Chapter Fifteen: The Strongest Soldier in History

  General Wang Yaowu wrote in his memoirs, "I have always thought that I was the best soldier of the third class of Huangpu, without exception. I remember that at that time, there were also three small heroes among the third class of Huangpu, including me, Mao Renfeng and Kang Ze."

  But I think Kang Ze is more like a politician, Mao Renfeng that kid aspires to join the Military Intelligence Bureau, and both of their military subjects are rotten like shit.

  So this also cultivated my arrogant personality, but it's not beyond salvation. I remember one time when the seniors came back to school to visit the public cemetery.

  As the first young man, he walked in the front, and the people beside him unconsciously took a step back, which aroused my interest, because his epaulette told me that he was a colonel. And the person next to him, the weakest one was also a lieutenant colonel.

  But what about me? I'm just a probationary officer, and I don't even have the guts to go up and talk to them. Mao Renfeng told me beside me that he is Colonel Liu Yuan, the most outstanding man who came out of Huangpu, and there is no one else. It's said that our senior is organizing an intelligence organization, and when the time comes, he will definitely apply to join.

  I didn't hear what he said afterwards, but I remembered this name, Liu Yuan.

  Later on, through various channels, I came to know about this man named Liu Yuan. Until he became my idol, the pride in my body decreased a lot because there are many people who are better than me.

  Because when I just graduated, my senior was already a major general and deputy commander of the army, while I could only be a company or battalion commander, what a big gap. I was fortunate enough to see the military rank of the guard next to my senior, which was also a lieutenant colonel. At that moment, I wrote in my graduation application that I wanted to join the Third Division.

  It turns out that there are many people who hold the same idea as me, especially the seniors of the second phase. They are the main force to join San Shi. The mouth of Commander Xue Yue of Yi Shi was worn out, but Ning Bo and other seniors did not agree. Instead, many foolish juniors from the fourth phase went.

  But it's very difficult to enter the Three Schools, especially Guan Linzheng, who actually wants us to compete with him in a knife fight and go through several rounds before joining, isn't this taking our lives?

  In the end, it was still the senior who heard my name and specially approved me to join the third company. This also made me think that I was very excellent, which led to my first dereliction of duty on the battlefield.

  Fortunately, no great loss was caused, but I also became a private soldier. Many people became privates with me, including Qiu Qingquan from the second period, who were all junior captains at that time. The change was so fast that we didn't dare to say anything in the Third Division where talents were as numerous as hairs on an ox's hide.

  It's really hard for me to accept that I suddenly became a private, but the senior's words deeply stimulated me. The senior said that with my current state, at most I can become a company commander, if I were to lead an army alone, I would be a waste, and the entire army would be led by me into the abyss. The senior was very tired that day, but I could still hear from his tone the disappointment he had in me. The senior told me that he hoped I not only had courage, but also wisdom.

  Later on, I think you all know that I received the order from the senior student and led more than 2,000 people to burst into Chen Jiayou's chrysanthemum.

  However, the independent regiment of the Fourth Army unexpectedly had the same idea as us, or it can be said that our division commander saw through their idea. In any case, my feeling towards the independent regiment is not very good, they are here to compete with us for military work.

  But one thing that makes me feel more at ease is that they have a large number of porters. During the Northern Expedition, every branch of the army needed a large number of porters. For units like the Independent Regiment, the demand for porters was almost one to three.

  This also led to their very slow marching speed, in the vast mountains, with 7,000 or 8,000 people and a large amount of luggage, they would definitely appear only after the three divisions arrived at Chenjiawu, so the opportunity for them to steal the credit was not great, but Wang Yaowu still ordered the troops to march quickly.

  After nearly a day's journey, they arrived at the predetermined location, but unfortunately, Wang Yaowu encountered the 4th Army's independent regiment at the predetermined location.

  Leading them was Ye Ting, along with some senior and junior schoolmates, all standing beside Ye Ting, holding guns and pointing at the suddenly appearing troops of Wang Yaowu.

  "You're also here to launch a surprise attack on the enemy?" Ye Ting said in astonishment, he really hadn't expected that Liu Yuan would see through his own thoughts.

  "Commander Ye Ting, our superiors say we are all brothers, but they let us take the lead and you follow behind. This is unfair, so I was sent to help you."

