Chapter 8, can convey Ding Ning

At that time, Liu Jingxiao had just entered Shandong, with his foundation not yet established and people's hearts seeking stability. Moreover, the "Jiaodong Self-Defense Army" had as many as nine regiments, making it impossible to launch an attack on Jiaodong. He could only negotiate peace with the four prominent families of Jiaodong. However, as a result, the four families used the pretext of "Jiaodong autonomy" to assert that Liu Jingxiao had no authority to intervene in the personnel and finances of the seven counties in Jiaodong, further expanding the Jiaodong Self-Defense Army from nine regiments to twelve, totaling over ten thousand troops.

The so-called "Four Prominent Families of Jiaodong" refers to the indigenous powers of Jiaodong, namely the Lin, Chen, Ji, and Xu families. During the period of the founding war, these four families migrated from Suhua to Jiaodong to escape the turmoil of war. In the 1920s, the four families formed a loose alliance through intermarriage. After several decades of management, by the 1950s, they gradually gained control over the county administration of Laiyang and Jimo. Not only did their power significantly increase, but the relationships among the four families also became closer, resembling branches of the same tree.

This news was truly shocking. Li He Yi took a long time to react. Although he considered himself mediocre, he was not a fool. He patted his chest and replied loudly, "Commander Ding, you can rest assured! Although He Yi is a rough man, I will never forget the kindness shown to me by my superior!" He was aware of his own limited abilities; had someone else been in charge of Shandong, it would have been very difficult for him to advance, and even the position of brigade commander would certainly be hard to maintain.

Li Heyi is also self-aware, recognizing his limited abilities. During combat, he follows the Chief of Staff's instructions in all matters, which is why the performance of the Fourth Brigade exceeds expectations

A man in his forties shouted loudly.

Although both sides held similar military ranks, and in terms of seniority, Li Heyi was an old camp commander during the frontier defense, while Ding Ning was merely a newcomer during the campaign to aid Hubei. In terms of military rank, one was the commander of the Fourth Infantry Brigade, while the other was the commander of a cavalry brigade. Moreover, Li Heyi's infantry brigade had over 7,000 men, while Ding Ning's cavalry brigade only had 3,000 horses. Nevertheless, Li Heyi still respectfully referred to Ding Ning as "Commander Ding"

The 17th Division under Liu Jingxiao consists of four infantry brigades and one cavalry brigade commander. The five brigade commanders originally held similar ranks, but Liu Jingxiao specifically established a Cavalry Command, with Ding Ning appointed as the commander. The Cavalry Command oversees all cavalry operations in the province. In addition to the cavalry brigade, the cavalry battalions of each brigade, the cavalry patrol teams of the road police, and the cavalry units of the security forces also fall under the operational guidance of the Cavalry Command.

In the past, Liu Jingxiao raised an army in southern Shandong, and the flames of war spread throughout Shandong, causing public sentiment to waver. The four prominent families of Jiaodong seized the opportunity to unite and raise their own forces, successfully driving out the E faction. They successively occupied the five counties of Pingdu, Zhaoyuan, Laizhou, Haiyang, and Gaomi, and even established the so-called "Jiaodong Self-Defense Army"

Li Heyi is different from Ding Ning. In the 17th Division, there is a saying: "The 4th Brigade has the worst brigade commander and the best chief of staff in the entire division." Li's military talent is not much better than that of an incompetent, but he is an old cadre from the frontier defense army period and is quite loyal and reliable. Liu Jingxiao also found it difficult to transfer him, so he had no choice but to select the best chief of staff in the entire division to assist Li Heyi

"It was merely a disturbance, and the commander would not pay it any mind. However, this time is different from the past; the matters discussed at the meeting are highly confidential, and we originally had no information at all." At this point, Ding Ning let out a cold laugh: "But what kind of person is the commander? Despite appearing to roll around in the world of cosmetics all day, he is quite astute. He immediately dispatched someone to obtain information from the Shen family by the sea, and only then did we learn that the discussions at the meeting were about the division of Shandong, with Li Dingyuan taking Huai Bei, the Four Great Families occupying Jiaodong, and the remaining territories being evenly divided between the Direct Line and Yang Linji.

As she spoke, Ding Ning suddenly stood up, gazing up at the sky, revealing a delicate and strong neck. The gentle breeze tousled her short hair, and her eyes reflected a sense of dazed wonder. Yet, in an instant, her tranquil expression, high-bridged nose, and fiery red lips conveyed an indescribable determination. She enunciated each word clearly: "If Jiaodong is peaceful, I will not come! This time I have come to Jiaodong to stir up a storm of blood and gore! Let the four great families of Jiaodong wail and howl!"

Ding Ning placed the telescope carefully, nimbly dismounted from the horse, and then found a clean large rock to sit on. Li He Yi also sat beside him. At this moment, Ding Ning lowered his voice: "Last month, representatives from Yang Linyi of Henan, Li Dingyuan of Jiangsu, and Cao Ming of Hebei, along with the representative from the Shen family in Shanhai, all gathered in Jiaodong."

