69novels Chapter 66 Keqin! Do you think the future will be decided by us, or by that big shot Li Delin?
Chapter 66 Keqin! Do you think the future will be decided by us, or by that big shot Li Delin?
When the heavy wooden door of the conference room was closed by the last departing general, leaving only the principal, Lin Wei, and Tang Enbo in the large space, the atmosphere suddenly changed, shifting from a shared sense of righteous indignation to a subtle and somber one.
"Keqin (Tang Enbo's courtesy name)," the principal's solemn expression faded, replaced by a slightly tired but more approachable look. He walked to the sofa, sat down, and gestured to the seat next to him.
"Sit down. It's been a long time since we, teacher and student, have had a private conversation."
"Principal!" Tang Enbo straightened his back and did not sit down immediately. Instead, he said respectfully in the most standard military posture, "This student is dull. As the personal disciple of the first principal of the Whampoa Military Academy, I have failed to listen to the principal's teachings at all times, which is truly regrettable!"
With the principal personally visiting Xuzhou this time, the students will surely lead all the soldiers of the 20th Army Corps, the last full-strength elite force of our Central Army, to fight bravely against the enemy, in order to repay the principal's kindness and cultivation!
"I will not let the principal down. I will first crush the Jigu Division at Taierzhuang! Then I will lead my troops to keep the Banyuan Division at bay!" His voice trembled slightly with excitement, and his eyes shone with boundless loyalty to the principal and a thirst for battle.
The principal nodded slightly, a relieved smile on his face: "Good, good."
I am very pleased that you have this determination and confidence.
"Truly a standout from my first class of the Whampoa Military Academy, my personally mentored disciple, a pillar of the nation."
He changed the subject, his tone becoming serious, "However, Keqin, in war, determination and confidence alone are not enough; we also need to pay attention to... methods and approaches."
Tang Enbo was taken aback upon hearing this, a hint of confusion flashing across his face: "Methods and approaches? What does the principal mean...? This student is ignorant, please enlighten me, Principal!"
The students will remember this!
He wondered, "Isn't war all about the brave winning when two sides meet on a narrow path? Besides, we have the advantage in intelligence and manpower this time. We should seize the opportunity to annihilate the stubborn enemy. What other 'methods' do we need to pay special attention to?"
The principal didn't answer directly, but instead looked out the window as if recalling something, and slowly said, "The battle in Shanghai, where Wu Songkou was stationed, lasted three months."
Our entire army, united in hatred against the enemy, fought valiantly and shattered the Japanese invaders' arrogant claim of "conquering the Republic of China in three months." We achieved our strategic goal of uniting the people and demonstrating the indomitable spirit of the Chinese nation to the world, making outstanding contributions.
His voice gradually lowered, carrying a hint of undisguised regret: "But, Keqin, do you know how many losses my Central Army suffered in this battle?"
The most elite German-equipped divisions, the 87th, 88th, and 36th Divisions, were almost completely wiped out and rebuilt!
The tax police force was reduced to a skeleton!
The Training Corps suffered more than half its casualties!
Your classmates, your fellow students, my students, our Whampoa Military Academy clique—among all the officers above the rank of company commander, a total of 1274 died in battle!
This includes your classmate from the first term, your deskmate Jing Shou (Huang Meixing's courtesy name)!
These are the culmination of years of painstaking effort; they are the true elite of our nation!
The principal turned his head and looked sharply at Tang Enbo: "Currently, these troops have not yet been fully replenished and restored to their strength."
At this moment, the elite troops of my Central Army system, apart from your fully-staffed 10th Army Corps of 3 men, which is Ci Xiu's (Chen Cheng) three armies of less than 8 men, are still relatively intact.
You are the last direct descendants of my Central Army, and not only the true cornerstone of the future War of Resistance!
This is also my 'last remaining possessions'!!!
Do you understand?
Tang Enbo seemed to understand somewhat, but his brows furrowed even more: "The principal means... to let the students conserve their strength?"
But... this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and we should seize it to annihilate the enemy and demonstrate our national power!
If we miss a golden opportunity by conserving our strength, the students... the students fear they will let down their country and their principal!
"Foolish!" the principal scolded softly, then softened his tone, like a patient teacher instructing a student, "Hitting is absolutely necessary!"
It's not about making you afraid of the enemy and avoid battle, but about teaching you to assess the situation and weigh the pros and cons!
