Southern guerrilla warfare: I led the Red Seventh Army Corps to amassed a million troops.

Lishui was the location of the headquarters of the First Column of the Fujian-Zhejiang Bandit Suppression Team.

This temporary command post, located in the old government office, has been bustling with activity for days, and the ticking of the telegraph room has been almost constant.

Yu Jishi sat in his office on the second floor, clutching a telegram in his hand, his brow furrowed.

Outside the window are the scattered eaves of Lishui City and the distant, bluish-gray mountain shadows.

The city is bisected by a large river, making it convenient for both water and land transportation. It connects to northern Fujian in the south and Jinhua in the north, making its strategic location extremely important.

But at this moment, this geographical advantage has become a heavy burden in Yu Jishi's eyes.

Just then, a steady footstep sounded outside the door.

The curtain was lifted, and a square-faced military officer walked in.

Sun Yuanliang, a graduate of the first class of the Whampoa Military Academy, was the commander of the 88th Division of the National Revolutionary Army.

Despite forging an indissoluble bond with Nanchang during the Northern Expedition, he was jokingly called "Flying General" by his colleagues in the army.

However, during the January 28 Incident in 1932, he led his troops in a counterattack against the Japanese army and won a great victory.

This battle solidified his position in the army, and he successfully took over as commander of the 88th Division during Yu Jishi's retirement due to illness.

He walked in, saluted Yu Jishi, and sat down without greeting him.

"Commander, Nanchang has not approved our request for reinforcements?"

Yu Jishi's lips twitched slightly. "Approved, but trouble is on its way."

Sun Yuanliang was slightly taken aback.

He had worked with Yu Jishi for quite some time and knew his superior's temperament well: concise, straightforward, and never exaggerating.

"How many were approved?"

"Two divisions in total."

Sun Yuanliang's expression relaxed a bit. "Isn't this a good thing? Why are you looking so worried?"

Yu Jishi handed over the telegram he was holding.

Sun Yuanliang took it and looked down at it.

He looked very carefully, his gaze moving down line by line.

At first, it wasn't a big deal, but when I got to the middle, my brows started to furrow.

By the time he turned to the second page, the smile on his face had completely vanished.

"Why did the principal transfer Commander Wei's reserve force to us? Won't Commander Wei hold a grudge against us for this?"

Yu Jishi shook his head. "No, it won't happen."

Sun Yuanliang looked enlightened: "Oh, you mean Commander Wei is magnanimous and won't take this to heart?"

Yu Jishi picked up the teacup, found it was completely cold, and put it down, his expression somewhat strange.

"I mean, he'll only hold a grudge against me, it has nothing to do with you."

Sun Yuanliang breathed a sigh of relief.

But the quick-witted man realized what was happening in just 0.5 seconds. He immediately adopted an indignant expression.

"What does this have to do with you? These are soldiers sent by the principal, and we're just following orders. Even if Commander Wei is angry, he should go find the principal, not us. What kind of ability does he have?"

Yu Jishi waved his hand, his tone indifferent: "It's alright, after the war is over, I'll ask my uncle to treat him to a drink."

Upon hearing this, Sun Yuanliang felt a mix of emotions.

Having a good uncle makes all the difference.

Yu Jishi's uncle, Yu Feipeng, was a founding member of the Whampoa Military Academy. He had extensive connections within the Kuomintang and its high-ranking officials, with students and associates spread throughout both the military and political spheres.

Offending a powerful general like Wei Lihuang would probably keep most people up at night, but with Yu Jishi, a single drink was all it took to get over it.

That would require at least ten years of hard work.

He suppressed his envy and steered the conversation back to business: "That's good, that's good. Commander, what do you think the principal is thinking? This kind of dispersed use of troops has always been a major taboo in military strategy."

"With this adjustment, our troop strength in all directions is now roughly equal. None are particularly weak, and none are particularly strong. If a real battle breaks out, I'm afraid we won't gain an advantage in any direction."

