Chapter 15: The Summit Extortion

  "Arming in progress, please wait."

  "Location locked, Guangzhou Yu Zhen Cannon Platform, truck, confirm."

  The intelligent computer in his mind rang again.

  Sun Xinghua smiled and muttered a confirmation to himself as he opened the truck.

  The officers around him quickly gathered around, with puzzled expressions on their faces.

  When Sun Xinghua opened the truck, everyone's mouth became O-shaped. The whole truck was full of weapons and ammunition, with two 75mm field guns prominently placed on top.

  "Company Commander, are these all ours?" Captain Shen Jian said in surprise.

  Sun Xinghua nodded and said to Shen Jian: "All the weapons and ammunition are transported to the military warehouse, and the battalion guard squad is responsible for guarding. Which company has a full number of people will come to the military warehouse to receive equipment, which company does not have enough personnel, don't think about receiving equipment."

  As soon as Shen Jian heard this, he took his party representative Du Yiming and rushed towards his residence.

  On the other hand, Erlian Party representative Song Xiqian was in a hurry and whispered something to the soldier next to him. The soldier quickly ran away.

  Before long, Second Lieutenant Hu Wei arrived at the front of the military warehouse with his men.

  "Company commander, 140 men of the second company have assembled, awaiting orders." Hu Wei came to Sun Xinghua's side and said with a salute.

  Sun Xinghua looked at Hu Wei in surprise, he had only been out for two or three hours, and Hu Wei had already assembled his team, which was a surprise to Sun Xinghua.

  "I've brought back some of my old subordinates from before, although they're a bit older now, but they're all seasoned veterans, much stronger than those new recruits." Hu Wei said hastily.

  Cai Guangju then took a headcount and found there were exactly 140 people.

  "Get the weapons and ammunition." Sun Xinghua gave the order.

  The two companies did not appear in a state of confusion, but rather took turns entering the arsenal to receive ammunition.

  After half an hour, the troops of the second company finished receiving their equipment. The soldiers looked at their brand new weapons and smiled on their faces.

  "A company, twelve light machine guns (Browning automatic rifles), two heavy machine guns, two cannons, eighteen submachine guns (Thompson submachine guns), even the best-equipped Northern Warlord troops, a battalion, may not be able to equip such good weapons." Hu Wei held his brand new Colt pistol, with an excited smile on his face.

  "Old camp chief, this time you're right." A senior sergeant with a Thompson submachine gun smiled and looked at Shen Jian.

  "Hu Wei, the troops immediately entered into training, three days to familiarize themselves with the operation of weapons, five days to complete platoon-level defense and attack drills. Within a month, they must form combat effectiveness." Sun Xinghua gave the order.

  "Squad leader, we have a problem with our ammunition." Hu Wei said with some difficulty.

  "Don't worry about the ammunition, you fire as much as you want and I'll replenish it. What I want is a bit of unity, the troops must concentrate their combat effectiveness. The training of artillery and machine gunners must be personally supervised by company and battalion commanders." Sun Xinghua said seriously.

  Anyway, smart computers can supplement ammunition, and Sun Xinghua doesn't have anything to worry about in this regard.

  "Hu Lianchang, you must pay attention to saving ammunition." Urgently said Cai Guangju, the party representative.

  "Yes." Hu Wei also couldn't care about his identity anymore, and directly saluted, leading his own troops to march towards the garrison, with the soldiers' footsteps in unison, their faces all revealing smiles.

  As for the equipment obtained from the second-hand exchange, Sun Xinghua put it all in the military warehouse, preparing to find a suitable buyer and sell off all the equipment.

  On December 15, 1924, after the Second Battalion Commander Hu Wei, the First Battalion Commander Shen Jian, and the Third Battalion Commander Dong Tianyong took office, the regiment was fully staffed, equipped, and Sun Xinghua's three battalions were strong and powerful, with high morale.

  However, paper cannot wrap up fire. Although Sun Xinghua tried his best to cover up the matter, Chiang Kai-shek in Huangpu Island still got wind of it.

  "Principal, Sun Xinghua's troops have a lot of weapons now, and the personnel has expanded to 500 people." The commander of the Second Regiment, Wang Boling, stood in front of Principal Chiang, saying with a tone of both admiration and resentment.

