Chapter 37: Enemy and I Confront Each Other

  "Yes, company commander, instructor, resolutely carry out orders."

  "Comrades, this morning we have defeated a regiment of the Shanxi Army and it can be said that this regiment has lost its combat effectiveness. Moreover, after Wang Jingguo was defeated by our main force, he will certainly be intimidated by our military strength and dare not advance. Therefore, this is a great opportunity for our special operations company to expand." Zhang Hua analyzed, looking at the battalion commanders who had stopped discussing in front of him.

  "Commander, you can now issue specific combat tasks..." Just as Zhang Hua's words were finished, a loud voice of He Deqing sounded in the command center.

  "Now, I'm going to assign specific combat tasks to each squad. Reconnaissance squad, immediately dispatch scouts to closely monitor the movements of the Shanxi Army's garrisons and report back any situation. Guard squad, take charge of patrolling around the county town and eliminate all Shanxi Army scouts. As for the remaining troops, have them assemble outside the city for training. Of course, Old Xu, you also have a very important task, which is to recruit soldiers, try to recruit as many as possible from these captives, the more the better. Based on our losses this morning, you must recruit at least 100 new soldiers." Zhang Hua commanded the crowd.

  "Yes, platoon leaders guarantee completion of the task." All the platoon leaders replied in unison.

  "There is another issue, that is to strengthen the firepower of the troops. In order to further enhance the firepower of the special operations company, three light machine guns were added to the logistics platoon. The guard platoon and reconnaissance platoon each added one light machine gun. In addition, there is the fire support platoon, with each heavy machine gun squad adding one heavy machine gun, and the artillery squad adding one mortar. It's just that now, what we have in abundance are weapons. If we had more people, Zhang Hua really wanted to set up a heavy machine gun platoon and an artillery platoon within his special operations company..."

  "Yes, platoon leader..." The several platoon leaders who were called out were all excited as they returned to their posts.

  "Alright, I've finished. Now, please let Instructor Xu say a few words." Zhang Hua smiled and sat down, turning to the instructor beside him, Xu Bin.

  "Comrades, I hope that after you go back, you will strictly follow the company commander's requirements to conduct training and combat. As for the shortage of troops in each squad, I will recruit enough new soldiers for everyone in the shortest possible time and send them over. Please seize the time to train and do not be distracted by the matter of new recruits. That's all I have to say. If there is nothing else, you can dismiss." Instructor Xu Bin stood up and continued to emphasize.

  "Yes, company commander, instructor..." After hearing the instructor's words, everyone walked out of the company one by one.

  After a morning of frantic retreat, the defeated enemy general Li Qian finally led the few hundred remaining soldiers from his unit back to the main force's garrison, where he met with the division commander Wang Jingguo, whose face was now filled with rage.

  "Commander, you must avenge me, avenge those fallen brothers. The brothers died unjustly, the Red Army had an ambush, they set up the ambush early and waited for our army to fall into it. Commander, you must avenge me..." Seeing Regimental Commander Wang Jingguo, Battalion Commander Li Qian immediately knelt on the ground, hugging Commander Wang's legs, crying and complaining with a nose full of snot and tears.

  "You're a complete bastard, an entire battalion's strength and only a few hundred people returned... I really want to kill you myself..." Seeing the regiment commander Li Qian crying in front of him, thinking of his own elite main force regiment, which was destroyed in an instant. Division commander Wang Jingguo couldn't help but feel a wave of anger, and with one kick, he kicked away Li Qian who was embracing his leg.

  "General, calm down! Although we lost a regiment, it's not entirely Commander Li's fault. We can only blame the cunning of these Red Army troops. General, this is not the time to be angry. You must know that the Red Army has just won a great victory and still occupies the entire county town. We have no choice but to defend ourselves..." Seeing the pitiful Commander Li Qian in front of him, the Chief of Staff, who had always been on good terms with him, hastily hugged the General, who was about to continue his outburst, and quickly advised him.

  "Yes, sir, we can't help but defend... Through this morning's battle, although my regiment has lost more than half of its men, I have also seen the true strength of the Red Army in Pucheng County..."

  "Hmph, this time I'll let you off, get up and tell me in detail about what happened this morning. If I find out you're exaggerating, I won't let you off." Having heard the words of the Chief of Staff and Li Qian, Regiment Commander Wang Jingguo scolded harshly and sat down on a stool, giving a loud order.

  "Yes, thank you, sir. Thank you, Chief of Staff. I will report the truth..." And so, Regimental Commander Li Qian nervously reported to his division commander about what had happened that morning. However, a Red Army company was exaggerated into a battalion in Regimental Commander Li Qiang's words.

