Chapter Thirty-two: Unexpected Surprise

  "Commander, Colonel Gao is on the phone."

  "Think."

  "Commander, my unit has already joined forces with the political commissar and handed over all materials and prisoners. We are currently gathering boats to assist in crossing the river with heavy loads. Additionally: My unit's reconnaissance company discovered that an enemy battalion defending along the river retreated half an hour ago and is rapidly marching towards Zhuzhou, please be aware. 2nd Battalion Commander: Gao Yuan, Political Commissar: Chen Dazhong."

  “

  "Great, that's great news. Wang Nanhu, come here, I've got a good job for you, are you going to do it?" Liu Hua immediately called out excitedly to the unwilling commander of the third battalion, Wang Nanhu, after hearing the telegram.

  "Hehe, Master, I knew you wouldn't forget me. Hehe, what's a good task? I'll definitely do it well for you." Looking at Wang Nanhu with a smiling face, Liu Hua suddenly felt like he was the only one there.

  "Alright, Captain Wang, now I order you to lead the 1st and 2nd battalions, plus a heavy machine gun company, to immediately move upstream along the river. An enemy battalion is on its way to reinforce Zhuzhou, figure out a way to wipe out the enemy reinforcement troops, bring a radio station for convenient communication." He said with a smile, looking at Wang Nanhu.

  "Commander, isn't the enemy just one regiment? Just wait for my good news!" Since following Liu Hua and seeing his own troops constantly expanding their arsenal, every regiment commander's eyes had been raised high, not putting a single regiment in their sights.

  "Well, go then! And after eating the enemy army, don't move for now, contact me and I'll let you know what to do next." Liu Hua smiled at Wang Nanhu.

  "Yes, I guarantee to complete the task."

  "Order troops to rush to the foot of Zhuzhou City, artillery regiment immediately constructs positions, heavy machine gun regiment also moves forward to construct positions."

  At this time, the division headquarters was already in a mess, the operations staff were constantly running back and forth, the telegram clerks kept handing telegrams to the chief of staff one after another, and the communication personnel kept reporting enemy situations "Division commander, the Communist army has arrived at the foot of Zhuzhou city and is building artillery positions."

  "Sir, the Communist Army has started shelling."

  "Commander, our garrison troops have already suffered casualties of a whole battalion under the intense artillery fire from the Communist forces."

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

  Listening to the staff continuously reporting on the enemy situation, the division commander remained silent and sat there stupidly.

  "Where are the reinforcements? Hurry up and urge them to speed up their march. Also, quickly send a telegram to the Chairman of the Committee and the Commander-in-Chief, asking them to dispatch troops to support us." Seeing that the division commander had finally spoken after a long silence, the chief of staff couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

  "Commander, commander, we've lost contact with the reinforcement troops." The aide came to his side once again.

  "What? Say it again?" The teacher's spirit, which had just been lifted, sank once more.

  At this time, Wang Nanhu was sweeping the battlefield and escorting prisoners in a place about 10 miles away from Zhuzhou City. It turned out that when Wang Nanhu arrived here, he found that both sides of the highway were low hills, which were very suitable for ambushes. He immediately ordered his troops to build an ambush position and sent his reconnaissance company to scout out the enemy situation. Soon, an enemy regiment rushed into the position set up by Wang Nanhu in response to the division commander's request for rapid reinforcement. With the sound of Wang Nanhu's gun, the three regiments' positions immediately erupted in gunfire, with heavy machine guns, light machine guns, and rifles... In an instant, a large number of enemy soldiers were shot down, and after several rounds of hand grenades, the troops had not yet charged forward when the enemy raised white flags and surrendered.

  Wang Nanhu was smiling and looking at the chaotic battlefield, but this was a regiment of the Central Army, and he had easily taken it down. It seemed that following his commander was the right choice, because if they were in the Central Red Army, their own regiment would not dare to fight against a regiment of the Central Army.

  "Go and send a telegram to our superiors immediately, saying that our unit has successfully completed its mission."

  "Commander, Colonel Wang has sent a telegram. He has successfully completed his mission and is waiting for further orders." The communications officer ran over with a smile.

  "Send a message, have him bring the captured materials and prisoners to the political commissar's crossing point on the river, hold down the crossing point, and wait for us to cross the river."

  "Yes, sir."

  "Wait a minute, send a telegram to Commander Gao and ask about their situation, how's it going?"

  Soon, the communication counselor ran over and Liu Hua took over the telegram.

  "Commander, our unit crossed the Xiangjiang River half an hour ago and is advancing towards Anhua. Additionally, our reconnaissance company has discovered that the enemy's Anhua garrison sent out two regiments of reinforcements to reinforce Changsha one hour ago. In my opinion, we should use the 2nd regiment as the main force to annihilate this reinforcement unit. Gao Yuan."

  "Telegram, agree with your department's action, after annihilating the reinforcement troops, leave a new battalion to sweep the battlefield, your department quickly occupies Anhua, we will meet at Anhua. Commander: Liu Hua."

  The two regiments that came out of Anhua are rushing towards Changsha under the leadership of a brigade commander, with officers at all levels urging their troops on, completely forgetting about their own safety.

