Chapter 4 Back to Nanjing!

  After two days and nights of rapid march, Zhang Mingyu finally led his troops to the border area of Henan Province. At that time, the 113th Division of the Northeast Army's 51st Corps was stationed in northern Henan, with Zhou Guanglie as the division commander.

  "Hurry up and take off that devil's skin on your body! Otherwise, when our comrades see it later, they'll think we're devils too!" Zhang Mingyu said.

  "Alright, let's take a break, brothers are all exhausted!" Zhang Biao said listlessly.

  "Brothers, I know you're all tired, but it's not time to rest yet! We must find the National Army before we can rest at ease!" Zhang Mingyu comforted. After finishing speaking, he led the way forward, and the soldiers behind him also dragged their tired bodies to follow Zhang Mingyu forward. Zhang Mingyu and his men walked for about twenty miles or more, and finally discovered the National Army's patrol troops! The leader was a company commander, who quickly led his team to run towards them after discovering Zhang Mingyu and others!

  "Which unit are you from?" The company commander asked, looking at Zhang Mingyu and others in front of him with tattered clothes.

  "I am Zhang Mingyu, the commander of the 1st Battalion of the 2146th Regiment! Who are you?" Zhang Mingyu asked back.

  "Superior officer is Zhang Mingyu, I am Sun Hu, commander of the 662 reconnaissance company of the 28th regiment of the 113 division!"

  "Do you know me?" Zhang Mingyu asked curiously.

  "Commander led the troops to kill a Japanese major general, annihilating an entire Japanese battalion! The heroic story of resisting Japan has already been reported in the newspapers!" Sun Hu replied excitedly.

  "Japanese Army Lieutenant General?"

  "That's right! It was you who killed the Japanese Lieutenant General in Mei County, Commander of the 20th Division, Kawada Kozo. Even Chairman Chiang in Nanjing knows about this!"

  Following Sun Hu and Zhang Mingyu to their camp, after arriving, Zhang Mingyu and his brothers fell asleep immediately! Sun Hu quickly reported the matter to their regimental commander! Their regimental commander, whose surname was Xue, was also a patriotic soldier. On the one hand, he reported the matter to the 113th Division Headquarters. On the other hand, he personally went to visit Zhang Mingyu and others. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he heard the deafening snoring sound coming from inside. Commander Xue smiled and said to his chief of staff: "It seems that Brother Zhang is really tired. Let him rest well! Also, instruct the cooking class to make a good meal for Brother Zhang and the soldiers when they wake up!"

  Zhang Mingyu and others slept from morning to the afternoon of the next day, slowly waking up from their beautiful dream! Zhang Mingyu looked at Zhang Biao who was still snoring beside him, picked up his shoe and hit Zhang Biao's big buttocks. "Slap" sound, Zhang Biao jumped up with his butt covered, shouting "Who is this damn guy disturbing my good dream?"

  "Who are you yelling at in Dalian? Damn it!" Zhang Mingyu said with a mouthful of saliva while holding the sole of his shoe.

  "Hey, it's you! I didn't scold anyone else! Besides, even if I were to borrow Old Zhang's courage, I wouldn't dare scold you!" Zhang Biao said with a silly grin.

  "Zhang Yingchang, the battalion commander and the regimental commander have all come to see you," Sun Hu's voice echoed through the courtyard.

  "Okay, got it, I'll be right there."

  "Brothers, get up quickly!" Zhang Mingyu called out to the brothers who were still sleeping. Opening the door and seeing that the courtyard was packed with people, he saw a person in the middle carrying a shoulder pole with a banner on it, and realized that this person might be the commander mentioned by Sun Hu, so he hastily went forward and saluted, saying "21st Division 46th Regiment 1st Battalion Commander Zhang Mingyu has arrived to meet Director Zhou!"

  "Long live Director Zhou!" shouted the brothers behind Zhang Mingyu in unison.

  "Ah," Zhou Guanglie thought to himself, "this Zhang Mingyu is indeed a capable young man who knows how to conduct himself and isn't arrogant about his accomplishments! This kid is also from the Whampoa Military Academy, his future prospects are definitely boundless!"

