Chapter 34: A Nationwide Proclamation—The Chengyun Army Enters the Pass!

If these two major powers were allowed to continue their assault on Yuzhou, their military alliance would shatter the current state of isolated resistance, joining forces to advance straight along the railway toward Shuifang. At that point, the diminutive leader of Shuifang would have no choice but to flee to Xiangjiang.

Such an outcome was one the little man of Shuifang was determined to avoid at all costs.

With no options left, he pinned his hopes on the Chengyun faction’s army, which had been quietly lying in wait in Chengyun Province for the right moment.

San Laodeng had also realized how crucial the stance of Chengyun Province was to the overall situation and promptly dispatched envoys to negotiate there.

Now, every major power’s gaze was fixated on Chengyun Province.

In the midst of these tense developments, inside the Grand Marshal’s Mansion of Chengyun—

“Damn it! I never imagined that the situation on the Great Plain could change so dramatically in just one week!”

Upon hearing the latest reports from the front, Wang Lin was filled with shock and disbelief.

He could hardly accept that, in order to completely suppress the Shuifang faction, San Laodeng had actually chosen to form a strategic alliance with the Japanese.

Staring at the map, at the unstoppable combined army driving straight toward the heart of Shuifang, Wang Lin felt an acute sense of crisis well up within him.

If things continued as they were, the collapse of Shuifang was only a matter of time.

And once Shuifang fell, the next victim might well be himself!

“Father, Shuifang has sent another urgent telegram. As long as we’re willing to support them, they’re ready to meet any demand we make!”

“As the old saying goes, ‘When the lips are gone, the teeth feel the cold.’ If Shuifang falls, their next target will surely be us!”

“Therefore, as things stand, saving Shuifang is tantamount to saving ourselves!”

The core localist Xiao Erzi offered his suggestion in a heavy tone:

“For this reason, I strongly recommend we send our troops. San Laodeng has already redeployed most of his forces southward for combat.”

“We can seize this window, when their rear is at its weakest, to capture Oldping in one stroke and reverse the situation!”

Xiao Erzi’s plan was simple—while the enemy was busy lobbying foreign powers, they would act swiftly, form an alliance with Shuifang, and further sever the enemy’s external connections.

Before Wang Lin could respond, the reformist deputy Black Dragon River Governor, Chang Huai, immediately voiced strong opposition:

“Marshal, absolutely not. This plan is unworkable! With our strength, we could easily take Oldping.”

“But to annihilate San Laodeng’s main force entirely is nearly impossible.”

“Not to mention, we have no idea whether the Japanese troops stationed in Chengyunshun will intervene.”

“Even just the enemy’s and their ally’s counterattack capability is enough to give us a major headache!”

Xiao Erzi shot back undaunted: “So you intend to just watch San Laodeng hand the nation’s future to the Japanese? Traitor!”

“Damn you!” Chang Huai flushed red with anger. “Say that again, if you dare!”

“I’ll say it again—what of it?!”

Seeing the situation spiral toward chaos, Wang Lin finally lost patience and shouted:

“That’s enough! Quiet, all of you! Let me say a word!”

The room fell silent at once, all eyes turning to Wang Lin, everyone awaiting his final judgment.

Wang Lin cleared his throat, turned, and addressed Jiang Bai with a calm expression:

“Jiang Bai, I’ll leave this question to you. Share your view.”

At that moment, a system prompt sounded in Jiang Bai’s ear:

[Alert: Host is at a critical juncture. Please select the optimal solution!]

[Option One: Support the Chengyun Army’s entry—Reward: Three Marshal’s Star Draw Cards!]

[Option Two: Oppose the Chengyun Army’s entry—Reward: One German-Equipped Armored Division!]

Jiang Bai squinted slightly, weighing the options presented by the system.

In 190028, a German-equipped division would be a devastating force domestically.

But as Xiao Erzi pointed out, if they did nothing to check San Laodeng and the other warlords, they would be handing the nation to the Japanese.

Jiang Bai scanned the faces around him and began to speak slowly:

“First, we cannot simply stand by and let San Laodeng do as he pleases.”

“If we do, we’ll not only face his direct threat, but also bear the infamy of betraying the nation.”

“Hence, we must intervene militarily against San Laodeng.”

This brought some relief to the localists, though the reformists’ faces darkened.

Yet their joy was short-lived.

Jiang Bai then shifted the topic:

“However, we can’t take a hardline approach either. Shuifang’s potential for recovery is too great; the little man there could quickly regain his strength.”

This caused the localists’ smiles to freeze, while the reformists were left puzzled.

Wang Lin, in particular, was perplexed.

Jiang Bai’s reasoning seemed sound, but on closer examination, it was as if he’d said nothing at all.

As the atmosphere grew increasingly awkward, Wang Lin hurriedly urged him:

“Jiang Bai, stop beating around the bush. Just give us your conclusion!”

With everyone watching, Jiang Bai pointed to the map, smiling:

“Why don’t we consider taking Chahar?”

“Compared to the wealth of Jingjin and the defensibility of Jindi, most of Chahar, aside from its southern part, is relatively barren.”

“To San Laodeng, it’s almost worthless—nothing but a chicken rib, of little use except to constrain us.”

“But for us, Chahar is vitally important. As the province sharing the longest border with us, San Laodeng’s mobile forces there can strike deep into our territory at any moment.”

“If we seize the northern part of Chahar now, we’ll not only eliminate San Laodeng’s direct threat, but also free up large numbers of troops—leaving only a small force to hold Changcheng would suffice.”

“With his strained manpower, San Laodeng won’t divert forces to recover a patch of land he barely values.”

“At the same time, we’d earn Shuifang’s gratitude and reap certain benefits.”

Jiang Bai paused, then looked around with a smile.

“That’s my entire proposal. I wonder what you all think of this strategy?”

No sooner had Jiang Bai finished than the reformists and localists exchanged glances, each seeing shock in the other’s eyes.

For the reformists, this strategy not only resolved Chengyun Province’s biggest western defense problem, but also avoided a full-scale confrontation with San Laodeng, lessening the risk of provoking outside powers. This was an outcome they could only welcome.

So Chang Huai stepped forward and said to Wang Lin:

“Marshal, I support Commander Jiang’s view!”

For the localist faction, should this strategy succeed, Chengyun’s frontline troops would directly threaten the key transport fortress of Wangkou, held by the Jin faction.

San Laodeng would be forced to rapidly redeploy his garrison, locking horns with the Chengyun faction along the Changcheng Line.

If he lacked sufficient manpower, Chengyun could easily push past Changcheng and advance deep into southern Chahar.

On the other hand, if San Laodeng’s forces were adequate, Chengyun would still effectively pin them down, winning Shuifang’s support and gratitude.

This was already the best outcome the localist officers could hope for.