Liu Yimin knew that the supplies and recruits they sent were not too much to describe as sending charcoal in the snow to the main force of the Red Army. But he didn't expect that several corps commanders would rush to lead the team to greet him, if he knew, it is estimated that Liu Yimin would let Cai Zhong sit in Jingwuzhou for training, and he led the team to escort him directly to the headquarters. After all, Cai Zhong is an old Red Army, and most of the leaders are familiar with it, while Liu Yimin has participated in the Red Army for a short time, and most of the leaders only understand a little bit when they study military history in later generations, and deep down they are very eager to get to know these ancestors and heroes.

After sending Cai Zhong away, Liu Yimin called Wang Tongsheng, the sniper platoon commander, and asked about the installation of binoculars on the gun that he explained last time.

Wang Tongsheng reported that there were not so many telescopes in the passage, and he only had time to load a gun, and the effect was not bad. During the third ambush of the battle of Xiaoshui, he used this gun to hit an officer of the enemy's baggage battalion about 600 meters away.

When Liu Yimin heard this, he was overjoyed and told him to go and install all the guns in the platoon with binoculars now.

Wang Tongsheng said embarrassedly that he had already led the soldiers around in the afternoon, and there were no tools in Jingwuzhou, and if he was forced to do it, he would break the telescope and the gun.

Liu Yimin immediately ordered him to take the whole platoon to find Hu Laohu, the commander of the cavalry company, ride the extra war horse of the cavalry company, and the cavalry company was responsible for the protection, and immediately return to the county seat, find the craftsman who helped him modify, and work overnight, striving to install all the guns in the whole platoon with telescopes. If possible, install more, and the sniper platoon will be expanded soon.

When Wang Tongsheng turned to leave, Liu Yimin called out to him again, saying that if he could get the craftsman and his tools, Liu Yimin would invite him to drink in Jingwuzhou. King Xi De went to the cavalry company with great joy.

After Wang Tongsheng left, Liu Yimin began to look at the map. Now the situation is already very clear, due to their arrival, history has undergone subtle changes, the losses of the Red Army in the Xiangjiang Campaign are much smaller than before, the strategic thinking of the Passage Conference has been reversed, [***] has already had the de facto command of the Red Army, plus the weapons, ammunition and materials sent by themselves, the overall strength of the Red Army is not comparable with history. On the enemy's side, the Hunan army retracted after being hit, the Gui army also retracted for fear of the blow, the Cantonese army behind the Gui army stagnated, and the only enemy left behind the pursuit was the Central Army, and now should be the best time for the Central Red Army to pass through Guizhou. If the movement is slow, it is estimated that the Sichuan army will be dispatched. Historically, after the Red Army entered Guizhou, the Hunan Army and the Gui Army rarely fought against the Red Army, mainly the Sichuan Army and the Yunnan Army cooperated with the Central Army to pursue and suppress. Next, how will the Central Committee use its own Red 18 Regiment? Will you continue to stay in the channel to delay the enemy, or will you withdraw to Liping and Jinping to delay the enemy? Or is it to catch up with the main force and join the battlefield in Guizhou?

No matter how the Central Committee uses the 18th Red Regiment, the top priority at the moment is to get a good grasp of the training and run-in of the troops. Otherwise, when the enemy understands that only one regiment is in the passage area, the fun will be great. After all, its 18th regiment is essentially a reorganized unit, with many prisoners and complex composition. If we encounter defeat and adversity, whether we can be defeated or dragged out is honestly worth studying. Think about the battle of Xiaoshui of the Red Sixth Army, when the troops were cut off and surrounded by the enemy, a platoon of soldiers took the initiative to attack, covered the main force, and finally jumped off the cliff. The old Red Army of its own 18th regiment will definitely be able to do this, but what about the new fighters? The 18th Regiment still has a long way to go! If only the Central Committee could mix the existing several thousand people and the main force of the 18th Regiment. Let's just say that the 4,000 prisoners who were given to the main force this time asked to be directly incorporated into the 18th regiment and expand the structure. I don't feel good when I think about it, there are only more than 1,000 people in the old Red Army of the 18th Regiment, and they can't digest so many captive soldiers, so it's different if they are handed over to the main force, and they are easy to assimilate. After analyzing with Cai Zhong, Liu Jianjian, and Li Qing, they also agreed with their own views. It seems that everyone can clearly see the drawbacks of the blind and rapid expansion of the armed forces.

The three newly planned battalions must be formed this evening, and time is waiting for no one, and the enemy's central army may press over from the east and back at any time, leaving not much time for the troops to reorganize and train. The cadres are estimated to have arrived, and it is time for a meeting.

