Soon, Xu Ming received the military order for the troops to return to Hengyang to recuperate, since the beginning of the year, the 107th Division has been fighting continuously, has been exhausted, to be able to rest, it is indeed very necessary, Xu Ming issued the first order to the troops is that all officers and soldiers should take a month off!

Xu Ming couldn't rest, he took Xie Jinyuan and Hu Lian, who rushed over from Guichi, to see Chiang Kai-shek together.

Xu Ming sat on a steamer, just had time to stay with Hu Lian for a few days, Hu Lian, the "King of Kinmen" in later generations, in the history of the 1943 Shipai Battle and the Japanese army fought bayonets to spell the Guinness Book of Records, now he is not famous, is a medium-height, square-faced officer, speaking with a Shaanxi accent, and his demeanor is not as rough as ordinary soldiers, but he has a trace of elegance.

was recommended as a teacher, Hu Lian was very grateful to Xu Ming, who was at the low ebb of his life at that time. It turned out that he wanted to become the brigade commander of the 11th Division, but he was used by someone in the process of competition, Hu Lian was angry and became a brigade commander in the 67th Division, and then ran to the third war zone to fight guerrillas under Gu Zhutong.

**At that time, guerrilla warfare was not attached, and a general going to fight guerrilla warfare was generally a symbol of a bleak career, and when he saw that there was no way out, Gu Zhutong, commander of the Third Theater of Operations, sent him a telegram, saying that the newly established 26th Army lacked division commanders to see if he had the will. Hu Lian almost couldn't believe it after hearing about it, after the Battle of Anqing, the 107th Division was rated as the most elite unit, and the expanded 26th Army must be on the same level as the 18th Army. What's more, the 26th Army has a phenomenon that is very beneficial to him, the seniority in it is relatively low, and his Whampoa 4th phase is actually the highest.

Hu Lian is informal, very flexible, very good at words, and bragging while gambling when several people are bored.

Speaking of gambling money, Hu Lian met an opponent, Xu Ming not only played Go well, mahjong pai gow everything, but also used mathematical rules to analyze the gambling game, and Hu Lian, who was proficient in prostitution and gambling, fought on par.

This is hard for Xie Jinyuan, at the end of the day, his pants are about to be lost, and the 1,000 yuan bonus of the Anqing Battle has been lost, and he still owes a lot of debt.

"Come, I'll lend you another five hundred." Xu Ming pushed a wad of fiat currency down in front of Xie Jinyuan, and Hu Lian laughed beside him.

It was in this joyful atmosphere that the three of them came to Wuhan.

It was the first time to meet Lao Chiang alone, Hu Lian and Xie Jinyuan as Whampoa students, and in fact, Wang Yaowu, as Chiang Kai-shek's favorite general, had only 3 private receptions. The two of them tidied up their appearance and appearance, wearing a neat and tidy military uniform, Xu Ming looked indifferent, an old curly coat, crumpled pants, what was on the boat, and what was still the way it was, the two of them secretly admired it in their hearts.

Speaking of Lao Jiang's meeting with his subordinates, there are many stories, but one thing everyone knows is that Lao Jiang is a person with a very heavy edge, not only pays special attention to the appearance of the army, but also attaches great importance to small things, and has a good memory! Once a waiter took the briefcase upside down, when Lao Jiang asked for documents, he hurriedly searched for a long time, Lao Jiang did not criticize at that time, a year later, the attendant sought to be released, the request was never approved, the trustee knocked on the side and asked, Lao Jiang's answer was: "The briefcase can't be held, the seal handle can be caught?" A simple little thing decided the end of that attendant's official fortune.

Because it was a one-on-one meeting, Xie Jinyuan and Hu Lian waited in the meeting room, and Xu Ming was led by his attendants into Chiang Kai-shek's office.

"Xu Ming, sort out the documents." There were some scattered documents on the table, and Chiang Kai-shek used this way to deepen Xu Ming's feelings for him.

