Chapter 61

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Although the Grand Marshal had died, those still alive had even more important matters awaiting them.

In the Eastern Expedition War, the Whampoa Cadet Army and the Yue Army had absorbed many units of the Rebel Commanders; after selection, the Whampoa Cadet Army expanded to form Training Regiment Three.

At the same time, to strengthen control over these three regiments, the Principal reorganized them into the Party Army First Brigade, with He Yingqin serving as Brigade Commander and concurrently as Commander of Training Regiment One.

The First Brigade was the precursor of the National Revolutionary Army First Army and later an important component of the Central Army First Army.

The Chaoshan region, Training Regiment One, Liu Zhi Second Battalion camp.

"Muzi, our cadet army now has an establishment of three regiments, with nearly thirty company commanders, but in this Eastern Expedition battle, company-level cadres were already insufficient; just like the neighboring battalion, half of its nine company commanders died, so personnel changes within the regiment have been frequent lately. I have already requested instructions from regimental headquarters: you will act as company commander of my Second Battalion's Fourth Company."

Saying this, Liu Zhi produced the appointment letter from brigade headquarters appointing Lv Muzhi as acting company commander of the Fourth Company.

Lv Muzhi took the appointment letter and was very happy inside; now he was already acting company commander, and if he were to be confirmed later, it would only be a matter of time.

Liu Zhi patted Lv Muzhi's shoulder: "I said in last month's Cotton Lake battle that if we could break out alive, I would not fail you. How is it? Is this not an insult to you? This is a company commander with real power, not some party representative."

Lv Muzhi nodded: "Student is honored to be valued by the teacher; among my peers in Whampoa Class 1, Muzi is already among those promoted fastest."

Lv Muzhi said he was promoted fast, excluding some abnormal situations—for example, Li Zhilong, twenty-seven years old, was already party representative of First Battalion, Second Regiment at the time of deployment, and would only be promoted faster later; there was the element of old hairy ones operating behind the scenes here.

"You've been promoted, but I'm still a battalion commander!" Liu Zhi stood with arms crossed, looking at Lv Muzhi and speaking slowly.

"Teacher, where did those words come from? Even the Principal calls you Blessed General; although only one Third Regiment has been added through expansion, you have not been appointed its commander—there is deep meaning in that."

"Oh?" Liu Zhi was very interested and wanted to hear what Lv Muzhi's words actually meant.

Lv Muzhi deliberately sold a secret: "Among our three training regiments, which regiment has the strongest combat power?"

"Needless to say, naturally our Training Regiment One? Longest training time, fought the most tough battles."

"Then within this First Regiment, which battalion has the strongest combat power?"

"This..." Liu Zhi found it hard to say; Battalion Commander Jiang Dingwen of First Battalion was not easy to deal with, and Battalion Commander Yan Fengyi of Third Battalion was also a tough man; he really could not speak rashly. Lv Muzhi raised this question, and he indeed could not answer.

Lv Muzhi changed the subject: "Battalion Commander doesn't know, and actually neither do I, but I only know that only our Battalion Commander Liu is most trusted by Chief He."

"How do you say this?"

"Before every major battle, our Second Battalion is always used as reserve, either defending regimental headquarters or defending Whampoa Headquarters—does this not prove the chief's trust in you?"

"In the Danshui City battle, our Second Battalion's Storming Brave Team was the first to enter the city; in the Cotton Lake battle, Battalion Commander Liu personally led our Second Battalion in a bloody battle with the Rebel Commanders and defended the safety of regimental headquarters—this has already proven our Second Battalion's strength and status."

After hearing Lv Muzhi's words, Liu Zhi was thoughtful.

"The Principal and Chief He did not promote you to regimental commander this time; actually they want you to take the position of Training Regiment One's commander in the future, but this regimental commander position is temporarily held concurrently by Chief He, and the position is temporarily vacant. I dare affirm that once Chief He continues to be promoted, this regimental commander position will definitely be yours."

After Lv Muzhi finished speaking, Liu Zhi's brows relaxed considerably; if he could truly take over the strongest Training Regiment One, that would indeed be a fortunate thing.

"But when can Chief He be promoted again?" Liu Zhi asked.

"Teacher, have you forgotten Yang Ximin and Liu Zhenhuan of the Yunnan Army and Guangxi Army? These two have already brought their armies back to Guangzhou City, and Yang Ximin even calls himself Commander-in-Chief of the Yunnan-Guangxi Allied Army; his treasonous intent has already been revealed."

"Alas, Guangzhou is going to be in great chaos again!" Liu Zhi sighed.

"Chaotic eras produce heroes; if the times were not chaotic, when could our Whampoa soldiers rise?"

"Right! Correct! If we completely turn against the Yunnan Army and Guangxi Army, there must be a battle; after the war, fierce generals must arise from the ranks!" Liu Zhi suddenly became excited again; at thirty-three years old, he was eager to accomplish a great undertaking.

"Once the rebellion of Yang and Liu is pacified, our school army's prestige will surely rise further; Chief He must be promoted, and along with him, Teacher, you will also be promoted together!"

"Haha! Your words indeed suit my heart; I think the Principal and Chief He really do have some such meaning inside. Once I am promoted... along with you, Muzi, naturally you will also be promoted another level!"

Lv Muzhi received Liu Zhi's guarantee and immediately thanked him sincerely.

Although the posture was low, who had not climbed up step by step like this?

Having a Zhili clique leader willing to cultivate him was already a great opportunity; moreover, Liu Zhi would later be one of the Principal's 'Five Tiger Generals'.

Lv Muzhi was appointed acting company commander and immediately began to inspect his troops.

Liu Zhi promoted Lv Muzhi, and Lv Muzhi similarly promoted his former squad leader Zhang Fei, to reward him for the courage and loyalty of guarding his side and engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy in the Cotton Lake battle.

Zhang Fei was now a platoon leader in the company; if no accidents occurred, Lv Muzhi would keep Zhang Fei by his side.

A company commander was only a grassroots officer; without trusted people by his side, the battlefield would be very dangerous.

In Lv Muzhi's company, the other two platoon leaders were also famous: one was Squad Leader Du Yuming, who had just been confirmed from deputy platoon leader, and the other was Second Platoon Leader Guan Linzhen; these two would both become general officers in the future.

However, ironclad camps have flowing soldiers; these two were not things in the pond, and Lv Muzhi had no intention of bringing them into his fold.

As long as they currently obeyed orders under his command, that was enough; his die-hard loyalists were currently only old fellow Squad Leader Zhang Fei.

Second Platoon Leader Guan Linzhen's ideal was to become a company commander; now seeing Lv Muzhi immediately achieve his dream ceiling, he could not help but show an envious expression.

"Brother Muzi, I didn't expect you to become acting company commander so quickly; it really makes me envious." Guan Linzhen did not hide himself at all.

Du Yuming then offered a word of congratulations.

Lv Muzhi teased: "You don't envy Chief He's Major General Brigade Commander badge, but instead envy me, an acting company commander; if this gets out, the Principal won't be happy. Forget how the Principal spoke to you in the office that day? A soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good soldier!"

"Brother Muzi, don't tease me; if you are promoted to general officer in the future, don't forget me and Du Yuming, haha." Guan Linzhen said with a laugh.

Du Yuming also laughed: "Exactly, but now you are our company commander; if there are orders to execute, we will certainly not shirk!"