The Fourth Outstanding Person of Huangpu Military Academy

These newspapers remind readers that on September 22, Chen Youren, the Foreign Minister of the Guangzhou "Chen-Deng rebels," issued a joint statement in Moscow with Soviet Foreign Minister Georgy Chicherin. The Nationalist government forbade the dissemination of this joint statement in areas under its control. I will now secretly share its contents with you:

The joint statement stated that the Soviet Union would return sovereignty of the Chinese Eastern Railway to the Guangzhou government. The Guangzhou government considered itself to represent China, and the Soviet Union also considered it to represent China. This meant that the Soviet Union had already agreed to return sovereignty of the Chinese Eastern Railway to China before Marshal Zhang's armed parade and charade in Harbin.

So, hahaha, you know.

Chiang Kai-shek was furious. So the Cantonese bandits fired blanks, not a single soldier made it to the Northeast (and couldn't have gone there), and yet all the credit went to the Cantonese bandits. Am I a histrionic?

I'll confiscate the newspaper first.

However, the confiscation of newspapers seemed to have no effect in blocking the news, because newspapers from Guangzhou could now be transmitted to the area controlled by the Nanjing government - the civil exchanges between the two sides on the front line of confrontation, personnel, goods and even telegrams were all connected.

The latest statement from Guangzhou was that Chiang Kai-shek ignored the Nanjing government and spoke directly to Zhang Zuolin. The general idea was to rebuke Zhang Zuolin for not listening to the central government's instructions and acting on his own. The Sino-Soviet parties had only held the first round of negotiations on this matter. The second and third rounds of negotiations would determine the timetable for regaining sovereignty over the Chinese Eastern Railway. As a result, you, Zhang Zuolin, acted without organization and discipline. How could this be allowed? The statement finally asked Zhang Zuolin to go to Guangzhou to review and reconcile the matter.

Zhang Zuolin: "Spicy..."

The "Middle East Railway Sovereignty Reclaiming Case" has come to a temporary end in the form of a semi-drama, semi-farce, and even a bit of comedy.

Everyone is now speculating whether Chiang Kai-shek will go even further and forcibly nationalize the Soviet railways by depriving them of their shares. Chiang Kai-shek intended to use the issue of the Chinese Eastern Railway to scorch the Guangzhou government, but ultimately failed. He might find a new avenue that would undoubtedly anger the Soviets.

However, in his "Letter to the People" on Double Tenth Day, Zhang Zuolin indirectly expressed his willingness to respect private commercial property, implying that if Chiang Kai-shek wanted to seize shares, he would not support it.

Chen Tianheng in Moscow learned about the news by reading newspapers.

Now Chen Tianheng has to use the 1928 edition of the simplified and traditional Chinese character table to read Chinese.

The Guangzhou 1928 simplified Chinese characters simplified a total of 1100 Chinese characters, hundreds of which were batch simplifications and replacements such as "鳥->鸟", "馬->马", and "言->讠". There were more than 400 characters that had a redesigned Chinese character structure (or a different structure for vernacular characters).

But these more than 400 characters are not exactly the same as the simplified characters of OTL.

Of course, the simplified forms of most characters are the same, for example, "竊" is replaced by "偷", "醫" is replaced by "醫", and "塵" is replaced by "尘". By the way, the character "尘" was suggested by Chen Tianheng in a letter to Lu Xun in the first half of the year.

But there are also differences, such as the character "如处" was simplified to "处" instead of "处". By the time Chen Tianheng saw the simplified character list published in the July newspaper, it was too late.

Some characters have even been simplified more radically than the first simplified version. For example, the character for "留" (stay) wasn't actually simplified at all, but the 1928 simplified character table simplified the top half of the character to just a dot and a stroke. Furthermore, the bamboo-thread top of the character for "答" (answer) has been reduced to a dot, a stroke, and a horizontal stroke.

Generally speaking, Chen Tianheng can understand this version of simplified characters, but his reading speed is slower, and his mind will pause when reading certain characters. This should be resolved in about a year or six months.

Anyway, this simplified version of characters is much more comfortable. My own name, Chen, has finally become a proper Chen. In recent years, when Chen Tianheng wrote his name, he sometimes subconsciously wrote the first character "陈". After realizing that it was wrong, he had to write the two characters "天" and "恒" in cursive to hide it.

"The British Foreign Secretary has arrived in Hong Kong.

Wang Ruofei told Chen Tianheng about the latest domestic developments: "The Foreign Minister is staying in Hong Kong. He didn't say he was going to Guangzhou or Nanjing, and he didn't announce when he would leave for Japan, his next scheduled destination. He is stuck in Hong Kong.

