"Good! Since the Wuhan fathers and elders have agreed, I, Jiang Zhongzheng, will reward the Fourth Route Army with 3 million on behalf of the central government today to encourage it! As soon as Chiang Kai-shek's words fell, the crowd below burst into a chorus and let out bursts of admiration.

Song Zhewu thought that the reward for him would be to add one more level to his rank, or agree to add another division number to him? I didn't expect to give him three million oceans.

The military rank is increased by one more level, and now in this period, the military rank system of the Beiyang political axe period is still being used, and the rank and title remain unchanged. At this time, there was no unified body for conferring military ranks, and the national political axe could be conferred, the general headquarters could confer it, the military committee could confer it, and even a higher organ or military and political chief could confer it. In addition, during this period, compared with military ranks and positions, it was common for them to have low ranks, and some local warlords also appointed themselves generals. Chiang Kai-shek said in a speech, "Compared with the great powers, the domestic army is particularly weak in combat and has a large number of generals, and there are too many generals." In Song Zhewu's memory, it was not until March 1935 that the Nationalist Political Axe promulgated a new military rank list, dividing generals into the first and second levels, and adding special generals, and the awarding of military ranks was formalized.

Therefore, whether to increase the rank or not, Song Zhewu does not care. He wanted to increase the number the most. Although he can expand his army without a number, after all, after having a number, his troops will be officially recognized by the central political axe, otherwise, the troops he expanded privately are black soldiers. Moreover, the larger and more recognized troops, it means that the higher his status in the country, the more fierce the competition for him will be, and he will be able to obtain greater benefits.

However, it is better to give Dayang, which is much more affordable than the rank of general who can't eat or drink. Song Zhewu saluted Chiang Kai-shek: "On behalf of all the officers and soldiers of the Fourth Route Army, Zhewu thanked the chairman for his commendation. The Fourth Route Army, from Zhewu downwards, resolutely obeyed Chairman Chiang's military orders and made new contributions to the national revolution. ”

Song Zhewu said the words "make new contributions" very seriously, and this meaning was very clear, that is, he wanted Chiang Kai-shek to know that he Song Zhewu would continue to obey his orders, and without Chiang Kai-shek's approval, all his future ideas would be in vain.

Chiang Kai-shek understood the meaning of Song Zhewu's words, nodded and smiled and said: "Wen Ge, I know your loyalty to the party and the state, and if you have any difficulties in the future, just tell me."

Chiang Kai-shek shook his hand, stopped Song Zhewu, who was still about to speak, and glanced at him meaningfully. Turning his head and smiling, he said to Han Fuyu, who was listening enviously to the conversation between Chiang Kai-shek and Song Zhewu: "Brother Xiang Fang, you and Wen Ge have worked hard all the way, and we have prepared a place for you to live, take a rest first, and I will set up a banquet to wash the dust of the two heroes in the evening, what do you think?" ”

Han Fuyu hurriedly said: "Don't dare, everything is arranged by the chairman." Song Zhewu said that he was going to the office of the Fourth Route Army in the Deming Hotel, and he had some things to deal with. Chiang Kai-shek nodded, and asked Lin Wei to send Song Zhewu to the Deming Hotel, and asked He Yingqin, Song Ziwen, and Liu Zhi to send Han Fuyu to the accommodation. Although He Yingqin was reluctant, he must not blow Chiang Kai-shek's face in public.

Many cars, carriages, sedan chairs were parked outside the station, and even many foreign cars were parked far away. Chiang Kai-shek, who came out first, did not get into the car immediately, but stood in front of his car and looked at the people from all walks of life who were looking for his car with a flat expression.

