Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 151: Consolation Group

3 month 27 day.

Chairman's headquarters.

Li Zongren walked in with a smile and saluted.

Chiang Kai-shek immediately stood up and walked up to him with his crutches: "German neighbor, how is the war going?"

Li Zongren handed over a folder: "Chairman, this battle is a great victory!"

"The 20th Corps arrived in time, and the 10th Division was attacked from both sides and was completely defeated. However, our side suddenly won a complete victory, and the morale was extremely high. The entire army pursued the enemy fiercely, like a gust of wind sweeping away fallen leaves, and was unstoppable."

"The enemy's corpses were scattered all over the ground, and all kinds of destroyed vehicles, ammunition, and horses were scattered all over the ground. Isogai Lianjie led less than 10,000 remaining enemies to break through and flee to Yi County. They closed the city and defended it to the death, and there was no way to counterattack!"

Upon hearing the good news, Chiang Kai-shek was very excited and kept muttering: "Good! Good! Good!"

"The Tenth Division was annihilated. Great!"

Chiang Kai-shek walked quickly out of the tent and looked at the soldiers hurrying back and forth.

The Fifth War Zone is truly the elite of the National Army!

The three great victories in Huaibei, Linyi and Taierzhuang completely cleared away the tragic atmosphere that had shrouded the country since the Battle of Beijing-Shanghai.

Bai Chongxi led two guards and strode over: "Commissioner, the battlefield has been cleaned up, and the casualties of both sides have been preliminarily counted!"

Chiang Kai-shek: "Read it to me!"

Bai Chongxi opened the file book and said, "After this battle, our army killed 17732 enemies and captured 879 alive. In addition, we seized more than rifles, more than light and heavy machine guns, and nearly artillery pieces of various types!"

Chiang Kai-shek smiled from ear to ear: "How was the 20th Corps' performance in defeating the enemy in this battle?"

Bai Chongxi was stunned.

The Twentieth Legion?
Who will specifically count these?
Chiang Kai-shek frowned: "Jiansheng, go and do some statistics. I want specific numbers!"

Of the three consecutive great victories, the Central Army only participated in the Battle of Taierzhuang; the other two were mainly led by local troops.

Although annihilating the enemy has different meanings, there is one battle that he values the most.

It is undoubtedly Taierzhuang!

Bai Chongxi understood the meaning, saluted, and turned to leave.

Behind him, Li Zongren had a stern face and did not speak.

Miscellaneous troops
Alas! If the commander-in-chief had been selfless and employed soldiers according to their abilities, there would be no soldiers in the world that could not be used, and the overall situation of the War of Resistance would not have fallen to its current state.

------

Xuzhou.

Guard camp.

While good news was flying all over the place outside, Wang Feng was in his office, reading the latest issue of Shen Bao.

Why don't men take Wu Gou and conquer the fifty states of Guanshan?

The picture below the title shows himself leading his troops to attack, galloping on horseback.

Further down, there is a photo of war criminal Okamura Yasuji.

Once published, it quickly aroused strong response across the country.

Zhao Fangyuan walked in: "Sir, there is a consolation delegation outside the barracks."

Wang Feng put down the newspaper and raised his eyebrows: "Comfort delegation?"

"What's the origin?"

Zhao Fangyuan scratched his head and said, "A while ago, my department contacted the headquarters of the war zone and mentioned this matter in the telegrams we exchanged."

Wang Feng frowned and tried hard to recall it in his mind.

It seems that there is such a thing.

There are a lot of things to deal with every day, and there are dozens of telegrams alone to review.

About ten days ago, the headquarters notified that a consolation delegation composed of civilians would arrive at the military camp in the next few days.

But there has been no news since then, and it was not an important military matter.

After a few days, it was forgotten.

Wang Feng rubbed his temples: "Who are they? You go and receive them first."

Zhao Fangyuan: "Some patriotic businessmen, journalists from the media and newspapers. Anyway, there are all kinds of people. I think there are also quite a few students."

