Chapter 53: Promoted to Brigade Commander

  "Commander, hold on, we'll be at Mianhu Lake soon."

  Chen Shan looked at Sun Xinghua who was unconscious and comforted him in a low voice.

  He led this small detachment, which was also given great attention by the three battalions of officers and men. Except for the guard platoon, three infantry companies drew out seven squads of soldiers to cover this small force.

  "The Party representative, just ahead is Zengtang Village." Shen Jian pointed at the village in front of him and said to Zheng Dongguo beside him.

  "It is a division of three regiments."

  "The three battalion troops have returned."

  Not yet arrived at Zengtang Village, they met the First Battalion of the Third Regiment and immediately erupted in cheers.

  Even He Yingqin's face showed a smile.

  "Director Sun, this time your three battalions fought beautifully, I must reward you." He Yingqin said excitedly, this battle was considered by He Yingqin as the most classic battle in his life.

  The lone army withstood the enemy's tenfold strength, successfully defending its position and dealing a heavy blow to the enemy. Such an achievement was enough to make He Yingqin proud.

  He Yingqin also understood that if the three regiments were not trapped in Chen's encirclement and continued to fight, his own main force might have been attacked by more of Chen's troops.

  Now seeing the three battalion troops appearing from behind Chen Jun's troops, He Yingqin also realized something.

  "Captain, the battalion commander is injured." Zheng Dongguo saw He Yingqin in front of him and hurried over to say.

  He Yingqin's eyebrows were tightly furrowed as he walked forward, looking at Sun Xinghua lying on the stretcher. A look of guilt appeared on He Yingqin's face.

  "Hurry up and carry Sun Yinglong to Zengtang Village." He Yingqin hastily gave the order.

  Next to the headquarters in the center of Zengtang Village, there is a temporary hospital.

  Sun Xinghua has been sent here. As a doctor, Chen Shan hastily changed into his medical uniform in this temporary hospital and began to rescue Sun Xinghua.

  March 14th, 1925, 2 o'clock in the afternoon.

  A large number of publicity personnel and comfort personnel, all rushed to the front line from the rear, assisting troops in doing what they could, as deputy minister of the Women's Department, Shen Nan came to Sun Xinghua's ward, taking care of Sun Xinghua who was still in a coma.

  After listening to Zheng Dongguo's report, Principal Jiang even called Sun Xinghua a model of the Whampoa military and led relevant personnel to come to the ward to check on Sun Xinghua's condition. He specifically instructed medical staff that no matter what cost they had to save Sun Xinghua.

  On March 15, the party army assisted the Guangdong army and thoroughly defeated Chen's army.

  In this battle, more than 5,000 troops of Chen's army were annihilated and more than 3,000 were captured. Among them, except for the escape of more than 2,000 people from Wang Dinghua's unit, more than 2,000 people were killed by the three battalions, and more than 1,000 people were captured, becoming the unit that annihilated the most enemies among all units.

  At 5 o'clock in the afternoon, Principal Chiang gathered all officers and men of the 1st and 2nd battalions on the riverbank to give a speech: "This time we have achieved a great victory, but remember not to be proud. There are still many battles to fight in the future. Each department should learn from the fighting spirit of the three regiments. Huangpu officers should take Sun Xinghua as an example." Liao Party representative's speech said: "I am here on behalf of the Central Committee to comfort you, representing the Central Committee to reward each battalion 1,000 yuan, and specially rewarding the First Battalion's Third Regiment 500 yuan, and specially rewarding Regiment Commander Sun Xinghua 300 yuan.

  However, after a unanimous discussion by the officers and soldiers of the three battalions, they refused the commendation from the Central Committee on the grounds that government funds were insufficient. Liao Zhongkai then presented the Party's military first battalion flag to the third battalion as a representative of the Party.

  On March 17th, the party army troops led by Chiang continued their attack on Chen's troops.

  Sun Xinghua's position as commander of the 3rd battalion was taken over by Yan Fengyi.

  Jieyang County, inside the hospital.

  Shen Nan sat quietly beside him, looking at Sun Xinghua who was in a coma on the hospital bed. His beautiful face was filled with sorrowful expressions. They were revolutionary comrades and old members of the Tongmenghui. Since Sun Xinghua saved Shen Nan last time, Shen Nan had an extra feeling for Sun Xinghua.

  Sun Xinghua, who was on the hospital bed, struggled to open his eyes and looked around. Sun Xinghua finally let out a sigh of relief as he had been worried that he would not make it, but unexpectedly, he was still alive.

  The beauty in front of him was about to cry, with a look that made Sun Xinghua want to get up, but he startled Shen Nan beside him.

  "Are you awake?" Shen Nan said in surprise.

  Sun Xinghua forced a smile and nodded, saying: "Where am I? Where is the troop? How's the battle going? Why are you here?"

  Shen Nan looked at Sun Xinghua's expression and hastily answered these questions, then hurriedly called Chen Shan over.

  Seeing his old superior wake up, Chen Shan was very excited and carefully checked Sun Xinghua before he also let out a sigh of relief.

  "Company Commander, you'll be fine after a rest. The Japanese Type 38 rifle is very accurate but the damage it causes is minimal. Luckily, it was this kind of rifle that hit you. If it were another type of rifle, I'm afraid even a god wouldn't have been able to save you." Chen Shan said with a smile as he looked at Sun Xinghua.

  Sun Xinghua then raised several questions, and Chen Shanyi answered them one by one on behalf of Sun Xinghua, which made Sun Xinghua feel much more at ease.

  For several days, Sun Xinghua stayed in the ward, while Shen Nan accompanied him all the time. Song Ling'er checked on Sun Xinghua several times and after finding out that he wouldn't die, she hastily left Jieyang County to catch up with the propaganda team ahead.

  On April 13, 1925, Chen Jiongming's main force in the East River was defeated and he escaped to Hong Kong, while his remaining troops retreated into Fujian.

  At the same time, the Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang, through Liao Zhongkai's proposal, established the First Brigade of the Party Army. The first and second regiments of the Military Academy were expanded into the First Brigade of the Party Army, with three training regiments under its jurisdiction. Chiang Kai-shek served as the commander-in-chief, Liao Zhongkai as the party representative, Sun Chuanjing as the regimental commander of the First Training Regiment, and Shen Yingzhi as the regimental commander of the Second Training Regiment.

  The third regiment was established in Jiaying County, with Sun Xinghua as the regimental commander. Due to Sun's injury, Vice Regimental Commander and Party Representative Qian Dajun temporarily took charge of its establishment.

  After receiving the order, Qian Dajun rushed to Jieyang County with Sun Xinghua to discuss the establishment of the 3rd Regiment and brought the above orders. The number of people in the 3rd Regiment was maintained at around 1,800, and no over-enlistment was allowed.

  Chiang Kai-shek specifically issued this order, worried that Sun Xinghua's single team had too many people, which would have a bad impact on other aspects. However, in order to maintain the combat effectiveness of the Third Instructional Corps, Chiang Kai-shek transferred Shen Jian to the Third Instructional Corps as the Chief of Staff, and all of Sun Xinghua's old subordinates were also transferred to the Third Instructional Corps.