Chapter 43: Breaking the Mold and Promoting

  Inside Blue Army Command Center.

  General Zhang Zhizhong has just received a call from the Chairman's office and said that the Chairman will visit the Central Military Academy tomorrow. He highly praised General Zhang for his excellent education, cultivating many outstanding talents for the party and the country. This also made General Zhang's calm heart slightly excited.

  After hanging up the phone, Zhang Zhizhong smiled and said to the company commander of the several students who participated in the exercise: "Everyone, this exercise has been very good, you have shown a brave spirit, and in front of the leader, you have demonstrated the quality of our Central Military Academy. The leader has decided to come to our school tomorrow, so you must perform well! Maybe your future will change because of this exercise."

  Several students smiled and bowed, saying: "Thank you for your guidance!"

  "Don't thank me, it's your outstanding performance that has won over the principal, and it's the principal who wants to reward you. You are all students of the principal, I hope you can continue to learn, continuously improve yourselves, and contribute your own strength to the cause of the nation."

  The conversation ended and several company commanders started chatting again on their way back, still praising Wang Mingyu nonstop. Thanks to Wang Mingyu's idea, they now had the opportunity to meet the principal, an encounter that was hard to come by. Wang Mingyu felt a bit calm and composed at this moment, having met even the principal, what bigger scene could there be here?

  If it weren't for Wang Mingyu's plan, the fate of these people would have gone in another direction, and it's impossible to be as good as it is now.

  The night passed very quickly.

  The next day, at the training ground of the Central Military Academy, all the ninth-phase students lined up on the training ground, quietly waiting for the arrival of the principal.

  Before long, five luxurious cars slowly drove into the training ground of the Central Military Academy. On both sides of the cars were dozens of guards who kept watching around, their duty was obviously to protect the leader's safety at all times and in all places.

  Chiang Kai-shek and He Yingqin, Bai Chongxi, Gui Yongqing and others arrived at the Central Military Academy's training ground's temporary speaking platform accompanied by Zhang Zhizhong, Minister of Education. The students below looked up with fervent eyes at these top leaders of the country, feeling that even a single glance from them was an unparalleled honor.

  General Zhang Zhizhong walked up to the podium and said loudly: "Fellow students, today the principal, Minister He, General Bai and others have come to our school to visit us, we welcome them!"

  The students immediately became solemn and respectfully bowed, saying: "Dear Jingcheng!"

  Zhang Zhizhong smiled contentedly and said, "Next, we have invited the principal to give a speech!"

  With the sound of two neat footsteps at attention, Principal Chiang also nodded in satisfaction and stepped forward to say: "I came over today just to take a look at my ninth batch of students. After seeing them, I felt very moved. From Whampoa to Central Military Academy, we have gone through many trials and tribulations before developing into what we are today. However, I am glad that you did not disappoint me, each and every one of you is excellent. But I still hope that you can continue to inherit the revolutionary spirit of the martyrs of Whampoa, carry forward the spirit, and serve the Party and the country!"

  "Heed the principal's teachings!"

  Principal Chiang continued: "This exercise, you performed very well. The Art of War says 'War is a deceitful way', you can skillfully grasp the use of tactics, seize the opportunity on the battlefield and give the enemy a fatal blow. You are indeed my students!" Principal Chiang finished speaking and smiled again. In fact, Principal Chiang was also flattering himself. When it comes to fighting, Chiang has no real skills.

  Looking at Principal Jiang's boastful appearance, Wang Mingyu also wanted to laugh a little. Principal Jiang's political skills were indeed excellent, but when it came to leading troops and fighting wars, he was basically an amateur. Otherwise, in the Battle of Shanghai and other battles, with a strong army in hand, he would not have been defeated so badly, which is why later generations evaluated the Nationalist Party's military as having first-rate soldiers, second-rate tactics, and third-rate commanders, which makes sense.

  At the same time, the training ground was filled with a harmonious atmosphere, and classmates shouted loudly "Thank you Principal for your exaggeration!"

  Principal Chiang nodded affirmatively and said: "Those who perform well should be rewarded, those who do not should be criticized. This time I came to reward the students who performed exceptionally well. Don't be afraid of performing well, nor worry that the government won't reward you. I guarantee here that as long as there is merit, I will give a big reward. This is just an example."

  The people below suddenly became excited, and everyone hoped that the principal would praise himself. That's a great opportunity to fly high, and nothing else needs to be worried about in the future. However, only a few battalion commanders and Zhang Zhong understood that this time the principal was aiming at Wang Mingyu, and it is estimated that the other battalion commanders were just incidental.

  He Shang took a slow step forward and said: "Wang Mingyu, Li Shichao, Liu Xiao, Yang Kai, Huang Jianqun, come out!" The few people immediately came out and formed a small team.

  He Shang laughed and said: "This time's exercise plan, I heard Wang Mingyu say that it was you guys who came up with it together. The country has talents like you, it is the blessing of the country, it is the blessing of the people!"

  He Shang's face changed slightly as he said, "The National Revolutionary Army Military Commission has appointed Li Shichao, Liu Xiao, Yang Kai and Huang Jianqun as lieutenant colonels. After graduation, they will immediately rush to the Fangshan base to report for duty."

