Chapter Forty-Four: The Appointment Arrives (Seeking Recommendations and Bookmarks)

  Zhang Jiaoyu listened to Wang Mingyu's endless analysis, nodding constantly. What Wang Mingyu said was somewhat consistent with the high-level speculation at present, except that the high-level believed there was still a possibility of mediation by the League of Nations between China and Japan. But how would ordinary people know this? So Zhang Jiaoyu felt that Wang Mingyu not only had very high military literacy but also had some foresight.

  Actually, if we talk about fighting, then Wang Mingyu is definitely a qualified soldier and even a qualified officer. However, when it comes to politics and analysis of the future, Wang Mingyu would not think he is competent at all. What he said now are just things that were later confirmed to happen. Moreover, as a modern person who has received comprehensive military education, his vision must be much stronger than these people's.

  Zhang Zhizhong said with a smile: "Han Ning, you are an excellent patriotic soldier, I am very pleased. In that case, I will greet the governor and several generals, strive to let you go to Shanghai, guard the country's economic lifeline, what do you think?"

  Wang Mingyu secretly felt a thrill of excitement, but on the surface he remained calm and said: "A student should always do his best! However, I have a small request, could Uncle Shi help me out?"

  Zhang Zhizhong smiled slightly and said, "As long as it doesn't go against the principles, I'll try to help you out. What's up?"

  Wang Mingyu said with some embarrassment: "I want to let a few people in the school follow me into a troop, we are very familiar with each other! I know this is a bit difficult, but..."

  Zhang Zhizhong said solemnly: "The troops cannot form factions, this is not a gang in the rivers and lakes, but a revolution."

  Wang Mingyu said with a serious expression: "Shi Shu, I absolutely am not forming cliques. These few people have a very significant role for me, and they may be following me to the front lines of battle. I don't want to be caught up in internal power struggles within the troops at that time, and neglect other things!"

  Zhang Zhizhong thought for a moment and said slowly, "Alright, but the number of people cannot exceed ten! This is because your military rank is lieutenant colonel. They went there as your subordinates, if it were peers, I would never agree."

  Wang Mingyu happily said, "Thank you, Uncle Zhang!" Unconsciously, Wang Mingyu's address to Zhang Zhong had changed from "Education Minister" to "Uncle Zhang". This couldn't be blamed on Wang Mingyu's power. Firstly, Wang Mingyu admired Zhang Zhong; secondly, the two families were related by marriage; thirdly, Zhang Zhong's rank was high, and would become even higher as the commander-in-chief of the war zone. Having a relationship was not necessary, that wasn't his style. In war, one must strive for every principle that is beneficial to oneself.

  Zhang Zhizhong patted Wang Mingyu's shoulder and said, "You little guy... this is the first time I've ever opened a back door for someone! From now on, you must be humble and cautious, and strive hard for the cause of the nation and the country."

  "Yes, I guarantee I won't disappoint your expectations." Wang Mingyu solemnly saluted.

  After chatting for a few more sentences, Wang Mingyu said goodbye to Zhang Jiaoyang and left.

  Two years of military school life seems ordinary, but it is a must-go road. If Wang Mingyu was reborn in 1937, then Wang Mingyu would have immediately thrown himself into the battlefield. However, now Wang Mingyu has a better choice, and his military career has just begun to unfold.

  September of the 24th year of the Republic of China, the day when the ninth batch of students graduated from the Central Military Academy.

  "Comrades, from today on, I congratulate you, you will no longer be students, but soldiers, qualified giants. This batch of students makes me very satisfied, the principal personally promoted his students for the first time in school, this is their honor, and also our Central Military Academy's honor. I hope that in the days to come, you can fearlessly sacrifice yourselves, bring glory to our school, and throw yourselves into the magnificent revolutionary cause! Now, I announce, all students of the 9th term of the Central Army Officer School have passed the final examination, and are granted graduation!"

  The whole team stood in unison and saluted: "Thank you, educators!"

  General Zhang Zhizhong continued: "All of you will go to the grassroots troops for training, and some have even started commanding a battalion or even a regiment. However, I want to say one thing here, a real army is not an exercise, it's not about killing people, it's not playing house, they are living lives, they entrust their lives to you, you should take responsibility for them, cherish your current position and contribute your strength to the cause of the nation!"

  All students shouted loudly: "Remember the instructions of Education Director!"

  General Zhang Zhizhong also showed a long-lost smile and said, "The graduation ceremony will be carried out according to the school's rules. You will be assigned to different troops, and your instructors will inform you of the details. Three days later, you will set off for your respective units! As for the remaining three days, consider it a holiday, take it easy!"

  "Good... As soon as everyone heard the news of the holiday, they immediately exploded with joy. This period has been a combination of drills and assessments, and we're all exhausted. With some time to rest, why wouldn't everyone be thrilled?"

  General Zhang Zhizhong had his guards go and fetch Wang Mingyu after which he left the training grounds and returned to his office.

  "Knock knock knock""Come in"

  Wang Mingyu came in and stood at attention: "Director of Education!"

  Zhang Zhizhong said, "The suggestion you made to me last time about going to Shanghai, I also mentioned it to General He. Your appointment has come down, but not in Shanghai, as Shanghai is too sensitive a place. Instead, you will be stationed with the 67th Division's 110th Regiment 318th Battalion in Zhejiang. The meaning of being a school principal is extraordinary! It seems that this time you'll have to go back home and wait for a while. Currently, this unit also belongs to the front-line troops."

  Wang Mingyu was taken aback, and then began searching for information about the 67th Division in his mind. He smiled and said, "Thank you, Education Chief! No matter where we are, we serve the country, and Han Ning dare not pick faults!" However, in his heart, he thought, "Frontline troops? Zhejiang West? Could it be the anti-communist frontline troops? What a tragedy..."

