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

Don't underestimate the significance of "adding the rank of general".

The rank of general in the Republic of China included one special-class general.

The quota for first-class generals is nine, and they are basically leaders of various warlord factions and bigwigs from the Whampoa Military Academy.

The quota for second-level generals is 20, and adding the rank of general means that Lin Feng can wear the uniform of a second-level general, receive the salary of a second-level general, and be given priority for promotion when the quota for second-level generals becomes vacant.

It can be said that he rose to the top in one step, and has already reached the pinnacle of the military in the Republic of China.

He Jingzhi continued:

"In addition, there was a special reward of 50 silver dollars, 100 million yuan in legal tender, and 1000 taels of gold."

"And give him the title of Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Fifth War Zone."

Dai Yunong was a smart man; upon hearing this, he raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Deputy Commander-in-Chief? That's just a nominal title."

Has the actual troop strength changed?

He Jingzhi patted Dai Yunong's arm and sighed meaningfully:

"Lin Feng is a good fighter, but he's just too disobedient."

Have you forgotten about the "plane incident" from last time?

The authorities wanted to take over his independent air force, but instead, he used national public opinion to create momentum.

Furthermore, with Commander Li mediating and smoothing things over, the order was forcefully reversed.

Dai Yunong pretended to suddenly understand and nodded knowingly.

"That person is holding a grudge against me."

He Jingzhi sneered.

So what if Lin Feng is a graduate of Whampoa Military Academy and a fellow townsman of Fenghua?

If they don't obey, then they'll only be given a nominal title.

As for the actual benefits?

"Young people are prone to becoming arrogant when they achieve success; they need to learn to remain humble..."

-----

As the 33rd Army Corps' telegram in plain text spread across the country via radio waves, the entire Great Xia was once again in an uproar.

The rear area, a mountain city.

This mountain town, which is shrouded in fog all year round, seemed to be completely set ablaze today.

The streets and alleys were filled with the deafening sound of firecrackers, and the air was thick with the smell of gunpowder and a festive atmosphere.

"Extra number! Extra number!"

Newspaper boys waved copies of the Ta Kung Pao newspaper, still smelling of fresh ink, weaving through the crowded streets, their voices hoarse from shouting.

"In the great victory in southern Shandong, General Lin Feng has once again made a great contribution by capturing the Japanese major general brigade commander alive."

"We captured a Japanese regimental flag and annihilated the enemy command post."

Countless citizens flooded the streets, hugging each other, and some even burst into tears in the street.

Since the start of the war, the people and soldiers of Great Xia have been harboring too much humiliation and bitterness. Today, they finally got their revenge.

On the square near Chaotianmen Wharf, college students and citizens who had spontaneously organized themselves held up banners and were raising funds.

"Fellow countrymen, our soldiers on the front lines are bleeding and fighting desperately. We can't just stand by and watch from the rear."

A female student wearing an indigo-dyed blue cheongsam held up a tin megaphone and loudly appealed:

Those with money should contribute money, and those with strength should contribute strength.

They raised funds to donate clothing and medicine to the 33rd Army Corps, a force known for its unwavering resistance against Japanese aggression.

The crowd erupted in cheers as soon as he finished speaking.

An elderly woman with gray hair shakily squeezed forward, pulled a silver hairpin from her hair, and threw it into the donation box.

"Auntie, this is unacceptable! This is what you wanted to keep!" the female student quickly stopped her.

"Take it."

The old woman wiped away her tears and said through gritted teeth:

My eldest son died in Shanghai.

General Lin avenged my son by capturing a high-ranking Japanese officer. Consider this hairpin a donation for buying bullets for the kids on the front lines.

Immediately afterwards, the rickshaw puller threw down a handful of sweat-soaked coins; the businessman in a suit took off his gold watch; even the newspaper boy on the street poured in all the spare change he had earned that day.

Meanwhile, in the southwestern rear area, in Kunming.

The atmosphere in a university classroom, temporarily set up by teachers and students who had fled from Beijing and Tianjin, was solemn and dignified.

The elderly professor, with his gray hair, stood on the podium, clutching the newspaper that had just been delivered to him, his hands trembling uncontrollably.

Below the stage, dozens of students dressed in worn-out long gowns and school uniforms held their breath and watched their teacher.