Chen Tianheng: "I guess the Foreign Minister is squatting in Hong Kong just to deal with the issues on the Chinese side."

Wang Ruofei: "Yes. Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a team to Hong Kong for secret talks, but we don't know the outcome yet. The British Foreign Secretary... Oh, yes, Sir Austin Chamberlain, you may not be familiar with him.

Chen Tianheng: "This Chamberlain is just average, I only know his name, but I know his brother better.

This Chamberlain was not the British Prime Minister before World War II, but they were from the same family. Neville Chamberlain, who was Prime Minister, was the younger brother of Austin Chamberlain, who was Foreign Secretary.

Although Austin Chamberlain was looking at Guangzhou from Hong Kong, almost all of his questions and answers with reporters during his interview in Hong Kong revolved around China.

Moreover, Chamberlain made a shocking statement during the interview: "China Peace Theory".

"I believe that the Chinese civil war is now over and China has entered a state of peace."

Reporter: "...Sir, there are now two central governments in China, and both consider themselves the legitimate representatives of China."

Chamberlain: "This is a political disagreement between Nanjing and Shanghai. On the military side, Britain notes that there has been no direct fighting or armed conflict between Nanjing and Shanghai for ten months since the end of December last year.

Reporter: "The Nanjing government and the Guangzhou government were respectively the right-wing Kuomintang and the coalition government of the left-wing Kuomintang and the Communist Party. During the previous fierce conflict, the two governments accused each other of being executioners and traitors to the revolution, and also put each other's leaders on wanted lists. Isn't this situation a lull in preparation for the next war?

Chamberlain: "Although Nanjing and Shanghai did not send representatives to hold formal peace negotiations, the armies of both sides adhered to their respective peace declarations. We also noticed that Guangzhou and Shanghai were working hard to normalize their fiscal revenue and expenditure instead of investing all their finances in armaments. All these phenomena showed that China was no longer the country in the midst of civil war.

Reporter: "So how long does the UK think this peace can last?"

Chamberlain: "I think it depends on whether the Guangzhou and Nanjing governments themselves are determined to destroy each other. In addition, Europe and the United States should also make some endorsement of China's peace. China is peaceful now, and we should hope that it will remain peaceful in the future.

Reporter: "So, Sir, your trip to the Far East is to use Britain's efforts to increase the weight of peace between China and the two countries?"

Chamberlain: “That’s exactly it.

Reporter: "Sir, we've noticed that a group of Sopwith Aeronautical Company employees secretly entered Guangzhou, and the team also included three recently retired British Air Force officers. The Royal Ordnance Factory is also making similar contacts, and according to reporters, the Royal Ordnance Factory sent two delegations to Nanjing and Guangzhou at the same time. Can it be understood that the UK is defining China's current situation as peaceful in order to open arms sales to China?"

Chamberlain: "No, no, no, Mr. Reporter, your vision is too narrow. Britain hopes to develop civil, commercial trade and investment relations with all parties in China. Arms sales... are only part of the trade that Britain hopes to open with China, not the main part."

Reporter: "...So, what are your thoughts on the roles played by the Guangzhou and Nanjing governments in the recent repossession of the Middle East Railway rights?

"The Middle East Railway right of way—" Chamberlain drawled out his words, clearly trying to formulate his answer:

"From the British perspective, the final solution to the railway rights-of-way dispute between the Soviet Union and China lacked compensation for the rights reclaimed. However, if adequate compensation had been given for the rights reclaimed, this solution could have been applied to British railways in China.

Reporter: "In other words, the UK is willing to give up its railway rights in China in this way?"

Chapter 18, Let’s Get Rich!

Chen Tianheng's graduation thesis defense is coming up

Three months of advanced courses, two months of internship in the Ukrainian Military District (actually I didn’t stay there the whole time), and a defense one month after the internship, all of this happened in a blink of an eye.

During the more than half year that Chen Tianheng stayed in the Soviet Union, he experienced four seasons, from early spring to summer, and then from summer to cold, autumn, and early winter. It even snowed lightly on the day of his final defense.

The title of my graduation thesis had already been decided when I was assigned to the Ukrainian Military District for internship: "Space Utilization in National Defense Strategy."

When writing the paper, Triandafillov and Tukhachevsky both subtly hinted to Chen Tianheng after seeing the first draft that some of the settings were too shocking and would cause shock to the General Staff and even the Central Committee if they were written out directly. For example, when foreign enemies invaded, Belarus and Ukraine would be completely occupied and the entire front would be wiped out - this kind of setting would be terrifying.