  "Brothers, you've worked hard! I've prepared wine and dishes with my own hands to welcome each of you brothers!" Zhou Guanglie said loudly.

  "Cuckoo..."

  Zhang Mingyu turned around and looked at Zhang Biao standing behind him with a fierce gaze!

  Zhang Biao cried with a sad face and said "Camp Master, I'm really hungry!" Seeing Zhang Biao's shriveled appearance, all the brothers in the camp burst out laughing!

  The cooking class quickly brought out large steamed buns and braised pork, serving them in big bowls! The sound of "gulps" rose and fell in succession! Zhou Guanglie laughed and said, "Everyone must be starving, let's dig in and eat to our heart's content!"

  Zhang Biao rushed up to the table and swept away the steamed buns, pork pancakes, and other dishes like a storm, even Commander Lian joined in! The soldiers also swarmed forward, starting their mission to devour the food! Zhang Mingyu grabbed two steamed buns and a bowl of braised pork and began eating ravenously, having gone without food for two days, he couldn't help but wolf down the fragrant braised pork.

  "Zhang Biao, you bunch of little bastards, leave some for me!" Zhang Mingyu yelled at Zhang Biao and the others after finishing his bowl of zaozi on the table...

  After staying in Zhou Guanglie's camp for nearly a week, Zhang Mingyu and the soldiers of the Independent Regiment received news from Nanjing that roughly meant to let Zhang Mingyu and others hurry to Nanjing. After receiving the order, Zhang Mingyu led the soldiers of the Independent Regiment onto the trucks prepared by Zhou Guanglie. Before boarding the truck, the remaining 102 soldiers of the Independent Regiment collectively bowed three times in the direction of Shanxi, mourning the sacrifice of Zhao Si and the entire second company. Although Zhang Mingyu and his comrades deeply regretted it, war has its absolute rules! Fighting will inevitably lead to bloodshed and sacrifice, which is an unchangeable fact!

  After several days of long journey, Zhang Mingyu and his party finally arrived outside Nanjing City. The major newspapers in Nanjing made a big report on the arrival of anti-Japanese hero Zhang Mingyu! The students and citizens of Nanjing spontaneously organized a welcoming ceremony, with a long queue of people waiting outside Guanghua Gate to greet him. Even the Chairman came to Guanghua Gate to welcome him personally!

  Looking at the eye-catching big characters "Welcome to the triumphant return of anti-Japanese heroes" on both sides of the road, Zhang Mingyu and the soldiers felt a warm current in their hearts, listening to the enthusiastic slogans shouted by the welcoming crowd.

  "Victory in the War of Resistance is assured! Long live the Chinese nation!"

  "Down with Japanese Imperialism"

  "China will not perish!" Zhang Mingyu and the warriors are all fired up!

  The convoy stopped 500 meters outside Guanghua Gate! Zhang Mingyu was the first to jump off the car, and the soldiers of the independent regiment quickly followed suit, quickly forming two rows. With Zhang Mingyu leading the way, they advanced towards Guanghua Gate. The welcoming crowd on both sides of the road shouted loudly "Zhang Mingyu's name" and slogans welcoming the heroes back!

  Zhang Mingyu saw from afar that outside the Guanghua Gate, in addition to the crowd of people waiting to greet him, there were also soldiers standing at attention with live ammunition. All these soldiers were equipped with identical submachine guns! Among the soldiers stood a large group of high-ranking government officials. The man wearing a Sun Yat-sen suit in the middle was identified by Zhang Mingyu as his current leader because he had seen his photos in later generations.

  Zhang Mingyu led the warriors to quickly move forward! It wasn't until they approached Guanghua Gate that they saw Principal Chiang up close! He looked almost identical to his photos from later years! Zhang Mingyu walked over with big strides!

  Principal Chiang smiled and said, "What a talented young man! So young and promising!"

  "Colonel Zhang Mingyu of the 1st Battalion, 46th Regiment, 21st Division, leads all officers and men to pay respects to the Chairman!" He then saluted Chiang Kai-shek and others. The soldiers behind him also followed suit and saluted!

