Chapter 27: Unwilling to Submit

  Zhang Shizhi glanced at Ma Yuanhai who was silently thinking and continued to ask: "In your opinion, sir, what else do we need to prepare?"

  As a regular staff officer trained in military academies, he is familiar with combat methods at home and abroad, and has his own views on the war tactics of Ma's army.

  But he was just a small staff member in the army, and it was impossible for him to discuss these deep-level contents with Ma Yuanhai in daily life. Today, Chen Haisong brought up this topic, which can let Ma Yuanhai listen more to the analysis of this enemy general who has excellent military quality, and prompt the Ma family's army to make some changes.

  Chen Haisong glanced at Zhang Zhenyu, who was still taking notes, and thought for a moment before saying: "I am not familiar with the Ma family army, but in the past three months or so, we have been together day and night. I don't dare say that I understand you all like the back of my hand, but I have a general idea."

  Ma's army originated from a remote Muslim-inhabited area at the border of Gansu and Qinghai.

  Originated from the Muslim Rebellion in Shaanxi and Gansu during the Tongzhi era of the Qing dynasty, it surrendered to Zuo Zongtang and became part of the Gansu Army, contributing to the resistance against the Eight-Nation Alliance, and gradually developed from the Gansu Provincial Defense Force.

  Controlled by the upper-class Muslim families, military power, political power and religious power are highly unified, belonging to a feudal family-style privatized household team.

  Due to the influence of geographical, ethnic, economic and religious factors, there is still a big gap with a modernized and regular army. I personally believe that in order to make a difference on the future battlefield against Japan, changes must be made in the following aspects:

  Eliminate regional and ethnic biases, boldly use capable military officers from other ethnic groups.

  In your army, the division and regimental commanders are either surnamed Ma or Han. The family-style management is too obvious, with a strong flavor of exclusionism. A large number of high-ranking officers are relatives or subordinates of Ma Bufang, or Muslims from Linxia.

  Ma Yuanhai was his cousin, Ma Baochuang, Ma Baokang, Ma Biao and Ma Lu were his paternal uncles' sons. His eldest sister's husband Ma Qing's eldest son Ma Chengxiang, second sister's husband Ma Xun's eldest son Ma Kuwu, second son Ma Zhenwu, and his brother-in-law Ma Quanyi all held the rank of battalion commander or regimental commander at the age of 14 or 15.

  This makes it difficult for people from other regions and ethnic groups to develop in your group, and your command ability and vision are also difficult to improve through communication and learning.

  2. Train officers, especially mid- and low-level officers, to improve their military literacy and ability to command modern warfare.

  Most of your officers, especially those at the middle and lower levels, are from the ranks. They just need to lead their subordinates in shouting and charging forward, as long as they have good martial arts skills and are not afraid of death. They know very little about modern military knowledge, and their combat deployments and plans are extremely simple and outdated.

  It is necessary to know that modern warfare requires commanders to flexibly use tactics, organize and play the efficiency of weapons, and exchange the smallest sacrifice for the greatest results.

  So your backward and primitive group charging tactics must change, and the improvement of officer commanding quality is the beginning of this change.

  Third, strengthen the cultural learning of soldiers. Soldiers without culture are indeed easy to fool and manage, but without culture, there is no thought, they do not know their responsibilities as soldiers, they are not proactive or loyal, and relying solely on discipline is difficult to maintain.

  Lacking culture also makes it difficult to master advanced weapons, and combat effectiveness cannot be rapidly improved.

  Without culture, there is no military discipline; China needs a brave army, but it also needs a civilized army and a just and compassionate army.

  Cold-blooded and bloodthirsty, brutal and fond of killing, such troops will not gain the people's support and have tarnished the reputation of you Muslims.

  Fourth, strengthen the training of soldiers' individual combat capabilities and the use of modern equipment. More than half of your army's weapons are cold weapons, and firearms are not advanced either.

  The soldiers' shooting, stabbing and digging skills are very poor, the artillery's accuracy is not high, the company and platoon tactics for offense and defense training are insufficient, and the battalion and regimental tactics are even more illogical.

  It's okay to deal with backward tribes in the northwest, but on the battlefield against Japan, it's no different from going to death, which is very dangerous.

  Logically speaking, you and I are battlefield enemies, I shouldn't be so frank with you.

  But in my eyes, you are no longer opponents, and the war will soon be over.

  "After you stop fighting, seize the opportunity to reorganize, strengthen your training, and enhance your combat effectiveness. Go to the anti-Japanese battlefield to win the respect of the nation."

  In the afternoon at more than three o'clock, Chen Haisong and Ma Yuanhai came down from a small hill and walked into the village.

  All the captured weapons and materials have been collected as required and loaded onto vehicles waiting for transportation.

  The soldiers of the second battalion gathered together according to their units and put their personal belongings in order at their feet in the barracks that had been searched.

  Guard platoon instructor Xue Yunlong ran to Chen Haisong, stood at attention and saluted, then said in a low voice: "When we were attacking the Second Cavalry Brigade's second regiment headquarters, we found an enemy soldier who didn't salute or carry a weapon. When asked, he said he was a Han Chinese who had been captured. We didn't pay much attention to him and brought him here. The deputy commander of the first battalion, Wang, recognized him as Guo Xishan, the former commander of the 14th Division of the Red Fifth Army, who fled from the battlefield during the Linze Battle. Unexpectedly, he was hiding here. We have already taken control of him, what should we do with him?"

