200: variable

Jinling, Huangpu Road Residence.

Outside the window, the sky was gloomy. Inside the study, the Principal silently gazed at the battle map on the wall, the atmosphere heavy.

At that moment, Boss Dai pushed the door open and entered, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his usually impassive face.

He presented the secret telegram in his hand, his voice as calm as ever: "Principal, a great victory at the front!

The japanese 9th Division suffered heavy losses in the direction of Luodian at the hands of our forces, nearly being wiped out entirely!"

"What?" The Principal spun around, took the telegram, and scanned it quickly.

Soon, the gloom on his face was instantly replaced by immense joy.

"Good... well fought! This bolsters our national prestige and strengthens our military's morale! This is an unprecedented victory since the start of the war!"

He paced back and forth in the room excitedly with the telegram, muttering to himself: "This battle has turned the tide in one fell swoop.

I want to see what those pedantic fools, who are still clamoring about the Battle of Shanghai being a waste of national strength, have to say now!"

After the excitement, he immediately followed up: "Which unit achieved such a great victory? Who commanded it? I want to reward them handsomely!"

Boss Dai replied calmly: "Principal, the details are still being verified, but based on various intelligence reports and inferences from the battlefield remains..."

"...the one who created this miracle is most likely... the Sichuan Army 122nd Division, Feng Tiankui."

"Feng Tiankui? The 122nd Division? The Sichuan Army?" The joy on the Principal's face instantly froze, replaced by profound doubt and disbelief.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! With the Sichuan Army's outdated equipment, there's no way they could have annihilated a japanese Grade A division?"

The Principal waved his hand in flat denial: "The 9th Division is the elite of the japanese; how could they be shaken by the mere Sichuan Army?"

He instinctively dismissed the possibility from the perspective of weaponry and equipment.

Boss Dai seemed to have anticipated this and unhurriedly handed over a document: "Principal, please take a look at this."

The Principal sat down, drank some tea to steady himself, and began reading the document.

The document clearly recorded: The 122nd Division was located to the flank and rear of the incident area, making it the only unit in a position to launch a surprise attack.

Additionally, during the battlefield cleanup, a very small number of personal items with distinct Sichuan Province regional characteristics were found.

Overall, the probability that it was the 122nd Division exceeds seventy percent.

After reading the report, the Principal's expression shifted unpredictably.

He fell silent for a moment, a complex light flashing in his eyes.

Finally, he reluctantly accepted this unbelievable fact. With a long sigh, he spoke slowly: "If this is indeed true..."

"...then Feng Tiankui and the 122nd Division have truly achieved an unparalleled feat."

The Principal took a deep breath and made a decision: "Order a general commendation for the 122nd Division and hold them up as a model for the national resistance!"

"Principal!" Boss Dai suddenly stepped forward, his tone becoming serious and somber. "The matter of the commendation may require caution!"

"Hmm? What's the problem with him?" Doubt appeared on the Principal's face as he looked at his confidant in confusion.

"Principal... back in Sichuan Province, this man was already flirting and maintaining clandestine ties with the Red Army!"

A cold light flashed in Boss Dai's eyes as he continued: "Especially during the battles at Yuquan and Hongyun Temple, where he was ordered to carry out an 'encirclement and suppression' campaign.

Yet he repeatedly delayed taking action and even intentionally 'abandoned' large quantities of food and ammunition to aid the enemy.

He Guoguang and Zheng Jiemin witnessed this personally; it is by no means a groundless rumor! His intentions are suspicious!"

He paused, his voice turning even colder: "Furthermore, regarding this battle at Luodian, you had explicitly ordered a halt to the offensive, Principal.

The 122nd Division dared to openly defy military orders and launch an unauthorized attack. This trend must not be allowed to grow.

If Feng Tiankui can win a battle by defying orders today, others might defy orders for other matters tomorrow. Military orders are as firm as mountains; how can they be treated as a joke?

If he is rewarded instead of punished just because he won, how will you command the entire army in the future, Principal? How will you maintain the solemnity of military orders?"

