Chapter 38 Company Level
After lunch, the battalions and companies of the independent regiment began intensive training again.
The cavalry company's training ground was particularly lively. More than a hundred young men were divided into more than a dozen groups, riding astride more than a dozen elevated logs, waving wooden sticks in their hands and shouting "hahaha" non-stop.
A group of young girls and wives were carrying baskets to the river to wash clothes. When they saw this, they couldn't help but cover their mouths and laugh.
Several young men stared intently and accidentally slipped off the log.
Many young girls and wives covered their mouths and laughed softly, while the embarrassed young men blushed and climbed back to the log on their hands and feet in shame.
As a result, he made many mistakes due to his confusion, either hitting the back of the head of the soldier in front of him, or breaking his own arms and legs.
Fortunately, he was holding a wooden sword or a stick.
If it was a real knife, someone would have died.
The entire independent regiment is training vigorously.
The only exception is the Wolf Warriors.
After lunch, the Wolf Warriors returned to the dormitory to catch up on their sleep.
The Wolf Warriors were not made of steel. After long periods of intense combat, they were all exhausted and fell into a deep sleep as soon as they fell on the bed.
When Zhao Gang walked past the east wing door, he could hear the snoring coming from inside.
Kong Jie just came out from the west wing, and Zhao Gang asked, "Deputy Captain Kong, when did you come back?"
Kong Jie went to the New 1st Regiment a few days ago to get a machine gun to exchange personnel . After that, Sun Desheng came to Yang Village to report first, but he was left behind by Ding Wei in the New 1st Regiment for several days and only returned today.
Kong Jie smiled and replied, "Just got back."
"That's just right." Zhao Gang said, "Our regiment's party committee is having a meeting."
When Kong Jie heard this, he followed Zhao Gang into the upper room, carrying his pipe.
The two men walked into the west room of the upper house and saw Li Yunlong lying on the kang practicing calligraphy.
This is a political task assigned to Li Yunlong by Zhao Gang. He must learn to read and practice writing when he has free time.
In fact, not only the cadres of the Eighth Route Army, but also ordinary soldiers had to study when they had free time.
An ironic fact is that the Kuomintang often slandered the Eighth Route Army as peasants, but in fact the cultural level of the Eighth Route Army's officers and soldiers was generally higher than that of the Kuomintang army.
Of course, what we are talking about here is cultural level, not so-called academic qualifications.
Kong Jie came over to take a look, then laughed and said, "Political Commissar, look at what Lao Li wrote. The strokes are as straight as a sentinel. This is not writing, this is drawing lines!"
Zhao Gang also said: "It's really not right. I've been practicing for so many days and there's no progress at all."
"Damn it, I'm not going to practice anymore." Li Yunlong threw Mao Lian aside and cursed, "Practicing writing characters is more tiring than leading soldiers in battle. I'm not going to practice anymore, I'm not going to practice anymore."
Zhao Gang rolled his eyes when he heard this and was too lazy to say anything more.
After spending some time together, he gradually understood Li Yunlong's temper.
This is a stubborn donkey. He won't move when led and will retreat when beaten. If you want to control Li Yunlong, you must use strategy.
"If you're tired, take a break and change your mind." Zhao Gang immediately changed the subject and said, "It just so happens that Deputy Head Kong is back. Let's hold a Party Committee meeting to discuss the commendation."
Li Yunlong crossed his legs and said, "Are you talking about commending the Wolf Warriors?"
"Yes." Zhao Gang said, "The Wolf Warriors have wiped out another Japanese cavalry squad and seized 17 war horses and 30 cavalry rifles. They should be commended."
"Yes, yes." Li Yunlong said.
Kong Jie also said: "I fully agree with this."
Zhao Gang added: "Also, should we mention Comrade Wang Ye's rank?"
Speaking of this, Zhao Gang said, "Especially tomorrow, the Wolf Squad will have to cooperate with the Cavalry Company in combat. I'm afraid it's not appropriate to let Xiao Wang, the squad leader, command Sun Desheng, the company commander, right?"
"Oh, I didn't expect that." Li Yunlong suddenly said, "It's indeed not appropriate."
"What's so difficult about this?" Kong Jie said, "Xiao Wang has only been in our independent regiment for a few days? He has already made several contributions. It is not too much to directly promote him to battalion commander. At the very least, he should be promoted to deputy battalion commander."
"Wouldn't it be more reasonable to let a deputy battalion commander command the company commander?"
"I think so too." Li Yunlong said, "If this guy hadn't killed a horse, he would have been a deputy battalion-level cadre three days ago."
"Kill the horse?"
Kong Jie asked, "What's going on?"
Li Yunlong then told the whole story.
Kong Jie said: "Then it's time to beat him up."
"The horse just has a minor hoof injury. After it is healed, even if it cannot be used as a military horse, it can still be used as a pack horse."
"What our Eighth Route Army lacks most are large animals like mules and horses. How can we just kill them and eat their meat? If there is no punishment for such unorganized and undisciplined behavior, what will happen?"
Zhao Gang said, "That's the problem. He was just punished three days ago, and now he's promoted to deputy battalion commander. Isn't that too much of a joke? What will the more than 1,000 officers and soldiers of the regiment think?"
