Chapter 759
A pen sets the rules, an armored group draws the blueprint
Jinan Field Airfield.
The heat wave, carrying the pungent smell of aviation kerosene, hit us in the face.
A C-47 transport plane bearing the emblem of the Republic of China (ROC) screeched as it slowly glided onto the apron, its tires puffing out blue smoke.
The strong winds whipped up by the propellers had not yet subsided.
Fang Ligong, who had been waiting for a long time, straightened his military uniform and stepped forward to greet them.
Behind him stood a row of armed military police, and in the distance, a neat array of P-40 fighter jets, their surfaces gleaming with a cold metallic sheen in the sunlight, on the tarmac.
The cabin door opened, and Zhu Peiji, the chief of staff, appeared in everyone's sight.
This chief of staff, who was usually adept at social maneuvering in the mountain city and highly trusted by the chairman, looked unusually pale at this moment, with two dark circles under his eyes.
He subconsciously looked down the gangway, but did not see that familiar figure. Only Fang Ligong, wearing his signature glasses, stood solemnly in the wind.
Zhu Peiji's heart sank slightly.
Chu Yunfei did not come.
"Director Zhu, you must be tired from your long journey."
Fang Ligong stepped forward and gave a standard military salute, his tone polite but with a businesslike distance: "Your Excellency is handling urgent military affairs at the command post and has specially ordered me to come and greet you."
Zhu Peiji stood on solid ground, forced a smile, and cupped his hands in greeting: "Commander Fang, you're too kind. The war in North China is critical right now, and the Chief Advisor is concerned with the safety of the nation, so naturally military affairs are his priority."
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the two got into the black Buick sedan.
The convoy drove through the streets of Jinan, heading straight for the forward command post.
Outside the car window, even during the war, the streets of Jinan were still bustling with people, and many shops even had red banners celebrating the "Great Victory" hanging up.
Seeing all this, Zhu Peiji's anxiety intensified.
Even Jinan, which had just ended a major battle less than a month ago, was still full of life, which was in stark contrast to the lifeless and soaring prices in the mountain city.
He opened his mouth several times to try and get some information from Fang Ligong, but looking at Fang Ligong's expressionless face, he swallowed his words back.
It seems pointless to ask.
Fang Ligong is a staunch supporter of Chu Yunfei and is unlikely to reveal any information.
Moreover, today's airport pick-up is also part of the North China faction's way of showing its attitude.
……
The reception room of the forward command headquarters.
Chu Yunfei stood in front of the huge battle map, listening to the footsteps behind him, and slowly turned around.
"Brother Peiji."
Chu Yunfei wore a faint smile on his face and did not get up to greet him. He simply gestured for him to enter, saying, "It's been a while since we parted ways in Changzhi. I hope you've been well."
Looking at Chu Yunfei, whose demeanor had become increasingly profound, Zhu Peiji felt a mix of emotions.
He didn't bother with pleasantries. As soon as he sat down, without even glancing at the hot tea served by the orderly, he sighed impatiently.
Upon seeing this, Chu Yunfei immediately waved his hand, leaving only Fang Ligong, Chu Yunfei, and Zhu Peiji in the room.
"Brother Yunfei."
Zhu Peiji's voice was a little dry, with undisguised fatigue: "This time, you really angered the Chairman quite a bit."
"That draft of 'Fair Sacrifice' is too radical!"
"An 80% special war tax, plus the execution of tax evaders—are you trying to turn the world upside down in the rear?"
"If those people sabotage us behind our backs, the consequences will be unimaginable; even our lives will be in danger."
"The Chairman asked me to pass on a message to you: there are some things we can discuss, but we can't rush things, and we certainly can't push our subordinates to the brink."
Chu Yunfei leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest, without rushing to refute.
He watched Zhu Peiji's statement silently until the other man finished speaking, then let out a cold snort: "Forced into a dead end?"
Chu Yunfei's gaze suddenly sharpened, sweeping across Zhu Peiji's face like a blade: "Brother Peiji, in recent years, the land of North China has been littered with corpses of the starving, and the blood of soldiers on the front lines has flowed like rivers. That is what you call a dead end!"
"Those parasites living a life of debauchery back home, they're just making a few less dollars and smoking a few less puffs of opium, and they call that a dead end?"
"Brother Yunfei, watch your words!"
Zhu Peiji was so anxious he almost stood up. "Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish. If you insist on pushing this forward, who will suppress the backlash from all sides?"
Chu Yunfei's voice was cold and hard, and his attitude was quite obvious and direct: "My suggestion is to mobilize the relevant combat troops into Sichuan. If necessary, the 88th Group Army can also prioritize interrupting the fifth phase of the Northeast Counter-Offensive Operation and enter Sichuan to protect the secondary capital."