Xu Ming hurriedly put away these documents, there were not a few pieces of paper, he also stretched his neck, and took the time to look at what Lao Jiang was writing. At first glance, it was a warrant to the Military Command Department, giving priority to the soldiers of Hunan Province to supplement the 26th Army.

"What are you reading during this time?" Lao Jiang asked this at the beginning.

Xu Ming didn't react for a while, "Ah, what book are you reading?" I haven't read anything..."

Lao Jiang's face sank, and he slapped the table a few times in a row, "As a revolutionary soldier, you must not only be able to govern the army and fight, but also study and cultivate..."

These two books are very thick, Xu Ming can only hold them, Lao Jiang immediately said, "Every month in the future, write a book of reading experience for me." When Xu Ming heard this, he almost didn't hold it steady.

Tragedy, it's a tragedy! I didn't expect that I, Xu Ming, would become a general, and go back to do homework... Xu Ming complained in his heart.

After saying this, Lao Jiang motioned for Xu Ming to sit down, "Just now there was news from the United States, saying that they would give us another $50 million loan, and Britain also said that they would use agricultural products as collateral to support our country by 15 million pounds, which is all your credit." ”

Xu Ming hurriedly and modestly, "This is all the leader's guidance, the friendly army's sincere cooperation, and the soldiers' lives..."

Chiang Kai-shek interrupted with a wave of his hand, "These are all scenes, Xu Ming, let me ask you, what do you think of the battle of Tan Yuanpu?" ”

The Battle of Mawo and the Battle of Jixian Pass and the early Battle of Mingguang, Xu Ming's victory was a kind of "normal" victory, Mawo was the first opportunity for the enemy, Jixian Pass was good at defense, and the battle of Mingguang was effective, and the victory of these battles spread to the rear, and Lao Jiang could understand. But the battle of Tan Yuanpu transcended the fixed thinking of people, and no Chinese general would have left a strong position to take a risk when his own defense was superior. At that time, Yang Sen, Bai Chongxi and Chiang Kai-shek heard that Xu Ming had left Jixian Pass and went to raid Tan Yuanpu in the rear, and their first reaction was not to believe it.

Yesterday, Chen Cheng reported on the battle of Anqing, and although he praised the performance of the 18th Army in the siege of the Japanese army, he also mentioned Xu Ming's point. A general, how many days after winning a battle, the superiors in the rear can't understand, this victory is too brilliant.

Xu Ming had no choice but to talk about the consequences of the frontier: before the war, he asked Antuan students to draw a map, and after he found out that the Japanese army was preparing to carry out close operations, he had an idea after reading the combat log of the 107th Division...

Lao Jiang nodded, "There are not many people like you who are bold and proactive, Russian and former German advisers always say that we have no offensive spirit, you can write a handbook for the Battle of Anqing and send it to the generals in various theaters for them to study." ”

Xu Ming's face turned red, and the limelight was exhausted.

Lao Jiang continued to ask, "What do you have to say about the battle situation?" ”

Xu Ming thought for a moment and said thoughtfully: "Chairman, I don't think Anqing is suitable for defense, if possible, the troops should be withdrawn and put up a lasting resistance on the front line of Taihu Lake and Huangmei."

Lao Jiang sighed, Anqing achieved a great victory, his spirit came up, and he had the idea of mobilizing the main force of the army to fight a big battle with the Japanese army, but Bai Chongxi poured cold water on him, thinking that the victory in the first battle was purely a fluke, and continued to fight in Anqing, the Japanese army had a great advantage, and the squadron was inferior in terms of logistics and troops.

Now Xu Ming also means this, and Lao Jiang is quite unwilling.

After thinking for a while, Lao Jiang still agreed with Xu Ming's statement, even if Bai Chongxi had the idea of maintaining his strength, Chen Cheng's hints and Xu Ming's blunt words were justified, especially Xu Ming, such a general with an attacking spirit, also said the reason for retreating, which must be taken seriously.

