At night, a team of nearly 100 horses quietly entered the camp of Liuxiang Town, a reading division on the south bank of the Huai River, and the patrol officers and soldiers on duty saw clearly that the person on the first black horse was An Yi by the faint light.

An Yi, who was on the horse, raised the whip in his hand to the brim of his hat as usual and saluted in return, without making any stops, rode his horse to the door of the battalion headquarters, turned over and dismounted, and immediately instructed the officer on duty to inform all regiments and battalions: Do not make noise, it is strictly forbidden to move, and what to do as usual.

Hu Jialin, who was guarding the camp, saw An Yi coming in accompanied by Yin Jinan and the four regiment commanders and deputies, raised his bearded chin, smiled slightly, and stepped forward to carefully examine An Yi's face: "I haven't seen you fat for so long?" ”

"Colonel An Yi has been ordered to arrive, please ask General Hu for instructions!" An Yi stepped forward and solemnly saluted Hu Jialin as a subordinate, and the brothers on the side were all stunned.

Hu Jialin kicked out in annoyance, An Yi had already taken precautions, flashed to the side and immediately grinned, Hu Jialin pointed at An Yi's nose and scolded loudly: "You kid is disgusting Lao Tzu, see if Lao Tzu doesn't clean you up!" ”

"Haha! Why don't you tease your beard? I won't hide it from you, when I heard the news of the defeat in Si County, I couldn't believe it, I was worried about Lao Tzu these days! ”

An Yi walked over and clasped Zhan Huanqi and Peng Jianqing's slightly trembling hands: "What are you excited about?" Wouldn't it be just a few days apart? Huan Qi, summarize all the information in the past week, Jian Qing, notify the chief and deputy commanders of the teaching brigade, guard battalion, and artillery battalion to come to the meeting; Winter Boy, hang up the map! ”

"Yes!"

The lifeless command headquarters was instantly rejuvenated, and the depressed commanders of the various departments and the staff officers of the division headquarters were all busy, and their melancholy eyes shone brightly, and their sluggish legs suddenly became brisk.

As the thick curtains were closed and the six lanterns were hung high, the entire command immediately entered the familiar, tense, and incomparably exhilarating pre-war atmosphere.

The generals and colonels surrounded An Yi with anticipation, and Yin Jinan was taken aback after listening to An Yi's military briefing: "How could you transfer the recruits who have been in the army for less than a month?" Will you be sent to dig trenches as 4,000 people? ”

"You're right, it's really for them to learn how to dig trenches. Go and call the logistics departments of Wuhe County, and bring the two regiments of Senior Brother Du Yuming and Senior Brother Fang Tian here overnight, they must arrive before dawn, and they are not allowed to show up when they enter the camp, and the camp in Wuhe County immediately vacates the barracks and prepares to accommodate the two main regiments concealed by the Third Division of Chief Gu. Commander Gu's special train will arrive at Shimen Station, 35 kilometers south of the Five Rivers at about 2 o'clock tomorrow morning, and the special train transporting the two regiments of the instructor has already returned, and tomorrow morning it will load the other two regiments of the Third Division and go north to make it appear that it will begin to take over the defense. An Yi explained in a low voice.

Yin Jinan hurriedly walked to the telephone, and Hu Jialin was very surprised: "So fast? ”

"The soldier is fast, just to take advantage of the enemy's unnoticed surprise to catch him off guard." An Yi pulled Hu Jialin to the map that had just been hung: "Lao Ding, how are they doing these days?" ”

Hu Jialin replied: "Well done, from Xiaolizhuang, 18 kilometers north of Liuxiang, to Wuqiao Town, 15 kilometers north of Wuhe, all of them are the world of the brothers of the Lao Ding Guard Battalion, after the enemy lost nearly 100 scouts and two companies of clear troops, he no longer dared to approach the activity area of the guard battalion, Lu Guang's Reading Regiment, Xia Jian's first regiment, and Hutou's three regiments all sent out reconnaissance platoons, Hutou and Xia Jian's two guys said that they were in a panic, and they led their teams out to attack the enemy every day, saying that ambushes and infiltration attacks were hunting. The team sent by the Si County in the middle road and the Sihong defender in the east road was beaten to the wind, and the soul was frightened, and since the day before yesterday, the enemy would rather give up Xiaolizhuang and Wuqiao Town than fight with us. ”

