Even if I'm a useless bum at Whampoa Military Academy, I'll be invincible in the War of Re

After reading the victory report, Li Delin, at the theater command headquarters, exclaimed in praise:

"Yan Mou, I am now really a little jealous of Commander Chang. Zhao Yunwen is a master of tactics and has unique insights into strategy. Most importantly, he has a pure heart and deserves the praise of being an unparalleled national hero."

With the guerrilla column in place, it's like having 100,000 troops at your command. I must recommend General Zhao for commendation!

Xu Yanmou also chimed in:

"The guerrilla column won a series of victories east of Linyi, not only severely damaging the 21st Infantry Regiment, but also inflicting heavy losses on the 5th Cavalry Regiment and the 5th Field Artillery Regiment, effectively containing the Sakamoto Detachment."

"Lord De, I suggest we forward the victory report to the Third Army Corps to boost morale!"

Li Delin nodded and said:

"Following Yan Mou's advice, we also sent a telegram to General Zhao, informing him that the command had agreed to their plan to besiege Tangtou, but that they should not reveal their full strength. It would be best to use an infantry regiment, supplemented by a small number of artillery, while the main force would remain hidden in the mountains and wait for an opportunity."

"Lord De, with guerrilla units holding the city at the flank, is it still necessary to send the 59th Army to reinforce Linyi?"

After a moment of contemplation, Li Delin said:

"We still need them. The guerrilla column has been fighting continuously for ten days, and they should be allowed to rest for a while. Besides, the war zone needs such a strong reserve force."

Li Delin had his own plans. He always had concerns about the Japanese. Besides the 5th and 10th Divisions, the North China Area Army had at least two more mobile divisions available. How could he reveal all his cards at the beginning?

Jiangcheng, the Military Commission, a constellation of generals.

Beneath the enormous map, Chiang Kai-shek frowned, the battle along the Jinpu Railway weighing heavily on everyone's minds.

The loss of Shanghai and Nanjing put immense pressure on the Nationalist government. The loss of North China and its fertile lands brought an overwhelming sense of impending national subjugation and annihilation.

The Jinpu Railway and the Huanghuai region cannot be lost again. If we don't win another decisive victory, morale will plummet and the troops will be difficult to manage!

Han Fuqu set a bad example. Although he had already executed Han Fuqu on the spot with swift and decisive measures, it was still difficult to reverse the decline. What the National Government needs now is a victory.

Chiang Kai-shek turned his gaze to Linyi City, his brows furrowing even more deeply, and said in a deep voice:

"Jiansheng, in your opinion, can Linyi City be defended?"

The Jinpu Railway is now under the control of another major figure in the Guangxi clique. Bai Jiansheng naturally hopes for a successful first battle in Linyi City to demonstrate the Guangxi clique's power, but he is unsure and can only say:

"The value of Linyi City lies in its ability to deplete the Sakamoto Detachment. The Third Army Corps in the city is nominally an army corps, but in reality, it only consists of the 39th Division."

The opponent was the infamous Sakamoto Brigade. You should all remember that in North China, Itagaki Seishiro relied on the Sakamoto Detachment to defeat tens of thousands of people in the Second World War zone.

"It's difficult to withstand a full-scale attack from the Sakamoto Detachment with just the 39th Division!"

Bai Jiansheng's words were tactful, not directly answering the question, but everyone understood. If a dozen or so troops couldn't stop Sakamoto's detachment, how could they expect to hold onto a division?

Chiang Kai-shek felt a tightness in his chest and wanted to reprimand him face to face, but he swallowed the words back, unsure of his own abilities.

The ferocity of the Itagaki Division was already a well-known fact within the Nationalist Army. Chiang Kai-shek was unaware of the Sakamoto Detachment, but he had experienced the Kunisaki Brigade firsthand in the battles of Shanghai and Nanjing. No Central Army division could withstand their onslaught!

A terrifying silence fell over the command room; you could hear a pin drop. Chiang Kai-shek remained silent, so who dared to say a word?

The oppressive atmosphere in the command room was broken by the cheerful footsteps of Lin Wei, the chief of staff. Chiang Kai-shek wanted to get angry, but he managed to suppress it. He hoped that Lin Wei could give him a reasonable explanation.

"Commander, good news! Good news from the Linyi direction!"

"Director Lin, where did this good news come from! It's not that Linyi City repelled an attack, is it? Let's not talk about that, this is the Military Commission."

Chen Cixiu sensed the principal's dissatisfaction, so he took the opportunity to help Lin Wei out of the predicament, which could be considered as doing him a favor.

