Bright Sword: Iron Will 64

Chapter 64: Special Commendation

January 21, 2025

Chapter 64: Special Commendation

Inside his office, Chiang Kai-shek sat with a gloomy expression.

The successive defeats on the Songhu battlefield (Battle of Shanghai) resulted in stacks of war reports on his desk, over ten centimeters thick.

Almost all were reports of defeat and pleas for reinforcements; very few were good news.

Even a small-scale engagement resulting in the annihilation of over a hundred enemy soldiers would have been something!

Based on the current situation and gathered intelligence, the Japanese army might be planning a large-scale encirclement of the Chinese army.

The situation was extremely unfavorable!

The mediation efforts of the Western powers remained unanswered.

*Knock knock knock!*

A knocking sound came from outside the door.

Chiang Kai-shek straightened his expression, affecting a nonchalant demeanor: “Come in!”

*Creak!*

A harsh sound of hinges echoed as He Yingqin, the Minister of Military Affairs, quickly entered.

Walking to the desk, he presented a telegram with both hands: “Commander-in-Chief, a military report from Shanxi!”

Chiang Kai-shek let out a long sigh, his face etched with worry as he accepted the telegram.

Yan Laosi, that local warlord (literally “Old Yan the West”), was a major headache. Since the start of the full-scale war and his nominal submission to the central government, he had been acting as a de facto independent entity.

In reality, he had been treating the Nanjing government as an ATM (a source of funds), applying for various defense appropriations and special funds.

Chiang Kai-shek had grudgingly approved several requests, but to no avail.

Datong had fallen, the Japanese army had breached the inner Great Wall defenses, and were already attacking Xinkou.

Recently, Yan Laosi had become even more demanding, sending more than ten telegrams to the Nanjing government daily.

His messaging was highly consistent: he was running out of money to fight the Japanese and needed more funds, otherwise he implied he would surrender and collaborate with the enemy.

He Yingqin stood aside, his expression complex.

Chiang Kai-shek, being extremely shrewd, immediately sensed something amiss and scanned the telegram.

“Four thousand enemy soldiers annihilated…and a Japanese Lieutenant General captured alive!”

Chiang Kai-shek abruptly stood up, his hands trembling: “Jingzhi (He Yingqin’s courtesy name), is the information in this telegram accurate?”

“Was a Japanese Lieutenant General truly captured alive?”

Compared to the annihilation of four thousand enemy soldiers, what truly moved Chiang Kai-shek was the phrase “[capture of Japanese Lieutenant General Kunisaki Noboru]”.

He Yingqin nodded with difficulty, although he was reluctant to admit this was an achievement of the Shanxi Defense Army.

However, the fact remained: the body was in their hands, and the truth couldn’t be twisted.

“The Military Police (Military Secret Service) has already verified it. Kunisaki Noboru died of his severe injuries after being captured.”

Chiang Kai-shek sighed, walking back and forth behind his desk to the window.

This was the first time a Japanese general-level officer had been captured alive since the start of the full-scale war—a tremendous achievement.

But he wasn’t particularly happy.

He Yingqin followed him: “Commander-in-Chief, this matter is of utmost importance. If not handled properly, it could shake the national will to resist!”

Chiang Kai-shek remained silent, his face stern.

Handling it poorly would shake morale.

Handling it too well would boost Yan Laosi’s prestige.

Human nature was complex, and it was difficult to find the right balance.

Chiang Kai-shek: “Which unit captured Kunisaki Noboru?”

The telegram was vague. Yan Laosi had played a clever trick, not mentioning the specific unit number, but simply referring to them as the Shanxi Defense Army.

He Yingqin: “Wei Lihuang sent a telegram. It was the Provisional First Brigade under the 33rd Army of the Shanxi Defense Army.”

Fearing Chiang Kai-shek might not remember, he added, “This unit was one of the main forces in the Battle of Pingxing Pass.”

“The brigade commander, Wang Feng, is a native of Shanxi, and a graduate of the ninth class of Whampoa Military Academy.”

Chiang Kai-shek was slightly surprised.

“A Whampoa graduate?”

“Ninth Class?”

Chiang Kai-shek frowned, then seemed to remember something. He quickly walked back to his desk, picked up the telegram, and read it word by word.

“Shanxi Defense Army”

Chiang Kai-shek pondered these three words repeatedly.