Boss Dai looked at the Principal and said meaningfully: "In my humble opinion, the matter of the commendation should be set aside for now.

I will first send people down to investigate. If it is true, he should be held accountable for defying military orders.

Even the War Zone Commander Zhang Zhizhong has been negligent and should be held jointly accountable.

Only then can military discipline be enforced, ensuring your authority, Principal, and that government and military orders are carried out without hindrance."

The Principal nodded repeatedly as he listened to Boss Dai, and the joy on his face gradually faded.

It was replaced by deep weighing of options and cold calculation.

He walked to the window with his hands behind his back, and after a long silence, he spoke: "Nickname, do as you say~~"

While military merit was certainly welcome, control over the army and internal stability clearly carried more weight in his mind.

As Boss Dai left, the Principal looked at the map again.

With this great victory, his determination to keep fighting was reaffirmed: This war must continue!

Meanwhile, inside a secret mansion in Jinling.

Wang Jingwei was having a secret discussion with his confidant, Zhou Dahai, then the Vice Minister of the Central Propaganda Department, about the total annihilation of the japanese 9th Division.

Zhou Dahai whispered: "Mr. Wang, there's a lead on the mysterious unit. According to reliable sources, it's very likely the Sichuan Army 122nd Division's doing."

"Oh? Is the source reliable?" Wang Jingwei's hand holding the teacup paused slightly.

"Reliable." Zhou Fohai leaned in closer. "A cousin of mine happened to be a translation consultant at the Japanese Army 9th Division headquarters before the battle.

He narrowly escaped during the chaos last night and personally heard that most of the attackers' shouts and battle cries had heavy Sichuan Province accents!

Furthermore, after examining the positions, I found that the ammunition they used was exactly the same as that of the mysterious unit."

Wang Jingwei put down his teacup, his eyes shining, his face flashing with thirty percent shock and seventy percent joy.

But he quickly regained his usual, slightly melancholic composure.

He mused: "The Sichuan Army... the 122nd Division... Feng Tiankui... I didn't expect them to be such a surprise force. If they could be used by me..."

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and he immediately instructed Zhou Dahai: "Old Zhou, find a way immediately to contact this Feng Tiankui in secret.

At all costs, we must bring him and his 122nd Division over to our side."

Zhou Dahai was somewhat surprised: "Mr. Wang, this man has just achieved a great feat; I'm afraid the Principal's side..."

"Is it merit? Or a transgression? That remains to be seen. Don't forget he violated military orders first. Do you think that side will tolerate him?"

Wang Jingwei sneered, seeing through the situation perfectly, looking as if he had a well-thought-out plan.

After a moment's thought, he gave firm instructions: "To deal with Feng Tiankui, you can approach it from several angles:"

"First, promise him high office and a generous salary. I can give him far more and far greater than the one in the Presidential Palace!"

"Second, you can bring up those old matters in Sichuan Province, his little dealings with the Red Army at Yuquan and Hongyun Temple."

"If he agrees to join us, we can help him smooth things over. If not, we can play them up as evidence.

It's both leverage and a means to drive a wedge between him and Jinling."

"The most important is the third point," Wang Jingwei lowered his voice. "He defied military orders this time and initiated battle without authorization; though he won, he is still guilty.

Tell him clearly that as long as he is willing to stand on our side, not only can I keep him safe..."

"...but I can also mold him into an anti-japanese hero, ensuring he gains both fame and fortune!"

Finally, Wang Jingwei didn't forget to urge: "In short, win him over at any cost, using whatever means necessary.

Such a capable fighting force must be held in our hands!"

"Understood... I'll get right on it!" Zhou Dahai grasped Wang Jingwei's deeper meaning, bowed, and withdrew.

Inside the study, Wang Jingwei sat alone, an elusive smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.

In these troubled times, power grows out of the barrel of a gun.

Whether for balancing power or for future strategic positioning...

...Feng Tiankui and his 122nd Division are a very significant chess piece.

The undercurrents among the Jinling high command became even more turbulent and treacherous because of the unexpected great victory at Luodian.