Volume 1: Red Star Shines Over China Chapter 7: The Acting Commander of the 18th Regiment

  When Chen Shuxiang's instructor found Liu Yimin, Liu Yimin was leading the soldiers to bury the bodies of the martyrs of the 18th Regiment. The soldiers of the 18th Regiment relaxed at this time and burst into tears.

  When Liu Yimin heard that the superior was looking for him, he instructed Wang Dahu to hurry up and bury the bodies, as the troops were about to depart. He then ran to the front of the division commander and political commissar, saluted, and reported. After reporting, Political Commissar Cheng Cuilin joked, "Our hero has had a great harvest today!" Liu Yimin quickly said it was all thanks to the soldiers' efforts, and then directly said: "Reporting to the division commander and political commissar, I just interrogated the captured enemy, and found out that two divisions of the Guangxi Army have already attacked Jieshoutou Ferry. I estimate that the Central Army and Hunan Army are also concentrated at Jieshoutou Ferry. I think the main force of the Red Army has already left Jieshoutou, and the floating bridge should have been blown up by now. Although we rescued the 18th Regiment, we are still surrounded by a large number of enemy troops. The Guangxi Army near Xinhuang will soon catch up with us, and the Central Army, Hunan Army, and Guangxi Army at Jieshoutou Ferry will also turn back to attack us. We have not escaped danger yet. Here is only ten or so miles away from the banks of the Xiangjiang River. I suggest: 1) Immediately send a telegram to the superior, reporting that we arrived at Fenghuangzui Ferry before dark, and ask them to leave troops to receive us, at least ask the army commander to lead the 13th Division to approach Fenghuangzui Ferry to receive and cover us. 2) Immediately organize all the comrades in the division who can operate howitzers and heavy machine guns to form a heavy firepower battalion, to provide firepower support for the possible forced crossing of the Xiangjiang River. 3) Let the soldiers take off the military uniforms from the captured Guangxi Army soldiers and corpses, and let those Red Army soldiers without clothes disguise themselves as Guangxi Army prisoners. Let the prisoners carry the heavy weapons we captured, and have the whole division disguise itself as the 24th Division of the Guangxi Army, directly marching quickly to Fenghuangzui Ferry downstream from Jieshoutou, forcing a crossing of the Xiangjiang River, and catching up with the main force.

  The several leaders standing by looked at Liu Yimin as if he were a rare animal. A staff officer couldn't help but ask, "How can you determine that the enemy's main force has occupied the Jieshoutou crossing? How can the pontoon bridge be blown up? There are our Red First Army Corps and Red Third Army Corps defending their positions there."

  Several other team leaders also looked at Liu Yimin with questioning eyes.

  Liu Yimin saw that Chen Shuxiang did not object, so he said: "Firstly, it is to interrogate the captured enemies and understand the situation. Secondly, it is a comprehensive analysis of the enemy's strength and deployment in this Xiangjiang battle. Thirdly, it is an explanation of the actions of my 34th division, which has already received reports and instructions from higher authorities. It's very simple: if our main force had not crossed the Xiangjiang River, our superiors would not have agreed to our withdrawal from Xinwan position. If the Jiashou crossing was still under our control, our superiors would have ordered us to retreat directly to Jiashou crossing. As for blowing up the floating bridge, it is a common tactic to cut off the enemy's pursuit troops, and it is not worth mentioning."