This time, Ding Ning was stationed in Jiaodong, and Li He felt quite dissatisfied. However, upon hearing these words, the last trace of his discontent vanished. He exclaimed, "We old brothers only know how to be loyal to our commander. I will follow Commander Ding in everything. If Commander Ding tells us to charge, we charge; if Commander Ding tells us to retreat, we retreat"

Over the years, Liu Jingxiao, despite his indulgence in pleasures and distractions, has found it difficult to visit Jinan more than a few times a year. Consequently, his relationships with his old comrades have inevitably become somewhat estranged. However, he is a person who values old friendships and treats the veterans from the Dingbian military period with great respect. He has repeatedly pushed against the majority opinion to allow Li Heyi to succeed to the position of brigade commander. Had it not been for this, Li Heyi would have long been relegated to a remote small county as a minor seventh-rank county magistrate.

The facts are as such: several guards gazed at Ding Ning's heroic figure, secretly drooling. Before them was a healthy and clean face, with neat short hair, long eyelashes, and bright, clear big eyes. The stiff military uniform could not conceal her sun-kissed, fit skin. Her long legs were tightly clasped around the horse's belly, skillfully controlling the silver steed, embodying a wildness within her tranquility. Her long, strong hands held a telescope, carefully observing the positions of the Jiaodong Self-Defense Army. The stiff military uniform could not conceal her sun-kissed, fit skin. Her long legs were tightly clasped around the horse's belly, skillfully controlling the silver steed, embodying a wildness within her tranquility. Her long, strong hands held a telescope, carefully observing the positions of the Jiaodong Self-Defense Army.

Ding Ning fixed her gaze on the distant peaks, her autumn-like eyes reflecting a newfound determination, and her face bore an imposing aura that seemed to encompass the mountains and rivers: "That's good. This time I came to Jiaodong, not because I am worried about you, but because I am concerned about Jiaodong itself!"

Li He laughed heartily and said, "Commander Ding, rest assured, these local landlords will amount to nothing. Our division commander once said that Shandong should be autonomous, and these rabbits immediately started shouting for Jiaodong autonomy, thinking I am unaware of their intentions?"

Su Xue knew that the person referred to by Ding Ning and Liu Jingxiao as "the best cavalry commander I have ever seen" was said to be Liu Jingxiao's top favorite. This individual was not only highly capable but also possessed above-average looks, and like herself, could be described as "a combination of beauty and talent"

This time, Liu Jingxiao traveled north to Beijing, but harbored concerns about the Four Great Families of Jiaodong, specifically appointing a general like Ding Ning to oversee the region.

Old Li, originally the commander did not intend to go to the capital, but this time we received intelligence from reliable sources. As he spoke, Ding Ning waved his hand, and the guards nearby obediently withdrew over a hundred meters, standing guard on the periphery

Li He shook his head repeatedly upon hearing this, muttering to himself: "Li Dingyuan, this petty person, how could he have attained the position of Governor of Jiangsu without our assistance back then, yet now he is only causing us trouble"

Ding Ning tidied her hair that had been blown askew by the wind and looked down at the opposing position: "Old Li, it's better to be cautious. Inform the cadres below that they are not allowed to go. Who knows what kind of conspiracy might be afoot?"

Ding Ning put down the telescope and asked straightforwardly, "Old Li, what movements are there among those rabbits in Jiaodong?" After several years of operation, Liu Jingxiao's influence in Shandong had already taken root, but the Jiaodong area was precisely his Achilles' heel

Li He replied nonchalantly: "It's nothing, just that Lin Yichen, the second son of the Lin family, has married Xu Qiaozhi from the Xu family, and they sent us an invitation to attend!"

The transportation in Jiaodong is inconvenient, and it is located in a remote area. The provincial government's influence has always been limited, so regardless of which faction is in power in Shandong, they must court the four prominent families of Jiaodong

The Jiaodong region encompasses dozens of counties, spanning thousands of miles, with hundreds of thousands of households, making it a land of great wealth. If we were to carelessly lose Jiaodong, Shandong, Hebei, and Henan would undoubtedly seize the opportunity to unite and launch an attack. Such a massive army, like a flood, would descend upon us, and even someone as extraordinary as the division commander would find it impossible to resist. In that case, we would have no place to be buried. Therefore, this time the division commander took the opportunity of transporting military supplies to specifically go to Beijing. Do not speak of these matters to those below, lest it disrupt the morale of the troops. Although Ding Ning's voice was not loud, it was very persuasive, causing Li He to nod repeatedly.

As a result, Ding Ning's military rank surpassed that of the other four brigade commanders by one level, even allowing her to enter the core of the highest authority in Shandong. This unusual arrangement, however, garnered unanimous praise from the entire division. The 17th Division placed great emphasis on military merit, and Ding Ning's cavalry unit was known for its combat prowess, unmatched bravery, and numerous remarkable achievements. Their cooperation with allied forces was seamless, often saving lives in the process. Moreover, Ding Ning was the adopted daughter of General Ding and the sister of Commander Ding, which meant that no one in the 17th Division raised any objections to a female general rising above them.