Wang Feng frowned even more tightly: "Students? You are not mistaken, what are students doing here?"

Zhao Fangyuan nodded firmly: "I'm definitely not mistaken, they came here with the school flag."

"It seems that there are nearly four to five hundred students alone!"

Wang Feng was shocked: "Four or five hundred people? That's so many!"

Zhao Fangyuan: "Those patriotic businessmen seemed to have brought a lot of money, food and supplies, saying they were going to donate them to our troops."

Wang Feng took a sip of hot tea, cleared his throat, and stood up: "Come on, accompany me to take a look."

"Tell the guards to let the delegation enter the barracks and assemble on the parade grounds. Meanwhile, the internal security forces should organize the discipline."

Zhao Fangyuan responded: "Yes!"

Wang Feng straightened his military uniform and strode out of the barracks.

Fifteen minutes later, inside the training ground.

Colorful flags are flying and people are bustling around.

Wang Feng, surrounded by guards, walked slowly into the courtyard.

Reporters nearby immediately gathered around but were stopped by someone.

Wang Feng took a quick look at the bustling crowd.

Most of them were big businessmen wearing long gowns, jackets, silk and brocade.

He didn't have much aversion to this kind of people.

At this juncture, any businessman who can make up his mind and come to the military camp to express his condolences in person can be called "patriotic".

If you are not careful and get photographed by the camera and the photo is sent to the Japanese, you will definitely be accused of being anti-Japanese.

There will inevitably be a subsequent settlement.

"Commander Wang, what do you think of the current situation?"

"Excuse me, Commander Wang, after the victory of Taierzhuang, will the Chinese army withdraw from Xuzhou?"

"Sir Wang, may I ask?"

"."

"Officer Wang, I heard that you are already 26 years old this year. Have you ever been married?"

Reporters talked at once and kept asking questions.

A few black lines flashed across Wang Feng’s forehead, and he felt a little unhappy.

This is the part that he hates the most when he is in public. "Zhao Fangyuan, you answer it!" Wang Feng turned his head and, according to the old rules, passed the matter to his chief of staff.

Upon hearing this, the reporters nearby immediately turned their guns and surrounded the man.

His ears suddenly became quiet and Wang Feng breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing that there were no reporters around, a fat businessman came up and held out his hand: "Chief Wang, I've heard a lot about you!"

Wang Feng extended his hand and shook it symbolically: "Hello, hello, who are you?"

The fat businessman slapped his thigh and bowed with both hands: "Oh, you see I was so excited that I forgot to introduce myself. Please forgive me!"

"My name is Huo Zhifeng, and I am the current chairman of the Xuzhou Chamber of Commerce. After the Battle of Linyi, I learned that Commander Wang had returned victoriously. I have long wanted to visit him, but unfortunately I have never found a way."

Wang Feng smiled and pointed at the businessmen behind him who were also trying to come over: "Mr. Huo, you are joking. I think this consolation group was organized by you, right?"

Huo Zhifeng said hurriedly: "Half, half."

Wang Feng frowned: "Half? What do you mean? Explain it clearly."

Huo Zhifeng: "Sir, to be honest, the consolation delegation formed by our Xuzhou merchants plans to come to express our condolences the day after you lead your troops back triumphantly."

"But in order not to disturb you and the soldiers, we decided to report this to the war zone commander first. This is also a formal procedure and is reasonable."

Several businessmen behind him echoed: "Yes!"

"Indeed!"

"."

Wang Feng nodded, becoming more and more confused the more he listened.

Huo Zhifeng continued, "Unexpectedly, after waiting for a few days, the reply from the war zone headquarters was that the National Student Union also organized student teams from various schools to come and express their condolences. In order to save time, the two groups were combined together."

"These students came from all over the country, and it took a long time to travel. They waited for nearly ten days."

Several businessmen behind him nodded in succession: "Yes, Mr. Huo is right!"

