Chapter 28: Official Roster

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  Li Ruofeng knew that in the future war of resistance, there would be many opportunities to deal with the Central Club faction, and it was indeed necessary to rely on the Central Club's forces to strengthen the anti-Japanese intelligence front line. Therefore, he intentionally showed goodwill towards Chen Lifu.

  For Chen Cheng, Li Ruofeng was even more aware that this person was Chiang Kai-shek's trusted confidant. Since he had decided to join the National Revolutionary Army, he must find a backer in the Central Army system. This would be beneficial for future expansion, reorganization, military pay and equipment. When Chiang Kai-shek established relations with the German government next year and reorganized the German-equipped divisions, Li Ruofeng wanted to get a share of the benefits.

  One side deliberately showed kindness, while the other was trying to win them over, and the atmosphere of the conversation between the two sides was naturally harmonious and friendly.

  After a round of family routine, Chen Lifu suddenly brought up a topic that made Li Ruo extremely sensitive:

  "Hey Feng, I heard you haven't joined the party yet?"

  Li Ruofeng fell silent for a moment, then said: "Yes, Director Chen. Since returning to the country, I haven't had the opportunity to interact with party and national elites, nor has anyone ever mentioned this matter to me. As time went on, it was dragged down."

  Chen Lifu and Chen Cheng exchanged a glance, and then Chen Cheng took over the conversation, saying: "Ru Feng, if I and Director Chen were to be your sponsors for joining the party, how would you feel about it?"

  "I resign, it's what I've always wanted, I don't dare ask you." Li Ruo had no hesitation and replied with a smile: "I'm grateful to have been favored by Director Cai and Director Chen, it's my good fortune in three lifetimes. If there's anything I can do for the two of you in the future, just let me know, I'll be willing to work hard like a horse."

  "It's all right." Chen Lifu smiled and said, "Don't worry about this matter, after returning to Nanjing, I will personally help you with the procedures for joining the party, become a member of the Kuomintang, and serve the country better in the future."

  "Thank you Director Chen, thank you Sir." Li Ruofeng stood up in time and gave them a military salute.

  Chen Lifu waved his hand with a good mood, indicating Li Ruofeng to sit down, and smiled: "Ruofeng, it seems that I have only heard of your name, but don't know your character. Is it possible that you only have a name but no character?"

  Li Ruofeng nodded and said: "Yes, Director Chen, I come from a humble background, the men in my family have names but no education."

  "Really? If Wind, I'll give you a word, how about that?" Chen Lifu asked enthusiastically.

  "Please instruct me, Director Chen." Li Ruofeng straightened his back and said.

  Chen Lifu closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them and said: "You have been ambitious since childhood, studying literature and martial arts, going abroad to study, and returning home only to dedicate yourself to the country, that's called loyalty to the country, loyal to the party and the state. How is that?"

  Li Ruofeng secretly cursed in his heart, but his expression was serious and he nodded: "Thank you, Director Chen. I really like this character."

  Chen Cheng also nodded in agreement: "Zhongguo, hmm, very meaningful."

  "Zhongguo, your Li family's foundation is in the three eastern provinces, but you've gone to great lengths to come to Gansu. You must have some ulterior motive, right?" Chen Lifu saw that the timing was ripe and immediately cut to the chase.

  Li Ruofeng nodded and replied, "Director Chen, to be honest, since my return to China, I have seen the Central Government's great attention to Japan, which has made me feel very gratified. You know that I spent seven years in Japan, during which time I traveled extensively throughout every city in Japan, so I can say that I understand its national conditions quite thoroughly. I believe that the National Government must be aware of the contents of Tanaka's memorial, 'In order to conquer China, we must first conquer Manchuria and Mongolia. If we want to conquer the world, we must first conquer China. If China is completely conquered by our country, then other nations such as Central Asia, India, and Southeast Asia will certainly be intimidated and surrender to us, recognizing East Asia as our territory, and never daring to invade us.' Since Tanaka Giichi's cabinet proposed his 'Imperial Policy towards Manchuria and Mongolia', it has received enthusiastic support from the Japanese Emperor and the militarist right-wing party, with the entire country's economy, politics, and military all leaning towards launching a war. Their wolfish ambitions are clearly evident. Based on my judgment, Japan will launch its attack on Manchuria at the latest by the end of this year, and at that time, our Northeastern provinces' territory and people will suffer from the invasion of war. Therefore, I must make preparations for war in advance!"

