Chapter 62: Demoted three levels in a row
The chief of staff originally thought that the brigade commander was just speaking casually.
But he soon realized that the brigade commander was serious.
"Brigade Commander, are you serious?" the chief of staff asked, "Are you really going to dismantle the independent regiment?"
"It's true." The brigade commander nodded and said, "After this expansion, the independent regiment already has fifteen companies with more than 2,000 people . This size has already exceeded those old regiments."
“Those old groups only had more than 1,700 people.”
"Just now Cheng Shifa was complaining to me on the phone."
"Why should the weapons and equipment captured by the 772nd Regiment be handed over to the brigade headquarters, while the weapons and equipment captured by the New 1st Regiment and the Independent Regiment can be kept to expand the troops?"
"They also said that their 772nd Regiment also wants to expand."
The Chief of Staff said unhappily, “How can this be the same?”
"The 772nd Regiment was fully equipped when it crossed the Yellow River."
"How many people and guns did the New 1st Regiment have at that time?"
"The independent regiment has just been upgraded from a local force."
"If we don't give them some autonomy, how can they form combat effectiveness?"
"But the old group is different. If the old group does the same thing, wouldn't it be a mess?"
The brigade commander said, "That being said, we really can't be too partial to one and neglect the other. Otherwise, it won't be long before this kid Li Yunlong can expand the army to 3,000 people. By then, won't Cheng Shifa and the others go crazy?"
The Chief of Staff nodded and said, "So, Brigade Commander, you plan to split the independent regiment into two regiments?"
The brigade commander said: "To be more precise, the New 1st Regiment and the Independent Regiment will be split into three regiments."
"The New 1st Regiment is also going to be split up?" The Chief of Staff was stunned for a moment, then said, "Yes, Ding Wei's speed of expanding the army is only faster than Li Yunlong's."
"Although the battle at the Huting stronghold did not succeed in blocking the enemy, he was able to take down two of the enemy's strongholds."
"Then he stole 50 rifles from Li Yunlong and went back to expand two more companies. Now the New 1st Regiment has 17 companies. Among the dozens of main regiments of our 129th Division, his New 1st Regiment has the largest number of troops. Li Yunlong's independent regiment should be split up, and Ding Wei's New 1st Regiment should be split up even more."
The brigade commander said, "Chief of Staff, this is what I planned."
"Pull out the 1st Battalion of the New 1st Regiment and the 1st Battalion of the Independent Regiment as a whole."
"Add the cavalry company and the special forces company directly under the brigade headquarters to form a new second regiment."
"This way, the new Second Regiment will have eight core companies and will be able to quickly form combat effectiveness."
"Brigade Commander, it's actually ten core companies." The chief of staff said with a smile, "The 1st Battalion of the New 1st Regiment and the 1st Battalion of the Independent Regiment now have four companies under their command, three infantry companies and one light machine gun company."
"Oh, yes." The brigade commander said, "That's even easier."
The Chief of Staff asked again: "Then who will be the leader of the new Second Regiment?"
"Let's pick Kong Jie," the brigade commander said. "Kong Jie's ability is slightly inferior to that of Ding Wei and Li Yunlong, but he is also an old Red Army soldier who came from the Long March. Not only is he tough, but he also doesn't cause trouble. Otherwise, if all the regiment commanders under him were like Li Yunlong, I would lose ten years of my life."
…
In Yang Village, the headquarters of the independent regiment.
Li Yunlong's right eyelid began to twitch again.
"Damn it, what happened these past two days?"
Li Yunlong cursed, "Why does your right eyelid keep twitching?"
"What else are you talking about?" Kong Jie, who was sitting opposite and smoking a cigarette, said unhappily, "I told you not to praise Xiao Wang, not to praise Xiao Wang, but you insisted on praising him, and what happened?"
"Let me tell you, okay?"
"I said this kid doesn't stand being praised."
"If you praise him, he will definitely get you into trouble."
"Just wait, this matter is not trivial."
Li Yunlong said, "It's not that serious, is it? Didn't they just bury two Japanese prisoners alive?"
"You make it sound so easy." Kong Jie said, "The boss called in person to ask for the person, and you agreed, but you turned around and let Xiao Wang bury him alive."
"What's going on?"
"This is called disobedience, you know?"
Zhao Gang said: "It's not just a matter of disobeying orders."
"The nature of the torture and killing of prisoners was particularly egregious."
"This is a blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions."
"Here they come again." Li Yunlong said unhappily, "What's with the Geneva night, I don't understand. Anyway, I only know one thing, that since the Japanese came to China, they have slaughtered many civilians, and even many of our Eighth Route Army brothers have suffered at their hands."
"Only the devils are allowed to torture and kill us?"
"Can't we just kill the devils instead?"