I ask you, what is the current troop composition of the Fifth War Zone?
After a moment's thought, Tang Enbo replied, "Our Central Army has the 15th Army Corps of students, the 2nd Army under Li Yannian, and the 46th Army under Fan Songpu, totaling approximately 4 troops, as well as the Northeast Army under Yu Xuezhong, etc. The Guangxi Clique has four armies under Liao Lei, Ti Zuhuang, Liu Yishi, and Zhang Zaiyao, with a total strength of nearly 18, making it the most powerful."
There were also various units of the Sichuan Army, the Northwest Army, and the Dongbei Army...
"That's right!" the principal interrupted him. "Li Degong and Bai Jiansheng's Guangxi clique has concentrated the forces of four armies and fifteen divisions here!"
Including its troops stationed in the rear area of Guangxi, the total strength of the Guangxi clique is approaching 22!
They are almost on par with the main force of our Central Army!
The principal stood up and walked over to Tang Enbo.
His voice was lowered, but every word struck Tang Enbo's heart like a hammer: "Keqin, think about it."
Why is Bai Jiansheng called "Little Zhuge" instead of "Real Zhuge"?
It is because of him that he only learned Zhuge Liang's cleverness, but lacked Zhuge Liang's great wisdom of considering the overall situation and devoting himself to the cause!
His greatest strength lies in leading his Guangxi "wolf" soldiers to play on the edge and preserve their power!
During the Central Plains War, our army fought a bloody battle against the combined forces of Feng, Yan, and Gui. If Bai Jiansheng had not repeatedly used his petty tricks to try to reap the benefits, causing Feng's troops to be defeated first and Yan's troops to suffer heavy losses, how could his Gui clique have been left to struggle alone?
He thought he had taken everything into account, and that since we and Feng Yan's forces were almost mutually destructive, his Guangxi wolf soldiers could finish the job!
But he forgot the principle that "man proposes, God disposes." The entry of Dongbei Zhang's six sons into the pass was a variable he could never have foreseen, which ultimately led to our current predicament.
Tang Enbo's forehead was slightly sweaty; he seemed to have grasped the deeper meaning in the principal's words.
The principal stared at him and asked the most crucial and thought-provoking question: "Keqin, tell me."
If in this second phase of the war, our Central Army, like in the fierce battle of Wusongkou and Shanghai, were to fight to the last drop of blood for victory, while the main force of the Guangxi Clique once again used its "cleverness" to preserve most of its strength.
So tell me, in the future... will we be the ones to call the shots in this Republic of China?
Or is it still up to him, the "big shot" Li Delin, to call the shots?
boom!..................
These words struck Tang Enbo like a thunderbolt!
He understood instantly! All his doubts and confusion vanished in an instant!
It turns out that what the principal was considering was no longer just the outcome of a battle, but the post-battle landscape, the future of the group, and the distribution of power!
He suddenly stood up and said excitedly, "I understand!"
The principal's foresight is far beyond what the students can match!
Don't worry, Principal, the students know what to do!
The 20th Army Corps is both the principal's sharpest sword and his last remaining asset!
The students will certainly use their military force prudently, not only to strike the Japanese invaders hard and show the might of our army, but also to preserve our strength for the sake of the principal and the future of our group!
We will never allow certain individuals to reap the benefits without contributing!
Seeing that his "top disciple" had finally grasped his profound meaning, the principal revealed a truly satisfied smile.
He patted Tang Enbo on the shoulder, gesturing for him to sit down: "Good that you understand, good that you understand."
Those who do not consider the overall situation
Not enough to control even a small area!
Those who do not plan for the long term,
This is not enough to plan for the short term!
If you can appreciate my good intentions, then my years of nurturing and trust in you have not been in vain.
In short, we must not make any moves against the Guangxi clique until it has been weakened to the maximum extent!
But then he showed a hint of worry: "However, Keqin, I know the temperament of Yu Dong (Guan Linzheng's courtesy name), the commander of your 52nd Army."
He is brave and skilled in battle, and hates evil as if it were his enemy. He is a rare tiger general!
He made outstanding contributions and was utterly devoted to the Party and the country.
I'm worried... if he gets carried away with the killing, he might act recklessly and charge forward without regard for consequences. If he suffers too many casualties, it could disrupt the overall plan..."