When Liu Yimin walked out of the door, he found that in addition to the sniper platoon commander Wang Tongsheng, the cavalry company commander Hu Laohu, and the fifth battalion, the sixth battalion, and the baggage battalion, the leaders of all units of the 18th regiment at and above the company level were all sitting neatly in the courtyard. Just by the light of the torches, it can be clearly seen that the cadres who have rested for a day are proud and joyful. Even Li Chang, the commander of the artillery battalion who had been drained of 6 mountain guns, was complacent. It is no wonder that in the battle for Xikou, the powerful artillery fire not only stunned the enemy, but also opened the eyes of the old Red Army of the 18th regiment. It turns out that the Red Army can also ravage the enemy with such powerful artillery fire, how many casualties can be reduced! Beautiful, powerful!

Seeing the regiment commander come out, the cadres spontaneously applauded. Liu Yimin knows that this is the comrades' affirmation of himself. Pressing his hands down, the applause suddenly stopped. Liu Yimin opened his mouth and said: "Yesterday, after a day and a night of continuous fighting, our regiment achieved an unprecedented victory in Xikou, destroying three divisions of the enemy's Liu Jianxu Division in one fell swoop. This achievement stems from the heroic and invincible soldiers of the Red Army, from the correct command of commanders at all levels, and even more from the correct leadership and vigorous support of the Central Revolutionary Military Commission, Vice Chairman Zhou, and Commander-in-Chief Zhu. Think about it, isn't that the truth? ”

The cadres replied in unison: "Yes!" ”

"What should we do in the face of results?" Liu Yimin's eyes swept to the cadres, and when he saw that everyone was waiting for the next step, he continued: "The top priority at the moment is to do three things well: First, we must extensively carry out activities to complain about grievances and talk about our hearts, so that those new soldiers will not only join the Red Army, but also integrate their hearts with the Red Army, firmly establish the idea of striving for the establishment of New China, and ensure that the soldiers will not waver, run away, or surrender to the enemy under any circumstances, and that the troops will not be dragged down, scattered, or broken under any circumstances, and truly become the steel army, iron army, and sharp knife in the Red Army. Second, it is necessary to rapidly carry out military training activities, practice tactical movements, and practice the level of shooting, bomb throwing, and stabbing, so as to raise combat effectiveness to a new level. The third is to summarize the battles, select the combat heroes, let the combat heroes receive awards for meritorious service, wear red flowers, and let the soldiers learn from the example and be a benchmark. Did you hear me clearly? ”

The cadres shouted loudly: "Hear me clearly! ”

Liu Yimin nodded with satisfaction: "It's good to hear clearly." We hope that you will take the lead in talking with the new soldiers, training them, and summing up the lessons and lessons of the battle. Next, I announce the following orders for the organization of troops: 1. On the basis of the regimental teaching team, 450 Hunan prisoners will be replenished, and the 7th battalion of the 18th Red Regiment will be established, with three combat companies of the 19th, 20th, and 21st and one fire support company. Second, with the cadres of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th companies of the new battalion as the backbone, 450 Hunan prisoners were supplemented, and the 8th battalion of the 18th regiment was established, with three combat companies of the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th and a fire support company. 3. With the cadres of the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th companies of the recruit battalion as the backbone, 450 Hunan prisoners were supplemented, and the 9th battalion of the 18th regiment was established, with three combat companies of the 25th, 26th, and 27th and a fire support company. Fourth, the rest of the Hunan army prisoners were transferred to the new barracks, the new barracks were restored to the four-company structure, the original new barracks instructor Chang Huayu was reappointed as the battalion commander, and Zhao Dahe, the commander of the first battalion and the second company, was promoted to the instructor of the new barracks. 5. The deputy battalion commanders and deputy instructors of all battalions, as well as the vacant cadres at the company level, shall all be promoted by cadres who have performed well in this battle. Recommended by the battalions and appointed by the Political Department. ”

After Liu Yimin finished speaking, he looked at the cadres who were a little cheering, and knew that there was no need to talk any more nonsense, the fire of the 18th regiment had been fanned by himself, so he waved his hand: "Break the meeting, split up and execute it!" ”

That night, in the various stations of the 18th Red Regiment in Jingwuzhou, there were grievance meetings, and the old Red Army complained that it was the backbone of the recruits who complained, and slowly, some recruits who were not very reluctant to join the Red Army were moved and began to complain with tears. At first, the people of Jingwu Prefecture hid to the side and watched, and some poor peasants also joined the complaining team. The next day, 73 young men signed up for the army and were assigned to the boot camp for training.