"In addition, in order not to make things difficult for the Chairman, we prepared a special 'gift' for Brother Peiji."
"Ok?"
Zhu Peiji was shocked by Chu Yunfei's attitude and even more curious about the so-called gift.
Chu Yunfei abruptly interrupted him, then shouted towards the door, "Jingzhong, bring him up!"
Heavy footsteps sounded.
Two burly military policemen dragged in a man wearing a black hood and with his hands tied behind his back, as if he were a dead dog.
"Pfft!"
The man was thrown heavily onto the carpet, letting out a muffled groan.
Zhu Peiji was stunned, before he could react.
Chu Yunfei stepped forward and ripped off the man's black hood.
A face covered in blood, terrified, yet unforgettable to Zhu Peiji, was exposed to the air.
"Sun Mingjiu?!"
"You son of a bitch, you're a real beast!"
Zhu Peiji's voice instantly changed tone, becoming sharp and piercing.
He suddenly stood up, his finger trembling as he pointed at the person on the ground, as if he had seen a ghost, or as if he had seen his father's killer.
That was the instigator of the gunfire in Lintong back then, the culprit who drove Wang Yizhe to his death and destroyed the Northeast Army, and the nightmare that brought Chang Ruiyuan great shame!
"Director Zhu! I know I was wrong, please spare my life!"
When Sun Mingjiu saw Zhu Peiji, he grasped at a straw and desperately tried to crawl over, but Li Jingzhong stomped him back to the ground.
"Brother Peiji, how much is this gift worth?"
Chu Yunfei took the damp towel handed to him by his adjutant and slowly wiped his hands, speaking in a calm tone as if he were discussing the weather: "Take him back to the mountain city and give him a public trial and a just punishment."
"It can not only appease the Chairman's long-standing resentment, but also give an explanation to He Zhuguo's former Northeast Army subordinates, and demonstrate the government's determination to eliminate traitors in front of the people of the whole country."
Zhu Peiji was breathing heavily, his eyes flashing intensely.
He knew all too well what this meant.
After the events of that year, the Northeast Army transformed from a politically significant entity within the country into a part of the National Revolutionary Army.
Many generals of the Northeast Army became traitors and collaborators, and the three famous young officers were even more outrageous than the last.
Shouting for resistance against Japan means either becoming a traitor or immigrating to Japan.
Sun Mingjiu is a bombshell capable of devastating public opinion, and also the "fig leaf" that the Chairman most desires.
With this head, the Chairman's prestige will naturally increase, and then the "Fair Sacrifice Act" can be appropriately promoted.
Even a discount could be packaged as a manifestation of the determination to resist the Japanese invasion.
"A brilliant tactic, truly a brilliant tactic."
After a long while, Zhu Peiji slumped back into his chair, his gaze towards Chu Yunfei filled with a hint of awe: "Brother Yunfei, the Chairman is naturally willing to support the implementation of the draft, but the confrontation below will be much more intense than we imagine."
Sun Mingjiu was dragged away like a dead dog.
The atmosphere inside the room finally relaxed.
“I have already made preparations for this. Commander Wang Mingzhang’s 22nd Army Group has been initially reorganized and its combat power is equally formidable. Perhaps we can send this Sichuan army back to Sichuan to protect the secondary capital.”
"Although Commander Sun Zhen comes from a Sichuan warlord background, he has now embraced new ideas and is striving to become a new soldier. He will naturally draw a line between himself and the old warlord forces. Chairman Chiang Kai-shek need not worry about his safety."
Zhu Peiji picked up the tea, which had long since gone cold, and drank it all in one gulp. After calming himself down, he looked intently at Chu Yunfei and said, "Yunfei, now that we've got the 'face' and the 'stepping stone,' let's talk about the 'substance.'"
"Once that draft is implemented, even if it is discounted, the tax revenue collected will be astronomical."
"With so much money, besides compensating the fallen soldiers, where do you plan to use it?"
"If we don't have a solid justification, those bureaucratic groups back home who have been ripped out will probably cause trouble again."
Upon hearing this, Fang Ligong glanced at Chu Yunfei.
After Chu Yunfei nodded in acknowledgment, Fang Ligong got up and walked to the desk not far away. Soon, Fang Ligong unlocked the drawer and took out a heavy kraft paper file folder.
He turned around and gently patted the coffee table in front of Zhu Peiji.
Chu Yunfei spoke up, saying, "Brother Peiji, here's how you want to spend the money."