"Great! The brothers are much more resilient than I thought, and that's exactly what I want, and I'm going to treat them well when this battle is over. ”

An Yi praised with satisfaction, reached out and took out the "Central Daily" and "Times" brought back from Nanjing from the briefcase on his waist and handed them to Hu Jialin:

"Before I came back, I asked the party headquarters to help us release the smoke, saying that our reading division was going to retreat, and Chief Gu's third division came up to take over the defense, and it is estimated that the enemy also received this news."

After reading the front page of the two newspapers, Hu Jialin wrote a disheartened description of his reading teacher and model battalion, handed it to Xia Jian and Cheng Guang, who came to his side, turned to An Yi and laughed in a low voice:

"Don't say it, if I hadn't received a telegram from you, I would have thought that our Strength Reader was going to retreat and rest, this news is very good, I hope to paralyze the enemy."

Yin Jinan had already finished talking on the phone and strode over: "The party representative said that he had met the liaison officers of the Second Regiment and the Supplementary Regiment of the Teaching Corps, and that at 6:40 p.m. the two regiments arrived at Banqiao Town, northwest of Shimen, by special train. ”

An Yi sighed in astonishment: "Senior Brother Du Yuming and Senior Brother Fang Tian are really powerful, if their chances are better, maybe they will become the main division general-level chief officer like Senior Brother Hu Zongnan." Such a speed of marching is difficult for even an ordinarily well-trained infantry division to do, but they have done it, not simple! ”

At 9 o'clock in the evening, at the Huangwan ferry, 25 kilometers southwest of Wuhe County, Du Yuming, Zheng Jiemin, Fang Tian, Chen Jianxuan, and other lieutenants stood on the south bank of the ferry, watching their team line up to cross the river with the help of a machine ferry boat and more than 40 civilian boats.

When Du Yuming heard the staff officer's report, they all squatted down around the map, and after observing for a while, the liaison officer rushed to report: "The latest order sent by the liaison officer of the Reading Division, Division Commander An requires that we all arrive in Liuxiang Town before dawn tomorrow. ”

"What? Didn't you say that it was opened to Wuhe County? How has it changed again? Zheng Jiemin asked in surprise.

The liaison officer shook his head: "The other party didn't say the reason, and the subordinates didn't dare to ask." ”

Fang Tian smiled: "Xiao Yi, is this guy going to take the opportunity to toss us?" Think of us as his readers. ”

Du Yuming said calmly: "Xiao Yi will not toss us, he will not make such jokes in his style, it is estimated that what Xiao Yi saw after he arrived at the front line, we really need to do this, I think the specific reason, he will tell us when we meet."

Ladies and gentlemen, there is still 51 kilometers to cross the river, but the terrain is relatively flat along the way down the river, and the officers and men of our two regiments are all lightly armed, and there are no machine guns, artillery, or other baggage.

I suggest that you immediately return to the various departments and cheer up the soldiers together with the instructors of the battalions and companies, and overcome even the greatest difficulties, otherwise, our instructors will lose face before they enter the battlefield. ”

The brothers agreed with Du Yuming's analysis, and without saying a word, Du Yuming stood up and patted the grass clippings and dust on his pants, and led several deputies to stride down the ferry.

At four o'clock in the morning, Changhuai Town Wharf, fifteen kilometers southwest of Liuxiang Town.

More than 300 civilian boats finally gathered around the wharf, and Uncle Mogen, the chief captain of the Self-Defense Forces, led more than ten self-defense captains from various villages and towns to stand on the wharf, and saw An Yi jumping off the steamboat that was slowly approaching, Uncle Mogen excitedly stepped forward, held An Yi's hand tightly, and said loudly:

"General An! We're worried about your dismissal! Thankfully, you're finally back, and without you, it's like the Reader brothers have lost their souls! ”

"Uncle Mogen......

