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

In the conference room of the Corps headquarters, generals were gathered, each with a smile on their face, feeling honored.

Zhao Yunwen became the most handsome guy, and everyone greeted him with smiles, trying to get close to him and calling him brother.

Yu Liangzhen, commander of the 74th Army, patted Zhao Yunwen on the shoulder and said:

"Brother Yunwen, the principal has privately praised you highly, calling you a model of the Whampoa Military Academy and one of the most victorious generals in Zhejiang Province. If everyone were like you, we wouldn't have to worry about not eliminating the Japanese invaders or the prosperity of the Party and the nation!"

Zhao Yunwen quickly and modestly replied:

"Brother Liangzhen, please don't make fun of me. Principal, you flatter me. I am humbled. With so many famous generals from Whampoa Military Academy, and with Brother Liangzhen and Brother Shoushan here, how could I possibly be called an ever-victorious general?"

Zhao Yunwen gave Yu Liangzhen and Hu Shoushan plenty of face. One was the principal's nephew, and the other was recognized as the most favored person. He didn't need to compete for this empty title.

Yu Liangzhen's 74th Army fought very well, and Hu Shoushan was the first Whampoa Military Academy graduate to be promoted to general and the first to be promoted to army commander. Both of them were very proud of themselves. Seeing that Zhao Yunwen was very accommodating, they praised him back. Everyone carried him on their laurels.

Hu Shoushan also came over to try and get closer, saying with a smile:

"Brother Yunwen, you are a man of few words but great talent. I knew back in school that you were destined for greatness and would soar to great heights sooner or later. You fought a brilliant battle at Yangguji!"

"Before the commander-in-chief arrives, explain in detail, so the brothers can broaden their horizons."

The others echoed this sentiment, seeing it as an opportunity for Zhao Yunwen to shine. Hu Shoushan and the others were all highly intelligent, so there was no need to worry that Zhao Yunwen would threaten their positions.

The Nationalist Army doesn't just rely on ability to make a living. "Huang, Zhe, Lu Yi" is the standard, and the rest depends on connections and the principal's favor. Don't be fooled by Zhao Yunwen's current popularity; he didn't attend the Army General Officer Training Program, so his starting point was low, and he can't replace Hu Shoushan's position as the number one.

Zhao Yunwen simply gave a brief introduction to the situation in Yanggu Village, and then said:

"The 2nd Regiment in Lanfeng had suffered heavy losses in previous battles, and was exhausted and unsettled. It was caught off guard by the 322nd Brigade. The Japanese commander was unaware of our situation and feared annihilation, so he only put up a brief resistance before withdrawing from Lanfeng, leaving behind more than a thousand corpses, which allowed our brothers to get away with it."

"Subsequently, the 322nd Brigade left a part to take over Lanfeng City, while the main force divided into several routes to besiege Yangguji and Shuangtaji. Relying on its superior manpower and firepower, it defeated them one by one, thus easily recapturing key points such as Lanfeng, Yangguji, and Shuangtaji, and connecting them into one area."

After capturing Lanfeng, the Japanese right column left the Second Regiment to defend the city, and drew an under-strength battalion from the 59th Regiment to defend key points such as Yangguji. The main force crossed the Longhai Railway and launched a deep attack into the southwest, intending to cut off our forces.

After we recaptured Lanfeng and Yangguji, the right column was split into two parts. The 2nd Regiment was north of the railway, while the main force of the right column was in the south. The main force of the right column became an isolated force and was at risk of being annihilated at any time.

After I led the main force to the scene, I readjusted the deployment, placing two brigades along the Lanfeng-Yangguji line, and one brigade on the eastern front to block the enemy's flanking attack on Shuangtaji...

As Zhao Yunwen explained, everyone gained a clear understanding of the battle at Yangguji. When the story reached its climax, they couldn't help but applaud, including Xue Boling, who had arrived at some unknown time.

Because his performance was so spectacular, most people didn't even notice his arrival until it was over, at which point they all stood up and saluted.

Zhao Yunwen had already noticed, and he was about to greet him when Xue Boling stopped him with a look. Only after Zhao Yunwen finished speaking did he take over the room and become the undisputed protagonist.

"Brilliant! The reputation is well-deserved. The whole process seems to have many coincidences, but every punch from the 107th Division hit the Japanese in the weak spot. The plan was meticulous and the steps were linked. The troops were used like gods, showing the demeanor of a famous general. We should all learn from it."

Zhao Yunwen quickly bowed and said modestly:

"Commander-in-Chief, you flatter me. I was just following orders. It was mainly due to the good coordination of the principal and the commander-in-chief, and the fact that my colleagues tied down the main force of the Japanese, that the 107th Division was able to get away with this."