Zhu Peiji opened the file folder with a puzzled look and pulled out a thick stack of blueprints and documents.
Turning to the first page, the title made his pupils shrink – “The Organizational Concept and Implementation Details for the First Phase of Modern Armored Group Army Established Using US-Aid Equipment”.
"This..." Zhu Peiji pointed to the lines of data on the document and gasped, "So you had already made the relevant plan?"
"Four heavy armor divisions."
Chu Yunfei picked up his baton, walked to the sand table, and drew a huge arc on the vast North China Plain and the Manchurian land further north.
“Brother Peiji, in the past we fought wars by sacrificing lives, that was because there was no other way.”
"But now that the sea route is open, according to the agreement between our side and the United States, the first batch of 1,000 M4 Sherman medium tanks and their supporting vehicles are expected to arrive in Myanmar within a month."
"If these steel monsters aren't organized properly, they're just a pile of scrap metal."
"My plan is to fully emulate the organization of the U.S. Army's armored divisions and strengthen them specifically for the Chinese battlefield."
Chu Yunfei turned to the third page of the document, pointed to the complex organizational chart, and spoke with a voice full of professionalism and ambition:
"This is the standard organizational structure I proposed for a 'Class A Armored Division'."
"Each division has three tank battalions, equipped with 168 M4 Sherman medium tanks and 77 M5 Stuart light tanks, but this is only the fist."
"The key lies in the legs and in coordinated operations."
"Each division also has three armored infantry battalions, all of which are equipped with M3 half-track armored personnel carriers to ensure that the infantry can keep up with the speed of the tanks' assault."
"There are also three self-propelled artillery battalions, all equipped with M7 'Priest' 105mm self-propelled howitzers, in addition to the division's directly subordinate air defense battalion, engineer battalion, and reconnaissance cavalry squadron."
"The entire division has a full complement of over 12,000 personnel and over 2,000 vehicles of various types!"
Chu Yunfei's voice was low, with a seductive depth, echoing in Zhu Peiji's ears:
“Brother Peiji, think about it, four such armored divisions, that’s an armored army group.”
"What would it be like if these thousand tanks, under the cover of hundreds of self-propelled artillery, were lined up on a plain and attacked the enemy?"
"That was a destructive storm that the Japanese could never stop with their samurai swords and flesh and blood!"
"We must use this tax revenue from 'fair sacrifice' to build such an invincible iron army."
Zhu Peiji's hands trembled slightly, and the document seemed to weigh a ton in his hands.
That reason is too convincing.
It was tough enough to shut up all the powerful figures, tough enough to make the Chairman compromise at this moment for this historic "martial arts achievement".
"call"
Zhu Peiji closed the document, solemnly put it back into the file folder, and hugged it tightly to his chest.
"Brother Yunfei, now I finally understand why you dared to ask for such an exorbitant amount."
He stood up and took a deep look at the young "war commander," his eyes filled with both shock and a sense of undeniable admiration.
“I’m taking this plan with me, and also that traitor Sun Mingjiu.”
Zhu Peiji straightened his collar, his expression solemn: "Please ensure confidentiality before officially advancing this draft."
Chu Yunfei patted his chest and assured him, "Brother Peiji, rest assured, I will naturally consider the Chairman's personal safety."
"Ah."
-
As night falls, the lights are on.
The Jufengde Restaurant, located on Jingsan Road, was brightly lit.
The shouts of the waiters rose and fell, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.
Inside the private room on the second floor, several delicious and visually appealing main dishes were already laid out on the carved mahogany round table.
Today, Chu Yunfei specially changed into civilian clothes, which made him look less like a soldier and more like a gentle and approachable scholar-general.
Fang Ligong accompanied him, while sitting in the host's seat was Zhu Peiji, who was about to return home.
“Brother Peiji, although Jinan has been ravaged by war, the fire in the stove of Jufengde has never been extinguished.”
Chu Yunfei stood up with a smile, picked up the serving chopsticks himself, and pointed to the fish in the center of the table, which was shaped like a dragon leaping over waves: "When you come to Shandong, this 'Sweet and Sour Yellow River Carp' is a must-try."
Authentic Yellow River carp has a bright red tail and tender, succulent flesh. The ideal is described as "head held high, tail curled up, juice red and flavorful," symbolizing that our nation's fortunes, like the carp leaping over the Dragon Gate, will rise steadily to new heights.
Looking at the golden, crispy carp drizzled with amber-colored sweet and sour sauce, Zhu Peiji's nerves, which had been tense for several days, finally relaxed completely.
"What a magnificent leap of the carp over the dragon gate!"
