Chapter Nineteen: Connection with the Central

  Looking at the battalion commander standing below, everyone was smiling and chatting. Liu Hua said: "Commissar, you report the battle results to them!" Looking at Liu Hua's calm demeanor, Li Qing admired him even more. This is what it means to remain calm in a chaotic situation.

  "In this battle, we quietly captured the county seat of Xing'an, annihilating an enemy regiment and capturing nearly a thousand people. We seized countless supplies, including 6 heavy machine guns, 30 light machine guns, and countless rifle ammunition. More importantly, we seized an enemy radio station. The seizure of enemy property and the floating wealth of enemy county officials is underway. Our side suffered 45 deaths and over 100 injuries."

  Hearing such a victorious outcome, the people below became even more excited. Looking at the excited crowd below, Liu Hua said.

  "The capture of Xing'an is the first victory for our troops since reorganization, it has boosted our morale. After this battle, we are even more determined to break through the enemy's encirclement. Now, the enemy still doesn't know that we have captured Xing'an, so we must take advantage of this opportunity to rest and regroup. Next, I will make some announcements regarding appointments."

  "One company was drawn from each regiment to form our logistics unit, with Li Xiaowu as its commander. Then, two companies of cadres and soldiers were drawn from each regiment to form a new recruits' regiment, with He Tie as its commander. The personnel shortage in each regiment would be made up by prisoners of war. Now all the political work cadres should immediately go among the prisoners to separate and detain enemy officers, conduct speak bitterness meetings, heart-to-heart talks and other activities, and try to mobilize them to join the Red Army."

  "Commissar Li Qing looked at the team leader with a puzzled expression and asked, "Team leader, we all know about heart-to-hearts, but what's this about pouring out grievances?"

  It's a pity, the "speak bitterness" movement only emerged during the Liberation Army era. Alas! Since it was mentioned, let's use it then. After all, the "speak bitterness" movement is the most important magic weapon for mobilizing prisoners of war in the Liberation Army. Liu Hua thought to himself.

  "Hey! Comrade, this is to gather everyone together and tell the capitalists and landlords about the hardships they've brought to our families, so they can understand that all their suffering is caused by Chiang Kai-shek's reactionary rule..."

  Li Qingyue listened more and more excited, if it was really done according to what the captain said, then those captives would definitely have many people join the army, and he would never worry about soldiers again. It's really unknown how Liu Hua appeared.

  "Squad leader, it seems like our Red Army has never done this kind of complaining, what are you thinking?" Li Qing asked.

  "This is very simple! You should know that we have many such examples in ancient China! Go and take a look at history, you should see many." Liu Hua didn't want to say too much, and replied vaguely.

  Li Qing saw that the captain didn't want to say anything, so he stopped asking and turned around to arrange for the prisoners of war.

  "Commissar, wait a minute, didn't we capture an enemy radio station? Let's see if there's anyone in the troops who knows how to operate it. We can try to contact headquarters."

  Li Qing's eyes lit up after hearing this, "Squad leader, I won't hide it from you, I was originally a radio operator, I can do it."

  Let's try to contact the headquarters later, now it's time to go eat.

  At this time, the Central Red Army was regrouping in the Tongdao area. In the county government auditorium of Tongdao, central leaders and several corps commanders were sitting together. The atmosphere was clearly not right, with many people in the room silently smoking, filling the room with smoke.

  "Everyone has something to say! This concerns the future of our Red Army!" Vice-Chairman Zhou said, looking at the crowd with furrowed brows.

  "What's good to say, let's still follow the established plan and merge with the 26th Army Corps to rebuild the base." Bo Gu hastily replied.

  "I think it's inadvisable, many intelligence reports show that the enemy has already laid out heavy troops on our way, just waiting for us to fall into their trap?" Old Mao couldn't help but remind them.

  "Lao Mao, don't talk nonsense, it's not that serious?" Bo Gu didn't take the hint,

  "Am I speaking wildly?" Old Mao was thoroughly enraged.

  "Now everyone knows that Chiang Kai-shek has laid out heavy troops waiting for us to go and die, are we just going to wait for Chiang Kai-shek to come and kill us? And what about the Battle of Xiangjiang, you brought so many things, those big guns, printing presses, what's the use? A journey that should have taken one day took four days, and in those four days how many people did we sacrifice? More than 30,000! More than 30,000 excellent fighters just gone." Thinking of his own painstakingly built troops being defeated like this, Old Mao couldn't help but slam his fist on the table.

  "Old Mao, let's calm down first, we need to discuss our next move," Enlai said as he stood up to comfort him.

  "We must reorganize our leading body, otherwise wherever we go, the enemy will follow and attack us." Peng finally couldn't help but speak out what was on his mind.

  "How can we change? Haven't the three of us been in command all along? What's wrong?" Bo Gu shouted after hearing this.

  Comrade Peng mentioned the reorganization of the three-man team, Wang Jiaxiang quickly picked up: "I agree with Comrade Peng's proposal, Comrade Li De is no longer suitable to stay in the three-man team."

  "Why should we know that Comrade Li De is a representative sent by the Communist International?"

  "Comrade Li De is only an advisor, not a representative. In the Red Army, he has only the right to make suggestions and does not have decision-making power, so he must withdraw from the top three-person group." Wang Jiaxiang said again.

  Bo Gu finally gave in. "Alright! I agree, who should be added then?"

  "I suggest that Comrade Zhu De enter the top three-man leadership, as Comrade Zhu De is the commander-in-chief of the Red Army and the father of the Red Army, he has both the ability and the right to enter the top three-man leadership." The silent Old Mao finally spoke again.

  "I agree with Comrade's suggestion that Commander Zhu be added to the top three-man group." The silent Vice-Chairman Zhou finally spoke up.

