Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 479 Who are you talking about?

Just as Huaye was making its latest plan, Chang Ruiyuan was not idle either, and urgently summoned Qiu Feng back to Beijing.

"Director Yu, what important military or national matter is it?" Qiu Feng asked, somewhat puzzled, as he looked at Yu Liangzhen who came out to greet him.

"Even if it wasn't twelve imperial edicts, it was three telegrams urging me to come to the capital."

Yu Liangzhen laughed and said, "As far as I know, the president wants to invite you to take a hot spring bath."

"What?" Qiu Feng stopped abruptly.

Qiu Feng felt like his head was about to explode.

"Director Yu, my troops are currently on high alert. Why would you come to this Tangshan bathhouse to discuss such important military matters instead of discussing them in the operations room?"

Chang Ruiyuan, who was taking a bath inside, had already heard Qiu Feng's voice at the door.

After getting up and putting on his bathrobe, Chang Ruiyuan asked knowingly, "Who's talking?"

Upon hearing Chang Ruiyuan's words, Qiu Feng immediately shut up and quickly went inside.

"Principal!" Qiu Feng saluted immediately upon entering.

At this moment, Chang Ruiyuan was already lying in bed, enjoying a massage.

"You look exhausted and your complexion isn't good. Why don't you come here to rest and recuperate, and take a hot spring bath?"

"The students are extremely grateful."

At this moment, Qiu Feng showed none of the displeasure he had shown at the entrance of the bathhouse; his face was filled with gratitude.

Qiu Feng's expression changed quickly, and Chang Ruiyuan's expression changed just as fast.

After chatting with Qiu Feng for a few minutes, Chang Ruiyuan told Qiu Feng to take a bath first to relieve the fatigue of the battle.

This whole situation really left Qiu Feng completely baffled.

However, since the Chairman had already given the order, Qiu Feng didn't dare to utter a word and could only take a quick soak in Chang Ruiyuan's private bathhouse.

The next day, Chang Ruiyuan brought Meilin to Qiu Feng's residence.

"How have you been resting these past few days?"

"This is the first time in the students' lives that they have enjoyed the treatment of a head of state, so naturally they are completely relieved of their fatigue."

Qiu Feng stood to the side like a primary school student.

"Hehe. That's an exaggeration." Chang Ruiyuan laughed. "But it does look like it's working. You don't look as tired or thin as when you came."

"Yes, General Qiu's brilliance has returned," Merlin praised repeatedly.

Qiu Feng was somewhat puzzled by Chang Ruiyuan and Mei Lin's courteous treatment and praise.

"Chairman, Madam, our corps is really suffering. It is truly fitting to call it the Mobile Corps."

"Sometimes we listen to Bai Jiansheng and march south to fight the Communist army in the Dabie Mountains, and sometimes we listen to Liu Jingfu and march north to fight the Communist army in southwestern Shandong."

"How could I not be tanned and thin after being pulled around by these two people in the Yellow River flood area?"

"The Yellow River and Huai River Central Plains battlefield, with its vast plains and well-developed transportation, should have been the ideal battlefield for our highly mechanized corps to encircle and annihilate the G army."

"But now, due to command issues, the efforts are being made twice as hard and half as hard, resulting in a stalemate."

"Alas, Liu Jingfu is fat and indecisive, constantly changing his mind and missing opportunities."

"Where is Bai Jiansheng? All talk and no action, leading Guangxi troops to fight a slippery battle."

"Hehe. In short, the generals are incompetent, which has led to the exhaustion of the entire army."

As Qiu Feng's words became increasingly outrageous, Yu Liangzhen dared not utter a sound.

Chang Ruiyuan was furious when he heard this. Who was this person talking about?
He then slammed his hand on the table and roared, "Insolence!"

"Commanders Liu and Bai are both important figures in the Party and the State, and veterans in the military. How can we allow you to slander them?"

"Do you think I don't know? On the battlefield, you are domineering and arbitrary, ignoring military orders, seeking only personal merit, and leaving friendly forces in dire straits."

Upon hearing Chang Ruiyuan's words, Qiu Feng immediately knew that someone had reported him to the authorities.

"Chairman, the soldiers of our 5th Army have served on the battlefield with valor and courage, which can be verified by Heaven."

Seeing that Qiu Feng was unconvinced, Chang Ruiyuan continued:

“Your military vehicle arrived at the campsite with a big red carpet, ignoring the village houses and courtyards, and disregarding local customs and traditions.”

"He spread out a carpet, grabbed some random woman, and started partying and dancing wildly! Did this really happen?"

Qiu Feng remained unconvinced and explained, "The Yellow River floods the desert, the sand is everywhere, it's dry and boring, and it's suffocating."

