Chapter 27: The Real Man

  "Where did Commander Zhao come from?" Zhao Xiao Feng couldn't help but ask, suppressing his own doubts. In fact, he had no idea that history had already been thoroughly disrupted by himself, and Zhao Zhen Fan, who was supposed to retreat to Beiping, had returned to Fengtian City instead. The reason was that Fengtian City had attracted all the nearby Japanese troops, making it impossible for Zhao Zhen Fan to withdraw.

  Zhao Zhenpan looked at the soldiers behind him and said, "When we retreated to Dongshanzi, we encountered Japanese troops and scattered our troops. During the fierce battle, we met 500 student soldiers from Fengtian. Now there is no way to escort them back to the rear, so we can only come to surrender to Commander Zhao!"

  "What is Adviser Zhao going to do next?" Zhao Xiao Feng would not let his guard down against these Nationalist generals until he got a clear indication from Zhao Zhen Fan. He stared intently at Zhao, trying to glean some information from his attitude.

  "What a humiliation! What a shame! Is this really the army of China?"

  Zhao Zhenfan looked back at the student soldiers and pointed to the city outside, roaring with anger: "The order from above is not to fire a single shot or use a single bullet. What kind of soldier is this? How can we protect our homes and country like this? Are we just going to give away our beautiful rivers and mountains to the Japanese? We are unforgivable to the people of Northeast China! And even more unforgivable to the title of soldiers! Why should we wear these clothes again from now on?" After saying that, Zhao Zhenfan actually took off his tattered military uniform and threw it to the ground, trampling it with his feet repeatedly.

  The soldiers and student soldiers all took off their military uniforms and clothes, throwing them all on the ground. Zhao Zhenfan continued: "Brothers! Commander Zhao is determined to resist Japan and can protect our homes, protect our parents and relatives, from today on I, Zhao Zhenfan, will follow Commander Zhao!"

  "Right! Follow Commander Zhao to fight the devils!" The five hundred student soldiers shouted in unison, and nearly a thousand soldiers from the Seventh Brigade who had retreated with Zhao Zhenfan to Fengtian City also joined in the shouting.

  "Student soldiers?" Zhao Xiao Feng was delighted to see that Zhao Zhen Fan had made up his mind to follow him, and he suddenly thought of the student soldiers behind Zhao Zhen Fan. "Director Zhao! Will these students be using radios?"

  "Hah!" Zhao Zhenfan laughed and said: "Commander Zhao is really a noble person who forgets things easily! Even if they don't know, I, this old communication expert, can teach them. Besides, the use of radio is a required course for these student soldiers."

  "Alright! Very good!" Zhao Xiao Feng immediately commanded: "Officer Zhao, I won't be polite either. You must immediately lead people to take out all the radios from the supplies warehouse and distribute them to each unit. We must strive for timely delivery and contact! As for where they are sent, you can ask Master Pu!"

  "Yes!" Zhao Zhenfan immediately saluted Zhao Xiaofeng with a military salute, then followed the anti-Japanese soldiers to run towards the logistics warehouse.

  With Zhao Zhenfan's joining, the danger in the south of Fengtian has also been eliminated, but Zhao Xiaofeng found that there was one less person around him, that is Huang Xiansheng.

  Huang Xiansheng, as the police chief, would not easily compromise with Zhao Xiaofeng. It's not that he looked down on Zhao Xiaofeng, but rather that he had yet to discover Zhao Xiaofeng's true abilities. Moreover, with thousands of police officers from various departments in the Northeast region under his command, how could he accept Zhao Xiaofeng's arrangements? So, taking advantage of the enemy's rest period, he quietly led his men away.

  This was the quietest night, Zhao Xiaofeng knew that behind this quietness, the Japanese had already arranged a plan for continuous combat.

  On September 19th at midnight, Zhao Xiaofeng convened an emergency meeting with the captains and battalion commanders of various troops at the Arsenal Factory to listen to their situations.

  Wang Deqing reported: "The 300-man tank regiment has been established. There are forty-two tanks in the ordnance factory, and our people have learned to use them."

  "Good!" Zhao Xiao Feng continued to ask: "What tanks do we have now?"

  Wang Deqing immediately introduced: "There are five A7V combat tanks produced in Germany. This type of tank is mainly used as a mobile fortress and can be used to support infantry battles. The front of the vehicle is equipped with a cannon, and there are two machine guns on each side and at the rear, forming a ring-shaped firepower. There are 18 members, including the commander, driver, two gunners, 12 machine gunners, and two mechanics. In addition, there are five T-28 medium tanks from Russia, each of which can carry ten members, these are our elite troops. The rest are some light armored vehicles."

  "Hmm! Very good!" Zhao Xiaofeng knew that this equipment was already a very powerful lineup, especially the German A7V combat tank known as the "Iron Fortress". It was still Germany's main battle tank in the late World War II. It had once achieved the result of blocking two Soviet Red Army divisions for a day and a night with just three tanks.

  "Reporting to the commander! Our 300 large-caliber cannons are now in position, ready to deliver a crushing blow to the Japanese army at any moment!"

