Just as Zhang Handuo and Yang Ling were discussing tomorrow's defense deployment with the help of dim lanterns, Huzi emerged from the command post, stood up and raised his hand to salute a military salute.
"Regimental seat, regimental deputy, someone from the brigade headquarters is here."
After Zhang Handuo heard Hu Zi's report, his frown relaxed, he hurriedly raised his head and asked happily: "Where is he?"
Their regiment had been fighting hard for a day at Jinlonggan, and now they lost contact with the brigade headquarters, which made Zhang Handuo extremely uncomfortable.
Now when I suddenly heard someone coming from the brigade headquarters, I was like a drowning man grasping at straws to save his life. The excitement was incomprehensible to others.
"They are right outside." Huzi pointed behind him.
Zhang Handuo heard that the people from the brigade had arrived outside the command post. He solemnly tidied up his dirty military uniform with many holes in it, and told Huzi in a full spirit: "Please come in quickly."
"Yes!" Huzi turned and left, and soon two lieutenants, one tall and one short, walked into their regiment's temporary command post under the guidance of Huzi.
These two liaison officers took advantage of the cover of night to climb to their positions on the mountain. During the day, they would definitely be beaten to pieces by the Japs, so they also took a great risk.
The two sides saluted each other and ignored the pleasantries. Zhang Handuo asked impatiently: "Thank you for your hard work, two brothers. Did you bring new orders from the brigade this time?"
The tall second lieutenant nodded and said: "Captain Zhang, Deputy Commander Yang, the brigade asked us to come over and tell you that the rest of our 74th Army has all moved over. No matter how big the casualties are, we must hold on until the main force comes over.
"
Hearing that the entire army was approaching, Zhang Handuo's face flashed with joy. Now they were supported by an infantry brigade. If the entire army were to approach, the situation on the battlefield would be very different.
Zhang Handuo, who was originally a little depressed, seemed to have been injected with new power, and his face was glowing again: "Please tell the two brothers to tell the brigade that the people are in the position. Unless our 30 group fights all, otherwise the little Japanese can't even think about it."
Take a step forward!"
The two liaison officers looked at each other and said with a smile: "Since Commander Zhang has said this, we can go back to the station with confidence."
Zhang Handuo added: "Two brothers, although we are determined to persevere, we now have more than 300 wounded people who are in urgent need of treatment and are in urgent need of ammunition, soldiers and food. I hope you can convey this to the brigade and see if you can find a way to send us some.
"
"Don't worry, Commander Zhang, we will truthfully convey your difficulties to the brigade."
"Thank you very much, brothers. When the battle is over, I'll treat you to a drink." Zhang Handuo said gratefully.
"Captain Zhang, you are very polite. You are here to kill the enemy with blood. We are just conveying a word. No need to say thank you."
Although the two liaison officers were from the brigade, they also admired their brothers who fought bloody battles, so they were always polite.
After conveying the order and understanding the difficulties faced by Yang Ling and his regiment, the two liaison officers hurried back to resume their duties under the cover of night without stopping too much.
"Tell brothers, hold on a little longer, our reinforcements are already here!"
Zhang Handuo sent off the two liaison officers and returned to the command post. The decadence and fatigue on his face disappeared and he became excited, wanting to tell the brothers the good news.
What the brothers feared most was to fight a hopeless battle, so when they heard that the entire army had approached, all the surviving brothers showed joy. Although they were still exhausted and faced many difficulties, their morale was lifted again.
.
Yang Ling knew that although the 74th Army had moved closer, the predicament they faced was still severe. If they could not solve the problem of ammunition and the sick and wounded, then holding on would become an empty talk.
The brigade headquarters acted very quickly. Just three hours after the liaison officer left, more than a hundred brothers who had been replaced, carrying a batch of ammunition and weapons, sneaked through the Japanese defense line and climbed up the mountain.
The Japanese sentries also discovered this group of brothers who had crossed the defense line, and fired randomly in the dark night. However, in this mountainous area covered with vegetation, it was pitch black, and they were worried about encountering an ambush, so they quickly retreated to the camp.
"Report, Niu Yougen has been ordered to provide reinforcements, please give instructions from Tuanzuo Zhang!"
Wearing a gray military uniform, a tall and skinny company commander led more than a hundred soldiers similarly dressed in rags to salute the regiment leader Zhang Handuo.
Zhang Handuo heard the strong Sichuan accent of the leading officer and curiously asked them how the Sichuan troops had gotten reinforcements here.
The big man Niu Yougen said with some shame: "We are from the 15th Preliminary Division of the Sichuan Army. We were defeated by the Japanese during the day, and Commander Zhou gathered us..."
Hearing that they were troops overwhelmed by the Japanese, Zhang Handuo had doubts. Compared with his brothers, he would still be a little worried if the position was handed over to them.
Niu Yougen and others are also worried. After all, they are Sichuan Army troops and belong to the provincial army. Now they have been dispersed and temporary reinforcements have been sent to this position, fearing that they will be used as cannon fodder.
"Zhang Tuanzuo, don't you know where our position is?" Seeing Zhang Handuo thinking silently, Niu Yougen cautiously probed.
Zhang Handuo was also embarrassed when he looked at these Sichuan Army brothers who were wearing tattered clothes and looking around.
According to Zhang Handuo's idea, these Sichuan Army brothers were to replace the frontline troops who had been fighting fiercely all day and let them retreat to the back to rest. But are these Sichuan Army soldiers really willing to defend the frontline?
Yang Ling knew that this was a difficult time, and what everyone needed most was unity. If the distribution was not good, there would definitely be trouble.
"Captain Niu, since you are here, you are a brother in the trenches. Let's fight side by side! Kill the Japanese together." Yang Ling also spoke.
Although Zhang Handuo didn't know Yang Ling's intentions, since Yang Ling spoke up, he simply organized these Sichuan Army brothers into the companies that had suffered greater losses to increase their strength.
Niu Dagen breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that although he and others were dispersed and organized into companies with greater losses, instead of going to the front line alone as cannon fodder.
"Don't worry Zhang Tuanzuo. Although we were overwhelmed by the Japanese during the day, I promise that we will not take a step back this time! Whoever dares to retreat does not need Zhang Tuanzuo to take action. I will kill him personally! I will never give it to you.
The 74th Army is lagging behind!"
Niu Yougen also slapped his chest loudly and said viciously.
The brothers from the Sichuan Army were quickly assigned to replenish the companies that had suffered greater losses to enhance the combat effectiveness of the troops, while Yang Ling left Niu Dagen alone.
"Deputy Commander Yang, I wonder what you want from me?" Niu Dagen and Yang Ling were strangers to each other, so they were left feeling uneasy.