  Gaofar was delighted as soon as he received the order from his superiors, knowing that the two regiments were easy to deal with for his strengthened Second Regiment. What a great opportunity it was! He and the political commissar discussed and immediately clarified their division of labor, rushing to the reconnaissance company to investigate the ambush site in advance.

  Seeing such a good place, Gao Yuan couldn't help but sigh: "This Hunan is really a great ambush spot, everywhere is a battlefield. Since heaven has given me such a good opportunity, I would be sorry if I let it go! He Jian, just wait and cry! Wait for our commander to make a big stir in your belly!"

  Establishing an ambush position was a familiar task for the independent regiment that often launched surprise attacks. Soon, a simple ambush circle was formed and the soldiers all hid in their own positions to rest.

  Two regiments of the Xiang Army were still desperately rushing forward, although they were unwilling to do so, but their superiors had given them a death order, and they could only grit their teeth and rush forward.

  Looking at the Xiang Army soldiers in front of him who were about to enter the ambush circle, looking at their panting appearance, Gao Yuan revealed a slight sneer. Can such a tired army withstand the attack of his second battalion?

  It was indeed the case that when the gunfire of the ambush broke out, those Xiang Army soldiers were probably really too exhausted! Watching their comrades fall down one by one beside them, they stood there stupidly, wasn't this just waiting for death? This one-sided slaughter did not last long, it was the Highland Brigade commander who did not want to watch anymore, and blew the charge horn ahead of time.

  "Commander, our unit has annihilated the enemy's reinforcement troops and is now rushing towards Anhua."

  Looking at the telegram from the highlands, Liu Hua smiled. This is really heaven helping me, originally thought that taking down Anhua would require a tough battle, didn't expect it to be so easy, haha, looks like I should thank He Jian after all.

  "Order the First Battalion to retreat quickly to the crossing, and order the Third Battalion to receive the First Battalion at the crossing." Liu Hua made the command quickly, because he knew that Anhua was already an empty city, and the Second Battalion would take it back very soon.

  "Order the troops to cease fire and prepare to retreat."

  Soon, Liu Hua led the troops to the crossing point. From a distance, another troop was approaching from Changsha direction. As soon as the officers met, they started chatting. Liu Hua didn't say much, just ordered the troops to hurry up and cross the river to Anhua. He sat leisurely by the river, smoking, thinking that he had caused such a big commotion when crossing the Xiangjiang River to join forces with the 26th Army Corps, annihilating all the enemy troops, not even leaving one regiment intact. The only thing he didn't know was whether the Xiang Army at the front line had been mobilized. He dared not think about it, this time He Jian had lost big time. Thinking of He Jian's great anger, Liu Hua revealed a victorious smile.

  "What the hell is this battle," He Jianzhen was furious when he knew that the Communist army had crossed the Xiangjiang River and occupied Anhua, pounding the table and shouting repeatedly. To know that his own troops were eaten by an independent division of the Communist army, and Anhua was also occupied, how could he not be angry?

  Soon, Liu Hua and his party saw the lights of Xing'an County Town. From a distance, they only saw several horses galloping over, and after seeing Liu Hua and others, they dismounted their horses.

  "Reporting to superiors, Independent Brigade Second Regiment has successfully completed its mission." Liu Hua returned a military salute with an excited heart.

  "Haha, Captain Gao, you're quite skilled! You effortlessly annihilated two regiments. Look at you, grinning from ear to ear - did you strike it rich or something?"

  "Commander, we've finally met! Hehe, this time we've won another great victory! If the Central Committee finds out, they'll definitely be thrilled. Let's go back to the county town, we've already prepared a meal and are waiting for the soldiers' triumphant return!" Political Commissar Li Qing said with a smile, looking at his young commander.

  "Hey, Secretary, I didn't know until you mentioned it, now that you've said it, I realize I'm hungry. Let's head back to the county town, have some food first, and then take a nap. Whoever it is, don't disturb me." Everyone burst out laughing after he finished speaking.

  "Report to all commanders, just now radio reconnaissance, He Jian ordered the Hunan Army troops to return to Changsha for reinforcement."

  In the marching Red Army troops, Mao Zedong, Zhu De and Zhou Enlai, the new three-man team, were squatting on a stone by the roadside studying the enemy situation when they were suddenly awakened by a messenger's message.

  "What did you say? The Xiang Army has retreated? Is that true?" Vice Chairman Zhou asked disbelievingly.

  "Report to Vice Chairman Zhou, radio reconnaissance He Jian requested that the Xiang Army come to reinforce, the specific situation is not yet clear." The reporter repeated what he knew once again.

  "What do you think?" Vice Chairman Zhou still looked at the President and Commander-in-Chief with a surprised face.

  "Order the scouts to reconnoiter at once," the Commander-in-Chief ordered.

  "It seems our independent regiment is on the move, He Jian couldn't take it anymore." The chairman said with a relaxed tone.

  "Oh dear, I forgot about the independent division, it has 10,000 troops! What can He Jianru do now?" Vice Chairman Zhou heard the chairman's words and suddenly felt enlightened, bursting out laughing.

  "Hurry up and send a telegram to the Independent Brigade, ask them about the situation?" Vice-Chairman Zhou ordered impatiently.

  "Hey, look at you getting anxious! We're on the march now, how can we send a telegram? Let's talk about it tonight!" The Chairman said with a smile, and the Vice-Chairman chuckled.