Chapter Seventeen: The Independent Battalion

  Diqin did not say anything else this time, and said directly: "The subordinate has not been to a military school to study, does not understand what regular warfare is, but knows that the purpose of fighting is to win, eliminate the devils. The tactical method is somewhat special and it is difficult to coordinate with other troops, so I request independent combat power. Can strike at key points of the devils according to the commander's plan, coordinating with the frontal battlefield. Second, the subordinate does not trust other generals, hopes to follow the commander to fight on the anti-Japanese battlefield.

  Regarding the first point, Xue Yue was still very supportive. This Diqin doesn't look like a standard soldier at all. Just that one meal of flattering words that made people blush wasn't something a soldier could do. Independent operations, striking key points to coordinate with frontal warfare, this is exactly in line with his own combat intentions. However, the second point made him think twice. This Diqin has done so much, it seems like he's intentionally getting close to himself, which made Xue Yue somewhat vigilant. But this is something for later, whether or not he can be transferred to another battlefield, even he didn't know.

  Nodding, he said: "The first point I can answer you. The second point is not worth mentioning, the anti-Japanese war battlefield is not lacking in wise and brave generals. Whoever is by their side is fighting against Japan, and whoever is loyal to the country."

  Diqin didn't say much more, this kind of thing is just to leave an impression on the other person's mind, it's not something that can be believed just by responding with words. However, agreeing to the first point is enough, saying "our tactics are special" is just an excuse, what Diqin meant was that he didn't trust the National Army commanders. When his own troops were fighting at Yangjia Alley, the headquarters retreated without even notifying him, if it wasn't for Zhao Ke going to the headquarters to request reinforcements, his troops would have been surrounded by the enemy. If it were up to him, they would fight if they could, and run if they couldn't. Why did he train his soldiers so hard? It was precisely so that they could run.

  Upon hearing Xue Yue's words, he immediately stood up straight and said: "Yes."

  It was just a team, not even in Xue Yue's eyes, but out of curiosity, he wanted to meet Zhai Qin. The impression left was not bad, and he said: "Since you want to have the power to fight independently, organize your troops into an independent guerrilla battalion directly under the war zone, with the combat area in Wuhu, Dutou, and Ma'anshan. The 19th Group Army's guerrilla headquarters is mainly engaged in enemy rear guerrilla warfare, and the commander of the headquarters is Kong Hechong. He used to be a high-ranking Communist Party official and has studied guerrilla warfare. Go to Jingxian County to see him and receive some training on guerrilla warfare."

  Diqin was shocked in his heart, Konghe didn't know that he was a traitor. Learn from him? Learning how to betray? Moreover, at this time, it seems that no advanced guerrilla tactics can be learned. And it's not certain whether he knows more than me. But on the surface, he didn't show anything and stood up straight saying "Yes". Then with a smile on his face, he said: "Commander, I have two small requests, would you agree?"

  Seeing Zhai Qin's appearance, Xue Yue had a slight urge to laugh. At this moment, Zhai Qin had a somewhat childish and pleading expression, with a smile on his face, saying: "You didn't have two requests, did you? How come there are two more?"

  Dai Qin said: "Don't be so petty, you're a commander after all. Why are you nitpicking with me, a small regimental commander?"

  Xue Yue thought that Zhai Qin had gathered over a thousand soldiers, almost the size of a third-class regiment. He was only a captain and thought he was dissatisfied with his rank, so he said: "Let's talk about it first."

  Dí Qín said: "First, Commander, can you give Director Huang an order? I need to exchange the weapons I have for something else. You know that in guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines, heavy weapons are useless. Second, can we be equipped with a radio transmitter and some higher-grade equipment?"

  Xue Yue was taken aback, he really hadn't thought of this request. He nodded and said: "This is feasible. Xu Chief of Staff, call Huang Bingjie and see if you can make the adjustments according to Zhai Qin's requirements. Also, tell Luan Director that we haven't equipped him with a radio station, so let's assign a signalman."

