Chapter Seventeen Strengthening Connections (Seeking Collection Quantity)

  "Right, just as you thought, I'm overjoyed. We can't let the enemy take back all these captured supplies. Signalman, hurry back and inform the Chief of Staff to order all reachable units to come to Kui Tree Gorge to transport the spoils of war. Quick, also try to bring some large carts over. And, have my horse saddled up, the faster the better." Yang Yong, coming to his senses, slapped his own head and ordered the signalman behind him.

  "Yes, Captain..." The communication officer finished speaking and turned around to rush back the way he came. Finally, after a night's effort by over 1,000 soldiers, dozens of large vehicles, and hundreds of prisoners, the mountainous pile of supplies was completely moved to the 10th Regiment's base.

  Facing the piled-up supplies and ammunition, Yang Yong, as the regimental commander, was smiling all night. Especially when he saw Zhang Hua, he almost praised him every time they met.

  "Zhang Hua, you're quite something! I gave you one heavy machine gun and you brought back 14. Ha ha, and five mortars too, that's really excessive. Tell me, what caught your eye this time? Considering the great contribution you and the special operations company made this time, as long as it's not an unreasonable request, I'll definitely grant it."

  "Squad leader, this is what you said, take whatever I see? I want 300 sets of bedding, the weather is getting colder and colder, can't let the soldiers freeze. Let me think again, I also want 50 rifles, four light machine guns, one heavy machine gun, one mortar, plus 100 rounds of ammunition... Of course, all firearms and ammunition must be fully equipped." Zhang Hua said with his fingers.

  "Hmm? I agreed to everything else, it's just this mortar... I'm afraid that none of you in the special operations unit will know how to use this thing, so it's better if we leave the mortar at the battalion headquarters..." Battalion Commander Yang Yong said with a smile.

  "Squad leader, you don't have to worry about this problem. Anyway, I won't let the mortar sit idle." Zhang Hua said with a nonchalant expression.

  "Alright, Zhang Hua, you're quite ruthless. I'll agree to all your terms and give you everything. Additionally, I'll throw in ten crates of ammunition and five crates of hand grenades for your special forces unit. However, I have one condition: you must train your special forces unit into the strongest company in the entire army, with unparalleled combat strength. Can you do it? Do you have the confidence?" Yang Yong gritted his teeth and slammed his fist on the table.

  "Thank you, Captain. I promise not to disappoint your expectations..." Zhang Hua also stood up excitedly and said. With the captain's promise, Zhang Hua led the special forces soldiers to smoothly collect all the supplies. A group of dozens of people, carrying a large amount of weapons and ammunition, walked contentedly towards their base.

  "Old Yang, are you really going to give these weapons and ammunition to the Special Operations Company? If they really get their hands on this stuff, each of their platoons will have at least one light machine gun. In terms of firepower density, that's enough to match an entire regiment of our Red Army. And if you add in their two heavy machine guns and a mortar, they'll even surpass the firepower of any single regiment in our Red Army." The Chief of Staff asked as he saw Zhang Hua leave the command center.

  "Give, why not give. Zhang Hua this kid is so capable of leading troops, we should support him well. Last time we gave him a heavy machine gun, he exchanged it for us with so many materials. This time giving him so many weapons and ammunition, let him exchange more materials for us again. Actually, Chief of Staff, haven't you noticed that the special forces company doesn't lack weapons at all? Why does Zhang Hua still want so many weapons?" Yang Yong said thoughtfully.

  "Right, now the special task force's equipment is already the best in our 10th regiment, what does he want so much equipment for?" The chief of staff asked back with doubt.

  "Haha, Chief of Staff, you didn't notice this, did you? Think about it, whose soldiers were closest to these captured prisoners yesterday... No need to think, it was the soldiers from the Special Operations Unit. I noticed this situation last night, and if my guess is correct, within just one night's time. Zhang Hua and Xu Bin have convinced many of these prisoners to join the Red Army, specifically the Special Operations Unit."

  "What? He's recruiting from among the captives... My god, his special operations unit already has 150 men and he still wants to expand..." The chief of staff said with his mouth agape, hardly daring to believe it.

  "Haha, Chief of Staff, you're underestimating Zhang Hua and Xu Bin! If nothing unexpected happens, our special forces company will soon become an enhanced company, with strong combat capabilities and advanced equipment. Zhang Hua is a rare talent, as long as he's properly trained, he'll definitely become a renowned general who can conquer all corners of the world. Let's wait and see!" said Regimental Commander Yang Yong with profound meaning.

