Chapter Seventy-One: The Military Academy's Gilded Cage

  Lin Ao Feng replied loudly: "This is a military school, where we learn how to become generals from soldiers; how to win future wars."

  Zhang Zhizhong looked at his younger brother Lin Ao's serious face and couldn't help but burst out laughing. "We haven't even started class yet, and this is my office, you don't need to be so serious," he said with a chuckle. Zhang then pulled Lin over to the sofa and sat down beside him. "Aofeng, with your qualifications, it's no problem for you to lead troops directly in the army. The reason I had you come to Central Military Academy to study for a while is to give you some polish. Our Commander-in-Chief Jiang has his own way of using people and promoting officers, and it's basically not a secret that he has three standards: 'Zhe, Lu, Yi' (people from Zhejiang Province, graduates of the Central Army School, and veterans of the Northern Expedition). You may not be from Zhejiang by birth, but your uncle is from the same hometown as Commander Jiang, so that's barely passable. However, this isn't enough for him to create better conditions for you. As for being a veteran of the Northern Expedition, since it's already over and the First Army has been reorganized, that no longer exists. Therefore, whether or not you've studied at Central Army School becomes extremely important."

  "Big Brother." Lin Ao Feng pursed his lips, wanting to say something, but hesitated and retreated. Seeing this, Zhang Zhizhong smiled and comforted him: "There are only the two of us here, today we'll just discuss our relationship as master and brother, nothing else. Whatever it is, speak freely."

  "Since Shixiong asked me to say it, I'll say it!" Lin Aofeng organized his words slightly and asked: "Shixiong, if the January 28 Incident were to happen again, do you have confidence in defeating the Japanese?"

  Zhang Zhizhong furrowed his brow slightly and said, "If under the same conditions, although we can't win against Japan for the time being, at least we can repel them. At worst, we can hold on until the League of Nations intervenes to mediate a ceasefire."

  Lin Ao Feng smiled lightly and said, "Brother, forgive me for speaking bluntly. China has lost to Japan in the past because of people like you who think this way. The League of Nations says it's for peace, but in reality, they're just protecting their own interests in China. The 9/18 and 1/28 incidents were Japan testing our military strength and probing our bottom line. Next time there's a Sino-Japanese conflict, it will be the start of Japan's full-scale invasion of China. By then, we'll only have ourselves to rely on."

  Zhang Zhizhong sighed and said: "The problems exposed by the January 28th Incident, we are not unaware of. But solving these problems is not something that can be done overnight."

  "I know this, but we should also prepare in advance." Lin Ao Feng hesitated for a moment and said: "Shixiong, it's not just Japan that is preparing to launch a war, Germany is also preparing to launch a war. If Germany launches a war in Europe, do you think the League of Nations will still care about us?"

  Lin Ao Feng's words shattered the last of Zhang Zhi Zhong's illusions. Zhang Zhi Zhong took a deep breath, pulled Lin Ao Feng to the adjacent office, and pointed at the sand table in front of him: "Actually, what you just said, I've been considering too. Now let's have a sand table exercise, you and I, brothers in arms, will have a good competition."

  "It's better to obey than to show respect, so I'll make a fool of myself in front of my senior brother!" Lin Ao Feng was recalling the 813th Army's offensive posture while quickly deploying troops on the sand table.

  Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye. Zhang Zhizhong dropped the flag in his hand and said, "I lost!"

  Lin Ao Feng smiled and said: "Senior brother, the outcome of the sand table is not important, but in reality, your win or loss will be the lives of hundreds of thousands of people!"

  Just as Lin Ao Feng's voice fell, three applause sounded from behind. Lin Ao Feng and Zhang Zhizhong turned their heads at the same time, and Zhang Zhizhong shouted: "Chairman!"

  "Ah, Wen Bai!" Chiang Kai-shek walked to Zhang Zhongjing's side and looked Lin Aofeng up and down from head to toe, asking: "Wen Bai, I presume this is the gatekeeper disciple of Jiang Baili?"

  Zhang Zhizhong nodded and said: "Yes! He has just graduated from the Berlin Military Academy in Germany, and today he is here to go through the admission procedures."

  Chiang Kai-shek patted his bald forehead and said, "Look at my memory. His admission procedures were specially approved by me." Behind Chiang Kai-shek, the German advisor, Bodde, suddenly asked, "Are you Lin Aofeng?!"

  Lin Ao Feng nodded and said: "Yes! You are."

  Buddha's son saw a look of puzzlement on Chiang Kai-shek's face, and smiled to explain: "My good friend, General von Seekt, the Commander-in-Chief of the German Defense Forces, has mentioned him. He called Lin Ao-feng the best student at the Berlin Military Academy in Germany over the past decade. He put forward many new combat concepts that have been promoted within our German Army. Chairman Chiang, I suggest letting him enter the General Staff Department."

  "Damn it, that old scoundrel Zhao! What's the point of entering the General Staff if I'm still mixed up?! Lin Ao Feng cursed under his breath and said: "Director Chiang, although my grades at the German Military Academy were excellent. But that's all in the past. Director Chiang, do you need a Zhao who can only talk on paper or a Bai Qi who can charge into battle?!"

