Chapter Seventeen: A Forced March of Seventy-Two Kilometers in Fourteen Hours—What Kind of Troop Is This?

December 1935.

Under the command of the headquarters chief, the Western Route Army, chiefly composed of the Fourth Rainbow Army, launched a fierce offensive towards the Gansu and Ningxia regions.

At the same time, following instructions from Jinling, Commander Hu had already arrived in the northwest area and reached an agreement with Ma Laoda, the leader of the Ma family army, to jointly confront the Rainbow Army.

Thus, war suddenly erupted under these conditions.

"Damn it! These blind bandits dare to trespass on my territory?" Ma Laoda, the cruelest and most hot-tempered of the three Ma brothers, cursed loudly.

Having dominated the northwest for years, the Ma family army was notorious. Even Ma Laoda’s own second uncle was burned alive by him. Not a single one of his uncle’s family survived; all were slaughtered by Ma Laoda. If he was that ruthless to family, ordinary civilians and enemies stood no chance.

"Commander, these muddy peasants are poorly armed. I heard several soldiers share just one gun," a subordinate reported.

"Only three or four bullets per gun? What can they use to fight us?" another scoffed.

"Our cavalry charges alone can shatter their formations," another said confidently. "The Ma family army is a force on horseback, swift as the wind."

"Besides, these muddy peasants of the Fourth Rainbow Army didn’t even obey their high command before," another added.

"Not afraid of godlike enemies, but of pig-headed comrades," they said bitterly.

The Ma family officers had heard many secrets about the Rainbow Army from Commander Hu, so they faced the invading Western Route Army without fear.

And just as the Ma family army predicted, the Western Route Army, already disadvantaged in weapons and equipment, suffered a tremendous blow due to some disobedient officers recklessly acting on their own.

"What’s going on? What happened?" the chief commander roared. "Why haven’t the 16th and 32nd Divisions reached their designated positions? What are they doing?"

"The Western Route Army’s frontline commander is a top graduate from Huangpu Military Academy, isn’t he? Is this how a top graduate fights?"

He slammed his pencil down on the table in fury.

The positions of the 16th and 32nd Divisions were crucial. Everyone knew cavalry moved like the wind, and the Ma family army, being cavalry-based in the northwest, could exploit their speed to infiltrate and flank quickly.

If this gap wasn’t sealed, it would be a catastrophe for the entire Western Route Army. Should the Ma family army discover this weakness, the entire force of over 25,000 troops might be completely wiped out in the northwest.

These were the Rainbow Army’s elite—losing them there would be a devastating blow.

"Chief!" The chief of staff approached with a document, frowning. "Look! A telegram from headquarters."

The chief opened the telegram and felt a surge of anger rise within him. His stern nature nearly made him tear it apart.

"Shameless! Bastards! The Western Route Army—25,000 comrades—are they just tools for some people’s power struggle?"

"Some were fighting for power even during the grassland crossing. Now they’ve found a new base, a new path. What exactly do they want?"

The command center fell into a heavy silence.

Everyone shared the chief’s thoughts: to gamble with the lives of 25,000 comrades for personal glory was unforgivable.

"Chief, this isn’t the time to be angry," the chief of staff urged. "The position of Baizhang Pass is too important. If it falls into the Ma family’s hands, the Western Route Army will likely be annihilated. We must find a solution immediately."

The chief nodded and walked over to study a map carefully.

"Which unit is closest to Baizhang Pass?"

"The First Column, Chief! Su Changqing’s troops are currently 72 kilometers from Baizhang Pass."

At this, the chief’s eyes suddenly brightened.

"That kid!"

"Seventy-two kilometers is a long way—hard to reach Baizhang Pass quickly. If the Ma family cavalry gets there first, even if the First Column arrives, their position will be extremely dangerous."

"Even if the First Column makes it to Baizhang Pass, they only have about four thousand soldiers."

"The Ma family cavalry numbers in the tens of thousands, moving at incredible speed. They can gather over ten thousand troops in a short time to attack Baizhang Pass simultaneously."

"Furthermore," the chief added grimly, "Commander Hu of the Blue Sky Party has been eyeing this opportunity closely. The Blue Sky Party’s forces will not miss this once-in-a-lifetime chance."

Even the chief found himself in a dilemma, and the senior officers in the command center were equally torn.

Suddenly, a guard hurried in.

"Chief! Chief! Chief of Staff! An urgent telegram from the First Column!"

Everyone looked up sharply.

The chief snatched the telegram and read quickly.

"Good kid! Su Changqing’s instincts are sharp."

"He deduced the crisis at Baizhang Pass from subtle details."

"He’s already leading the First Column on a forced march towards Baizhang Pass."

"Seventy-two kilometers! We don’t have much time left. What now, the First Column or the entire Western Route Army?"

The chief clenched his fists, torn.

But soon he opened his eyes, gazing resolutely at the chief of staff.

"Tell Su Changqing this: the lives of 25,000 comrades in the Western Route Army rest in his hands."

"I trust him to bring us surprises, to create miracles."

"Long live the First Column!"

"Long live!"

"Yes!" The chief of staff responded crisply.

"Wait!" the chief added. "Tell Su Changqing to bring his First Column back alive."

"The Rainbow Army needs him! The Party and the organization need him! The country needs him!"

"Yes!"

—

Meanwhile, Su Changqing, having already confirmed the grave problem at Baizhang Pass from various signs, frowned deeply.

Before sending the telegram, he had already made his judgment and decision.

If Baizhang Pass fell to the Ma family army, the Western Route Army faced total annihilation.

Some people’s selfish ambitions were beyond his control, but he could not ignore the lives of those 25,000 comrades.

Before headquarters could reply, Su Changqing packed away the maps.

"Some heavy weapons that are difficult to carry must be buried on-site."

"Take the mortars and their shells."

"Bring enough ammunition."

"Immediately advance towards Baizhang Pass. We must arrive within fourteen hours."

"Tell the comrades: even if it means running to exhaustion, get near Baizhang Pass."

"This is a lawful military order!"

"A death-defying order!"

"Yes!"

With Su Changqing’s orders issued, the 18th, 24th, and 26th Rainbow Regiments moved as if wound tightly, racing at top speed towards the vicinity of Baizhang Pass.