Chapter 39: The Ambition of Sima Zhao Is Known to All

Kang Ya assembled a brand-new Type 92 battalion gun for them in public. Dong Jian even used his German M56 helmet as a target, holding it above his head. Dong Dao grabbed a captured Arisaka Type 38 rifle and fired a few aimed shots. The result: no penetration, no cracks! The routed soldiers drooled with envy as they gazed at this pristine equipment. "If only we’d had gear like this back then!"

Seeing the excitement on everyone’s faces, a smirk tugged at the corner of Long Wenzhang’s mouth. "We have German 75mm mountain guns, American 105mm howitzers, and German 150mm infantry guns! We eat three meals a day, we have a field hospital, doctors, medicine, planes for transport, regular pay, and a pension if you fall in battle. I’m telling you, whatever the Japanese devils have, our New First Division has! And whatever the devils don't have, our New First Division has that too!"

Finally, Long Wenzhang walked to the highest step in the courtyard, turned, and looked out at them. "Most importantly, we have Japanese devils to kill!!!"

It was like finding a sliver of light in the darkness, or a lifeline appearing to someone drowning. The spirits of the routed soldiers, long lost, were awakened by Long Wenzhang’s call. One soldier looked at his companion. "Looking at his features, he seems like one of us from Hunan." His companion replied with immense pride, "To hell with Hunan! Even a Northerner would have to admire our Sichuan Army Regiment!" He stood up and shouted to Long Wenzhang, "Officer, as long as one Sichuanese is left, the Sichuan Army Regiment will never die out! I want to go to Mingyang!!!"

...

While Long Wenzhang was busy recruiting, things were not idle in Changye. Liu Jianguo was currently hosting a special guest.

"General Liu! Chairman Jiang is extremely pleased with the New First Division’s heroic resistance! To honor this, he has not only promoted you to the rank of Major General, but has also awarded you the Order of Blue Sky and White Sun! This is the second-highest honor after the Order of National Glory; very few people in the entire country have received it!"

He wasn't wrong. The first recipient had been the famous Zhang Xiaoliu, and "Baldy" himself had snagged one in 1931. More recently, Xie Jinyuan and Yang Ruifu had received it for their world-shaking defense of the Sihang Warehouse.

However, Liu Jianguo took the medal the man held out in both hands and tossed it casually to Wei Dayong. "Chairman Jiang is quite generous, isn't he?"

Such a casual attitude caused the pupils of Chen Gongshu—one of the "Four Great Pillars" sent by Boss Dai of the Military Statistics Bureau—to contract. But in the blink of an eye, he regained his smile and got to the point. "General Liu—pardon me, General—I wonder if the regimental flag of the Sakata Regiment, captured by your troops, is still in your possession?"

*So that’s why Baldy is acting all nice, promoting me and sending medals,* Liu thought. *He’s after the Sakata Regiment’s flag. He’s got some nerve, trying to swindle it out of my hands without paying a cent. Does he take me for a fool?*

Liu Jianguo didn't even hesitate. "Sorry, that flag was tossed out like a rag by one of my idiots. Maybe if Station Chief Chen sends someone to the Changye dump to dig through the trash, they might find it!"

*What?* Chen Gongshu froze. *Brother, this is a direct order from Chairman Jiang, the greatest man in the Republic—you actually dare to refuse? And that excuse is so transparent! Do you think I'm an idiot?*

But recalling the elite troops and formidable equipment he had seen upon entering the city, Chen Gongshu took a deep breath and laughed. "General Liu, you certainly know how to joke! Something so important—how could you possibly throw it away like a rag?"

Smoothing things over, his expression turned serious. "General, the national war situation is dire. Since the start of the year, the Japanese invaders have crossed the pass. Despite our soldiers' heroism, we have suffered great defeats, losing major cities like Shanghai and Taiyuan. Morale is low. Now, the devils are eyeing our capital, Jinling, and the League of Nations has abandoned its intervention. The Chairman is losing sleep over this, losing hair by the handful."

"Fortunately," Chen changed his tone, speaking excitedly, "I heard the New First Division wiped out the Sakata Regiment, then the Heidao Cavalry Regiment, and even captured a regimental flag personally bestowed by the Japanese Emperor! Chairman Jiang was so happy when he heard the news last night that he ate an extra bowl of rice! To make the best use of this flag, he sent me to coordinate with you on how to deliver it to Chongqing."

*Impressive!* Liu Jianguo wanted to run up to "Baldy" and give him a thumbs-up. *If he can't swindle you, he uses the "greater good of the nation" to pressure you. Shameless!*

Truth be told, when Liu Jianguo learned Li Yunlong had captured the flag, he knew he couldn't keep it. Despite their successes, the New First Division was still just a division-level unit, and Liu Jianguo’s influence was limited. If the flag was to be used effectively to support the war effort on a national and global scale, it belonged in the hands of the national leadership to be leveraged by the Nationalist Government.

Liu Jianguo wasn't a man who only looked at immediate gains. He had actually been prepared to hand it over without asking for a thing. He just hadn't expected the leadership to be so greedy. It had only been one night, and they were already rushing to snatch it, using honeyed words laced with needles.

Chen Gongshu might have acted respectful, but Liu knew he hadn't gone to the division headquarters first. He had gone to the headquarters of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Regiments with boxes of silver dollars. The ambition of Sima Zhao was known to all—he was trying to use the same tactics used to split the Northeastern and Northwestern armies to shatter the New First Division and absorb it.

*Even at a time like this, they’re still playing these games!* How could Liu Jianguo be expected to show him any kindness?

In truth, Chen Gongshu had thought the mission to split the division, as instructed by Boss Dai, would be simple. According to intelligence from Chongqing, Liu Jianguo had been nothing but a commander of a ragtag unit two years ago, having bought his division-level status later. Most of his officers had joined recently, too. By all logic, a mix of money and empty promises should have worked perfectly. He hadn't expected that the New First Division, barely a year old, would be so remarkably united.