When the Chief of Staff of the 18th Division Yan Yuhui walked into the division headquarters excitedly, he found that the division commander Xiang Tianhu was answering the phone. Xiang Tianhu was responding to the other end of the phone, but the expression on his face was a little weird. , a little surprised, a little excited, a little surprised, but mostly stunned and confused.
After a long time, Xiang Tianhu put down the phone and said to Yan Yuhui: "Chief of Staff, do you think it's strange? The chief executive just called me personally from Luoyang to express his opinion on our active offensive in central and southern Jiangsu. Yes, and expressed warm congratulations on our achievements, but why do I not understand it? When did we launch an active offensive in the central and southern Jiangsu areas? Where did the results come from? I left it to the general manager to figure it out Senseless."
Yan Yuhui said: "Master, I was just about to tell you this."
"Well, you know?" Xiang Tianhu's expression perked up and he asked anxiously, "What's going on?"
Yan Yuhui waved his hands and said, "I can't explain it in one sentence or two. Master, you'd better go out and see for yourself."
After saying that, Yan Yuhui made an invitation to Xiang Tianhu. Xiang Tianhu gave Yan Yuhui a startled look and immediately turned around and walked out of the division headquarters to the playground outside.
As soon as he walked out of the division headquarters gate, Xiang Tianhu was stunned by the sight in front of him.
The headquarters of the 180th Division was originally a school, and outside the division headquarters was the school playground. However, the playground was already crowded with war horses. Xiang Tianhu recognized at a glance that these horses were from the cavalry battalion directly under the division. The horses themselves were not worthy of surprise to Xiang Tianhu. What surprised Xiang Tianhu was what was on the horses.
I saw that these war horses were loaded with a lot of equipment!
These equipment can be described as diverse, including everything, including three-step machine guns, grenade launchers, mortars, and even a large number of radio stations and motors. What surprised Xiang Tianhu even more was that from these equipment The nameplate and logo are all Japanese weapons and equipment.
"This, this, this..." Even though Xiang Tianhu was used to big scenes, he couldn't help but be a little surprised at this moment. He looked back at Yan and Hui and said calmly, "Where did these Japanese weapons and equipment come from?"
Yan Yuhui turned his attention to Tiegang and said, "Tiegang, Master is asking you something."
Tiegang took a step forward and said honestly: "Let's talk to the master, someone else gave it to me."
"Who gave it to someone else?" Xiang Tianhu asked, "Who is so generous? One guy gave our 18o Division so much Japanese weapons and equipment. Let me see, it's almost enough to equip a regiment, right? "
Tiegang shook his head and said: "Master, these equipments are enough to equip a division."
Xiang Tianhu said: "You haven't answered me yet, who is so generous?"
Tiegang said in a deep voice: "The temporary commander of the independent battalion of the 79th Division is Xu Rui."
Xiang Tianhu was surprised: "Xu Rui, the temporary battalion commander of the independent battalion of the 79th Division?"
"Yes." Tiegang nodded, "Battle Commander Xu said that a favor with a meal must be repaid, and a favor with a drop of water must be repaid. Because our 18o Division helped their independent battalion, he was willing to use a whole regiment of Japanese weapons. Equipment as a thank you gift.”
"It's over, it's over, this gift is too heavy, how can I be so embarrassed, how can I be so embarrassed." Xiang Tianhu rubbed his hands repeatedly, but his eyes, expression and tone betrayed him, Xiang Tianhu said he was sorry , but he had already accepted it with a smile in his heart. Even if Xu Rui came to ask for it at this time, he would not be able to get this batch of equipment back.
Not to mention, this batch of equipment really helped the 18o Division a lot.
After the July 7th Incident, the Sino-Japanese War broke out in an all-round way. The 29th Army withstood the first wave of fierce attacks by the Japanese troops in North China. The losses were very heavy. Later, the 29th Army was expanded into the 1st Group Army, which had three infantry corps plus one. The cavalry army seems to have a large establishment, but in fact it is an empty frame. Not only is it seriously short of personnel, but it is also seriously lacking in equipment.
The 180th Division is also empty-handed. When it just retreated from Pingjin to Huainan for replenishment, it only had less than one regiment of troops at full strength, and its equipment was seriously lacking. Even the muskets and old sleeves from nearby towns and township offices were missing. He was forcibly requisitioned by Xiang Tianhu, which caused the Huainan gentry to complain.
Therefore, the batch of Japanese weapons sent by Xu Rui really solved the urgent need of the 18o Division.
However, after solving the problem of equipment, Xiang Tianhu immediately had a new problem. Now he has firearms, and even has more than a dozen cannons for the first time, enough to form an artillery battalion. However, the supply of ammunition has become a problem. A new problem arises. These are all Japanese-style ordnance. Where can he get ammunition
Fortunately, the ordnance presented by Xu Rui also included a batch of ammunition. This batch of ammunition was enough to last for a while. As for where to get ammunition in the future, we will talk about it later.
At that moment, Xiang Tianhu said to Tiegang: "Gangzi, where is Commander Xu?"
"Didn't come." Tiegang said honestly, "Battle Commander Xu left with the troops halfway."
"How can that be done? Take people to chase!" Xiang Tianhu immediately changed his expression and said anxiously, "Battle Commander Xu gave our 18o Division such a heavy gift, how could our 18o Division not express it? Otherwise, If this matter spreads out, wouldn’t it make people all over China laugh at our 18o teachers for not knowing etiquette?”
