A Journey Through the Flames of War in the Republican Era

In recent days, many well-informed people in the training corps and sergeant battalion had already learned that the new battalion commander was coming, and they were all talking about it in private.

"Have you heard? The new battalion commander just returned from studying in the United States, and he even has a doctorate!"

"I've heard about it, but I just don't understand why a PhD would join the army?"

"Damn it!" The speaker said with a look of disdain. "You think you're just some ordinary soldier like me? He's a West Point graduate and a PhD from MIT. He's just here to get some prestige!"

"What's West Point? And what's MIT?"

"Damn it! This kid is hopeless!" The speaker's expression of deep regret was truly extraordinary.

"You must know about the Whampoa Military Academy, right? In the United States, it's West Point, which is extremely famous all over the world!"

"Oh, I remember now, isn't Zhang Yi, the company commander of the 3rd Company, a West Point graduate? It seems West Point is quite prestigious!"

"Nonsense, how could he be famous all over the world if he wasn't amazing! The 3rd Company Commander and the new Battalion Commander were classmates at West Point, and I heard the new Battalion Commander is not even 25 years old."

"Isn't he younger than some platoon leaders? Why did he become a battalion commander right away? And he was even promoted to lieutenant colonel! Look at all those company and platoon leaders in the entire brigade who have returned from studying in Europe and America, they are all arrogant. Which one of them didn't start as a captain? The most outstanding one is a major at most."

"You idiot, he's a PhD! His research achievements are very famous in Europe and America! Anyway, they're all very profound sciences, you wouldn't understand anyway!" After saying that, the speaker added mysteriously, "Have you heard? It's said that the new battalion commander comes from a prominent family and has a very powerful background."

"Oh? What's your background? Who are you?"

"That's hard to say, there are many different opinions, but in any case, he has a very powerful background. It is said that the new battalion commander has always been low-key, but he is indeed highly valued by his superiors!"

"Oh, now I understand. No wonder even Commander Gui and Director Zhang of the Central Military Academy have been so concerned lately. I've heard about the 'talent war' too!"

"Hmm, it seems that the new battalion commander is indeed capable."

After returning to China from his studies in the United States, Zhang Yi served as the major company commander of the 3rd Company of the Sergeant Battalion of the Training Corps. When he learned that Song Hongfei was coming to serve as the battalion commander, he was extremely excited and eagerly awaited his arrival every day.

The company and platoon leaders of the sergeant battalion were all top graduates of the Whampoa Military Academy. Zhang Yi and Liao Jianchu, the company commander of the cadet company, and several others had returned from studying in Europe and America. They were all proud and arrogant.

Some busybodies deliberately teased Zhang Yi: "Hey, Company Commander Zhang, I heard you two were classmates at West Point. How come you've been a company commander for so long and you're still just a major, while he came back and became your superior, a lieutenant colonel battalion commander!"

Zhang Yi glared at the man and said, "Don't try that on me, or I'll get rough with you!"

He then glanced at the man and said, "Of course I look down on you! But I have no complaints about the new battalion commander!"

After speaking, Zhang Yi looked up and sighed thoughtfully, as if recalling some heroic deeds they had performed during their glorious years at West Point.

Everyone burst into laughter, and the troublemaker, having made a fool of himself, could only laugh sheepishly as well.

Liao Jianchu thought to himself, "To make Zhang Yi, who is arrogant and disdainful of everyone, sincerely submit to him, he is indeed a remarkable person!"

The Training Corps was established based on the plans and suggestions of the German advisory group. It was mainly used for the organization and equipment testing of the German army and the trial use of new weapons. The latest organizational, equipment and tactical training reforms were all pioneered by the Training Corps.

The Training Corps strictly followed the tactics of the German Army and the professional organization of multiple branches such as infantry, cavalry, engineers, and logistics. It conducted comprehensive training in theory, technology, equipment, and training. It was the prototype of the modern multi-service combined arms force of the National Revolutionary Army and the seed force for China's modern national defense construction and military reform, shouldering the hope of the modernization and strengthening of the National Revolutionary Army.

When Song Hongfei was conducting research on new firearms design and infantry tactics, the National Army's reorganization plan was underway. By chance, the Training Corps became a model for the reorganization pilot program and was expanded into a three-regiment division-level field force, which was an outstanding unit in terms of equipment, training and morale.

