The platoon of the second company led by Yang Xiong was the first to come back. Kang Sheng had recruited more than a hundred recruits in Li Gong Town, and he recruited dozens more on the way back. When Yang Xiong came back, he alone brought back four soldiers from his platoon.
More than one hundred and fifty new recruits.
After the other five platoons returned one after another, the number of new recruits Cheng Xiao took over directly exceeded 2,500.
"Well, instructors, there are too many people. It's no problem to form two main groups. And we don't have so many guns for them to use!" Zeng Quan asked with a worried look on his face.
Although he didn't say it clearly, his words revealed his thoughts: "There are too many new recruits. It is definitely unrealistic to accept them all."
Cheng Xiao was also very hesitant. There were 2,500 new recruits, plus the more than 1,000 people Zeng Quan was training, plus the 4,000 or 500 people left in the independent battalion, that was a small 4,000 people, a whole brigade.
force.
Even if Wang Ping can get back the establishment of the independent regiment when he goes to the headquarters, he won't need so many people.
However, these recruits were recruited by the Eighth Route Army in addition to their resettlement allowance. It would be a huge loss to let them go back, and it would be impossible to recover their resettlement allowance. This would be a huge blow to the credibility and honor of the Eighth Route Army.
At this moment, Wang Ping's words before leaving suddenly appeared in Cheng Xiao's mind.
"Next, the Independence Battalion will face an unprecedented crisis, which is related to the life and death of the Independence Battalion. Many soldiers will die in this crisis. Therefore, in order to survive this crisis, the Independence Battalion must have sufficient strength.
Available for battlefield consumption!”
Cheng Xiao was not a fool and understood the hidden meaning of Wang Ping's words at that time.
Facing the heavy encirclement and suppression that the Japanese army may launch in the future, no matter how well-prepared the independent battalion is, in the face of the Japanese army with absolute advantages, many times they can only use human lives to withstand the Japanese attack.
If the independent battalion really reaches this point, facing the attack of thousands of Japanese troops, no matter how many recruits there are, they will not be able to withstand the trenches.
Although he was very reluctant to send these new soldiers to the battlefield, Cheng Xiao had no choice. If he really wanted to blame it, blame this damn war and the little devil who started this war.
After taking a deep breath, Cheng Xiao frowned first, and then decided: "Keep them all and form twenty-five recruit companies. Each recruit company will be led by a veteran for training!"
"But we don't have that much equipment at all, not even the most basic rifle!" Zeng Quan continued to ask.
"Each company of recruits will be given ten guns and a thousand rounds of ammunition first, so they can practice first. As for the missing equipment, wait until the battalion commander comes back and let him think of a solution! In addition, the six main platoons that went out also brought back hundreds of thousands
A kilogram of food is enough to feed our four thousand people for two months. So, let’s keep them here and train our troops!” Cheng Xiao made a decision immediately.
The Independent Battalion was overcrowded and had to expand its base into the surrounding woods for training. Wang Ping had already rushed to the military region headquarters. Yang Chengwu and Chief of Staff Xiong Botao, who had received the news in advance, were waiting for him at the gate of the headquarters.
Especially Yang Chengwu, when he saw Wang Ping, he patted his shoulders and said with satisfaction: "You did a good job in Laiyuan. You killed hundreds of Japs with your actions, and the results were worth a battle launched by the military division. Don't you
You know, when the chief of staff and I received the intelligence, we almost didn’t believe it was true!”
Chief of Staff Xiong Botao then added: "Your battle at the Xiaguan stronghold not only scared the commander and I, Commander Nie of the military region got the news from somewhere, and even sent a special telegram to commend you. You know, the establishment of the military region
Since then, Commander Nie has never had a precedent of directly commending battalion-level cadres, and you are the first. Now the entire military region knows that we have a wise general in our division!"
After some pleasantries, Yang Chengwu, who entered the conference room directly, quickly returned to his usual serious expression, and then asked Wang Ping.
"We already know the situation of Laiyuan. Your opponent is very smart. He can see at a glance that you intend to consume his veterans and delay the formation of his new brigade to form combat effectiveness. If nothing unexpected happens, it will take a month if it is slow, and if it is quick, it will take a month.
In ten days, the Japanese army in Laiyuan City will send out heavy troops to encircle and suppress your independent battalion!"
"How about it, if you find it difficult to continue to take root in Laiyuan, I allow you to come back with the main force of the independent battalion before the Japanese blockade your base!"
After hearing this, Wang Ping understood that the commander and chief of staff must have thought that he was coming back now to ask for help.
As the two people watched, Wang Ping shook his head first, and then affirmed: "Commander and Chief of Staff, please rest assured, since I have already issued a military order and can take root in the source, I will definitely be able to do it!"
"Then are you coming back at this time?" Xiong Botao asked with a look of confusion.
Logically speaking, Wang Qing should be the busiest right now. The Japanese army in Laiyuan may attack with heavy troops at any time. As the commander of the independent battalion, what Wang Ping should do most is to set up defenses instead of coming to the headquarters to report the situation!
"Two things!" Wang Ping answered neatly!
"The first thing is that the Independent Battalion was lucky during the battle at the Xiaguan stronghold and captured a radio station intact. When I came back this time, I brought the radio operator you gave me, Commander, in the hope that the Independent Battalion and the military
Radio links between divisions are established!"
"There's no problem with that. I promised you when I gave you the radio operator that the first step radio station captured by the Independent Battalion in Laiyuan is for your own use. I will have someone give the code book to your radio operator in a moment. Come here.
At that time, you can not only directly contact the military district, but also directly contact the military district headquarters!"
"Thank you, Commander!" Wang Ping thanked him immediately.
Then he continued to ask: "One more thing! The situation in Laiyuan is getting worse and worse. The independent battalion may be surrounded and suppressed by heavy Japanese troops at any time. As long as the Japanese mixed brigade in Laiyuan City reaches combat effectiveness, they will mobilize at least three thousand elites
Come to encircle and suppress us. Although we are confident of repelling the Japanese army's heavy encirclement and suppression, the disparity in strength is really too big for an independent battalion to fight against three to four thousand elite Japanese troops!"
Yang Chengwu showed an expression of sudden realization on his face, and he looked at each other with Chief of Staff Xiong Botao and said: "If you want to organize, you must organize, don't go around so many detours!"
"Isn't it the establishment of an independent regiment? I can apply to Commander Nie to give it to you. The key is whether your independent battalion has the strength to expand into an independent regiment. I, Yang Chengwu, don't want a pretentious regiment!"
Wang Ping assured with a confident face: "Commander, please rest assured, it is definitely not a show-off regiment. Not only is it not, but it is also the well-deserved main regiment of the military division!"
"Main group, it seems that you have been prepared for a long time. Then tell me about the current situation of your independent battalion?" Yang Chengwu also became interested and immediately asked.
Wang Ping immediately replied: "When I came, the Independent Battalion had nearly 500 combat troops, all of whom were veterans who had fought in several battles. In addition, Deputy Battalion Commander Zeng also had 1,200 new recruits, of whom 700 were
Many of them were directly transformed from the captured Imperial Army. They are all veterans and can replenish the army at any time as long as they undergo training and ideological education!"
"In addition, when I came to the division, I also sent six main platoons to recruit troops throughout the territory of Laiyuan while the Japanese army abandoned their stronghold in Laiyuan City. Not to mention more, there will definitely be no problem with a platoon bringing back a hundred recruits.
