After hearing this, Zhang Xinghan was overjoyed and immediately told the communications troops: "Immediately telegraph this commendation to all the soldiers in the city as an encouragement!"

"Yes!" The signal soldier saluted and left.

Zhang Xinghan lit a cigarette and smoked it happily. The reason why he was happy was not because of Chairman Chiang's commendation message and letter of appointment.

Because even without these formal recognitions from Jiang Gong, Zhang Xinghan believed that his control over the remaining 5,000 city defense troops in the city would not change in any way.

He was happy that after being formally appointed and recognized by the Nanjing central government headed by Jiang Gong, it would not be so easy for Zhang Xiaoliu to do something to himself.

At least it can't be so unscrupulous and blatant.

Of course, it is undeniable that the formal appointment by the Nanjing government at least transformed these city defense forces from the Northeast Army into the real Shenyang City Defense Army, a city defense force under the command of Zhang Xinghan.

In fact, Jiang Gong's public appointment and commendation really made Zhang Xiaoliu angry in Peiping.

After hastily disbanding the impromptu meeting with his subordinates, Zhang Xiaoliu went directly back to his study, closed the door, and began to roar and curse uncontrollably.

Just when Zhang Xiaoliu was angrily scolding Mr. Jiang for being stupid and incompetent and playing the piano randomly.

There was a knock on the door outside the study.

Zhang Xiaoliu was furious and immediately shouted to the door: "Get out of here, I won't see anyone!"

"Han Qing, it's me." A pleasant female voice came from outside the door.

When Zhang Xiaoliu heard that the person who came was actually his confidante Miss Zhao, his anger eased slightly and he suppressed his anger and said: "Oh, it's Qixia, come in."

With a creak, the study door opened, and the naturally beautiful Miss Zhao walked in.

"Han Qing, what's wrong with you? You're so angry." Miss Zhao asked with a concerned look on her face.

"It's nothing." Zhang Xiaoliu didn't want to bring his troubles to her.

Miss Zhao was so smart, she nodded, and instead of asking more questions, she said to him: "In everything, the body is the most important thing, because anger will harm the body."

"Well, I know, you go ahead and I'll find you after I'm done." Zhang Xiaoliu nodded and waved his hand.

After Miss Zhao left as instructed, Zhang Xiaoliu immediately shouted to the door: "Adjutant Chen."

"Young Marshal, are you looking for me?" Zhang Xiaoliu's chief lieutenant Chen Dazhang came in in response.

"Go and notify Chief of Staff Rong and ask him to come see me immediately," Zhang Xiaoliu said.

"Yes, I will leave immediately." Chen Dazhang saluted, turned around and took the order.

After a while, Rong Zhen and Rong the big smoker came over happily.

As soon as he entered the study, Rong Zhen said: "Young Marshal, Zhang Xinghan actually jumped over the hierarchy to report his victory to the Nanjing government. He didn't take you seriously at all, Young Marshal. We can never keep such a rip-off."

Zhang Xiaoliu immediately waved his hand to signal him to shut up and said, "Okay, you don't need to say more about this. I know what I'm doing. I'm here to ask you to do something for me."

"What's the matter? Marshal, just ask, I will do my best despite my humble duty." Rong Zhen said quickly.

"Find a way to rescue Governor Zang and the others, and then help me kill Zhang Xinghan. Remember, you must do it cleanly and without any trace." Zhang Xiaoliu said coldly with a fierce look in his eyes.

Rong Zhen was startled at first, then he nodded with great joy and said: "Please rest assured, young commander, I will definitely try my best to complete this matter."

"Well, you go down first." Zhang Xiaoliu nodded.

……………………

By noon, the news that Zhang Xinghan led eight thousand city defense troops to defeat the main force of the Japanese Kwantung Army in Shenyang, killing and injuring tens of thousands of Japanese troops, made headlines in major newspapers.

The streets of Peking, Tianjin, even Jinzhou, Shanghai, Nanjing, Jinan, Guangzhou and other large and medium-sized cities were filled with news of the outbreak and victory of the September 18th Incident.

The three words Zhang Xinghan were like a strong wind, resounding throughout the country and abroad within one day.

Countless people now regarded Zhang Xinghan as the greatest national anti-Japanese hero, and Zhang Xinghan's reputation and fame suddenly reached an unprecedented height.

Abroad, European and American Western powers were all extremely surprised when they heard the news. The Japanese army's brazen launch of a war of aggression certainly surprised them.

The fact that this invasion ended in failure was even more incredible to them.

Newspapers from various countries published this news that shocked the world. At the same time, well-known news organizations such as Time Magazine in the United States, The Times in the United Kingdom, and Reuters in France sent exclusive reporters to Shenyang in Northeast China.

They are eager to get the inside story and process of the September 18th Sino-Japanese Incident.

The Western powers were surprised and incredible, and as one of the countries involved, Japan's reaction was beyond words.

The first to learn of the Kwantung Army's disastrous defeat were the Ministry of War and the Home Operations Department of the General Staff.

After the heads of the two major departments learned of the shocking news, they did not immediately report it to His Majesty the Emperor because they were afraid that doing so would trigger the impeachment of anti-war forces led by Cabinet Prime Minister Keisuke Okada.

What an important position these two departments occupy in Japanese militarism.

For example, they are like the general staff headquarters and the Ministry of National Defense of the later Republic.

Of course, under the special circumstances in Japan at that time, the Army Ministry could not fully represent the Ministry of National Defense.

Because they also have the Ministry of Navy, as we all know, the Japanese Army and Navy are also two factions in Japanese politics. This can be seen from the fact that they each have their own aviation forces.

Generally speaking, a country's main arms include land, sea and air, as well as some other special arms.

But Japan in this era is quite special. Their navy and army have their own land-based aviation and sea-based aviation forces respectively.

They usually do not belong to each other and form their own system. Unless they encounter a big battle, they will fight together.

For example, the later Battle of Songhu and other battles.

As for the power of these two institutions, they can mobilize a considerable number of troops to carry out certain operations without asking the emperor.

In order to restore the Kwantung Army's heavy losses in Manchuria and restore the Japanese Empire's invincible reputation, the leaders of the Operations Department of the Japanese Army General Staff Headquarters and the Army Ministry.

Secretly mobilized the Kumamoto 6th Division to sail to Manchuria by ship, and at the same time ordered the 20th Division far away in Korea to immediately move towards Manchuria.

In addition to the field divisions, the Army Ministry also allocated two flying regiments to suppress the Northeast Army Air Force and cooperate with the ground forces.

The Japanese Army Ministry prepared to use the powerful force of three divisions to avoid the humiliation of the Shenyang defeat.

Those in power believed that as long as they won the war and occupied the fertile Manchurian area, they would not have much of a problem if they killed first and then reported later.
Chapter completed!