Chapter 56: The Principal

  Chiang Kai-shek and General Hans von Seekt looked at the neatly dressed new students of the 9th term of the Central Military Academy below, smiling and talking: "General Seckt, what do you think of this batch of students?"

  "Respected Chairman Chiang, I think this batch of new students has completely surpassed the previous few batches. I'm really looking forward to seeing the results of their half-year training!" General Hans von Seekt said with a smile.

  Just then, Education Minister Zhang Zhizhong said: "Fellow students of the ninth term of the Central Military Academy, you have gone through six months of hard training and now it's time for your report! Next, please welcome President Chiang Kai-shek to address the new students!"

  As soon as Zhang Zhizhong finished speaking, all the new recruits responded with thunderous applause to welcome Chiang Kai-shek's speech. After a while, Chiang Kai-shek walked up to the microphone, pressed his hands down to signal everyone to quiet down, and said: "You are the elite of our China, the backbone of our party and country! You have undergone six months of rigorous military training, and from an ordinary person, you have become qualified soldiers. Now I want to test the results of your six months of training! I hope you can perform well!"

  The new students under the stage said in unison: "Please review! We will definitely live up to the principal's expectations!"

  "Good! I'll just sit here and watch your performance!" With that, Chiang Kai-shek left and returned to his own seat.

  Then the executive officer announced: "The assessment is now beginning! The first subject is hand-to-hand combat, limited to five minutes!" Afterwards, Chinese military police marched out in an orderly manner and appeared in front of each new recruit.

  At this time, the instructor shouted loudly: "Start!" Suddenly, the sound of fighting erupted on the training ground. After a while, all eyes in the field were focused on Zhang Lieyang, and he quickly solved the Chinese military police in front of him, then rushed towards the students who were weaker in hand-to-hand combat.

  By Chiang Kai-shek's side, Zhang Zhizhong pointed at Zhang Lieyang and whispered in his ear: "He is Zhang Lieyang, the ninth new student, also the temporary instructor of these new students!"

  "Is Wen Bai really the grandson of Mr. Zhang Jingzai?" Chiang Kai-shek asked seriously.

  "Yes! And it was he who helped the 19th Army defend Qiujiang Road and Qingyun Road in Shanghai!" Zhang Zhizhong said seriously. After hearing Zhang Zhizhong's introduction, Chiang Kai-shek praised: "He is indeed an elite of the party and state!"

  In the blink of an eye, five minutes had passed. The drill instructor shouted loudly: "Halt!" Instantly everyone stopped in their tracks. Those who couldn't get up were helped to their feet by others. Chiang Kai-shek looked on with satisfaction and asked General Seckt beside him: "General Hans, are you satisfied with the performance of these new recruits?"

  "Director Chiang, I think the best performing new student is that one!" said Hans von Seekt, pointing at Zhang Lieyang. Chiang Kai-shek smiled and told Zhang Zhizhong: "Call Zhang Lieyang over later!" Just then, the officer in charge shouted loudly: "Now proceeding to the next event: marksmanship!"

  Soon one by one target trees rose, not long after the duty officer ran to Chiang Kai-shek's face with a score sheet and reported: "Report to the principal, all the trainees' shooting results have come out, all of which are excellent!"

  "Good!" Chiang Kai-shek, unable to contain his excitement, walked up to the microphone and said to all the new students below: "You are the pillars of the party-state. I am pleased to announce that all of you have successfully passed the examination and officially become the 9th term students of the Central Military Academy!" As Chiang Kai-shek led the applause, the audience erupted into a thunderous ovation.

  At noon, when all the new recruits were resting, a messenger walked into Zhang Lieyang's barracks and asked: "Which one is Zhang Lieyang?!"

  Zhang Lieyang immediately turned over and got out of bed, saying: "It's me!"

  "Get dressed and come with me, the Commander has summoned you!" The orderly said seriously.

  Then Zhang Lieyang quickly put on his clothes and followed the orderly to a VIP room. The orderly knocked on the door, opened it and said: "Please!"

  "Reporting to the Director of Education! Zhang Lieyang, a new recruit from the 9th term of the Central Army Military Academy, reports for duty!"

  "Come in!" Zhang Zhizhong's firm and powerful voice came from inside.

  Zhang Lieyang was stunned as soon as he walked in and saw Chiang Kai-shek and a foreign military officer sitting upright inside. Zhang Lieyang immediately saluted and said, "Principal, good!"

  Chiang Kai-shek stood up with a smile, patted Zhang Lieyang and said: "I didn't expect Mr. Zhang's grandson to be so big! He is indeed an elite of our party state!"

  "Thank you for your praise, Principal!" Zhang Lieyang said seriously.

  At this time, Hans von Seeckt, the German general advisor next to him, smiled and said in poor Chinese: "I am General Hans von Seeckt, the German general advisor. I'm delighted to meet you. You are the most unusual new student of the Central Military Academy that I have ever seen!"

  "Thank you for your compliment!" Zhang Lieyang said seriously

  "Alright, let's not talk about this today. Let's discuss something else!" Chiang Kai-shek said, looking at Zhang Lieyang and asking: "I heard that you told Education Minister that it is a shameful thing for military academy students to die on the battlefield?"

  "Yes, Principal! Because we are the elite of our country, if we, these elites, were to die at the hands of Japanese soldiers, it would be a shame not only for us military school students but also for our country!" Zhang Lieyang said with a smile.

  "Good!" Chiang Kai-shek said with a smile and applause.

  Just as they were talking happily, General Hans von Seekt looked at Zhang Lieyang with a smile and said in German: "Excuse me, my Chinese is not very fluent, I want to ask trainee Zhang Lieyang a question!"

  "Respected advisor, feel free to ask me anything you'd like! I guarantee that I will answer all your questions thoroughly!"

  Hans von Seekt, the general, was astonished and said: "I have never seen a Chinese student who can speak German so well!"

  "Thank you, praise!" Zhang Lieyang said with a smile.

  "I'd like to ask you, at that time on Qiujiang Road and Qingyun Road, what did you rely on to deal with the two Japanese regiments?!" General Hans von Seekt asked seriously.

  Zhang Lieyang looked at Chiang Kai-shek and smiled, responding in Chinese: "The method I used is actually mentioned in our ancient Chinese military writings - 'Warfare is a deceitful way!' As the saying goes, using troops requires adapting to actual situations and changing according to circumstances, one cannot rigidly stick to a single approach!"

  "So I'd like to ask you again, what tactics did you use?" General Hans von Seekt asked with great interest.

  "I used beheading tactics and artillery control tactics!" Zhang Lieyang replied with a smile.

  "Decapitation tactics?!" Before General Hans von Seekt could finish speaking, Zhang Lieyang directly said: "Decapitation tactics are to use elite small teams to find the enemy command center and then destroy the enemy command center at the fastest speed, making them lose their leader!"

  After listening to Zhang Lieyang's words, Chiang Kai-shek smiled and said: "You shouldn't be a new student, you should be an instructor at our Central Military Academy!"

  "Principal, you're overpraising me! I know my own abilities, so I'll just continue to be a student honestly!" Zhang Lieyang said with a smile.

  "All right, I won't delay you any longer. You go back and rest well! Starting tomorrow, you have a five-day holiday. Go back and give my regards to Mr. Zhang on my behalf!" Chiang Kai-shek said with a smile.

  "Understood, Principal! If there's nothing else, the students will take their leave!" With that, Zhang Lieyang bowed to Chiang Kai-shek and Hans von Seekt as well as Zhang Zhizhong before turning around and leaving.