"Indeed, if it weren't for these students, we would have been here a long time ago!"

Wang Feng understood now: "I see. I'm sorry to trouble you for going through so much trouble."

Huo Zhifeng waved his hand and said quickly: "No trouble! No trouble!"

"The commander and the soldiers are fighting day and night on the front line. Our little matter is nothing!"

"You are joking, sir."

"Hey man, bring me the bill!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a man dressed as a waiter jumped out.

After receiving the bill, Huo Zhifeng bowed slightly and handed it to Wang Feng with a smile: "Sir, please take a look."

"More than 100,000 taels of silver, 1,500 taels of gold, and 40 tons of refined rice and flour each!"

Wang Feng raised his eyebrows, surprised by the number above.

Huo Zhifeng saw this expression, fearing that he would be dissatisfied: "Sir, this is indeed a little too little, but we have already emptied our family's coffers, please forgive us!"

Wang Feng nodded: "Yeah, I can see that you have indeed emptied out all the family assets."

His ancestors had been wealthy, so he knew very well how much savings or property that could be converted into purchasing power were held by big businessmen and capitalists.

Huo Zhifeng smiled along.

Wang Feng accepted the bill and was a little curious: "What are you going to do in the future? Sell all your property and use it all to support the army. Are you not going to do business anymore?"

Huo Zhifeng hesitated and looked back at everyone.

Wang Feng frowned: "If you have anything to say, just say it."

Faced with the interrogation, Huo Zhifeng felt a little anxious. After hesitating for a while, he said, "To be honest, sir, after the visit today, we will leave Xuzhou and find another place to make a living."

Wang Feng: "Leaving Xuzhou?"

"Why, do you think our national army can't defend Xuzhou?"

Huo Zhifeng was so frightened by this question that his legs went limp: "Sir, I definitely didn't mean that!"

Seeing the other party like this, Wang Feng patted him on the shoulder and said, "Okay, we are all well-known businessmen in Xuzhou, and I believe you must have heard some rumors. You can leave if you want, but you must not say anything that you shouldn't say."

Huo Zhifeng nodded repeatedly: "Please rest assured, sir. We are different from those common parasites. We will sneak away and will never say a word!"

Wang Feng folded his arms across his chest and asked, "Where are you going?"

Huo Zhifeng: "We don't know yet. We plan to go to Wuhan first."

Wang Feng looked at the people behind him and asked, "Are you all going to Wuhan?"

Everyone nodded.

In times of war, sticking together for warmth is the best option.

In addition, if you go to other places to do business alone, you will probably be bullied to death.

Wang Feng was a little surprised.

These businessmen really know how to choose a place.

After Xuzhou fell, the next one will be Wuhan.

Climb out of one fire pit and fall into another.

An idea popped up in Wang Feng's mind: "Going to Wuhan may not work. If you trust me, go north to Changzhi."

"Once we're there, I can ensure the safety of your operations."

Huo Zhifeng and others looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Changzhi?"

Wang Feng nodded: "Yes, let's go to Changzhi."

"Changzhi is my jurisdiction, and my arsenal is built there."

Huo Zhifeng and the others hesitated and couldn't make up their minds for a moment: "Sir, how about this, let's go back and discuss it and give you an answer within two days!"

All matters related to the trip to Wuhan had been arranged long before we came to express our condolences.

It's not something that can be changed just by saying so.

Hearing this, Wang Feng readily agreed.

He did not have high expectations for these patriotic businessmen.

It would be best to go to Changzhi, as it can also be considered as attracting investment.

During the last major purge, more than 90 percent of local businessmen were arrested, and now the private economy is like a stagnant pool of water.

The main industries were controlled by the military, and the taxes collected by the administrative offices could barely cover basic expenses.

It may be feasible in the short term, but if it continues for a long time, I'm afraid there will be big problems.

If he doesn't go, he has his own way to deal with it.

(End of this chapter)