Chapter 3 Independent Regiment
Just one shot and the winner is decided.
Wang Ye was confident that he could kill him with one shot.
However, Zhao Gang could only guarantee the hit rate of the torso.
After all, Zhao Gang has not received any professional sniper training, and there is still a big gap between him and Wang Ye, who has received long-term formal sniper training.
"Xiao Wang, you have great marksmanship!"
Zhao Gang couldn't help but praise.
"Political Commissar, you're not bad either." Wang Ye said with a grin.
As for the brigade guard Xiao Zhang, he could only envy him.
At this time, the puppet troops in the front mistakenly thought they were ambushed and were in a panic.
"Oh no, we've been ambushed, run!" With a whistle, the puppet soldiers fled in all directions.
Zhao Gang did not continue shooting, nor did he allow Wang Ye and Xiao Zhang to continue shooting, because the puppet troops had already run far away, and the hit rate of shooting at moving targets was too low, which was a pure waste of bullets. Bullets were precious, and the most lacking thing for the various units of the Eighth Route Army was weapons and ammunition.
Take the various units of the 129th Division for example.
On average, each person had less than ten bullets.
When fighting an ambush by the Japanese, each person was only allowed to fire three shots.
After firing three shots, you have to rush forward and fight the Japanese with bayonets.
To be more precise, it was not a fight with bayonets, but a fight with machetes!
Because when the 129th Division just entered Shanxi, the entire division had only 55 bayonets in total, so it was impossible to fight with bayonets, they could only fight with machetes!
Zhao Gang stood up and brought Wang Ye and Xiao Zhang to Wei Dayong.
As they got closer, Wang Ye became more and more certain that this guy was Wei Dayong.
There is nothing else to say, except for the six burn marks on his bald forehead. Who else could it be but Monk Wei?
"You guys?" Wei Dayong looked at Zhao Gang and the other two with suspicion and asked, "The Eighth Route Army?"
"Yes, I am Zhao Gang, the political commissar of the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army." Zhao Gang glanced at the Central Army uniform on Wei Dayong and asked, "Which unit are you from?"
"Sir, I am from the 27th Division of the Central Army."
Wei Dayong struggled to stand up and saluted again.
No matter what, Zhao Gang saved his life.
Wei Dayong still has great respect for his savior.
Like most people of this era, Wei Dayong has a simple concept of repaying kindness.
"You are from the 27th Division." Zhao Gang nodded and said, "Hasn't your division already retreated to Zhongtiao Mountain? Why are you still stranded in northwest Shanxi?"
"Oh, don't mention it."
Wei Dayong said sadly, "I was seriously injured during the Battle of Xinkou, and when I woke up I found myself being held captive by the Japanese. I finally found a chance to escape today, but I ran into this group of Japanese again on the way. If it weren't for you, Commander Zhao, who came to my rescue , I, Wei Dayong, would have died here today."
Zhao Gang asked again: "Your name is Wei Dayong?"
"Yes." Wei Dayong said, "Wei from Wei, Shu and Wu, Dayong who is wise and brave."
"It's a good name, and it 's worthy of the words 'great wisdom and great courage'." Zhao Gang nodded, and then said, "I wonder what your plans are next?"
Wei Dayong said: "I want to return to the Central Army."
Zhao Gang naturally hoped that Wei Dayong would join the independent regiment.
If he could keep Wei Dayong and Wang Ye, he would have recruited two powerful generals in one day.
Zhao Gang said, "But it's about 700 to 800 miles from here to Zhongtiao Mountain, and you need to pass through the Japanese-occupied area. Your injuries haven't fully healed yet, so I'm afraid you might be in danger."
"It's okay." Wei Dayong said carelessly, "This little injury is nothing to me."
Guard Xiao Zhang couldn't help but say, "You are such an ignorant person. The political commissar saved your life, but you don't even want to join the independent regiment to repay him for saving your life?"
Wei Dayong said with some embarrassment: "But your Eighth Route Army is too rustic and poorly equipped."
"How about this, you follow me to the independent regiment first. If you think it's suitable, you can stay. If you don't want to stay, it will be safer to wait until your injury heals before leaving." Zhao Gang suggested.
Wei Dayong thought about it before nodding and saying, "Yes."
Wang Ye watched coldly without saying a word.
Because he knew that Wei Dayong would definitely join the Independent Regiment in the end.
At that moment, Zhao Gang asked Xiao Zhang to find Xiao Liu and bring the horse over, while Zhao Gang himself and Wang Ye stayed behind to clean up the battlefield.
Wei Dayong had just killed four Japanese soldiers with his bare hands, and Zhao Gang and Wang Ye each killed a puppet soldier, so a total of four Type 38 rifles, two Shanxi-made Type 38 rifles and four bayonets were seized.
In addition, there were more than 500 rounds of Arisaka rifle bullets and six grenades.
Then there are rubber-soled shoes, cotton coats, helmets and water bottles.
Zhao Gang put the seized supplies on the backs of two war horses and let Wei Dayong ride one.
