The Fourth Outstanding Person of Huangpu Military Academy

Zhou Shidi: "It's only been a few minutes. They didn't fly here."

"Something like rescuing the wounded should have been done by flying over!"

The injured team member in the Thirteen Hongs Building was named Chen Wenqing. He was shot in the thigh, probably by a ricochet, not penetrating but lodging in the flesh. He had been bandaged to stop the bleeding, but surgery was required to remove the bullet.

Chen Tianheng had nothing to do, so he asked Zhou Shidi to stay in the building while he ran to Simalu.

On Simalu, the Second Squad suffered the heaviest casualties. During the assault, Chen Tianheng had stationed two squads on Simalu, where they engaged in a fierce battle with roaming militia, resulting in one member being killed and three injured.

"Li Rong! Hold on! Hold on! Hold on!"

Li Shishi, the squad leader of the seventh squad of the second team, kept calling out to the wounded.

Li Rong was shot in the chest, on the right side. The bullet may have penetrated a lung. He lay on the ground, his head slightly elevated. There was blood foam at the corner of his mouth, but it wasn't gushing out of his mouth or nose. This indicated that the bullet hadn't penetrated any of the major blood vessels in his lungs, and he could still be saved.

Now the second team has 1 casualty and 5 injured. If this wounded soldier can't hold on, the death toll will double.

No mortars. No recoilless rifles. No submachine guns. No shotguns. No blasting tubes. That would have been fine, but now there were no first aid kits.

This battle was fought.

Next to them, the door of a shop creaked open. Chen Tianheng looked up and realized that Class 7 was next to Baozhilin.

"Hanxi, go help them."

A young man about 20 years old came out of the door, holding a medicine box in his hand.

Chen Tianheng: "Huang, um, Huang Hanxi, this box of yours isn't filled with Chinese medicine, is it?"

"They're all emergency Western medicine. Also, I know how to stop bleeding wounds." Huang Hanxi opened the medicine box and took out a tube of morphine. "I can also use a syringe."

Chen Tianheng nodded. Morphine was necessary, never mind the drug. The excruciating pain from the wound, coupled with the shock of realizing their bodies had been penetrated, made the wounded emotionally unstable, making them susceptible to respiratory arrest. This sudden respiratory arrest could lead to fainting from lack of oxygen, and a drop in heart rate and blood pressure—literally, death. A morphine injection would alleviate the pain and stabilize the wounded, allowing them to hold out longer until medical help arrived.

"Thank you very much. When I have time, I will come to thank you and your father again."

……

After inspecting Squad 7 and then a wounded soldier in Squad 6's area, Chen Tianheng crossed a narrow street on his way back to his starting point. Xu Jishen's Squad 3 and the machine gun duo of Chen Geng and Xu Xiangqian guarded this narrow street. Thanks to their well-organized firepower, any members of the Joint Defense Corps who wandered into the area were immediately driven out of the narrow street by volleys and light machine gun bursts. The student army suffered no casualties throughout the battle.

"Glasses Chen, why did you and Xu Xiangqian switch places?"

Chen Tianheng saw that it was Xu Xiangqian lying on the ground manning the machine gun, while Chen Geng was standing. Seeing Chen Tianheng coming, Chen Geng quickened his pace and shoveled the last few noodles from the plate into his mouth: "Look, it's almost seven o'clock, you must be hungry."

Chen Tianheng: "You, you, are you taking a break from your busy schedule? Xu Xiangqian, Xu Jishen, have you all eaten?"

Xu Xiangqian: "Mine hasn't been cooked yet, but Xu Jishen has already eaten it."

There was a sizzling sound coming from the "Liang Fulai Fried Noodles" shop not far away. Less than half a minute later, Chef Liang came out in slippers and a sweatshirt, carrying a plate of fried beef noodles and a bottle of vinegar in his left hand.

Chen Tianheng took out a large sum of money from his pocket and said, "I'll treat you all to food. And... Chef Liang, please fry one for me too."

……

By 7:40 p.m., the battle scene at Xiguan had finally been cleared. After repeatedly confirming that there were no small groups of defeated soldiers causing trouble, the second team was finally able to withdraw.

The next morning, when the first, second and third teams of the Whampoa Student Army arrived at the Generalissimo's Headquarters, the scene was as grand as a Double Tenth Day parade.

The military band played with a thumping thump. The guards of the Grand Marshal's Mansion stood at attention. From a distance, Chen Tianheng could even make out Ye Ting, the captain of the Grand Marshal's Mansion guard, standing at the head of the line.

All the senior members of the Kuomintang Central Committee currently in the Grand Marshal's Office came out, and the first one to come out was of course Chiang Kai-shek, the commander-in-chief of the rebellion.

"In this battle, our Whampoa student army braved the hail of bullets and charged forward bravely, achieving remarkable feats. Well done, well done!"