  "Comrades, the situation is very dangerous now. The previous battles have proven that Comrade Liu Yimin's judgment was correct. Now I order: 1. Chief of Staff Wang Guangdao to immediately mobilize personnel and form a heavy firepower battalion, which will be formed while on the march and strive to be ready for use by the time we reach the Xiangjiang River. Each regiment should notify soldiers who have experience as artillerymen or heavy machine gunners to report to the chief of staff. 2. Immediately end the mopping-up operation, and let the soldiers rest for 10 minutes. The entire division will disguise itself as the 24th Division of the Guangxi Army, with the target being Fenghuangjiao Ferry. The vanguard company will lead the way, followed by the 101st Regiment, 102nd Regiment, 18th Regiment of the Red Sixth Division, the division headquarters, and the 100th Regiment. The rear guard will be undertaken by the 100th Regiment, which must not make contact with the enemy at will. After arriving at Fenghuangjiao, the 101st and 102nd Regiments should cooperate with the vanguard company to quickly repel any possible enemy forces, open up a bloody path, and prepare for forced crossing. 3. Director Cai will continue to follow the vanguard company. In case of an emergency, the commander of the vanguard company, Liu Yimin, can issue combat orders to the following troops with the approval of Director Cai. 4. The radio station should immediately report our marching time and route to the military commanders and the Central Revolutionary Military Commission, and request that the ferry crossing be covered by supporting troops. Are there any opinions?"

  Cheng Cuilin looked at Liu Yimin and said to Chen Shuxiang: "I only ask one question. Comrade Liu Yimin, you are a new recruit to the Red Army, I don't know if you've heard or not?"

  Liu Yimin said: "Report to the political commissar, I read books by Mr. Li Dazhao and others when I was in school, knowing that it is the most advanced party in China armed with Marxist theory. Now the Nationalist Party has become a reactionary regime under Chiang Kai-shek's control, only we Red Army represent the interests of the laboring masses."

  Cheng Cui said: "My question is, do you believe that our party and our Red Army can win?"

  "Report to the Political Commissar, I firmly believe that with the Red Army we can lead the Chinese people to defeat all enemies and establish a new China without oppression and exploitation. Although the process is relatively long and requires many of us to shed blood and make sacrifices, I firmly believe that we will triumph! I am also willing to fight, bleed, and sacrifice for this goal."

  Cheng Cuilin said to Master Chen Shuxiang: "Very well, I have no opinion now, let's execute the order."

  Chen Shuxiang looked at several group leaders, saw no objection, and waved his hand: "Set off immediately to carry out the task."

  The team leaders had just left, and several soldiers carried the Red 18th Regiment Commander Zeng Chunjian over. Chen Shuxiang and Cheng Cuilin rushed forward to receive him. The 18th Regiment Commander Zeng Chunjian said with difficulty on the stretcher: "Report to Commander Chen and Commissioner Cheng, my regiment has completed the blocking task, and there are only more than 500 people left in the whole regiment, most of whom are wounded, out of ammunition and food, and most of the battalion cadres have sacrificed. The soldiers have not closed their eyes for several days and nights. I'm afraid it's not going to work, and the Red 18th Regiment is relying on you to cross the river."

  Chen Shuxiang said: "Don't worry, the 18th Regiment will follow us and fight together across the Xiangjiang River."

  "Commander Chen, the situation is bad. We're afraid we won't be able to cross the river. The enemy has surrounded us and we've become isolated on the east bank of the Xiang River."

  Cheng Cuilin said: "Old Zeng, don't worry, we just won a big victory, our weapons and ammunition have been replenished, breaking through the Xiangjiang River is no problem."

  Zeng Chunjian asked again: "Which unit led the charge against the Guangxi army just now? I want to meet their leader."

  Cheng Cuilin said: "It's our instructor's newly established vanguard company, Liu Yimin, come over and meet the commander of our heroic 18th regiment."

  Liu Yimin stepped forward and gave a crisp salute: "Reporting to the battalion commander, Liu Yimin, company commander of the vanguard company of Red 34 Division, requests instructions!"

  Zeng Chunjian looked at Liu Yimin and said: "Good, big guts, dare to use a company to raid two battalions, brave and strategic. Good! Good! Good!"

  Then he turned to Chen Shuxiang and said: "My 18th Regiment has been crippled, my injuries are too severe, I can no longer command the troops. Please ask the commander of the 34th Division to have Liu Yimin, the battalion commander, act as the acting commander of the 1st Regiment. After we catch up with the main force, our division commander will make arrangements."