Han Fuyu and He Yingqin and others who accompanied him were in front, Song Zhewu and Lin Wei were behind, and the guards opened the car door for Han Fuyu. Just when Han Fuyu raised his feet and was about to get into the car, someone suddenly shouted: "May I ask Chairman Han Fuyu, you led a large army to garrison Wushengguan, and you refused to march into Wuhan to cooperate with the central government's crusade against Li Yi, is this under Feng Yuxiang's order?" Does Feng Yuxiang harbor evil intentions and want to reap the benefits of fishermen? ”

This sudden shout not only stunned Han Fuyu, but also Song Zhewu. Looking up, in the group of reporters behind the cordon formed by the military police, a man with glasses who looked like a reporter was holding a notebook in his hand and waiting for Han Fuyu to answer.

Song Zhewu quickly glanced around with his eyes, and the expressions of several key figures were in his eyes. Chiang Kai-shek stood there expressionless, as did Yang Yongtai behind him; Han Fuyu was stunned at first, but quickly regained his composure, and got into the car as soon as he lowered his head; He Yingqin, Song Ziwen, Liu Zhi, and even Lin Wei and others beside Song Zhewu quickly regained their composure after being stunned, and Song Zhewu noticed that He Yingqin even glanced at Chiang Kai-shek's direction suspiciously.

Song Zhewu is also a little strange, the reporters of this era are so bold that they dare to humiliate the distinguished guests of the chairman of the National Political Axe! Could it have been arranged by Chiang Kai-shek? Song Zhewu could see from He Yingqin's eyes at that moment just now that He Yingqin also suspected that it was arranged by Chiang Kai-shek. Song Zhewu's mind was spinning, and he immediately figured out that Chiang Kai-shek's intended arrangement was the most likely surname. At present, Chiang Kai-shek is creating public opinion to attack Feng Yuxiang, and raising this question in front of so many reporters can achieve several purposes: first, if Han Fuyu does not answer, the outside world can understand that Han Fuyu acquiesced; second, if you defend Feng Yuxiang, this is the case, and it will get darker and darker; Third, it can also receive the purpose of provoking the relationship between Han Fuyu and Feng Yuxiang. Although this strategy of killing three birds with one stone is not very clever, it is not small.

Lin Wei quietly stabbed Song Zhewu, who was still stunned, and motioned Song Zhewu to get into the car with his eyes. Song Zhewu glanced at Lin Wei gratefully, and raised his foot to get into his car.

At this time, a crisp voice sounded: "May I ask General Song Zhewu, the Nationalist Axe has just defeated the warlords in the Northern Expedition, but now there are many new warlords, do you think you are a warlord?" ”

Song Zhewu thought to himself that he was really here, Chiang Kai-shek shouldn't be in trouble with his good boy? But at this time, it is absolutely impossible to get into the car without saying anything, Song Zhewu took the opportunity to straighten up and quickly glanced at Chiang Kai-shek from the corner of his eye, and saw that Chiang Kai-shek was also looking at Yang Yongtai beside him in surprise, Yang Yongtai shook his head slightly and did not make a sound.

Song Zhewu looked in the direction of questioning, in front of the crowd of reporters, a pretty young female reporter was looking at him, the reporters around him were looking at her with some surprise, the male reporter who had just attacked Han Fuyu had shrunk back into the crowd and did not know where to go.

Seeing Song Zhewu looking at herself, the young female reporter did not show weakness, straightened her chest, looked directly at Song Zhewu and said loudly: "I am Shi Zhen, a reporter from Shanghai, please General Song answer my question." ”

Song Zhewu knew that the "Declaration" was the longest-running and most influential newspaper published in Shanghai in old China. Speaking of the "Declaration", we cannot fail to talk about Mr. Shi Liangcai, who has made great contributions to the development of the "Declaration". It was he who carried forward the newspaper and developed it into one of the most influential newspapers in China. During the period when he was in charge of running the newspaper, Huang Yuansheng, Shao Piaoping, Ge Gongzhen, Yu Songhua and other famous reporters and editors worked in the "Declaration" successively.

Shi Liang is a veritable king of the poster industry. In 1921, he participated in the establishment of Zhongnan Bank, initiated the establishment of Minsheng Yarn Factory, helped expand Wuzhou Pharmacy, and assisted in the revival of Zhonghua Book Company.

