Chapter 35: Raiding Taoyuan (Part 2)

  "Commander, the scouting battalion has sent a telegram." It turned out that the first company of scouts had set out on horseback under Liu Hua's orders early in the morning and arrived at the outskirts of Taoyuan around 6 pm. In order to gather more intelligence, some disguised themselves and infiltrated the city, while others outside tried to capture prisoners. Soon, all the information was in Liu Hua's hands.

  "Commander, after reconnaissance, it is found that there are 15 divisions of the Central Army and a guard brigade of the Xiang Army stationed in Taoyuan. The reason for this large number is that the Central Army is preparing to launch a new round of encirclement and annihilation against the Red 26th Army Corps. Scout Battalion Commander: Liu Xiaogang"

  After reading the telegram, Liu Hua was stunned. In his eyes, there were only a few more guards on duty now. With so many people suddenly appearing, Liu Hua sat on the ground quietly smoking a cigarette. "Immediately send a telegram to the reconnaissance battalion to see if they can bypass Taoyuan County and head towards Yujia Ping. Also, ask them to find out when the 15th Division will deploy troops."

  Soon, the telegram arrived. It was clear that Liu Xiaogang had already investigated all these situations. "According to reconnaissance, the enemy's encirclement and annihilation will take place 2 days later. Among them, there is a small road in Taoyuan County that can be passed through troops, but heavy loads cannot pass." Looking at the telegram sent by Liu Xiaogang, Liu Hua smiled.

  "Send a telegram to General He, ask if they know the specific time and route of the 15th Division's encirclement of the base." Soon, Old He was called out of bed by Ren Zhengxiao. "General He, Liu Hua inquired about the situation of the 15th Division stationed at Taoyuan Central Military." General He took over the telegram.

  "Ah, looks like this kid is going to take on the 15th Division, haha, Commissar, now we don't have to worry about the enemy in the Taoyuan direction. Quick, send all the information we know to them and ask if they need any help." Seeing He Laozong's excited expression, Ren Zhengwei reminded him: "He Zong, that's a first-class division of the Central Army, can Liu Hua's independent division handle it?"

  "Commissar, don't underestimate Liu Hua. At least four regiments have fallen under his command now. His troops are strong and vigorous, so it's likely to work out. Besides, this young man volunteered himself, I think he must be confident. I really want to meet this Red Army hero Liu Hua right now." He then burst into laughter.

  After reading He's telegram, Liu Hua also spoke bluntly and said: "Send a telegram to He, saying that my department urgently needs regimental political workers, and is still short of a division chief of staff, three battalion chiefs of staff. Please ask He to command and help solve this problem." After finishing speaking, he revealed a smile.

  "Hey, General He, this kid Liu Hua is quite something, he just reaches out and asks for people, now you've brought trouble to our doorstep, you deal with it." After saying that, he handed the telegram to General He and sat down on a stool beside him, smiling as he sipped his tea. "Good heavens, a division's chief of staff...he really dares to ask for this. This matter must be reported to the Central Committee, after all, an independent division is directly under the Central Committee! I think we should send Guan Xiang and Ying over, they're both young and get along well, what do you say?"

  Ren Zhengwei thought for a moment, nodded and walked out to draft a telegram to the Central Committee.

  "Chairman, what do you think? He Zong should grant Liu Hua's request and transfer Guan Ying to the independent division as chief of staff. Ha ha, that little Liu Hua really dares to ask for people." Vice Chairman Zhou said with a smile.

  "I don't have any ideas, Liu Hua is too young, Li Qing's experience is also too shallow, it's indeed difficult for them to lead over 10,000 people. Guan Xiangying, I think he can do it, Commander-in-Chief, what do you think?"

  "I agree with Old Mao's opinion and agree to adjust the relationship to what it should be in the past. Although it is a demotion, an independent division is not inferior to one of his army corps, with over 10,000 people and good weapons."

  "Since everyone agrees, I'll go post the notice now." Vice Chairman Zhou walked out of the rest house.

  "Comrade Liu Hua: With the approval of the Central Military Commission, Comrade Guan Xiangying is appointed as the Chief of Staff of the Independent Division. Led by Comrade Guan Xiangying, 100 political work cadres will depart tonight and are expected to arrive near Yujia Ping tomorrow night. Please arrange for troops to meet them. He Long, Ren Bishi"

  After reading the telegram, Liu Hua's hands were trembling. Had his arrival really changed history? To think that Guan Xiang had always been a political commissar of the army corps in history, and was even a brigade commander during the Eighth Route Army era. Now that he had become his chief of staff, how could he not be excited?

  "Li Xiaolong, quickly call Li Xiaolong over," Liu Hua excitedly shouted to the communications officer beside him.

  "Xiao Long, I'm giving you a task now. Take your guard battalion and set off immediately. From the First Battalion, take a radio station to the vicinity of Taoyuan and find Liu Xiaogang. Let Liu Xiaogang send someone to lead you around the county town and rush straight to Yujiaping. There, meet up with the people sent by Commander He's headquarters. I'll tell you, there is our new chief of staff of the Independent Regiment. You little devil, be careful and don't have any accidents, got it?"

  "Yes, sir. I guarantee the completion of the task." After finishing speaking, he disappeared into the vast night.

  "Call in the two squad leaders for a meeting."

