Chapter 29: Reorganization

  As expected, everything went as I had anticipated. Zhang Xueliang, under the indulgence of Wang Jingwei and others, announced his retirement from the Administrative Yuan and left Nanjing with my elder brother and several other old comrades from Northeast China, temporarily settling in Shanghai's International Settlement; Old Chiang did not want to break the unspoken rules that had been followed since the Republic of China was established, so he didn't intervene. However, Yang Hucheng's days are probably going to be even more difficult!

  Zhang Xueliang ran away so freely, and Yunyan and I strolled around the government residence again, of course accompanying San Jie.

  "Little brother, this time we help Han Ying like this, will your and Zi Wen's official career..."

  I laughed, "Third sister, it just occurred to me now that our career paths are... after all, are we your biological siblings or..."

  "Seeing you smile, I feel at ease."

  "The relationship is indeed a bit of an issue, but it's not a big deal."

  "What did you say?"

  "Big brother is a financial expert, whether as the Minister of Finance or the Governor of the Central Bank, he has always been in charge of managing money and finance for zhèngfǔ and sister-in-law. Although the financial and monetary reform linked to the British pound and US dollar has come to an end, there are still long-term projects such as borrowing from powerful countries and seeking assistance, especially in this era approaching war. Sister-in-law won't drive big brother away; as for me, I'm even less affected, after all, our family doesn't have military power. As long as my 'predictive' ability is still there, my position in the army, such as a high-ranking advisor or arms manufacturer, is stable." Yunyan pulled me and I glanced sideways, whispering: "Sister-in-law is coming."

  As Chiang Kai-shek approached, Soong Mei-ling smiled and said, "Third brother's analysis is correct! Let's make another prediction - where will we be and what will happen to us this time next year?"

  "This time next year? I'm afraid it's hard to predict. All I can forecast is that after the war breaks out, we will be fighting on two fronts in North China and East China; if the Shanghai front erupts, our army can probably hold out for three to four months, and then our army should be retreating step by step. I predict that this time next year we should still be in Nanjing, but I'm afraid we'll be preparing to retreat to Wuhan." These few sentences were intentionally said for Old Chiang to hear.

  "Oh? Young brother actually made such a prediction?" Old Jiang walked over and interjected.

  "Yes, brother-in-law. As Mr. Bai Li and I estimated, the war will break out around summer and autumn, first in North China and then in Shanghai, our army may gain some advantages before the Japanese main force is deployed, and then it will be a situation of fighting while retreating, trading space for time, engaging in protracted resistance, consuming the Japanese army, waiting for favorable changes in the international situation as expected, that is, World War. As long as we stand on the side of the United States in the great war, ultimate victory must belong to China."

  Chiang Kai-shek let out a somewhat disappointed sigh, "Zi-an, I remember everything you've done and said since your return to the country, including what you said last month before going to Xi'an. I'm glad you have this confidence! As for handling the Northeast Army, I'd like to ask you to go to Shanghai and discuss it with Han-ying. Zi-wen doesn't understand military affairs, and it's not suitable for others to go."

  "Okay, but I don't know where your brother-in-law's bottom line is?"

  "Tell Han Qing, the country is in a difficult situation. I don't want to disband his troops, but the Northeast Army needs to be standardized and reorganized. After reorganization, they will be deployed separately to various places, the headquarters will be abolished, and directly affiliated units will also be dispersed for deployment; that's about it, you can discuss and handle the specifics."

  "I don't know how the younger brother's 'Lu Zuojian construction suggestions' were considered by my sister's husband? Please ask my sister's husband to hand it over first, and I will also give a specific tone for the Northeast Army's reorganization."

  "The original opinion of the Military Affairs Department was to take advantage of the recent large-scale incorporation of machine guns and mortars into infantry regiments to expand the regimental organization; but now, based on your suggestion, it has been decided to maintain the current scale of infantry regiments, reduce the number of riflemen, increase the number of machine gunners, light artillerymen, grenade throwers, etc. The existing route armies, army corps and similar command headquarters, as well as the army groups and divisions that will be formed during wartime, will be merged and reorganized into army groups, but this will not be officially promulgated until wartime."

  I didn't say anything when I saw Old Chiang, but then I asked: "What about the travel expenses?"

  "Although most people in the military think that the brigade system has more drawbacks than advantages, it's hard to change now! Especially since we'll be going into a big war in half a year or at most one year, so I've decided not to change it; but after this decision, no new brigades under the division will be established, and the three-regiment division will become the standard organizational structure for future troops." After finishing speaking, Old Chiang walked away, with Third Sister following closely behind him, walking slowly together.

  Yunyan smiled lightly and said in my ear, "Look at them, they're an old couple, yet they're still like that."

  "Sister and brother-in-law are so loving! We're also an old couple, what's the example?" A kiss on the ear, in exchange for a punch from her fist, I also turned around with Yunyan and walked towards the front yard. Passing by Shi Yi's place, I got a copy of the Northeast Army data and left the official residence under the gaze of the guards.

  Shanghai

  Looking down at the bustling Ten-mile Foreign Concession from a high place in the Huiyuan Restaurant, Zhang Xueliang smiled and said to me: "This is my second retirement! But I'm happier than last time! At least I've done something beneficial for the country!"

  "It's just beneficial in the short term, but it's still hard to say for the long term."

  Zhang Xueliang continued smiling and said: "Zi'an, I found that since you returned to Nanjing, every time we meet, you're always pouring cold water on me!"

  "Hehe, this doesn't count for anything, guess how I brought Chairman's 'ice water'?"