"The spirit of reading", "impartiality and non-party", and "serving the society" are the core of Shi Liangcai's thinking on running a newspaper. During his lifetime, he pinned the happiness of the world on newspapers with full reading power, including economic reading power, and did not accept subsidies from any political forces or warlords. Politically autonomously, not subordinate to any one political group, and not subject to official or warlord connivance.

It is not that Shi Liangcai and the "Declaration" have a non-party, impartial, and colorless reading spirit, but that they do not proceed from the interests of one political party or group, but from the interests of the majority of the people. "The state has a national character, the newspaper has a newspaper character, and the person has a personality" is a resounding oath of Shi Liangcai. He believed that "newspapers are the mouthpieces of the people, and in addition to the oppression of special forces, they must always say something for the people in order to be able to stand up."

Now it seems that it is the historical volume that runs the newspaper, and if this Shi Zhen is really a reporter who declares, then it will never be arranged by Chiang Kai-shek. However, regardless of whether it was arranged by Chiang Kai-shek or not, he must answer this question, and if he does not answer or does not answer well, not only will Chiang Kai-shek's opinion of him change, but as soon as it is published in the newspapers, his image of Song Zhewu in the domestic public will also be ruined. And he noticed that Chiang Kai-shek, after his initial astonishment, was now looking at him intently.

Song Zhewu calmed down for a moment and said with a smile: "Miss Shi's question is so sharp, but I don't think I need to answer this question." Song Zhewu was trying to delay as much time as possible, thinking about how to better answer this tricky question.

"If General Song doesn't answer, can I understand that you are a new warlord by default?" Shi Zhen asked unrelentingly.

Song Zhewu straightened his face and said solemnly: "Miss Shi, I want to ask you to clarify the concept of warlords first. Our Song Zhewu did not use force to seize the political power of one side, nor did he use force as political capital, support troops and self-respect, occupy state land and resources, and expand territory for the purpose of expanding territory. Where do you say warlords? ”

Shi Zhen couldn't help blushing, she was afraid that Song Zhewu wouldn't get in the car like Han Fuyu just now, so she raised this question without thinking about it seriously. Now that I think about it, this question is indeed a bit abrupt, this Song Zhewu is really a little special, at least he doesn't have a territory now, so he can't talk about the division by force, Laiyuan is still under the jurisdiction of Hebei Province. It is also a bit far-fetched to say that he used force as political capital and supported his own troops.

However, although she is not very old, she has been a reporter for several years, and in the United States, she has seen those foreign reporters ask questions, which is called exciting. As soon as the topic changed, he seized the loophole in Song Zhewu's words and continued to ask: "According to General Song's standards, should these local powerful factions in China be regarded as new warlords?" ”

Song Zhewu smiled and said, "Of course not. Song Zhewu sighed in his heart why he was so unlucky today and met such a difficult character. If he answered yes, Chiang Kai-shek would be very happy, but he himself offended all the local powerful factions in the country. Moreover, it will be difficult to say that he will ask Chiang Kai-shek for territory as an anti-Japanese base in the future.

"Then General Song thinks, what kind of powerful faction is a warlord? Is Yan Xishan a warlord? Shi Zhen decided not to give the young warlord time to answer calmly, and she thought that this Song Zhewu was now in Yan Xishan's Jin Sui army, and her competitive spirit drove her to make it difficult for this handsome, quick-thinking little warlord.

Song Zhewu said calmly: "I don't think it is a warlord who obeys the political axe of the Central Committee and obeys the orders of Chairman Chiang. Chairman Yan of Shanxi obeyed the order of Chairman Chiang and sent me to lead the Fourth Route Army to crusade against the Gui faction, so naturally he was not a warlord. ”

After speaking, he didn't stop and turned around and got into the car, Lin Wei breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly followed. Through the car window, Song Zhewu saw Chiang Kai-shek smiling and getting into the car.

(To be continued)