Chiang Kai-shek approached the second team. Captain Zhou Shidi stood first in line, but Chiang Kai-shek went straight to Chen Tianheng and said, "You captured the commander of the joint defense regiment, Deng Jieshi, alive, and forced thousands of his men to surrender. With only a hundred or so soldiers, you achieved such a brilliant feat. The Whampoa Student Army became famous in one battle, and the Whampoa Military Academy became famous in one battle."

Chen Tianheng: "Reporting to the President, this battle is a victory for the Three Principles of the People, a victory for the military academy's strategy of Party leadership, and a victory for putting principles first. It is the revolutionary military academy that has forged the fearless and courageous spirit of its faculty and students, which has led to today's victory. It is the President's diligent teaching and the instilling of strong faith in our students that have led to today's victory. It is Instructor Ye's personal presence, guidance, and coordination, our team leader Zhou Shidi's exemplary leadership, and the courageous fighting of every member of our student army that have led to today's victory."

Yun Daiying: ...

Chiang Kai-shek was already in a good mood, and after Chen Tianheng's conversation, he felt even better: "When Marshal Sun Yat-sen returns, I will definitely apply for a commendation on your behalf!"

……

"Is everyone here? Is anyone else still on the way who said they were coming?"

In the temporary classroom, Chen Geng looked around the venue.

"Our Red Star Society doesn't have many activities on weekdays. Today, we finally convened a general meeting. Logically, everyone should be present."

Chen Tianheng: "I think everyone is here. Have you forgotten? Li Rong and Chen Wenqing are still in the hospital."

Chen Geng nodded. "I was wondering why two people were missing. They're still in the hospital, so let's put it aside for now. We'll have a meeting today."

"The battle to suppress the rebellion in Xiguan has ended. The Whampoa Student Army played a crucial role in it."

"Our Red Star Society is a revolutionary propaganda organization, a creative organization for students to promote revolutionary ideas and doctrines. So after the battle, we had to write a series of propaganda manuscripts, from newspapers to magazines, to publicize the great victory of our Whampoa Military Academy in its first battle."

"He Zhonghan, are you going to write the main front-page report?"

Chapter 44

At the commendation ceremony for the merchant corps' suppression of the rebellion, Chen Tianheng finally met General Galen for the first time.

Vasily Konstantinovich Blucher used the pseudonym "Gallen" after coming to China, and since then he has generally been recorded as General Galen in Chinese history books.

Galen was born in 1889 and was a hero of the Soviet-Russian Civil War. Before coming to China, he served as commander of the Far Eastern Military Region and Minister of the Army of the Far Eastern Republic. This was the qualification that made him qualified to be the chief adviser of the revolutionary army of the Guangdong Revolutionary Government and the chief planner of the Northern Expedition in the future.

However, as the chief adviser of the Guangdong Revolutionary Government and the chief adviser of the Whampoa Military Academy, Galen has not appeared in the Whampoa Military Academy for almost a month since he came to Guangzhou. His main job on weekdays is to help the Kuomintang formulate military strategies and build a military headquarters in the Grand Marshal's Headquarters/Northern Expedition Headquarters.

"General Galen believes that the current Whampoa Military Academy is primarily focused on training soldiers loyal to the revolution, primarily junior officers and soldiers. This is determined by the current qualifications of the Whampoa Military Academy and is also what the current Chinese revolution needs most."

"Our party comrades also mentioned to Galen the need for advanced military training. Galen stated that he would select some particularly outstanding Whampoa graduates and send them to the Soviet Union for further training."

"So, Chen Tianheng, next year, you and your war research society might send quite a few people to the Soviet Union for further studies."

Still at the Young Military Association, Yun Daiying spoke behind closed doors about the news from General Galen. However, to Yun Daiying's surprise, not only did Chen Tianheng fall into deep thought after he said this, but Jiang Xianyun and Chen Geng, who were also present, also fell into contemplation, without cheering.

"Instructor Yun," Chen Tianheng said, "I heard that General Galen's main task now is to establish the Kuomintang Military Commission as the headquarters of the future Northern Expedition?"

"Yes. The Kuomintang's military command structure was too poor before."

Chen Tianheng: "But this Military Commission must have members from the Communist Party."

Yun Daiying: "This is quite difficult. Chen Tianheng, when we talk about KMT-CCP ​​cooperation, the KMT is actually talking about tolerance of the Communist Party. Communist Party members have joined the KMT en masse. It's not a KMT-CCP ​​alliance, but rather a KMT with a Communist Party within it. The KMT tolerates the existence of a Communist Party within it. Under such circumstances, it would be very difficult to secure a seat on the Military Commission. After all, we and the KMT are not an extra-party alliance."

