Chapter Eleven Independent Regiment

  The next day, after breakfast, with the loud assembly call, all the warriors came to the empty space in front of the village, and the guards, artillery, and other troops formed four teams, each standing in their original formation. Over a thousand people stood together, although their uniforms were mixed and disorderly, but the scene was very spectacular.

  After more than a day of rest, the mental outlook of both men and women has undergone significant changes. Especially for the female soldiers who saw Chen Zhengwei, their rescuer, last night and received warm comfort and enthusiastic encouragement, feelings of guilt, despair, and pessimism have been replaced by fighting passion, and morale is high.

  Standing on the high platform in front of the troops, looking at his somewhat excited and expectant subordinates, Chen Haisheng was also very excited. A group of crippled soldiers were about to be armed with modern military thought to complete a shocking and earth-shaking great undertaking.

  They are not short of loyalty, not short of bravery, not afraid of hardship, and not afraid of death. They are a group of idealists who have been forced by life to follow the revolution wholeheartedly. As long as they are shown the correct direction to advance, given time, they will become the bravest warriors in the world, making the enemy tremble with fear at the mere mention of their name.

  "Comrades: We are all brave warriors who have survived various battlefields of the Western Route Army and are now blocked outside the main force by a powerful enemy."

  In order for us to survive and to rescue the main force of troops surrounded, we must quickly organize ourselves, form a strong fighting force, launch active combat against the enemy, disrupt the enemy's strategic deployment, cut off the enemy's logistical supplies, force the enemy to stop attacking, and facilitate the realization of the Western Route Army's strategic tasks.

  As a member of the Western Route Army Military and Political Committee, the Red Ninth Army's political commissar decided to establish an independent regiment within the Western Route Army. I hope everyone can join in.

  Of course, the independent team members are not many, fighting alone, with a daunting task and full of danger. Everyone comes from different troops, and many people have no affiliation with me. I don't force anyone, those who want to leave can step aside, we will arrange for you to take a temporary rest, and organize your departure when the time is right.

  "Is anyone leaving?"

  "We won't leave."

  "We will fight."

  "We will take revenge."

  "Very well, comrades, I am delighted. Although we have suffered temporary defeat and endured great humiliation, our faith has not been shaken, our fighting spirit has not collapsed, and we are still the brave Red Army."

  As long as we are united, in step with each other, and dare to struggle, carry forward the fine traditions of the Red Army, persist in flexible tactics and strategy, we will certainly be able to return to the enemy the humiliation they have imposed upon us, and make the arrogant and savage Ma bandit army collide against us until their heads are broken and blood flows.

  Does everyone have confidence?

  Yes!

  "Last night, a meeting of battalion-level cadres was held, and the independent regiment's party committee was elected. The plan for the independent regiment's establishment and personnel roster were formulated. Now, please let Comrade Liu Gang, head of the combat department, read out the establishment plan."

  Liu Gang quickly walked to the front of the stage, saluted Chen Haisong with a military salute, turned around and saluted the troops, unfolded the paper in his hand, and read aloud: "After discussion and decision at the cadre meeting on January 23, 1937:

  Establish an independent brigade headquarters

  Chief of Staff Yuan Hong's 9th Army Artillery Regiment Commander Zhang Zhenyu

  Deputy Chief of Staff and Head of Operations Division Liu Gang, Head of Training Division and former staff officer of the Second Bureau of the General Staff Wang Chunsheng

  Intelligence Division Chief of Staff Yu Dakui

  Artillery company commander Yuan Hong, former 9th Army Artillery Battalion Commander Huang Shiying.

  Wan Xiang, a reporter from the Red Fifth Army's radio station.

  2. Establish an independent team political department

  The head of the Political Department is Zhang Fasen, the director of the Cadre Division of the General Logistics Department.

  Deputy Director Hu Yongning, former Head of Propaganda Department of Health Ministry Headquarters

  Organization Department of the Central Committee Comrade Zhang Youdao, Deputy Director of the General Office

  Propaganda Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China

  Defend the stock stock long headquarters guard battalion instructor Song Jianping.

  Establish an independent logistics department after the formation of the team.

  Minister Zhu Liangcheng, former Director of the General Logistics Department

  Deputy Director-General of the Headquarters of the Ministry of Health, Li Kangqiang

  Peng Zhenrui, Deputy Director of the Logistics Department of the General Headquarters

  Zhao Baosheng, Deputy Commander of the First Logistics Unit of the Headquarters Supply Department of the Long March

  Deputy Commander of the Second Heavy-Duty Team Wang Xiaoping

  Ordnance Factory General Manager Zhang Qiang, former headquarters of Ordnance Factory

  Deputy Director Liu Ziguang

  Hospital President and former Ministry of Health Pharmaceutical Department Director Zhong Youwei

  Director of the original headquarters Health Department Lu Ming

  Three military doctors, twelve female nurses.

  Headquarters troops:

  Artillery Company: Deputy Commander Shen Tieshan, originally the deputy commander of the 1st Artillery Company of the 9th Red Army.

  Deputy instructor Jiang Deshui of the 37th Regiment of the 13th Division of the Red Fifth Army

  Deputy battalion commander Yuan Hong, Ninth Army Artillery Regiment First Battalion First Company Commander Chi Qingrong

  Under its jurisdiction are three platoons with nine classes, each class has 7 people, a total of nine mortars, and 69 personnel.