  Xu Supu understood in his heart that although he had already reminded the commander, this kid still managed to fool the commander. The National Army radio was very tense and only equipped to the regimental level, many regiments didn't have it, and even if they did, they were all independent combat units. This kid didn't know how to fight yet, but his demands weren't small either. However, the commander spoke up and said: "Let Director Li handle this matter, he just went to the Military Supplies Department."

  Xue Yue is too busy, no time to waste words with a small regimental commander, even Xu Supu doesn't have the time. He said to Di Qin: "You are temporarily promoted to lieutenant colonel and appointed as the commander of the independent battalion, others arrange their own reports to the command center, if there's anything find Li Yan director."

  Diqin finally left the headquarters with satisfaction, his goals were basically achieved. He swapped weapons and Huang Bingjie had agreed, but that was a personal relationship, owing someone a favor. There was no benefit for him to do so. With the order from above, it was like having double insurance.

  When Diqin rushed back to the logistics department of Liyang Military, Huang Bingjie's face immediately changed. It turned out that after all, Diqin had intentionally pulled him in and had a flattering intention. But now it was reversed, and Huang Bingjie began to curry favor with Diqin.

  Dai Qin went to the command post, and his identity changed immediately. Although he had only been promoted one level to become a junior captain, the unit number was out, and it was an independent guerrilla battalion directly under the enemy's command post. General Shen gave Dai Qin another phone order to switch weapons, promising to equip him with a radio station and saying that he would provide some high-end materials at the right time. It seems that their relationship is indeed not ordinary. Could he be the commander's nephew? But it seemed that the commander's maternal family name was not Dai.

  With the commander's order, Director Li had no choice but to comply. Looking at Zhai Qin's smug face, Luan Zhengping was furious. This little rascal, if it weren't for his own disapproval, this guy would have seduced all the girls in the communication station and made them ask to go to the front line, but Luan Zhengping didn't dare agree.

  Diaoqin is just a nickname for "womanizer", he wouldn't want to bring a woman, that would be too inconvenient. Besides, this is war, not starting a company or going on a tour, bringing a girl along doesn't make sense.

  In the evening, Diqin invited guests to have a big drink at Tunxi Fenghuang Building with Huang Bingjie, Li Yan and many others from the military supply department. The next day, Diqin's performance at the military supply department opened Li Le's eyes wide, and the chief of staff was simply amazed. Before the war, the military supply department became like Diqin's home, where he could take whatever he wanted.

  In the end, Huang Bingjie was almost in tears before Zhai Qin finally relented. A string of horse-drawn carriages left Laiyang under the protection of a company and headed straight back to Ningguo.

  Sitting in the carriage, swaying with the motion of the vehicle, Diqin closed his eyes and calculated. He didn't have a clear battle objective and didn't know where to start. This matter needed careful consideration; he had to emerge victorious, or else it would be humiliating when he returned home. The little girls in the telegraph room were still waiting for their spoils of war.

  Thinking of Xu Supu's last words, Zhai Qin understood what others were worried about. Isn't it just that giving himself too many troops is not reassuring? However, this is also good, short and neat, with fewer people, it's easier to command. The old man really didn't have the ability to command thousands of people, working was okay, but fighting wasn't, this isn't a gang fight.

  According to the order of the Chief of Staff, the Independent Guerrilla Battalion was organized into three companies, each company with four platoons, and each platoon with 50 men. In addition to the battalion headquarters and other branches, there were more than 700 people in total. The remaining soldiers were all handed over to the temporarily formed 12th Brigade.

  This time there were horse-drawn carriages, but they had supplies and the speed was not too fast. On the third day, Zhaiqin's horse-drawn carriage team finally returned to the Ningguo Guandi Temple camp, and Zhaiqin went back and forth for more than a week.

  Looking at the things being unloaded from the carriage, Zhao Kai's face was filled with joy: "Lian Zhang, no, great team leader, is the commander our relative?"

  "Stop being nosy, who's close to you anyway? Do you have a sister? Don't get too familiar." said Zhai Qin.

