Volume 1 Chapter 068 Reaching Out
With so many new weapons and equipment suddenly available, the 358th Regiment will certainly have to recruit a lot of soldiers and continue to expand.
With this batch of weapons, we can expand our force by about 3,000 people.
However, this sudden surge in troops is not necessarily a good thing.
The first issue to be addressed is the issue of military pay.
Previously, the higher-ups directly allocated military salaries for more than 5,000 people.
If we expand enrollment by 3,000 people now, each person alone will have to consume 1.7 kilograms of food every day.
3,000 people would consume 5,100 kilograms a day, which means 153,000 kilograms (76 tons) a month.
This is not a small amount of money.
Moreover, recruiting soldiers is not just about recruiting people.
What about training?
A grassroots officer?
Especially for grassroots officers, it is very important.
In the past, the Chinese army did not attach importance to grassroots officers.
War drives people to progress, or forces people to progress!
It is precisely because he saw that in order to build a strong army, in addition to selecting good generals, he also needed good basic officers.
The Kuomintang then established the Whampoa Military Academy to train grassroots officers.
The Central Army, which was mainly composed of Whampoa officers, won many victories, thanks to the grassroots officers trained by the Whampoa Military Academy.
The several major defeats were due, on the one hand, to the backward tactical thinking of the Central Army at that time.
They neglected civil engineering fortifications and the defensive line they laid out lacked depth.
Once they are penetrated by the Japanese army, or they make a detour.
The entire defense line of the Central Army will collapse completely.
Another aspect is the style of Kuomintang officers.
When the war went against their will, they immediately thought about preserving their own strength and escaping first.
This disorderly escape led to a major collapse.
Later, after the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Chiang Kai-shek tried to seize territory as quickly as possible.
Recruiting puppet soldiers, bandits and robbers, and forcibly conscripting able-bodied men, the army, which originally numbered less than one million, was immediately expanded to three or four million.
There are more soldiers and horses, but the quality of grassroots officers has not kept up.
This caused the Central Army’s combat effectiveness to seriously decline.
In addition, most of the Kuomintang officers had won the battle, so they immediately became corrupt when they returned to the prosperous city.
This series of reasons resulted in the Kuomintang army being vulnerable after the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
Chu Yunfei doesn't want to make this mistake.
Only elite soldiers and strong generals can defeat a powerful enemy.
However. That being said.
But where do the grassroots officers come from?
The expansion of nearly 2 groups is definitely different from before.
We can just draw some from each battalion, build the framework, and then fill in new recruits.
In this way, the combat effectiveness of the old camp will not be weakened too much, and the new camp will also be combat effective.
After winning a few battles or fighting tough battles, we can basically restore our combat effectiveness.
But now we have to recruit 3,000 more people. With such a big move, there is no way to transfer enough officers from the old camp to build a framework. Otherwise, the old army will collapse!
I can only ask my superiors for help in expanding the army.
This is the advantage of having a big tree to lean on. If you can't handle something, you can always ask for help.
Kenanpo, Ji County. Headquarters of the Sixth Army Group.
Chu Yunfei straightened his military uniform and walked into the headquarters.
As soon as he saw Commander Yang Aiyuan, he immediately straightened his back, stood at attention and saluted, saying, "Hello, Commander. The commander of the 358th Regiment, Chu Yunfei, is reporting in!"
After saluting, he took the bamboo basket from his adjutant Sun Ming. "Commander, these are some seasonal fruits from the south. They are not worth much. Just a token of my appreciation, not a token of respect!"
This era is not like now, especially now it is a war era.
It is not easy to send fruits from the south to Jixian, an inland city. The price is, of course, very expensive.
Yang Aiyuan scolded, "I've always said that you don't need to bring gifts when you come to my place, but every time you come you bring a big bag of gifts! Next time if you're so polite, then don't come to my place!"
"I am just glad to see you, Commander. These are just some fruits. They are not worth much!"
Yang Aiyuan is not a fool, so he knows how expensive these fruits are.
He snorted and said, "Hurry up and sit down!"
"Thank you, Commander!" Chu Yunfei was not polite and sat down immediately.
Yang Aiyuan was also very clear about Yun Fei's character. He would never visit her unless there was something important.
This time he applied to come to the headquarters and brought gifts with him, which means he has something to ask for.
He asked, "Tell me! What are you doing here this time?"
Chu Yunfei smiled and said, "Commander, you know me well. Didn't we just seize a batch of weapons a few days ago? I was thinking of recruiting a few more soldiers to strengthen our strength. After all, my regiment is at the forefront and may be attacked by the devils at any time. I can't sleep well without a few soldiers!"
Yang Aiyuan glanced at Chu Yunfei and said, "It's just recruiting a few soldiers. Then recruit them! You don't need to ask me about this!"
Chu Yunfei laughed and said, "Commander, this time my regiment wants to recruit 3,000 young and strong men. This army..."
Hearing the number Chu Yunfei reported, Yang Aiyuan stared at him in amazement, and said in disbelief. "3,000 people? Yunfei, you are trying to get rich overnight!"
"We have seized a lot of weapons! In the past, people waited for weapons, but this time, weapons waited for people. If we recruit more, we can kill more devils!"
Yang Aiyuan sighed and said, "Yunfei! The French currency is depreciating severely now, and the wages of 3,000 people don't cost much. But food is the big expense. You are also aware of the situation of our army in recent years. There is only a small amount of territory left, and the military budget in Chongqing is getting less and less. Now our army is not having a good time. You have a regiment of 5,000 people, which is already controversial. If you recruit another 3,000 people now, I will not be able to explain to the commander-in-chief!"
"Commander, our regiment is on the front line, facing the Japanese attack. Moreover, we have attacked the Japanese several times, and now the Japanese regard our regiment as a thorn in their side. Those devils are narrow-minded, and they will come to kill us sooner or later. If we don't recruit more troops, I really have no confidence in resisting the invasion of the Japanese army! Commander, if our regiment can't resist, Ji County will face the direct threat of the Japanese army!"
Chu Yunfei explained the importance of the 358th Regiment.
Yang Aiyuan said a little irritably. "I know this. Otherwise, your 358th Regiment wouldn't be a reinforced regiment with 5,000 soldiers. It also has a cavalry battalion and an artillery battalion! Recruit another 1,000 people! This is the maximum number of people I can get for you!"
One thousand people!
This is a direct cut in half and then cut in half again!
"commander……"
Yang Aiyuan said decisively. "No need to talk about it. This matter cannot be discussed. One thousand people, this is the maximum number!"
Chu Yunfei saw that the commander was determined. He said, "Then I have a request!"
Yang Aiyuan also felt a little sorry for his trusted general and said, "What's your request? Tell me!"
"I want 60 military officers! Isn't that too much to ask?"
"I can accept this request. A group of officers will graduate from the Shanxi Military Cadre School next month. They are all trained veterans who were originally planned to be incorporated into the Iron Army. I will make the decision and select 60 of them to send to your 358th Regiment!"
These officers started out as soldiers and have rich practical experience. After officer training , they can be directly used as platoon leaders or company commanders.
"Thank you, Commander! I will never let you down!"
" Yun Fei. With your contributions, you could have at least been promoted to major general, in charge of a division! But..."