However, Wei Dayong refused to ride and insisted on walking with Zhao Gang and the others. Zhao Gang had no choice but to agree.
The five of them then chatted as they headed towards the independent regiment’s base. At dusk, they finally arrived at Yang Village.
The headquarters of the independent regiment was rented in the yard of Uncle Zhang's house at the entrance of the village. It had two entrances and three rooms. The front yard was the dormitory for the direct-affiliated team, and the back yard was the headquarters of the independent regiment and the dormitory for the regiment cadres.
After sending Zhao Gang safely to Yang Village,
The two guards from the brigade returned on their own.
Wang Ye and Wei Dayong followed Zhao Gang into the regiment headquarters.
It was discovered that the mental states of the cadres and soldiers were not very good.
Obviously, the Independent Regiment has not yet recovered from the previous disastrous defeat.
More than two hundred people were killed in one battle, but not even a single Japanese soldier was killed!
This encounter with Yamamoto's special forces completely destroyed the spirit of the independent regiment.
This is also the reason why the headquarters transferred Li Yunlong to the independent regiment to serve as the commander. Only a rebellious person like Li Yunlong could rebuild the military spirit of the independent regiment in a short period of time.
"Xiao Wang and Monk Wei, you two should take a rest here first."
After Zhao Gang finished speaking, he walked into the upper room alone and turned left to reach the commander's office.
As soon as I lifted the curtain, I saw a man sitting cross-legged on the kang drinking wine.
The man was wearing a tattered gray cloth military uniform with a collar covered in dirt. The white shirt underneath was so dirty that the original color could not be seen. It must have not been washed in at least three months.
Hearing the sound of the curtain being lifted, the man looked over.
About thirty years old, or perhaps even younger.
Because these old Red Army soldiers and old revolutionaries who came through generally look old.
Many regimental, brigade and even division-level cadres are only in their twenties, but look like they are in their thirties or forties. This is due to long periods of hard life.
Li Yunlong's actual age is only 29 years old, three years older than Zhao Gang.
Li Yunlong was only 16 years old when he participated in the Huangma Uprising. Because he was young, knew a little bit of boxing, and was smart, he was kept by the Red Army division commander as a guard, and thus began his military career.
Li Yunlong raised his eyes and saw someone walking in.
This man had a fair complexion and was well-mannered. His gray military uniform was washed clean, especially the white shirt underneath which was spotless.
Seeing this, Li Yunlong's face immediately fell.
Damn it, the headquarters sent another scholar over.
None of these scholars are good people. They have no skills at all and can only talk.
I don't know what the head of the headquarters was thinking. What's wrong with letting Lao Li be the head of the regiment and the political commissar? Why did he have to send a white-faced scholar to play against me?
Zhao Gang's face didn't look good either.
It seems that this partner is more difficult to get along with than he expected.
Not only did he openly violate military discipline and drink, but he also gave him a cold shoulder as soon as they met. Was he trying to establish his authority? I, Zhao Gang, came to the Independent Regiment to fight the Japanese invaders, not to be bullied by you.
But Zhao Gang has received higher education and is well-educated.
Zhao Gang immediately saluted Li Yunlong, extended his hand and said, "Hello, Captain Li, I am your partner Zhao Gang."
Li Yunlong didn't even glance at him, nor did he extend his hand to shake hands. Instead, he picked up the wine bowl and took a sip. After that, he smacked his lips, looking like he was enjoying it very much.
Zhao Gang frowned and withdrew his hand awkwardly.
Li Yunlong then picked up the wine bowl and asked Zhao Gang, "Can you drink?"
"Captain Li, I'm sorry." Zhao Gang said, "I don't drink."
"You can't drink?" Li Yunlong said disdainfully, "If you can't drink, why did you come to the independent regiment?"
Zhao Gang said in a deep voice: "I came to the independent regiment to fight against the Japanese invaders, not to be a drunkard."
"Yeah, that makes sense." Li Yunlong put down his wine bowl and said, "You are a cultured man after all. It seems that Political Commissar Zhao has fought in many battles. How about giving us a lesson? Let us also understand what fighting is?"
These words were obviously sarcastic, mocking Zhao Gang for not having fought any battles.
But this time, Li Yunlong really misjudged Zhao Gang. He had really fought in battles, and quite a few times.
Before going to the fourth term of the Anti-Japanese Military and Political University in Yan'an, Zhao Gang was already a deputy battalion-level cadre of the First Decisive Death Column and had made many contributions. He was like Confucius with a sword on his waist, a man who was both civil and military.
At that moment, Zhao Gang said firmly: "I don't deserve it, let's learn from each other."
Hearing this, Li Yunlong became even more unhappy. Will he die if he doesn't brag?
You, a scholar, have ever fought in a war? Do you know what fighting is?
Learn from each other? You want me to learn how to talk from you? What the hell!
Li Yunlong said with a fierce face: "This is our first meeting, so we should make it clear. The military and the government should be separated, and we should each do our own thing. I have the final say in war, and you have the final say in life. Is that ok?"