He Yingqin was puzzled: “Commander-in-Chief, what’s the problem?”

“The Provisional First Brigade is a unit of the 33rd Army, and Sun Chu is an absolute core subordinate of Yan Laosi.”

A smile appeared on Chiang Kai-shek’s face, and he let out a long breath: “Jingzhi, this is what you don’t understand.”

He Yingqin looked confused: “Commander-in-Chief, what do you mean?”

Chiang Kai-shek explained with a smile: “I believe this Provisional First Brigade is not Yan Laosi’s core unit!”

“At least not his elite core unit.”

He Yingqin pondered silently.

Not a core unit?

Then how could they have annihilated the 9th Infantry Regiment headquarters?

According to the detailed war report from Wei Lihuang, at least one infantry battalion was stationed in Nan Hua Hua village. Including reserve forces, there were at least two thousand Japanese soldiers.

Capturing Kunisaki Noboru alive indicated a decisive victory.

Furthermore, this unit had performed well in the Battle of Pingxing Pass.

A non-core unit couldn’t possibly have such exceptional combat effectiveness.

Moreover, the Provisional First Brigade’s organization was personally appointed by Yan Laosi as an elite reinforced brigade.

Chiang Kai-shek ignored He Yingqin’s doubts.

He had his own unique assessment criteria.

When Yan Laosi had applied for a general-level rank for Wang Feng, Chiang Kai-shek had thought the same.

But today’s deduction was inconsistent with his previous thoughts.

The telegram didn’t mention the “Provisional First Brigade,” but used the general term “Shanxi Defense Army” instead.

Yan Laosi wasn’t a fool. If this was truly an elite unit, the telegram wouldn’t have been worded this way. A boss who doesn’t give his subordinates extra benefits, but spreads the benefits to others, would not have loyal subordinates.

Therefore, there was only one possibility.

Furthermore, the combat commander of the Provisional First Brigade came from the Whampoa Military Academy, making him likely to be suspect and unlikely to achieve great things within the Shanxi Defense Army.

This made things much easier.

Chiang Kai-shek paced back and forth in the room.

Based on past achievements, this Wang Feng was indeed a capable general.

The frequent defeats in the war had caused widespread resentment among the Chinese people.

He needed some justifiable achievements to maintain appearances.

If the soldiers weren’t performing well, he could only make up for it by promoting generals.

“Jingzhi, draft a telegram.”

He Yingqin reacted: “Yes!”

Chiang Kai-shek calmly sat back in his chair: “This telegram is to the Second War Zone Command: Since the start of the war, your unit has repeatedly seized opportunities, repeatedly inflicting heavy blows on the Japanese army, creating indelible achievements in resisting the enemy, a truly difficult feat. Now, you have annihilated more than four thousand enemy soldiers on the Xinkou front line, and even captured a Japanese Lieutenant General alive, a truly great achievement that has elated the entire nation. Wang Feng and all officers of his unit are promoted one rank.”

“Wang Feng is hereby ordered to organize the North China Combat Group in Shanxi, Suiyuan, and Chahar, with the original 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Regiments of the Provisional First Brigade directly incorporated into the newly established combat group.”

“The North China Combat Group will temporarily be under the command of the Fourteenth Group Army.”

The combat group, a temporary formation, was unprecedented in the Chinese army.

Given Chiang Kai-shek’s military expertise, it was unlikely he understood the complexities of such a unit.

When he had formed the German-trained divisions and met with German military advisors, he had heard the term from them, but he hadn’t fully grasped its meaning.

But none of that mattered; removing Wang Feng from the Shanxi Defense Army system was paramount.

The Ministry of Military Affairs controlled the administration, personnel planning, regional control, and organizational adjustments of the nation’s land, sea, and air forces.

He Yingqin, as Minister of Military Affairs, was responsible for this, and he recorded the details with pen and paper.

The more he wrote, the more shocked he became.

The structure of a combat group was also unclear to him.

He guessed it was similar to a column (a larger unit than a regiment), and possibly slightly larger than a division.

This wasn’t the problem.

What was shocking was Chiang Kai-shek’s strategy—he hadn’t wasted a single formal establishment.

Using just a temporary formation, this division and unification had completely pushed Wang Feng to the opposite side of the Shanxi Defense Army.