  Chen Lifu frowned and asked: "By the end of this year? What is your basis for making such a judgment?"

  Li Ruofeng said: "Since the establishment of the Republic, the warlords have been in power, and the country has been plagued by war. Last year's Central Plains War, although the National Government ultimately won, but whether it was the Central Army, the Northwest Army, the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, or the Guangxi Army, they were all severely damaged in this battle. Our country's military strength and national power suffered severe damage, and without five to ten years of time, it will be difficult to recover. The Japanese have long had their sights set on us, and with this heaven-sent opportunity, they will not let it slip away. They will not give the National Government time to unify China, improve people's livelihoods, national strength, or build an industrial system."

  Chen Cheng nodded silently, his expression very solemn, "Zhong Guo, do you think that once war breaks out, we can defeat Japan?"

  "We must fight even if we can't win! Whether we win or lose, just don't make peace with it!" Li Ruofeng thought for a moment and used the argument from Jiang Fangzhen's "National Defense Theory" of later generations. "Japan is an island country with scarce resources, and its population is much smaller than China's. Although they have established a perfect industrial system and modernized their military, their war potential is still very limited. We are not afraid of being swallowed by it, but we fear being nibbled to death. By exchanging space for time, as long as we keep eliminating its living forces, victory will ultimately belong to China. However, in the early stages of the war, we will be extremely hard-pressed. I plan to take the northwest because I am certain that during the early stages of the war, the Northeast Army will definitely not be able to hold onto the three northeastern provinces, and President Chiang, due to domestic political, military, and economic reasons, will not want to engage in an all-out war with Japan. The fall of the northeast is already a certainty."

  In the end, Li Ruofeng weakly lowered his head, looking extremely disheartened.

  Li Ruofeng's guess about Chiang Kai-shek's mind shocked Chen Lifu extremely.

  Chen Lifu has not been idle in discussing Sino-Japanese issues with Chiang Kai-shek over the past two years. After the Central Plains War, Japanese activities in Northeast China have become more frequent. For this reason, he also repeatedly proposed to Old Chiang that it is necessary to strengthen control over Northeast China. However, Old Chiang's sentence "Repel the external must first stabilize the internal" has answered all of Chen Lifu's questions.

  Li Ruofeng has such a keen insight, which makes Chen Lifu even more valued, and he is determined to bring down this young and promising general with the brand of Chen's system.

  Chen Lifu has this idea, and Chen Cheng also has the same thought.

  With the support of these two men, Li Ruofeng undoubtedly became the biggest beneficiary of this "Gansu Incident".

  As for having a force that does not belong to the "Gan, He, Hui, Ma" clique stuck in the abdomen of Gansu, Qinghai and Ningxia, Chiang Kai-shek would certainly be delighted to see it. After Chen Lifu and Chen Cheng reported the situation in Zhangye to Chiang Kai-shek by telegram, Chiang Kai-shek agreed to Ma Zhongying's original proposal to establish the Xihai Provincial Government with a stroke of his pen, but appointed Li Ruofeng as the chairman of the Xihai Provincial Government. At the same time, he also gave Li Ruofeng the designation of the 38th and 39th Divisions of the National Revolutionary Army's Central New Army, and appointed him as the Commander-in-Chief of the Hexi Security Command, responsible for the defense of Lanzhou, Jinchang, Zhangye, and Suining.

  As for the personnel appointments of these two divisions, let Li Ruofeng draft a list and have Chen Lifu bring it back to file.

  The newly compiled 38th and 39th divisions were a careless move for Old Chiang, but after Li Ruofeng took over, he was overjoyed.

  These two divisions will definitely be expanded into two armies in the future, the 38th Army and the 39th Army. For those familiar with the modern Chinese People's Liberation Army's land force organization, these two numbers mean "Long Live Army" and "Always Victorious Army". How can Li Ruofeng not secretly rejoice?

  Historically, after Ma Zhongying's first victory in Xinjiang and his return to Jiayuguan, Ma Bufang considered that Ma Zhongying was a relative after all. Through his efforts, the Nanjing government gave Ma Zhongying the designation of the Central Army's New 36th Division, designating the six counties of Jiayuguan, Jinta, Dingxin, Yumen, Anxi and Dunhuang as its defense zone.

  As for Ma Zhongying, Old Chiang made no arrangements. The intention behind this is quite sinister.

  Chiang's arrangement was both within Li Ruofeng's expectations and beyond his expectations.

