Chapter 25: With Brother Ligong's strategic counsel, it is worth more than a thousand armies!

On the way back to the regimental headquarters, Fang Ligong caught up with Chu Yunfei and asked directly, "Regimental Commander, where is the New First Regiment?"

Sensing Fang's urgency, Chu Yunfei asked, "They have already departed with the 772nd Regiment... Is something the matter?"

"A telegram from Nanjing. I have no idea how they got word of this..."

Chu Yunfei took the telegram from Fang Ligong's hand. Only then did he understand why Fang was so anxious. Somehow, the authorities in Nanjing had learned of the incident, and the secret directive from the Office of the Aide-de-Camp ordered them to disarm this unit, which lacked an official designation.

Chu Yunfei sighed inwardly. In the eyes of the Nationalist high command, local armed forces without an official designation were considered even worse than "miscellaneous" troops.

In the early stages of the War of Resistance, Chiang Kai-shek at least had the intention of utilizing these miscellaneous units. At the very least, he counted on them to fight the Japanese. To that end, he had implemented a series of reforms and gestures—such as promotions in rank and position. The more "miscellaneous" a unit was, the easier it was to promote someone to a corps commander or group army commander, with ranks like lieutenant general or general. But at the end of the day, it was merely a tactic to buy loyalty. After all, Chiang’s core policy remained: "Eliminate internal threats by using miscellaneous troops, and eliminate external threats by letting them fight the Japanese." For these units, there was effectively no path other than total assimilation into the Central Army.

"Commander, the New First Regiment has already left. How are we to answer to Nanjing?"

"Answer?" Chu Yunfei snorted coldly. "To whom must I, Chu Yunfei, answer? Send a reply to Nanjing stating that they are indeed an anti-Japanese armed force and that I have already allowed them to pass the ferry crossing. If any consequences arise, I, Chu Yunfei, will bear full responsibility."

"Commander, you must not!"

If Chu Yunfei were to send such a reply to a secret directive from the Aide-de-Camp, in the eyes of Chiang Kai-shek, he would risk being labeled an disobedient, "Red-leaning" student.

In such a situation, both he and the Second War Zone could be adversely affected. Chiang Kai-shek was already wary of Yan Xishan; even when nominally supporting the defense of Shanxi, he had immediately withdrawn the main force of Tang Enbo’s army, claiming they were needed for the Battle of Shanghai. Was the situation in Shanxi unimportant? Not at all; Chiang had intended to exhaust the strength of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army from the very beginning. That was why, after the Battle of Taiyuan, the main force of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army had been so severely crippled that fewer than 100,000 men remained. To further constrain Yan Xishan after the battle, Chiang had restricted their funding to only one-third of the standard rate.

Following the Northwest Shanxi Incident, in order to thoroughly suppress Yan Xishan, Chiang had courted General Fu Yisheng, encouraging his forces to secede from the Shanxi-Suiyuan command. From then on, the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army plummeted into decline, becoming completely marginalized. During the time Shinjo Yoshio served as commander of the First Army, the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army was reduced to a mere supporting role in the Shanxi region.

Of course, that was all in the future. As long as Taiyuan had not yet fallen, Yan Xishan remained the most powerful patron Chu Yunfei had. As long as he did not provoke Nanjing beyond repair, Chiang would naturally be willing to tolerate him as an occasionally rebellious student.

Fang Ligong frowned, suddenly recalling the arrangements Chu Yunfei had made a few days prior. After making contact with the New First Regiment, Chu Yunfei had immediately ordered Sun Ming to collect the miscellaneous weapons the soldiers had discarded during their re-equipping—fifty old rifles in total. At the time, Fang had worried that Chu intended to gift them to the New First Regiment and had even offered advice against it. Now, however, it seemed Chu had no intention of a voluntary gift.

In fact... Fang’s mind raced. Could it be that even then, the Commander had anticipated that Nanjing would learn of the event and issue such an order? If that were the case, the Commander was truly formidable.

But why did he seem to have forgotten about it now? Could he be waiting for me to bring it up?

Fang Ligong adjusted his glasses and asked tentatively, "Commander, didn't we set aside a portion of weapons and ammunition earlier?"

Chu Yunfei acted as if he had just remembered, continuing to play the fool. "Yes, I had intended to support the Eighth Route Army's operations. Their weapons are nothing more than firewood in my eyes. What difference is there between taking such weapons to fight the Japanese and walking into their own deaths?"

"We could present this batch of weapons as the ones seized during the disarmament..."

"You mean to suggest we make it appear as if there is no evidence to the contrary, Brother Ligong?"

Chu Yunfei seemed to have just grasped the idea, speaking rapidly to prevent Fang from interjecting: "In the process of disarmament, a conflict broke out between the two sides, resulting in over four hundred enemy casualties. Except for the bandit leaders Zhong Zhicheng and Li Yunlong, who escaped by jumping into the river, the rest were either killed or captured by our forces. We seized fifty rifles and a quantity of ammunition."

"Commander... I..."

Chu Yunfei naturally did not give him a chance to explain, instead applauding along with the Fourth Battalion Commander and Sun Ming. "Having Brother Ligong here to devise strategies for me is worth more than a thousand troops."

Sun Ming, having guessed Chu’s intent, acted as his mouthpiece: "These bureaucrats in Nanjing... they really have nothing better to do than to meddle in such trivial matters."

Zhuo Tianyu, who had come from the Northwest Army, was well-versed in such telegrams and reports designed to fool Chiang Kai-shek. He also applauded. "Nanjing has no way to verify this. If they decide to investigate, our 358th Regiment will likely be at the front lines of the war... As long as those in Nanjing have a modicum of sense, they won't pursue the investigation."

Zhuo Tianyu’s speech slowed as his mind spun, his eyes filled with admiration for Fang Ligong. "I suspect this matter will likely just fade away. Chief of Staff, brilliant!"

"In that case, Brother Ligong, draft a telegram. State that the officer who directed this disarmament operation was Zhuo Tianyu, Commander of the Fourth Battalion of the 358th, and request a commendation for him in my name."

Zhuo Tianyu was caught off guard, struggling to suppress his excitement. "Commander, is that appropriate?"

Chu Yunfei laughed heartily and comforted him. "What is inappropriate about it? Merit must be rewarded. What kind of arrangement is it for a Captain to serve as a Battalion Commander? Your origins should not negate your achievements and hard work. During the Battle of Ruyue Pass, if it weren't for your Fourth Battalion fighting to the death to support the 427th Regiment, the position would have been lost long ago. I think it is time for you to wear the rank of Major."

With that, Chu Yunfei walked toward the Second Battalion’s training ground with Sun Ming. Fang Ligong, having received the order, was left with no choice but to head to the headquarters to draft the telegram. Chu Yunfei hadn't even given him the opportunity to refuse.

Fang Ligong looked helpless as he walked toward the headquarters. Zhuo Tianyu, only just now realizing what had happened, urged him, "Chief of Staff, we can't send this telegram!"

Fang Ligong raised an eyebrow and stopped. "Why don't you go and tell the Commander yourself?"

Zhuo Tianyu swallowed hard, seemingly struck by a terrifying thought, and immediately shook his head. "Never mind... I suppose I'll be a Major. As long as we all stick to the same story, Nanjing will never be able to find anything out."