Chương 38: Cang Lian, do you want to take control of the Cang family?

Major Yan Tang's lectures were indeed engaging.

Her background of studying in the West gives her the intellectual charm and sophistication of a modern woman.

Her well-tailored military uniform accentuated her waist and figure, giving her a unique and dashing charm.

Therefore, whether they were genuinely seeking knowledge or simply wanting to admire her beauty, everyone enjoyed listening to her lectures.

One section on military theory, and one section on political thought.

An hour flew by in her clear voice and the focused gazes of the crowd.

After the lecture ended, everyone left like a tide, and the classroom quickly became empty.

Just as Cang Lian was about to get up, a clear, cold voice called out to him.

"Cang Lian, wait a moment."

He turned around and saw Yan Tang walking down from the podium, her gaze fixed on him.

"I noticed you were listening very attentively in class just now. What did you learn? Come here, I'll check on you."

Upon hearing this, Cang Lian felt a momentarily dazed, as if she had returned to her elementary school days, to that afternoon when the teacher required her to memorize the text before she could leave school.

He was speechless for a moment, but he still obediently walked over and sat down in the chair in front of the podium.

Yan Tang placed her hands on the lectern, leaned forward slightly, and began to examine him with a condescending air.

What is the core ideology of the New Army?

"Reporting, Major!" Cang Lian sat ramrod straight, answering without hesitation, "Now that we are surrounded by powerful nations and warlords are carving up the country, the responsibility of our New Army is to forge this disorganized mass into an unyielding torrent of steel, resist external powers, quell internal divisions, and rebuild an independent and unified modern nation! This is the legacy of 'Sir,' and it is the direction of our blood and spirit!"

He spoke with "passion" and continued to explain the "New Army Thought" in depth, even quoting Yan Tang's "National Reconstruction Strategy," which Yan Tang had not elaborated on.

The more Yan Tang listened, the brighter her eyes became.

These words resonated deeply with the New Army's ideology and carried an almost fanatical conviction, making the speaker even more "devout" than the lecturer herself.

Yan Tang was satisfied.

Unbeknownst to her, this was Canglian's disguise, habitually displaying absolute obedience and faith—the best disguise for the weak to blend into their current environment.

"So, how much of Western warfare have you learned?" Yan Tang changed the subject.

After a moment of contemplation, Cang Lian offered his "truth": "The Battle of Denver, on the surface, was a failed West German offensive, but at a deeper level, it was the thorough implementation of a 'strategy of attrition'."

Yan Tang raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"

"The key is not in a single city or region, but in the 'systemic bleeding'," Cang Lian said calmly, his analysis detached.

"West Germany's intention was to force West France to continuously pour its elite troops into the Denrfan 'furnace,' exhausting their manpower. This battle proves that modern warfare is a war of national strength, a contest of industrial capacity, logistical organization, and railway scheduling."

He added, "While the 'tanks' in the Battle of Hemso did not achieve complete success, they overturned the deadlock of trench warfare. In the future battlefield, the key to victory may not be the number of troops, but who can effectively integrate new technologies into the combat system."

Yan Tang unconsciously leaned forward and quickly took out her notebook to jot down notes.

Cang Lian's concepts of "attrition strategy" and "logistics war" are ruthless and precise, completely surpassing the general talk in China about the "fierce stalemate" in the Western War.

Cang Lian spoke eloquently, from the importance of logistical supply lines to the decisive role of intelligence warfare, and then to the impact of psychological warfare on the morale of the military and civilians.

These are all the essence of his world, repeatedly analyzed and summarized by countless military bloggers from various angles, and can be described as exquisite!

The new army was most receptive to Western and Japanese theories!

As Yan Tang listened, the scrutiny on her face gradually turned into focus. Unconsciously, she picked up the pen on the table and quickly wrote something down in her notebook.

She had never heard such a novel, systematic, and incisive military analysis!

Finally, she put down her pen and looked at Cang Lian in surprise: "You... you studied abroad in the West?"

Because in this era, it is no ordinary person who can have such a profound understanding of advanced Western military thought!

However, having studied abroad, and considering Cang Lian's complicated family background, she accepted it quickly.

Cang Lian nodded vaguely: "I guess so, we have some Western books at home."

He hadn't expected that Yan Tang would take such serious notes after he had just casually mentioned something. It seemed that those military bloggers really did have some skill.

Taking advantage of her good mood, Cang Lian changed the subject and asked the question he was truly concerned about: "By the way, Major, was the method you used to control Ding Heng yesterday hypnotic?"