Chen Tianheng also followed suit and downplayed the setting of this great defeat in his own paper, only mentioning it briefly in an inadvertent corner.

After all, this was the Soviet Union's business, not ours. Why bother arguing so heatedly at the defense?

However, the two core points of my graduation thesis must be retained:

In the national defense war, when encountering setbacks in the first stage, the city as a support point must be defended for as long as possible, weapons and ammunition must be stored, preferably with a small ammunition factory, non-combat personnel must be evacuated to ensure that there is a surplus of food, water and medicine in the city, and the troops must be trained to dare to fight street battles.

During the large-scale evacuation of the homeland defense war, it was necessary to consider withdrawing the population and industry east of Kazan, or even east of the Urals. Only these places were sufficiently safe. The standard of safety was outside the combat radius of enemy bombers.

"Staff officers all have graduation trips, and so do the graduates of the Frunze Senior Command Class. Medvedev, where are you going?

Senior tactical instructor Triandafilov asked Chen Tianheng.

"I want to go to the Kama Armored Forces School, can I go?

Triandafilov shook his head: "That won't work.

"Is there no way to get Dean Robert to make an exception?"

"You might go to Comrade Stalin, maybe it will work.

"Forget it," Chen Tianheng said. If he were to ask Stalin about such a small matter, he would be completely confused.

Guderian has disappeared since they met at the "11th Department" of the academy a few months ago. It is estimated that Guderian is now in Kama with other German staff officers and sergeants playing with the first-level tractor of World of Warcraft - the German "early experimental vehicle" tank, and thinking about various elements of blitzkrieg.

By the way, the Kama Armored School should also have the Soviet-made Tier 1 tractor and MS-1/T-18 light tank, 108 of which were produced this year at the Leningrad Bolshevik Plant 174.

"Do you really think two people are enough to drive a tank?"

In the independent light tank battalion of the Leningrad Military District, Chen Tianheng boarded a T-18 tank and sat in the commander's seat.

The T-18 tank has a crew of two: a driver and a commander. The commander also serves as the gunner, loader, and coaxial machine gunner. Fortunately, modern tanks lack radios, otherwise the commander would also have to serve as the radio operator.

"I don't know, Davarish. Anyway, one pilot is enough."

The driver said something, started the engine, and the tank rumbled and vibrated, slowly driving out of the parking space.

After the Battle of Jinpu Road, Chen Tianheng drove the captured Renault FT-17 tank. Today, he drives the T-18 again. He feels that tank technology, or automobile technology, has indeed improved in the past few years.

While the T-18 wasn't a particularly rugged and reliable tank, it was clearly not on the same level as the Renault FT-17, which would break down with a loud bang after only a few hundred meters. The Renault's loud bang was often accompanied by a breakdown.

On the bumpy road, Chen Tianheng straightened up. The observation tower on the top of the turret had a very wide field of view, and he could see almost 360 degrees in front, behind, left and right.

However, the annoying thing was that, with only two members, when Chen Tianheng stood up to observe his surroundings, he couldn't operate the 37mm main gun to fire, even if the gun was loaded. He couldn't reach the trigger. He had to lean down again, see the target through the main gun scope, aim, and then fire.

Chen Tianheng wanted the driver to turn and head towards the sloping fields, but then he discovered a new problem:

He and the driver couldn't hear each other. The noise of the engine and tracks was so loud that it drowned out the sound of their voices. He had to lean over and pat the driver on the head, then on the left shoulder, before the driver would turn left.

If you tap the right shoulder, it means turn right. Pulling back means stop. Let the tank continue to move forward. Just tell the driver verbally. Once the tank stops, you can hear what you say.

"Where is car number 2?"

Chen Tianheng stood up again and looked back through the observation tower. Car No. 2 was behind him on the left.

Now Chen Tianheng couldn't get in touch with the No. 2 tank, without a radio or even a flag. Unless he opened the turret cover, leaned out half of his body, and gestured like a traffic policeman, directing the No. 2 tank to turn or attack a specific target.

The tanks couldn't communicate with each other, so the independent tank battalion's daily drills involved assigning tasks to all tanks before the tank company set out. "You, line up in a single file and charge straight ahead for three kilometers. Attack anything you see, and don't attack your own troops." As for what to do after the three kilometers, we'll disembark and have a meeting once we reach our destination.

"You can prepare several flags of different colors in your tanks in the future," Chen Tianheng said. "When the tank platoon or tank company needs to change tactics or missions, the commander will put the corresponding flag on the top of the tank.

