Chapter 24: Counter-Encirclement and Suppression (I)

  Looking at the commander who had regained his energy after a night's rest in the conference room, Liu Hua felt like he was dreaming, and now he was also a teacher.

  "Let's start from one group and report our respective situations!" Liu Hua said with a pause.

  "Reporting to the superior, the whole regiment consists of three infantry battalions, one firepower support company, and three directly affiliated platoons, with a total of 1800 people. The soldiers are in high spirits, ready to accept combat missions at any time." Listening to Old Sun's report, Liu Hua nodded and looked towards the Second Regiment Commander Gao Yuan.

  "Report to the superior, the second regiment is composed of three infantry battalions, one firepower support company, and three directly affiliated platoons, with a total of 1800 people in the whole regiment. The soldiers are in high spirits and ready to accept combat missions at any time." Liu Hua looked towards Wang Dahai, who had just taken over as the new regiment commander.

  "Report to the superior, the third regiment is composed of three infantry battalions, one firepower support company, and three directly affiliated platoons, with a total of 1,800 people in the whole regiment. The soldiers are in high spirits and ready to accept combat missions at any time."

  .......................................................................................

  Watching the political commissar continuously recording data, Liu Hua picked up that piece of paper and took a look.

  "Comrades, after everyone's efforts, our entire army now has over 6,300 people, which can be said to have sufficient ammunition and personnel. However, the challenges we face are only just beginning. I have a telegram here, let's take a look." He then took out the telegram from the Central Revolutionary Military Commission.

  After a while, the conference room fell silent and many people lit up cigarettes. The conference room soon became shrouded in smoke.

  "What's going on? Is everyone scared? Why isn't anyone saying anything?" Liu Hua said, seeing the gloomy atmosphere.

  "Commissar, we're all survivors from the piles of dead men. What's there to be afraid of? At worst, it's just death. But the Central Revolutionary Military Commission requires us to preserve our strength as much as possible. With so many enemies, how are we supposed to fight?" The second battalion commander, Gao Yuan, said with a red face after hearing Liu Hua's words.

  "Well, comrades, this is indeed a problem, I've thought about it a lot. But, comrades, think about it, will the enemy really have that many troops?" Looking at the debating war generals below, Liu Hua smiled, wanting them to discuss. Only then can they become qualified war generals.

  "Now, let's talk about why the enemy's forces are not as numerous as we thought. Firstly, regarding Zhou Hunyuan's two divisions, they should both be coming, and there's nothing much to say about that. What I want to say is about Bai Chongxi's four divisions - the 19th, 20th, 21st, and 22nd Divisions. Their main task is to sweep through the Central Soviet Area. You see, although the main force has withdrawn from the Soviet Area, there are still many guerrilla units left behind. Each county town should have at least one regiment stationed there. I've done some calculations, and with over a dozen counties in the Soviet Area, that's at least a dozen regiments defending them. The remaining forces would be less than two divisions. Moreover, the 21st Division has already been completely annihilated by us, so Bai Chongxi can at most mobilize five regiments' worth of troops. Adding it all up, they only have around 30,000 men.

  Comrades, take a look - isn't that right? (smiling and looking down at the excited generals below)"

  "Ah! How come I didn't think of that!" Liu Hua secretly laughed and said, "This joke is something I thought about for a whole night, how did you think of it so quickly?"

  "Commander, although the enemy has lost 20,000 men, they still have more than five times our troop strength!" The political commissar said, breaking his silence.

  "Haha, Commissar, you're worrying too much. The enemy we're facing is actually just two divisions of Zhou Hunyuan's troops. As for Bai Chongxi's troops, I guarantee that he'll have no soldiers to deploy." Li Qing looked at his young division commander in disbelief after hearing this.

  Watching the political commissar and the team leader being stunned on the spot by his own words just now, Liu Hua smiled.

  "Comrades, how many guerrilla troops are currently active in our Soviet area, and what is it that they lack the most now?" Liu Hua asked.

  "Superior, I don't know how many people, only knowing that at the time there were guerrilla teams everywhere, county teams and so on, the number should be a lot. What they lacked most was... right, originally the main force was lacking ammunition when it was still here, now that it's gone, it's even more lacking... what they lacked most was weapons and ammunition." Listening to the political commissar's answer, Liu Hua didn't say anything and continued asking.

  "Comrade, what's most abundant now?"

  "Ammunition for the weapons, yes, that's it, ammunition for the weapons." The political commissar said excitedly, with a look of sudden realization on his face. Some of the generals below him burst out laughing, while others still looked confused.

  "Yes, the guerrilla troops are short of ammunition, we have more weapons and ammunition. If we send a certain number of troops to escort a large amount of weapons and ammunition to replenish the guerrilla troops, and send elite small teams to guide them, in the enemy's rear, that is, the original Soviet area, constantly creating trouble, do you think Bai Chongxi will dare to withdraw the already insufficient troops?"

  Having said that, he looked at the excited war generals below.

  Alright, let's discuss how to deal with Zhou Hunyuan's two troops next.

  Two hours have passed and finally there is a conclusion.

  "Now arrange combat missions:"

  Guard company's first and second platoons, led by Li Xiaowu, commander of the heavy camp, escorted 1,000 rifles, 30 light machine guns, and sufficient ammunition to the Jinggang Mountains area, where comrades from the reconnaissance company guided them. After handing over the ammunition to the local guerrilla troops, they led them in continuous attacks on the enemy army, making it impossible for them to withdraw troops. Li Xiaowu, be careful and try to minimize casualties. There's one more thing, during the central breakout, many wounded soldiers will be left behind, so after completing the task, bring back as many as you can, knowing that our troops have taken too many captives.