The county seat of the passage is now a county seat without a political axe. The Kuomintang county magistrates, county party secretaries, security chiefs, police chiefs, and tax bureau chiefs were all suppressed, and the Red Army that had been stationed in the city was withdrawn.

When Wang Tongsheng and Hu Laohu rushed to the county seat, they suddenly found that it was surprisingly lively, so late, the shops were still open normally, and the restaurants and taverns were actually full of people. From time to time, I could hear drinkers talking about the Red Army.

Seeing the Red Army troops going and returning, the residents who had benefited from making uniforms for the Red Army, opening warehouses for the Red Army, and suppressing corrupt officials were very enthusiastic, and greeted the soldiers one after another, asking if they had food and what they needed to do.

Wang Tongsheng soon found the craftsman who helped him install binoculars on the gun, negotiated the salary in a few words, and began to work.

Hu Laohu led the cavalry company to patrol along the street to see if there was anything going on, and after arranging for the soldiers to set up a guard post at the city gate, he thought of the security regiment headquarters, that is, the location of the regiment headquarters when the 18th regiment occupied the passage, to see if there was anything left behind when the third battalion, the seventh company and one platoon evacuated.

While he was jogging in the street, a child's call came from the side of the road. Hu Laohu stopped his horse and saw that a young man named Huazi was shouting "Uncle of the Red Army", and there was a person named Huazi lying next to him. Hu Laohu dismounted and walked over and asked, "Child, what's wrong?" ”

Xiao Huazi was not afraid, and reached out and grabbed Hu Laohu's hand: "Uncle Red Army, save my mother, she fainted from hunger." After saying that, I started crying.

Hu Laohu saw that it was really a woman named Hanako, pinched the middle of the person with his hand, watched her break open his eyes, helped her up, took out the kettle, fed her some water first, and then took out dry food, broke and fed her a few bites, and saw that it was okay, so he let go of the female name Hanako, and took out some dry food for Xiaohao Hanako.

Seeing the two girls gobbling up, Hu Laohu turned around and got on the horse to leave. Unexpectedly, Hanako came up and hugged his legs. Hu Laohu said: "Child, uncle still has something, be good, let go of uncle." ”

Xiao Hanako said: "Uncle take us, my mother and I are going to find my father, my father is also a Red Army." ”

"Your father is also a Red Army? What army is he? What's your name? "Hu Laohu's interest came.

"My father's name is Wu Zheng, he was originally from the Red First Army, and later went to study at the Red Army University."

As soon as he heard that it was Wu Zheng's wife and children, Hu Laohu said: "God, there are thousands of mountains and rivers, how did you get here?" ”

Wu Zheng's wife spoke: "Brother comrade, you are leaving, the Kuomintang is here, the old wealth who was driven away has returned, what are they called the return to the hometown group, they have taken back all the land, and they will kill the red genera, and some villagers have been killed." Why didn't you kill all these villains back then! As he spoke, he began to cry.

After stopping for a while, Wu Zheng's wife said again: "My father, my mother, father-in-law, and mother-in-law are all dead." I took my son and fled for my life in the mountains. Later, I thought that I would die both horizontally and vertically, and I would go to the Red Army, find the child's father, and even if I starved to death, I couldn't die in the hands of the homecoming regiment. I took my son all the way to ask for food. Comrade brother, do you know my father? Is he still alive? ”

Hu Laohu picked up the child, put it on the horse, and said to Wu Zheng's wife: "Sister-in-law, you have found it, Wu Zheng is still alive, and now he is a member of the Party Committee of our 18th Regiment, the director of the logistics department, and the commander of the baggage battalion." Come, I'll help you get on your horse, and when we finish our mission, we'll go back to the army together. ”

Who knew that the woman cried "wow" and fell to the ground. Hu Laohu knew how difficult and dangerous it would be for thousands of mountains and rivers, sighed, stepped forward to pick up the woman, put her on the horse and sat down, and no longer went to the security regiment headquarters, and went directly to Wang Tongsheng.

Cai Zhong took the 5th battalion, the 6th battalion and the baggage battalion, escorted 4,000 recruits, escorted the weapons, ammunition and supplies sent to the main force, set off at 7 o'clock in the evening, along the road from the passage to Liping, walked over the mountains and mountains, walked for 5 hours, and then came to the junction of the passage and Liping. Busy ordering the troops to be on alert, the top squad went to connect the counterparts.