Lin Wei was unmoved and instead raised his voice, saying:

"Duke De telegraphed to report his achievements. It was General Zhao Yunwen's guerrilla column that won four battles east of Linyi City, severely damaging the 11th Infantry Regiment, the 5th Cavalry Regiment, and the 5th Artillery Regiment. Another unit blocked Lai Wu's detachment east of Fei County for several days, annihilating 3,000 enemy soldiers!"

Quiet, eerily quiet, no one could believe their ears, including Chiang Kai-shek.

Bai Jiansheng habitually questioned:

"After the guerrilla column broke through the encirclement, weren't only a few thousand remnants left? They were still fighting on two fronts, single-handedly holding off two detachments. How did Zhao Yunwen manage that?"

This is precisely why no one dares to believe it. Even with Li Delin's support, it's unbelievable and completely violates the rules of the battlefield.

Facing all the questioning gazes, Lin Wei straightened his chest and said:

"This result has been verified by the Attendant's Office. In addition, Duke De has replenished the guerrilla column with 5 elite soldiers, restoring its combat strength."

Although it was still hard to believe, Chiang Kai-shek chose to believe because the Nationalist government desperately needed a victory to boost morale.

He took the telegram from Lin Wei and read it through. His eyes gradually brightened, his tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and even his back straightened up a lot. This was his confidence.

"Well done, Yunwen truly is my good student!"

"Who says that graduates of the Whampoa Military Academy lack the talent of great generals? General Zhao Yunwen certainly deserves that title!"

"Lord De even called him a tactical genius, a contemporary Zhao Zilong, and unparalleled in loyalty and righteousness!"

"Look at this, everyone! This is what a good student from Whampoa Military Academy should be like!"

After Chiang Kai-shek finished speaking, he handed the telegram to the others, looking like a child showing off a toy, his arrogance written all over his face. Zhao Yunwen was not only a graduate of the first class, but also his fellow townsman, who had been recommended to the school through Chiang's connections.

After the telegram reached Chen Cixiu, he immediately began to recommend his generals for credit:

"Principal, Zhao Yunwen has rendered such a great service and deserves a reward. We mustn't let the soldiers' morale suffer!"

"Now that you've resigned, what kind of reward do you think would be appropriate to boost morale?"

"Reporting to the principal, General Zhao's troops have never had their own organizational structure. The guerrilla column is always somewhat of a hybrid, and it doesn't look like the elite of the Central Army at all."

I suggest that they be given the designation of a Class A division, formally incorporated into the Central Army's order of command, and commanded by General Zhao as a lieutenant general. This would boost morale.

The two men, working in unison, settled the matter. Chiang Kai-shek then inquired about He Jingzhi:

"Jingzhi, which division designation is currently vacant?"

He Jingzhi was very frustrated. He was in charge of staffing and should have been the one to bring it up, but Chen Cixiu stole the spotlight.

Chiang Kai-shek was riding high at the moment. Since the Chang'an Incident, he had been keeping a low profile. Zhao Yunwen was currently in the limelight, so he had to do him this favor.

After thinking for a moment, He Jingzhi said:

"The 107th Division of the 67th Army is temporarily vacant after being disbanded, but the 107th Division only has two brigades and four regiments."

Chiang Kai-shek shook his head and said:

"Not enough. The 107th Division is upgraded to a Class A Division, comprising the 322nd, 323rd, and 324th Brigades, each with two regiments, numbered 643rd to 648th."

He Jingzhi had to admire Chiang Kai-shek's good memory. The 323rd Brigade was the same brigade that was formed during the reorganization of the 67th Army. At that time, four divisions were merged into two, and the 323rd Brigade and two regiments were permanently disbanded. It was just right to give it to the 107th Division.

Incorporating the Northeast Army's designations into the Central Army was a routine practice for Chiang Kai-shek. After the Battle of Songjiang, the 67th Army was wiped out and withdrawn, and the 108th Division was given to the Central Army's 25th Army, leaving the 107th Division vacant.

Chen Cixiu stepped forward and said:

"The guerrilla detachment was previously under the command of the 18th Army, and now the 107th Division should rightfully be incorporated into the 18th Army."

Chiang Kai-shek naturally had no objections and readily agreed, leaving no room for others to object.

The matter was settled, and the atmosphere in the command room became more lively.

Upon receiving the telegram, Xie Polu, the chief of staff of the guerrilla column headquarters, was overjoyed and excitedly came to report:

"Commander, an urgent telegram from the Military Commission!"

Zhao Yunwen was a little confused. What could possibly require the Military Commission to send him a telegram, bypassing the proper channels?