Chapter 31

  After receiving the armed forces of Zhang Haitian and Gai Zhonghua, the Northeastern Liao Xi Righteous and Brave Army has increased to a total of over 500,000 people. However, this large army is scattered throughout various parts of Liao Xi.

  Five thousand brave and heroic cavalry, infantry, and artillery troops stood in formation on the drill ground. The cavalry's swords shone brightly, while the infantrymen had their bayonets fixed and bullets loaded, forming a forest of steel that sparkled in the morning sunlight. Twenty-four heavy machine guns and mortars were arranged neatly on the ground, as young soldiers stood at attention waiting to be inspected.

  This team, although lacking in guns and ammunition, with poor equipment, was filled with a murderous aura that made everyone who saw it feel invigorated.

  General Huang Xiansheng, riding a horse, and Chief of Staff Li Bin appeared in the sight of the soldiers. Suddenly, the entire drill ground was silent, with only the sound of horseshoes hitting the ground "dang dang dang" being heard.

  Following General Huang Xiansheng, looking at the neat formation of the troops, Li Bin couldn't help but feel a deep respect for this commander of the Righteous Brave Army, known as the "First Man of the Blood and Flesh Fortress". Just then, a leading officer shouted: "Attention!"

  "With a crisp sound, the cavalry raised their sabers, the infantry presented arms, and for a moment, the snowflakes sparkled, the young faces of the warriors were filled with a sacred solemnity, it was a heroic spirit that vowed to exterminate the Japanese pirates."

  General Huang Xiansheng rode his horse slowly through the troops, and when he reached the center, he stopped his horse and looked around at his own anti-Japanese armed forces. Suddenly, he let out a loud shout: "Brothers, why did you join the Righteous Brave Army?"

  "Expel the Japanese pirates! Revitalize China!"

  "Alright! Now the little devils have occupied my three eastern provinces, and my 30 million compatriots are under their iron hooves! They're now going to attack Jinzhou, we all know that Jinzhou is the gateway to the Northeast. If Jinzhou falls, my entire three eastern provinces will fall into the hands of the devils! From now on, we must defend Jinzhou to the death! Not an inch of land shall be given up!" Huang Xiansheng said with righteous indignation.

  "Defend Jinzhou! Not an inch of land will be given up!" The warriors shouted in unison.

  "Men in the city! Swear to live and die with Jinzhou!" Huang Xiansheng shouted.

  The warriors below all shouted in unison: "As long as the city stands, we stand! If the city falls, we fall!"

  Even the newly recruited, undisciplined special forces and snipers standing behind the cavalry were infected with this atmosphere, and everyone let out a roar from the bottom of their hearts. At this time, they were no longer hunters, no longer wandering warriors, no longer underworld thugs, no longer vagrants, but real warriors! Each one was about to bravely sacrifice themselves for the Chinese nation!

  Hearing the sound of clashing steel, Li Bin couldn't help but feel his adrenaline surging, his whole body burning with fervor. He wished he could immediately grab a large knife and charge into the enemy's ranks, beheading those despicable people one by one!

  Just as Li Bin was thinking, unfortunately the "Tutankhamun" had not been fully completed, otherwise it would have been a magnificent sight to bring it out for inspection. Suddenly, he heard Huang Xian shout his name: "Li counselor, it's your turn to speak!"

  Li Bin suddenly came to his senses from deep thought, he raised his head and looked at these young warriors. He thought to himself that these young lives might soon perish in the upcoming Jinzhou blood battle. His heart couldn't help but feel a tinge of sadness. Li Bin pursed his lips, wanting to say something about infantry tactics, but the words stopped at his mouth. Suddenly, he let out a loud roar: "Brothers! When our territory is invaded by the Japanese pirates, when our people are under the iron hooves of the Japanese pirates! What should we do? We must kill all the Japanese pirates! Return my rivers and mountains!"

  "Kill the Japanese pirates! Return my rivers and mountains!" The thunderous roar of 5,000 hot-blooded men came from the bottom of their hearts.

  Li Bin's heart was secretly sorrowful, a fierce battle was approaching, and what he had to do now was to teach these lovely warriors how to kill the enemy more effectively and save themselves. Thinking of this, he opened his mouth and said: "Brothers, the great war is imminent, I have been preparing for over a month. Now I tell you all, the little devils are just like us, they are also flesh and blood! They are not three-headed, six-armed monsters! As the saying goes, when two armies meet, the brave win! Of course, wisdom is also a decisive factor in victory! Now everyone listen to me!"

