Chapter 56: The Outbreak of the War of Resistance! Seeking Recommendation Tickets!

  Thanks to brother Yu Chaojie for the starting coin reward! Kowtowing in gratitude!

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  After the four of them made up their minds, Zhang Xinghan immediately stood up and said to Zhao Desheng and Sun Siwei: "Old Sun, Desheng, you two go gather all the comrades in the regiment at once, we will jointly petition."

  "Yes!" The two stood up simultaneously and saluted with a loud "click", then turned around and walked out in big strides, one after the other.

  After receiving the notice, all officers and soldiers quickly gathered outside the battalion's courtyard. The open space in front of the gate was packed with over 180 officers and soldiers from the entire battalion, forming several rows consisting of three infantry platoons and one machine gun squad.

  At this time, the scorching sun was shining brightly in the sky, and the hot sunlight shone on the faces of the officers and soldiers. Although it was unbearably hot, they didn't move a muscle, still standing upright with their bodies straight, letting the sweat slide down from their faces.

  The Honor Guard is one of the most elite units in the National Army, and its military bearing and posture are a given.

  Seeing Zhang Xinghan and Zhou Weida walking out in big strides, Sun Siwei hastily walked over in big strides, stood up straight and saluted: "Report to Company Commander, all 187 men of the whole company are present, please instruct!"

  Xing Han Zhang and Wei Zhou simultaneously returned the courtesy, stepped forward, and scanned the eyes of all the soldiers present, saying: "Brothers! Today I have gathered you here to announce something important. I think you all know that just a few days ago on July 7th, the Japanese army launched a surprise attack on our 29th Army's defense zone in North China. This is a long-planned conspiracy by the Japanese to invade all of China. Once the war starts, there will be no easy ceasefire. At present, the Japanese army is frantically attacking our defensive lines, and Pingjin is in danger. Now, friendly forces from all over the country are eager to join the battle! As the most elite troops of the National Revolutionary Army and as Huangpu elites, how can we fall behind others?

  "March forth to battle, go north to resist the Japanese! Fight against the Japanese invaders, protect our homeland!" Sun Siwei shouted out a stirring slogan at just the right moment.

  "Resist the Japanese invaders! Defend our land and country!" All the officers and soldiers shouted in unison.

  "Alright! After discussing with several squad leaders, we have decided to take the initiative to petition our superiors and ask Commander-in-Chief Chiang to let us go into battle! Deputy Squad Leader Zhou has a petition form here. Whoever is willing to follow me to petition for deployment to the north, please sign your name!" Zhang Xinghan said.

  "Everyone come one by one, starting from the first row!" Zhou Wei said, taking out a list and walking forward.

  Just then, a horn sounded in the distance, and Zhang Xinghan and others turned their heads to see a military jeep speeding towards them from afar.

  The jeep sped quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it rushed over, the door was opened with a loud bang, and a lieutenant colonel officer wearing a brand new and neat uniform walked down.

  The lieutenant colonel, holding a document in his hand, walked briskly towards Zhang Xinghan. The newcomer was familiar to Zhang Xinghan; he was Lieutenant Colonel Ma Liangui, the chief of staff of the First Instructional Regiment, who had received him when he completed his special training and reported to the regiment headquarters, and had also appointed him as the commander of the first company on behalf of Regiment Commander Zhou Zhenqiang.

  Zhang Xinghan and Zhou Wei rushed forward to greet him, standing at attention and saluting: "At ease!"

  "Hmm." Ma LianGui stood up straight and returned the military salute, turned his head to look at the gathered troops, and asked puzzled: "Comrade Zhang, what's going on? Why are we gathering the troops?"

  "Reporting back to the commander, I am currently having all officers and soldiers fill out a petition!" Zhang Xinghan did not hide anything and spoke directly.

  "What petition? What wish?" Ma LianGui asked.

  "The Japanese army suddenly launched an attack on our garrison in North Ping, and now the friendly armies from all over the country are eager to go into battle. Our entire regiment has more than 180 officers and soldiers who have decided to petition their superiors to send us north to fight against Japan!" Zhang Xinghan didn't have time to respond before Zhou Wei answered on his behalf.

  "Nonsense! A soldier's duty is to obey orders! Now that the Japanese army is invading China on a large scale, there are plenty of opportunities to resist. I instruct the General to shoulder the responsibility for national security and stability, how can we easily mobilize?" Ma Liangui scolded.

  "Excuse me, sir, are we soldiers?" Zhou Wei's temper flared up and he retorted.

  "Of course we are soldiers. Our teaching battalion is the most elite unit, the crème de la crème!" Ma Liangui replied.

  "As a soldier, when the country is invaded and our territory is occupied, we should go to the battlefield! Defend our home and country! Fight to the death with the invaders! Rather than hiding in the rear, struggling to survive, and living in fear!" Zhou Wei said gritting his teeth.

  "Well said, a thousand days of training for one moment of battle! Comrade! Please ask the Director and the Committee Chairman to approve our teaching regiment to go north and resist Japan! Now Pingjin is in danger every day, once the Japanese army enters North China, at that time tens of millions of fellow countrymen will be displaced, families broken and people killed!" Zhang Xinghan also said with great emotion.

  "Please approve our going north! We want to resist Japan! We want to fight the devils!" The officers and soldiers all followed in agreement.

  "What's all the commotion about!" Ma LianGui shouted in anger, his expression slightly furious as he glared at Zhang XingHan and Zhou Wei, scolding: "As military officers, you two should set an example for the entire company, not lead the way in causing trouble!"

  "My humble self did not lead the trouble, we just hope that our superiors can understand the patriotic enthusiasm of my fellow brothers." Zhang Xinghan retorted with his head bowed.

  "Your patriotic heart and dedication to the country, I understand! However, as a soldier, you should take obeying orders as your duty!" Ma Liangui looked at Zhang Xinghan with a rebuking gaze, handing him the document: "This is the top-secret telegram from the Military Commission and Commander-in-Chief Chiang just issued to our division headquarters, instructing all officers and soldiers of the Instructional Corps to be prepared for deployment at any time! The Division Commander ordered me to convey the orders from the Military Commission and Commander-in-Chief Chiang to each battalion, in order to stabilize the morale of the troops. Currently, the Japanese are actively preparing in Shanghai, so it is likely that war will break out there. Therefore, you must be patient, conserve your energy, and await orders at any time. With you fighting, our Central Military Academy Instructional Corps will not hide in the rear as cowards!"

  Zhang Xinghan took the file, hastily browsed through it and handed it to Zhou Wei beside him. In fact, Zhang Xinghan was very clear about the current situation. With the war already started in North China, in order to ensure the stability of Jinghu and to gain the initiative in the future anti-war situation, the high-level National Government led by Chairman Chiang had already begun to prepare for the Shanghai-Hangzhou Battle and the secret plan to annihilate the Japanese Yangtze River Fleet.

  After several months, the Battle of Shanghai will erupt, and Zhang Xinghan is aware of this. Moreover, Zhang Xinghan also knows that Pingjin cannot be defended, and he wants to persist in going north to resist Japan for a very important matter, which is to save the national anti-Japanese hero General Zhao Dengyu, and try not to let him die in the July 7th Incident. However, from the current situation, Zhang Xinghan may not have the ability or opportunity to change this sad history.

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