Chapter 56
The National Government's Award, Middle General Rank, Chiang Kai-shek's Scheme

After much deliberation, Chiang Kai-shek slowly spoke.

“Don't bring up the matter of expanding the 399th Regiment's size. Tell Yan'an that the National Government doesn't agree!”

“But Your Excellency, doing so might make the already disgruntled public even more critical of the National Government!”

A strategist who was well-versed in public opinion at the time cautiously reminded him.

“It's not that we're refusing to increase the 399th Regiment's size, it's just that they haven't earned enough merit yet. We'll consider it once they achieve greater feats in the future.

Besides, the National Government isn't stingy with rewards. Aside from a commendation order, we'll give them another 100,000 silver dollars.

Doesn't the Eighth Route Army always lack guns and ammunition?

We'll allocate 1,000 Zhong Zheng Shi rifles, 50 Type 24 heavy machine guns, and 100,000 rounds of ammunition.

Moreover, for Xiao Yun personally, we'll award him a promotion to Lieutenant General!

This should be enough to silence the critics, right?”

Chiang Kai-shek said slowly.

He didn't really care about granting a Lieutenant General title, as long as the Eighth Route Army's size wasn't increased.

It was just a matter of personal honor, not providing much benefit to the overall development of the Eighth Route Army.

He even generously gave the title of Lieutenant General Advisor to gangsters like Du Yuesheng and Huang Jinrong.

But giving something that he could casually grant to gangsters to the Communists, whom he deeply loathed, made him feel a little uncomfortable.

However, when he thought about that person being Xiao Yun, he decided to let it go!

“Your Excellency is wise!”

The members of the strategic think tank team began showering him with flattery.

It must be said, although they were flattering, Chiang Kai-shek's tactic did have some merit, enough to appease the public.

Doesn't the Eighth Route Army lack guns and ammunition?

We've provided them!

Doesn't the Eighth Route Army lack money?

We've provided them with that too!

Xiao Yun achieved great feats, haven't we promoted him to the next rank?

As for the Eighth Route Army's request to expand its size?

Sorry, while their achievements are high, they're not enough. They need to achieve even greater feats for us to consider it!

If you say that a capable general like Xiao Yun needs to command more troops to unleash his full potential.

Then we, the National Government, welcome Xiao Yun to join us. We can even offer him the position of army commander!

Although Chiang Kai-shek wasn't very good at fighting wars, his political skills were truly exceptional.

He managed to subdue warlords from all over the country and achieve nominal unification of China.

You can say he's bad, but you can't say he's incompetent!

The reason he gives off an incompetent impression is that he encountered an opponent who was completely on another level.

The founding war in later years was the biggest beneficiary for Chiang Kai-shek, which cured his mental exhaustion of many years.

People say that Chiang Kai-shek is no good, but he managed to hold on for three years, didn't he?

That so-called top general of World War II was defeated in just a few moves!

But Chiang Kai-shek faced 10 such opponents!

.............................

Amidst the chorus of flattery, a somewhat inappropriate voice emerged.

“Your Excellency, what if the 399th Regiment can achieve even greater feats in the future?

Will the National Government truly give them a higher level of organization?”

“Brother Tui Zhi, you keep speaking up for the Communists. Are you a spy for them?”

A strategist who usually had a bad relationship with him sneered.

“Nonsense!”

The strategist known as Brother Tui Zhi's face flushed red. He was genuinely concerned!

“Damn it, shut up! The 399th Regiment's success is largely due to our National Government forces tying down most of the Japanese troops in the southern part of Shanxi.

Once the battle in southern Shanxi ends, regardless of whether the Japanese win or lose, a large number of their troops will inevitably return to the heartland of Shanxi Province.

The freed Japanese troops will surely not let go of the 399th Regiment, who made them lose face.

By then, the 399th Regiment will struggle to even protect themselves, let alone talk about achieving greater feats?

Once the 399th Regiment suffers a defeat, their golden image built in the public's mind through these two victories will be shattered.

What expansion of organization?

We can easily strip Xiao Yun of his Lieutenant General title and revert him to Major General!”

Chiang Kai-shek, the seasoned politician, smiled cunningly.

“Your Excellency is insightful, I was too narrow-minded!”

The strategist who had previously spoken up to remind him suddenly understood. The others also showered him with flattery.

Even knowing that these trusted advisors were deliberately flattering him, it still made Chiang Kai-shek feel a sense of superiority, and he couldn't help but have a thought—Xiao Yun is now being praised so highly. When he suffers a defeat, faces setbacks, and is criticized within the Eighth Route Army, is there a possibility that he will become disheartened and willingly join me?

The more Chiang Kai-shek thought about it, the more he felt it was possible, and his mood brightened.

Actually, with Xiao Yun's current tactical command ability of 90 points, although he was considered a top-notch general.

But Chiang Kai-shek's forces in the National Government were not without generals who could match him. If they really needed to, they could still find a few.

But what is unattainable is always the best. Coupled with the fact that Xiao Yun once saved Chiang Kai-shek, Chiang Kai-shek had a filter for Xiao Yun, which made him linger on the thought of him.