  Principal Chiang put down the documents on his desk, looked at Wang Boling, and a smile appeared on his face: "Mao Ru, the matter of Fu Guo's place has been reported to me by Jing Zhi. I don't think it's right for me to say anything about this matter now. The party army needs to expand its troops, and the party representative has agreed to the matter of Fu Guo's place. As for the matter of weapons, that is something Fu Guo got himself, and we can't say anything clear about it. However, those previous weapons and equipment can be taken back."

  After finishing speaking, Principal Jiang's face revealed a mysterious smile.

  Wang Boling didn't know how Principal Jiang planned to come back either. Seeing that Principal Jiang wasn't saying anything, he naturally couldn't continue talking either.

  Early next morning, just as day was breaking.

  All officers and men of the three battalions have gotten up and are conducting a 3-kilometer armed cross-country training.

  However, the officers and men had just run halfway when Sun Xinghua received an order. The third battalion immediately returned to camp. Chiang Kai-shek came to inspect the training situation of the third battalion accompanied by Regimental Commander He Yingqin.

  Sun Xinghua didn't know Principal Jiang's purpose in coming to his place, but he also didn't dare disobey the order. He immediately ordered his troops to return to their barracks. As for the weapons and ammunition they were carrying, they could only be fully exposed in front of these big shots.

  As soon as Sun Xinghua returned to his post, he felt that something was off about the atmosphere.

  Chiang stood by, coldly gazing at the 3rd Corps in the distance, while He Yingqin was beside him, with an embarrassed expression, seemingly wanting to explain something, but Chiang didn't listen at all.

  "Eight cannons, ten heavy machine guns, your troops are well-equipped, aren't they?" Chiang said with a sarcastic tone, his eyes still fixed on the distant troops.

  Three infantry companies marched by in step, passing one by one beside Principal Chiang, the officers and men saluting him, while he returned their salute, a smile gradually spreading across his face.

  "Principal, look." Arriving at the last machine gun company, Wang Boling pointed to two cannons and eight light and heavy machine guns, then said a sentence.

  The company commander of the machine gun company was concurrently held by Sun Xinghua, and the soldiers pushed the artillery to a stop and saluted President Chiang.

  Chiang nodded and said, "Let's return to camp first."

  The soldiers continued pushing the cannons and walked inside.

  "He Jingzhi, Sun Fengguo, don't you owe me an explanation?" The smile on Principal Jiang's face disappeared, and he looked at He Yingqin and Sun Xinghua beside him, saying seriously.

  "Principal Chiang, Commander He is unaware of this matter, it was done by myself." Sun Xinghua stepped forward, his heart racing, and hastily said a sentence.

  Principal Chiang hummed a tune and walked towards the campsite.

  Four platoons were lined up together, with light and heavy machine guns placed in front of the formation.

  "Reporting to Principal Chiang, the entire Third Battalion has assembled. Please give instructions." Party representative Cai Guangjiu said hastily as he saluted while looking at Principal Chiang walking over.

  Principal Chiang nodded, walked to the front of the troops, carefully inspecting the officers and soldiers, occasionally helping some officers and men adjust their uniforms, and occasionally stopping in front of them, asking in a low voice.

  "Alright, let the officers and soldiers continue their training. Sun Xinghua, Cai Guangju, you two come with me." Principal Jiang gave the order directly after inspecting the troops.

  Each company commander led the officers and men in shooting exercises.

  Principal Jiang led Sun Xinghua and others into the camp headquarters.

  "Assistant National, how do you explain this matter?" Principal Jiang looked at Sun Xinghua and said.

  Sun Xinghua hesitated for a moment, walked to the side of Principal Jiang, wanting to say something, but Principal Jiang waved his hand and didn't let Sun Xinghua speak.

  "Alright, I won't pursue the matter further, and this will not set a precedent. As for the equipment you obtained, send it all to the school headquarters. The school is still lacking in weapons." Principal Jiang said directly, clearly indicating that his reason for not pursuing the matter was mainly to extort the equipment from Sun Xinghua's hands.

  "Principal..." He Yingqin wanted to say something, but looking at Principal Jiang's expression, He Yingqin finally closed his mouth. Wang Boling behind him had a smile on his face.

  "Alright, I'm leaving now, and the weapons will be delivered to the military school within two days." Principal Chiang said, looking at Wang Xinghua.

  "Yes, Principal." Sun Xinghua said helplessly.

  He Yingqin sighed and followed Chiang Kai-shek out of the Third Division's garrison, glancing at Sun Xinghua as he left with a hint of helplessness in his eyes.