The Fourth Outstanding Person of Huangpu Military Academy

"Boss, give me some chili powder." After taking a bite, Chen Tianheng found that the taste was lacking.

"Me too." "Me too." Jiang Xianyun and Chen Geng said in unison that they wanted chili peppers.

Master Liang muttered something in a low voice, and Chen Tianheng recognized that he was talking about "Hunan barbarians".

"There's chili sauce over there." Master Liang pointed casually and told them to get it themselves. He had already picked up today's Guangzhou Republic Daily and didn't want to put it down.

Xu Xiangqian picked at the rice noodles on his plate and said, "Boss, some vinegar, please."

The Republic Daily in Master Liang's hand shook noticeably, but his body did not move.

Chen Tianheng: “…”

Xu Xiangqian: "Master Liang, I want some coǔ."

Master Liang put down the newspaper and said word by word, "I've spent twenty years trying to build up a wok-fry, but with just one spoonful of vinegar, isn't that all wasted?"

"Hey, hey, hey," Chen Tianheng said, "It's tolerable to put chili in the Cantonese fried rice noodles, but the vinegar is a bit too much. Otherwise, just make do with it."

……

Anyway, this fried noodles meal was delicious and very filling.

The five people surveyed the terrain and buildings separately, and then met in front of Master Liang's restaurant at four o'clock in the afternoon and went home.

As the boat approached the Cheung Chau Island Pier, Chen Tianheng noticed a large group of people standing huddled together at the pier.

After getting off the boat and looking carefully, they actually found Wang Bailing, Ye Jianying, and several Soviet advisers in the crowd.

"What happened?"

"The military academy got a motorboat," said the dock guard. "It was modified by the shipyard and is undergoing sea trials today."

This speedboat is parked at the very end of the berth at the dock. At first glance, it looks similar to several current ferry boats, but there is an extra chimney on the boat, which seems to indicate that an engine has been added to increase the speed.

"Why not try it now?"

At the front of the crowd at the dock, Soviet Chief Advisor Pavlov asked.

"It's evening already and visibility is poor."

"The ship shook a bit when it came here from the shipyard. It might have some stability issues."

"What's the problem with stability?" Pavlov said disdainfully. "Davarishi, come on board with me!"

Pavlov dragged the second mate aboard, and soon the modified powered ferry began to rumble, smoke billowing from its chimney. Workers and guards on the dock quickly untied the moorings, and the 30-passenger ferry rumbled away from the dock.

At the mouth of the Pearl River at dusk, the ferry was going faster and faster.

Chen Tianheng: "Instructor Ye, is the Huangpu Shipyard so advanced? They can even modify and install an internal combustion engine propulsion system on their own?"

Ye Jianying: "It's all the workers' own random guessing. ... Oh! Oh!"

Wang Bailing: "Oh!!"

Chen Tianheng: "Oh my! The boat capsized!"

……

"A bow."

"Two bows."

"Three bows."

"Let us observe a three-minute silence in memory of our Chief Advisor, Comrade Instructor Pavel Pavlov."

In the center of the Military Academy's Great Hall stands a large black-and-white portrait of Pavlov, along with the words "Pavel Pavlov (1892-1924)".

Hundreds of Huangpu teachers and students mourned in silence with heavy faces.

"The unfortunate death of General Counsel Pavlov is a great loss to our military academy since its establishment."

"At the request of Premier Sun, the Soviet government has appointed Comrade Vasily Konstantinovich Blucher to Guangzhou to serve as Chief Military Advisor to the Guangdong Revolutionary Government and Chief Advisor to the Soviet Advisory Group at the Whampoa Military Academy."

Chiang Kai-shek announced this at the memorial service.

Comrade Blucher, also known as "General Galen," was older and held a higher rank than Pavlov. During the Russian Civil War, he served as army commander and political commissar, deputy commander of an army group, and commander of the Far Eastern Military District. After serving as chief advisor in China and returning to the Soviet Union, he was awarded the rank of Marshal of the Soviet Union in 1935 and executed in 1938.