  "Thank you, Principal!"

  "Appoint Wang Mingyu as battalion commander of the middle school team, and make other arrangements after graduation!"

  "This arrangement not only made the students take a cold breath, but also General Zhang Zhong didn't expect it. General Zhang originally thought that granting a medium-sized sword would be enough, but unexpectedly, he was suddenly promoted to lieutenant colonel. This is an unprecedented event! If one were to graduate from school normally, at most they would start as a company commander, and suddenly the rank was raised to regimental level, which shows how much the principal values Wang Mingyu."

  Actually, Principal Chiang also wanted to appoint Wang Mingyu as the regiment commander, but a very important reason made Principal Chiang promote Wang Mingyu beyond the normal ranks. This reason is simple: Wang Mingyu is from Ningbo, Zhejiang, and he is a fellow townsman of Principal Chiang's. Principal Chiang had a strong desire to cultivate this young man from his hometown, hoping that his hometown could produce some generals. So when there was an opportunity, he would promote him beyond the normal ranks, making him both loved and hated by the young man. At this time, it was a good opportunity, especially since He Yingqin proposed it at the meeting, and Li Zongren and Bai Chongxi surprisingly expressed their support, which made Principal Chiang feel proud in his heart. This situation is rare, so he should pay more attention to this young man from his hometown who brought him face.

  Of course, Principal Jiang would have no idea that Wang Mingyu was planning to defect to his arch-nemesis at this time. Moreover, it's the kind of defection that comes after development and growth.

  At this time, Wang Mingyu was also overjoyed, with a faint smile on his face. He had unexpectedly become a lieutenant colonel and the commander of an actual authority regiment. This rank would be very beneficial for his future development. However, he didn't know which place he would be the commander of. If it were the Central Army, that would be the best, but this was unlikely. It was more likely to be some local security regiment or another type of garrison command department. As long as there were people, Wang Mingyu's only thought now was to take away those treasures, Sun Dabao and Lin Wen, together with him, and he would have no regrets.

  Under the gaze of envy, Wang Mingyu took a step forward and stood at attention, saying: "Thank you, Principal, for your cultivation. Students will not disappoint the principal's expectations, be loyal to the principal, and be loyal to the Party and the country!"

  Principal Chiang is extremely satisfied with this sentence. In fact, it was Wang Mingyu's later generations who saw Principal Chiang's habits and said so. Principal Chiang is a master of power struggles, so when speaking to him, one must be careful at all times. Saying "loyal to the principal" first, then "loyal to the party and country", and saying "loyal to the party and country" first, then "loyal to the principal" makes a big difference.

  Principal Jiang was increasingly pleased with Wang Mingyu, but these details did not escape the keen eyes of General He. At this point, General He had already placed Wang Mingyu in a category of people who should not be offended. As the person in charge of military logistics and supplies, he still couldn't afford to neglect this fellow townsman of the Commissioner's. If he were to mention him briefly in front of the Commissioner in the future, it would be a gain for General He.

  Chiang didn't have the leisure to indulge in this nonsense for long, so he left soon enough. But the news spread like snowflakes in the sky, covering every inch of ground. Many people were asking who this Wang Mingyu was, and many units began submitting reports, applying for their own unit's vacancies, hoping to get a top student from the Central Military Academy.

  Receiving so many troops' letters, General Zhang Zhizhong couldn't help but shake his head and sigh. One or two he could still handle, but with over ten of them, the backgrounds were complex and they were all important figures who couldn't be easily offended. However, General He said to wait for arrangements, which made things even more complicated. Colonel Wang Mingyu's attitude was also ambiguous, saying it wasn't a big deal, yet not small either. General Zhang Zhizhong decided to ask Wang Mingyu himself where he thought he should go.

  Wang Mingyu arrived at Zhang Zhizhong's office, but he didn't know what this visit was for.

  General Zhang Zhizhong smiled and said, "Han Ning, you're now a hot potato."

  Wang Mingyu said in surprise: "Dean of Education, what do you mean?"

  Zhang Zhizhong handed a dozen letters to Wang Mingyu and said, "You take a look yourself."

  Wang Mingyu looked at the letter and sighed with a bitter smile: "This is no good thing! Offending people!"

  Zhang Zhizhong smiled and said: "Yes, I'm also worried. Not only that, this time you graduate, the Ministry of National Defense will definitely arrange for you, but they will definitely ask for your personal opinion. I want to ask you too, what do you think?"

  Wang Mingyu knew that today's words might affect his future, so he said: "The education is long, the students want to go to Shanghai!"

  Zhang Zhizhong curiously asked: "Why Shanghai?"

  Wang Mingyu said: "The Japanese army's ambition to invade China has not stopped because of the Shanghai Ceasefire Agreement. On the contrary, I believe that they are very likely to launch a war in the next two to three years. As the economic foundation of our National Government, Shanghai will inevitably be one of the main targets of attack by the Japanese army. Moreover, Shanghai is only a few hundred kilometers away from the capital Nanjing, and its strategic location is even more prominent."