"The officers would occasionally step to the beat and dance a few steps."

"After fighting your whole life, can't you enjoy yourself?"

"And this is commonplace in the U.S. military."

Upon hearing this, Chang Ruiyuan was shocked to hear that the United States was being brought up, so he said directly, "Women, all sorts of women, are not allowed in the military camp!" "Chairman, these women are not 'all sorts of women,' not singers or dancers, but dedicated military nurses."

Of course, Qiu Feng did not say what kind of care these nurses were responsible for.

Then, Qiu Feng put on a sob story: "The students have always risked their lives and never failed in their missions, but instead of receiving any praise, they were scolded by the principal."

As he spoke, Qiu Feng's tears were about to fall.

However, Chang Ruiyuan, a seasoned political veteran, clearly didn't buy into that.

"You're crying? Are you a child?"

"Trying to shut me up with tears? No way!"

"There are some things I still need to say to your face!"

"I ask you, to whom did I hand over the latest firearms that the United States provided us?"

"I'll leave it to you," Qiu Feng said.

His Fifth Army was one of the few armies equipped with the M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle.

"Who did I entrust the large-caliber howitzers and field guns to?"

"It's entrusted to your subordinate."

The Fifth Army had its own artillery regiment, equipped with 24 105mm howitzers and 12 Type 38 field guns.

"To whom have I entrusted the outstanding graduates of the military academy?"

"It's entrusted to your subordinate."

Putting aside everything else, the division commanders of the Fifth Army are all exceptionally talented.

"I'm handing it all over to you. What am I handing it over to you for?"

"Suppress rebellion and bandits."

"I'm surprised you still remember!" Chang Ruiyuan slammed his hand on the table and asked:

"It's been two years. How many bandits have you wiped out? How many prisoners have you captured? One division? One regiment? One battalion? Let me see."

Hearing Chang Ruiyuan's three probing questions, Qiu Feng was still somewhat unconvinced.

"Chairman, the G army has always avoided the strong and attacked the weak, choosing to invade when they are vulnerable. They have never dared to engage me in battle or fight a decisive battle."

"This is not because I am incompetent, but because my 5th Army is too strong and burdened by its reputation."

"No matter which army it is, once they see my 5th Army's artillery, they can't fire more than a few shots before they run away."

"I can't find them, so where am I supposed to capture prisoners?"

Chang Ruiyuan was speechless upon hearing Qiu Feng's words.

If the G army is really as weak as you say, then what about all the territories I've lost and the troops I've wiped out?
At this moment, Merlin said, "If you don't capture their prisoners, they will capture yours."

"Who? Who are you arresting?" Qiu Feng asked, puzzled.

"Capture Qiu Feng, commander of the 5th Army."

This left Qiu Feng completely confused.

Yu Liangzhen, who was standing nearby, explained: "The Ministry of National Defense Intelligence Agency intercepted an urgent report from the G Army that the Commander-in-Chief of the G Army has personally gone to the front line at Diqiu to supervise and train the troops of the East China Field Army and has set summer targets."

"Capture Qiu Feng alive and annihilate the five armies."

"Hahaha," Qiu Feng laughed upon hearing Yu Liangzhen's explanation.

I searched for it all day and couldn't find it, but then it came to me on its own.

"What are you laughing at?" Chang Ruiyuan said unhappily, "Listen carefully, I called you here for this matter."

"Chairman, there's no need to worry," Qiu Feng said easily.

"How can I not worry?" Chang Ruiyuan sighed. "I had a dream yesterday."

Before Chang Ruiyuan could continue, Merlin interjected, "Yesterday, the president dreamed that there were two people on the Dabie Mountains spying on the capital, Nanjing, through binoculars."

Upon hearing that Chang Ruiyuan had even dreamt about it, Qiu Feng immediately stood up and said, "To relieve the Chairman's worries in his dream, the soldiers of our 5th Army are willing to fight to the death against the invading G Army!"

Chang Ruiyuan nodded: "Yes, you will lead your troops north immediately to intercept the East China Field Army's attempt to cross the Yellow River. I have already telegraphed Commanders Liu and Bai to quickly dispatch elite troops to cooperate."

"As long as the main force of the East China Field Army of the Communist Party of China is annihilated in the Battle of Southwest Shandong, the Communist Party of China in the Dabie Mountains will not be able to stay there, and the overall situation in the Central Plains will be secure."

"Yes, sir!" Qiu Qingquan stood at attention and said, "Principal, the G Army has specifically named me to fight, which is exactly what I wanted. Please wait for good news, Principal."

"Well, for this campaign in southwestern Shandong, I have only one request for you: capture SY alive!"

"Principal, the students obey!"

(End of this chapter)