"How can there be such a truth in this world?"
"We, Old Li, only know how to repay tooth for tooth, blood for blood!"
"We will treat the Japs the same way they treat us!"
"Li Yunlong!" Zhao Gang said angrily, "You really need to strengthen your ideological awareness. The Japanese came to China to kill people and set fires. If you go to Japan one day, will you also kill people and set fires?"
While they were arguing, the phone on the bedside table suddenly rang: "Ding-ling-ling!"
Li Yunlong, who was bickering with Zhao Gang, was startled again. He hesitated for a moment and said to Zhao Gang, "Old Zhao, you take it."
"Look at you, you're so weak. A phone call scared you like this." Zhao Gang pointed at Li Yunlong , stepped forward to answer the phone and said, "Hello, I'm Zhao Gang from the Independent Regiment."
The voice of the brigade commander came from the other end of the phone: "Zhao Gang, where is Li Yunlong?"
Zhao Gang covered the microphone and said to Li Yunlong, "Old Li, the brigade commander wants to see you."
Li Yunlong's face turned pale when he heard this, and he quickly shook his hand and said, "No, just say I went out."
Zhao Gang shook his head, let go of the microphone and said, "Brigade Commander, this is what happened. Didn't a group of Japanese cavalry come yesterday and burn, kill and loot in the edge of our Taihang base area?"
"Many ordinary people have also been killed."
"We judge that the devils are likely to take follow-up actions,"
"So Lao Li took a battalion to cover the civilians' evacuation early in the morning."
After coming to the independent regiment, Zhao Gang also became a bad person and started to talk nonsense.
Li Yunlong did not go at all. Only Zhang Dabiao led the 2nd Battalion to evacuate the civilians.
"Is that so?" The brigade commander paused and said, "We'll talk about it later."
After saying this, the brigade commander hung up the phone, and Zhao Gang followed suit.
Li Yunlong asked, "Old Zhao, what does the brigade commander want to see me about?"
"He didn't say anything." Zhao Gang said, "But from his tone, it doesn't sound good."
Kong Jie said, "It's probably about Xiao Wang. The brigade commander probably got into trouble with the boss, so he turned around and took it out on us."
“This shouldn’t be the case.”
Li Yunlong frowned and said, "That doesn't make sense?"
Zhao Gang said: "Old Li, we should have an attitude."
"While the brigade's handling results have not yet come out, our regiment should handle it first, so that we can take the initiative. If we wait for the brigade's handling results to come out, there will be no room for maneuver."
Kong Jie said: "I agree with the political commissar's opinion, deal with it quickly."
Li Yunlong asked, "Hasn't Xiao Wang already written a self-criticism? What else should we do?"
"You want to pass just by writing a self-criticism? What are you thinking?" Zhao Gang said, "My opinion is to demote him and then put him in solitary confinement."
"Demotion is fine, but confinement is not." Li Yunlong said with a glare, "The Huting stronghold wiped out a reinforced squadron of the Japanese, but attracted a cavalry regiment."
"This is a fatter sheep."
"I want to slaughter this fat sheep for the Lantern Festival."
"This matter cannot be accomplished without the Wolf Warriors team gathering intelligence in advance."
Zhao Gang frowned and said, "Then demote him three levels, to deputy platoon rank, and see how it works."
"How can that be possible?" Li Yunlong said, "Xiao Wang has been demoted to deputy platoon rank. Isn't that lower than the monk? The monk is now at the platoon rank."
"If you hadn't told me, I would have forgotten."
Zhao Gang nodded and said, "Wei Dayong was the one who started this matter, so let's deal with it together."
"Wang Ye was demoted from company commander to deputy platoon leader, and Wei Dayong was directly demoted to soldier!"
This is even more cruel. Wang Ye was demoted three levels, and Wei Dayong was demoted four levels.
"This punishment is a bit severe, but it's for their own good. It will teach them a lesson."
"Our Communist Party's troops are disciplined and have faith. They are different from the inhumane Japanese devils. We cannot do anything that violates international conventions."
…
Meanwhile, at the brigade headquarters.
The chief of staff said, "Commander, Li Yunlong must be in Yang Village. He might have been standing next to Zhao Gang when he answered the phone. I know this guy too well."
The brigade commander smiled and said, "I know, but I just didn't expose it."
The Chief of Staff said, "How about I go to Yang Village and announce the decision?"
"Don't worry." The brigade commander said, "It seems that there is something wrong with the independent regiment."
"Oh my god, there's something going on again?" the chief of staff asked, "Li Yunlong, this kid, can't even keep quiet during the New Year?"
The brigade commander said, "It's better not to stop. The more he makes trouble, the more he will save. The newly formed New Second Regiment will be able to form combat effectiveness more quickly, and maybe even catch up with the war next year!"