  Li Ruofeng knew that Old Jiang would definitely take divisive measures, but he didn't expect Ma Zhongying to actually let Old Jiang demote him all the way down. From this, it can be seen that Old Jiang is absolutely ruthless towards disobedient generals who have been tainted by red ideology.

  Li Ruofeng still had a good opinion of Ma Zhongying's military talent and personal charm, and he certainly wouldn't let Old Chiang's plot succeed.

  However, Li Ruofeng would not hand over either of these troops to Ma Zhongying. After all, one cannot have a mind to harm others, but it is necessary to be on guard against others; holding military power in his own hands was more secure.

  He soon listed the main military officers of two divisions and handed over a list to Chen Lifu.

  He himself took over as the commander of the 38th Division, Fei Diqing served as the chief of staff, and Qi Luming served as deputy commander. The two were awarded the rank of Major General. Sun Zhen was appointed commander of the 39th Division, Zhuang Yu served as chief of staff, and Deputy Commander was nominated by Zhuang Yu's nomination, Zeng Ze took over, and the three also received the rank of Major General.

  Li Ruofeng did not reorganize according to the current National Army's divisional establishment, but instead reorganized according to the German standard army division. Anyway, he knew that he couldn't completely rely on Old Chiang, and some equipment still had to be relied on himself.

  After consultation with Sun Zhenzhuang Yu and others, both divisions became three brigades of six regiments of Category A divisions.

  The basic composition is as follows:

  The division has 3 brigades, and each brigade has 2 regiments.

  Directly subordinate troops:

  1 infantry artillery regiment: 3 infantry artillery battalions (36 x 75mm mountain guns, 12 x 75mm field guns)

  1 anti-aircraft artillery battalion (24 x 37mm anti-aircraft guns)

  1 anti-aircraft artillery battalion (24 x 20mm anti-aircraft guns)

  1 field artillery battalion: 36 x 150mm howitzers

  1st Engineer Battalion

  1 signal battalion (2 wired communication companies, 1 wireless communication platoon)

  A convoy of one car

  1st Special Operations Battalion

  One sanitary team (usually a division hospital)

  Controls 3 infantry brigades:

  Controls 2 infantry regiments:

  Headquarters troops:

  One mortar company (12 x 60mm mortars, 6 x 82mm mortars)

  1 infantry artillery battalion (4 x 75mm mountain guns, 2 x 75mm field guns)

  A communication link

  A special agent company

  Controls 3 infantry battalions:

  Infantry Regiment Directly Subordinate Units:

  The regiment has 3 infantry battalions:

  Controls 1 artillery battery (2 x 60mm mortars, 6 heavy machine guns)

  1 telecommunications class

  A cooking squad

  3 infantry platoons:

  Divided into 3 classes

  Each squad is equipped with: one light machine gun, two submachine guns, two pistols, and seven rifles.

  In addition, two divisions were set up with supplementary regiments, mainly used for new soldier training and old soldier reorganization.

  The total strength of the whole army is nearly 24,000 people. It was completely reorganized in response to the Japanese Army's Cavalry Brigade.

  However, in terms of heavy artillery firepower, it is still slightly inferior to the Japanese army's first-class division, but even so, a division like this can defeat one or two armies of other warlords at home.

  At that time, Chen Cheng was dumbfounded by this organizational plan. Is this still a division? It can almost be called an army. However, Li Ruofeng told Chen Cheng that the military pay and equipment would be provided according to the standard of the Central Army's new division, and the insufficient part would be handled by himself. Anyway, this organization is specifically aimed at the Japanese army, so he had to ask Minister Chen to speak highly of him in front of President Chiang.

  Chen Cheng had already considered Li Ruofeng as his own protégé in his heart, so he readily agreed.

  Flattering his grandson and speaking kindly would bring him unimaginable benefits, and Li Ruofeng had never been stingy with his expressions and words.

  There are good officials in the morning, and Li Ruofeng now has a deep understanding of this sentence.

  As Chiang's president, anyway, he only needs to replenish the troops according to the plan, and other excess military salaries and equipment are not his concern, which is also a pleasure. In his opinion, having two divisions stationed in the northwest, with stronger equipment, would have a greater deterrent effect on the northwestern forces, and the central government's orders would be more secure.

  Everyone has their own calculations, and all are happy with their own results.

  A new week has arrived, and the battle for the top spot on the book charts is heating up again. If you think my humble work is okay, please lend me your support! I'm seeking recommendations, collections, and clicks. Thank you.