Chen Tianheng: "Given the current model of cooperation between the Kuomintang and the Communist Party, this is indeed very difficult. So, Instructor Yun, whether the members of the War Research Society will go to the Soviet Union for further training depends on how the situation develops. In some cases, I think we can play a greater role by staying in China. It's a pity to miss the opportunity for further training, but if we don't take up the responsibility when the opportunity arises, the situation will become very dire."

Chen Tianheng mentioned it implicitly, and Yun Daiying understood it.

In reality, Chen Tianheng was still thinking that whether or not the members of the War Research Society went to the Soviet Union for further training was of little significance. He had been the commander of a combined arms battalion. The sheer number of arms under its command, the diversity of its tactics, and the complexity of its daily management far surpassed those of an infantry regiment of the era, even rivaling a division.

When the Whampoa Training Corps, Training Brigade and Training Division gradually expanded, Chen Tianheng continued to teach subtly in his own "private land", and with the accumulation of actual combat experience, he was able to train a group of division-level commanders and staff.

Yun Daiying: "Now that you, the first batch of students, are about to graduate, you will soon take up new posts and continue the revolution... However, not all of you will be assigned to the teaching corps after graduation. There are other departments that need people."

Chen Tianheng: "I just learned yesterday that Li Zhilong has been taken away by the National Government's Navy Department. This is not surprising, as he attended a regular naval school before attending Whampoa Military Academy."

……

After Li Zhilong decided to go to the Navy Ministry, another important person came to Huangpu.

"I am the captain of the Grand Marshal's Guard at the headquarters! Mr. Sun Yat-sen's personal guard!"

"Now, headquarters will be established, with armored vehicles for the army and navy! We will soon have armored trains, heavy machine guns, portable machine guns, rapid-fire cannons, everything! We will be the elite force of the revolutionary army!"

"Those with a firm revolutionary will, those willing to be pioneers of the National Revolution, and those willing to be elite soldiers of the Northern Expedition, please come to the armored convoy!"

A strong voice, a straight military uniform, and shiny riding boots.

This is not Ye Ting...

It’s Xu Chengzhang.

Ye Ting, who was the captain of the Grand Marshal's Guard just last week, has now gone to the Soviet Union for further training. Of course, Ye Ting was Sun Yat-sen's personal guard and a long-time follower, and when he returns from the Soviet Union next year, he will still lead the armored convoy/independent regiment.

His successor, Xu Chengzhang, was a veteran of the Tongmenghui, graduated from the Yunnan Military Academy, and served as chief of staff of the Hunan-Guangdong-Guangxi Allied Forces Detachment in 1923. In 1923, Xu Chengzhang joined the Communist Party.

Xu Chengzhang's gaze first turned to the captains of the four student teams of the first phase of Huangpu Military Academy.

Team One's captain was Lü Mengxiong. Team Two's captain was Zhou Shidi. Team Three's captain was Jin Fozhuang. Team Four's captain was Li Weizhang. After reviewing them all, Xu Chengzhang stopped in front of Team Two and asked, "Which one is Chen Tianheng?"

Chen Tianheng: “Here!”

Xu Chengzhang: "You are Chen Tianheng? You are the Chen Tianheng who scored first in both the entrance exam and the graduation exam for the first class of the Whampoa Military Academy? You are the Chen Tianheng who led a single company of troops to capture the leader of the rebellion among thousands of rebels during the battle to suppress the Merchant Corps Rebellion? You are the Chen Tianheng who is the president of the War Research Society and the one who mastered street warfare?"

"Yes! Commander Xu, the battle to suppress the Merchant Corps Rebellion was a result of the concerted efforts, brave sacrifices, and courageous advances of the entire Whampoa Military Academy Second Corps student army. Our street warfare tactics were the result of the meticulous research and bold experiments of the teachers and students of the War Research Society!"

Xu Chengzhang: "Haha. Before leaving, Ye Xiyi told me to recruit soldiers at Huangpu and to recruit Chen Tianheng. Now, on behalf of the Army and Navy Armored Corps, I officially recruit you!"

Chen Tianheng: "Yes, sir!"

……

"No!"

"Captain Xu, no! I have another job for Chen Tianheng!"

Who else could have jumped up and down on the spot? Chiang Kai-shek.

Xu Chengzhang: "Principal Jiang, Ye Xiyi gave me instructions before he left, saying that Chen Tianheng must be recruited into the armored vehicle team."

Chiang Kai-shek said, "The armored convoy needs to recruit Whampoa cadets, but the first batch of Whampoa students will soon form the Whampoa Training Corps, and they also need capable personnel. Captain Xu, I want Chen Tianheng to stay. As for instructions, I will explain them to Xiyi when he returns."

Xu Chengzhang: "Principal, ...Chen Tianheng, listen carefully. After I recruit you, you will be the deputy captain of the Army and Navy Armored Fleet! Armored Fleet!"