  "Yes, resolutely complete the task."

  "All remaining troops stand by, awaiting reconnaissance company's report on enemy intelligence. Once combat tasks are assigned, you will return to replenish ammunition and conduct pre-battle mobilization for the soldiers, especially those captured."

  Yes

  "Alright, meeting adjourned." He said, and was the first to walk out of the conference room.

  "Commander, scout has sent back intelligence." Liu Hua, who had already finished his lunch, heard the voice of communications officer Xiao Wang.

  "Let me take a look."

  "Report to superiors, it has been confirmed that: Zhou Hunyuan's troops have left behind two divisions, namely the 1st and 3rd Divisions. The 1st Division is advancing towards Xing'an, while the 3rd Division is moving downstream along the river, advancing towards Zhuzhou." This is the first piece of intelligence.

  "Report to superiors, Bai Chongxi's 21st Division has dispatched one regiment and another battalion towards Anren." Second intelligence report.

  "Report to superiors, the defenders in the direction of Zhuzhou have not come out, but from this morning on, they have been continuously reinforcing their city defenses." Third intelligence report.

  "Reporting to superiors, I have arrived at the logistics camp and am advancing towards the Jinggang Mountains area. Expected to arrive at Jinggang Mountains this afternoon." Third piece of intelligence.

  "Signalman, order the battalion commanders to come to a meeting."

  "Xiao Wang, how much further?! This road is really hard to walk." After Li Xiaowu, the head of the logistics battalion, met up with the reconnaissance company's people, they were brought to this rugged mountain road, forcing the logistics battalion to abandon their vehicles and switch to using horses and human labor to transport supplies.

  "Li Yingchang will arrive soon," replied Little Wang of the scouting company with a smile.

  "Li Yingchang, look quickly, the comrades from the guerrilla team have come to welcome us." It turned out that the reconnaissance company, which had known about Liu Hua's plan in advance, had already sent people to contact the comrades of the guerrilla team in advance.

  Seeing the team leader was Li, the head of the logistics battalion, Zhang Hua hastily introduced: "Director Li, this is Wang, the captain of the Jinggangshan guerrilla team. Captain Wang, this is Director Li, the head of our independent division's logistics battalion."

  "Captain Wang, long time no see!" Li Xiaowu hastily shook hands with Captain Wang and said.

  "Li Yingchang, welcome back to the main force troops! From now on, our days will be better."

  "Where? Where? Excuse me Captain Wang, how many comrades are in the guerrilla team now and what's their equipment like?"

  "Report to Commander Li, the Jinggangshan guerrilla force has about 450 members, with around 200 wounded soldiers left behind in the troops. There are only a few dozen rifles as weapons, and all the others are just big knives..." Captain Wang couldn't help but sigh when mentioning their weapons.

  "Captain Wang, don't sigh. I'm under the orders of Commander Liu Hua of the Independent Regiment to escort a batch of weapons and ammunition for use by the guerrilla comrades."

  Hearing Li Yingchang's words, Captain Wang almost jumped up "Where is it? Where is it?"

  "Captain Wang, this time we have handed over to the guerrilla team 350 rifles, each with 50 rounds of ammunition, and 9 light machine guns, each with 500 rounds of ammunition. Please inspect them." He said with a smile, looking at Captain Wang's wide-open mouth.

  "My goodness, there's so much of this stuff! This is more than enough to equip a main force battalion. There's so much ammunition, even the main forces don't have it this good. From now on, we won't have to hide from those white dogs again." Captain Wang muttered to himself.

  "Also, Captain Wang, our independent regiment is about to launch a counterattack against the enemy's encirclement. We hope that the guerrilla comrades will attack the enemy from behind and make them dare not send troops. It doesn't matter how many enemy soldiers are killed or wounded, as long as they cannot dispatch troops to support outside the mountain. If there is not enough ammunition, we will resupply."

  "That's enough, that's enough, Commander Li, you've really helped us out. Besides, attacking the enemy is our guerrilla team's mission anyway, no big deal." Captain Wang hastily said with courtesy.

  "Alright, Captain Wang, I'll leave a platoon of troops to cooperate with you. First Platoon, fall in."

  Looking at the 36 warriors in front of him, carrying rifles, submachine guns and pistols, the guerrillas were stunned. Is this still our poorly armed Red Army?

  "Commander Wang, your platoon's recent task is to coordinate with the guerrilla troops to conduct mobile warfare in the enemy's rear. There must be no casualties."

  "Yes, I guarantee to complete the task."

  Such scenes have occurred in Jinggangshan and many other places.

  Inside Director Bai's command center.

  "Report to Commander-in-Chief, a large number of Communist troops have appeared near Ningdu, equipped with machine guns and mortars, requesting reinforcements."

  "Report to Commander-in-Chief, a large number of Communist troops have appeared near Xingguo..."

  "Report to Commander-in-Chief, a battalion in Guangchang has been completely annihilated by the Communist Army, requesting reinforcements..."

  ................................

  "What's going on? Quick, investigate! Where did all these Communist troops come from? Investigate quickly..." Officer Bai bellowed.

  At this time, Liu Hua and others could no longer control Bai Chongxi, who was discussing how to deal with the two enemy divisions.