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

Dai Yunong was prepared and bowed to report: "Principal, it has been verified. The Security Regiment cooperated with the 109th Regiment to severely damage the Japanese 7th Regiment and capture an important enemy officer. The intelligence came from this person, and the original signed document has been handed over to the students."

Chiang Kai-shek's face immediately lit up with a smile, and he loudly praised Zhao Yunwen: "With two regiments, you have severely damaged an enemy regiment, annihilating over two thousand enemy soldiers. This is an exhilarating victory! Zhao Yunwen is promoted to Major General and Commander-in-Chief of the Jiangsu Provincial Security Corps, commanding two security regiments. The original commander-in-chief has been transferred to the Military Commission for further arrangements, and all his officers and soldiers have been promoted one rank. The list will be determined by Zhao Yunwen and submitted to the Military Commission for record-keeping! Telegraph Zhao Yunwen that he must hold Dachang until reinforcements arrive, or he will be court-martialed!"

With this promotion, Zhao Yunwen directly rose to the rank of Major General, bringing him into Chiang Kai-shek's sights. As long as he held the line, his entire unit would be incorporated into the Central Army. Chen Cixiu beamed with joy, having already made up his mind to bring this elite force into the Civil Engineering Clique. Everyone stepped forward to congratulate him, as the Civil Engineering Clique gained another formidable general.

Once everyone had calmed down a bit, Chiang Kai-shek changed the subject: "Gentlemen, what are your thoughts on the intelligence regarding the Japanese high command's secret formation of the Tenth Army and their plan to land in Hangzhou Bay?"

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances. This matter was of utmost importance, and no one dared to speak rashly—speaking correctly would bring no reward, while speaking incorrectly would mean taking the blame.

"You decide whether to resign."

Chen Cixiu stepped forward in response: "It is very rare for high-ranking Japanese officers to surrender. This matter is suspicious and needs further verification by the intelligence department. The formation and operational direction of the enemy's 10th Army are top secret. How could a major know about it? We cannot rule out the possibility that this is a counter-espionage plot by the Japanese."

His concerns were not unfounded; a misjudgment of the defensive focus could have disastrous consequences. Chiang Kai-shek then looked at Bai Jiansheng: "What does Jiansheng think?"

"The core of the Japanese army's current military operation is in Oba, with the intention of cutting off the retreat route of the Ninth Army. This is the key to victory or defeat on the battlefield."

Bai Jiansheng said in a deep voice:

"There is no major battle in the area under the jurisdiction of the Eighth Army Group on the southern front, and the troops are sufficient. Even if the Japanese really land in Hangzhou Bay, Zhang Xianghua can deal with it. My suggestion is to be on the safe side and order Commander Zhang to strengthen the defense of Hangzhou Bay. Under no circumstances should a single soldier be drawn from the Eighth Army Group."

Everyone agreed, saying it was the safest plan, as it wouldn't affect the main battlefield and would also reinforce the southern front. Truly a master strategist, his considerations were flawless.

Chiang Kai-shek's mind was entirely focused on the decisive battle at Dachang. He immediately made a decision: "Proceed according to Jiansheng's plan! Dachang is the lifeline of the city's 100,000 elite troops; there can be no mistakes! I have given Zhao Yunwen a death order and promoted him exceptionally; he will surely go all out. The main force of the 9th Division is fiercely attacking Dachang, and the Security Regiment and the 109th Regiment have limited strength and cannot hold out for long. Reinforcements must arrive within two days! Jiansheng is in charge of this matter; there must be no errors!"

The Ninth Army Group was the most elite of the elite forces; he couldn't accept losing even a single division, let alone being annihilated. The 21st Army Group belonged to the Guangxi clique, so sending Bai Jiansheng to urge them on was the most appropriate thing to do. Bai Jiansheng readily agreed, though he was also worried that Zhao Yunwen wouldn't be able to hold the position—taking over the position from Zhao Yunwen would be far easier than taking it back from the Japanese, a calculation he had clearly made.

At the Dachang front, the Japanese 35th Regiment's first attack was repelled, leaving behind more than a hundred corpses. It was clear that they had not used their full strength and were only probing.

Inside the security regiment's command post, Zhao Yunwen was deep in thought, staring at a map. The chief of staff, his steps light as if springy, arrived before he did, his voice preceding him: "Regimental Commander, good news! An urgent telegram from the Military Commission—you've been promoted!"

Upon hearing the word "promotion," Zhao Yunwen's heart tightened instinctively, and he hurriedly asked the system, "System, will this affect my ability to laze around and collect rewards?"

[No! Getting promoted while lying down is a good thing. The core of the system is the War of Resistance against Japan. As long as it is beneficial to the host's war effort, it will be considered a positive boost and will not affect the daily check-in rewards.]

Zhao Yunwen was instantly relieved. If it affected his ability to lie down, he would definitely refuse the official position, let alone be incorporated into the Central Army. The Security Regiment had no organizational constraints and could decide its own military pay and supplies. Being a small military leader was far more comfortable than being controlled by the Central Army.

After reading the telegram, Zhao Yunwen's face lit up with joy. The position of Commander of the Jiangsu Provincial Security Corps was exactly what he wanted! The First Security Regiment had been decimated and disbanded on the spot. The remnants were assigned to the 87th Division, and the Military Commission even allowed the reconstruction of the First Regiment. Now, he had a real Jiangsu Provincial Security Corps under his command.

"Lu Ping, there is no time for reorganization during wartime. I have decided to merge the Third Battalion and the Supplementary Battalion into the Second Regiment, with you concurrently serving as the regimental commander; merge the First Battalion and the Second Battalion into the First Regiment, with me personally serving as the commander; the Artillery Battalion will be directly under the General Regiment, and the organization of the other units will remain unchanged for the time being." Zhao Yunwen immediately made the decision.

"This is the safest plan, with a seamless transition. Each regiment has more than two thousand people, and we can expand it when the time is right," Lu Ping immediately agreed.

"Then let's do it this way. Notify all battalion commanders to hold a meeting and invite Regiment Commander Qin as well," Zhao Yunwen instructed. Since it involved the reorganization of command authority, Qin Qingwu naturally had to be informed.

A moment later, Qin Qingwu and all the battalion commanders arrived. Zhao Yunwen immediately read out the Military Commission's promotion and reorganization orders, which brought smiles to everyone's faces. Qin Qingwu stood up and declared, "First of all, congratulations to Commander Zhao on his promotion! On behalf of the 109th Regiment, I declare that before the handover of duties, my brothers and I will resolutely obey General Zhao's command!"

"Commander Qin, you're too kind. There's no need for such formalities between us." Zhao Yunwen gestured for him to sit down, then said in a deep voice, "Brothers, the four infantry battalions have been merged into two regiments. The organization is finalized, and the original tasks of each unit remain unchanged! The higher-ups have issued a strict order: at the Dachang position, even if it's fought to the last man, not a single step must be retreated! As long as we live, the position stands!"

Everyone stood up in unison, their roar echoing throughout the command post: "As long as we're here, the position will stand!"

"We swear to fight to the death against this position!"

Before the words were even finished, "Boom boom boom—" the thunderous sound of cannons suddenly erupted, shaking the earth. The Japanese army's second wave of fierce attacks was far more intense than the first!

No one panicked in the command post. Zhao Yunwen's eyes flashed coldly, and he shouted, "Meeting adjourned! Everyone back to your positions, prepare for battle!"

Outside the window, the sky was ablaze with the glow of gunfire; the fierce battle to defend Dachang had reached its climax!