Chapter 60: The Turbulent Four Years - 1918 (Part 1) Fei Ku Wang

  On December 30, 1930, Chiang Kai-shek's first encirclement campaign against the Central Soviet Area ended in failure. However, Chiang did not reflect on this defeat and instead intensified his efforts. On April 1 of the following year, Chiang appointed He Yingqin as commander-in-chief and mobilized an army of 200,000 to launch a second encirclement campaign against the Central Soviet Area. Nevertheless, after only two months, Chiang's second encirclement campaign against the Central Soviet Area also ended in failure.

  "Damn it! Despite my efforts, 200,000 troops can't even eliminate the Communist bandits!" Chiang Kai-shek thundered in his office, shattering glass cups one after another.

  "What's going on in there?!" In another busy office, Qian Daquan heard the sound coming from Chiang Kai-shek's office next door, walked out of his office, and asked the attendants standing at the door like ants on a hot pot.

  The attendant walked up to him, grabbed Director Yuan's ear and whispered: "Director, just received news from the front line that the encirclement campaign failed, with heavy casualties!"

  "What?!" Qian Dajun was shocked, took a deep breath and said: "You go down first!"

  "Yes!" The attendant responded and quickly left. At this time, Dai Li hurriedly walked towards Qian Dajun. Qian Dajun slightly frowned and asked: "Yunong, what's the matter?"

  Dai Li said: "Cai He-sen was caught in Guangzhou. I came to ask the principal how to deal with it." As he spoke, Dai Li noticed a hint of abnormality in Qian Da-jun's eyes and asked: "What happened?!"

  Qian Daquan said calmly, "The second siege failed. The loss of 200,000 troops was severe. Chairman Chiang is in a bad mood now. You wait here for a while, I'll go in and announce your arrival." After that, Qian Daquan knocked on the door and walked into Chiang Kai-shek's office, glanced at the broken glass cup on the floor, and said, "Chairman, Dai Li has arrived."

  "Let him come in!" Chiang Kai-shek said coldly.

  "Yes!" Chiang Kai-shek responded, and left his office. Not long after, Dai Li walked in. Chiang asked: "Yunong, what's the matter?"

  Dai Li replied: "Principal, Communist Party member Cai He-sen has been caught in Guangzhou!"

  "What?!...!" Chiang Kai-shek's heart was filled with joy, and he gritted his teeth as he said: "Kill! It is better to wrongly kill a thousand than to let one go!"...

  "Lin, your letter!" Lin Aofeng had just returned to the dormitory when Johns appeared behind him with a letter in hand. Lin Aofeng thanked him and took the letter from Johns, leaning against the bed to read it. As he read, a faint smile spread across his face.

  Toni and Dominick, who were chatting on the other side, saw the smile on Lin Ao Feng's face and both of them suddenly showed a puzzled expression. Dominick couldn't help but pull Johns and asked: "Whose letter is it?!"

  "Who else can make Lin look like this?!" John's replied.

  After about half an hour, Lin Ao Feng came back to his senses from happiness and saw the unusual eyes of Dominick's three people. He immediately reacted and asked with a smile: "Johns, today is weekend. Didn't you go home? ! How come back so early?!

  "John said: I am ordered to invite you back home as guests!"

  "But we don't have any holidays!" Dominick said with difficulty. Johns smiled and said, "This has already been taken care of for you. I had your time off approved before I came back."

  Upon hearing the news, Dominick and Tony both jumped up simultaneously and cheered in unison: "That's great!" Johns looked at Lin Ao Feng. Lin Ao Feng put away the letter and said: "What are you still dazing around for? Hurry up and go! If you're late, you won't make it back before the school gate closes tonight."

  John's home was not far from the military school. Half an hour later, John brought Lin Ao Feng and three others back to his own home. After settling Tony and Dominick, John quietly pulled Lin Ao Feng and said: "Come with me. My uncle wants to see you." Lin Ao Feng nodded and followed John upstairs.

  Entering the study, before Johns could speak up, a short old man wearing a single-lens glasses and a 1915 German military uniform spoke first: "Young man, nice to meet you. Let me introduce myself, my name is Hans von Sekten."

  Although Lin Aofeng had long guessed who the short old Chinese man in front of him was, when the old man introduced himself, Lin Aofeng was taken aback for a moment before hastily bowing and saying: "General, greetings!"

  "Come on, youngster," Sekert chuckled. "Don't be so serious. This is a home, not an office. If you don't mind, just call me Uncle like Johns does!"

  Lin Aofeng hesitated for a moment, then said: "Alright!" Lin Aofeng continued to ask: "Uncle Seckert, you had Johns call me over, it's not that simple, is it?!"

  Sackett said, after Lin sat down beside him and Johns, "Lin, you are the most militarily talented student we old guys have ever seen. It's a pity for us that Germany couldn't keep you, it's also a loss for our Germany."

