ATPnovel Chapter 272 Principal, you've wronged Li Jianghe!
Chapter 272 Principal, you've wronged Li Jianghe!
At this moment, Xue Yue was still thinking about how to defend against the next wave of Japanese attacks.
Upon hearing Chen Cheng's voice, he instinctively turned his head, his eyes lighting up instantly.
"What? The Third Column has made its move? Where are they?"
His voice rose a few decibels, as if a drowning person had suddenly grabbed a rope.
Chen Chengxing strode up to the map and slammed his finger heavily on the location of Ma Huiling Town.
"Strike the snake at its vital spot; Li Jianghe's first move was to strike at the Japanese army's rear. His troops are advancing north, and their next target is Minshan Township."
He paused, his tone carrying a certainty:
"If nothing unexpected happens, we should be able to take it before noon. That area is all flat terrain, and his armored forces can maneuver there like a knife cutting into tender tofu."
Upon hearing this, Xue Yue finally felt relieved.
He stared at the road between Ma Huiling Town and Minshan Township on the map, as if he could see the armored vehicles of the Third Column speeding through the morning mist.
A surge of heat rose from the bottom of his heart, and his voice became excited.
"Great! Excellent! Commander, I think we can launch a counterattack from the front!"
As Xue Yue spoke, his fists clenched unconsciously.
The frustration and anxiety that had been weighing on my heart for the past few days finally found an outlet.
Chen Cheng nodded, his gaze steady and firm:
"Boling, it's time to counterattack. I don't believe the 7th and 106th Divisions will dare to continue to act arrogantly on the front lines after being surrounded by us. Now that their retreat is cut off, their morale will surely be in turmoil, making it the perfect time for us to strike."
"Okay, I'll pass on the order right away!" Xue Yue's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement.
He turned and walked toward the telegraph table, his steps quickening slightly.
Halfway there, he suddenly stopped, a wave of inexplicable self-reproach washing over him—he had actually questioned Li Jianghe, thinking he was conserving his strength, that he was avoiding battle. Now, looking back, he realized how petty he had been, judging a gentleman by his own standards.
It turns out that when they remain silent, they are astonishing; when they do not fly, they soar to the heavens.
When they did strike, they struck directly at the Japanese army's Achilles' heel.
This was something that Xue Yue hadn't expected, Chen Cheng hadn't expected, and even those people in the Wuhan headquarters hadn't expected.
The atmosphere in the office at the Wuhan headquarters was somewhat somber.
The principal simply drank two mouthfuls of plain porridge and then put the bowl down.
The white porcelain spoon rested on the rim of the bowl, making a soft, crisp sound that was particularly clear in the quiet room.
He had no interest in continuing to eat, and the few dishes in front of him were barely touched.
Because of the unfavorable situation at Wanjialing, and because Li Jianghe's Third Column has not replied to a single telegram so far, it's as if they've vanished from the battlefield.
"What exactly is he trying to do?" The principal stood up, paced back and forth by his desk, growing angrier with each thought. "Ignoring the orders from the Ninth War Zone is one thing, but he won't even reply to my orders, or even Li Zongren's orders?"
When he mentioned "Li Zongren," his tone carried a complex displeasure—both anger at Li Jianghe's disobedience and resentment towards the Guangxi clique generals for their consistent "disobedience."
Finally, he slammed his hand on the table, making the dishes jump.
Commander He, standing to the side, hurriedly lowered his voice and advised:
"Perhaps he wanted to keep the radio silent, which is why he intentionally didn't make any calls back."
Chairman Chiang, I believe there's no doubt about Li Jianghe's determination to resist the Japanese. In every tough and fierce battle he fought, wasn't it a fight to the death?
The principal snorted coldly, his tone carrying an indescribable bitterness:
"His anti-Japanese sentiment is beyond question. But when it comes to fighting, he's incredibly cunning. If you ask him to fight the Japanese army head-on, he will never obediently follow orders."
As he said this, he actually knew in his heart why he had never been able to like Li Jianghe.
Not only because this person was not from my hometown, not a graduate of the Whampoa Military Academy, and even though he was affiliated with the Guangxi Clique—the more important reason was that this person was disobedient.
That's right, they just don't listen.
Li Jianghe not only ignored his own telegrams, but he also never took Li Zongren's orders seriously.
At most, I would listen for a bit, then express my own thoughts, and strictly follow those thoughts.
As for the superior's orders, Li Jianghe seemed no different from using used toilet paper.
The more the principal thought about it, the more frustrated he became. He walked to the window, drew back the curtains, and saw that the sky outside was gray and hazy, with the dark silhouettes of several ships faintly visible on the distant river.
The generals he favored were never the kind who were good at fighting but unruly, but rather those who were loyal to him, obedient to him, and also from his own inner circle. Li Jianghe didn't fit any of these criteria.
"You don't need to speak up for him." The principal turned around, his tone becoming increasingly stern. "I think this man is just arrogant and complacent. If it weren't for his war merits and numerous instances of disobeying orders on the battlefield, how many times would it take to execute him?"
"You don't need to speak up for him." The principal turned around, his tone becoming increasingly stern. "I think this man is just arrogant and complacent. If it weren't for his war merits and numerous instances of disobeying orders on the battlefield, how many times would it take to execute him?"
He grew angrier as he spoke, especially when he thought about the constant telegrams being sent from the Ninth War Zone, urging him to give Li Jianghe orders to arrive at his designated combat position as soon as possible.
How could a commander-in-chief be led by the nose by a mere platoon commander?
Just as Commander He was about to reply, a knock came from outside the door. It was neither too loud nor too soft, but it seemed particularly abrupt at this moment.
"Report! Urgent telegram from Li Jianghe!" The guard's voice outside the door was urgent.
"He even knows to call back?" The principal snorted, picked up his walking stick leaning against the table, and strode over.
The bronze head of his walking stick tapped against the floor, making a "thump-thump" sound, like the impatient beating of his heart at that moment.
Commander He hurried forward, took the telegram from the guard, and quickly scanned the paper. As he read, his eyes lit up, like two lamps that had been lit.
He turned to look at the principal, his face beaming with undisguised joy.
"Chairman, we've truly wronged Li Jianghe this time!"
Commander He's voice became a little lighter, "He is not conserving his strength, nor is he afraid of war, nor is he disobeying military orders."
"What? He wiped out the 7th and 106th Divisions?" The principal's tone still carried a hint of anger, but his gaze had already unconsciously drifted towards the telegram.
In fact, the telegram had already calmed his anger considerably.
Adding to the undisguised expression on Commander He's face, he could already guess that the telegram was likely a victory report, and a significant one at that.
"Not yet."
Commander He said with a smile, "However, this morning, the main force of Li Jianghe's Third Column has already taken Ma Huiling Town. At the same time, they are attacking Minshan Township, with their target Chaisang."