Zhu Peiji picked up a piece of fish and put it in his mouth. It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a perfect balance of sweet and sour. He couldn't help but nod repeatedly: "It truly lives up to its reputation! The flavor is rich and mellow, just like the character of Shandong people—genuine and substantial!"
"Come on, try this 'Braised Sea Cucumber with Scallions' again."
Chu Yunfei then pointed to the white porcelain plate next to him, where the sea cucumber was bright red and had a strong scallion aroma: "This is a signature dish of Shandong cuisine. It uses sea cucumbers, a specialty of Jiaodong, and the scallions are from Zhangqiu. The key is to use strong flavors to counteract strong flavors."
Now that we've connected Haizhou and the peninsula, the delicacies from the sea can be continuously transported inland.
After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,
The atmosphere was perfectly set, and much of the estrangement caused by political maneuvering melted away amidst the clinking of glasses.
Zhu Peiji put down his chopsticks, picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth, and then turned around to take out an exquisite purple velvet box from his briefcase.
"Brother Yunfei."
Zhu Peiji's expression became serious: "Before coming to Jinan this time, the Chairman specifically called me to his study and entrusted me with a matter."
He slowly opened the velvet box, and under the soft light, two gleaming silver wristwatches lay quietly on the silk.
The dial is exquisite, with slender hands engraved with the words "Vacheron Constantin," and the back of the case is engraved with three elegant characters in small regular script: "Zhongzheng Zeng."
"This is a Vacheron Constantin made in Switzerland. It was brought back from Europe by Mr. Song many years ago. The Chairman has always treasured it and is reluctant to wear it himself."
Zhu Peiji handed one piece to Chu Yunfei and the other to Fang Ligong, speaking earnestly: "The Chairman said that with the counter-offensive in North China, the situation is constantly changing. Time is life, and time is the fate of the nation."
"These two watches are presented to you both as a reward for your strategic planning and decisive victories on the front lines, and also as a token of our hope."
Zhu Peiji paused, then said meaningfully, "I hope that the time in North China can always be consistent with the time in Chongqing."
Fang Ligong was flattered and accepted the gift with both hands. He quickly stood up and said, "I am humbled by the Chairman's kindness! I will certainly do my duty and live up to the leader's trust."
Chu Yunfei took the heavy watch, his fingertips tracing the cold metal case, and he naturally understood the underlying meaning of the persuasion and attempt to win him over.
"I dare not refuse the gift from an elder."
Chu Yunfei deftly removed the old watch from his wrist, put on the Vacheron Constantin, raised his wrist to look at it, and smiled, "Precisely accurate to the second. Please tell the Chairman that Yunfei will cherish every minute and second and strive to drive out the Japanese invaders and reclaim our land as soon as possible."
After saying that, Chu Yunfei reached into his pocket and took out a fountain pen.
It was a black and gold Parker pen, with even some signs of wear on the barrel, clearly indicating that it had been used by its owner for many years.
"Brother Peiji, I don't have any valuable return gift."
Chu Yunfei handed the pen to Zhu Peiji with both hands, his expression solemn: "This pen has been with me for many years, from the loess slopes of southeastern Shanxi to the current command post in Jinan."
"Whether it was the initial mobilization order for the War of Resistance, the draft of 'Fair Sacrifice' that I just handed to you, or the order to form the armored forces that is about to be signed, I signed them all with this pen."
Zhu Peiji's gaze sharpened as he looked at the seemingly ordinary fountain pen that carried a heavy historical weight, and his expression immediately became serious.
"This gift is too generous."
Chu Yunfei shoved the pen into Zhu Peiji's hand and gripped his hand tightly: "Brother Peiji, take it back."
"This pen not only represents my personal gratitude, but also the expectations of the soldiers on the front lines in North China."
"I hope that at the negotiating table in Chongqing, this pen can help Brother Peiji write a good article that benefits the country and the people, and sign the bill that will allow the soldiers on the front lines to have no worries about their families."
Zhu Peiji felt the lingering warmth of his body on the pen, took a deep breath, and nodded emphatically: "Yunfei, don't worry. Since the watch represents time, then the pen naturally represents the law."
"Now that I've taken your pen, I'll risk my life to have that draft leg red-painted and stamped in front of the Chairman!"
The two exchanged a smile, everything understood without a word.
"Come!"
"Brother Peiji, let's drink to this delicious meal, to this rare and wonderful evening, and even more so to our common cause of resisting Japan!"
"Dry!"
The crisp sound of glasses clinking echoed in the private room.
Accompanied by the occasional sound of firecrackers celebrating victory outside the window, this turbulent yet pivotal chapter of history was frozen in the night of Jinan. (End of Chapter)