Rise of 1926 sodu
After handing over the list of officers after the expansion of the troops to Zhang Zhizhong, Song Zhiwu and Xiao Guodong were busy. First, the troops expanded, fortunately, those 30,000 new soldiers had been trained almost enough, newly formed the 7th, 8th, and 9th regiments, composed of the 1st, 4th, and 7th regiments to form the 1st Division, division commander Zhang Yafei; The 2nd, 5th, and 8th regiments formed the 2nd Division, division commander Gao Zongbao; The 3rd, 6th, and 9th regiments formed the 3rd Division, division commander Zhang Tao. However, due to insufficient personnel, these three divisions did not have complete artillery, logistics, engineering, reconnaissance, and guard units, which was also an unavoidable situation, and could only be supplemented later. The cavalry division commander was naturally Wei Guanghui; Artillery brigade commander Liang Fang; Logistics brigade commander Wu Jin. The original guard battalion expanded to a guard brigade, with Ye Changgui as the brigade commander and Liang Bang as the deputy brigade commander. The special forces battalion was incorporated into the guard brigade sequence, mainly because Song Zhiwu did not want to draw too much attention to this force. Although the artillery expanded to a brigade, it only set up the framework of the brigade for the time being, and temporarily had only two 75mm mountain artillery battalions and one 120mm heavy howitzer battalion. Song Zhiwu was not unwilling to add more cannons, but he didn't have the money now. The monthly profits of several factories would be consumed by various expenses of the troops of over a million people on the same day, and the money abroad could only be used at the end of the year. He currently only had money to store ammunition, and purchasing weapons was temporarily impossible. If Nanjing gave him military funds, he would have some leeway.
The expanded frame is coming down, Song Zhe-wu throws all the specific matters to Xiao Guo-dong, and dives into Wang Xing-gang's Spring Festival Gala rehearsal base, busy with the Spring Festival Gala.
As soon as Song Zhiwu heard that Nanjing was going to send reporters, he immediately felt that this was an opportunity, a chance for him and his troops to gain fame. He had to seize this rare opportunity to make a big splash. Only by gaining great fame would they attract the attention of various factions and gain the greatest benefits in their competition for favor. Nanjing's Chiang Kai-shek immediately promoted him in rank, upgraded his troops, and issued them pay, fearing that others might not know, and even sent reporters to publicize it widely. All this shows that Chiang Kai-shek in Nanjing is declaring to various factions: Song Zhiwu and his troops are mine, so don't touch them. But will others comply with his wishes? At least Yan Xishan won't, Song Zhiwu believes that after coming to his senses, Yan Xishan will soon come to show his goodwill to him.
To make the "Military and Civilian Spring Festival Gala" a success, Song Zhe Wu repeatedly studied the program with Wang Xing Gang and Fang Zhen, but there were still too few programs, so they added a few more Peking Opera pieces. Then, two dress rehearsals were organized before stopping. The venue for the gala was set up at the foot of a mountain outside the city, where a huge stage was built against the mountain. The background curtain of the stage was made by several young people from the art department according to Song Zhe Wu's idea, but it was still covered in front and everyone couldn't see its true face yet. Two large tents were also set up diagonally opposite the stage, specially prepared for distinguished guests.
The three-day time passed quickly, and on the 30th day of the year, a group of reporters from Nanjing arrived, sent by Song Zhe-wu's car team to pick them up from Shimen at noon, with Wang Xing-gang specifically in charge of receiving these literary figures. What delighted Song Zhe-wu was that among these people were also several actors, which really made Song Zhe-wu feel that Chairman Chiang had thought it through!
Song Zhe-wu immediately arranged a banquet to entertain these uncrowned kings, and in order to treat these distinguished guests from Nanjing well, he specially invited a master chef from Beiping and purchased a large quantity of ingredients that could not be found in Laiyuan. The purpose was only one, which was to make these reporters happy and write articles praising Song Zhe-wu, so as to have more depth and strength.