  Soon everyone agreed. Under the circumstances where Commander Zhu produced all sorts of evidence, Bo Gu finally gave up his attempt to merge with the 26th Army Corps.

  "Drip, drip......" He Xinghua continuously adjusted each frequency band, hoping to hear some enemy intelligence. Just as he thought today would be another day with nothing gained, and was preparing to hand over the shift, a faint call came into his ears.

  "There is a situation." He Xinghua immediately calmed down and searched for this weak signal. Chen Gong, the director of the Central Radio Station, also came to He Xinghua's side.

  "Xinghua, what's going on?"

  "Does it seem like someone is calling us?"

  "Ah, hurry up and search, must find it." After finishing speaking, picked up the spare radio headset beside him and also started searching.

  "Red star, red star, respond if you hear this......" Another shout came to He Xinghua's ears. "Director, we've found them, they're calling us."

  "Ask them immediately who they are!" Chen Gong hastily ordered.

  "I am Red Star, I am Red Star, who are you, who are you?"

  "Squad leader, Central Radio has replied, they're asking who we are?"

  "What? Alright, good! Hurry up and answer, I'm Liu Hua." Liu Hua excitedly ran out and said.

  "Red star, red star, I am Liu Hua, I am Liu Hua, can anyone hear me?"

  "Liu Hua, Liu Hua..." Chen Gong muttered the name to himself. "What? Liu Hua? Keep in touch, don't lose contact?" He said as he rushed out of the broadcasting room like the wind, heading straight for the conference room.

  "Report." Everyone in the conference room stared at Chen Gong standing by the door. Looking at his excited appearance, Vice President Zhou said: "Comrade Chen Gong, what's going on? You look so thrilled."

  "Report to all commanders, we have made contact with the Red Tenth Regiment."

  "What? Red Tenth Regiment, Liu Hua isn't dead? I knew this kid had a big destiny. Let's go take a look." Peng Zong was the first to stand up and shout, not caring about meeting discipline, and he was the first to walk out.

  Lao Mao also followed out, and other participants also came to the radio station.

  "Ask them where they are now? How is the troop situation?" Old Mao was also excited and didn't care about those rules, commanding Chen Geng.

  "Commander, our unit currently has nearly 4,000 officers and men. Last night, we occupied the county seat of Xing'an and annihilated a total of five enemy regiments in the rescue process, including the regimental commander of the Red 18th Regiment and all battalion-level cadres of the Red 34th Division were killed. Please instruct us on our next action."

  As they read the telegram sent by Liu Hua, everyone was excited. With just one regiment, they had rescued so many Red Army soldiers and annihilated so many enemies. How could they not be thrilled?

  Looking at Enlai holding the telegram with trembling fingers, Old Mao said with a smile: "The Red Tenth Regiment is indeed our heroic regiment! That little Liu Hua is really good, fighting so well? Old Chief, Enlai, how should we treat them? Letting them cross the river is definitely not an option."

  "Comrades commanders, now the troops come from many units. In order to facilitate command, we request reorganization and designation of unit numbers." Everyone fell silent as they looked at the telegram that had just arrived.

  "Let's give an independent unit a number!" En Lai reminded.

  "Hey, aren't we being too petty? They have 4,000 men and are already a division, while you're only giving us a regimental number?" Old Mao said with a smile.

  "I think we should give them an independent division number." Old Zhu said after a moment of thought.

  "Well, I think it's okay!" Lao Mao said after hearing the boss's proposal.

  "I agree, then appoint Liu Hua as the regimental commander, and report the appointment of other cadres immediately." Vice Chairman Zhou ordered immediately, Bao Gu and others wanted to say something but ultimately didn't say it.

  "Liu Hua's unit was reorganized into the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army Independent Regiment, with Comrade Liu Hua as the regimental commander. Other cadres are appointed, please report immediately for appointment." Looking at the telegram from the Central Committee, Liu Hua was stunned, he had become a regimental commander.

  "Comrade, take a look at the list of cadres I've written, just take a look and if you agree, send it out!"

  Independent Director: Li Qing

  Division Commander: Sun Xingbang, Political Commissar: Zhao Dahai, Chief of Staff: Chen Geming

  Deputy Commander: Gao Yuan, Political Commissar: Chen Dazhong, Chief of Staff: Wang Nanhu

  Each regiment has three battalions, and the regiment commander, political commissar, and chief of staff concurrently serve as battalion commanders.

  Deputy Regimental Commander Chen Guangrong, Political Instructor Zhu Ping, under which there is one artillery company and two heavy machine gun companies.

  New Soldier Camp Commander He Tie, Instructor Peng Qing

  Deputy Commander of Intelligence Company Liu Xiaogang

  Guard Platoon Leader Li Xiaolong

  Li Xiaowu's heavy luggage is connected one after another

  "These people seem to have heard somewhere?" Zhu Laozong asked puzzledly.

  "Boss, you've forgotten that many of them were the original main force regiment's regimental commanders and deputy commanders. Li Qing even served as a division's political commissar, but they were all purged during the rectification campaign. That little Liu Hua really dares to use people." Old Mao reminded him.

  "Hmm, I remember now. These people I was just about to use were actually snatched away by that kid Liu Hua. What do you think? Can they be used?"

  "I agree too."

  "Director, how will we command them in future battles?" Vice Chairman Zhou asked again.

  "Well, I think we should let them fight independently, try to drag as many enemies as possible and provide cover for us. We must make sure they conserve their strength and save themselves."

  "I think it's okay. Liu Hua is quite clever in battle. We'll use the tactic of 'suspecting those who are suspected, and not suspecting those who are not suspected'," Old Mao reminded them.