  The two regimental commanders quickly came to Liu Hua's front and sat down. After Liu Hua briefly introduced the situation, both regimental commanders' faces showed a difficult expression. To know that it was an A-class division, 3rd Brigade 9th Regiment, with more than 16,000 people. If things go wrong, the independent division might capsize this time.

  "What's wrong, hehe, are you guys losing confidence? At that time, our three main forces will not be afraid of his one division. Look at how scared you are! I think this way: we'll take care of one brigade at a time, and if it doesn't work out, we'll take down two brigades at once. What do you guys think?" Liu Hua said to them.

  "Commander, our three regiments can definitely take down their two brigades." Sun Xingbang Regiment Commander said confidently, thinking of the independent division's combat effectiveness.

  "But sir, what about the enemy's other regiment? Won't they come out to reinforce?" asked Gao Yuan.

  "Yes, it's this issue, I think so...". After hearing their teacher's words, the two of them simultaneously revealed a smile.

  Very soon, the independent division began to move, and the two new battalions of the vanguard immediately advanced towards the direction led by the political commissar. The commander of the third regiment also received orders, leading his first and second battalions and mortar companies to rush overnight to catch up with the vanguard troops, leaving only the third battalion and a new battalion under the command of the political commissar as the rearguard of the entire army, while approaching the logistics troops were also two artillery companies. It depends on whether the enemy's third brigade can be left in Taoyuan, relying on the 24 mortars of the two artillery companies.

  The next day, it wasn't until 9 o'clock that the third battalion commander, who was in charge of the rear guard, arrived with two battalions. After a one-hour rest following the merger of the two armies, they immediately set off towards Taoyuan. Finally, at dusk, they linked up with the scouting battalion. Liu Hua thought for a moment and ordered the soldiers to rest for two hours before setting off again under the lead of the scouting battalion. They finally managed to get all 7,000 troops to bypass Taoyuan County and hide in the mountains by dawn.

  The political commissar also brought the logistics new soldier team and rushed to the two new soldier camps near Taoyuan, hiding and waiting for further orders from the division commander.

  Just as Liu Hua was thinking about the next step, a report interrupted his thoughts. He saw Li Xiaolong bringing a young cadre to stand in front of him. Liu Hua was taken aback for a moment before reacting quickly, realizing that it was none other than his chief of staff, Guan Xiangying. He hastily walked over, grasped his hand excitedly and said: "Comrade Guan Xiangying! Welcome to the Independent Regiment! I'm Liu Hua, please sit down, please sit down."

  At this time, Guan Xiangying was also staring blankly at the young man in front of him, hardly daring to believe that a student had become a hero of the Red Army. Facing Liu Hua's enthusiasm, Guan Xiangying quickly reflected on his own thoughts and said, "Reporting to Commander Liu, Independent Division Chief of Staff Guan Xiangying has come to report."

  Perhaps because both were young people, they chatted openly in just a few minutes. When Liu Hua said he wanted to annihilate two enemy regiments with the strength of his three brigades, Guan Xiangying was stunned and quickly reminded him: "Commander, I'd like to ask, how many men are there in three brigades? Will ambushing two regiments be too few?"

  Liu Hua explained with a smile: "Hehe, Chief of Staff, don't worry, these three regiments, not counting their new recruit battalions, have more than 7,000 people. Ambushing 10,000 people may be a bit difficult, but it should be manageable."

  Looking at Liu Hua's confident expression, Guan Xiangying still showed a disbelieving expression "Commander, our numbers are still less than the enemy's, you know that the Central Army's firepower is very strong, we can't compare to them! Commander, don't be too optimistic!"

  "Heh heh, Chief of Staff, you still don't understand the firepower configuration of the Independent Division. Let me tell you about it so that you can have a clearer understanding of the Independent Division and make it easier to command them in battle.

  The Independent Division has three main force regiments, one new recruit regiment, and one logistics department, with a total of over 1,400 personnel. Each of the three main force regiments has three main force battalions, one new recruit battalion, and one artillery company. The main force battalions each have one heavy machine gun company. The division headquarters has one directly affiliated artillery regiment and one heavy machine gun regiment. Every infantry squad has a light machine gun.

  The firepower configuration won't be weaker than that of the Central Army."

  At this point, Guan Xiangying was stunned. "Master, I'd like to ask how many big cannons and machine guns the entire division has?" Guan Xiangying asked dully.

  "Hehe, not many, there are over 100 mortars, about 150 heavy machine guns, and I don't know the exact number of light machine guns, but each regiment should have nearly 100 or so!" Liu Hua smiled as he looked at Guan Xiangying's shocked face. He knew how shocking such powerful firepower was to the Red Army soldiers who had always lacked guns and ammunition, so he just sat there quietly waiting."

  Guan Xiang was originally still depressed about being transferred to an independent division as a chief of staff, which meant demotion for himself. But now he didn't think that way anymore. In such a troop, he would even be willing to be the regiment commander. The firepower here might surpass the entire 26th Army Corps. If he knew that the logistics department had left out thousands of rifles and nearly a hundred light machine guns unused, he would definitely be shocked to death. Seeing Liu Hua staring at him, he immediately reacted.

  "Master, I was too shocked just now, really didn't expect it, haha, let's discuss how to fight this battle now!" Guan Xiang smiled awkwardly.