Chapter Fifty: The Storm of Transferring Defense

  It wasn't until Song Zhe Wu, Xiao Guo Dong and Wang Xu entered that the room finally quieted down.

  After everyone sat down, Song Zhe-wu nodded to indicate that Xiao Guo-dong could start the meeting. Xiao Guo-dong stood up: "Today's meeting content is already known to everyone, which is a summary of this division's attack on Zengjiazhai, ambush on Shi You-san's 26th Brigade, and defeat of Han Fu-quan's 55th Division. The agenda for the meeting has three items: First, Division Commander Zhang Ya-fei will make a summary of the battle; Second, everyone will discuss the problems that existed during the battle; Third, the commander will make a concluding speech. Before the meeting, I represent the commander to announce the appointment and removal orders: Remove Fang Zhen-wen from his position as head of the Art Department, appoint Fang Zhen as deputy director of the Security Protection Office of the Security Guard Army, and promote him to lieutenant colonel; Remove Meng Xi from his position as chief of staff of the 2nd Regiment of the 1st Division, appoint Meng Xi as head of the Operations Department of the General Staff of the Security Guard Army; Remove Xu Fang from his position as commander of the 2nd Regiment of the 1st Division, and still have him act as commander of the 2nd Regiment of the 1st Division."

  Everyone knows about Xu Fang and Meng Xi's situation, and they were just teasing the two of them. However, regarding Fang Zhen's appointment, including Zhang Ya Fei, Gao Zong Bao, Zhang Tao and others, they are all quite surprised! Although it is not clear what this Security Protection Department does, from Song Zhe Wu personally taking on the role of department head, it can be known that this department is not ordinary.

  Before everyone could catch their breath, Xiao Guodong announced the start of the meeting. First, Zhang Yafei gave a summary of the battle.

  Zhang Yafei's summary was compiled based on the summaries submitted by each unit, and in order to clarify some details of the battle, Zhang Yafei even reviewed the summaries of some companies, platoons, and battalions. On the way back to Laiyuan, he repeatedly analyzed and summarized the battle, with extremely detailed considerations, including possible unexpected situations and countermeasures that might arise during the battle.

  As Zhang Yafei wrote this summary, he became more and more impressed with Song Zhiwu! The method of writing a battle summary was truly exceptional. After completing this battle summary, Zhang Yafei even felt that his own command ability had been greatly improved, whether it was grasping the overall situation on the battlefield or arranging personnel and firepower locally.

  Before joining the Security Army, Zhang Yafei was just a regiment commander in the Northwest Army, and he was confident in commanding regiments and brigades. However, after joining the Security Army, he suddenly became the commander of a division. As his classmate and observer over the years, he knew that Song Zhiwu would not stop at this level and might soon command an army.

  Therefore, Zhang Yafei continued to learn and strive to improve his abilities. From the beginning of the establishment of the Security Army, he was deeply aware of the difficulties in developing this team to its current state, and he did not want his own level and ability to affect the development of the Security Army. He wanted to help it continue to develop and grow, marching towards glory.

  This battle summary benefited him greatly, and from then on, Zhang Yafei developed the habit of personally writing a battle summary after each battle, a habit that he maintained until the 1950s.

  Zhang Yafei's summary lasted for an hour, and everyone listened very carefully. Such a detailed battle summary is undoubtedly the best war textbook for these young officers with little combat experience.

  After Zhang Yafei finished summarizing, he began to ask questions and discuss. In fact, this summary meeting was more like a seminar, which was also the real purpose of Song Zhe Wu. He wanted to improve everyone's command and combat capabilities through such research discussions.

  Everyone's questions and discussions about the attack on Zengjiashan were minimal, with all the problems and discussions focused on the 26th Brigade that ambushed Shi Yousan and the 55th Division of Han Fuyi. The main issues are: How was the firepower configuration of the ambush position? How were the personnel and firepower of the several companies of the second battalion that rushed up to the position by the 26th Brigade arranged? What is the role of the blocking hand? How was the artillery position of the Second Regiment set up? What should be done before the enemy's attack with artillery fire?

  This summary was discussed very heatedly, and everyone felt they had gained a lot. Seeing that everyone's discussion had almost come to an end, Song Zhe Wu coughed, and everyone knew that Song Zhe Wu was about to speak, so they all stopped discussing.