  "No wonder you're so good to this kid, almost catering to his every need. It turns out you were grooming him all along... Now I get it." The Chief of Staff said with a smile.

  "Lao Xue, how's it going? What was the harvest like last night?" Zhang Hua asked Xu Bin, the instructor of his special forces unit, as soon as he returned to their base.

  "Old Zhang, I'm afraid I've let you down. The situation isn't particularly good." Mentioning the task that Zhang Hua had secretly given him last night, Instructor Xu Bin lowered his head.

  "Lao Xu, tell me, what's going on?" Zhang Hua asked with a furrowed brow, seemingly having seen something in Xu Bin's expression.

  "Old Zhang, according to the confessions of those captives, as long as the news that they joined the Red Army was spread to their own homes, their families would be imprisoned. These are some laws set by Yan Xishan in Shanxi, but they have harmed us... Fortunately, among these soldiers, many were lonely and helpless since childhood, and many grew up begging for food. Most of these soldiers without relatives agreed to join the Red Army and enter our special operations unit." Instructor Xu Bin explained.

  "How many people are there in total?" Zhang Hua asked anxiously, his heart filled with anticipation.

  "Among these captives, we mobilized a total of 32 people, after screening, there were no political problems. In addition, our special agent team also recruited 10 new soldiers in Nanwan Village, among them three young men who have been hunters since childhood... A total of 38 people..." The instructor handed over a list filled with names to Zhang Hua's hands.

  "Well, that's good. With these people joining us, our special operations company is now a fully-staffed reinforced company. However, Old Xu, the issue of recruiting soldiers can never be relaxed, no matter what time it is. From now on, wherever our special operations company goes, we must recruit soldiers there." Zhang Hua said with satisfaction.

  "I understand this, and besides, it has always been the principle of our Red Army. By the way, Old Zhang, how do you plan to arrange these new recruits... You know, these people have all undergone a certain amount of training. As long as they are slightly strengthened and honed, they will become excellent soldiers." The instructor nodded and asked.

  "Hey, it's simple, Old Xu. Did you see those heavy weapons I brought back? Our fire support squad is going to become a fire support platoon. Here's the specific arrangement: we'll select three veteran soldiers from each of the three squads and add nine new recruits to form our special operations company's heavy equipment squad, equipped with 12 rifles. Each squad will add five new recruits, two light machine guns, and three rifles. The sniper squad will add the three new recruits you mentioned, with three rifles. Additionally, the logistics squad needs to add seven people to reach full capacity, all equipped with Type 38 rifles. The remaining personnel will be added to the expanded fire support platoon." Zhang Hua said, ticking off on his fingers.

  "Old Zhang, is this still a company? And what's the specific formation of the fire support platoon?" Xu Bin was shocked after hearing Zhang Hua's words, clearly stunned by what he said.

  "Old Xu, I'm afraid to say it, but I'll scare you. Our firepower support company has two heavy machine gun squads and one artillery squad under its jurisdiction. Each heavy machine gun squad has 7 people and 6 rifles, while the artillery squad has 7 people and 3 rifles. In addition, there is a platoon leader, making a total of 22 people in the entire firepower support company." Zhang Hua thought for a moment before saying.

  In this way, the two men once again discussed the organization of the entire special operations company. At the same time, they took stock and counted the spoils of war that the special operations company had privately kept for themselves. Of course, what made Zhang Hua happiest was the two telescopes, the enemy army's regimental commander's guard squad's Type 81 submachine gun, and a rare map. As for the telescopes, they were naturally one each for Zhang Hua and Xu Bin, while more than thirty Type 81 submachine guns were given to the nine squad leaders of the three infantry platoons, with one each for the scouts and guards...

  The next day, after some personnel adjustments, the special warfare company entered the training phase again. However, this didn't last long. Just as the special warfare company began its training less than two days ago, Team Communications Officer Zhang arrived at the company's headquarters.

  "Report to Commander Zhang Lianchang, Director Xu. The regiment commander and chief of staff request that you rush to the regiment command post immediately." Seeing the deputy commanders of the special operations company, the communications officer hastily said.

  "Lao Xue, it seems like there's another task from above. Let's set off now," said the two men as they followed the team communication officer and quickly left the special operations company's base, heading towards the team command center.

  "Reporting to the team leader, chief of staff, Captain Zhang Hua of the Special Operations Company, and Instructor Xu Bin, we have come under orders to report." The two men entered the command center and simultaneously saluted.

  "Ah, here they are. Everyone please sit down! Chief of Staff, you first announce the commendation orders we received to them..." Seeing his two beloved generals, Regimental Commander Yang Yong put down the documents in his hand and sat down saying this.

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