yuxiang's orders, quickly organized his troops, and marched towards Fengxiang. However, he did not expect that the battle would be so difficult and long.
Beginning in May 1928, Song Zheyuan's troops and Dang Yukun's forces engaged in a fierce confrontation outside Fengxiang City. The two sides have come and gone, and the battle is extremely fierce. Although Fengxiang City is not large, its walls are strong, the defenders are tenacious, and every inch of land is fully defended.
Although Dang Yukun's troops were small in number, each soldier fought until the last moment, and their familiarity with the terrain and their adherence to Fengxiang caused Song Zheyuan's attack to be repeatedly frustrated. As time passed, the number of Song Zheyuan's troops continued to rise. Every attack was accompanied by great sacrifices, and the lives of the soldiers burned one by one in the flames of war.
Until August, despite the continuous reinforcements of Song Zheyuan's troops and the continuous experimentation of various tactics, Fengxiang City still stood tall. Although the Dang Yukun troops in the city also suffered heavy losses, their defenses were as firm as hard rocks.
Song Zheyuan faced not only the obstruction of the city wall, but also the huge psychological and material pressure brought about by the war. Every report from the front is a severe test of his military talent. Every time the troops were **, Song Zheyuan felt deep pressure, but he did not choose to retreat, but constantly adjusted his tactics in an attempt to find an opportunity to break the city.
When Song Zheyuan stood outside Fengxiang City, witnessing one attack after another being repulsed mercilessly, he realized that traditional siege tactics would not work here. The soldiers' ** made every offensive plan seem heavy.
At this time, an elderly staff officer approached Song Zheyuan, and a glint flashed in his eyes: "General, we need to change our strategy and use our wisdom, not just courage. Song Zheyuan was silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke: "What are your plans?" ”
The staff officer replied in a low voice: "Authentic, General." We can secretly dig tunnels under the cover of night and extend the battlefield to the city. Song Zheyuan pondered for a moment, then nodded, a hint of determination flashed in his eyes. The plan, while fraught with risks, may be the only way to break the deadlock in this stalemate.
As night fell, a team of carefully selected soldiers began their mission. They dug in the darkness outside the city walls, only the moonlight to show them the way. As time passed, this tunnel got closer and closer to Fengxiang City. The soldiers avoided all sounds that might attract attention, and every movement of earth digging was cautious for fear of alerting the enemy in the city.
After weeks of hard work, the tunnel is finally nearing completion. Song Zheyuan looked at the captain in charge of excavation at the entrance of the tunnel, and the captain whispered, "General, everything is ready." ”Song Zheyuan nodded, he knew the risks of this plan, but he also knew that victory was often born from the wisdom and courage of the brave.
He gave the final order: "Prepare gunpowder and wait for my signal." "In the early morning of September 5, 1928, at the foot of the city walls, a large amount of gunpowder was quietly placed in the tunnels. The sun shone down through the clouds, and Song Zheyuan knew that it was time. He took a deep breath and nodded in the direction of the tunnel. With a small movement, the lead is ignited.
At that moment, time seemed to freeze. Immediately after, a huge roar resounded through the sky, shaking everyone's hearts. The ground of Fengxiang City began to shake, followed by the collapse of large swaths of land and city walls. Dang Yukun and his subordinates were completely caught off guard, and the city was in chaos.
The gap in the city wall was like a victory gate opening to Song Zheyuan. He waved the sword in his hand and commanded in a loud voice: "Charge!" For the victory, for the fallen soldiers! The soldiers rushed into the city with a shout, stepping on the crumbling ground with every step. Fighting continued in every corner of the city, and every street became the site of heroic battles.
The streets of the city have become the battleground of fierce battles. Although Dang Yukun's subordinates were caught off guard, they still resisted stubbornly, and every alley became the scene of fierce confrontation between soldiers on both sides. The battles are brutal, with ambushes at every corner and new battlefields at every house. Song Zheyuan's troops, with a strong offensive and firm determination, gradually suppressed the resistance of the enemy army.
After a series of fierce battles, Fengxiang City was finally completely occupied. Dang Yukun's forces were crushed in this sudden attack, and a large number of soldiers were captured. When the dust settled, Song Zheyuan stood on the city walls and looked out over the once fortified city, where his troops managed to capture more than 5,000 prisoners of war.
However, this victory did not bring the joy and celebration after the conventional war. Song was faced with a difficult choice - what to do with these prisoners of war. As is customary in warfare, prisoners of war are usually taken in or released. But these prisoners of war were not ordinary soldiers, and they had caused great harm to the local people under the leadership of Dang Yukun.
Plundering, burning, and doing all kinds of evil, their atrocities have brought untold suffering to this land and innocent people. In this case, Song Zheyuan must make a decision. He knows that any choice will come with significant consequences.
In the end, considering the brutality of these bandits and the deep damage they had done to the people, Song Zheyuan made a difficult decision - to execute all 5,000 prisoners of war. The decision quickly spread among the soldiers. Although this was a cruel order, Song Zheyuan's soldiers all understood that this war was not only a contest between armies, but also a confrontation between justice and **.
For those prisoners of war who once acted recklessly and harmed the people under the hands of Dang Yukun, this is not only the price of their crimes, but also the mourning and respect for those innocent victims. When the time came to execute the order, the sky of Fengxiang City was shrouded in a heavy haze. The soldiers, as ordered, brought the more than 5,000 prisoners of war to the designated place.
There are no superfluous words, no complicated rituals, everything is so calm and decisive. It is a reckoning with the sins of the past and a promise of peace in the future. On this day, Fengxiang City witnessed the cruel side of history. Although Song Zheyuan's decision has brought countless controversies and discussions, it does mark a new chapter in Fengxiang City and this land.
Since then, Dang Yukun's power has been completely eradicated, and this land will never be ravaged by them again. Although the price is heavy, the dawn of justice and peace is finally slowly rising in this war-torn land.
Song Zheyuan's decision caused huge ripples in the long river of history. His name is closely associated with this action, and has become the focus of controversy and discussion in Shaanxi and the whole country.
This decision brought about two consequences: on the one hand, it did bring Song Zheyuan infamy through the ages, and many people condemned and puzzled this extreme way of dealing with it; On the other hand, it completely eliminated the power of Dang Yukun and laid the foundation for long-term peace in Shaanxi and the wider region.
With the implementation of this decision, the public security situation in Shaanxi as a whole began to undergo significant changes. Dang Yukun's remnants and other bandit forces felt the weight of power in Song Zheyuan's hands. Some bandits who were once unscrupulous and rampant in the countryside began to rein in their edge and no longer dared to openly cause rebellion.
Under Song Zheyuan's iron-fisted policy, the smoky Shaanxi ushered in a long-lost Qingming and order. Song Zheyuan's action not only affected the local law and order, but also had a profound impact on the political landscape of the entire region. Under his strong rule, the bandit forces that once dominated the local area had to reconsider their positions and actions.
Many forces that had relied on force and acted recklessly began to seek a peaceful way to avoid being severely attacked by Song Zheyuan. Although Song's decision caused widespread controversy at the time, people began to see more of its positive impact as time went on.
The people of Shaanxi began to enjoy the long-lost peace and order, and their lives were no longer threatened by banditry. Business travel became safer, and economic activity was restored and developed, all thanks to Song Zheyuan's courage to take decisive measures.
Modern Chinese History
* Tales of Warlords