Seeing that Tiegang was standing there without moving, Yan Yuhui urged: "Battlemaster Tie, why don't you hurry up and give chase?"
As the chief of staff of the 18th Division, Yan Yuhui knew Xiang Tianhu's temperament very clearly. Or, to put it more popularly, if Xiang Tianhu stuck his butt out, Yan Yuhui knew what he wanted to do. Obviously, Xiang Tianhu was interested in talents and wanted to recruit Xu Rui, a tiger general, under his command. Or to put it more bluntly, Xiang Tianhu wanted to recruit the temporary 79th Division Independent Battalion.
Regarding Xiang Tianhu's plan, Yan Yuhui naturally supported it with both hands, because Xu Rui is really a great general!
Not to mention the previous battles of Wuxi, Baoxing and Nantong. Where did this great gift come from? It was obviously captured from the Japs. The temporary independent battalion of the 79th Division was turned into a lost dog by the Japs, and it was able to bite back and eat an entire regiment of Japs. What kind of ability is this
If such a tiger general can be under the command of the 18o Division, the combat effectiveness of the 18o Division will be greatly improved!
However, no matter whether he gave orders to Tianhu or urged Yan Yuhui, Tiegang still stood there and did not move.
"What, you don't want to go?" Seeing Tiegang not moving, Xiang Tianhu became angry, "Do I have to whip you?"
Tiegang sighed and said: "Master, I know what you are thinking. You should give up. Battalion Commander Xu said before leaving that he was extremely disappointed with the Nationalist Government, so he decided to leave the country* The army's order of battle and plans to go to the Damei Mountains to carry out independent guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines."
Xiang Tianhu's face suddenly changed slightly when he heard this, thinking that there was another Lu Zheng.
Lu Zheng led his troops to break away from the Northeastern Army a few months ago and became an anti-Japanese armed force under the leadership of the Communist Party. This caused a great shock throughout North China and even the whole of China. In fact, people like Lu Zheng who were extremely disappointed with the National Government There are by no means a few generals of the National Army, Xiang Tianhu is one of them, but he does not have the courage of Lu Zhengcao, and Song Zheyuan treats Xiang Tianhu well, and he really cannot bear to abandon him.
Yan Yuhui also felt a sinking feeling in his heart and advised: "Master, in this case, I think we can forget it. Everyone has their own ambitions. Even if Battalion Commander Xu comes to our 18o Division, he may not be able to keep him."
"Forget it." Xiang Tianhu nodded and said, "We in China have always paid attention to etiquette. Logically speaking, Battalion Commander Xu gave us such a big gift, and our 18o Division should show some expression, but in the current situation , but we really don’t have anything to offer in return, so let me just say that in the future, whenever there is difficulty in temporarily establishing an independent battalion of the 79th Division, whether we can help or cannot, we, the 18th Division, must give our full support."
"Yes!" Tiegang and Yan Yuhui stood at attention and said with serious faces.
"Okay." Xiang Tianhu waved his hand and said, "The army just called, and it's time for us to move to Huai'an."
Yan Yuhui nodded and said: "Master, what's the reply from the commander? Although Battalion Commander Xu gave us a regiment of Japanese weapons and equipment, this regiment is after all a temporary independent battalion of the 79th Division. Damn it, our 18o Division can accept the equipment of the temporary 79th Division, but we can’t take their credit, right?”
"Chief of Staff, you are being hypocritical." Xiang Tianhu waved his hand and said disapprovingly, "Battle Commander Xu even gave us the Japanese weapons and equipment of an entire regiment, why would he still care about this mere military exploit? The commander of the theater department still You don’t know Chairman Chiang’s temper yet, and a motley crew like us will only get a telegram of commendation for killing the Emperor of Japan.”
Yan Yuhui smiled bitterly and said, "It's true that the War Zone Commander's Department and Chairman Chiang Kai-shek only care about the Central Army."
"So, we don't need to care about this military exploit at all." Xiang Tianhu snorted, "What's more, the temporary 79th Division Independent Battalion is now eager for our 18o Division to match their military exploits."
"Why is this?" Yan Yuhui and Tiegang asked in confusion.
Xiang Tianhu said happily: "Think about it, although the temporary independent battalion of the 79th Division can fight, it will eventually be full of wounded soldiers and has become a tired division. What they need most now is rest and recuperation. Our 18o Division By overcoming the military exploits of the Temporary 79th Division, we have attracted the wrath of the Japanese, and the Temporary 79th Division can rest peacefully in Damei Mountain."
"It's true." Yan Yuhui nodded and said with deep understanding, "At this time, we are taking on the merits of the temporary 79th Division. I really can't tell whether we are helping or taking credit from others."
"We act for peace of mind, so why worry about these little details?" Xiang Tianhu waved his hand and continued, "On the other hand, I don't know where this batch of Japanese weapons and equipment came from. Could it be that the 79th Division's independent battalion has been temporarily established? Did you really annihilate an infantry regiment of Japanese soldiers on the way to escape? This is too exaggerated."
"This..." Tiegang whispered, "it may not be the strength of the temporary 79th Division."
After a pause, Tiegang recounted what he saw in Hai'an and Qixing Lake Swamp.
"Ghosts?" Xiang Tianhu, Yan Yuhui were awestruck upon hearing this, "Are there really ghosts in this world?" (To be continued.)