  Chen Shuxiang and Cheng Cuilin exchanged opinions, then Cheng Cuilin asked Liu Yimin: "Are you willing to join China?"

  Liu Yimin replied: "I'm willing!"

  Cheng Cuilin asked again: "Are you willing to sacrifice everything including your life for the Party's cause?"

  Liu Yimin replied: "Willingly, we are now at all times ready to sacrifice."

  Cheng Cuilin said: "I'll introduce you to join the Communist Party of China, we'll go through the formalities after crossing the Xiang River. Now raise your right hand, make a fist and follow me in taking an oath to the party: keep secrets strictly, obey discipline."

  "Keep secrets and obey discipline."

  "Sacrifice personal interests, class struggle."

  "Sacrifice personal interests, class struggle."

  "Strive for revolution, never betray the party."

  "Strive for revolution, never betray the party."

  After the oath, Cheng Cuilin held Liu Yimin's hand and said: "Now we are comrades, the war situation is urgent, I hope you remember the party oath, be loyal to the party, and shed your last drop of blood for the construction of the Soviet new China."

  Liu Yimin solemnly replied: "I will definitely not betray the trust of the organization!"

  "Congratulations, Comrade Liu Yimin!" said Chen Shuxiang.

  Liu Yimin said: "Commander, the military situation is urgent, let's act immediately!"

  "According to the request of Comrade Zeng Chunjian, commander of the 18th Regiment, I hereby appoint you as acting commander of the 18th Regiment. Given the urgency of the situation, the 18th Regiment will immediately replenish its weapons and ammunition, and provide food for the wounded, who will be transported in carts. Commissar Cheng Cuilin will accompany the 18th Regiment on its mission and assume command duties on your behalf. You will continue to lead the Vanguard Company forward, opening up a path of advance for the entire division. Do you have any opinions?"

  Liu Yimin stood at attention and saluted: "Resolutely carry out the order."

  "Let's go!" Chen Shuxiang waved his hand and said.

  When Wang Zanbin, the commander of the 44th Division of the Guangxi Army, arrived at Gulingtou with his pursuing troops, it was already dark. The Red 34th Division had long since vanished without a trace. What greeted him instead were the corpses of Guangxi soldiers scattered all over the ground.

  Looking at the corpse of the deputy commander of the 24th Division, which was finally found with great difficulty, Wang Zanbin was furious and almost crazy. He snatched a machine gun and fired it into the sky. After firing a burst, Wang Zanbin sat down on the ground with a thud. The guard tried to pull him up in a flattering manner, but was scared off by his wolf-like gaze and hastily retreated to one side.

  Wang Zanbin felt that everything had become chaotic since that day. He couldn't understand how the Red Army's rear guard troops, who had been through intense battles and were on the verge of collapse, could have blown up his artillery camp, quietly broken through the encirclement, and even taken away his logistics camp. How could the two main regiments of the 24th Division, a crack force that had fought in countless battles, be completely annihilated by the fleeing remnants of the enemy? Looking towards the dark night sky in the direction of the Xiangjiang River, Wang Zanbin hesitated as to whether he should pursue or not. If he pursued, he could avenge his brothers in the 24th Division and wipe out this group of detestable Red Bandits. However, the cunning of the enemy seemed far beyond that of other Red Army troops - what if they had set up an ambush, making him the second 24th Division? It was worth noting that the 24th Division's mortars and heavy machine guns had been taken away by the Red Bandits, leaving his own 44th Division at a disadvantage in terms of firepower. The sky was dark, and it was impossible for planes to launch an airstrike. If he didn't immediately pursue, the Red Bandits might use the cover of night to escape, and how could he explain such a huge loss to Commanders Li and Bai? On second thought, if his 44th Division suffered another defeat, Chiang Kai-shek and He Jian would take advantage of the situation to enter Guangxi. Thinking this, Wang Zanbin immediately called over his deputy division commander: "Halt the advance of the troops and directly send a report to Commanders Li and Bai, truthfully reporting our situation and that of the 24th Division."

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