  Zhang Zhizhong patted Wang Mingyu's shoulder and said, "Han Ning, it's good that you have this idea. You were appointed as the regiment commander of the middle school team as soon as you came up, which is a lot of pressure. You need to know that many people are paying attention to you now. If you don't perform well enough, others will definitely gossip about you, and it won't be your problem alone. It's very likely to involve the principal, making people think that the principal has poor judgment, and by then, you'll be in a desperate situation!"

  Wang Mingyu hastily said: "Please rest assured, Director of Education, Han Ning will definitely not disappoint your expectations!"

  Zhang Zhizhong smiled and said, "You, I'm still at ease with you. Your outstanding performance in military school is also in my eyes. The current situation is very unclear, and war may break out at any time. I hope that after you arrive at the troops, you will strictly discipline yourself, train hard, and train a hundred battles for me. Lion!"

  Wang Mingyu solemnly said: "I will definitely not betray the trust of the education chief."

  Zhang Zhizhong said, "And the six people on the list you gave me last time, I also mentioned to Minister He. This time, thanks to Minister He, he said you are a talented person and such a small request can still be satisfied."

  Wang Mingyu happily said: "Thank you, Dean!"

  Zhang Zhizhong shook his head and said, "When you have time, go thank Director He for this matter. It was indeed he who made an effort. Alright, you should also prepare well over the next few days, and report to the 67th Division in three days' time. Your brigade commander is a graduate of Huangpu's first class, and can be considered your elder brother. I don't know what he'll think when he sees that as soon as you arrive, you're already a lieutenant colonel!"

  Wang Mingyu also shook his head helplessly, actually Wang Mingyu knew that he was just lucky, if he wasn't from the same hometown as the principal, he would probably be at most a junior colonel battalion commander now, and even being a junior colonel battalion commander was a promotion beyond normal expectations.

  After talking with General Zhang Zhizhong, Wang Mingyu returned to his dormitory.

  Sun Dabao and several others were in the dormitory, seeing Wang Mingyu return, they asked: "Captain, do you know where you went? I just asked Instructor Zheng, everyone else has a unit, but we few don't, and Instructor Zheng doesn't know either."

  Wang Mingyu smiled slightly and said: "You guys? Hehe, I don't know either!"

  "Captain, how can you not know? Didn't we agree to be together afterwards?"

  Wang Mingyu helplessly said, "This isn't something I can decide! However, my appointment has already been made, commander of the 318th Regiment of the 110th Brigade of the 67th Division. Report to western Zhejiang in three days."

  Sun Dabao hastily said: "Captain, what should we do?" The others looked at Wang Mingyu with anticipation.

  "Wang Mingyu shook his head and said, 'Well, you guys really have nowhere to go, that's pitiful. Alright, I'll take you in since none of you have anywhere else to go.' After finishing speaking, he burst into loud laughter, and even Wang Mingyu himself couldn't hold it in."

  "Alright, captain, you actually dare to trick us, making us so anxious! Brothers, what do you say we do?" Li Xianyu gave a wink to the others and said "What's there to discuss? Let's start!" And with that, several of them lifted Wang Mingyu up and started tickling him.

  Wang Mingyu pretended to be angry and said: "You dare, I am your team leader!"

  "That's three days later!" Wu Peilin laughed.

  Wang Mingyu said: "Then I am also your captain now?"

  Li Xianyu deliberately said loudly: "What day is today?"

  "The day of graduation!"

  Li Xianyu said: "What team leader after graduation?"

  "Others laughed and said: 'No! We are free men for these three days!'"

  Li Xianyu smiled and said, "What are we waiting for? Come on, brothers!" And so several people started to playfully fight each other. Before long, Wang Mingyu made a killer move and said, "It seems my special equipment will have to be used by someone else again."

  Several people suddenly stopped moving, and Li Xianyu hastily stepped forward: "Uh, earlier our main purpose was to welcome the captain. Does everyone agree? Is that right?"

  Several others hastily said: "Yes, yes, yes", looking at the appearance of several people, Wang Mingyu's heart was already joyful, and he had turned against you, there are many ways to deal with you.

  Wang Mingyu feigned anger and said: "I am still not your captain!"

  Li Xianyu smiled and hastily said: "How is that possible? It's impossible, you are absolutely our captain! Whoever says otherwise, I'll fight to the death with them!"

  Then Li Xianyu turned around and pointed at several people, saying: "Is it you?" "Or is it you?" "Could it be you?" Seeing Li Xianyu's playful appearance, Wang Mingyu and the others couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  Wang Mingyu smiled and said: "You admit I am your captain?"

  Several others chimed in: "Absolutely acknowledged! Absolutely acknowledged!"

  Wang Mingyu smiled and said: "Alright, now I'm ordering you all in the name of team leader, everyone get ready to run 20 laps around the field!"

  "Ah..." Several people pulled a long face and sighed tragically, then several people began preparing to rush towards the field.

  Wang Mingyu saw them wanting to run and laughed: "Haha, got cheated again! Let's go, let's go, we're going to De Feng Building today! From now on, there will be fewer opportunities to come out."

  Li Xianyu and several others happily said: "Still, Captain is good, what's up, Da Bao, go call your sister-in-law too!"

  "Haha!" Sun Dabao ran out quickly. Wang Mingyu laughed and scolded, "You few kids, even calling out the name of the team leader. Trying to curry favor, huh?"

  Several people shook their heads and said: "Absolutely not, I am loyal and dedicated to you!" After finishing, several people burst out laughing.