  Zhao Kai knew he didn't have to go back to the 625th Regiment, and he became the deputy commander of the Independent Battalion. During this time, he also got familiar with Zhai Qin, knowing that their battalion commander was cunning and could endure a lot. Looking at these equipment, any unit would be envious. Even the amount of ammunition made people jealous. Hearing Zhai Qin's words: "I really don't have a sister. Or so I've heard you do."

  "Fart, my sister can marry a martial artist like you?" Zhao Qin cursed loudly.

  Zhao Kai said: "I have a third aunt, who is not very old and has just lost her husband. I can introduce you to her?"

  Dai Qin found that this Zhao Kai was not a good thing either, even more rascal than himself. He went up and kicked him: "Damn it, hurry up and reorganize the troops, I'm going to fight against the devils."

  "Battle", Zhao Kai said in surprise: "The devils haven't attacked yet?"

  Dai Qin almost pulled out his gun to shoot Zhao Kai, furious and jumping up shouting: "You damn pig! Why are we waiting for the devils to attack? Why can't we attack? You're just a masochist. Do you have a persecution complex or something? Why do we have to wait for the devils to attack? Tell me, why?"

  Looking at Daiqin's furious face, Zhao Kai didn't know why the captain was so angry. But thinking about it, he realized that he hadn't thought of attacking first either. He was stunned for half a day and still couldn't figure it out.

  Dai Qin is really infuriating, how come it's always like this, not a single person thinks about taking the initiative to attack, always being passive and defensive, always counterattacking after being hit, never proactively attacking others. For thousands of years, except for one Mongol conquest of other countries, I've never heard of China attacking other places, how come it's always defending against invasion, never invading others, just thinking about it makes me suffocate.

  Scolding Zhao Kai to run away, Zhai Qin began to study the map, thinking about where to give the devils a lesson. This was not only his problem, but also a tactical problem. He himself didn't seem to know what strategy and tactics were.

  After thinking for half a day, I finally decided to abandon the entire battlefield. It had nothing to do with me anyway. In any case, it would take the devils twenty years to grow up and be able to hold guns, and on the battlefield, one bullet would cost them their lives. Let's see how many of them can be sent to the battlefield to be eliminated, one by one.

  Looking at Xuan City, Di Qin shouted: "Di Gui, let Cheng Shizhong come."

  Zhao Kai reorganized the independent battalion, and the original three battalions were rearranged by Zhai Qin. He selected young, physically strong, hardworking, and vengeful soldiers against the Japanese to form his independent battalion. Those who did not meet the standards were left for Zhang Tongye's temporary 12th brigade.

  "Deputy Captain, how many weapons and ammunition did you leave for them?"

  Zhao Kai glared at him: "Are you a pig's head? If the squad leader hears about it, I reckon your little butt will get kicked again. What are we leaving behind? Bullets, hand grenades, all left behind. Leave those broken guns and the weapons we can't use to them, and leave all the short guns behind."

  Zhang Meng immediately stood up straight: "Understood."

  Diqin's independent regiment was finally reorganized. Three squadrons, a reconnaissance squadron, a regimental guard squadron and a headquarters squadron with three squadrons. The entire regiment had 750 people.

  When they saw the entire battalion's equipment, Zhao Kai and the three company commanders all had to admit that this was absolutely the best-equipped unit in the National Army. Because Zhai Qin didn't want cannons or heavy machine guns, he exchanged some with Huang Bingjie and borrowed some from Xue Yue, who naturally didn't hesitate at all.

  Each squad has a machine gun team, with five Czech-style light machine guns guaranteed. Ten people in each squad. The squad leader and the machine gunner, ammunition soldier are all box cannons. There is also a part of the pistol. All long guns are Zhongzheng, each person has four wooden handle grenades, four British-made hand grenades. Rifle soldiers have 100 rounds of bullets, machine gun spare 1,000 rounds. No food, no logistics. According to Zhai Qin's instructions, eat wherever you go, and only prepare one day's dry rations on your body.

  Di Gui rushed to Zhao Kai's front: "Deputy Captain, Young Master has ordered, officers above battalion commander go to the meeting."

  Zhao Kai understood, Zhai Qin's battle plan was ready, this was the first battle of the independent battalion.