Wang Feng could hardly refuse; in times of war, the army held the ultimate power.

Yan Laosi could at most give him a newly established division.

Logically, to be superior in terms of organization, one would have to create a new army, and to sincerely recruit him, one might even create a numbered army.

But these organizational levels weren’t common; countless pairs of eyes were watching, and moving one would have far-reaching consequences.

If he really wanted to give Wang Feng a numbered army, Chiang Kai-shek would have to carefully weigh the costs and benefits.

The combat group formation was something unfamiliar, and there wouldn’t be much opposition to its creation. It would also be a great temptation for Wang Feng.

It was a case of achieving great things with small investments!

Even if he didn’t accept, it would inevitably create a rift.

The hardest part is the beginning; once there’s a crack in their relationship, the next step would be easy.

Chiang Kai-shek’s brow smoothed: “Jingzhi, do it, send the telegram immediately!”

He Yingqin nodded: “Yes, sir.”

Wang Feng, riding a white horse, was immersed in his system panel.

The battle of Nan Hua Hua village, although not resulting in many enemy deaths—only about fifteen hundred—had led to the capture of a Japanese Lieutenant General.

The system immediately judged it as a “Epic Victory,” giving experience points several times greater than the Battle of Pingxing Pass.

This filled the previously empty experience bar to over ninety percent.

The battle of Yangmingbao Airport, where over twenty Japanese aircraft were destroyed, was another great victory.

This directly upgraded his system panel to level 5.

The 3D battlefield map expanded from a radius of two kilometers to ten kilometers.

This range covered the effective range of most large-caliber heavy artillery. By moving the command post forward, he could now scout Japanese artillery positions.

He had also unlocked a new panel function—the technology talent unlock function.

Similar to the instructor module in tactical doctrine, he could unlock corresponding researchers through army, navy, and air force experience points.

Now, his system panel showed two types of experience points.

One was army experience points, obtained through combat, training, and other methods, primarily used to unlock doctrines and scientific personnel.

The other was experience points used to unlock corresponding technologies; Wang Feng habitually called them “technology experience.”

“This is much better than the Steel Wire (referencing a previous less efficient system),” Wang Feng said admiringly as he looked at the data fluctuating on the technology tree interface.

The technology tree of the Steel Wire would be useless in reality.

Unlocking a technology would often take two or three hundred days.

Who could wait that long?

With experience points, technologies that previously took over half a year to unlock could now be unlocked with one major victory.

Sergey rushed over: “Commander, a telegram from the Nanjing Ministry of Military Affairs!”

Wang Feng turned his head, surprised: “The Ministry of Military Affairs?”

The Provisional First Brigade was a unit of the Shanxi Defense Army; they shouldn’t receive a telegram from the Nanjing Ministry of Military Affairs without reason.

Wang Feng reined in his horse, bent down, and received the telegram.

He scanned it quickly.

His pupils contracted, and he was shocked.

Combat Group?

Wasn’t that something the Germans used in World War II?

It was still in the planning stages; why did Chiang Kai-shek propose it first?

Did the transport team leader suddenly become enlightened?

Wang Feng thought wildly. He never expected Chiang Kai-shek to do this.

The combat group was not a large unit in Germany, usually only a few thousand people. Even a generously sized combat group couldn’t accommodate the nearly ten thousand men of the Provisional First Brigade.

But it was a new term, and no one knew exactly what the organization would entail.

Unbeknownst to them, Chiang Kai-shek had only heard about this name and its primary function was to deceive people.

Wang Feng carefully considered the telegram.

He had already reported the capture of Kunisaki Noboru to Yan Laosi.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t received a reply.

Accepting Chiang Kai-shek’s appointment would mean completely severing ties with the Shanxi Defense Army.

But he would still be under the Second War Zone.

Wang Feng began to weigh the pros and cons.

What could he get from following Yan Laosi? An award that might be planned, on its way, or simply nonexistent?

Switching to the Nanjing government wouldn’t offer much either.

Wei Lihuang was a genuinely anti-Japanese general, who was generous to his subordinates.

Chapter 18 is blocked.

I’ve been running back and forth between Shandong and Heilongjiang for the past two days, and I’ve got a bit of a fever (39.8°C). My hands are shaking as I type these words. Only two chapters today; eight thousand words tomorrow.

(End of Chapter)

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