The Northwest Army

"Don't be in such a hurry to commit yourself." Ming Quan pulled Zhu Shiqing back down onto the sofa and handed him a cup of tea. "This is a grueling assignment." Zhu Shiqing naturally knew it was no easy job. Being sent down from above was essentially being parachuted in, and the Northwest Army did not belong to the central forces either. How could such a posting possibly be easy...? Still, with things having reached this point, Zhu Shiqing believed that a soldier made his home wherever duty took him. To charge onto the battlefield, slay the enemy, and put what he had learned to good use was the finest destination he could hope for. Zhu Shiqing gently set his teacup down on the table and replied, "Chief Ming, I am your student. Since you were the one who recommended me, I will give it my all and live up to your expectations." "Good lad. I didn't misjudge you." Ming Quan's mood gradually cleared from the gloom of the Staff Corps' impending disbandment. The original intention behind training the Staff Corps had actually been to emulate the Central Training Corps—using the current cadets as a core cadre to continually expand the corps' scale and personnel. Yet things had come to light, the situation had grown tense, and undercurrents surged within the Nationalist government; Ming Quan knew he could no longer keep the Staff Corps going. Aside from the Red Party matter Zhu Shiqing had mentioned, Ming Quan had not elaborated on the real reasons behind the disbandment. He knew full well in his heart that this Staff Corps was meant to have become an elite group within the Nationalist government's decision-making apparatus, serving as a brain trust for the General Staff to handle theater-level or even nationwide strategic deployments. Yet now, it had truly perished in the government's power struggles. The Party Affairs Investigation Division was merely one facet of this power struggle. The Staff Corps had gathered individuals backed by figures across various factions, and through this group they had become tightly knit; the leadership naturally recognized the potential threat such a faction posed. On top of that, there were perennial struggles within the Nationalist government between Chiang and Wang, and between pro-American and pro-Japanese factions. In such a climate, the Staff Corps could easily become a bargaining chip in political battles. With so many complex factors intertwined, disbandment had become the best outcome. Ming Quan was naturally heartsick. The Staff Corps was like his own child, and here he felt he had forged a group of passionate, capable young men. As their chief instructor, all he could do now was secure the best possible placements for his cadets. ... "The 29th Army belongs to the Northwest Army. Its predecessor was what remained of Feng Yuxiang's forces after the Central Plains War. The army commander is Song Zheyuan, with Qin Dechun and Tong Linge as deputy commanders..." Ming Quan took a sheaf of documents from his desk, handing them to Zhu Shiqing as he made the introductions. Zhu Shiqing took the papers carefully and studied them intently for a moment. They detailed the basic situation of the 29th Army. "The 29th Army commands four infantry divisions, with each division comprising four brigades, plus a cavalry division and a cavalry brigade—a total strength of nearly a hundred thousand men," Zhu Shiqing murmured, tracing the figures on the page. He was astonished inwardly. A single army corps like the 29th Army actually numbered nearly a hundred thousand men? Ming Quan cautioned, "The situation in the Northwest Army is very complicated. Local troops aren't like the central forces; their organizational structure and management are completely different." Zhu Shiqing nodded and answered, "I noticed just now. I had heard of the 29th Army's exploits before—the Big Sword Unit is the pride of Chinese soldiers." Ming Quan smiled faintly. "Naturally. The 29th Army's contributions in the Great Wall War of Resistance are well known across the nation. But for this trip of yours, you must be thoroughly prepared mentally." "I understand. May I ask what my specific mission will be?" Ming Quan pulled out another sheaf of papers from the desk, handed it to Zhu Shiqing, and explained: "According to intelligence from the front, since May the Japanese have clashed with the 29th Army multiple times around Fengtai Station and the Wanping area. The atmosphere between the two armies is exceedingly delicate. After analyzing the situation, the General Staff believes the Japanese may escalate matters further. Therefore, they wish to dispatch a contingent of staff officers from the central command to the Beiping-Tianjin area to assist the 29th Army in combat operations." Zhu Shiqing gave a bitter smile. "Weren't the protests in Shanghai a few days ago precisely over this? With public pressure mounting so heavily, why haven't the superiors dispatched reinforcements? Sending just a few staff officers won't turn the tide of the broader situation." Hearing this, Ming Quan twisted his face into a wry smile and remarked, "The Nationalist government has its own considerations. Besides, if the Central Army marched north in force, Song might not be too pleased either. Sending you men serves at least as a show of support for the 29th Army." Zhu Shiqing caught the underlying clue in those words. Just like his earlier doubts: the Nationalist government clearly had the intention to resist Japan, yet was aggressively suppressing patriotic demonstrations; moreover, recalling how Fang Wenjian had mentioned Instructor Qiu returning to his original unit, Qiu must have received an assignment. All signs pointed to war with Japan being imminent, like an arrow notched on the bowstring. Suppressing the students, besides flushing out the Red Party, was perhaps also to... divert attention and mask their intentions? Though somewhat out of line, facing the instructor he had spent every day with, Zhu Shiqing looked up and asked cautiously, "Chief Ming, presumably the Nationalist government already has its own operational plans for war against Japan by now...?" Ming Quan merely smiled without answering directly. Instead, he shifted to another topic: "Once you go to the 29th Army, remember above all to maintain your own independence; do not let the local troops lead you around by the nose. After you arrive, monitor the Japanese forces' movements closely. If minor skirmishes break out, you may act as you see fit, but if the situation shows signs of escalating, report to me immediately." "Understood, sir." "In addition, the General Staff has granted you the rank of lieutenant. Go back and select an adjutant to accompany you. I will make the arrangements with the 29th Army on your behalf, and Commander Song will assign you an operational posting when the time comes." Ming Quan added, "Well? Do you have confidence?" Now that the opportunity to go to the front line lay tangibly before him, Zhu Shiqing stood up, tears glistening in his eyes. To meet a true mentor in one's life was a treasure that lasted a lifetime. Facing Ming Quan, Zhu Shiqing stood straight as a ramrod, his eyes resolute. Raising his arm in a crisp, textbook salute, he said firmly, word by word: "Cadet Zhu Shiqing reports to Chief Ming! I have absolute confidence in carrying out the mission!" "Good, very good." Ming Quan clapped lightly. In this private room with just the two of them, he felt genuine pride in his student. "Having thought it over from every angle, sending you is the only choice that puts my mind at ease." With instructions concluded, Ming Quan watched Zhu Shiqing take his leave. The moment the door clicked shut, Ming Quan slowly sat down at his desk and began drafting a telegram to be dispatched to the 29th Army. As his instructor, Ming Quan wanted to clear away as many obstacles for Zhu Shiqing as possible. Though the 29th Army itself was rather complicated, compared to the broader situation in the Beiping-Tianjin region, its internal complexities paled in comparison. Having seen Zhu Shiqing off, Ming Quan still had many other worries weighing on him. He had to personally select placements for every single cadet in the Staff Corps, and for those under investigation, like Lin Hong, he still had to mediate and secure their release on bail. As for the cadets branded with the label of the Red Party, he would likewise fight to have their cases investigated and verified further. Having finished the telegram regarding Zhu Shiqing's reassignment, Ming Quan capped his fountain pen, slipped the document into a folder, and let out a soft sigh. Alone and in silence, he left the Qingliang Mountain camp and headed for the General Staff at West Garden. Two hours later, the headquarters of the 29th Army received this "letter of recommendation" sent from the General Staff in Nanjing.