  "Alright, hold on tight, take it to Zhangye."

  The First and Second Battalions will disguise themselves as the Fourth Workers' Militia of Luchuan and rest here for defense.

  Chen Haisong called over Sun Fei, the chief of staff of the regiment that was left to garrison Dong Shili Village, and several battalion-level cadres, instructing them to take good care of their troops, and soon a machine gun company and an artillery company would be sent to reinforce his strength.

  Their mission was: to monitor the enemy's movements in disguise, to be on guard towards the south in the direction of Shandan Minle, to be on guard towards the north in the direction of Xidunbao and Ganquan, not to engage in battle with the enemy easily, and to report to Zhangye immediately if there was any situation.

  But to arrange the troops well, configure the firepower well, build defensive fortifications, grasp the individual soldier's skills training tightly, form combat effectiveness as soon as possible, manage the remaining materials well, become the first barrier of Zhangye, and make preparations for assisting in the front and rear pincer movement of the enemy who comes to attack from the direction of Zhangye.

  Send out scouts, gather scattered troops on the Western Route Army, and bring them back to Zhangye.

  Ma Yuanhai looked at his subordinates, the soldiers had an unjust expression in their eyes, but they were still honest. He promised Chen Haisong to help appease the soldiers. Then he walked up to the cavalry regiment's soldiers and said: "Brothers, we've lost."

  Losing is losing, don't be resentful in your heart. We lost to the Red Army's fierce general Chen Haisong, there's nothing shameful about it.

  With our military quality and equipment, we would still lose on the front line. The cavalry regiment was killed by them without a single survivor, the 600th regiment surrendered, and we were also surrounded and disarmed. It's not that they launched a surprise attack, but rather that we were too lax.

  General Chen just promised not to make things difficult for us, so let's go to the Dongxiao training ground in Zhangye City to rest. Eat when you should eat, sleep when you should sleep, and pray when you should pray. So, brothers, don't worry, if you are mistreated, find me Ma Yuanhai.

  Remember, I am still your superior officer. I demand that the troops in the East Campus cannot disperse, and each battalion and company must continue to organize training, running, formation, wrestling, and combat normally. In addition, cultural studies must be organized, with each person recognizing eight characters per day.

  "Be spirited on the way to Zhangye, don't get any strange ideas, no one is allowed to run away, and don't lose my face."

  At half past four in the afternoon, the reconnaissance battalion led the way, followed by the logistics camp and the second cavalry brigade. The first battalion of the second regiment followed, with the guard battalion bringing up the rear. More than 2,000 people returned to Zhangye City in a mighty procession.

  The red flag with black characters of Ma Yuanhai was immediately inserted on the city wall, confirming that the front-line command post had arrived in Zhangye.

  Chen Haisong accompanied the Second Cavalry Brigade into the East Campus, and Han Zhongliang hurried over to meet with Ma Yuanhai. He instructed his subordinates to arrange for the soldiers to settle in, explained the rules of the prisoner-of-war camp, and each company, with the help of the Lucheng Minlian team members, understood the various facilities and schedules of the prisoner-of-war camp. They took charge of collecting food, vegetables, live sheep, and organizing meals.

  Ma Yuanhai asked around and looked around among the 600 regimental captives, feeling that the Red Army was really good to the Ma family army captives, and put his mind at ease. He instructed each company commander to take care of the troops, not to make trouble, organize training and cultural studies.

  At five o'clock in the afternoon, Chen Haisong led Ma Yuanhai, Han Zhongliang, Chief of Staff Zhang Shizhi, Deputy Officer-in-charge Jia Pingfan, Commander of the 2nd Cavalry Regiment Li Zengyun, Commander of the Rolling Kuo Huanjue, and the commanders of the 1st to 4th Battalions, namely Liang Tingjie, Jing Yu'ying, Ma Yinglong, Dong Hu, and Guard Company Commander Ma Xiu, a total of over ten people, arrived at the General's Mansion.

  Met Ma Quanyi, Nian Guangyuan, Wei Shanggong, Qi Yongheng and other captured officers of the Ma Family Army, as well as local party and government officials in Zhangye. The group met with a mix of shock and helplessness, holding hands without words, silent and speechless.

  Chen Haisong saw the depressing scene and said, "In the previous period, you all fought everywhere, it's also hard work. You should thank me for inviting you to gather here as guests, away from the gunfire and smoke, avoiding wind and rain."

  Now that you're here, just relax and settle down, put aside the trivial matters of the military, enjoy the peace and tranquility, play cards, drink tea, chat with each other, and also imagine a future for the Ma family army and the Muslims.

  The guards outside will not interfere with your normal life, and you should not interfere with them performing their sentry duties. If there are any requirements, you can find the guard soldier to reflect.

  Ma Xiang, you are the lowest level here, so take on more errands and chores.

  "Everyone, you all take your time chatting, I still have things to attend to, goodbye." He said, bowing his hands and taking his leave.