The First Shot (3)
Considering the needs of guerrilla troops to perform special tasks, there were no specialized agencies for military supplies, medical care and sanitation. All weapons, ammunition, uniforms, food and other necessities were carried by cadres and soldiers themselves. Each person was equipped with a month's worth of compressed biscuits. Medicines were carried in units at the company level. Companies had machine guns, rocket launchers, battalions had sixty mortars, explosive materials, and wireless transmitters.
At that time, the volunteer army lacked effective communication tools and means. The divisions relied on wired telephones and telegrams, while those below the division level relied on human communication. All six detachments were equipped with radio stations, which was enough to prove the superior attention paid to the guerrilla forces. From the equipment of the guerrilla forces, the combat quality of the fighters, and their cultural literacy, the volunteer army's guerrilla forces should be considered China's earliest land-based special forces.
Superiors stipulated that guerrilla team cadres and soldiers must be equipped with three major items: dagger, pistol, and submachine gun. Chen Zizhong, however, "disobeyed orders" and refused to accept the powerful Thompson submachine gun. On the day they chose their weapons, the "Six Big Mountain Men" were together, joking around, and it was a rare occasion for them to gather together, so they were all in high spirits. When choosing equipment, the "Mountain Men" teased Chen Zizhong, saying he should go first, as cadres should give way to soldiers. Chen Zizhong didn't get angry and rushed to the weapons list like a robber.
The volunteer army can be said to be the most complex weapon-using army in history, with infantry weapons ranging from Mauser rifles, Czech rifles, Zhongzheng rifles, Hanyang-made, Type 44 carbines, Type 99 carbines, Browning light machine guns, commonly known as "crooked handles" Taisho eleven-year light machine gun, Maxim heavy machine gun to the Type 38 rifle captured during the Anti-Japanese War, the Thompson submachine gun captured during the Civil War, and the PPSh-41 submachine gun supported by the Soviet Union, almost covering all the good and bad weapon equipment of World War I and II, like a huge invisible military museum.
"Take the spear, our sharp knives have this advantage, wherever we go, we must be accommodating." Chen Zizhong shook the equipment list to greet Ding Rugang and Pu Dongming, with a proud glance at others.
"On the battlefield, there's nothing good to be found, so we have to rely on our family!" A company commander hummed coldly and turned to the person beside him, saying: "Ge Company Commander, do you still remember when our company fought at Siping? We captured half a battalion's worth of US equipment."
"You also dare to say that with half a battalion's equipment." Ge Lianzhang made an exaggerated motion, spitting out tobacco smoke towards the sky. "Our regiment captured an arsenal at Xiushui River, brand new Thompson submachine guns wrapped in oil paper, gas masks, flare guns, flamethrowers - whatever you wanted was there."
Ge Lianchang was also a frequent offender, often getting scolded together with Chen Zizhong. The two of them would laugh and joke around after being scolded, then put on a serious face to write their self-criticisms. Among the six people from Dashan, the relationship between these two was the closest.
Chen Zizhong, with a scornful look, shook the paper in his hand, making a rustling sound: "What's the point of mentioning those trivial matters, Deputy Pu? What do you think we should choose?"
Park Dong-ming squinted his eyes and then stretched out two fingers to tap on the list: "I think Su's rifle is not bad."
"Hey, I'll remind you, Tomson's not here, we don't need you to show off." Ge, the company commander, stepped forward and spread out the list in front of Chen Zizhong again.
"What's the point of our bayonet charge?" Chen Zizhong and Pu Dongming exchanged a glance. "Our bayonet charge is just one stab to make him feel cool, Thompson is good, but is it useful for close combat? Bayonet charge is all about hand-to-hand combat, if we talk about capturing equipment, to be honest, there's no time for that, with prisoners of war scattered all over the mountains and fields, who has the energy to deal with them?"
Piao Dongming and Chen Zizhong sang in harmony: "Right, if we don't carry on the style, who will? We'll leave all our equipment to our brother units. Otherwise, they'll be idle."
The people on the opposite mountain were so angry that they puffed out their cheeks and glared with wide eyes.
Chen Zizhong walked with a swagger, and it wasn't until the mountain people were arming themselves that Ge, the company commander, slapped his thigh loudly: "Old buddies, we've all been intimidated by Chen's boldness. According to the guerrilla team's regulations, each soldier must carry half a month's worth of dry rations with them, and those equipped with Thompson submachine guns must bring 500 rounds of ammunition. It's not just fighting that's exhausting, even climbing mountains is enough to kill you."
The third guerrilla squad set out with the setting sun, Park Dong-ming suggested singing a song, Ding Rujin disagreed, saying it violated discipline and might attract American planes. Chen Zizhong immediately clapped his hands in agreement, saying they should shout to boost morale.
