Han Tiansheng rested for three hours before the sky turned bright. He first went to the temporary command center to have breakfast.
Long Wenzhang suddenly rushed in from outside. Han Tiansheng saw him and immediately waved,""Chief of Staff, you're just in time. Let's have breakfast together!”
Long Wenzhang waved his hand and said," Traveler, we posted the recruitment notice this morning. The recruitment points set up by the three regiments in various parts of the city are almost bursting with people!
Many commoners are even clamoring to see you!”
"Oh? What's going on?" Han Tiansheng was surprised.
"Right now, there are many commoners gathered outside our temporary command center. Why don't you go out and take a look?”Long Wenzhang said.
"Yes!" Han Tiansheng put down the breakfast that the cooks had sent him, picked up his helmet and weapons, and walked out with Long Wenzhang.
It turned out that Han Fuqu had a good reputation in Shandong because he had been in charge of Shandong for ten years and was an honest official.
Especially in Jinan, the former base camp of the Shandong Army, it was even more popular.
After learning that Han Tiansheng had led the Shandong army back, the local businessmen and merchants of Jinan were extremely excited. Tens of thousands of young students and patriots spontaneously organized themselves and went to the streets to comfort the army.
When they saw the Tiger Regiment recruiting new soldiers and expanding their troops, many hot-blooded men swarmed towards the recruitment office.
The representatives from all walks of life in Jinan held banners and various welcoming and celebratory slogans. They led tens of thousands of Jinan citizens to the temporary command post that Han Tiansheng had set up in the original provincial headquarters.
He wanted to see him, the hero who had defeated the Japanese invaders and recovered Quancheng.
Therefore, when Han Tiansheng and Long Wenzhang walked out of the command center building one after the other…
He found that the street outside his command center was filled with people.
There were men and women, young and old.
Someone shouted and came out.
The entire crowd instantly boiled over. Han Tiansheng was secretly shocked when he saw this. However, Niu Tiezhu led hundreds of guards in front to maintain order and used a human wall to block the civilians on the street.
Han Tiansheng wasn't afraid and walked forward while facing the gazes of the crowd.
Before he could speak, a white-haired old man in a Confucian robe took the lead and asked,"Is it Commander Han's son, Fifth Young Master Han?？”
Niu Tiezhu, who had been commanding the guards to maintain order, answered proudly,""That's right. Our young master is now appointed by the National Government. He is a major general of the National Revolutionary Army, a major general of the Tiger Brigade!”
The old man quickly changed his words and cupped his hands in apology."I don't know General Han's identity, please forgive me!”
Han Tiansheng quickly walked over and raised his hand,""Uncle, there's no need to be like this. You're an elder, so you can just call me Tian Sheng!”
After saying that, Han Tiansheng sized up the crowd that had gradually quieted down and asked,""I don't know. What are you guys doing?"
The old man said," General Han, we heard that you led your troops to recover Jinan. We came here to thank you. These are all representatives of Quancheng and patriotic citizens!
General, take back Jinan and save the people from fire and water. We, the hundreds of thousands of people in Quancheng, no longer have to be slaves to the Japanese!
General, please accept our bow!"
As he spoke, the old man actually took the lead and knelt down. When the surrounding crowd saw this, they followed suit. In an instant, tens of thousands of people knelt down.
Seeing this situation, Han Tiansheng could not help but be shocked. He hurriedly went forward to support the old man and said,"Uncle, you can't do that! You're all my uncles and seniors, so you can't do this to me!”
The old man didn't get up. Instead, he knelt in front of Han Tiansheng and said with tears in his eyes,""General Han, you don't know.
After the troops withdrew, the Japanese entered the city to burn, kill, and plunder. They did all kinds of evil and did not treat us as humans at all! We were the ones who suffered!
It doesn't feel good to be a slave to a conquered country!"
After saying that, the old man was deeply in love and could not help but wail.
Many of the surrounding commoners who felt the same also began to cry.
For the old man and the people of Jinan, Han Tiansheng could lead the troops back at this time and rescue them from the cruel oppression of the Japanese army.
He was their great benefactor. They were truly touched and grateful to Han Tiansheng.
Seeing this situation, a strong sense of guilt arose spontaneously in Han Tiansheng's heart. He looked at the surrounding commoners and said with endless self-reproach,"My fellow villagers, speaking of which, my father, as an official in Shandong, failed to protect the Yellow River and Jinan.
Our Han family has really let down our elders in Jinan and tens of millions of compatriots in Shandong!”
With that, Han Tiansheng took the lead and knelt down. The surrounding Long Wenzhang, Niu Tiezhu, and the soldiers of the Guard Battalion also followed suit.
"General Han, please don't do this!" The old man and the commoners were shocked and anxious when they saw this.
Han Tiansheng, who was kneeling, waved his hand to stop them. He said with a solemn expression,"Villagers, hear me out!”
"In the past, my father's command was weak. Our Shandong army was unable to defend the natural barrier of the Yellow River and protect Jinan. As a result, our country fell, the people were plunged into misery, and hundreds of thousands of elders in the city were implicated.
Today, I led my warriors to counterattack. Firstly, I am here to resist the Japanese invaders. Secondly, I am here to atone for my sins!”
The old man quickly said," General Han, please don't be like this. Commander Han has his own difficulties. We don't blame him!"”
"Yes, we don't blame Commander Han. General Han, didn't you fight back now? It's good that you hit me back!" The surrounding commoners immediately echoed.
Han Tiansheng's expression was stern." As a soldier, retreating without fighting and losing the city and land is a capital crime. What I have done today is to forgive my father's sin and to be loyal to the country!
I, Han Tiansheng, swear in front of all the people in the city that I will never abandon Jinan in the future. As long as I am in the city, I swear to live and die with Jinan and protect the people of Jinan with my life!”
"General Han, with your words, the villagers are relieved and grateful!”The old man was so touched that tears streamed down his face.
Han Tiansheng stepped forward to support the old man and said,"Uncle, please get up!"”
"General Han, rise first!" The old man said sincerely.
"General Han, rise first!" The people present echoed in unison.
Han Tiansheng had no choice but to stand up first and then help the old man up.
Seeing this, the commoners stood up one after another. Long Wenzhang and the other guards also stood up in unison.
"Villagers, there are still a large number of Japanese troops around Jinan. They are surrounded by strong enemies. The enemy planes may come and attack at any time.
For safety reasons, we can't gather here for too long. We have many military matters to deal with.
"Therefore, I sincerely request that everyone disperse as soon as possible. Go back to your homes and cooperate with my department to maintain public order, just in case.
I'll catch up with the villagers after I defeat the enemy!”Han Tiansheng shouted loudly.
"Yes! General Han is right. We can't give General Han any more trouble! Everyone, disperse!" The old man and a few other influential representatives began to persuade him.
After sending off these enthusiastic citizens, Han Tiansheng began to let Long Wenzhang speed up the recruitment of new soldiers to expand the army.
At night, Long Wenzhang and the others had recruited more than five thousand qualified recruits in the city. Together with the original four thousand of the Tiger Legion, the total strength of the Tiger Legion had exceeded ten thousand.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]