Chapter Thirty-Four: Esteemed!

"What did you say!" At Wang Shihe's words, Chairman Chiang, who had been drafting a commendation order, sprang from his seat, his face etched with shock. Without waiting for Wang Shihe to finish, he hurriedly commanded, "Quick, bring him here! I must ask him in detail and get to the bottom of this!"

"Yes, sir!"

Soon, the lieutenant colonel had been brought before Chiang. The Chairman, his expression grave, demanded, "Tell me exactly what happened. You must recount everything in full detail!"

After all, the Sixth Division was one of the main perpetrators of the assault on Nanjing, and one of the Japanese Army's elite divisions. Such a force naturally warranted the Chairman's utmost attention—especially on the eve of the Battle of Xuzhou.

If what was being reported was true, the Sixth Division must have lost its combat effectiveness in a short time, or at the very least, would face serious command disruptions. One must not underestimate even the slightest anomaly! In fact, during war, even a minor mistake could collapse an entire front. And this was one of the Japanese Army's main divisions!

Hearing the Chairman's question, the lieutenant colonel appeared somewhat nervous, but he answered nonetheless: "Sir, just now our radio intercept picked up an unencrypted message, reporting that, starting from Division Commander Tanaka Hisao, most of the Sixth Division's staff officers, brigade commanders, and regimental commanders have been killed. The division is now leaderless and in complete disarray!"

"Is what you say true?"

"If you don't believe me, sir, here is the original telegram!" As he spoke, the lieutenant colonel hurriedly handed the message to the Chairman.

Chairman Chiang read the telegram carefully, again and again. Only after several readings did he slap his thigh in delight and exclaim, "Excellent! This is truly wonderful news!"

Overwhelmed with excitement, the Chairman paced back and forth, murmuring, "What a blessing!"

"The division commander Tanaka Hisao, Chief-of-Staff Shimono Kazu, and Brigade Commander Kii Tokutaro—all shot dead, and more than half the regimental commanders have perished. In short, the Sixth Division is now crippled and ineffective, at least for the time being!"

"For our Republic's situation, this is nothing short of a timely downpour after a drought!"

The Chairman was visibly elated. Dai Li, hearing this, couldn't help but smile quietly.

Dai Li stole a glance at the telegram and was taken aback. Smacking his lips, he said, "Sir, the one who killed Tanaka Hisao is also a man named Chen Qingzhi!"

"Hmm?" At this, the Chairman picked up the telegram again and indeed saw the name Chen Qingzhi! Checking the unit number, it truly was this same Chen Qingzhi!

Earlier, the Chairman had been so absorbed in the news of Tanaka Hisao's death that he hadn't noticed the name Chen Qingzhi. Now, with Dai Li's reminder, he was astonished to realize it was the same person!

The Chen Qingzhi who had annihilated a Japanese regiment with only a battalion, and the man who now had killed Tanaka Hisao and the Sixth Division's senior officers, were one and the same!

Even the seasoned Chairman Chiang, who had weathered countless storms, was left speechless by this revelation. The shock brought by this Chen Qingzhi was simply overwhelming!

Twice in a single day, he had been stunned by this man! Both pieces of good news had come from Chen Qingzhi alone!

At this, the Chairman suddenly recalled the legendary general of the Southern and Northern Dynasties who shared the same name.

"A great general should never fret over his own safety; ten thousand soldiers shy away from the man in white!"

That white-robed general of the Southern and Northern Dynasties had lived a life of legend. Now, the Chairman's own Chen Qingzhi was no less remarkable!

With a single battalion, he had crushed an entire Japanese regiment, securing an unprecedented victory since the start of the war. Now he had slain Tanaka Hisao and two other Japanese generals—a deed unmatched in history!

The Chairman couldn't help but laugh, "This Chen Qingzhi is truly my white-robed general!"

At these words, Dai Li nodded with a smile, and even Wang Shihe bowed his head slightly in agreement.

The Chairman turned to look at the commendation order he had yet to complete. Suddenly, he tore it to shreds, pulled out a new sheet of paper, and began to reconsider how Chen Qingzhi should be rewarded.

This time, Chen Qingzhi had killed Tanaka Hisao and two other Japanese generals—a feat so illustrious that even a promotion to division commander would be more than warranted. Yet Chen Qingzhi had only just been a battalion commander.

A direct promotion to division commander would be too startling, too unprecedented.

After careful consideration, the Chairman decided to raise Chen Qingzhi's commendation by another level.

"Draft an order appointing Chen Qingzhi as Commander of the Zhongzheng Brigade, with the rank of Brigadier General! The Zhongzheng Brigade shall be an independent mixed brigade, incorporated into the Central Army's combat sequence, to be fully supplied and equipped!"

The Chairman spoke thoughtfully, while Dai Li helped polish the wording. After reviewing it, the Chairman added, "For now, place the Zhongzheng Brigade under the command of Chen Xiuci."

Chen Xiuci was, in fact, Chen Cheng, currently the Forward Commander of the Third War Zone and concurrent commander of the Fifteenth Group Army—a trusted favorite of the Chairman.

The troops under Chen Cheng's command included the 87th Division and the Officers' Training Corps, the most loyal of the Central Army's core forces.

That the Chairman would temporarily place Chen Qingzhi under Chen Cheng's command showed the depth of his expectations.

It should be understood that this was no casual decision. Chen Cheng enjoyed tremendous prestige in the army, a central pillar of the Whampoa clique, and was known as the "Little Chairman."

By placing Chen Qingzhi under Chen Cheng, it was clear the Chairman wanted him to build ties with the Chen Cheng faction and receive his protection.

After all, Chen Qingzhi had leapt from an obscure battalion commander to the brigadier general of an independent mixed brigade—a rise that would arouse envy in countless others.

Without a powerful patron, this man in whom the Chairman had placed such hope might be crushed by the old hands in the military before he could realize his potential.

The Chairman was far too busy to watch over Chen Qingzhi constantly, no matter how highly he valued him.

But once Chen Qingzhi was under Chen Cheng's wing, he would at least count as Chen Cheng's subordinate. Even if others were jealous, their hands would be stayed by caution.

Dai Li, for his part, instantly grasped the Chairman's intention as soon as the decision was made.

Though his face showed nothing, his heart was in turmoil. He had not expected Chen Qingzhi to receive such importance from the Chairman!

If Chen Qingzhi continued to prove himself, his future would surely be limitless.