  "That's quite guessable, but I thought you were trying to get rid of me as soon as possible and wait for me to go abroad, so that you can take over the Northeast Army; however, I didn't expect the Chairman to send you to talk to me."

  "I didn't expect it either, it seems that the Chairman's ability to use people for politics is indeed much better than ours!"

  "What is it? What does the Chairman want?"

  I took out the document signed by Old Chiang and said, "Han Ying brother, take a look yourself!"

  Zhang Xueliang carefully read it and asked with a bitter smile: "Zi'an, what's your opinion?"

  "The Northeast Army was reorganized by the army as a unit, and the headquarters and directly affiliated units were all incorporated into various armies except for individual handovers. Choose reliable corps commanders to control, do not attempt to unite before Han Ying returns to take control again. The principle is to disperse the large and unite the small."

  "How will it be arranged?"

  I took out the Northeast Army materials given by the attendant's room.

  Northeast Army sequence

  The 51st Army, which consists of the 113th, 114th and 118th Divisions, with a total of 9 regiments.

  The 53rd Army, which consists of the 116th, 119th, 129th and 130th Divisions, with a total of 12 regiments.

  The 57th Army, which consists of the 109th, 111th, 112th and 120th Divisions, with a total of 12 regiments.

  The 67th Army, which consists of the 107th, 108th, 115th and 117th Divisions with a total of 11 regiments.

  The 105th Division, which has jurisdiction over the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Brigades with a total of 9 regiments.

  Cavalry Corps, consisting of 11 regiments from the 3rd, 4th, 6th and 10th Cavalry Divisions.

  The 6th and 8th Divisions have jurisdiction over three field artillery regiments and one heavy artillery regiment.

  Directly under the headquarters are the infantry, artillery, engineering, communications and logistics corps and regiments.

  The 106th Division nominally belongs to the Northeast Army but has actually defected to Zhongyuan, the 91st Division belongs to the Northeast Army system but is no longer under the command of the Northeast Army Headquarters, and the 110th Division is pending replenishment.

  "The Director said that the divisional system will be gradually abolished, and new divisions established in the future will all be 3-regiment divisions; I think that now shrinking the larger units and strengthening the smaller ones is the best strategy."

  "My younger brother is absolutely right!"

  "In my opinion, the Northeast Army is temporarily divided into several small groups, and the heavy artillery, logistics, communications and other equipment that are not needed in the field are handed over to Zhongyang. The personnel can come and go as they please, and the rest are dispersed and incorporated into various armies. Each army makes some small friction with each other on the surface to calm people's minds. The 105th division is reorganized into a single army; the heavy artillery regiment is now nominally under the jurisdiction of the military political department, but after losing the Shenyang munitions factory, it has become difficult to maintain ammunition supplies in reality. Bullets and light artillery shells can still be purchased, but what about heavy artillery shells? Brother Hanying, are you not prepared to fight against the Japanese army on one hand while buying from them on the other? The 150mm howitzer used by Zhongyang is of German style, which is incompatible with the cannons of the 17th regiment. It's better to give this thing to the Chairman! Brother Hanying, do you believe me?"

  Believe it!

  "Alright, official residence news, Tan Zixing and Huang Yong'an have already defected to Zhongyang, Wan Fulin is negotiating the price; there should be more, but I haven't heard anything."

  "What? I haven't left yet!"

  "Please! Disintegrating is the best skill of the committee chairman, only the enemy and rì army old Chiang have no way, haha! Han Ying's subordinates are already much better than Huan Zhang's!"

  "In that case?"

  "My idea is: it's best to merge the 4 armies of the Northeast Army and the 105th Division into 5 armies with 3 divisions and 10 regiments each, and also reorganize the cavalry army into an army with 3 divisions and 10 regiments. The remaining infantry regiments will be dispersed and merged into various army corps as independent battalions, while the field artillery regiments and other directly affiliated units will be dispersed and merged into various infantry armies. The rest will be exchanged between the Zhong Division and the 106th Division, with at least one field artillery regiment returned; the heavy artillery regiment and the Artillery Column 6 will also be exchanged."

  "This reorganization won't cause any substantial losses for the Northeast Army, but the Chairman may not necessarily agree!"

  "Hehe, I didn't say the Director would agree to this reorganization plan, because I will give him another reorganization plan that you have agreed to; as for the difference, Han Ying brother can only take it out of his own pocket! Hehehe!"

  "Dear brother! Great kindness needs no thanks, I will always remember it in my heart!"

  I pointed to the warship on the Huangpu River outside the window and said, "A big battle is about to break out. To be honest, I don't think General Han is good at commanding battles. The bravery of the past should have been commanded by Guo Maozheng, right?"

  Zhang Xueliang smiled somewhat awkwardly: "Younger brother is right."

  "After the full-scale anti-war breaks out, I don't know if Chairman will give Han Qing brother a chance to command the battle; If so, I think Han Qing brother needs a high-ranking staff officer; Here I recommend one, Zhao Zili from the 14th class of the regular course of the Army University, although his seniority is shallow, but he is extremely brilliant in staff affairs! Moreover, I think Han Qing brother doesn't need to go far away to the ocean, just playing near places like Manila and Singapore for a few months can return home."

  "Good! If I can return home and join the fight at that time, I definitely will!"

  Everything has been settled, Zhang Xueliang became active again. Seeing Zhao Yidi and Yunyan chatting happily on one side, Zhang Xueliang smiled and said: "Little sister, how are you? There aren't many people who dare to draw their guns on me! Hahaha!"