Zhou Kui finished telling Wang Haitao about the situation of the New Fourth Army, and when he saw that Wang Haitao was silent in thought, he said: "Commander Wang, I can understand your feelings of wanting to help the New Fourth Army, but now the national army troops surrounding the New Fourth Army have more than 60,000 people in four divisions, and there are still three divisions rushing to this side, and our two troops together are only more than 4,000 people. ”

Wang Haitao smiled bitterly, and had to admit that what Zhou Kui said made sense. There are more than 4,000 people, no matter how strong the combat effectiveness is, there is no chance of winning in the face of nearly 100,000 national troops, but just standing by and watching is not Wang Haitao's style of doing things. Wang Haitao stared at the map for a long time, and when even Zhou Kui was a little impatient, Wang Haitao suddenly asked: "Captain Zhou, do you know which direction the 170th Division of the National Army is in Maolin?"

Zhou Kui was first taken aback by Wang Haitao's sudden question, and after hearing Wang Haitao's question clearly, he looked at the map, pointed to the southwest of Maolin and said, "It should be in this position." Wang Haitao looked at the map for a while and called Wei Changxing. As soon as Wei Changxing came to Wang Haitao, Wang Haitao said to Wei Changxing: "Changxing, you immediately send a reconnaissance team, and you must find out the location of the headquarters of the 170th Division of the National Army in the shortest possible time." ”

Wei Changxing took the order and left, and Feng Zisheng, who was beside Wang Haitao, asked Wang Haitao: "Junzao, are you planning to find a flaw in the 170th Division?" Wang Haitao nodded and said: "Now I can only try to find my old superior, Senior Commander Xu Qiming, I hope that Senior Commander Xu can help me this time for the sake of being a fellow villager in Guangxi." ”

Two hours later, Wei Changxing returned to Wang Haitao and reported to Wang Haitao that the reconnaissance team had found the headquarters of the 170th Division, which was eight kilometers away from this place, in a village called Zhaxi Village. After listening to the report, Wang Haitao grabbed the armed belt on the table, and said to Wei Changxing as he walked: "Quick, let your people lead the way, and we will go to the headquarters of the 170th Division immediately." ”

Feng Zisheng saw Wang Haitao's movements and knew that he couldn't stop Wang Haitao, so he immediately sent a guard platoon to follow Wang Haitao to act together, and notified Huang Guizhong to let Huang Guizhong form a team, and the whole army also moved to Zhaxi Village, so as to meet Wang Haitao and them at any time. After Wang Haitao left the station in a hurry, all the officers and soldiers, including Zhou Kui's security brigade, also took urgent action.

Wang Haitao and his entourage of more than a dozen people approached Zhaxi Village in just one hour. As soon as they approached the entrance of the village, more than a dozen soldiers came out of the bushes on the side of the road, and all the weapons in their hands were pointed at Wang Haitao and them, and one of the soldiers in a sergeant's uniform shouted: "Stop! What are you doing?" Wang Haitao signaled his subordinates not to move, and then said loudly: "I am Wang Haitao, commander of the 90th Army of the National Revolutionary Army. ”

As the officers and men of the 170th Division, who are also from Guangxi, who has never heard of Wang Haitao's name? As soon as Wang Haitao signed up, he frightened these dozen soldiers. The corporal who was questioning then stammered a little and asked, "You said you are...... He is the king of the ninety army...... Commander Wang?" Wang Haitao nodded and said, "I am Wang Haitao, I have something important to ask to see you, Senior Commander Xu." ”

When the corporal heard this, he immediately stood up and saluted, and said, "Hello sir, please wait a moment, sir, and I will report to my superiors immediately." After saying that, he turned around and ran quickly towards the village. More than a dozen soldiers surrounding Wang Haitao also lowered their guns at this time, and saluted Wang Haitao one after another. Wang Haitao also returned the military salute, although he was very anxious, he still talked patiently with these soldiers.

After about 20 minutes, a group of people in the distance walked towards Wang Haitao, and after getting a little closer, Wang Haitao saw clearly that it was Xu Qiming, the commander of the 170th Division, who walked in the front. Seeing Xu Qiming personally go out of the village to greet him, Wang Haitao also happily greeted him. After the people from the two sides approached, Xu Qiming saluted Wang Haitao first, and then said with a smile: "What kind of wind blew Commander Wang to me today?"

Wang Haitao didn't dare to hold it up, and replied after returning the military salute: "Old sir, you still call me Haitao, what is Commander Wang, call everyone a life." Besides, Haitao has something to ask for today, sir, you're here. Xu Qiming said with a smile: "I'm not welcome to say this, this is not the place to speak, Brother Haitao will go to my division headquarters to talk in detail." At this time, the people behind Xu Qiming also stood up and said to Wang Haitao: "You, the commander of the 90th Army, don't stay in Longzhou City, why did you come here all of a sudden?" Wang Haitao looked at it, and it turned out to be Liao Tian, the commander of the 501st Brigade.

In the past, when he was the commander of the Independent Brigade in Guangxi, Wang Haitao and Liao Tian did not know each other, because of Liao Tiantian's brother Liao Lei, Wang Haitao and Liao Tian have always gotten along as friends. Although Wang Haitao is now the general commander of the Central Army, he is also from the Gui system, and when the 170th Division and the 171st Division first arrived in southern Anhui, Wang Haitao gave a lot of help to the two divisions, which also made Xu Qiming and Liao Lei and others grateful to Wang Haitao. After Wang Haitao returned the military salute to Liao Tian, he talked with Liao Tian.

