"The Beiping-Tianjin operations..."
Zhu Shiqing sat upright, his hands resting on his thighs. Hearing Ming Quan ask for an account of the fighting in Beiping and Tianjin, the luster in his eyes dimmed. Even setting aside his role as an officer dispatched from Nanjing headquarters, to every frontline soldier of the 29th Army, it had been a catastrophe.
Everyone present, including Sun Beifeng, gazed intently at him, waiting for an expansive discourse. Yet Zhu Shiqing knew full well how farcical and chaotic the fighting had been. Shaking his head, he said, "Like a natural disaster—and even more like a man-made calamity."
Ming Quan nodded in approval. That was precisely what he wanted to hear. Had Zhu Shiqing launched into grand disquisitions on tactics and strategy, Ming Quan would have thought him blind to the true nature of war. But the understanding Zhu Shiqing displayed now fully met his expectations.
Prompting him further on the details of the Lugou Bridge Incident, Ming Quan asked, "As someone who lived through it, how do you view the Japanese military's provocations?"
"The Japanese provocations were largely deliberate. Behind them was no mere vent of emotion, but coordinated military strategy and tactics. One could say every grassroots unit in the Japanese army was acting in service of their collective strategy."
"Lugou Bridge is merely one battleground in the confrontation between China and Japan. In a country as vast as China, there are many such places," Ming Quan continued. "Shanghai, for instance. In your view, how should our forces respond to Japanese provocations?"
Zhu Shiqing fell into thought for a moment, recalling the standoff with the Japanese at Fengtai. Organizing his thoughts, he replied, "In your student's view, after the incident at Lugou Bridge, peace between China and Japan became impossible. Wherever Chinese and Japanese front lines intersect, war can erupt at any moment. To continue watching each other in silence is in itself an abnormal, unhealthy state of affairs."
Zhu Shiqing's answer was drawn from practical experience in Beiping and Tianjin.
The moment the Japanese bombed Wanping, it undeniably heralded the start of a hot war between China and Japan. The chaos in the Beiping-Tianjin region arose because the two sides' positions were intertwined across a vast area. Yet war was not a matter of two armies lining up and charging head-on; along such an expansive defense line, once fighting erupted at one point, how could other sectors possibly stand idly by?
Now that Beiping and Tianjin had been swallowed by the Japanese and total war had reached a life-or-death crossroads overnight, was the Songhu region still expected to abide by that scrap of paper called a neutrality agreement, letting Shanghai residents keep grinning submissively at the Japanese garrison?
War was no domestic squabble between husband and wife; there was no making up before bedtime.
This perspective struck straight at what Ming Quan had in mind. Long before the incident at Lugou Bridge, the Songhu operational plan he had personally helped draft was aimed at driving these rampant Japanese forces straight into the Huangpu River!
For some reason, as he finished speaking, Zhu Shiqing caught a twitch on Ren Shunan's face out of the corner of his eye, as if some detail in his words had displeased him.
Ming Quan's praise followed immediately. "Well said. And if you were to evaluate this campaign from a military perspective?"
"From a military perspective..." Zhu Shiqing gathered his thoughts. "First, before launching any major operation, the Japanese developed detailed plans as well as contingency measures.
"Although our forces were somewhat passive in the initial stage after being ambushed, once superior forces were mobilized, we quickly gained the upper hand over the Japanese China Garrison Army. Had we seized the opportunity, the conditions were ripe to fight them to a standstill on the spot. Unfortunately, mutual suspicion between the central government and local authorities, vacillating command in the field, and a complete breakdown of intelligence..."
"When defending the urban area of Beiping, we came under attack from the Japanese 20th Division stationed in Korea. Only then did the 29th Army realize that the Japanese had mobilized nearly thirty thousand reinforcements to the Beiping-Tianjin theater. I suspect this redeployment order had been prepared from the very outset of hostilities."
Ming Quan nodded slightly and explained, "We in Nanjing did intercept intelligence on that and sent a telegram warning Army Commander Song to be on his guard, but the Central Army was still unable to arrive in time."
"Tactically, the individual soldier quality of the Japanese was truly astonishing," Zhu Shiqing remarked from the heart. "Nearly every soldier can independently draw a simple military sketch map. When charging, they usually operate in three-man fireteams, with machine-gun firing points set at the rear flanks of every four teams. Their assault resembles rolling waves, and their crossfire and overlapping bullet cones are remarkably well drilled.
"As for individual equipment, I went through the field pack of an ordinary Japanese soldier. Aside from extra clothing, it contained a marching poncho, shelter half, spare combat boots, mess kit, canteen, and utility pouch, and certain roles carried an entrenching shovel strapped to the left shoulder. Meanwhile, our soldiers often carry ammunition pouches made of torn rags."
Everything he described came from close observation during more than a dozen engagements against the Japanese. Zhu Shiqing had etched every detail into his memory. Although he did not yet know the specific model designations of the equipment the Japanese used, its complete, versatile nature was enough to illustrate the vast gulf between the early-war Japanese military and their own.
To sum it up in a single sentence: the loss was regrettable, but by no means unearned.
Ming Quan did not pursue the topic further. Instead, he cast a knowing glance around the room and shut the open window behind him.
"Shiqing, young officers who have slogged it out on the front lines and held their ground are few and far between. Your and Wenjian's performance this time hasn't gone unnoticed by the Military Affairs Commission or General Staff Headquarters. The two of you are in high demand—look, even the Ministry of Military Affairs is trying to poach you."