  "Bastard, you're just eating idle rice, and the strength of an entire regiment was actually eaten away by the opponent's battalion. What use do I have for you? I'll shoot you dead right now..." After listening to Li Qian's introduction, when he learned that the Red Army had only a little more than one battalion in strength, he became even more enraged and immediately launched into a torrent of abuse.

  "Yes, sir... But the Red Army's firepower is really too strong. Moreover, they had set up an ambush behind us in advance. What's more, this regiment of the Red Army not only has a large number of heavy machine guns and submachine guns but also mortars. Faced with the dense firepower network of the Communist army, our brothers simply can't withstand it..." Seeing the division commander about to draw his gun, Regiment Commander Li Qian's face turned pale and he immediately explained.

  "Get out of here, I don't want to see you..." After listening to Captain Li Qian's explanation, Battalion Commander Wang Jingguo kicked him to the ground and shouted loudly.

  "Yes, sir..." Hearing the superior's order to leave, although the tone was extremely unpleasant. However, after all, his own life was saved. Under the continuous gaze of the chief of staff, Regimental Commander Li Qian subtly crawled out of the division headquarters. With his guards, he fled from the sight of Division Commander Wang Jingguo.

  "Chief of Staff, tell me, what should we do now? The county seat of Pu County has not been retaken, and we have lost a regiment's worth of troops. If this is not handled properly, Colonel Yan will find out sooner or later. By then, it will be our turn to lose our heads..." Looking at Li Qian as he walked away, Division Commander Wang Jingguo let out a sigh and said sorrowfully.

  "Commander, from Comrade Li's report just now, we know that although the Communist army only has a battalion-sized force, their combat effectiveness is extremely strong, and they have also obtained 12 heavy machine guns from our own heavy machine gun company. Therefore, I think we must be cautious in dealing with them..." The Chief of Staff saw the worried look on the Commander's face, thought about his own future prospects, and furrowed his brow as well.

  "This I understand. What I want to know is what we should do now?" Wang Jingguo frowned and asked in response to the chief of staff's vague answer.

  "Sir, I think it's not the best time for us to send troops yet. Although the Red Army is very powerful, they left a regiment to garrison the county town, and there's only one purpose: to protect the various supplies they haven't transported away from the county town. Therefore, I think that within a few days, this Red Army will voluntarily abandon the county town and merge with their main force. And at that time, it will be our best opportunity to strike." The chief of staff said after organizing his thoughts.

  "Chief of Staff, although what you said makes sense, but what makes you so sure that the Red Army will only stay for a few days and then withdraw from the county seat?" The division commander Wang Jingguo nodded secretly after hearing the Chief of Staff's words, but still asked uncertainly.

  "Commander, even if this Red Army's combat effectiveness is strong, he only has one regiment, less than 500 troops. Wouldn't he be afraid that the longer we stay in the county seat, we will send out heavy troops and surround the county seat, catching him off guard? I think the Communist commander isn't so stupid..." With a clear mind, the Chief of Staff immediately explained.

  "Good, too good. If we can really not waste a single soldier and recapture the county seat of Pucheng, Chief of Staff, you will be the first to be credited...". After listening to the Chief of Staff's explanation, Division Commander Wang Jingguo slammed his hand on the table and said excitedly.

  "Thank you, Commander, for your praise. It is my honor to share the burden with you." The Chief of Staff couldn't help but feel a sense of pride after hearing Wang Jingguo's compliment, and humbly said so.

  "En, very good. Chief of Staff, so what do you think we should do in the next few days? We can't just stay at our post and do nothing..." Hearing the Chief of Staff's words of loyalty, Regiment Commander Wang Jingguo also felt a surge of excitement, and continued to ask his Chief of Staff.

  "Sir, we should send a large number of scouts to the county town of Puzhou to thoroughly understand the movements of the Communist Army. In addition, the 500 defeated soldiers brought back by Colonel Li need to be reorganized. No matter what, preserving the combat effectiveness of our troops is currently our top priority." The chief of staff reminded.

  "Alright, Chief of Staff, I've decided to leave these matters in your hands. Send out all the scouts from the reconnaissance company and get me a clear understanding of the Communist Army's every move. Also, deal with those routed soldiers, reissue each of them a rifle, and supplement some troops from our logistics department to set up a basic framework for the regiment. Once we retake Pu County, we'll sort out the troop formations." Regiment Commander Wang Jingguo was extremely satisfied with the Chief of Staff's response and gave the order loudly.

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