Chapter 252: Volume Two, Chapter Two — Volume Four, Chapter One

Voice‑over (vivid description): At this time Roosevelt, not yet disabled by polio, was energetic, ambitious, and keenly interested in Far‑East affairs. Li Yuxuan's fluent English, his understanding of the United States' political and economic system, especially his rational exposition of Huaxia's predicament and future path—neither self‑deprecating nor blindly xenophobic—left an excellent impression on Roosevelt. The two most likely exchanged in‑depth views on the international situation, Huaxia's role, and similar issues. Roosevelt admired this young Huaxian's insight and candor, and Li Yuxuan keenly sensed the weight of this rising American political star. This was not a simple "meeting for elections," but a high‑quality "political and intellectual networking" at the right time and place. This encounter sowed the initial, precious foreshadowing for Li Yuxuan's later direct communication with President Roosevelt as the Chinese side's important representative during the War of Resistance more than ten years later.

Act Four: Huangpu Founding, the Name "Director"

(Scene: Switch to Guangzhou, 1924. Huangpu Island, former site of the Military Academy. Historical footage of Sun Xiansheng, the Principal, Liao Zhong and others appears.)

Voice‑over: Time passes, and revolutionary turmoil rises again at home. With Soviet assistance, Sun Xiansheng founded the Huangpu Military Academy in Guangzhou, attempting to build an armed revolutionary force. The Principal was appointed as Principal.

Voice‑over: For the Principal, founding Huangpu was a turning point in his political career; he urgently needed an absolutely reliable, exceptionally capable core aide who could understand his army‑building philosophy. Li Yuxuan, a childhood friend who studied in Europe and America, was highly regarded by Duan Qirui, and had expanded his network in the United States, was undoubtedly the best choice. Thus, Li Yuxuan was appointed as Director of the Principal's Office of the Huangpu Military Academy.

Voice‑over (explaining the weight of the title "Director"): This position is not the highest in name, but its actual authority is great. It oversees the academy's daily teaching, personnel, logistics, and secret documents, serving as the Principal's chief of staff and real administrative operator. The appellation "Director" thus became the common honorific used by the first six classes of Huangpu for him, even surpassing titles such as "Education Head" or "Minister", accompanying him for life as a unique identity marker and emotional bond.

Voice‑over (responding to netizens' "friendly to trainees" and "certain brigade commander" memes): He indeed cared a lot for the trainees, emphasizing both practical military skills and political education, and because of his profound knowledge and relatively fair conduct (within the Kuomintang), he earned the students' respect. As for the "emphasis on naming except a certain brigade commander"… (chuckles) that probably refers to a later Huangpu First Class hero. Rumor has it that that commander always maintained a basic respect for Li Yuxuan the "Director", perhaps due to Li Yuxuan's credentials, ability, and his habit of never using his position to bully students. This widespread respect meant that later, even in Gongde Lin, many Huangpu students (regardless of party) expressed their visits and concern for the "Director" in various ways.

Act Five: Northern Expedition's Edge, First Test of Connections — The Combat Test of "Paper Knowledge"

(Scene: Map of the Northern Expedition war situation. Time stamp: July 1926, the National Revolutionary Army swore an oath for the Northern Expedition.)

Voice‑over: In 1926, the KMT‑CCP Cooperation's National Revolutionary Army swore an oath for the Northern Expedition. The Principal handed the elite core, also the task of testing new tactics, to Li Yuxuan, appointing him as Division Commander of the Third Division under the First Army. This was Li Yuxuan's first time independently commanding a main force division in large‑scale combat.

(Scene: Li Yuxuan in the division headquarters, pondering over a map, his expression not relaxed.)

Voice‑over: Although he had studied military science in Germany and had teaching‑administrative experience at Huangpu, commanding a division in a decisive battle with real weapons was still his first. A cautious and anxious "theory of war on paper" perhaps lingered in his mind. He yearned for victory, not only for the Northern Expedition Campaign but also to prove that his learning was not in vain. At that moment, he made a decision that was extremely rare in the Huaxia Army at the time, even could be called earth‑shattering.

(Scene: Animation shows Li Yuxuan feverishly writing at his desk, sending a Letter or telegram to Europe. Several lines extend from Huaxia on the map toward Germany.)

Voice‑over: He decided to leverage the private contacts he had built while studying in Germany, inviting several like‑minded German young officer friends who had already demonstrated outstanding military talent, to come to China for a short term as "private consultants" or "special technical unit commanders" to assist him in command. The individuals he invited were exactly those we mentioned in the previous episode, who were emerging or on the rise in the German Armed Forces at the time: Haiyinzi Guderian (focused on armored tactics), Aierwen Longmei'er (infantry tactics genius), and another who would later become a German navy admiral, Karl Dönitz (then a navy officer interested in combined operations).

Voice‑over (analyzing possibilities and motives): This decision was extremely bold. First, it required an exceptionally high level of personal trust and influence, which Li Yuxuan possessed. Second, shortly after World War I, the Versailles Treaty strictly limited Germany's military, leaving many talented German officers frustrated; the prospect of traveling east to join a "revolutionary war" offered both adventurous interest and lucrative pay and practical experience, making Li Yuxuan's invitation a timely lifeline. For Li Yuxuan, the tactical ideas of these friends (especially Guderian's mobile breakthroughs and Longmei'er's flank infiltrations) were exactly what he admired and wanted to test on the Northern Expedition battlefield. He was not relinquishing command, but hoped to use these top tacticians as "external brains" and "temporary executors" for key units, ensuring a decisive first‑battle victory.

(Scene: The three German officers arrive in Guangzhou as friends, meet Li Yuxuan in the division headquarters, and study the map on the Sand Table.)

Voice‑over: Li Yuxuan's arrangement was quite ingenious: he gave the Germans official military posts, assigning each to direct the tactical execution of the three most combat‑effective main units under the Third Division. Guderian focused on the rapid deployment of division‑attached detachments. Longmei'er was responsible for leading the elite infantry corps in raid and assault tactics. Dönitz assisted in planning logistics and coordination for river operations. Li Yuxuan himself remained at the center, overseeing the entire situation.