General Galen is now handing over his work in the Far East Military Region and preparing to go to China.

What Chen Tianheng is concerned about now is whether General Galen will have a better temper than Pavlov, and whether he will agree to teach campaign science and newer tactical theories to Chinese students and instructors if Chen Tianheng or the Chinese side makes a request.

Chapter 38

"The Whampoa cadets were very active in their thinking. Since the beginning of the term, they have been engaged in heated discussions about current affairs and political inquiry, forming four factions: communism, the Three Principles of the People, anarchism, and military expertise."

"A considerable number of those who believe in communism are the result of deliberate selection and guidance by the CCP. The Three Principles of the People supporters form the largest group among students, but not many openly admit to believing in them and advocate for them."

"Anarchists were the result of the influence of Chen Shuyao and Zheng Bian in Guangzhou. These two often raised funds to support anarchist publications currently published in China, such as "Voice of the People," "Labor," and "Evolution," and actively promoted them to Whampoa cadets."

"The military professionals are all excellent students. They are devoted to studying military tactics and pay little attention to politics."

Liao Zhongkai and He Yingqin were discussing the ideological factions of this batch of students.

Liao Zhongkai: "So, Chen Tianheng belongs to the military professional faction?"

He Yingqin: "Yes, the members of his War Research Society claim to study the most advanced military methods, the laws of war, and the laws of weaponry in the world today, in order to strengthen the army and build a strong nation. The War Research Society actively communicates with instructors. Deputy Director of the Faculty Department, Ye Jianying, personally attended their seminars, as did Director Wang Bailing. In addition, they had previously contacted Soviet advisors, hoping to invite them to participate in the seminars. However, the military reference point that the War Research Society prefers seems to be Prussia rather than the Soviet Union."

Liao Zhongkai: "I heard from the principal that Chen Tianheng is also very well versed in the Three Principles of the People. Last time, after a question-and-answer session with Chen Tianheng, the principal commented that he was the most devoted believer in the Three Principles of the People among the students at our school. It seems they are not indifferent to politics either."

He Yingqin: "Understanding and believing in the Three Principles of the People is certainly to the president's liking. In fact, Chen Tianheng not only had close relationships with the Three Principles of the People, but also with the Communists. He even had good relations with anarchist students. In short, Chen Tianheng got along well with almost all types of students."

Liao Zhongkai: "This person will be a leader among the first batch of students in the future."

……

"Chen Tianheng, Chen Tianheng, the principal will have a private talk at 2:00 PM."

After morning exercises, Chen Geng came over to say something: "Not only you, but also Jiang Xianyun, at 2:15, and me, at 2:30. It seems the principal has arranged to have individual talks with more than a dozen students this afternoon."

Chen Tianheng: "This is to test the thinking of each student. I have been prepared for this. How about you, are you ready?"

"Of course I'm ready."

Jiang Xianyun: "I'm ready too."

Considering the Whampoa Military Academy his foundation and greatest asset, Chiang Kai-shek devoted considerable effort to its preparation and operation. Sun Yat-sen described him as "personally involved in every detail, meticulously planning and meticulously planning." He often kept several booklets on his desk, documenting the academy's operations, scheduled tasks, meetings, and financial and food supplies.

In addition to running around to ensure the military academy continued to operate, Chiang Kai-shek would of course select outstanding students whom he trusted and focus on training them.

"Mr. Chen Tianheng, what are your thoughts on Premier Sun's strategy of 'allying with Russia and tolerating the Communists'?"

In the office, Chiang Kai-shek asked Chen Tianheng questions.