  Guard Battalion: Battalion Commander Li Yi, originally the commander of the 9th Army's Guard Platoon.

  Original Headquarters Heavy One Team Instructor Xue Yunlong

  Deputy Battalion Commander: Xu Ming, former head of the headquarters guard company

  Under its jurisdiction, there are three platoons with nine squads in total, each squad has 9 people, and the whole regiment has 87 people.

  Female soldier company commander of the second battalion of the Women's Independent Brigade, Guo Chunlian

  Deputy Instructor Liu Rui of the 2nd Battalion of the Independent Regiment

  There are three platoons with nine classes in total, each class has 10 people, and there are 95 people in the whole regiment.

  Infantry Regiment Commander Yuan Hong, former commander of the 9th Garrison Brigade of Beijing Military Region, Wang Dayong

  Instructor: Wang Qicai, former deputy instructor of the 43rd Regiment of the 14th Division of the Red Fifth Army

  Deputy Regiment Commander Yuan Hong, 9th Army Artillery Battalion 2nd Company Captain He Dacheng

  Under its jurisdiction are Infantry Companies 1, 2 and 3.

  Composed mainly of the 1st Guard Regiment, the 2nd Artillery Regiment and the headquarters of the 14th Division of the Red Fifth Army.

  Infantry Second Battalion Commander Yuan Hong, former deputy battalion commander of the 5th Army's 13th Division Wang Feng

  Instructor: Ting Wangcai, former political commissar of the 5th Red Army

  Deputy Regiment Commander Yuan Hong, Ninth Army Guards Third Company Commander Cheng Wenjun is under the jurisdiction of Infantry Companies 4, 5 and 6.

  Composed mainly of three guard companies, three artillery companies and general headquarters personnel.

  Infantry Third Battalion Commander Yuan Hong, originally the Ninth Army Guard Second Company Commander Sun Fei

  Deputy Director of Logistics Department Tang Yongming

  Deputy battalion commander Hong Yu, 9th Army Artillery Regiment, 3rd Company, Shi Junfu

  Under its jurisdiction are infantry regiments 78 and 89.

  Mainly composed of the Second Guard Regiment, joined by the 13th Division of the Red Fifth Army and the Headquarters Guard Unit.

  Infantry company consists of three platoons and nine squads, with an additional machine gun squad, each squad has 9 people.

  Two machine guns, 83 rifles, six shotguns, and 96 combat personnel.

  Long list of names: omitted

  The whole team has 1,115 combat personnel, equipped with 9 mortars, 18 light machine guns, 1,000 rifles, 90 shotguns, 1,115 bayonets and 1,115 war horses.

  Rear logistics personnel: 160 people, shotgun 30, rifle 130, steel knife 160, war horse 380.

  "That's all for now."

  Comrades, from now on, we are a regular Red Army unit.

  Although it is just a young army, we need to grow up in the fire of war, but we are all old soldiers who have been in the military for many years. The hardships of the expedition have tempered our will, solidified our beliefs and tested our loyalty.

  We are a group of wounded tigers, licking our wounds, searching for the enemy's weakness, ready to unleash a thunderous roar and deliver a fatal blow.

  I hope everyone can integrate into the team as soon as possible, respect and trust their colleagues, care for and protect their subordinates, obey the command of their superiors, strengthen communication among various departments, unite and cooperate, support each other, and make the independent regiment a united whole and a warm big family.

  Hope that all units of the organ will fulfill their duties and carry out work as soon as possible to make plans for the next step, do a good job in intelligence and material preparation.

  Commanders at all levels of combat units should familiarize themselves with their subordinates as soon as possible, grasp the status of personnel, horses, and weapons in the unit, allocate combat materials, and formulate action plans for marching, camping, sentry duty, attacking, defending, and pursuing.

  "Familiarize the troops with their weapons, maintain their weapons, and be able to use them correctly at any time. Familiarize themselves with horses, learn to take care of horses, and gradually establish a close bond of trust with warhorses."

  After the meeting, the person in charge of each unit gathered their personnel to form a team, assigned dormitories, issued weapons and equipment, and other combat materials, and spent the whole morning in a flurry.

  After lunch, the Political Department, Logistics Department, 1st Battalion and 3rd Battalion stayed in Dujia Fortress to continue their rest. Chen Haisong and the personnel of the Command Department, Artillery Company and those attached to the 2nd Battalion and Guard Company rushed to Dongchuan Mouth.

  Deputy Regimental Commander Wang Feng immediately met with Tang Yongming and Shi Junfu to reorganize the troops, then took over the defense of the surrounding areas.

  The artillery company was originally the first artillery company, which was expanded to a full-fledged artillery company with nine guns. All officers and soldiers were overjoyed, especially Shen Tieshan, who had not touched a cannon since the Battle of Goulou, burst into tears in front of the neatly arranged nine cannons.

  Very soon, all the troops were under the command of Huang Shiying, the artillery battalion commander, and began regular training.

  Guard Captain Li Yi immediately arranged the new personnel according to the organizational order, organized everyone to familiarize themselves with horses, learn Qinghai dialect, train shooting techniques and close combat skills.

  Zhang Zhenyu and the headquarters staff drilled into the house, beginning to formulate a plan for a disguised raid on Zhangye.