Yu Jishi stood up and walked to the large-scale military map hanging on the wall.

"General He Guoguang of the Nanchang Headquarters recently conducted a tactical analysis. Their conclusion is that the Red Army is very likely to make a desperate gamble by attacking southern Zhejiang and then advancing into northern Zhejiang."

Sun Yuanliang also stood up and walked to the map.

"What's the attack route?"

Yu Jishi drew a line northwards from the location of Taishun.

"The first plan is to start from Taishun, attack Longquan and Yunhe, occupy Lishui, then cross the Xianxia Ridge and enter the Jinqu Basin. After that, head north to attack Zhuji and keep an eye on Hangzhou."

Sun Yuanliang's pupils contracted slightly.

The Jinqu Basin is one of the most prosperous regions in central Zhejiang, home to the important cities of Jinhua and Quzhou. The Zhejiang-Jiangxi Railway runs east-west through it, serving as a vital artery connecting Zhejiang with the inland areas.

Yu Jishi didn't notice the change in his expression and drew a second line with his finger.

"The second option is to start from Taishun, capture Wencheng, then cross the Yandang Mountains and head east to take Wenzhou. Alternatively, instead of attacking Wenzhou, we can continue north and enter the Kuocang Mountains, Dapan Mountains, and other areas."

Sun Yuanliang suddenly interrupted him: "Wait a moment. If I remember correctly, north of Dapan Mountain is Kuaiji Mountain, east of it is Tiantai Mountain, and northeast of it is Siming Mountain."

Yu Jishi smiled slightly. "That's right, it seems you've realized it."

Sun Yuanliang's breathing quickened slightly.

He was certainly aware of that. At the foot of the three mountain ranges lie the cities of Shaoxing, Yuyao, and Ningbo, respectively.

Shaoxing is just north of Hangzhou. If the Red Army were to reach this place...

"If that day ever comes, the two of us should be beheaded to atone for our sins."

Yu Jishi spoke for him the conclusion that he dared not say aloud.

The office was quiet for a moment.

Sun Yuanliang took a deep breath and looked away from the map.

"So, the reason the principal unusually transferred Commander Wei's reserve force to us is because..."

"It's because the heartland of Zhejiang is almost deserted. A significant number of local troops stationed in Zhejiang have been withdrawn in recent years."

"Especially the best soldiers from southern and western Zhejiang are being sent to the front lines in Jiangxi and Fujian in batches. If we keep drawing them, there will be a vacuum inside."

"You're right, dispersing troops is a major taboo in military strategy. But if we're betting that the Red Army won't dare to advance north, we can't afford to gamble, and we certainly can't afford to lose."

Sun Yuanliang certainly understood the meaning behind Yu Jishi's words.

Jiangsu and Zhejiang were the stronghold of the Kuomintang, the lifeline where wealth and talent gathered.

However, in this vast land, value is never evenly distributed.

The true heartland of northern Zhejiang lies in Huzhou, Hangzhou, and Jiaxing, which are close to the Yangtze and Qiantang Rivers. These plains are crisscrossed by waterways and dotted with rice paddies, and the towns that are bustling with merchants and rich in culture.

It contributes more than 70% of Zhejiang's fiscal revenue, serving as the economic lifeline and political foundation.

As for the mountainous areas of southern and western Zhejiang, there are indeed prosperous places like the Jinhua-Quzhou Basin, where Jinhua ham is famous throughout the world and Quzhou is a major thoroughfare.

It's not a problem for it to rank in the upper-middle range within the province, but it can't compare to Hangzhou, Jiaxing, and Huzhou.

If the Red Army's flag were to be planted on the banks of the Qiantang River, that would truly be international news.

Two divisions are nothing compared to what he would be in that position.

At least 10 divisions would have to be deployed to completely cut off the Red Army's northward march.

Of course, Sun Yuanliang knew this was impossible.

With the Northern Route Army's general offensive imminent, it is indeed not advisable to divide up too many troops at this time.