Captain Gui Shuaizhen had won the previous "battle for talent" and had been feeling triumphant lately, with a beaming smile on his face. People in the training brigade who came to him for instructions or reports were surprised to find that Captain Gui had become much more amiable.

The high-ranking officers at the headquarters were all shrewd individuals. They had long since learned the details of the matter, and by observing their expressions, they naturally understood Commander Gui's attitude towards Song Hongfei.

Jinling, located on the southern slope of Zijin Mountain, was the site of the Xiaolingwei Training Corps.

Commander-in-Chief Gui Shuaizhen and other leaders of the brigade headquarters were welcoming Song Hongfei at the brigade headquarters.

Song Hongfei followed a staff officer who had been waiting at the main gate to the small conference room of the brigade headquarters. He snapped to attention, saluted, and reported loudly, "Reporting to the brigade commander, Lieutenant Colonel Song Hongfei has been ordered to report for duty. Please give instructions, sir!"

Gui returned the courtesy readily.

The leaders of the training corps couldn't help but secretly applaud when they saw Song Hongfei. He was tall, upright, and imposing, with bright, piercing eyes and a dignified military bearing. They felt that his reputation was well-deserved.

"Welcome, Lieutenant Colonel Hongfei! Dr. Song!" Gui Yongqing said with a broad smile.

He then turned to the crowd and said, "Let me introduce you all first. I am Lieutenant Colonel Song Hongfei, the newly appointed battalion commander of the Sergeant Battalion of the Training Corps and an instructor of the Officer Training Corps!"

Chief of Staff Fu Zhaoqian introduced Song Hongfei to all the officers of the brigade headquarters. In fact, the senior officers already knew Song Hongfei's deeds and resume very well.

Gui Shuaizhen smiled broadly and said, "You've finally arrived. It wasn't easy to get Dr. Song to join our training brigade."

The people at the headquarters were naturally aware of the "battle for talent" and couldn't help but smile knowingly.

Song Hongfei quickly and modestly replied, "I am new here and a complete novice. I hope that the officers will give me guidance and help." and so on.

Deputy Chief Zhou Zhenqiang shook hands warmly and said, "You're too modest! We've known of your name, Song Hongfei, for years."

Another deputy commander, Zhang Kunsheng, also laughed and said, "Your masterpiece, the research on infantry tactics, is already in the textbooks of the Central Military Academy. Everyone in our training corps has read it carefully."

Fu Zhaoqian said, "It's not just in the Central Military Academy, it's in the textbooks of the Army University too!"

Chief of Staff Wen Zuquan said, "Not only research papers, but also the new gun designed by Dr. Song has been a favorite of the soldiers since it was tested in the Training Corps."

Also present were Colonel Liu Daqian, Director of the Adjutant's Office; Colonel Jiang Hongjun, Director of the Ordnance Department; Colonel Wang Hanying, Director of the Logistics Department; the commanders of several regiments; and a host of leaders from various directly subordinate units. Everyone expressed their warm welcome with great enthusiasm.

Once everyone knew each other, Gui Shuaizhen said, "Since Lieutenant Colonel Hongfei's designed firearms were equipped in our training corps, the troops have responded very well, and the combat effectiveness of the troops has been greatly enhanced. Hongfei, you will be appointed as the battalion commander of the sergeant battalion. Firstly, you will organize targeted grouping and training based on the technical and tactical characteristics of the new firearms. Secondly, you will be able to make further improvements based on the feedback from the trial equipment."

Gui Shuaizhen said, "The sergeant battalion can be considered the training battalion within the training corps. The soldiers are all grassroots backbone members, generally veterans who are sergeants or prospective sergeants. They have good military skills and rich experience. It would be most suitable for you, an expert, to take the lead in reorganizing equipment and training in the sergeant battalion."

He continued, "We hope that by taking advantage of this opportunity of reform and expansion of the Training Corps, the sergeant battalion can cultivate a large number of outstanding sergeants, who can be sown like seeds and sent to various grassroots units to serve as squad leaders and key personnel. This is also the important task that our Training Corps shoulders in the modernization reform of the entire army."