Yan Tang put away her notebook and looked at him: "Exactly. What, are you interested in this kind of spiritual technique?"

"I am somewhat interested," Cang Lian said, feigning curiosity.

"I wonder where I can obtain this kind of magic?"

"Our National Martial Arts Hall has them," Yan Tang said calmly.

"As long as you have enough merit points, you can exchange for them. From basic 'Hypnosis' to advanced techniques like 'Sleep Paralysis' and 'Bewitching,' and even offensive techniques like 'Soul Spike,' we have them all."

Is it in the National Martial Hall?

This stirred something within Cang Lian. His greatest desire upon arriving in this world was to possess the combined power of countless beings.

After their conversation, the two parted ways.

Yan Tang watched Cang Lian's departing figure and fell into deep thought.

She originally intended to keep Canglian and deeply infiltrate his mind.

But at this moment she discovered that Cang Lian's understanding of the New Army's ideology and Western warfare was more thorough than hers, the lecturer, and that he was more loyal than her!

Her eyes flickered slightly, she turned around, and strode quickly toward the command center on the high-rise building.

……

Inside the command center.

Chu Zhaoxue sat behind the table, her fingertips lightly tapping the surface. She looked intently at Yan Tang, her voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible surprise: "You mean, his understanding of our 'New Army Thought,' and his personal military skills, are even better than yours, a top student who studied abroad?"

"Yes, General!" Yan Tang answered at attention, his tone more solemn than ever before.

"This man is absolutely a talent, a born general! His understanding of Western warfare surpasses even many of our current staff officers. He is absolutely worth winning over!"

"Interesting..." Chu Zhaoxue pondered for a moment, a glint of light flashing in her eyes.

"However, before trying to win him over, we need to probe his current attitude towards the Cang family! This is crucial."

She raised her eyes and gave the order: "Go and bring him here!"

Soon, Cang Lian returned to the oppressive command room.

He stood at attention and saluted, his voice steady: "General!"

"Didn't expect to see you again, did you?" Chu Zhaoxue's usual coldness vanished, replaced by a gentle smile. She gestured to the chair opposite her.

"Please sit down!"

Canglian sat down as instructed.

Chu Zhaoxue cut to the chase, her gaze sharp as she looked him straight in the eye: "The Cang family acts erratically, disregarding the law. Our new army has long wanted to take action to suppress them. I wonder what your opinion is?"

"Suppress the Cang family?" Cang Lian feigned surprise as he looked up.

"When the general and the others visited the Cang mansion last time, wasn't it to thank the Cang family for helping you defeat the Lan faction?"

Even though he said that, when the words "suppress the Cang family" entered his ears, Cang Lian's heart still skipped a beat uncontrollably, and a glimmer of light flashed in his eyes.

"Thanks are an honor for the Cang family." Chu Zhaoxue sneered, leaning forward slightly, an invisible pressure descending upon them.

"But the Cang family has been making multiple bets behind the scenes, and even secretly colluding with the Japanese! When the Northeast defense line fell, the Cang family was behind it all, providing intelligence and supplies!"

"My Cang family is absolutely not like that!" Cang Lian couldn't see through her intentions for a moment, so he could only feign heartache and indignation.

"If that were truly the case, why didn't you just send troops to suppress them? Instead... tell me?"

"Suppression?" Chu Zhaoxue looked at him with interest.

"Aren't you also a member of the Cang family?"

"I am first and foremost a Chinese!" Cang Lian suddenly stood up, his voice righteous and impassioned, echoing her words with feigned sorrow, "If the Cang family truly becomes an enemy of the nation, then they are no longer my family, but the enemy of the people! For the greater good of the nation, I am willing to sacrifice even my own family!"

These words were spoken with such conviction that even Yan Tang, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but be moved.

Chu Zhaoxue smiled, a smile that held a hint of appreciation, and a touch of knowing amusement: "That's bold. But we can't just wipe out the Cang family. They control several important channels for Shenghai's foreign exchanges, and can connect with foreigners to purchase the military supplies we desperately need."

She abruptly changed the subject, throwing out a shocking bait:

"Therefore, we don't want the Cang family to fall; we only hope it will find a new master. Cang Lian, do you... want to take control of the Cang family yourself?"

"Me? Control the Cang family? General Chu, before that, I hope you will find out the truth first. My Cang family would never do anything to betray the country!" Cang Lian didn't know what Chu Zhaoxue meant, so he could only stare wide-eyed, his face full of disbelief, as if the Cang family had been wronged and he would never dare to betray them.