  Song Zhe-wu swept his eyes across the meeting room, seeing that everyone had begun to focus and prepare to listen to him speak. He opened his mouth and said: "Today's meeting has been very successful, I believe that after the meeting, everyone will feel a great sense of accomplishment. Good tactics and command in battle, we must learn from; bad or incorrect ones, we must draw lessons from. From now on, our security army will establish this rule: all battles must be summarized, no matter how small the scale, even if it's just a company-level battle. This time, the battle at Zengjiashan was fought very well, and all units of the First Division should be commended."

  Song Zhe-wu glanced at Xu Fang and continued: "Of course, this also includes Xu Fang, so I also gave him a bonus of 1,000 taels. Although this money wasn't mine to give." A burst of laughter came from below, everyone knew that the money was deducted from Zhang Ya-fei and Xu Zheng's salaries.

  Song Zhe-wu continued: "I must stress that all commanders must strictly follow orders. The situation on the battlefield changes rapidly, I am not asking everyone to mechanically carry out orders... However, when there is time and conditions permit, they must report and wait for approval. If similar situations arise again, they will be severely punished."

  Song Zhe Wu's newly appointed deputy, Liang Bi, walked in at this time and handed Song Zhe Wu a telegram. With a smile on his face, he was just about to speak when Song Zhe Wu finished reading the telegram. Immediately, his face turned cold and frosty. He slammed his hand heavily on the table. Everyone saw Song Zhe Wu's expression and actions. Who could have sent a telegram that would anger the commander?

  Xiao Guodong knew something was up. He hastily took over the telegram. The telegram was sent by Xu Zhen. In the telegram, Xu Zhen said: During the relocation to Wu'an, he received an order from Commander-in-Chief Shang. One division changed its relocation to Handan. Now one division has set out for Handan. Xiao Guodong also felt that things were serious. He wanted to advise Song Zhewu. But when he saw Song Zhewu's gloomy face, he was afraid and held back.

  Song Zhe-wu suddenly grabbed the telegram. His face turned iron-green as he stood up and shouted: "What are you all doing?! Except for Xiao, the Chief of Staff, Wang, the Chief of Staff, and three division commanders, artillery commander Liang, logistics commander Wu, and Sun, the commander of the 3rd battalion of the 1st regiment. The rest of you were ordinary farmers and students two years ago! But now, even the youngest among you is a junior captain, with thousands or nearly ten thousand men under your command. Your monthly military salary is in the hundreds or thousands of dollars. Who gave all this to you?!" Song Zhe-wu's last few words were almost shouted out.

  The officers below were all stunned by Song Zhe-wu's sudden rage. For a moment, no one answered. It was Fang Zhen who reacted quickly. He stood up and replied: "They are all under the commander." Xiao Guo-dong, Wang Xu, Zhang Ya-fei and others who had studied with Song Zhe-wu in Baoding and Germany were also shocked and opened their mouths wide. These people had been friends with Song Zhe-wu for many years and had never seen him get so angry before. After a while, Zhang Ya-fei finally said in surprise: "Commander, do you need to say this? Not to mention these people who are doing things, even the entire Security Brigade of 100,000 men are all eating your food and taking your salary!"

  Song Zhe-wu waved his hand, indicating that Fang Zhen should sit down. He shook the telegram in his hand and said sternly: "All of this is what I have given you! Without me, Song Zhe-wu, many of you would still be facing the yellow earth and with your backs to the sky, farming at home. But since all of this is what I have given, why are you listening to someone else's orders? This telegram was sent by Xu Zheng, the deputy commander of the First Division. He says he has received orders from Chairman Shang to relocate to Handan. Without my order, he dares to relocate on his own. Does he still consider me, the commander, in his eyes?" "Go!" Song Zhe-wu loudly commanded: "You immediately return to your unit and have them return to Wu'an to garrison. At the same time, announce my order: remove Xu Zheng from his position as deputy commander. Send someone to escort him back to Laiyuan. There will be another appointment. Ye Chang-gui, you lead the special forces battalion to follow Commander Zhang and go together. If necessary, do not hesitate to use force to resolve it." Zhang Ya-fei and Ye Chang-gui loudly acknowledged and immediately left the meeting to gather their troops and pursue the units heading towards Handan.

  This is today's second update.