Ming Quan directed these words at Ren Shunan beside him. Hearing this, Ren Shunan rose with a genial smile.
"The Ministry of Military Affairs places great value on both your records and your talents. Mr. Wang personally entrusted me to make sure you were invited to serve in the Ministry."
Zhu Shiqing was bewildered. It was the same question as before: the Ministry of Military Affairs fell under the Executive Yuan and was essentially an administrative department. Why would they recruit professional combat officers?
Before he could ask, Ming Quan chimed in out of nowhere, "I had no choice. Shunan insisted on coming to hear your thoughts, claiming it was a direct order from Vice President Wang, so I agreed to let you two mull it over. Haha, you've only got yourselves to blame for being so popular right now."
"Brother Ming jokes. I merely dreaded letting great talent slip away. As for the final decision, it naturally rests with Shiqing."
Ah. Zhu Shiqing understood now. Ren Shunan and Ming Quan were not on the same side, making this dinner gathering rather unusual... Ren Shunan was clearly here to poach him.
And the Vice President Wang whom Ren Shunan mentioned was undoubtedly Wang Zhaoming, the second-highest figure in the party.
"Kid, you probably don't know yet, but the Executive Yuan is effectively run by Vice President Wang these days. For someone like him to take an interest in you, consider yourself damn lucky," said Sun Beifeng, who had been silent all this time, finally taking the pipe from his mouth and puffing out a cloud of smoke.
"I would still prefer to lead troops under the General Staff."
With every eye fixed on him, Zhu Shiqing gave his answer. Beside him, Fang Wenjian naturally followed suit without hesitation.
Ren Shunan glanced sideways at Ming Quan, who returned his look with an amused smile. The room fell silent for several seconds before Ren Shunan had no choice but to say, "In that case, I won't put Brother Ming in a tight spot. I have other matters to attend to, so I won't disrupt your family reunion any longer."
With that, Ren Shunan offered a stiff smile and stood up to leave. Ming Quan made no effort to detain him, leaving the atmosphere exceedingly awkward.
Unsure if he had committed a faux pas, Zhu Shiqing grasped for a topic and asked, "Why does the Ministry of Military Affairs have professional officers like him in the first place?"
Ming Quan answered, "Although the Ministry of Military Affairs is an administrative organ, behind the scenes it takes orders from Wang Zhaoming. Sending someone to invite you two was because their circle currently lacks military officers with actual combat experience."
"A factional dispute?" Zhu Shiqing asked under his breath.
Ming Quan did not answer directly. Instead, he said, "Zhu Shiqing, you are a rare sort of soldier. You came up from within the establishment, unlike those rough-and-ready soldiers from the wilderness. You possess higher political awareness, a sharper political nose, and your own judgment and alertness regarding many matters. That is a good thing.
"Yet it can also be a bad thing. As a soldier, commanding operations is your primary vocation, but conditions within the Nationalist government are complicated, and you must tread carefully at every step."
Ming Quan's words were earnest and frank. Spoken in front of Sun Beifeng, they showed that in his mind, Zhu Shiqing was already a protégé with whom he could privately discuss internal power struggles—a level of trust that needed no explicit declaration.
"Then what is our next assignment?"
"Go to Suzhou," Ming Quan said, enunciating each word. "The situation in Nanjing is complex right now, with unpredictable undercurrents within the party. Going back would only drag you into trouble. The Military Affairs Commission will soon need your services for major operations."
"Suzhou? Does the General Staff have a subordinate agency in Suzhou?" Zhu Shiqing was bewildered.
Ming Quan rose slowly to his feet, smiling. "It isn't just the Ministry of Military Affairs that has its eye on you. General Zhang Zhizhong, currently in Suzhou, is also waiting for you."
"General Zhang?" Zhu Shiqing was astonished. He had heard of the general's record leading troops during the 1932 Songhu defense. Knowing full well that such favor rarely arose out of nowhere and that Ming Quan had undoubtedly championed them behind the scenes, Zhu Shiqing felt a rush of gratitude and said hurriedly, "Your student is deeply indebted to Chief Ming's patronage!"
"No need to thank me. Dedicate yourself to serving our country. Rest and recuperate for two days, and I will assign a special escort to see you to Suzhou. The unit you are to report to is located at Lingering Garden in Suzhou, operating under the public designation of the Central Military Academy Field Camp Office."
"Yes, sir!" Tears of excitement welled in Zhu Shiqing's eyes.
Fang Wenjian, slow on the uptake, vaguely gathered that this was an immense honor and a rare opportunity. Yet with his near-total lack of political sensitivity, he could hardly fathom the true weight of two junior lieutenants being posted directly under a full general in the inner circle of the Central Army.
To countless ordinary men, this was the unmistakable harbinger of a meteoric rise. Objectively speaking, so long as one made no catastrophic blunders and advanced step by step, one could attain an enviable rank on the strength of such a pedigree alone, even without extraordinary battle exploits.
Zhu Shiqing was intrigued as to what purpose this so-called Central Military Academy Field Camp Office truly served. He did not press for answers, for he would soon unearth them himself.
As the conversation drew to a close, Ming Quan added with deep meaning:
"This is top secret. Under no circumstances must word leak out."
Chapter 85