Chapter 28: Mobilizing the Enemy 1

  As soon as he entered the gate of the Ministry, he met Director Liu of the Army Hospital and several others coming out from inside. Chen Haisheng hurriedly went forward to salute: "Director Liu, hello, why did you come in person?"

  Director Liu hastily returned a less-than-standard military salute and said: "I'd like to come over and inspect the equipment situation of your hospital and the business level of your doctors, and then see what kind of medicine needs to be matched."

  I didn't expect that a small folk organization like yours would actually put in the effort at the hospital, keeping the wards clean and tidy, with dry bedding and good ventilation.

  The staff may be generally average in terms of level, but there are enough people, especially humble and eager to learn, very responsible and professional in treating patients, I really admire them.

  The medical conditions are a bit simple, but we brought a lot from Lanzhou. I have helped you to equip them according to the level of a field hospital, and also equipped some medicines according to your patient's situation, mainly anti-inflammatory drugs, injury drugs, frostbite drugs, and some disinfectant alcohol, gauze bandages, which are enough for you to use for a while.

  "Given that you are short of chief physicians, three surgical doctors and two internal medicine doctors have been transferred from the Army Hospital, as well as five nurses who will be stationed here permanently. On the one hand, they will help with treatment, and on the other hand, they will guide your medical personnel to enable them to gradually become independent in diagnosis, treatment, and care."

  Chen Haisong was overjoyed and hastily saluted Liu again, saying: "I represent all the wounded to thank you. You took the initiative to help us solve the major problem of saving our lives, which is a great kindness to our army. I don't know how to thank you enough."

  "Either go in and sit down, or I'll treat you to dinner."

  Director Liu burst out laughing: "You, don't look so surprised, to me this is just a simple matter, it's all because you treat your subordinates well and respect life, otherwise, I wouldn't even bother going."

  You're busy with military affairs and have injuries on your body, so be sure to rest. I still have things to do at the hospital, so I'll leave first. When I have time later, I won't be able to help but come disturb you." After finishing speaking, he waved his hand and left with his men.

  Chen Haisong was deeply moved, and there were also upright people in the National Army. This man's medical skills were superb, his medical ethics were noble, and he was worth befriending. If he could be mobilized to join the Red Army, it would be of great help to the Independent Division and the Western Route Army.

  Entered the military camp and saw that the female soldiers' battalion and communication company were practicing their formation on the drill ground, so I went over to take a look. Although they weren't very neat, it was still impressive to watch.

  Female battalion commander Guo Chunlian saw him and shouted towards the training ground: "Everyone is present, assemble!"

  The four platoons quickly formed up facing her and ran over to salute and report: "Report to the Political Commissar, the Female Soldiers' Battalion and Communications Company are conducting basic subject training, please give instructions."

  Chen Haisong walked to the front of the team and saluted with his hand: "Is everyone tired from practicing?"

  "Not tired!"

  "Are you tired of practicing?"

  "Don't bother!"

  Chen Haisong smiled and said: "It's a bit embarrassing to say this, but actually standing in line is very boring. I've practiced like this before, and at the time my heart was really annoyed."

  Hand me a rifle and I'm a soldier? Is that what you think too? It's normal to have such thoughts, but they're really not right.

  After 7 years of hard fighting, I finally realized that the army is a special organization. It's a precise killing machine composed of many people. It requires all members to be able to follow orders, move in unison, obey commands and listen to instructions. Only then can this machine run smoothly and exert its great power.

  While marching in step and maintaining discipline are not innate abilities, they can be developed through regular training.

  The formation training that comrades are conducting now is the most basic training for military qualities, making you stand upright and not move, in the future when you are asked to defend a position, you will not escape.

  When you're told to turn left, you'll turn left; when you're asked to charge forward in the future, you won't retreat.

  Queue training is about letting us remember to obey orders and listen to commands at all times, making it a responsibility and a habit.

  A troop is a collective of many people, undertaking combat missions. If any link in the chain fails or if one person flees in fear, it can lead to the loss of an entire company, platoon, or even the collapse of an entire regiment or division.

  So the army attaches great importance to unity and consistency, in order to ensure that every member participating in the battle can faithfully complete the tasks assigned by their superiors, and under the condition that everyone strives to complete their own tasks, collectively complete the tasks undertaken by this collective.

  Class queue column training is to cultivate your habits of being with the collective and making the whole class like one person on the battlefield.

  Just now I saw you walking in step, some classes still have problems such as stretching legs and swinging arms unevenly, and the formation is not neat. It's okay if you're not used to it at the beginning of training. I think after 3 days, you will be much different.

  "I believe the women's battalion will not be inferior to the men's, because Chinese women are the most hardworking, intelligent, able to endure hardships and disciplined. As long as you are willing, you will create miracles."

  Seeing Liu Gang standing in the distance looking anxious and searching this way, Chen Haisong ended his speech, bowed and walked towards Liu Gang.

