Soon, a telegram from the Presidential Palace in Chongqing was sent to Yan’an, the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army, and the 399th Brigade.
Similarly, various newspapers controlled by Chiang Kai-shek’s government reported on this commendation from the national government.
Compared to the last meager reward, this time there were not only 100,000 yuan, but also weapons, equipment, and ammunition that the Eighth Route Army lacked.
Even Xiao Yun, the great hero, received a promotion to the next higher military rank as a reward.
The common people who had previously criticized the national government all changed their tune, saying that Chiang Kai-shek had finally done something right this time.
...........................
“This Chiang Kai-shek, he's so cunning. He's unwilling to give our Eighth Route Army the slightest opportunity to grow stronger!”
In Yan’an, the commander-in-chief looked at the telegram sent by Chiang Kai-shek and said in an irritated tone.
“Comrade Yu Jie, don’t be so restless. The more Chiang Kai-shek refuses to give us a chance, the more he opposes us, the more it shows that we have grown in strength, the more it shows that we are doing the right thing! It’s a good thing!
And, although the 399th Brigade’s size has not been increased, didn’t Comrade Xiao Yun get promoted?
In the future, if he makes further contributions, Chiang Kai-shek won’t be able to shamelessly let someone continue to hold the rank of lieutenant general and be just a brigade commander, right?”
The instructor slowly lit a cigarette and said calmly.
“But that depends on Xiao Yun and the 399th Brigade making even greater contributions in the future. I’m afraid..........”
The commander-in-chief stopped abruptly, without continuing.
He didn't really want to question his comrades, but to be honest, there was still a considerable gap in combat ability between the Eighth Route Army and the Japanese.
Even though the 399th Brigade after its reorganization had significantly increased in strength, and had sufficient logistical support.
But it should only be able to fight a draw against Japanese forces of equal size.
But the Japanese would not abide by their so-called “Bushido” spirit and fight you on equal terms.
It was foreseeable that after the Japanese finished their operations in the southern part of Shanxi, the 399th Brigade would face a heavy encirclement by the Japanese.
In the commander-in-chief’s estimation, if the 399th Brigade could avoid heavy casualties, it would already be a great victory. He really didn’t dare to think about making even greater contributions.
“We need to have faith in our comrades. I have high hopes for Comrade Xiao Yun, and I also have high hopes for the 399th Brigade, the trump card of our Eighth Route Army!”
The instructor chuckled. No matter what, he always had a calm and composed demeanor.
“Comrade Zi Ren, I hope it will be as you say!”
The commander-in-chief nodded.
.......................................
“Old Xiao, that Chiang Kai-shek in Chongqing finally showed some generosity. My goodness, you, Old Xiao, are now a lieutenant general brigade commander.
That seems to be a unique case in our China, right?”
The 399th Brigade political commissar Wang Yan, who had also received the telegram from Chongqing, said with a smile to Xiao Yun.
He, who was unaware that Yan’an and the headquarters originally wanted to request an upgrade in the 399th Brigade’s size from Chongqing, thought that Chiang Kai-shek had finally had a change of heart and had not continued to suppress the 399th Brigade's achievements.
“Old Wang, you are an intellectual after all, can’t you use more elegant language?”
Xiao Yun shook his head helplessly.
Political Commissar Wang Yan was a graduate of a famous university. When they first met, he was very cultured, with a scholarly air about him.
But after spending more time with him, especially after he was put in charge of political and educational work and often went to the front lines.
He mostly interacted with soldiers and officers who had not read many books and were basically rough and uncultured, so he naturally followed their “vulgar” way of speaking.
How could he carry out his work without bonding with the soldiers?
You talk about the city gate, I talk about the hip bone.
Although Xiao Yun valued his military rank, he didn't value it that much. A promotion was naturally a good thing, but it didn't matter if he didn’t get one.
In these times, rank was all superficial. Having soldiers and officers under your command was the real deal!
Like his 399th Brigade, if it completed its expansion, it would have nearly 14,000 people, and it also had a cannon regiment.
Who could treat him like an ordinary brigade commander?
If you don’t have any soldiers, even if you’re given the biggest title, it’s still meaningless!
Du Yuesheng and Huang Jinrong in Shanghai, they also have the title of major general.
But they have no soldiers or officers under their command, just some hoodlums. They can only bully ordinary people and have to tail between their legs in front of regular troops.
Who would consider them real generals?
And the 6th District, where the New Fourth Army brothers are located, their commander Chen Daren only has a company-sized force. If a Japanese company comes, they’ll be fighting for their lives. He has the title of commander, but when he goes to meetings, he doesn’t even have the backbone of an ordinary battalion commander.
However, the other things Chiang Kai-shek sent were good.
The Type 24 Standard Rifle and the Mauser 1924-type rifle, which was a copy, were well-made and had good quality control, with very little difference from the original.
Compared to the Japanese Type 38 Arisaka, they were no less superior, and even surpassed them in terms of lethality.
1,000 Type 24 Standard Rifles were enough to replace a large number of the old Han Yangs that were still being used, despite the large increase in personnel after the expansion.
Especially the New First Regiment and the Independent Regiment, they still had some rifles whose rifling was almost worn down.
In addition, the Min 24-type heavy machine gun was also a domestic copy, based on the original Maxim water-cooled heavy machine gun.
This thing, from any point of view, completely outmatched the Japanese Type 92 heavy machine gun.
Like the Czech ZB-26 light machine gun, it could be said to be one of the few weapons in the hands of the Chinese military during the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression that surpassed the Japanese in terms of performance.
Based on Xiao Yun’s planned size, there would be a shortage of heavy machine guns after the expansion.
These 50 Min 24-type heavy machine guns could just make up for some of the deficiency.
As for the final 100,000 yuan, although a sum of 10 million US dollars was about to be deposited into their account through the “donation” of patriotic overseas Chinese, who would ever say no to more money?