  Li Bin glanced at everyone, and all ears perked up, listening to what he was going to say next.

  "Remember that!" Li Bin continued, "The little devils are stronger than us in two aspects. First: they have more heavy weapons than we do! They have air superiority and artillery support! My efforts over the past month have been to build fortifications to counter their heavy weapons! Now I'll say it again, the second point where the little devils are stronger than us is: their close combat skills far surpass ours! Unless absolutely necessary, there's no need to engage in bayonet fighting with them! At medium and long distances, naturally we use guns to solve the problem! If the enemy tries to get close, hand grenades! Use hand grenades to welcome them! Blast them back to their Japanese home!"

  Li Bin glanced at the crowd, paused for a moment, and continued: "Over the past month, many old workers and masters from the Shenyang Arsenal have resolutely left the factory and escaped to the interior to avoid producing weapons that would harm Chinese people for the Japanese. When they passed through Jinzhou City, I had them intercepted. Under my guidance, I had them produce a type of iron shell casing that I invented, which can be attached to hand grenades. This casing has already begun mass production and will soon be distributed to each of you! When the time comes to fight fiercely against the devils, you can increase the lethality of the hand grenades by attaching this casing! In addition, I also want to take those grassroots commanders from among you and train them into real military talents. I want to use their hands to train each of you into true elite soldiers! That's all for my speech!"

  As soon as the words fell, the entire playground suddenly burst into a thunderous applause that lasted for a long time.

  General Huang Xiansheng urged his horse forward, he waved his hand to signal everyone to be quiet. After the soldiers all calmed down, General Huang said: "Brothers! This Staff Officer Li is the most outstanding military talent I have seen since I joined the army! He is a talented general! Staff Officer Li's ability far surpasses mine! I can tell you that on the battlefield, Staff Officer Li has full command! His orders are my orders! Do you all understand?"

  "I understand!" everyone exclaimed in unison.

  Since the military parade that day, Li Bin not only taught special forces and sniper courses but also added a course for grassroots officers. He gathered all the grassroots officers together, explaining the key points of modern warfare on maps repeatedly. At the same time, he made demands on the cavalry troops, hoping they would coordinate with Zhang Haitian and Gai Zhonghua's troops outside Jinzhou to conduct mobile warfare, attacking the enemy's supply lines, and utilizing the cavalry's mobility advantage to attack isolated Japanese small teams, trying to harass the enemy as much as possible and delay the Japanese army's launch of the Battle of Jinzhou.

  When night fell and the people were quiet, Li Bin put down the military book in his hand, extinguished the lamp, lay quietly on the bed, thinking about what to do next.

  He knew that Jinzhou was a must-defend place, but he didn't know if it could be defended. As long as it can be defended, the entire course of history can be changed immediately. What if it can't be defended? Should we fight guerrilla warfare in Guandong or retreat to Guannei?

  Li Bin considered that Jinzhou was extremely important, and the Japanese would not give up their intention to conquer China. If they suffered a major setback in Jinzhou, the Japanese would likely continue to invest troops without regard for cost! They were determined to take Jinzhou! Although he could change history and make the Japanese pay a hundred or even a thousand times the price, the Righteous and Brave Army had only so many men. Once the Japanese increased their troop numbers without regard for cost, it was estimated that they would eventually be unable to hold out, and it would only delay the inevitable. Therefore, at this time, considering retreat might be better. After all, preserving one's strength would allow for more opportunities to eliminate the enemy in the future!

  What if Jinzhou falls? Li Bin thought of waging a guerrilla war in the Northeast, but guerrilla warfare is a disaster for the people! Because every time they retreat, they will have to abandon the people to the enemy's slaughter. A nation will not adopt guerrilla warfare unless it is forced into a desperate situation. Li Bin thought again and again, he thought of retreating to Guannei, and here he had some medicine, as long as he could get that financial expert, Bone Zhe, under his command, he wouldn't be afraid of running out of money in the future. With money, everything would be easy to handle, and it would be possible to expand their power sooner or later!

  But if we retreat to the interior, where can we go? To North China? Not suitable, going there will only lead to being dragged by Chiang Kai-shek to Shaanxi to fight the Red Army. Going to Shanxi to rely on Yan Xishan's army? Also not suitable, this narrow-minded guy Yan Xishan, how could he tolerate us? Where is our future path? Headache, it really gives one a headache.

  This is a difficult problem, where is the way? If there is no basis, how can you stand firm on your own?