In 1918, after the victory of the revolution, the Soviet Union promoted 'world revolution,' but suffered setbacks in Central Europe, and its attacks on several countries were fruitless. To seek domestic stability and development, the Soviet Union gradually put aside the slogan of world revolution and instead established normal diplomatic relations with Western powers. In the East, the Soviet Union also attempted to restore normal diplomatic relations with Japan and China. Premier Sun's policy of alliance with Russia and tolerance of the Communist Party was precisely the strategy proposed after the Soviet Union's armed expansion momentum came to a halt.

"The Soviet Union also needed its neighbors to be non-hostile to it, and therefore was willing to support Premier Sun's revolutionary government in the south to unify the country and improve its geopolitical situation in the east. Therefore, the Soviet Union and Premier Sun shared a common understanding of basic interests, which was the basis for cooperation between the two sides."

Chiang Kai-shek: "Although the Soviet Union has stopped its external expansion, it quietly invaded Kulun in the 10th year of the Republic of China, resulting in Outer Mongolia being under Soviet control. How should we respond?"

Chen Tianheng: "Just because we share a common understanding with the Soviet Union on fundamental interests doesn't mean all interests are undisputed. We can cooperate where there is common ground, and we can leave any conflicts and contradictions for later. We cannot use this as an excuse to fall out now, nor can we completely whitewash this matter and justify it."

"Oh, oh!"

Chiang Kai-shek smiled.

Based on this statement alone, Chiang Kai-shek concluded that Chen Tianheng was definitely not someone like Yun Daiying, Xiong Xiong, and Xiao Chu'nu. The recent remarks of these Communist Party members within the Whampoa Military Academy, when it came to the Outer Mongolia issue, tended to portray the matter as legitimate and reasonable on the part of the Soviet Union.

"Student Chen Tianheng, what are your thoughts on communism?"

Chen Tianheng: "After Marx established the theory of communism, it experienced the 1848 Revolution and the Paris Commune Revolution, both of which failed. After communism spread eastward to Russia, Lenin supplemented and revised the unclear and imperfect aspects of Marxism, which led to the success of the revolution and the establishment of the Soviet Union. Today's Soviet Russia is a large-scale experiment in communism. The results of this experiment, and the supplements and revisions based on these results, have a great impact on the future of communism. Therefore, it is too early to make arbitrary assertions about this social system."

"You seem to have no ill feelings towards Communism."

"Report to the principal, there are many instructors and students at Whampoa who are Communists. They are also very popular and loved by their classmates and colleagues. Therefore, if I say that I have a strong aversion to communism, I would definitely be speaking falsely."

Chiang Kai-shek said, "Jiang Xianyun and Chen Geng are your closest friends among the students. They are both Communist Party members. Will you be influenced by them?"

Chen Tianheng: "They will also be influenced by me."

Chiang Kai-shek: "The War Research Society you founded uses Prussian military tactics as a model for study and claims to be building a powerful army. So, who do you plan to fight with this army in the future?"

Chen Tianheng: "To build a powerful revolutionary army, to defeat the warlords and unify China; to serve as a national defense army, to defend the country and to protect and safeguard national interests."

Chiang Kai-shek: "Will this revolutionary army go to war with Japan? Will it go to war with Britain and the United States? Will it go to war with the Soviet Union?"

Chen Tianheng: "Regarding who to fight and against whom to declare war, the army should obey the country and the leader. As long as the order is so, the army will follow without hesitation."

……

After the 15-minute private conversation, Chen Tianheng saluted and left the office.

"Hello, Instructor Bai!"

At the door, Chen Tianheng saw Bai Chongxi.

It's really rare. Bai Chongxi hasn't appeared in more than two months since the start of school. His identity as a school affairs committee member and instructor is purely nominal.

However, it is said that the Guangxi clique was fighting during this period, and he and Huang Shaohong shuttled between Yunnan and Guangxi. It is estimated that the fighting has been basically over until now.

Bai Chongxi returned the greeting, nodded, and said, "You go back first."

After Chen Tianheng left, Chiang Kai-shek came out of his office, rubbing his hands excitedly:

"Great, great! I've found a good general today!"

