Chapter 61: The Combat Strength of the Special Operations Battalion

  "Company Commander, don't worry, the political instructor and all the political workers in the company are now working on those wounded and captured enemies. I think it should have a significant effect." Guo Chengzhu nodded in response.

  "How was the booty? This time's ambush, we used up a quarter of our stockpile of ammunition. That must be replenished." Zhang Hua continued to ask after solving the prisoner problem.

  "Haha, Regimental Commander, if we talk about the spoils of war, there's a lot. We captured over 540 rifles alone. In addition, we got 54 submachine guns and pistols, 14 light machine guns, 6 heavy machine guns, and 3 mortars. As for ammunition, because the enemy retreated too quickly, they left behind an entire artillery company's worth of ammo, totaling 540 shells. We also got 12 boxes of heavy machine gun bullets, and approximately 80,000 rounds of rifle, light machine gun, and submachine gun bullets combined. There are about 2,400 hand grenades as well. Furthermore, at the enemy's division headquarters, we captured two radio transmitters, four warhorses, two military maps, and a number of other military supplies..." Guo Chengzhu replied loudly.

  "Alright, tell Old Huang to take away all these supplies. These are the fruits of our soldiers' lives and blood. Also, bury the martyrs' bodies on the spot. If nothing unexpected happens, the Shanxi Army's rear guard brigade will arrive in less than two hours. We must withdraw from the battlefield within half an hour." Zhang Hua's mood was exceptionally high as he heard about the large amount of captured supplies, and he loudly gave orders.

  "Yes, Battalion Commander..." Half an hour later, the Special Operations Battalion carried the seriously wounded, escorted over a hundred prisoners of war, and carried a large amount of captured materials and ammunition, withdrawing from Nanling in a majestic manner after fighting for over an hour. Along the small road, they chased after the main force troops.

  At last, the whole army found the temporary camp of the Fourth Division after more than ten hours of pursuit. Zhang Hua was also summoned to the temporary division headquarters by the division commander as soon as he returned to the camp... In a small thatched hut, Zhang Hua saw the division commander, political commissar and his own regimental commander.

  "Reporting to the instructor, political commissar, and regimental commander, the 10th Regiment's Special Task Force has completed its mission. Please instruct..." Zhang Hua walked into the dimly lit command center, gave a military salute, and replied loudly.

  "Haha, our hero is back. I heard that you defeated a regiment of the Jin-Sui army with just one battalion, eliminated over 1,000 enemy soldiers, and seized a large amount of weapons and ammunition. This victory is not much smaller than the one we achieved in the ambush battle. Comrade Zhang Hua, quickly tell me about the entire process of the blocking battle, let us know how you commanded this battle." Seeing Zhang Hua, Division Commander Huang Kecheng couldn't help but be excited, loudly praising him.

  "Commander, this is not my credit, it's the result of the collective efforts of all the soldiers. Especially those who sacrificed themselves, without their sacrifice, our special operations battalion would not have achieved such a great victory." Hearing the commander's praise, Zhang Hua's heart was also extremely happy. However, he knew that now was not the time for him to be proud.

  "Well, being able to think of this shows that you have already become a qualified commander. Battalion Commander Zhang, please give us a detailed report on the specific circumstances of the Nanling Blockade Battle." After hearing Zhang Hua's words, Regimental Commander Huang Kecheng, who had a particularly good impression of Zhang Hua, couldn't help but nod his head in agreement and said.

  "Yes, sir. The whole battle process was like this......" Zhang Hua spent a full half hour recounting the entire ambush from digging trenches to final victory, without missing a single word.

  "Good, well done... especially your guard platoon, reconnaissance platoon, sniper platoon this strange army, is really arranged too well. I think that if there was no attack by this strange army, the troops would not have been able to achieve such a big victory." After listening to Zhang Hua's arrangement and deployment, Regimental Commander Yang Yong couldn't help but feel a wave of excitement, and said loudly.

  "Yes, Commissar, if it weren't for this cavalry regiment taking out the enemy's artillery positions and then ambushing their command center, we wouldn't have achieved such a great victory. More importantly, our casualties would definitely be extremely heavy." Zhang Hua nodded in agreement with Regimental Commander Yang Yong without hesitation.

  "Comrade Zhang Hua, after listening to your speech, I also think that your special operations battalion is very good. So, when you return, you should put the combat experiences of your special operations battalion into written form and submit a copy to the division commander for everyone's reference and study." Division Commander Huang Kecheng nodded secretly in agreement.

  "Yes, sir, mission accomplished."

  "Alright, Comrade Zhang Hua, after the battle this afternoon, your special operations battalion has lost nearly a company's worth of troops. Are there any arrangements in your battalion... You should know that after the ambush this morning, the entire 4th Division has lost nearly a thousand troops, and just your 10th Regiment alone has lost nearly three hundred people." Now that he knew about the special operations battalion's battle situation, the division commander was most concerned with the combat effectiveness of this sharp sword in his hand.

  "Report to the instructor, political commissar and regimental commander, after discussion with our special task force headquarters, we have come up with a solution. In the battle of resistance, we captured 154 prisoners and had many wounded soldiers. After mobilization by instructors and others, 24 lightly wounded soldiers are willing to join our Red Army. Among more than 150 prisoners, I think several dozen people can be mobilized to join our Red Army. Also, compressing the logistics battalion and new recruit battalion's establishment, we will try our best to ensure the combat effectiveness of three battalions." Zhang Hua replied loudly.

  "Good, your idea is very good. How about it, are there any more difficulties in the troops?" Hearing that the combat effectiveness of the Special Task Battalion would not be affected, Division Commander Huang Kecheng's face was filled with excitement and he continued to ask.

  "Comrades, political commissar, battalion commander, I have a difficulty. It's about the equipment captured by the special task force in Nanling this time. I want to keep all the light machine guns, three heavy machine guns, three mortars, all the submachine guns, all the hand grenades and their corresponding ammunition. As for the remaining weapons and ammunition, they will be handed over completely." Zhang Hua expressed his own thoughts.

  "Alright, no problem, this time the troops have captured enough equipment in the ambush battle. If you want to stay, then stay! But you must guarantee me that the combat effectiveness of the Special Operations Battalion will not decrease at all." Division Commander Huang Kecheng slammed his hand on the table and said firmly.

  "Yes, thank you, sir. I guarantee that the combat effectiveness of the Special Operations Battalion will not be affected in any way." Upon hearing his superior's agreement to his request, Zhang Hua felt a surge of excitement.

  "Zhang Yingchang, you should know that your special operations battalion is now the largest in our entire Red Army. Moreover, there's also a heavy machine gun company and half an artillery company. I never dared to think about this before, but now all these things are concentrated in your special operations battalion. So, no matter what, you must lead this troop well and make it the most powerful fighting force in the whole army."

  "Yes, Commissar, don't worry, I, Zhang Hua, will definitely lead the special operations battalion well..."

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