"Davarich, your idea is really good!"

Chen Tianheng: ""

The T-18 and the current tactical regulations of the Soviet tank forces gave Chen Tianheng the feeling that this thing was basically unusable.

Of course, at this time, all countries in the world that had tanks had similar primitive tactics.

However, by 1941, the basic tactical skills of Soviet tank soldiers and infantry-tank coordination were not much different from what they are now, which is a bit incredible.

In the second half of 1941, entire battalions of T-34-76 tanks were decimated by German Panzer III-equipped tank units. Patience was sufficient to keep the German tanks from succumbing to the Soviets' flanks or rears. Alternatively, a Soviet tank brigade would launch an assault, with nearly a hundred tanks annihilated by a defensive position constructed by a German infantry division in less than 24 hours.

"Chen, in the past six months, you've worked in the Soviet Union at the General Staff, Front, Army Group, and so on down to the Battalion. Do you intend to handle all levels of command?"

Chief of General Staff Shaposhnikov asked Chen Tianheng who had returned to Moscow.

"No, what I inspected and experienced in Moscow was a tank battalion. A tank battalion is not an ordinary battalion," Chen Tianheng explained. "As you know, China doesn't have a tank unit. If I want to drive a tank, I can only experience it here.

Shaposhnikov: "Will China have its own tank forces in the future? When will China have its own tank forces?

“I think it’s been in the last few years.

Chen Tianheng's statement certainly had a basis. Chen Jitang, the Guangdong warlord of the 0TL, had already established the Guangdong Army's armored corps in 1936, consisting of two tank companies, 24 Vickers ultralight tanks, and two armored vehicle companies, 30 armored vehicles.

In other words, even with the lowest level of shopping, you can buy a small experimental armored unit.

Shaposhnikov: "Chen, the journey from Moscow to Leningrad doesn't count as your staff trip. You can also choose a destination for an inspection of a battle battlefield."

"Stalingrad," Chen Tianheng said, "but in addition to wanting to study Stalingrad from the perspective of the battle, I also hope to visit the factories in Stalingrad.

Shaposhnikov: “Which factories?

“Go to as many factories as you can.

Originally, Chen Tianheng believed that the future Soviet-German battlefield would be full of uncertainty. After all, that was something that would happen more than ten years later. Now, as long as the chaotic butterfly flaps its wings a few times, things in more than ten years will change a lot.

But when he arrived in Leningrad and saw the performance of the pilot troops equipped with the Soviet Union's most advanced tanks, Chen Tianheng felt that this was not necessarily the case. History's ability to maintain its original track might also be very strong.

If this is the case...Stalingrad, the bloody battle in history is likely to break out again.

"Director Wang, I still have the opportunity to travel on a government-funded trip to the Soviet Union. I plan to go to Stalingrad next."

At the liaison office, Chen Tianheng told Wang Ruofei.

"The Soviet Union really spent a lot of money to train the students graduating from your advanced command class," said Wang Ruofei.

"If they are Soviet officers, they will normally become generals after graduating from this class. This is a very necessary training process."

Wang Ruofei: "By the way, there is a telegram from you in China, it seems to be...

It was sent from your cousin's family.

"Oh? Let me see.

Chen Tianheng took the telegram and opened it. Because it was a private telegram, the telegraph office had sealed the envelope when it was delivered.

Back in Rongzhuang, my second uncle's crops have finally grown. The feedback from the tasting notes has been positive, as they've reduced inflammation and relieved internal heat.

Chen Tianheng: "What?!"

This was the code word agreed upon by Chen Ying and Chen Tianheng. Rongzhuang, their hometown, = the pharmaceutical research institute in collaboration with Sun Yat-sen University. Eldest uncle = the research group specializing in traditional Chinese medicine anti-inflammatory drugs; Second uncle = chemically synthesized anti-inflammatory drugs; Third uncle = biological anti-inflammatory drugs.

A breakthrough in chemically synthesized anti-inflammatory drugs?

Sulfonamide is coming out?

What a surprise!

"Hahaha, hahaha!" Chen Tianheng shook Wang Ruofei's shoulders vigorously: "Hahaha! Make a fortune!

Wang Ruofei: "Hey, didn't your cousin become rich a long time ago?

Chen Tianheng:

"This time it's not my cousin who got rich, nor is it me who got rich, it's us who got rich!

"Director Wang, the Stalingrad expedition has been canceled. When does the next scheduled ship from the Black Sea to Guangzhou depart? I need to return home immediately.