  "What's Zhao Kuo?! What's Bai Qi?!" Fozao'er asked with a puzzled face. The translator beside her briefly introduced Zhao Kuo and Bai Qi to Fozao'er. Fozao'er couldn't help but exclaim: "Too terrifying! Massacring 400,000 people?! He's really a butcher! Lin, you wouldn't want to be a butcher, would you?!"

  Lin Aofeng smiled and said, "To the enemy, Bai Qi is an executioner. But to the country he serves, he is a hero, a god of war!" As Lin Aofeng spoke, his eyes inadvertently met Chiang Kai-shek's gaze. Although Chiang's face remained icy, he couldn't conceal the admiring look in his eyes.

  Chiang Kai-shek coughed lightly and said, "Germany's environment is different from China's, let him study in the military academy for a while longer!" Then Chiang Kai-shek also told Lin Ao-feng, "You should also be prepared to join the troops at any time. The party and country need excellent students like you."

  "Yes! The student understands!" Lin Aofeng learned from the Nationalist officers he saw on TV in his previous life, nodding and bowing to respond.

  Near noon, Lin Ao Feng walked out of the Central Military Academy's gate. In a coffee shop not far from the academy, Qin Ke Qing saw Lin Ao Feng and immediately settled the bill and ran out, hooking her hand around his arm, asking: "Is everything taken care of?!"

  Lin Ao Feng nodded and said: "Everything is ready! School will start in a few days. It's getting late, let's find a place to eat!"

  "Good! I want to eat duck blood noodles, chicken soup buns; I also want to eat..." Before Qin Keqing could finish her sentence, Lin Aofeng smiled and interrupted: "Whatever you want to eat, we'll go eat it. Today, everything will be satisfied for you!"

  Time flies, and with students returning to school one after another, the Central Military Academy has once again resumed its usual bustle.

  "Have you guys heard? It seems like a transfer student who came in through the back door has arrived." Lin Ao Feng, who had entered the classroom early, heard the discussions of his fellow students and revealed a hint of helplessness on his face. He thought to himself: "It's often said that women are gossipy, but I didn't expect the men at this military school to be even more gossipy."

  "Of course I've heard of it. But just don't know what this kid is called or what he looks like."

  "Alright! Alright! The instructor is here, don't say anything!" Upon hearing the reminder from the front row classmate, the two cadets who were just discussing immediately shut their mouths. Not long after, the instructor walked in from outside. Standing on the podium, the instructor habitually scanned the cadets sitting in their seats with his eyes, finally fixing his gaze on Lin Ao Feng's body.

  Seeing the instructor's contemptuous gaze, a flash of murderous intent inadvertently flashed through Lin Ao Feng's eyes. Then he heard the instructor's voice ring out: "The student sitting in the back, which class are you from? I've never seen you before!"

  Lin Aofeng stood up and said loudly: "Graduated from the German Berlin Military Academy, specially recruited as a student of the 8th Central Army Military Academy, Lin Aofeng."

  The students who were already a bit anxious, upon hearing Lin Ao Feng's self-introduction, immediately began to whisper and discuss among themselves. The instructor, upon hearing the students' murmurs, changed his expression several times, thinking to himself: "What kind of background does this kid have? Why didn't he mention that he graduated from De** School earlier?! Why didn't anyone give me a heads up beforehand?!" However, being an instructor after all, he quickly calmed down and found an excuse for himself, glossing over the situation.

  After class, Lin Ao Feng took his book back to the dormitory. Soon after, the other three members of the dormitory walked in one by one.

  "Hello! Let me introduce myself, my name is Tang Zhengdong, and I'm the dorm leader. The one on my left is Qian Bing, and the one on my right is Ma Mingyang. We're all from the 8th period, 2nd battalion, infantry department, 2nd team. Welcome to our dorm!" As he spoke, Tang Zhengdong extended his hand.

  "Lin Aofeng! Eighth period, second battalion infantry company two! Please take care of me!" Lin Aofeng stretched out his hand and shook hands with Tang Zhongdong.

  "Now everyone in our dorm is finally here." Qian Bing smiled and walked up to Lin Ao Feng, asking: "I heard your self-introduction during class, you just graduated from De** School?!"

  "It's nothing special, just eating Western bread abroad for a few years. As long as you have excellent grades, you also have the opportunity to study in Germany." Lin Ao Feng said with a smile.

  Tang Zhendong smiled wryly, raised his wrist to look at the time on his watch, and said: "Alright, let's not mention these things anymore. You haven't had lunch yet, have you? Today I'll treat you to a meal."

  "How can this be!" Lin Ao Feng continued: "Since you're new here, let me treat you instead! You know the place better than I do, so you lead the way!"

  Seeing Tang Zhendong looking a bit unhappy, Qian Bing's mind turned and he played the role of peacemaker: "Boss, let's not take turns treating each other. I think we can let Lin Aofeng treat us to lunch today, and then tonight will be on you. We'll help him get settled in, what do you say?"

  "Alright! Let's go as you said!" Tang Zhendong led the way out of the dormitory.

  "Madman!" Just as they were about to arrive at the cafeteria, Lin Ao Feng, who was walking between Tang Zheng Dong and two others, suddenly heard someone calling out to him from behind. He stopped in his tracks, turned his head to look in the direction of the voice, and couldn't help but exclaim: "A Lang?! How did you little scamp end up here?!"

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