  "Good!" Zhao Xiaofeng turned his head towards Zheng Shan.

  "Reporting to the commander! We have over 260 aircraft here, but only thirty fighter planes and twenty-five bombers are available. However, our pilots still need three days of training before they can take off."

  "Hmm!" Zhao Xiaofeng knew that they had no actual combat experience before, only theoretical discussions. Now, being able to complete the task within three days was already a rare achievement. So, he immediately encouraged them: "Brothers, you are all pillars of our army, and must study and practice seriously. In the future, our Northeast Anti-Japanese Army will rely on you, our Northeast people, our parents and relatives will also rely on you! Also, you must undergo parachute training to prevent accidents in the future."

  "Yes!"

  "Commander!" Pu reported: "Most of the soldiers in our army have now returned to Fengtian City from various units around, and brought with them about 500 willing anti-Japanese soldiers from the Independent 12th Brigade Zhang Tingxu, Independent 20th Brigade Chang Jingwu, and Liaoning Cavalry 3rd Brigade Zhang Shusen!"

  "Good! It seems our resistance against Japan will definitely succeed!" Zhao Xiao Feng said with a smile.

  "Hurrah!" Everyone applauded excitedly. This was actually a kind of release, they had turned pressure into motivation, and in future battles, they would all become qualified soldiers!

  "King Zhengyang led 200 machine guns, Huang Yuehai assembled 200 mortars, and brought all the security personnel to gather at Xiaoxi Gate immediately!" Zhao Xiao Feng shouted.

  "Yes!"

  "King Deqing!"

  "Agreed!"

  "Take two A7Vs and two T-28s, and supplies will follow me!"

  "Yes!"

  "Director Zhao!" Zhao Xiaofeng stared at Zhao Zhenfan.

  "Alright!" Zhao Xiao Feng did not expect this dignified National Army Colonel to be so pleased, he was somewhat unaccustomed to it.

  "How's the radio?"

  "I have already dispatched thirty radio stations and sixty student soldiers to Xiaoxi Gate, South Gate, and Qianpo!"

  "Very well!" Zhao Xiao Feng continued, "Leave a few radio stations at the Arsenal Factory, and have the rest of the student soldiers immediately carry their radios to rush to various battlefields and key departments."

  "Yes!" Zhao Zhenfan immediately accepted the order.

  "Uncle Pu!" Zhao Xiaofeng shouted.

  Pu Ye was startled when he saw the commander hand over his own name, and he couldn't believe that the commander would call him at this time.

  Seeing Pu Ye's stunned expression, Zhao Xiao Feng immediately laughed and said: "The guarantee of logistics and the liaison with the Northeast Anti-Japanese Army are all handed over to you! And, after we drive the Japanese out, you immediately tell Shan Mao to take all the pro-Japanese elements, traitors, Hanjian, and Japanese people to Xiaoxi Gate!"

  "Yes!" Pu Ye showed no signs of panic, for Zhao Xiao Feng's words were his only authority.

  But Zhao Zhenfan was different, he immediately shouted: "Are you crazy? What are you trying to do, Commander Zhao?"

  "This is called being prepared for any situation!" Zhao Xiao Feng said coldly, "Leaving the lives of these traitors and Han traitors intact is irresponsible to our own soldiers! It's also irresponsible to the ordinary people!"

  "But!......" Zhao Zhenfan was about to speak when he was stopped by Zhao Xiaofeng, who said: "Zhao Adviser, you've also seen the brutality of the Japanese! This is called fighting fire with fire!"

  "Hmm!" Zhao Xiao Feng thought for a moment and immediately nodded, then changed the subject: "Commander! Are you mobilizing troops to engage in direct combat with the Japanese?"

  "Hmm!" Zhao Xiao Feng nodded and said: "Now I have opened up the supply lines from the front slope to Fengtian, our logistics guarantee is no longer a problem. Besides, if we want to defend Fengtian City, we must fight against the Japanese on the outskirts, otherwise, even the strongest city walls cannot withstand the impact of artillery shells, at that time, our Fengtian City will be destroyed!"

  "Hmm!" After listening to Zhao Xiaofeng's words, Zhao Zhenfan immediately nodded silently. He knew that Zhao Xiaofeng was absolutely right, but he also knew that the troops in the city were barely enough for self-defense, how could they possibly have the ability to drive the Japanese away?

  "Alright!" Zhao Xiao Feng said to the glasses: "Provide us with artillery support one kilometer outside the west gate of Chao at 3:00 in the morning, and end at 3:05. Not a minute more or less, got it?"

  "Yes! I guarantee completion of the task!" Glasses shouted loudly.

  "Let's go!" Zhao Xiao Feng waved his hand and led everyone towards the small west gate. Suddenly, Zhao Zhen Fan called out: "Commander Zhao! What am I supposed to do now?"

  "Ah!" Zhao Xiao Feng immediately laughed and said: "Director Zhao! You must follow me, there are still many things that will need your help in the future!"

  "Yes!" Zhao Zhenfan knew he had indeed not misjudged this young man. He would definitely not be a eunuch! He's a real man.