Bai Chongxi: "..."

Forget it. I am commanding tens of thousands of troops. This Huangpu Military Academy principal, who has the highest rank of company commander, probably has only so much experience.

Bai Chongxi's visit to Huangpu was to discuss the matter of the Guangxi Army returning to Guangzhou after the battle to pacify Guangxi, with part of the troops to be stationed on Changzhou Island where Huangpu was located. He exchanged a few words with Chiang Kai-shek.

"Chen Tianheng?"

Chen Tianheng returned to the dormitory and suddenly found that Bai Chongxi had also followed him. "Hello, Chief of Staff Bai!"

"Haha," Bai Chongxi laughed when he saw Chen Tianheng standing straight, saluting and greeting him, but his address was quietly changed from instructor to chief of staff, but he did not comment on it.

"Take me to your war research institute."

……

"When you were talking to the principal, you said that communism was a large-scale social experiment? We should pay attention to the results of its experiment?"

At the War Research Society, Bai Chongxi did not discuss tactics and military strategies with Chen Tianheng first.

"Yes."

Bai Chongxi: "The principal actually hates communism. Aren't you afraid of upsetting him by answering like that?"

Chen Tianheng: "I just tell the truth, whatever's on my mind. If I make up something just to please you, wouldn't that be deceiving the principal?"

Bai Chongxi thought that Chiang Kai-shek believed that Chen Tianheng had no reservations about him because Chen Tianheng's answer seemed to come from the heart, so he trusted him even more.

However, are these words really what Chen Tianheng thinks?

"Chen Tianheng, have you ever consulted the late General Advisor Pavlov about new infantry tactics?"

"Yes. I'm very interested in the German army's Stormtrooper tactics used in the later stages of the European War. I learned from reading that the Stormtrooper tactics can be traced back to the Brusilov Breakthrough, so I asked the Chief Advisor for advice."

Bai Chongxi: "After the establishment of the Soviet Union, former Tsarist officers either fled abroad or became rebels fighting the Soviet army. The Soviet Red Army's tactical and combat capabilities, especially its academic research capabilities, did not fully inherit the Tsarist legacy. For example, the Tsarist General Staff Military Academy could no longer continue its previous research and has now been converted into a junior and intermediate military academy. It may not be that General Advisor Pavlov was unwilling to teach you, but that the knowledge you sought had been lost in the Soviet Red Army."

“Students understand.”

"Chen Tianheng, these new tactics aren't what you need most right now," Bai Chongxi continued. "In fact, we can defeat all the current domestic warlords simply by relying on artillery bombardment, machine gun fire, and infantry formation charges. It's just that the army, lacking ideological indoctrination, lacks the courage to charge. The biggest problem for you Whampoa cadets is that you've only learned the common sense of non-commissioned officers and junior officers, without any instruction in tactical strategy. With such a foundation, it's hard to become a regimental commander."

Chen Tianheng: "Then, Chief of Staff Bai, could you come to the War Research Institute to give us some guidance? Deputy Director Ye often comes here to attend seminars."

Bai Chongxi: "I don't have time. ... You will graduate in two or three months. By then, the Party Army will be organized. Once you are in the Party Army and have soldiers, I will take a look."

After a conversation at the War Research Association, Bai Chongxi looked Chen Tianheng up and down and found that although he was only eighteen or nineteen years old, his thinking was actually difficult to understand.

Bai Chongxi was not sure what he said and the tendency he showed were what Chen Tianheng really thought, but he just said, "I think this is the best way to say it and this is the best way to decide, so let it be."

Return to the military academy office building.

“Is the principal still having individual meetings with students?”

"Yes. It will last until five in the afternoon."

Bai Chongxi looked at his watch and it was almost five o'clock.

The door to Chiang Kai-shek's office opened, a student saluted and left, and then Chiang Kai-shek came out, rubbing his hands excitedly:

"Great, great! I've found another good general today!"

Bai Chongxi: ???