Under the guidance of Commander Xu Qiming, everyone came to the headquarters of the 170th Division in the village. Sitting in the division headquarters, Wang Haitao could faintly hear the sound of artillery in the distance. Everyone sat down, Xu Qiming asked the rest of the people to retreat, and only Xu Qiming, Liao Tian and Wang Haitao were left in the room. At this time, Xu Qiming said: "Haitao must have something important to do today, let's talk about it, see what I can do to help you." ”

Wang Haitao listened to the faint sound of artillery in the distance, and he didn't care about being polite, and said: "Don't hide it from the old chief and Brother Liao Tian, I came here for the New Fourth Army in the encirclement this time. When Xu Qiming heard this, he was stunned, and Wang Haitao continued: "The old commander also knows that when I was in southern Anhui, the New Fourth Army was also my subordinate, and I always thought that although there was a distinction between the country and the Communist Party, everyone was a Chinese soldier. ”

Xu Qiming and Liao Tian glanced at each other and didn't say anything for a long time. Wang Haitao saw them like this, and couldn't help but ask a little anxiously: "Old sir, ......what do you think?" Xu Qiming replied slowly at this time: "Haitao, since you were the commander of the independent brigade in Guangxi, my troops have been supported by you. After arriving in southern Anhui, you took out your own territory and stationed it for us, and even the military expenses were also given by you, just with the help of your brother Haitao, I Xu Qiming will definitely help. But it's not easy. ”

Xu Qiming's words first made Wang Haitao happy, and then Wang Haitao was shocked, and Wang Haitao asked: "Old sir, why is it difficult to deal with it?" Xu Qiming replied: "This time the military headquarters of the New Fourth Army was personally ordered by Lao Jiang in Chongqing, and Commander Gu of the Third Theater personally supervised the battle. I just want to release the water, but the strength of the other three divisions is enough to eat the New Fourth Army in the encirclement. ”

Wang Haitao looked at Xu Qiming's embarrassed expression and said: "Old sir, I was originally going to use force to tear a hole in the encirclement of the national army and take over the New Fourth Army to break through, but here are your troops, all of whom are children of Guangxi, so how can I meet with the old chief officers and soldiers? That's why I took the liberty of going to the door today to ask the old chief for help." Please also ask the old chief to help Haitao for the sake of Haitao's love for the children of Guangxi!"

Wang Haitao's words also shocked Xu Qiming, and asked: "Brother Haitao came with troops? How many people came?" No wonder Xu Qiming was nervous, Wang Haitao's troops of the 90th Army had combat effectiveness in the national army sequence, if he thought he was second, no one would dare to think that he was first. After all, those achievements against the Japanese army were by no means bragged.

Wang Haitao replied: "Don't hide it from the old sir, Haitao brought a brigade of more than 4,000 people this time. Xu Qiming was silent, sat there and pondered: "This brigade brought by Wang Haitao must be the elite brigade of the 90th Army, and this brigade is not an opponent even if it is my own division." It seems that this Wang Haitao is really prepared, but fortunately, he is also a child of Guangxi, so he salutes first and then soldiers. Otherwise, as long as this brigade rushes from behind and joins forces with the New Fourth Army in the encirclement, then its own division will definitely suffer heavy losses. It seems that this favor has to be helped today, and if you don't help, you have to help. ”

Thinking of this, Xu Qiming no longer hesitated, and asked Wang Haitao: "Okay, Brother Haitao, I have helped with the 170th Division!" But I still have to sum up with Brother Haitao what to do in order to explain the past in front of Commander Gu. Wang Haitao was overjoyed when he heard Xu Qiming's words, and replied: "Haitao thanks the old chief for his help, Haitao has an idea about this matter." ”

Xu Qiming also had a happy face and asked, "Brother Haitao, do you have any good ideas to talk about." Wang Haitao said: "The 4,000 people I brought this time are all dressed in civilian clothes, and they originally wanted to act as guerrillas of the Chinese Communist Party, but now with the help of the old chief, things are much easier." Let's do it like this......" After Wang Haitao told Xu Qiming his thoughts, Xu Qiming also agreed: "Okay! Brother Haitao's method is good, without further ado, we will act tonight." ”

Wang Haitao also agreed to act at night, and after making an appointment with each other, Wang Haitao said goodbye to Xu Qiming. Xu Qiming didn't stay long, and after telling Wang Haitao to be careful, he let Wang Haitao and them leave. After leaving the headquarters of the 170th Division, Wang Haitao called the guard platoon commander next to him and asked him to take two soldiers and go back immediately to contact Brigadier Huang Guizhong, and let the platoon commander tell Brigadier Huang Guizhong what he wanted to explain, while he took the remaining soldiers and went straight to the New Fourth Army in the encirclement.

The success of tonight's operation has a bearing on the survival of the New Fourth Army's military headquarters, and Wang Haitao does not dare to be careless in the slightest, and must personally go to the New Fourth Army headquarters to meet with Commander Ye Ting; only when he makes it clear to Commander Ye Ting and other commanders of the New Fourth Army in person, and receives the full support of the New Fourth Army, will Wang Haitao's action be meaningful.