You were tasked with guarding the Sihang Warehouse, and you brought out a Tiger tank?

On the third day, Lin Feng indeed "enthusiastically" invited Zhou Weixian to visit the regimental-level tactical exercise.

The training ground was set up on a barren beach outside Jiawang City.

Zhou Weixian sat on the makeshift platform, staring wide-eyed at the troops below who were about to conduct an offensive and defensive exercise.

This is an infantry regiment under the newly formed 16th Division.

But looking at their equipment, they hardly resemble an infantry regiment.

Three infantry battalions, each consisting of three infantry companies and one heavy weapons company.

This single regiment was equipped with dozens of MG-34 general-purpose machine guns and 12 81mm mortars.

Even more outrageous is the regimental fire support company, which is equipped with four 120mm heavy mortars.

The sight of those massive cannon barrels made his legs go weak.

The signal flare signaling the start of the exercise was launched.

Under the cover of four Sd.Kfz 222 wheeled armored vehicles, the attacking force began its assault on the "enemy" position.

The MG-34 machine guns and 20mm autocannons on the armored vehicles spewed fierce flames, suppressing enemy firepower.

Behind them, on the supporting divisional artillery positions, 12 75mm mountain guns opened fire simultaneously.

"Boom boom boom boom—!"

Dense artillery shells rained down on the defensive positions, sending up plumes of smoke that shot into the sky.

Zhou Weixian sat on the platform and could clearly feel the violent tremors coming from the ground beneath his feet.

His face grew paler and paler, and cold sweat streamed down his temples.

This is hardly a regimental-level drill!

This firepower, this coordination, this level of equipment—it's stronger than an entire division of the Central Army.

No, considering the actual weaponry coverage, it's even stronger than an army corps.

He secretly glanced at Lin Feng sitting next to him.

Lin Feng was holding binoculars, intently watching the exercise, his face expressionless, as if he had long been accustomed to it all.

Zhou Weixian's heart sank completely.

He finally understood why Commander Li was so desperate to protect Lin Feng, and why all sorts of miscellaneous troops were so eager to support Lin Feng.

This 33rd Army Corps was not some cobbled-together ragtag army at all.

This is a modern elite force armed to the teeth, possessing terrifying combat capabilities.

Let alone his special envoy, even if Jiangcheng sent a direct-line army group to try and gain an advantage on Lin Feng's territory, they would probably break their teeth.

After the exercise, Zhou Weixian could barely stand up, almost needing to hold onto a chair.

His legs were still weak.

Back at his lodgings, he immediately closed the door, spread out the telegram paper with trembling hands, and began drafting a secret telegram to Jiang Cheng.

Each character was written with extreme difficulty:

"Zhou Weixian respectfully reports:"

Lin Feng's troops were by no means ordinary armed forces.

Their equipment was so sophisticated, their training so rigorous, and their combat power so formidable that it far exceeded my expectations.

Observing their regimental-level drills today, their firepower is comparable to that of an entire division of the Central Army, with armored vehicles providing coordination and rapid and precise artillery support.

Moreover, Lin Feng enjoyed extremely high prestige among the various armies of the Fifth War Zone, and the armies of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangxi, and Northwest China all openly and swiftly supported him.

Forcibly incorporating its air force could trigger a mutiny, at which point the situation in the Fifth War Zone would spiral out of control.

In my opinion, this matter should not be rushed; we should proceed slowly and methodically…

After the telegram was sent, Zhou Weixian paced back and forth in the room like an ant on a hot pan.

I waited for a whole day and night.

The call finally came the following evening.

Only eleven characters:

"Soothe them gently and make sure they don't cause any further trouble."

Zhou Weixian held the thin telegram for a long time, then slumped into a chair.

It’s over.

That guy from Jiangcheng chickened out.

Not only were they forbidden him from mentioning the takeover again, but he was also instructed to "properly appease" Lin Feng.

The meaning couldn't be clearer.

If Lin Feng is truly pushed to the brink, that guy in Jiangcheng will probably use Zhou Weixian's head to appease Lin Feng.

In the following days, Zhou Weixian completely changed.

He transformed from an arrogant imperial envoy who wielded his authority like a tiger into a cautious, smiling special envoy offering condolences.

He stopped mentioning the acquisition of the aircraft and instead spent all his time talking about Lin Feng.

"Commander Lin, is there anything else you need?"

Even if you tell my brother.

I will certainly report the truth to the Chairman.

"Commander Lin, your brothers have really worked hard."

I'll go back and apply for more pay and clothing for our 33rd Army Corps.

"Commander Lin..."

His fawning and flattering face made the staff officers in the headquarters secretly laugh.

Lin Feng was quite "generous"; since the other party had admitted defeat, he gave them a way out.

Occasionally, he would invite Zhou Wei to a meal or show him around the military base, but he would never mention the airplane.

Zhou Weixian was sensible enough to assume that he had come to offer condolences and dared not utter another word.

A few days later, Zhou Weixian finally left Jiawang in a sorry state.

When they left, they not only didn't take a single plane with them, but also, "on behalf of the Chairman," approved an extra sum of money for the 33rd Army Corps as a form of condolence.

Although it was only a mere 1.5 million legal tender.

As for the budget of six million legal tender given above, where did the remaining four hundred and fifty go?

Zhou Weixian risked his life alone; shouldn't he be asked for some compensation?

But at least, they managed to save face.

Watching Zhou Weixian's convoy disappear into the dust, Zhao Yushu couldn't help but laugh out loud:

"Cousin, this guy surnamed Zhou came in with his nose in the air, but left like a stray dog."

That was fucking satisfying.

Lin Feng smiled but didn't say anything.

He turned and walked back to headquarters, looking at the huge battle map on the wall.

Aerial reconnaissance continued unabated, and Japanese troops in North China made frequent unusual movements.

Clearly, he doesn't have much time left to prepare for war.

The real battle is about to begin, and we need to pay more attention to logistics.

Thinking of this, he spoke:

"Yushu, go and call Uncle Peiji here."

Lin Feng gave the order without even looking up.

A short while later, Lin Peiji, the legion's chief steward and logistics director, strode in carrying a thick ledger.

"Commander, you wanted to see me?" Lin Peiji pushed up his reading glasses.

Lin Feng pushed the bank draft that Zhou Wei had given him to the edge of the table:

"Uncle Peiji, this is the condolence money that Jiangcheng gave us, 1.5 million French francs."

Take another 1.5 million fiat currency from our legion's treasury.

"Let's round it up to three million and give it all to Yu Shu."

Upon hearing that he would have to take out money, Lin Peiji instinctively clutched the ledger tighter, and asked with some reluctance:

"Commander, three million is no small sum. Prices are rising rapidly these days. What are you going to do with this money?"

"Recruit civilian laborers to accompany the army."

Lin Feng's smile vanished, and his expression became extremely serious.

Lin Peiji was taken aback for a moment. Although he felt bad about the money, he didn't ask any more questions and nodded to make a note of it.

Looking at the two of them, Lin Feng sighed inwardly.

In the past, wars were at most fought at the regimental or divisional level, so the logistical pressure wasn't too outrageous.

But things are different now; he now holds a corps comprising 5 divisions and 1 brigade.

Tens of thousands of mouths need to be fed, tens of thousands of guns need bullets, and those heavy artillery pieces, like money-devouring beasts, need to be fed shells.