Lao Jiang asked Xu Ming to drink tea and boiled water by himself, and then asked, "I have read all the candidates you recommend, Xie Jinyuan has no problem, Hu Boyu, what do you think." ”

Xu Ming didn't know that Lao Jiang had a bad impression of Hu Lian, it turned out that when Hu Lian wanted to be promoted to the commander of the 14th Division, he was sued, and after he knew it, he also turned to say goodbye, don't look at the internal struggle of the Kuomintang, but this kind of mutual demolition of Taiwan Chiang Kai-shek was very disgusted. For the commander of the 26th Army, he originally had his own candidate, but later Chen Bui persuaded, "Xu Ming is too young, his personality is upright, and he should be tolerant after the great achievement." Only then did Lao Jiang's thoughts turn.

Xu Ming saw that Lao Jiang was suspicious of Hu Lian's intentions, so he hurriedly blew for him, "Chairman, Hu Boyu is much stronger than the department, flexible in command, and brave in battle. ”

Lao Jiang saw Xu Ming so, and he laughed when he said it, "It's too much stronger than you, that's nothing, since you recommended it, I don't object to it, let him do a good job in the 26th Army in a while." ”

Lao Jiang drank a glass of boiled water, "Xu Ming, what are your plans for the near future?" ”

Xu Ming said in his heart, I guess I want to read the complete works of Zeng Guofan, what are your plans! But he didn't dare to say this, he didn't have any preparations for this meeting, and he was speechless for a while.

Lao Jiang reminded him, "You can go back to Changsha, I heard that your wife is there, you can go back to get together." ”

Xu Ming remembered something and said to Chiang Kai-shek, "Chairman, I won't be busy going back to Changsha first, I want to find something to do in the war zone." ”

Chiang Kai-shek was confused and asked suspiciously: "What do you want to do, if it is not too much, I will do it all." ”

Xu Ming said slowly, "Chairman of the Committee, I want to inspect the Madang Lake Mouth Defense Area. ”

Chiang Kai-shek raised his head and looked at Xu Ming, and after half a sound, "Do you suspect that there is a problem there?" ”

Xu Ming nodded, he didn't want to knock on the side, so he said bluntly: "Near the mouth of Madanghe Lake, there are now 4 armies of the 16th Army, the 49th Army, the 43rd Army, and the 34th Army, plus the Jiangfang Army, but who is in charge of the troops?" Now it looks like Commander-in-Chief Li (Li Yunheng), he is an old-school general with no modern combat experience, can he be competent? What's more, the Jiang Defense Force is not subordinate to the Army, and it is also commanded..."

Before he finished speaking, Lao Jiang's face sank, this time he was really angry, "Xu Ming, don't look down on Li Yunheng, he is a famous general in Sanxiang, and he has supported Mr. Zhongshan since the beginning of the Republic of China." ”

Of course, Lao Jiang knew that Li Yunheng was not capable, but as the commander-in-chief, he not only had military considerations, but also political factors. After He Jian, the king of Hunan, was stripped of power, Li Yunheng was Chiang Kai-shek's carefully selected general of the Hunan army, and the command structure established at Madanghukou also had other reasons to consider.

Xu Ming's words were spread out and offended people greatly, but seeing that he was also kind-hearted, he said, "Don't say this in the future, Li Baobing's appointment as commander-in-chief is the decision of the Military Commission." ”

"Then Chairman, I'll go to Madang..."Xu Ming said cautiously.

"Yes, I will give a warrant, you will be the deputy chief of staff of the 1st Corps, if there is any problem there, write a report to me, and if necessary, I will go there myself!"

…

After meeting Xie Jinyuan and Hu Lian, Chiang Kai-shek's face became heavy, and he asked Dai Li next to him,

"Yunong, what is Li Baobing from Madang doing now?"

Dai Liyi stood upright, "Commission, Commander-in-Chief Li has set up an "Anti-Japanese Military and Political University" during this time, and he thinks he is the president. The commanders of all the troops and the local armor chief were invited, and it was very vigorous and loud. ”

At the moment of the great enemy, what is the "Anti-Japanese Military and Political University", Lao Jiang was furious, "Niang Xipi, is he Li Yunheng a military commander or a principal!" ”

The boiled water was shaken to the ground, and the glass shattered