Everyone smiled, as if they had all contributed. Xue Boling nodded in satisfaction. Zhao Yunwen was right; he was the one who sent the 107th Division to reinforce Lanfeng. He was capable of handling this task effectively.

After a few words of modesty, Xue Boling got down to business. He hadn't summoned his generals to listen to Zhao Yunwen show off; that was just a side note. The core matter was to deploy the plan for the second encirclement and annihilation of the Doihara Division.

Everyone returned to their seats and sat down according to the nameplates on the table. Although Zhao Yunwen was only a division commander, his seat was very close to the front, and no one objected.

In the military, rank and seniority matter, but strength is even more important. The 107th Division had two brigades and six regiments, plus artillery regiments, cavalry regiments, independent regiments, and heavy regiments under its command, making it second only to the 27th Army in strength. Hu Shoushan's 17th Army Corps only had the First Army, which was comparable in strength to the 107th Division. The 74th Army had two divisions, four brigades, and eight regiments, which were not as strong as the 107th Division.

The encirclement and annihilation plan was standard. The army group had a huge numerical advantage. As long as each unit performed its duties, even if it could not completely annihilate the 14th Division, it would at least cripple them.

The 107th Division's mission was still to hold the line between Lanfeng and Yangguji, preventing the Japanese from advancing westward or southward.

The main offensive was handed over to the 74th Army, the 71st Army, and the 17th Army Corps. The 107th Division had already swallowed a large piece of meat and could not take any more.

Because Zhao Yunwen recaptured Lanfeng City ahead of schedule, the forces besieging the 14th Division were more abundant. The generals, including Xue Boling, were full of confidence and turned the military deployment meeting into a cake-dividing meeting, with Kenji Doihara becoming the delicious cake in their eyes.

Chiang Kai-shek was watching from Zheng County; who wouldn't want to show their face?

Just when Zhao Yunwen thought the meeting was about to end, Xue Boling unexpectedly called on his general:

"Commander Zhao, in your opinion, is there anything about this battle plan that needs improvement?"

Zhao Yunwen was displeased; this was putting him in a very difficult position!

With so many big shots present, it seems he receives special care from Commander Xue, but in reality, there's a hidden agenda.

If they win, that's fine. But if they lose, Zhao Yunwen has already raised concerns. If he failed to identify the problem, he would be held responsible for negligence, which would at least affect his reputation in the army.

Zhao Yunwen had no choice but to say:

"With over 100,000 men besieging the Doihara Division, they'll be severely weakened, if not killed, and victory is within reach. If we must point out a hidden danger, the Shangqiu direction is a weak point. Once the Japanese break through, the 107th Division will have to face Japanese reinforcements directly."

At the same time, they could also bypass Lanfeng and outflank our main force from the west, reaching north of Lanfeng. We must be on guard!

Zhao Yunwen's words made Xue Boling's heart tighten, but Shangqiu was defended by the 8th Army, which could hold off the Japanese for three days. Thinking of this, he said directly:

"Commander Huang is a renowned general in the army and a valiant graduate of the Whampoa Military Academy. The 8th Army is also an elite force equipped with German weapons. Defending Shangqiu should not be a problem. Just in case, I will leave a unit to defend the area west of Lanfeng to ensure the flank security of the main attacking force."

Commander Zhao's 107th Division must hold its ground and absolutely not allow Japanese reinforcements to cross the Longhai Railway!

Zhao Yunwen stood up and accepted the order. He was there to plug the holes in Yangguji. Before Huang Jie fled, he was still a famous general with a smooth career. Without evidence, they couldn't say much.

Seeing that all the problems had been resolved, Xue Boling began to summarize his statement, loudly proclaiming:

"Commander Chang has given the order!"

Everyone stood up in unison, listening to the instructions:

"The nation is facing a difficult situation. You are all my good students. You must carry forward the spirit of our school, love and unite, cooperate with each other, and annihilate the Doihara Division north of the Longhai Railway."

Anyone who dares to disobey military orders and misses a crucial opportunity will be severely punished!

Zhao Yunwen couldn't help but sneer. These words were just for show, not to be taken seriously. The two "runaways" were only dismissed and investigated after the war. Once the storm passed, they were reinstated and their careers flourished. One became a naval admiral, and the other a first-class general in the army.

Only Long Muhan, who had no powerful connections, was made an example of to deter others, which was considered an explanation to the public.

The crowd chanted slogans in unison once again, their momentum unstoppable.

The second siege of the Doihara Division has begun.