Chapter 223: All Right, Well Done

Jiang Anguo also didn't know whether he should speak himself.

"Principal, it's like this: when we counterattacked Bamo and Myitkyina, we captured the Little Devil's parachute unit commander, Kume Seichi, alive, and I brought him along as well." Jiang Anguo pointed to the Little Devil being held behind him.

The Principal's face showed disbelief, "What rank is this Devil?"

"He's a battalion commander." Jiang Anguo said.

The Principal nodded, "Yunong, you take him down and interrogate him thoroughly."

"Yes, Principal." Dai Li stepped forward.

The guard in charge of security immediately took Kume Seichi from the Independent Regiment soldier.

"Good! What a Jiang Anguo!" The Principal said "good" twice, his voice full of praise, "You kid, not simple! I heard Stilwell's telegram, and also Kunming's Song Xilian's report. Knowing you arranged the Flying Tigers to escort the whole route in advance—that's foresight! Knowing you staged segmented resupply, stopping in Kunming to refuel—that's attention to detail! Most importantly, you produced a unit capable of hard fighting!"

In fact, this wasn't pre‑arranged escort; it was merely concern for Jiang Anguo's own safety, which is why it was arranged that way.

He pointed to the sky, as if still seeing the afterglow of that fierce battle: "In the skies over Chongqing, facing enemies many times our strength, daring to bayonet charge, daring to die together! That is the blood of our Chinese soldiers! Though you are only a colonel, you fought for the Party and the nation, for this suffering people, raising morale and dignity!"

In fact, the Principal didn't know the aircraft weren't the Flying Tigers, and the Flying Tigers weren't fully under the Military Commission's control.

Of course, at this moment Jiang Anguo wouldn't say, "That's my plane," as that would embarrass the Principal.

He merely forced a smile at the side.

These words were spoken with weight and no stinginess. The Principal's wife, standing nearby, also smiled and nodded, and in fluent English said to Stilwell: "General, your recommendation is outstanding."

Stilwell's Chinese was actually decent, with a hint of a Beiping accent.

The Flying Tigers' merit added some color to Stilwell's face, though he didn't understand why the Flying Tigers obeyed this young man's command.

But today, indeed they were given a nice gift.

Jiang Anguo, flustered by the sudden praise, hurriedly bowed his head and modestly said, "Principal, you flatter me. This victory was earned with the lives of the Flying Tigers' soldiers; I merely did my duty."

Jiang Anguo could only continue along.

"What a 'duty'!" the Principal roared with laughter, clearly in an unprecedentedly good mood, "With such spirit and strategy, we need not fear losing to the Japanese! Come, it's windy outside, let's go inside to talk. Today, I want to hear your experiences in Myanmar, especially you, Dai Anlan, and your 200th Division, how you won another battle at Tonggu!"

He made a "please" gesture himself, then led the way into the villa.

Jiang Anguo followed behind Dai Anlan and Stilwell, stepping onto the steps.

Present were Lieutenant Generals and Major Generals; of course there were colonels too—Jiang Anguo himself is a colonel, and even the clerks recording at the side held higher rank than Jiang Anguo.

Therefore in this villa, Jiang Anguo had no say, and he was too lazy to speak.

Fortunately, the Principal asked Dai Anlan the most, after all she was his student and highly valued by the Principal.

The villa's living room was arranged elegantly and solemnly; beside the rosewood conference table, the soft sofa made anyone sit without any relaxation. The air was faint with cigar smoke and old book scent; a huge map of China hung on the wall, marked with dense red and blue pencil symbols, silently telling of the nation's peril.

The Principal personally poured a cup of hot tea for Dai Anlan and Stilwell each, then sat at his own seat, his face bearing a relaxed smile, a heartfelt, relieved joy.

"Anlan, please tell me in detail about the two Tonggu campaigns." The Principal leaned slightly forward, hands crossed on the table, smiling, "I've read your battle reports, but reports are cold text. I want to hear from you, the eyewitness, the most genuine feeling."

Jiang Anguo sat on a slightly farther sofa, holding his tea cup, listening quietly. He saw the Principal's approving expression, and the stone hanging in his heart finally settled. It seemed that he and Dai Anlan would not be punished, but might gain unexpected support because of this victory.

Dai Anlan sat upright, hands flat on knees as if being inspected. He said, "Report, Principal, the Tonggu battle turned danger into safety, even reversed defeat, fundamentally because of your far‑seeing strategic guidance. Our army followed your orders, and at the crucial moment seized the Japanese flaw, launching a decisive counterattack."

These words were both fact and necessary courtly flattery. The Principal listened appreciatively, nodded, signaling him to continue.

Dai Anlan's expression turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, "Of course, the soldiers' lives are fundamental. But Principal, I must say, the huge disparity in weapons and equipment caused us great suffering."

He began a detailed report: "The Japanese Type 38 rifle has long range and high accuracy; our soldiers shooting at it in open terrain often suffer heavy losses. Their Type 92 heavy machine gun has sustained firepower, and with the grenade launcher's precise coverage, its suppressive power is extreme. There was also air support; in the first defensive battle, a regiment of my 200th Division could be decimated in a day, the earth of the positions turned over by artillery."

At this point, a trace of sorrow seeped into his voice.

The Principal listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table. He had already known these facts from frontline telegrams, but hearing them from Dai Anlan felt more vivid.

"However," Dai Anlan's tone paused slightly, a glint in his eyes, "in the second counterattack the situation improved. My 200th Division... my Independent Regiment obtained a batch of new weapons. Especially howitzers and tanks, plentiful and ferocious. At the start of the battle we first used howitzers to destroy the enemy's outer positions. In close‑quarters street and position clearing fights, tanks served as cover while soldiers behind provided supporting fire, swiftly clearing the Japanese in Tonggu city, playing a decisive role. We were then able to tear open the Japanese line in a short time and drive them out of Tonggu."

Dai Anlan tried to avoid mentioning some things, but in fact he didn't, and the Principal also knew his nephew had a cache of weapons.

"Oh?" the Principal raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by this "new weapons," "Explain specifically, how ferocious are they?"

Dai Anlan's posture remained unchanged, but his tone gained confidence: "Report, Principal, previously a squad of ours might have less firepower than a Japanese fireteam. But in the second counterattack, a squad of my Independent Regiment was equipped with at least one machine gun and a submachine gun. Once engaging the enemy, a rain of bullets poured down, the Japanese couldn't organize effective return fire. Their Type 38 rifles before us became mere fire sticks. Moreover, our mortars responded quickly and accurately; Japanese machine‑gun nests, once they opened fire, were covered by our artillery within minutes."