  Liu Gang stepped forward: "Just received an enemy report, Ma Yulong's pistol team was ambushed by our 30th Army's 88th Division at Xidunbao and suffered heavy losses. They have retreated back to their garrison. Our main force did not take advantage of the victory to advance southward, but instead retreated back to Nijia Camp after reorganizing."

  As they walked towards the headquarters, Chen Haisong asked: "Which unit sent the telegram?"

  "300 miles to Korea, starting from here."

  "What news of the other troops?"

  "Ma Lu received a telegram, this department and Han Qi Lu's troops searched near Linze for two days without finding any traces of our army, asking about the next arrangement."

  "Ma Bukang and Ma Biao's two brigades have sent telegrams reflecting the shortage of grain and ammunition, and the logistics team has been dispatched for two days without any news."

  The artillery regiment sent someone to urge the transportation of shells again.

  "Ma Bufang sent a telegram ordering the encirclement and annihilation of our army's southward and westward advance route, right in the area north of Zhangye and south of Linze."

  "Ma Pu's telegram reports that this detachment currently has only one regiment and requests allocation of troops to increase its attacking strength."

  "How many supplies arrived today?"

  "Qinghai transported ten million kilograms of grain."

  A batch of down quilts arrived in Lanzhou.

  He soon arrived at the combat room, Chen Haisong waved to everyone and stood in front of the Zhangye map on the wall, quietly thinking about the enemy's numbering marked by the staff.

  The enemy's forces are still very strong, although they have drawn two cavalry brigades of the Fifth Cavalry Division to the Linze front.

  Near Nijiayin, there were still 2,000 regular cavalrymen under Ma Biao in the north, and one brigade each of Ma Yuancheng and Ma Zhanxiang. There were also several civilian corps. To the south were the troops of Han Qigong, Tan Chengxiang's brigade, Ma Yulong's pistol brigade, to the east were the troops of Ma Pu, Ma Zhongyi's brigade, to the west were the troops of Ma Bu'kang, Ma Ronghua's brigade and Liu Chengde's brigade.

  The mobile troops available on the outer perimeter also include Ma Jirong's 299th Brigade, Ma Delong's Brigade, Ma Yu's Brigade, the 5th Division's Qi Ming Mountain Infantry Brigade, Ma Rulin's Brigade, and Ma Jinchang's Brigade. In addition, there are two artillery brigades and more than a dozen militia brigades, with a remaining enemy force of 50,000 to 60,000 men.

  Although the logistics supply line was temporarily cut off, there must be a convincing explanation. The plan to lure the enemy should be launched as soon as possible to cause confusion among the enemy troops and leave them no time to take care of their logistics.

  Luring the enemy can be done in two steps. First, move the enemy's main force away from the main battlefield. Now there is a good reason to annihilate the cavalry corps and divert some of the enemy to wander around Linze.

  Second, take Dongshili Village as the base point and gradually shift the enemy on the southern line to Zhangye for reorganization. Gradually fill in our own two infantry regiments, connect with our main force on the southern line, provide food, clothing, restore combat effectiveness, provide weapons and ammunition, and enhance combat capability.

  Once the conditions are ripe, the main force will make a southward gesture, luring the enemy to attack, setting up ambushes on all sides, killing or forcing them to surrender with firepower. In this way, the predicament of the west bank can be broken. The key lies in the means of mobilization.

  Chen Haisong turned around and asked Wan Xiang, the head of the communications department: "Can our radio station contact the Central Committee and the General Headquarters?"

  Wan Xiang said apologetically, "Our radio operators were all rescued from prisoner-of-war camps. Before being captured, they had already destroyed their codebooks. Even if they remembered the call signs, they couldn't receive the contents of the messages."

  "Can you invent a coded telegram?"

  "Possible, but all radio stations can intercept, will seriously leak secrets."

  Chen Haisong nodded and asked: "If we imitate the command center to issue orders to the enemy, is it possible for the enemy to identify us from a technical perspective?"

  The Ma's army cipher is very simple and only slightly improved on the basis of plaintext, so it is not difficult to crack.

  "Each radio operator has their own unique touch, and by listening to the sound of the transmission, you can tell who it is. We've already compared the enemy's radio operators' techniques, so with some practice, we should be able to fake it convincingly. This afternoon, time was tight and I didn't get a chance to pay attention to these details, but one slip-up shouldn't be a big deal."

  "You'd better train as soon as possible, it will be used tonight." "Yes."

  Liu Gang leaned over and pointed to the map, saying: "The enemy is determined to annihilate our army in Nijiaying, with a strong force. Although there are not many regular troops on the front line, the militia's charge and hand-to-hand combat are also very threatening, consuming our personnel and ammunition.

  "After a long time, we still can't hold on. Our troops' combat effectiveness has not been formed yet, and our communication is cut off, unable to respond in time. Luring the enemy will take some time too. We must think of ways to stop the enemy's attack, so that our main force can catch its breath, and we can deploy our forces at leisure."

  I'm really sorry, I didn't sleep well last night and posted the wrong chapter. Sorry again.