"Who cares what they think? Those who have made contributions should be rewarded, and those who have made mistakes should be punished. This is only natural."
Li Yunlong slammed the table and said, "It's settled. Xiao Wang will be promoted to deputy battalion commander, but he won't be assigned a deputy battalion commander position. He will still be the leader of his Wolf Warrior Squad."
Zhao Gang said, "Should we promote him to the rank of company commander?"
Kong Jie said: "Just promote him to full captain. Anyway, with Xiao Wang's ability and the frequency of his victories, he will be commended again in a few days. The same will apply if he is promoted to deputy battalion commander."
Li Yunlong thought about it and it made sense, so he didn't say anything more.
…
At exactly six o'clock the next morning, Wang Ye blew the assembly whistle on time.
The sleeping war wolves were awakened one after another, and immediately got up, dressed, and rushed to the yard to gather.
Not long after the Wolf Warriors team finished gathering, Sun Desheng also came to report with a platoon of the cavalry company. Li Yunlong, Zhao Gang and Kong Jie also got up.
Wang Ye stood at attention and saluted, "Commissar, Deputy Commander Kong."
"War Wolf Squad and Cavalry Platoon 1 have assembled. Please give instructions."
"At ease." Li Yunlong returned the military salute and said, "Please let the political commissar speak."
Zhao Gang stepped forward and said, "I am announcing a decision. After research by the regiment party committee, Comrade Wang Ye's rank is promoted to company level, and he will continue to serve as the leader of the Wolf Warrior Squad."
Wei Dayong and the other thirteen war wolves applauded enthusiastically.
Wang Ye himself didn't have any special feelings.
Instead, the soldiers of the cavalry company looked envious.
I thought, how many days has Wang Ye been in the independent regiment? He is already at the company level.
Li Yunlong added: "Six machine guns are ready and placed in the main hall."
Wang Ye turned around and waved his hand, and Sun Desheng immediately led the 1st Cavalry Platoon into the main room and brought out six machine guns, all of which were Liao-style imitation Czech light machine guns. Each machine gun was also equipped with a thousand rounds of ammunition, which was a box.
Li Yunlong warned again: "Xiao Wang, the Japanese cavalry are not vegetarians. The terrain around the Huting stronghold is also more suitable for cavalry operations, so you must not be too brave."
Wang Ye said: "Don't worry, Captain, I know what to do."
"Well, I'm still confident in you." Li Yunlong nodded, and then reminded Sun Desheng, "Captain Sun, your cavalry platoon 1 must obey Xiao Wang's command in this combat operation."
"Yes!" Sun Desheng responded, "I will definitely obey the decision of the regiment!"
"Alright." Li Yunlong waved his hand and said, "Let's go quickly."
Wang Ye trotted to the side of the queue and shouted, "Everyone, turn right and march in step!"
Following Wang Ye's resounding commands, the Wolf Warriors and the 1st Cavalry Platoon filed out of the regiment headquarters and slowly drove out of Yang Village along the empty road.
At this time, the sky was still dark.
And it started to snow lightly.
…
Huting stronghold.
It had been snowing for half a day, and a thick layer of snow had accumulated on the mountains outside the stronghold.
Maeda Tsuyoshi and Sato Kentaro had already finished lunch. They climbed to the roof of the No. 1 artillery tower together and watched the snow scene outside the Huting stronghold in the cold wind.
"It's so beautiful." Maeda Tsuyoshi praised sincerely, "The snow scene of Mount Fuji is just like this."
Sato Kentaro echoed, "Yes, when it comes to the beauty of mountains and rivers, the Empire is far behind China. It's a pity that such magnificent mountains and rivers do not belong to the Yamato people."
"It will soon belong to our Yamato people."
Maeda Tsuyoshi smiled and said, "No more than ten years at most."
"Ten years?" Sato Kentaro shook his head and said, "Maeda-kun, you are too pessimistic."
"Why?" Maeda Tsuyoshi asked in surprise, "Don't you think so, Sato-kun?"
Sato Kentaro did not give a direct answer, but changed the subject and said, "Maeda-kun, don't you realize that the Imperial Army has occupied half of China?"
"Really?" Maeda Tsuyoshi said in astonishment, "I really didn't notice it."
"Forget it, let's not talk about this." Sato Kentaro waved his hand and said, "It's snowing, and the New Year is coming soon. I think the Eighth Route Army will be quiet for a while, and we can rest for a few days."
However, the more perfect the ideal is, the more cruel and heartbreaking the reality is.
As soon as Kentaro Sato finished speaking, a telephone operator ran up to the top floor.
"Captain!" The telephone operator stood at attention and reported, "The call to Yangquan is not working again."
"Baka!" Maeda Tsuyoshi's face immediately turned dark. These damn Eighth Route Army soldiers were even quiet even on a snowy day!
Sato Kentaro comforted Maeda Tsuyoshi and said to himself: "Maeda-kun, the heavy snow may have broken the power lines. I will take the cavalry squadron to protect the telephone soldiers and go to repair them."
Maeda Tsuyoshi warned: "Sato-kun, be careful."
"If you encounter the Eighth Route Army , don't chase them anymore."
Kentaro Sato went straight downstairs, and I don’t know if he heard it?