An Yi took out his hand and took out a cigarette, took out one and lit it for Uncle Maogen, and stuffed the cigarette into the hand of a self-defense captain:

"Give it to the brethren...... Uncle Maogen don't worry, the little nephew just went to Nanjing to report his work, isn't this coming back?

Uncle Maogen, little nephew, thank you and the villagers! Repair the cemetery of our reading brothers so well, just now the little nephew went up the river to the mouth of the Tong River and stopped to burn incense, so that you and the villagers have been waiting for a long time. Tonight, I hurriedly asked the villagers to come to help overnight, and the little nephew was really ashamed! ”

Uncle Mogen said unhappily: "The family should not talk to the two families, as long as it is ordered by the reader, even if the knife is given, we will come, we will be worried that there will not be enough boats!" ”

"Enough! Enough is enough! Uncle Maogen, the little nephew has to go up to meet the team, and after a while, the 4,000 revolutionary army will rely on Uncle Maogen and the villagers to help send them to Liuxiang. An Yi said gratefully.

Uncle Mogen replied boldly: "General An, please rest assured! General Yin's order is already very clear, we will definitely send the revolutionary army brothers to the dock in front of the Liuxiang camp before dawn, and General An can rest assured that he will be busy with other things! ”

"Thank you, Uncle Mogen! After the battle, the little nephew invites you to drink with the villagers! An Yi laughed loudly.

Uncle Maogen was overjoyed: "Okay, don't regret it!" ”

"Haha! Uncle Maogen, be careful, the little nephew will definitely get you drunk, haha......"

In the laughter of Uncle Mao Gen and a group of self-defense captains, An Yi led Yin Jinan and the guards to land quickly, and the liaison officer happened to bring Du Yuming, Zheng Jiemin, Fang Tian, Chen Jianxuan and other regiment commanders and instructors over, and after the salute, An Yi stepped forward with a spring breeze on his face and shook hands with the senior brothers: "The senior brothers are fast enough, the junior brother admires!" ”

Fang Tian said with a smile: "It's almost the end of the crossbow, if you go any longer, I'm afraid most of the officers and soldiers won't be able to walk." ”

An Yi turned behind him and ordered loudly: "Chen Kan, you and the brothers of the first company of the teaching team are responsible for leading the brothers of the second regiment and the supplementary regiment to the boat, and Uncle Maogen will properly arrange the order of the boat, and when you arrive at the Liuxiang camp, Deputy Division Commander Hu will arrange it." ”

"Yes!"

Teaching captain Chen Kan stepped forward and saluted Du Yuming and the others.

An Yi continued: "Senior Brother Du, Senior Brother Zheng, Senior Brother Fang, the three of you have to go with the junior brother, and the team will be handed over to the other senior brothers, rest assured, the Willow Lane camp is ready to ensure that the four thousand brothers will be taken care of in the best way." ”

Du Yuming said with a smile: "The order we received is that all actions are under your command, don't be so polite." ”

An Yi laughed: "Okay! The three senior brothers, please, Jinan, you are about to come down and start the boat. ”

"Understood!"

After Yin Jinan answered, he quickly explained a few precautions to Chen Kan, his mind is always so delicate, and it is difficult to change his habits.

The steamboat went upstream, arrived at the wharf of Wuhe County at dawn, Liu Shoujiang, the representative of the Reading Division, had already led a group of brothers from the logistics department to wait on the wharf, An Yi jumped off the boat to salute and greet, and very politely introduced Du Yuming, Zheng Jiemin and Fang Tian to Liu Shoujiang, and then boarded the embankment, turned over his horse, and went straight to the camp in the city.

Entering the headquarters compound where the county government is located, Du Yuming and the others were all surprised to see Gu Zhutong and the generals of the three divisions greeted them with smiles. You must know that when boarding the train in Pukou, Gu Zhutong was still talking to Zhang Zhizhong on the platform, and in a blink of an eye, he led his troops from the Pukou line to Wuhe County, this sudden change made Du Yuming and others suddenly realize something.

After An Yi finished saluting, he whispered to urge Du Yuming and others to follow him into the house and immediately hold a pre-war meeting.

(To be continued)