It didn't take long for the spearhead squad to come with the Red Army troops. Cai Zhong took a look, wasn't it Comrade Chen Yun of the Central Committee who was riding a horse at the head? Looking at Comrade Chen Yun again, following Comrade Chen Yun were his old chief, Comrade Luo Ronghuan, director of the Political Department of the Eighth Army Corps, and Comrade Cao Lihuai, commander of the Sixth Division. Hurriedly ran forward with the battalion commanders and instructors of the 5th Battalion, 6th Battalion, and Baggage Battalion, and saluted in unison: "Report to Comrade Chen Yun, Director Luo, and Division Commander Cao: Cai Zhong, political commissar of the 18th Regiment of the Red Sixth Division, is ordered to escort new soldiers and baggage supplies, please instruct!" ”

Several leaders jumped off their horses, and Comrade Chen Yun grabbed Cai Zhong's hand and said that he had worked hard. Division Commander Cao stepped forward and punched Cai Zhong, Wu Zheng, Zhao Shan, and Lei Ming at each of them, shouting as he struck: "It's enjoyable, it's really fucking enjoyable, it has played the prestige of the Red Army, and it has played the momentum of the Red Army." The commander of the legion said that when you return to the building, he will give you a big bowl of gifts. ”

Director Luo still looked unfazed, looked at Cai Zhong, and said, "I'm thinner, I'm darker, but I'm more energetic!" ”

When several leaders walked towards the baggage team, the old Red Army soldiers in the 18th Regiment immediately hugged the Red Army soldiers who came to greet them.

After counting the number of recruits and handing over supplies, weapons and ammunition, several chiefs came to the 18th regiment. Looking at the straight soldiers wearing new military uniforms and standing straight, several leaders were in a trance in their hearts, is this still the Red 18th Regiment that was disabled in the Xinwei Resistance Battle? Is this clearly a hundred battle elite soldiers with extremely full spirit and fighting spirit, it seems that Liu Yimin is really a talent who can lead soldiers by nature!

When they were separated, Comrade Chen Yun casually asked: "Comrade Cai Zhong, I see that the weapons and equipment of the two battalions you brought are very good, are they specially strengthened because of the escort mission?" ”

Cai Zhong said: "No, our six combat battalions are all equipped with one color, and the strength is basically average. ”

Comrade Chen Yun said: "Then how can I see that these two battalions are still equipped with mortars? ”

Cai Zhong replied: "Each of our six combat battalions has a fire support company, which is now equipped with two mortars, three heavy machine guns, and 22 light machine guns. Each infantry squad was armed with a light machine gun. The regiment commander meant that if there were any captures in the future, they would strengthen and strive to equip mortars and heavy machine guns with platoons. ”

Division Commander Cao smashed his mouth: "I understand why you dare to call the enemy a brigade with a regiment, the firepower of one of your battalions is stronger than the firepower of my sixth division in its heyday." Not to mention a brigade of the Hunan Army, even a brigade of the Central Army is sure of victory. If you deploy properly and adopt ambush and attack tactics, not a single division of the enemy's Central Army will be your opponent. I was relieved, and I was no longer afraid that my 18th regiment would not come back. ”

Comrade Chen Yun asked again: "When you were fighting, did you concentrate the heavy weapons of each battalion and use them?" ”

Cai Zhong replied: "During the first wave of the Xiaoshui ambush, we only had 6 heavy machine guns and about 30 light machine guns, which were supported by the 34th Division from the battle of Gulingtou and the battle by the Xiangjiang River. After these battles, the weapons were basically complete, the regimental artillery battalion had 6 mountain guns and 24 mortars, and the heavy machine gun battalion had three companies, so there was no need to concentrate the firepower of each battalion during the battle. ”

Comrade Chen Yun also said: "Our army's bullets and artillery shells are all captured, and the firepower is too fierce, which can easily cause supply difficulties. ”

Cai Zhong said: "Thank you for the reminder. Our regiment commander said a long time ago that our army does not have its own military industrial enterprises and is in the process of being transferred, which requires us to win every battle completely and have relatively large captures. We're going to keep trying. ”

Comrade Chen Yun smiled, shook Cai Zhong's hand and said: "Goodbye, thank you, comrades, and wish the heroic Red 18th Regiment new contributions to the revolution and the Red Army." ”

Looking at the distant figures of the leaders, Lei Ming said: "The central government really attaches great importance to it, each of the four main army corps has a regiment, which is simply a battle for a tough battle!" ”

Cai Zhong said: "The main force of our Red Army will be stronger because of these weapons, ammunition and recruits we have surrendered. After speaking, he led the team, lit torches, and rushed to Jingwuzhou along the mountain road.