Song Hongfei replied, "Yes! I will do my utmost to live up to your trust!"

"It's the weekend today, let's go to the camp and meet everyone first," Gui Shuaizhen said. "Next Monday, we'll proceed with training as planned. Hmm, Chief of Staff Fu will go to the camp to announce the appointments later."

Led by Chief of Staff Fu Zhaoqian, Song Hongfei arrived at the sergeant's camp, where Chief of Staff Fu announced Song Hongfei's appointment as battalion commander.

"You're young and promising, keep up the good work!" Before leaving, Fu Zhaoqian shook his hand firmly.

"Yes! It is my duty, and I will not shirk it!" Song Hongfei saluted and replied resolutely.

Song Hongfei walked into the sergeant's camp activity room, and the duty officer at the battalion headquarters shouted, "Stand up!"

With a whooshing sound, all the officers and staff of the battalion stood ramrod straight, looking at their already famous new battalion commander.

The duty officer saluted: "Reporting, Battalion Commander! All officers of the Sergeant Battalion and all personnel of the Battalion Headquarters have assembled. Please give instructions!"

Song Hongfei returned the greeting: "At ease."

"Yes, sir!" The officer on duty turned to face the crowd: "At ease!"

Song Hongfei stepped forward: "Comrades!"

*Swish*—Everyone stand at attention, ramrod straight.

"My surname is Song, Song Hongfei!" Song Hongfei's voice was as loud as a bell. "From today onwards, I am the battalion commander of our sergeant battalion! From now on, I will fight alongside you all!"

"Clap clap—" Everyone applauded enthusiastically.

Song Hongfei's piercing gaze swept across the entire area, then suddenly sharpened as he demanded in a stern voice, "What are we, the sergeant battalion?!"

Everyone was a bit confused at first. What was a sergeant's battalion? A sergeant's battalion is a sergeant's battalion, what else could it be?

"The sergeant battalion is the training battalion within the Training Corps!" Song Hongfei shouted sternly. "The sergeant battalion should be the elite! A model of excellence! The strongest battalion in the entire Corps! The strongest battalion in the Chinese army!"

People still haven't figured it out.

"Everyone, ask yourselves, are we the strongest battalion?!" Song Hongfei shouted.

The group looked at each other, still somewhat confused.

Some officers shouted, "Yes! We are the strongest!"

"I don't think so!" Song Hongfei sneered.

No one spoke, but some people were already very dissatisfied.

"Look at all of these, what place are they?" Song Hongfei pointed to the banners and certificates on the wall. "Except for the three first places, the rest are second and third! What does second place mean? It means someone is better than you! It means utter failure!"

Zhang Yi suddenly remembered that when Song Hongfei was training like crazy at West Point, he had pointed to a flag with the slogan "Second Meaning Utter Failure!" written on it by the "Buffalo" parade ground and said this to him and Wang Zhi with a serious expression.

Wen has no first, Wu has no second.

The military places the greatest emphasis on honor; for soldiers, honor is even more important than life itself!

Everyone immediately became serious, their eyes blazing with anger.

"The sergeant battalion can only be number one!" Song Hongfei roared. "My battalion must be the strongest! It must be number one! No one but our sergeant battalion can be number one!"

Song Hongfei's gaze was stern: "I hereby issue the first order! Duty Officer!"

"Here!" The duty officer of the battalion stepped forward.

"Take down the second and third place prizes!" Song Hongfei commanded sternly. "From now on, no one is allowed to hang anything here except the first place prize!"

"Yes!" The officer on duty immediately took down all the other award flags from the wall.

Song Hongfei shouted, "Our sergeant battalion will not only be the best in the training corps, but the best in the entire army! Comrades, do you have confidence?!"

"Have!"

Everyone stood tall, their morale high, and shouted.

"Has no one eaten?! I didn't hear you!"

Song Hongfei roared.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!"

Everyone shouted angrily.

"Fine! I heard you!" Song Hongfei roared again, "Who's the strongest?!"

"We are the strongest! We are the strongest! We are the strongest!"

A furious roar that shook the earth and caused mountains to crumble.

"My goodness, the first fire has already started!" Zhang Yi thought to himself.