"Students..."

The old professor took off his fogged-up glasses, wiped his eyes with his sleeve, and spoke in a choked yet resonant voice:

"Just received confirmation."

Our army in Baitou Town, southern Shandong, inflicted a major defeat on the Japanese pirates.

They captured enemy commander Major General Sakamoto Jun alive and seized his regimental flag.

"boom--"

The quiet classroom erupted in chaos. Students jumped to their feet, clapping and cheering wildly, some even throwing their books high into the air.

The old professor pressed his hands down, signaling everyone to be quiet.

"Children, although our country is broken, our backbone is not broken."

The old professor's gaze swept over every young and excited face:

"With iron-willed soldiers like General Lin fighting bravely on the front lines, we in the rear should strive even harder."

Study hard and master scientific skills.

When the day comes that the Tartars are driven out, it will be up to you to rebuild this ravaged land.

"We swear to serve our country to the death and revitalize the great Chinese nation!" the students shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the rooftops.

Not only in the mountain city and the spring city, but also in the river city, Tanzhou... every city and village in the Great Xia was cheering for this unprecedented victory.

However, human joys and sorrows are not shared.

While the entire nation of Great Xia rejoiced, the Japanese headquarters across the sea was shrouded in gloom and despair, as if they had lost their parents.

In the conference room of the Army Ministry.

Army Minister General Sugiyama Gen was panting heavily at the conference table, like an enraged bull.

"Baka, baka yarou."

Sugiyama Gen slammed the telegram in his hand onto the table, glaring at the head of the intelligence department:

"The Chinese have sent their plaintext telegrams all over the country."

They said they captured Sakamoto Jun alive.

How exactly did that idiot Seishiro Itagaki reply?!

The intelligence chief wiped the cold sweat from his brow and answered tremblingly:

"In reply to Your Excellency, we have once again sternly questioned Lieutenant General Itagaki."

He...he replied hesitantly, saying that the position in Baituzhen had fallen too quickly.

At present, the fate of General Jun Sakamoto is unknown, and his whereabouts are unknown...

"fart."

Sugiyama Gen slammed his hand on the table, spittle flying everywhere:

"His fate is unknown?"

If their fate is unknown, then they are dead.

Prince Kan'in Kotohito, the Chief of the General Staff, sitting at the head of the table, had a gloomy expression. He tapped the table and said coldly:

"Sugiyama-kun, calm down."

"Now is not the time to lose your temper."

The Imperial Army must be portrayed as invincible in propaganda.

The generals of the empire must be war gods who die on the battlefield, and there must never be cowards who are captured.

If we admit that Sakamoto Jun was captured alive, what will become of the Empire's reputation?

Where is His Majesty the Emperor's majesty?

Sugiyama Gen took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing the anger in his heart:

"What does His Highness mean?"

Prince Kan'in Zaihito pondered for a moment and set the tone:

"Immediately notify the cabinet and major newspapers to unify their statements."

The claim that the Chinese used clear text in their telegrams is an extremely clumsy psychological tactic and a political lie.

A few cunning old foxes got together and quickly devised a perfect script.

The following day, major Japanese media outlets, including the Asahi Shimbun and Yomiuri Shimbun, all published the headline on their front pages.

The press release was so moving and tear-jerking:

"The flower of the empire withered in southern Shandong."

Major General Jun Sakamoto, commander of the 21st Infantry Brigade, was besieged by a Chinese army force ten times his size at Baitu Town.

General, you remained calm and composed in the face of danger, and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy.

When they were out of ammunition and food, in order to save face for the empire.

The general personally burned the regimental flag and all classified documents.

Then, facing the direction of the Eastern Imperial Palace, he shouted "Heavenly chaos, black card board!" before calmly committing seppuku, a heroic and tragic end.

The General Headquarters acted swiftly, not only issuing a press release but also immediately proceeding with the formalities to posthumously award Sakamoto Jun the rank of Lieutenant General.

They even started preparing for the soul-summoning ceremony at the shrine, determined to mold Sakamoto Jun into a new generation of imperial war god.

For a time, the fanatics in Japan who were unaware of the truth were moved to tears.

Many Japanese soldiers took to the streets, waving the Rising Sun flag and shouting that they wanted to avenge Sakamoto, the war god.