  Wang Yaowu said with a smile, although it didn't look very tough, even a bit soft and mushy, but when Ye Ting heard it in his ears, he felt extremely sarcastic and a little embarrassed.

  "Our independent regiment suffered a bit in the previous battle, and we clashed head-on with the enemy, so we can only launch a sneak attack from behind. Now that you've appeared, I think if we cooperate, our chances of success will be higher." Although Wang Yaowu was just a private soldier, at this moment he represented the Third Division, so Ye Ting wouldn't underestimate him.

  When Wang Yaowu heard Ye Ting say this, he couldn't help but nod his head. Ye Ting was indeed an old veteran, and there was nothing to criticize about the way he handled himself in society. It's no wonder that his superiors evaluated him so highly.

  "I don't know, Commander Ye, how you plan to cooperate. Before I left, my superiors told me that you are a graduate of the Baoding Military Academy and a skilled fighter, so I should learn from you. So please make arrangements." Wang Yaowu said this because Ye Ting had just taken the initiative to mention cooperation and was very polite, giving face to the 3rd Division. If Wang Yaowu were to turn him down, it would be awkward.

  Ye Ting nodded and said, "You see, this is our position. When the main force launches a strong attack, we will launch a surprise attack from behind. And since we are in a superior position, with the help of the terrain, we can crush them. So at that time, we just need to charge down from the mountain. We concentrate all our strength, 5,000 people, and we can definitely crush them." Ye Ting drew on the map.

  After hearing Ye Ting's words, Wang Yaowu frowned, but didn't say anything. However, Lin Biao caught the momentary expression and said, "Senior comrade, judging from your expression just now, it seems like you're not satisfied with our regiment commander's arrangement. If you have any dissatisfaction, speak out, don't wait until we're in real combat and can't coordinate well."

  Ye Ting didn't mince words either. "Yao Wu, just say what you have to say. As for the talents nurtured by Huangpu, I still trust them relatively."

  "It's like this, Commander Ye. Look, if we fight like this, the enemy will inevitably collapse, but Chen Jiaomen is a capable fighter and the combat strength of the straight system is there, retreat is impossible. I'm worried that they will break through, at that time, I think we must do some blocking, otherwise, let Chen Jiaomen run out, it's not good." Wang Yaowu said.

  "But even if we include the porters, there are only about 10,000 of us, and the porters have no weapons and can't fight at all. Moreover, as long as we can take down Tingzhou Bridge, that's enough." Wang Yaowu was somewhat dismissive of this private's words.

  Wang Yaowu knew he was just a soldier, and if he wanted to be taken seriously, he had to come up with a plan. "I remember that in one of the reports by our superior, it was said that in war, what is being fought for is not just about the timing, location, or people."

  "In the breakout, Chen Jiayuan's troops didn't have a single inch of land to occupy. And although it was vast mountains, it wasn't like he could just walk wherever he wanted." Wang Yaowu pointed at the mountain forest and said.

  Ye Ting's eyes lit up, he had a feeling that this young man in front of him must have some way. Lin Biao nodded and said, "Autumn is coming, the weather is dry, forest fires are normal things at this time. A fire is a natural barrier, crossing the sea of flames is impossible."

  Wang Yaowu looked at Lin Biao with admiration, this guy is really not bad.

  Ye Ting was taken aback, these two guys were just like his senior, so ruthless. The latter said that the style of Huangpu is to be ruthless? However, for victory, Ye Ting still nodded and said, "Autumn is dry, fires are common, it's not us who set the fire, setting fires is a bit inhumane."

  The subsequent battle was indeed as expected by the crowd, Wang Yaowu led more than 10,000 people to break through, but faced with a sea of fire, there was no way out. Seeing the mountain forest on fire, Liu Yuan also understood what was going on and suddenly had a feeling of victory in his grasp.

  However, he forgot that on the vast river, there were actually boats, and they were densely packed, taking away Wang Yaowu and his subordinates who had lost their souls. Liu Yuan tried to rush to the riverbank several times, but unfortunately, the soldiers on the opposite blocking position were very desperate and blocked Liu Yuan for more than three hours.

  Watching the straight army's orderly retreat, Liu Yuan suddenly had a premonition that this trip to Jiangxi might not be so simple.