After resting in a private house for a few more days, we couldn't stay any longer...
On the one hand, it is because we are not very adapted to life in the rear. Even though the soldiers are very majestic when fighting, they are all timid when they get to the rear. They dare not do this or do that...
Some soldiers even had the habit of stripping off and wearing nothing as soon as they returned to the civilian house, even though we already had a new military uniform and we didn't need to get wet in the rain.
On the other hand... we learned from Battalion Commander Luo that our regiment's strength was already slightly insufficient and we lost a lot of people in this battle, so Commander Liu ordered the guard company to give us a rest.
They were transferred up, and now the security company responsible for the security of the regiment headquarters only has one platoon... Is this okay? What if the Vietnamese army agents know the news and attack the regiment headquarters secretly?
So although I was reluctant, I proposed the idea of returning to the front line to Camp Commander Luo.
But fortunately, Camp Commander Luo did not agree...
Battalion Commander Luo said this: "Don't worry, your superiors may have other arrangements for you. As for what arrangements... I'm not sure, but it's a good thing! As for the safety of the regiment... the second company's station has left the regiment.
The headquarters is only a few hundred meters away, and the Vietnamese soldiers will be scared to death when they hear the number of the Second Company. How dare the Vietnamese agents dare to mess with you?"
This is true. I believe that the combat effectiveness of our troops is no worse than that of the security company... The training of the security company may be a little better than ours, but our equipment and experience are much more than theirs. Besides,
Captain Liu actually sent the guards to the front line to let them experience the hardships of the front line and get practical training, so I stopped insisting. No matter how unaccustomed we are to the rear, it is better than enduring hardships in the tunnels.
Bar!
My only worry is that if the soldiers relax too much in this civilian house, they may not be able to adapt to battlefield life when they go to the battlefield again.
If I were a soldier, I wouldn't need to consider these issues, but now that I am a company commander, I have to be responsible for the soldiers under my command... So although I am not happy about it myself, in addition to routine sentry patrols,
In addition, I still insist on spending a few hours every day to let the soldiers run or let the veterans lead the new soldiers to fight.
As the saying goes, sweat more in peacetime and bleed less in wartime. This is peacetime... and soldiers who have been in the tunnels for a long time without moving do need running to restore their physical strength. On the other hand, it can also allow recruits and veterans to get to know each other and learn from each other.
Why not do this?
"Company Commander!" This afternoon was when we had eaten and were preparing to rest... When we were stationed in highland tunnels, it was often relatively safe during the day, but we had to lurk at night, hiding in the tunnels to worry about the Vietnamese army digging holes.
, so over time we developed a habit of sleeping during the day and staying awake at night.
Our biological clock has not adjusted in the past few days... In fact, I don't want the soldiers to adjust, because it is very likely that they will go to the battlefield again soon.
At this time, Xiao Shitou ran in from outside and said in a panic: "Company Commander, have you heard? Someone from above has been sent down, saying they are investigating Captain Liu's disobedience to command!"
"What?" I couldn't help but be shocked when I heard this, and sat up from my bed unconsciously.
The soldiers also stood up after hearing this. The scholar asked Xiao Shitou with a puzzled face: "Did you make a mistake? Didn't we just win a big victory? What else are we investigating?"
"I heard..." Xiao Shitou said hesitantly: "The regiment leader did not listen to the instructions from his superiors and decided on the battle plan privately, which is why this battle ended like this! It is said that the regiment commander will be punished!"
"Damn it!" Bayonet scolded: "What is this? After winning the battle, you still need to investigate?"
"That's right!" the scholar said unconvincedly: "The regiment leader can win this battle without obeying the command, but if he obeys the command, does he lose the battle? If you win the battle, you will be punished, and if you lose the battle, you will also be punished.
, this doesn’t allow people to live anymore!”
"Let's go! Let's find someone to reason with!" Bayonet shouted: "Let's go talk to the regiment leader and help him judge!"
The call of the bayonet was answered by hundreds of responses, and the soldiers all stood up with a cheer.
"Come back!" I ordered with a straight face: "All of you, lie down and sleep in your bed!"
"Company commander..." Bayonet wanted to say something else, but I choked it back with a glare, so he could only lie back reluctantly.
It should be said... I have known for a long time that there will be a situation like today, and Captain Liu has also expected it. This problem can be said to be big or small. In fact, it can be brushed off. It mainly depends on the mentality of the superiors to deal with it. Let's
These little soldiers trying to reason with each other will have no effect at all.
I lay down on my bed again, but couldn't fall asleep after tossing and turning, so I simply got up, put on my clothes and walked towards the regiment headquarters...