Song Zhe-wu's extremely warm hospitality made the reporters very happy. The long journey had taken a toll on these Shanghai and Nanjing city reporters, who had been through a lot of hardships. Many people even cursed Song Zhe-wu all the way to Laiyuan for not letting them have a peaceful life in recent years. However, after Song Zhe-wu gave each of them an envelope with a large sum of money as a hardship allowance, all their unhappiness disappeared. The two department heads from the Central Propaganda Department who led the team were given a higher allowance, and Song Zhe-wu gave each of them two small yellow fish. These two men immediately changed their attitude towards Song Zhe-wu from polite courtesy to genuine gratitude, repeatedly expressing that they must make a big deal about Song Zhe-wu as a party and national elite, and that he should be made an example for young military leaders.
Settling the journalists, Song Zhe-wu and Xiao Guo-tong, Wang Xu-you brought four division commanders, as well as Liang Fang, Wu Jin, Zhang Zhi-zhong, Meng Chu, Party Secretary Chen, and dozens of others to go outside the city to welcome Shang Zhen and Lin Wei. Last night, they received a telegram from Shang Zhen, knowing that they should arrive at Laiyuan in the afternoon around 3 o'clock. After receiving Song Zhe-wu's telegram, Wei Guang-hui led a cavalry unit of over 2,000 people to escort more than 7,000 pack mules back to Laiyuan yesterday. Adding to the pack mules sent back earlier, the entire army now has over 15,000 pack mules. If the entire army were to march into battle, all weapons and ammunition would no longer be carried on the shoulders of the logistics soldiers.
Ye Changgui led a company of guards fully equipped with P-18 submachine guns, as well as Wei Guanghui's cavalry regiment, and set out at noon to meet them.
At nearly four o'clock in the afternoon, Shang Zhen and Lin Yu's motorcade arrived at the outskirts of Laiyuan City under the escort of more than 2,000 cavalrymen. The motorcade consisted of 5 cars and 6 trucks. After Shang Zhen and Lin Yu got out of the car, Song Zhiwu quickly stepped forward to greet them, first giving a military salute to Shang Zhen. Song's actions made Shang very satisfied. Chiang Kai-shek had taken away his elite troops from him, making him extremely angry. However, with Lin Yu, the chairman of the committee, personally flying to Beiping to comfort and persuade him, and insisting on reading out the personnel appointments for the original security brigade himself, this made Shang's anger subside a lot. As the chairman of the Military Affairs Committee and China's de facto leader, he had given himself enough face, so it was okay. Who let his own temple be too small? Now, Song Zhiwu did not forget his old boss, first coming to give him a salute, rather than going to greet the red man beside the chairman. This greatly satisfied his self-esteem.
"Weng. I'm here to introduce you, this is the Chief of Staff of the General Command Lin Wei." Shang Zhenhe chuckled and pulled Song Zhe Wu over to introduce him to Lin Wei.
Song Zhiwu knew that Lin Yu would later be known, along with Chen Bulei, as the two great stewards of Chiang Kai-shek's household, one civil and one military, deeply trusted by Chiang. On the surface, he and Zhang Zhizhong were very similar, neither greedy for power nor having any wild ambitions; in reality, they were not. Zhang Zhizhong was naturally detached from fame and wealth; Lin Yu deliberately suppressed his own nature.
In March 1935, the Military Affairs Commission set up a personnel department within the commission to unify national land, sea, and air military personnel matters. Chiang Kai-shek appointed Lin Yu as its first director. As Chiang's confidant, Lin twice struck out his name from reports recommending him for promotion to general. After the victory in the War of Resistance, President Lin Sen awarded a Loyalty and Diligence Medal to each head of department, bureau, and council of the Military Affairs Commission; when reviewing the list, Lin Yu deleted his own name.
Song Zhe-wu, being a lieutenant general himself, didn't have to salute Lin Wei-zhi, who was also a lieutenant general. However, since Lin held the position of Chief of Staff at the General Headquarters, it would be acceptable for Song to show respect by saluting him. Song decided to do so in order to win over Lin, who was a close confidant of the Chairman.
