146: Chapter 146 The Joint Flag Makes its Debut! Even the Provincial First-Class Team is Baffled!

"A million silver dollars... this..."

Sha Ruijin breathed heavily.

In an instant, the previous doubt of "what right does Shen Mingyuan have" seemed to have found an extremely reasonable answer!

A massive donation! Providing help in a time of need! National righteousness!

This was enough to explain why the Deputy Director held him in such high esteem, even personally inscribing "Spine of the Nation" for him!

Sha Ruijin slowly raised his head, but his gaze was now completely different.

In the way he looked at Shen Wang, the previous faint scrutiny and condescension were now replaced by an unprecedented gravity and... a deeply hidden fervor.

The young man before him was no longer just some nobody providing "physical evidence." The image and weight of his Great-Grandfather, Shen Mingyuan, had undergone a world-shaking transformation in his heart!

Especially regarding his eldest uncle's matter, all current doubts were focused on that Shen Mingyuan!

His eldest uncle was an old revolutionary, that was beyond doubt, and the Brigade Commander went without saying, but who was this Shen Mingyuan?

Why would his eldest uncle Sha Zhenjiang taking Shen Mingyuan as a master warrant the Brigade Commander acting as a witness?

This was the main voice of doubt currently: Shen Mingyuan's identity was unknown!

But once Shen Wang produced these two pieces of calligraphy, everything would be set in stone!

If even the Deputy Director could personally provide an inscription, what did the Brigade Commander being a witness matter?

"So that's how it is... so that's how it is..." Sha Ruijin muttered to himself.

With these two inscriptions, the image of the mysterious Shen Mingyuan instantly became incredibly towering, clear, and powerfully persuasive!

For a figure who could generously donate a million silver dollars at a time of national peril and be so highly praised by the top brass, would it still seem abrupt for his disciple Sha Zhenjiang to have the Brigade Commander as a witness to his apprenticeship?

Would it still be so easily questioned?

"Old Mr. Shen's patriotism and immense contribution are truly admirable!" When Sha Ruijin spoke again, his tone carried obvious emotion and respect.

"Little Shen, your Shen family is truly a family of meritorious heroes!"

Secretary Bai, standing to the side, felt his heart was about to leap out of his throat.

He knew full well what staggering weight these two inscriptions would carry if they were proven authentic!

They weren't just historical relics; they were political capital, heavy weights in the balance of discourse!

Seeing Sha Ruijin's fervent gaze, Shen Wang smiled; this big shot was finally no longer so high and mighty.

To be honest, Shen Wang's horizons were different now. After all, he was someone who had shared drinks with the Chief of Staff, the Division Commander, and the Deputy Director. What was Sha Ruijin in comparison?

He was just alright.

"Uncle Sha, you flatter me. It was all what my Great-Grandfather should have done back then."

Shen Wang offered a polite remark, but his hand didn't stop as he reached into the canvas bag once more.

Sha Ruijin and Secretary Bai's hearts leaped into their throats again!

There's more?

A third scroll was taken out and unfurled.

This time, the style of the handwriting was completely different.

The strokes were more vigorous and sharp, the structure rigorous yet revealing a decisive, lethal edge that seemed to pierce through the paper! It was also eight large characters:

A weapon of the nation, merit for the ages

Signature: Encouragement shared with Mr. Shen Mingyuan, Spring of the Xinsi Year, ***

Beside it was a simple, ancient-looking square seal engraved with seal script.

Boom—!

If the Deputy Director's calligraphy just now was a heavy bomb, then for Sha Ruijin, the calligraphy before his eyes was practically a strategic-level nuclear warhead!

The Chief of Staff!

It was actually the Chief of Staff's own handwriting!

His calligraphy, in terms of value and significance in Province, was in some ways even more specific and carried more practical influence than the Deputy Director's!

Shen Mingyuan... what on earth did he do?

To be able to simultaneously receive such unreserved and supreme praise from these two top figures?

Sha Ruijin felt his breathing become difficult, his brain buzzing from the continuous, intense shocks.

He stared fixedly at that familiar signature and seal, which he had seen countless times in internal documents and historical records, confirming it over and over.

The aged color of the paper, the settling of the ink, the natural wear on the edges of the seal... every detail was frantically transmitting the same message to his brain:

This is real! It's highly likely to be real!

"Good! Good! Wonderful!!!"

Sha Ruijin slapped his thigh hard, no longer able to suppress the wild joy in his heart, and burst into loud laughter.

The haze that had gathered between his brows for days due to various doubts and criticisms was swept away in this moment by this succession of "ironclad evidence"!

Refreshing! Unprecedentedly refreshing!

With the Deputy Director's calligraphy, Shen Mingyuan's historical status and contribution were set in stone!

The core argument questioning the authenticity of his eldest uncle's apprenticeship post would collapse on its own!

And with the Chief of Staff's calligraphy, his efforts to push this matter in Province would receive immeasurable invisible support!

Many forces that might have originally held a wait-and-see or opposing attitude would likely have to reconsider after seeing this calligraphy!

"Xiao Wang! Your Shen family has truly performed illustrious deeds for our Party, our army, and for national liberation!"

From Little Shen to Xiao Wang, a difference of one character, yet worlds apart!

Sha Ruijin stood up excitedly, walked around the coffee table, and took the initiative to extend his hand to Shen Wang, his attitude so warm it was almost "excessive."

"These relics are too precious! Too important! I never expected your Shen family to have rendered such great service to the country!"

"If you or the Shen family descendants have any difficulties or needs, you can bring them up at any time!"

At this moment, Sha Ruijin completely elevated Shen Wang from a "useful provider of clues" to the level of an "important relationship" that must be maintained with all effort and closely connected.

Shen Wang's value, or rather the Shen family's value, had already far exceeded the scope of that initial apprenticeship post.

Based on these few inscriptions alone, as long as Shen Wang didn't court death, no one in the country could touch him!

Shen Wang remained composed, shook hands with Sha Ruijin, and said humbly, "Uncle Sha, you're too kind. These are all the legacy of my Great-Grandfather; we descendants are merely looking after them."

Seeing Shen Wang remain calm and collected in the face of these successive "trump cards," even faintly possessing an air of being above it all, Sha Ruijin's evaluation of him couldn't help but rise a few more notches.

This young man is certainly no ordinary person!

Shen Wang merely smiled; when he had sent out that brigade's worth of equipment a few days ago, the attitude of the Chief of Staff and the others had been much warmer than Sha Ruijin's.

This Little Sha is still a bit stiff!

"Oh, right, there's one more thing."

Shen Wang reached into the canvas bag again.

There's more?

Sha Ruijin and Secretary Bai's hearts were already struggling to withstand this continuous, high-intensity stimulation.

What was it this time? Whose handwriting?

However, what Shen Wang took out was not a scroll, but a neatly folded, dull-colored, and somewhat damaged... military flag?

Sha Ruijin froze for a moment, then breathed a slight sigh of relief.

As long as it wasn't calligraphy; if there were another one, he really feared his heart wouldn't take it.

He watched with some curiosity as Shen Wang carefully spread the cloth flag out on the coffee table and smoothed it.

The flag was apricot yellow, made of wool, and was quite old, with the warp and weft threads even showing in some places.

In the center of the flag was a red rising sun pattern.

And in the white space on one side of the flag, clear characters were embroidered with black silk thread:

225th Infantry Regiment...