Before I reached the regiment headquarters, I saw Battalion Commander Luo walking anxiously at the entrance of the courtyard. When he saw me, he came up to me, handed me a cigarette and said, "The situation is a bit bad. Two people from the political office of the division headquarters came.
I personally said that I wanted to investigate the issue of disobeying orders this time! The group leader took care of this matter by himself!"
As soon as I heard this, I was about to walk into the yard, but I was quickly stopped by Camp Commander Luo: "What are you doing?"
"This is my idea!" I said, "The whole plan can be said to be mine. How can I let the leader carry it alone?"
"Is it useful for you to go?" Battalion Commander Luo said angrily: "If it was useful for you to go, I would have gone there long ago! They are investigating disobedience of orders... Can you, a company commander, command a regiment?"
I was right when I heard this. Although I made the plan, it was Commander Liu who gave the order...
"What kind of punishment will there be?" I asked helplessly after a while.
"It's not clear yet!" Camp Commander Luo shook his head: "But we won the battle after all. This also proves that the commander's choice was right. This way at least we still have some confidence! If we lose the battle, it will be over..."
As he spoke, Commander Luo patted me on the shoulder and said: "So Commander Liu has always been grateful to you. He not only blocked the logistics supply line of the Vietnamese Japs, but also killed and wounded so many Vietnamese Japs...
A large amount of American equipment was handed over. It is said that when Commander Liu reported the list of the equipment, his superiors were stunned... A battalion of troops and a tank company were sent overnight to transport the equipment!
"
"Is it such an exaggeration?" This was the first time I heard Battalion Commander Luo talk about the batch of equipment I seized. I'm afraid I didn't say it before because it was confidential.
"That's not it?" Battalion Commander Luo nodded and said, "So this battle was fought beautifully, and the punishment given to the regiment commander shouldn't be too ugly. Otherwise, other troops will be disappointed when they see it, so you don't have to worry too much.
Take the time to rest with the soldiers, maybe there will be a mission soon!"
"Yeah!" I nodded, and I felt a lot more relieved when Camp Commander Luo said this.
In fact, Camp Commander Luo's analysis was correct. The final punishment given to Commander Liu by his superiors was to "make up for his past mistakes and keep him on the job for further investigation."
Making amends means that the credit for winning the battle is gone. Staying on duty means that Commander Liu is still Commander Liu... The bad thing is that Commander Liu is given a warning so that Commander Liu will not make the same mistake next time.
The mistake of obeying orders will not be so easy next time.
This seemed to be a punishment for Commander Liu, but in fact everyone knew...this was for other troops to see.
I can also understand this. Superiors also have difficulties. This time, Captain Liu disobeyed orders and won the battle. If he did not punish him but rewarded him, other troops would soon follow suit, thinking that his idea was
It is right to ignore the orders of superiors.
So what the superiors did was telling other troops: If they don't obey orders, it will be useless even if they win the battle, and there will be no credit.
But why do we care about merit or lack of merit? We must know that if we really obey the orders of our superiors, our lives will be in the hands of the Japanese.
So this is a happy situation for everyone, but what makes us a little unhappy is that... this pole was knocked down and our collective first-class merit was lost.
Our collective achievements were previously evaluated as follows:
First class meritorious service in Dai Nai Blocking Battle. That time it was almost our company that blocked the path of the 316a Division. It was also the first time we defeated the ace unit of the Vietnamese army. It played a very good leading role for other units. First class meritorious service.
Well deserved.
Because we cooperated with the 447th Regiment in the Pass Blocking Battle, the credit does not entirely belong to us, so although the result was great, it was a second-class achievement;
This battle on Highland 581... Our company almost determined the victory of the entire battle, and we also captured a lot of American equipment. It is natural that we receive first-class collective merit.
However... in order not to have a negative impact on the entire army, and it can also be said to be the sequelae of disobeying orders, this first-class merit was quickly withdrawn.
But fortunately, the personal merits of the soldiers have all remained the same. This may be because the superiors considered that we did fight a good battle and paid blood and lives, so they just turned a blind eye and got by in a careless way.
Come on!
Later I learned that this was actually not because the superiors were merciful, but because our 118th regiment had repeatedly defeated the Vietnamese army's arrogance on the battlefield and achieved success again and again, while other troops failed repeatedly...
…They are worried about what if they overdo it and no troops can fight on the front line?
But no matter what, in the end we were able to ensure victory in the battle and stabilize the cadre structure.
As for the military merit, I think the more important thing is that it exists in the hearts of the soldiers, in the reputation of each unit, and in the eyes of the people across the country! (To be continued.)