  "Ah, not bad! Tiger and wolf's teacher, sharp teacher!" Chiang walked over and said in Zhejiang dialect, "Mingyu ah! You're also from Zhejiang, right? We're fellow provincials!" After saying that, he personally took Zhang Mingyu's hand and walked towards the cars parked inside the city. The people around were shocked in their hearts! To be able to walk side by side with the Chairman, this person must have a high position in Chiang's heart! Looking at the National Army generals, except for Chiang's sworn brother Zhang Xueliang, no one has been able to hold hands and walk side by side with the Chairman! And yet Zhang Mingyu was just a small regiment commander, but he could still receive such favor from Chiang! Many insightful people predicted that after today, Zhang Mingyu would not be just a regiment commander anymore!

  After entering the city! At the Presidential Palace, Principal Chiang hosted a banquet for Zhang Mingyu, and also dining together were Madame Song. During the meal, Principal Chiang inevitably tried to win people over regarding... Zhang Mingyu's family situation, all of which had already been taken care of! And at this time, Zhang Mingyu also took the opportunity to show his loyalty. "Mingyu will definitely take Chairman Ma as his model! Be loyal to the party and the country! Be loyal to Chairman Ma..."

  After dinner, Zhang Mingyu was sent back to the new camp of the Independent Regiment in Nanjing City, Nancheng Military Camp! The soldiers of the Independent Regiment saw Zhang Mingyu return and surrounded him asking questions.

  Zhang Biao asked, "What official position did Commander-in-Chief give you?"

  "Right! Captain, go ahead and say it!"

  "Nothing's sealed!" He said and walked towards the barracks!

  "Then what about the rewards for the battalion commander and the regimental commander? Like the Pacific Ocean or beautiful women?" Zhang Biao asked, following up. Zhang Mingyu turned around and kicked Zhang Biao's butt, sending him flying several meters away!

  "What the hell is wrong with you now! Still thinking about the ocean and women! The devils are almost taking over Shanghai!"

  Chairman's Order: "In view of Zhang Mingyu's bravery in leading his troops to victory, killing a Japanese Major General, he is hereby promoted to Colonel and Commander of the Anti-Japanese Independent Regiment! The original 21st Division, 46th Regiment, 1st Battalion is changed to the Anti-Japanese Independent Regiment! It will be directly under the command of the Third War Zone Headquarters! All soldiers in the original battalion are promoted one rank! New recruits will arrive tomorrow! November 26, Year 26 of the Republic of China, Chairman Chiang Kai-shek"

  The next day, the Military Affairs Department sent three large trucks of soldiers! There were also military uniforms and other supplies from the Independent Regiment!

  "Hey! Didn't you say we were going to add 800 people? Why are there only 400?" Zhang Mingyu asked the escort officer, holding up the registration form.

  "Most of the officers have been dispatched to Shanghai to participate in the Songhu Battle! Only these people are left!" The escort officer said. Zhang Mingyu supplemented the 400 new recruits, with 200 supplementing Zhang Biao's first company! The first company expanded into a battalion! Zhang Biao became the battalion commander! The remaining 200 people formed the second battalion, and the battalion commander was taken over by Zhang Haisheng, the reconnaissance company commander!

  On November 9, the Japanese army landed in Hangzhou Bay, and the National Army was forced to retreat south to Nanjing and Suzhou. On the same day, the government of the Republic of China announced that it would move its capital and all government agencies from Nanjing to Chongqing. The military command center was first moved to Wuhan until after the Battle of Wuhan, when it was also moved to Chongqing. Zhang Mingyu asked Chiang Kai-shek for permission to defend Nanjing City, which was approved.

  Zhang Mingyu requests the principal to prioritize replenishing weapons! Approved!

  It is now November 9th. The Nanjing Defense War in history started on December 1st! That means Zhang Mingyu still has 21 days to prepare!

  P.S: I need your vote! If you think what I wrote is okay, please cast me a precious vote! Autumn wind is grateful beyond words!