Before Song Zhe Wu could give Lin Wei the courtesy, Lin Wei grabbed Song Zhe Wu's hand and said enthusiastically: "Commander Song, we are all military men, and military men don't need those empty courtesies. I am older than you by a few years, so you can call me Brother Wei Wen, and I will call you Younger Brother Wen Ge. How does that sound?" Being able to address the chairman's favorite as brother was of course delightful for Song Zhe Wu: "I'd rather obey than show respect, so I'll become your Brother Wei Wen." The two burst out laughing. Next, Zhang Zhi Zhong came over and greeted Shang Zhen, and since they already knew each other, no introduction was needed. Then, Song Zhe Wu introduced his subordinates to Shang Zhen and Lin Wei one by one. Except for Xiao Guo Dong and Ye Chang Gui, Shang Zhen had not met anyone else before. He and Lin Wei shook hands with these generals one by one to show their closeness. When it was Meng Chu's turn, Shang Zhen held Meng Chu's hand and said: "County Magistrate Meng, Wen Ge has told me many times that you are a diligent and people-loving official. Such people are rare nowadays! I wanted to transfer you to the provincial capital for work, but Wen Ge insisted on keeping you here for another year. You must cooperate well with Wen Ge, and after one year, I will transfer you away."
Shang Zhen had already told him about the transfer to the provincial government, and for Meng Chu, who had no background or money, this was a great opportunity. Without Song Zhe Wu's garrison in Liyuan, Shang Zhen would not have known him. He looked at him favorably. Out of gratitude to Song Zhe Wu, he could only stay in Liyuan and wholeheartedly help Song Zhe Wu handle civil affairs with Chu Feng. At this moment, seeing Shang Zhen, the provincial governor, being so kind to him, he was excited and thanked him repeatedly. Lin Wei, who was behind, heard that the county head was someone Song Zhe Wu valued, also shook hands and encouraged him. Meng Chu knew that without Song Zhe Wu, these people would not have looked at him with respect, and his gratitude to Song Zhe Wu increased again.
What surprised Song Zhe Wu was that Yan Yang Chu also followed Shang Zhen. It turned out that Shang Zhen knew Yan Yang Chu had no family and was alone in Ding County, so he brought him along on the way. There were also two reporters from Beiping among the entourage. "Congratulations, Wen Ge!" Before Song Zhe Wu could speak, Yan Yang Chu continued with a smile: "I'm a poor man this time, I came for two reasons: first to have a good meal at your place during the New Year; second, it's the New Year, and I've come to ask for some reward money. Spring is about to begin, and many farmers in Ding County still don't have seeds, so I was thinking of asking Chairman Shang, but he's not rich either as the provincial chairman. This time you'll have to give me 180,000 yuan, or else I won't leave."
"Alright, alright! Mr. Yang's matter, Wen Ge will definitely take care of it." After finishing, he pulled Yang Chu again and introduced him to the crowd. Zhang Zhizhong and Lin Wei looked at Song Zhe Wu and Yang Chu's intimate appearance, and they were also very happy in their hearts. A military officer who cares about the people's livelihood will absolutely not be a person who disregards national righteousness. They did not recommend him to the Chairman in vain.
Song Zhe-wu led the crowd to the Travel Department of the Temple, except for a few people who followed Song Zhe-wu to welcome Shang Zhen and Lin Wei, all the others who were promoted waited in the conference room. First, Lin Wei represented Chiang Kai-shek to encourage and comfort the crowd, then Shang Zhen read out the appointment orders one by one. Afterwards, Song Zhe-wu, on behalf of all the promoted personnel, declared: "Resolutely support the Central Government, resolutely support Chairman Chiang, under the leadership of Chairman Shang Zhen, vigorously eliminate bandits, stabilize the local area..."
Because the dinner party was scheduled to start at 6 pm, Shang Zhen and Lin Wei arrived at the scene after a short rest, along with Song Zhe Wu.