  "Thank you, Uncle Sektor, for your affirmation." Lin Ao Feng said very sincerely: "I am extremely grateful to Germany, because in Germany I not only learned military knowledge, but also learned what a soldier should do. Judging from the recent domestic situation of my country that I have come to know, the Japanese can no longer bear it. They are likely to make a military probe against my country in the near future. This time they will not only test my country's reaction, but also test the reaction of countries around the world."

  Sekert put down his teacup, hesitated for a moment, and said: "Lin, according to your judgment, where will the Japanese launch their attack this time?!"

  Lin Ao Feng's sharp and decisive reply was: "Northeast!"

  Sekert's head suddenly lifted, looking at the Chinese map hanging on the wall, saying: "From a comparison of military strength and equipment, the Japanese launching an attack in Northeast China is simply gambling!"

  Lin Aofeng said calmly: "Japan is a good gambler. In the Sino-Japanese War of 1894, Japan bet all its national strength and won the war. With the war reparations from the Qing government, Japan developed education and thus widened the gap with China in big strides. It's the same now. However, this time the final result will be opposite to that of the Sino-Japanese War."

  Saike Tei murmured, "The Japanese are attacking the Northeast, and the Soviet Union will react the most. As for other countries, I don't think they'll have any reaction." Lin Ao Feng smiled slightly and said, "Uncle Saike Tei, your analysis is very accurate. If the Japanese make Shanghai their next target, what do you think will happen?"

  Johns, who had been sitting silently on one side, could no longer hold back, whistled and said: "I'm not sure about other places, but if it's Shanghai, that's the sphere of influence of Britain, France and the United States. They can't stay silent."

  A gleam of light flashed through Sekut's single-lens glasses. "Even if they will support China, Japan may not listen to them," said Sekut, looking at Lin Ao Feng.

  Lin Ao Feng nodded and said, "Yes! Just as Uncle Sekkei said. But Japan is an island nation, everything they have depends on imports. Even if they stockpiled a lot of supplies in advance, it won't be enough to keep up with consumption. Therefore, these two probes, Japan's duration will not be too long."

  The wheels of time, following the trajectory of history, are rolling rapidly, and before we know it, September has arrived.

  "Director, Mr. Cheng Jincheng has arrived. He wants to see you!" Qian Dajun walked into Chiang Kai-shek's office and reported to him. Chiang Kai-shek slightly furrowed his brow, thought for a moment, and said: "Please ask him to go to the reception room, I'll be right there!"

  "Yes!" Chiang Kai-shek responded and left his office. About a minute later, Chiang walked into the reception room, smiling and said: "Jin Cheng Gong, what wind brought you here?!"

  Cheng Jincheng suddenly said with a serious expression: "Zhongzheng, I have received some information that the Japanese are planning to launch a surprise attack on Shenyang on September 18th."

  Chiang Kai-shek's smile vanished instantly upon hearing Cheng Jincheng's words, and he said coldly: "Mr. Jincheng, this is no laughing matter!"

  Cheng Jincheng said: "My grandson Lin Aofeng is Jiang Baili's closed-door disciple, he is now studying at the Berlin Military Academy in Germany. His good friend is the nephew of German Defense Minister Seekt. This news was obtained by my grandson from him."

  At first, Chiang Kai-shek thought Cheng Jincheng was joking with him, but when he heard the name "Sekret" from Cheng's mouth, half of his vigilance had disappeared. The atmosphere in the entire living room suddenly cooled down. After about seven or eight minutes, Chiang Kai-shek smiled awkwardly and said: "Mr. Jincheng, has your grandson already obtained the full deployment of the Japanese?"

  Cheng Jincheng sighed, took out the telegram sent back by Lin Aofeng through Cheng Zhihao's secret radio in Germany two nights ago from his pocket, and handed it to Chiang Kai-shek, saying: "He only got a rough idea too."

  Chiang Kai-shek took the telegram, carefully read it once, and rang the bell on the tea table. Not long after, Qian Daquan walked in from outside. Chiang Kai-shek said calmly: "Mu Yin, go and call Dai Li, He Yingqin, Chen Cheng, I have something to discuss with them."

  "Yes!" Zhang Daqian responded and walked out of the reception room. After the door of the reception room was closed again, Chiang Kai-shek spoke up: "Jin Cheng Gong, I heard that your great-grandson is a top student at the Berlin Military Academy. When can he finish his studies and return to China?"

  Cheng Jincheng replied: "At the earliest, it will be next summer."

  "Next summer?!" Chiang Kai-shek thought for a moment and said, "The government is currently cooperating with Germany in military affairs. I think there must be a place for my grandson to use his skills when he returns home." ... Cheng Jincheng chatted with Chiang Kai-shek for a few words and bid farewell. Watching Cheng Jincheng's back as he left, Chiang Kai-shek was stunned for a moment and asked, "Have they all arrived?!"

  Qian Dajun replied: "Everyone is here. Waiting for you in your office."

  "Director!" Chiang Kai-shek walked into his office, and Dai Li, He Yingqin, and Chen Cheng exclaimed in unison. Chiang Kai-shek gave Dai Li a cold stare, then handed the telegram in his hand to He Yingqin, saying: "You take a look first!"