Chiang Kai-shek: "Captain Xu, do you know what position Chen Tianheng will hold in the Whampoa Military Academy Training Corps? He will be the battalion commander!"

Xu Chengzhang: "The Grand Marshal's Armored Fleet will be the most powerful battalion in the revolutionary army! Well-equipped! The vanguard of the revolution!"

Chiang Kai-shek: "Chen Tianheng will be the commander of the first battalion of the First Training Regiment! This is the founding unit of the Kuomintang army!"

……

"...Principal, Principal, wasn't Chen Tianheng assigned to the Second Battalion of the Party Army Training Corps? Why was he transferred to the First Battalion?"

In addition to Chiang Kai-shek, He Yingqin, the chief instructor of Huangpu Military Academy, was also present. When Chiang Kai-shek said this, He Yingqin was a little overwhelmed.

The commander of the 1st Whampoa Military Academy Training Regiment was He Yingqin. According to the original plan, not only was the commander an instructor, but the commander of the 1st Battalion was also an instructor. From the 2nd Battalion onwards, students would become commanders. Is Chen Tianheng being transferred to the 1st Battalion now possible? ... That's not impossible. But is it appropriate for an instructor to command the 2nd Battalion?

Chiang Kai-shek and Xu Chengzhang were furious. Every time Xu Chengzhang praised Chiang Kai-shek, he praised him. "You're the deputy captain of the armored convoy, right? I'm the first battalion commander of the Party Army. I can definitely outdo you, right?"

"Jingzhi! There's no problem with Chen Tianheng being the battalion commander. I've made my decision!" Chiang Kai-shek said sternly to He Yingqin, then turned to Xu Chengzhang and said, "Captain Xu, I will explain this to the Military Commission and General Galen. Don't be stubborn about it."

He Yingqin: "Besides, there are many outstanding students in the first batch of Huangpu Military Academy. Captain Xu, you can choose other candidates who are equally outstanding."

Chiang Kai-shek: "In my opinion, the captain of the second cadet team, Zhou Shidi, is very outstanding. In the battle to suppress the Merchant Corps Rebellion, Chen Tianheng and Zhou Shidi were both on-the-spot commanders, and he was the captain of the second team."

Xu Chengzhang turned to the students and said to Chen Tianheng, "Oh? Really?"

Chen Tianheng: "Instructor, yes. Zhou Shidi and I jointly commanded the campaign to suppress the Merchant Corps rebellion. Furthermore, Zhou Shidi was an active member of the War Research Society and made significant contributions to the development of new tactics."

Xu Chengzhang paced back and forth for a while, thinking. Chiang Kai-shek was still a much higher official than him. Chiang Kai-shek was a member of the newly established Kuomintang Military Commission, and he was still two or three levels lower.

"Well, Cadet Zhou Shidi, on behalf of the Army and Navy Armored Corps and Commander Ye Ting, I officially recruit you!"

……

The "auction" of "price gouging" on the playground ended just like that.

"Boss Chen, you seem to have everything under control from the beginning to the end?"

On the way back, Huang Wei asked.

Chen Tianheng: "It's not about having everything under control, but about not fighting. A soldier's duty is to obey orders. After graduating from Whampoa Military Academy, where we go depends primarily on how the agency assigns us. Personal will is only secondary."

Huang Wei: "On the playground, I was a little worried at first. What would happen to our class if you went to the armored vehicle team? Would all the dozen or so people report to the armored vehicle team?"

Chen Tianheng: "If I go to the armored vehicle team, you can also report there. In fact, the armored vehicle team is not simple. What Captain Xu said on the playground was not an exaggeration at all."

In fact... Chen Tianheng really had everything under control. Chiang Kai-shek certainly wouldn't let him go. He absolutely wanted to keep Chen Tianheng in the teaching corps. Today's argument on the playground was just a formality.

This was not only because the teaching group was the original party army of the Kuomintang, but also because the Huangpu teaching group was a unit completely under his control. Chen Tianheng was loyal to the Three Principles of the People and loyal to the leader - this was very much to Chiang Kai-shek's liking, so Chiang Kai-shek especially wanted to keep Chen Tianheng.

Since Xu Chengzhang, Ye Ting and other key officers were all Party members and believers in communism, military history generally records the Armored Corps as the first armed force controlled by the Communist Party. Because the Armored Corps would have become a Communist armed force regardless of whether Chen Tianheng joined it or not, the best option was to stay in the Training Corps.

The Armored Fleet of the Generalissimo's Headquarters was established in December 1924.

When will the First Teaching Regiment of the Whampoa Military Academy be established?

——Also December 1924.

Chapter 45

Guangzhou, the founding of the Hunan Army Military Academy.

Zuo Quan and others waited until November and finally received good news:

From now on, the Jianguo Xiang Army Military Academy will be fully incorporated into the Whampoa Military Academy.